This property generally lived up to high expectations, with two notable exceptions. The hotel is in a former 1700's pre-revolutionary era palace, and it shows in its splendor. The public areas, including the lobby and Ambassador restaurant (we had breakfast here, it was worth it just to dine in these surroundings, and the food/service was also up to appropriate standards) all exude a regal demeanor. The guestroom we stayed in also lived up to the high standards of this hotel's world class reputation, except for the noise issue discussed below.
The negatives were as follows. Firstly, one evening we were in the bar, when we noticed a mouse run across the floor. We advised the bar staff, who either out of embarrassment or dismissal answered, "yes, it is a very classy mouse". Cute answer, and it may have been an aberration given the urban locale of the Crillon, but rodents do not belong in a one star property, much less a five star venue. Where I am from (NYC) the health department closes down restaurants on the sight of rodents.
Another problem was the in-room noise levels. The guest rooms all have access to the two adjoining rooms on either side, but the doors providing this access are not properly sound proofed. This means that you hear your neighbors as they enter and leave. The Crillon really needs to remedy this problem, as it is both fixable and detrimental to its guests peaceful enjoyment, which ultimately is one of the main concerns of any hotel guest.

I am writing this review of my stay at the Crillon earlier this November. My fiancee and I were planning a short trip to Paris to celebrate our engagement. In the past we have stayed in the Muerice, Bristol and the Plaza Athenee together and for this trip we wanted to stay at the Crillon as it had a great location and had recently been refurbished. As a note, on a separate trip, I have also stayed at the George V and am trying to make my way through the best hotels in Paris. We made our reservation in the spring through the American Express' fine hotel and resort program and then contacted the Concierge to help us make some dinner reservations. Although it was months in advance, it was a special occasion and I did not want there to be any problems with the dinner or theatre reservations as certain reservations in Paris on a Saturday night require advance planning.

I contacted the concierge with our requested restaurants, L'Ambrosie for dinner and Le Cinq for lunch. They were able to make the reservation at Le Cinq but informed us that L'Ambrosie took reservations 1 month in advance. I reminded the hotel again in September and they said they would take care of it. Exactly 1 month in advance, I sent a reminder to the hotel in the morning and quickly received an e-mail telling me the restaurant was full and we were on the waiting list. I asked about two alternate restaurants, Guy Savoy and Les Ambassadeurs (at the hotel). I was informed that both of these restaurants were full as they opened up reservation 2 months in advance. I called the hotel and spoke to a concierge and asked why L'Ambroisie was full when they opened up reservations that morning and they informed me that this is how the restuarant always is and a reservation there is more of a negotiation then a booking. I asked him if they were going to be able to secure a reservation for us and they said they should be able to.

This was my first problem with the hotel. They knew it was a special occasion but did not suggest making an alternate restaurant reservation in advance in case the L'Ambroisie negotiation was not successful. They did not seem to really care why I was going down to Paris or acknowledge the occassion.

Two weeks before we got to the hotel, I e-mailed for an update and was informed there were no reservations available at any of the restaurants I had asked for. I tried again the next week and received a response from them with a confirmation at Guy Savoy. At this stage I was happy to get whatever we could get and was exctied for our trip. Honestly, any of those restaurants are world class and are more than suitable!

We arrived at the hotel, checked in and were told at the front desk that we had reservations at Les Ambassadeurs. I checked with the Concierge, Patrick, and was informed that it was a mistake and the Guy Savoy was where we would be eating. As stated above, I was completely indifferent at this stage but don't know why this was messed up. I asked him to confirm the reservation on the day and we went out to visit some museums.

We left the hotel at 8 and arrived at Guy Savoy. As we entered the restuaranut we gave them our names and were informed that we did not have a confirmed reservation and were on the waiting list! I could not believe it. After some back and forth between Guy Savoy and the hotel the story did not change. Guy Savoy was kind enough to pour us a glass of champagne and offer to make a reservation at another Guy Savoy restaurant but we went back to the hotel.

