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Josh Flagg Updates Us on the Status of the Four Seasons George V (Sorta)

Where: 31, avenue George V, Paris, France, 75008

Once again, our favorite celebrity hotel hopper, Josh Flagg is back from yet another whirlwind of hotel adventures. First up, he reports on the renovations happening at Four Seasons George V in Paris. Except, he actually stayed in a far nicer room.

I must say, I was extremely delighted when I stayed at the George V this Christmas. The hotel has started the floor by floor renovation of its guestrooms and suites and they are even better than the last renovation in 2000. The rooms have got a new fluff with brand new modern amenities and have maintained all that was already so great about these rooms.

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We Can't Imagine Having Trouble Sleeping at The Plaza Athenee But If You Do...

Where: 25 Avenue Montaigne, Paris, France, 75008

For the most troubled sleepers, not even the finest sheets in one of the best luxury hotels in the world can help you catch some much-needed Zs. But now at the swank Plaza Athenee Hotel in Paris, there's a scientific solution to insomnia and jetlag symptons with the NightCove Sleep Solution that's been installed bedside in the hotel's Art Deco Suites.

Developed by the Sleep Clinic at Hotel-Dieu hospital in Paris, this device is a unique bedside lamp that helps improve the quality of sleep by bathing guests in selected light wavelengths and sound frequencies that are specially adapted for the physiological needs of sleep. Click on "Sleep/Anti-jetlag/Nap" to stimulate melatonin with a red glow and the hush of waves, then greet the day with a "Wakening" of soft music and blue light similar to early daylight.

Like we said, we can't imagine having trouble sleeping at the Plaza Athenee which is one of the most sublime forms of hotel heaven but if you do, at least you know the hotel can help you out.

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Paris Hotels / France Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Reviews / Hotel WiFi / → All Tags

The Shangri-La Paris Gently Hints At Its Asian Roots

Where: 10 Avenue d'Iéna, Paris, France, 75116

As we previously reported, The Shangri-La Hotel in Paris was once the residence of Napolean's grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte. This week, The Independent showed up to give the sprawling estate the once-over. Four stars were awarded for the rooms, and (somewhat oddly) value, and an impressive five stars for service, making this newcomer to the City of Lights a serious contender on the luxury scene.

No stars were awarded for Horse-Drawn Carriage-ness. Oh, wait, that's not actually a category. Though, any hotel would be wise to include horse-drawn carriages as couples start seeking the most romantic spots for next month's V-day.

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CitizenM Still Moving Along, Planning Paris in 2014

It's been nearly 6 months since we last checked in on modern, budget hotel chain CitizenM, but of course that was only to steal a peek at the construction of their London property. Now the interest blossoms as CitizenM announce that they're doing a Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport hotel to open in 2014.

230 guestrooms will form the freestanding hotel and, the property will be a quick skip to hook up with the buses and RER trains directly heading to CDG.

Not much else is known as the hotel for now; after all, it's still got a year and a half to build up and out. Rest assured that we'll keep our ears and eyes open, however.

[Photo: Art History Images]

London Hotels / 2012 Olympics Hotels / Olympics Hotels / Paris Hotels / Hotel News / France Hotels / → All Tags

Could an Olympics Hotel Showdown be Brewing Between London and Paris?

Paris may have lost the 2005 Olympics bid to London, but the City of Light and Louis Vuitton is hoping to hand their 'cross-the-Chunnel metropolitan peers their comeuppance by stealing away tourists come summertime. According to a recently published report by express.co.uk, Pair-ee is being touted the " 'cheaper, safer and more attractive" alternative city from which to watch the 2012 Games.

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Just Wondering, Where Did the George V Get the Inspiration for Their 'Tips' Video?

Where: 31 Avenue George V, Paris, France, 75008

As we were watching the video for the new Four Seasons website, we noticed another video from the Four Seasons's YouTube Channel featuring Housekeeping "Tips" from the Four Seasons George V, one of the best hotels in the Four Seasons collection (not to mention one of the priciest.)

So of course we had to watch. The video's instructions are entirely in French but those who can't parlez-vous Francais can still easily learn how to make the bed, insert a duvet, put on pillowcases, clean the bathtub, clean the mirrors and scrub the bath fixtures (ok, this last one would have been a little more helpful if we had understood French.)

These tips were fun to watch but we couldn't help but wonder---where ever did they get the idea to do this video? Could the Trump Housekeeping Tips that Trump Hotels shared with us early this year have been the inspiration?

Women Friendly Hotels / London Hotels / Paris Hotels / Spain Hotels / Women's Hotels / Women Only / → All Tags

A Closer Look at the Girly Hotel Trend

"Girly" but not gaudy: Hotel Le Bristol, Paris

With all the talk and controversy surrounding female-only floors at hotels in London and Copenhagen, our thoughts have turned markedly more femme-oriented in recent weeks.

