I stayed at the Plaza Athenee in late July. In general, I would rate the hotel high for service and location, but average for quality of room.

The Plaza Athenee is centrally-located, just off the Champs-Elysee and near the Eiffel Tower. The service at this hotel was top notch. The concierge was able to get me a well-placed table at Lasserre at relatively the last minute without a hitch. The staff (especially the chambermaids) were also very gracious. Room service was quick (usually about 20 minutes from time of request).

My only disappointment (and it was a big one) was with my room. I was told it was a Deluxe Room (I had room 423), but truth be told I thought the room was rather ordinary and standard-like. The room was in classical French style, but boring. The color pattern was plain beige (no patterns really) with golden beige curtains and made me feel like I was at your typical Intercontinental chain hotel. No color, no ingenuity.

On the brighter side, everything was electronic and worked at the push of a button. But even being a gadget freak, I didn't think the room was worth the 550+ Euro a night price (the Ritz and Georges V each seemed worth it when I stayed there, with lots of antiques and distinctive decoration). I wasn't impressed with the Plaza Athenee's "American Breakfast" either, which amounted to an egg and yoghurt, along with the typical continental breakfast accoutrements.

For the price one pays to stay at the Plaza Athenee, I was expecting the room to have a lot more panache, especially when you view the hotel's extraordinarily beautiful public spaces and its exterior (with bright red flowers and awnings). I was left wondering "why did they give up?" when it came to decorating the guest rooms. (I had just come from Les Crayeres in Reims where the classical French style was bright, airy, and far from ordinary--and the suite I had there was cheaper than this deluxe room at the Plaza Athenee).

Last month we stayed at the Plaza Athenee for 4 nights. From the time we arrived, we were very impressed with this wonderful hotel.
We were met at the reception by the hotel's director of guest relations who welcomed us and upgraded one of our two jr. suites to a larger suite. Both of our rooms were on the 6th floor, decorated in the traditional French style and had balconies overlooking the Eiffel tower.

The hotel is located on the fashionable and very scenic Avenue Montaigne. The Plaza Athenee's location is what gives it the edge over the near by Four Seasons George V. Both hotels offer luxurious rooms and superb service, but the George V is on a drab street with few rooms that offer nice views.

Unlike others, this hotel has preserved its Parisian charm and is perfect for a romantic getaway. We stayed in a junior suite that had a balcony with a beautiful view of the Tour Eiffel. When we arrived, we found fresh flowers and a box of excellent chocolates in our room. The concierge managed to obtain excellent seats for us to see a ballet at Le Petit Palais within a very short delay. The restaurant and housekeeping staff were friendly and did not have a snobbish attitude. It is simply Paris chic at its best!

Concierge did a fabulous job for us. Our friends had some noise from the room next to them. They found an expensive bottle of wine, flowers, and large box of chocolates waiting for them as an apology.