We arrived at the hotel and they did not know what happened and offered to make us at alternate reservation. By this time it was almost 9 and we said we only wanted to eat at the hotel restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs. I was told that we could not eat there as it was full. I asked to speak to the manager. After 10 more minutes of waiting I was told that magically now there was a table at Les Ambassadeurs.

The next morning I talked to guest relations and spoke to Xavier and described how disappointed we were by the events. He apologized and said he would look into it. By the time we left the hotel later that day, we did not have any message from Xavier and I gave him a call. He told me he needed time to talk to the restaurant and the head concierge and given it was a Sunday, that was not possible.

I got back to London and called back on Monday. Xavier still had no information and suggested that I call the restaurant and ask for some kind of concession. I told him that was ridiculous and that my issue was with the hotel and that if they had a problem with the restuarant, the Crillon should call them. I asked him if he had called the restuaurant and he said no. I was getting increasingly frustrated and I told him I would call back the next day. I did and he said they called the restaurant but still did not have a solution. I asked him who they made the reservation with and who they confirmed with on the day and he was not able to give me the information and was not willing to give me any concession (free wine, discounted stay or dinner at Les Ambassaduers). I told him that that was not acceptable and that I would be contacting management of the hotel and the group which I am in the process of doing.

I know there are bigger problems in the world then messing up a dinner reservation but it was a special occassion and the level of service that we have experienced at other top hotels in Paris and expected from the Crillon was not delivered. These are the things I was not happy with:
1) not suggesting an alternate restaurant as a back up should L'Ambrosie not be available
2) at check in, the receptionist messing up which restaurant we would go to
3) the biggest problem, having us go to Guy Savoy and waste the time and money to be embarrassingly turned back at the door while we were there to celebrate our engagement
4) not making an effort to find us a table at the restaurant in the hotel after we had been turned down at the restaurant they allegedly made a reservation at, having us sit around in the lobby while we waited to speak to the manager and then having a table at one of the restaurants that we were told was full become available
5) Xavier not getting back to us while we were at the hotel
6) Chasing down Xavier multiple times and being told to contact the restuarant myself
7) Not having the basic info on who the reservation was made by and who it was confirmed with
8) Not even offering anything to us for the hassle and refusing to acknowledge their mistakes

I honestly think that the hotel did not have the reservation at Guy Savoy and confirmed so I would stop contacting them for updates and figured something would become available. I have stayed at most of the top hotels in Paris and have always enjoyed magnificent service and, under any circumstances, would not stay at the Crillon and would rather try the George V or any of the other hotels I have stayed in. The Crillon is lovely but stop by for a drink

Every staff working in a hotel around the world should stay one night at Crillon to see and experience how perfect service is given.
This was my 2nd stay here. And each person working there has a smile and a helping hand all the time. Beatiful rooms, perfect location. Excellent room-service.. What more can i say.. Stay nowhere else when in Paris.. Enjoy

Unique location, beautiful public rooms, excellent service (except for breakfast), nice bedroom (beware: not all rooms are equally renovated), elegant marble bathroom with mosaics and Annick Goutal toiletries.

I enjoyed lunch at the Obélisque restaurant, less formal and expensive than Les Ambassadeurs. Breakfast at Les Ambassadeus was a buffet but not at all what I expected for 45€ in a 2-star Michelin restaurant. Service was unpleasant and not attentive enough.

Some other improvements are necessary to continnue to justify the high rates: more technology and more comfortable chairs in the rooms, better fitness, spa.

Like the other palaces in Paris, Crillon is unfortunately waiting until 1/1/2008 to ban smoking altogether. It is still allowed in the bar and in the Jardin d'hiver lounge, and it is somewhat tolerated in the Obélisque restaurant.

Overall, this is a very good, stylish and romantic hotel, but it should make some changes to keep up with the competition (Ritz is about to renovate, Bristol and Westin are renovating, Shangri-La and Mandarin Oriental will open hotels in the next few years).