Stay: Le Meurice

I’m heading to France in a week and I am beyond excited. I’m counting down the sleeps (five to go) and am mentally packing my bags. The last time I was in Paris, my husband John and I stayed at Le Meurice. Swanky, I know. I knew it was going to be grand but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when the door to our room was opened. I was rendered speechless. We won’t be staying at Le Meurice this time around but since my dreams are full of Paris these days, now seems as good a time as any to reminisce about my time there.

The sweeping silk drapery caught my eye first, followed by the Louis XVI chairs in sumptuous fabrics.

Le Meurice
Le Meurice, sometimes called The Hotel of Kings, is a five-star, luxury property that’s part of The Dorchester Collection. Founded in 1815, some consider it one of France’s great old hotels. It’s ideally situated near those must-see Parisian landmarks like the Louvre, the Opéra, Place de la Concorde and Place Vendôme, all of which are within walking distance of the hotel. From our room, we could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It’s not within walking distance, but it’s a short metro ride away. Looking out from our Juliet balcony at the Eiffel Tower, the busy streets of Paris below us – magnifique! The view at sunset was memorable to say the very least.

The Rooms at Le Meurice
The hotel has seven floors and 160 rooms. Each floor has its own style but all of the luxury rooms are reminiscent of the glamorous Louis XVI era. I said I was rendered speechless when I stepped into our room and that’s not even the slightest exaggeration. The room was the most beautiful hotel room I’d ever seen.

The sweeping silk drapery caught my eye first, followed by the Louis XVI chairs in sumptuous fabrics. Our room was capacious, with a separate living room, which would have been hotel room enough for me! But the living room provided a peaceful sanctuary to relax and indulge in the caramels that were waiting to tempt us. The muted colours in the bedroom were perfect for soothing travel-weary guests and I can attest to the fact that the room as a whole was sweet-dream-inducing. LOVED: The luxury bed linens, the period furniture, including a writing desk I was desperate to take home with me, and the spacious walk-in closet. And I would be remiss not to mention the Italian marble bathroom, which itself was a work of art. And when I say marble, I don’t mean marble countertops. To be clear, the whole bathroom was marble – walls, floors, tub, the works. Stunning.

Wandering around our room (it was indeed large enough to wander around), was like stepping back in time. The decor of the room was so beautifully reminiscent of an era gone by and yet still so luxurious and lovely by today’s standards. The design reflected a perfect convergence of past and present. Even the modern amenities like the digital flat-screen televisions and the iPod alarm clock were seamlessly integrated into the overall room design.

Dining at Le Meurice
For dinner, John and I ate off-property, opting to explore the city on foot and find a quaint place to eat – not hard to do in Paris. But for breakfast, we ate at the exquisite, luxurious Restaurant Le Meurice. Breakfast here is an occasion with a wonderful menu and an assortment of delightful and delectable French pastries that nearly makes the button pop off your pants just looking at them. Also on-property are Restaurant Dali (named after Salvador Dali who spent one month a year living at the hotel over a 30-year period) and Bar 228.

Le Meurice captured my heart and my imagination with its exquisite design and impossible beauty. It’s the kind of place you have to see and experience for yourself so if ever the opportunity arises, if ever you’re looking for a place to splurge, a place to celebrate a milestone, a place to live out a dream, this very well might be it.