Review: Intercontinental Paris-Marceau on NYE
As my attentive readers may have noted, I’ve become an expert on getting free hotel rooms – specifically, through the IHG BRG program. This was my best yet, and on New Year’s Eve!
The InterContinental Paris-Avenue Marceau, the smallest Intercontinental hotel, is located in a former Parisian palace with the interior converted into a 5-star hotel.
The location is excellent, right off the Champs-Élysées with some rooms having views of the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe. Having IHG Ambassador status, I requested and received my guaranteed upgrade, getting the 2nd best room in the hotel, “The Prestige Terrace” – it even has it’s own web page! It typically goes for 450 EUR – 950 EUR.
Being New Year’s Eve (and frickin’ cold!), we didn’t get to enjoy the patio as much as we might have liked, but it was a beautiful space that would be ideal in warmer seasons.
Finally, the room rate included breakfast, which had both buffet and a la carte options. I ordered the salmon eggs Benedict, which was very buttery… Julia Child would approve!
The only negative aspect might have been the check-in experience. It was slow, and quite stiff. Moreover, the agent asked how I “did it” and then made a remark about how I knew how to “play the game” by getting the best rate guarantee and subsequent upgrade. Oh well, it was otherwise a lovely stay!
P.S. – how was my New Years Eve? I enjoyed a few glasses of Champagne and walked the Champs-Élysées until it got too crowded (and marveling at the extreme levels of security), then fell asleep long before midnight. I know, I’m lame. Get over it.
Only three pictures?
That’s a real shame about check in though. I stayed at the Radisson Blu Paris property for New Years a few years ago, extremely disappointed with the check in experience (“gold status”)
Quick question and maybe a longer question: Did you request your upgrade before traveling or at the front desk? We are at the IC Paris Le Grand in a couple of days. I am thinking about buying into Amb status. Can you explain a bit more about the perks and if you have found it worth it.