Paris has always been known as a city of great style and luxury. People travel there from all over the world just to enjoy the luxury it has to offer.
It is the capital of fashion, luxury, gastronomy and romance. Paris is also the world’s main tourist destination attracting more than 26 million visitors a year from all over the world.
There is something about Paris that makes you want to be the center of attraction and show off your new Chanel bag and your new hairstyle down the Champs-Élysées.
The Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has just signed a new partnership with Mandarin Oriental. This partnership will earn a member of Etihad Guest, a loyalty program of Etihad airways, 500 miles for each eligible stay in a room or 800 miles in a clubroom or suite at any participating Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide. In addition, Etihad Guest Gold and Gold Elite members will enjoy special benefits at the group’s hotels including upgrades, early check-in and late check-out.
This agreement is great for those like me who like to indulge themselves when traveling, especially to Paris. I decided to take my luxury trip using this airline and I was satisfied with all the services, including the food brought to my seat.
When I arrived in Abu Dhabi I was guided to the Etihad first class lounge where I was welcomed with great service and seated in one of the leather sofas. They have a restaurant where you can choose from an a la carte fine-dining menu or simply drink coffee and have dessert. There is also a kids club where children can be entertained with a qualified nanny who will keep them busy while you get a quick massage at the Six Senses spa located at the lounge. Need I say more?
There is even a cigar bar for smokers and a business center with computers and high-speed Internet. My personal favorite was the private entertainment section where you can sit in a comfortable chair, drink coffee and watch your own television while waiting for your flight.
When my flight was announced I left the lounge and headed to the plane and enjoyed another six hours of unlimited entertainment in my private luxury booth, yes a booth, not a seat but a booth in first class.
When the pilot announced that we had 15 minutes to reach Paris I ran to the bathroom, had a quick shower and changed into more formal clothing in their spacious bathroom that offers all the amenities needed for you to look your best.
Arriving in Paris was never this good. After landing and passing through immigration, I found the hotel’s driver waiting for me with a bottle of chilled water and was driven to the Mandarin Oriental Paris. The ride took around 45 minutes because of rush hour but I was OK with it because I had the chance to look at the beautiful Parisian sights.
The boutique hotel was great and I loved everything about it. The Mandarin Oriental is situated on rue Saint-Honoré, one of the most fashionable streets in the world. Surrounded by haute couture and only steps from the Louvre, the hotel exudes a timeless elegance with stunning interiors, dining by Chef Thierry Marx, a serene spa and fabulous service.
The hotel is an eight-story building with 138 rooms and suites and a vast indoor landscape garden. The interior is the perfect blend between Parisian elegance and oriental refinement. It’s everything you ever dreamed of. All rooms overlook the indoor garden and some of the suites have a view over the fashionable streets. There are two restaurants at the hotel, the Camelia, which is an all-day French restaurant and the Sur Mesure Thierry Marx, a two Michelin-starred restaurant.
After checking in and having a buffet breakfast at the Camelia restaurant, I booked an oriental massage at the spa. The spas at the Mandarin Oriental are born out of a sincere understanding and passion for wellness, which is defined as a way of life that focuses on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
The spa offers seven private suites, which include four single spa suites, and three couple suites. The therapist interviewed me before I started my spa treatment and I was then led to my suite for the next 50 minutes. My suite included a shower, steam room and bathroom.
I booked the Oriental Essence body massage, which is part of the Mandarin Oriental’s Signature Spa Therapies designed for the tired traveler, stressed executive or someone who just wishes to relieve neck and shoulder tension. This massage centers on all stress areas of the body. Utilizing Signature Quintessence oil blended with warming ginger, uplifting mandarin and sacred frankincense, all coming together to realign the mind and emotions. It was a completely relaxing treatment that gave me the comfort and energy to start my luxury retail therapy, shopping.
As soon as I stepped out of the hotel, I was right in the middle of this beautiful shopping district of international luxury brands. It was fashion heaven of Hermes, Chanel, Armani, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and more. After spending a great afternoon lightening the wallet I decided to stop for a cup of coffee and some macaron at Laduree, a French pastry café that offers the best kind of sweets you’ll ever have.
Then I walked for almost 20 minutes and reached the famous Champs-Élysées for more shopping and fun. This avenue is one of the tourist destinations in Paris starting with the Place de la Concorde and ending with the Arc de Triomphe.
The avenue runs for 1.91km and is lined with cinemas, cafés and restaurants, and luxury specialty shops. I watched a movie, shopped and stopped by the famous L' Entrecote de Paris for a quick lunch. I walked back to the hotel enjoying the breezy weather and called it a night.
The next day, I woke up early, fresh and ready for my second day of shopping. I called my concierge to book me an appointment with the personal shopper at a luxury department store called Printemps. The personal shopper interviewed me on the phone and asked about my size, favorite colors, my budget and when I wanted to shop.
I went to Angelina on Rue de Rivoli for breakfast. As soon as I walked in, I could smell the aroma of fresh pastry and coffee. I ordered a plate of eggs benedict and a cup of their famous hot chocolate. People say Angelina’s hot chocolate is one of the best in the world and I agree.
I left Angelina and took a cab to Printemps. When I arrived I was taken to a private suite where they offered me coffee and Laduree macarons and waited for my personal shopper who came in with racks of clothes and accessories. After spending the whole afternoon searching for my new look with the personal shopper and image consultant who convinced me to have a new haircut and color, I left the department store with a new wardrobe and a fresh hairstyle.
I took a taxi back to the hotel to change my clothes just in time to meet my friends for dinner at the Cristal Room Baccarat restaurant. It is located on Tour Eiffel and it offers an inventive cuisine orchestrated by the Michelin-starred chef Guy Martin. I could literally smell the luxury in the restaurant and I could see the expensive Baccarat crystals, from the chandeliers to the water glasses, on the tables. After that, I went happily back to my hotel, and closed my curtains to get some beauty sleep.
The next day I decided to hit the fitness center and took a dip in the hotel’s 14-meter indoor pool. I then booked 50 minutes of Guerlain Radiance Facial Treatment, which helped me achieve a fresh, clear and radiant complexion in less than one hour with a deep cleansing coupled with the exclusive Guerlain facial massage and mask.
I then took a long walk to Colette, the very first concept-store in Paris, opened 10 years ago in rue Saint-Honoré and which continues to surprise with an electric, unexpected, exclusive collection that goes far beyond fashion.
I then went for a quick lunch at Kong, which is a beautifully set restaurant with fantastic views of Pont Neuf and the surrounding areas of Paris. The food was a Japanese-French fusion and was appetizing. It is worth visiting at least once.
This was sadly the last thing I did on my short luxury trip to Paris. I had a pleasant time and know I will be going back for more. Wouldn’t you?
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