Certainly "women-friendly" hotels are nothing new; ladylike touches and targeted packages (think: bachelorette weekend, Fashion Week, and Sex and the City-themed deals) are often dreamt up to attract a female clientele.

But what hotels are truly catering to women, minus the gaudy marketing tactics? We take a closer look at three European accommodations for ladies doing just that sans tiaras, pink-splashed walls, or cringe worthy frills.

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HotelChatter 2011 Awards / Hotel Hype / W Hotels / Paris Hotels / → All Tags

Worst Hotel Hype of 2011: W Paris Opera

Where: 4 rue Meyerbeer, Paris, France, 75009

It's what you've been waiting all year for--The 2011 HotelChatter Awards! We'll be bringing you the best and worst of the year all day today and part of tomorrow. Agree or disagree with our picks? Air your thoughts in comments below.

There are several hotels we could call out for hyping themselves up without actually delivering anything to us devoted hotel guests in 2011. Like Thompson's Belgraves Hotel in London which is now opening February 1. But we expect delays from Thompson just as much as we expect celebrities to frequent their hotel lounges.

Back in NYC, the Dream Downtown certainly took forever to open but it's now one of the hottest places to stay (and swim) so that lengthy wait was worth it. We've also been waiting a long time for Virgin Hotels to take flight but we were satiated (for now) with their announcement of a Chicago hotel in 2013 (Ugh.)

And we can't even get started on Edition Hotels which managed to open only one other hotel in 2011 before losing its flag at the Edition Waikiki bringing the total of open and operating Edition Hotels back to one.

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Hotel Openings / Paris Hotels / W Hotels / Hotel Opening Rates / → All Tags

The W Paris to Open on Valentine's Day With Pink Bubbly and Steep Room Rates

Where: 4 rue Meyerbeer, Paris, France, 75009

We've been waiting so long for the W Paris to open that we nearly forgot its newest opening date was just two months away! And reminding us that we're almost there is HOTELS Magazine who managed to get a sneak peek at a guestroom and an intriguing backlit digital wall that weaves through the public and private spaces of the hotel.

Kinda hard to believe, but the W Paris will be the first W Hotel in France and will have just 91 guestrooms, including 22 suites, making it more boutique, in terms of it size, than recent W hotels. Judging from this room shot, the spaces will have high ceilings, non-fugly carpeting and gorgeous city views but also, very open bathroom plans as the sink is only separated from the bedroom by a mirror partition. Hopefully, the toilette is enclosed somewhere.

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Click-Clack-Clomp Your Way Through Paris On a Horse-Drawn Carriage

Where: 10 Avenue d'Iéna, Paris, France, 75116

Thanks to the Shangri-La, Paris can add more reserves to its romantic cache. If strolling the City of Lights' snowy streets this holiday isn't enough to sate your taste for the maudlin, guests of the hotel can book a horse drawn carriage ride from December 23-27.

The tour will take you and your S.O. to the Trocadero, located across the Seine and providing prime views of the Eiffel Tower for you and your sweetheart to "ooh" and "aah" over with delight. Shangri-La's old-fashioned carriage—a white stunner complete with top hat-clad driver—is perhaps the closest some may get to feeling like Cinderella, without fear of the equine-led ride turning into a pumpkin at midnight.

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Hotel Gifts / Hotel Shopping / Paris Hotels / Crillon Hotels / → All Tags

For Noncholant Exclusivity In Gift Giving, Choose An Eiffel Tower Keyring From The Crillon

Where: 10 Place de la Concorde, Paris, France, 75008

You know the scene: wandering down the Champs Elysées looking aimlessly for some Christmas presents. Will it be some macarons from Ladurée? Some sparkle from Cartier? A €3 saucisson from the Christmas market? And as you’re mulling them over, you walk past the Hotel de Crillon and spy the perfect present for your hotel-loving friend.

Ladies and gents, may we present, Crillon keyrings. They come in eight charming shades, are shaped like the Eiffel Tower, and have the hotel’s C logo stamped into their supple leather bods.

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Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Swag / Dorchester Collection Hotels / Paris Hotels / Fashion Hotels / → All Tags

One Slice of This Hotel's Special Cake Will Cost 14 Euros

Where: 228 Rue de Rivoli, Paris , France, 75001

Ringing in the new year in Paris. Lucky you. Even luckier if you happen to swing through the 5-star Dorchester Collection hotel Le Meurice to pick up a piece of their Galette des Reines and find, hidden inside the slice, a Tiffany & Co. charm.

The tradition of "Queens Cake" is a long one, and though there's always the choking hazard of enjoying the winning bite, it's worth it for Tiffanys. That said, you'll be paying a pretty penny to even try for it. First off, the cake is only available from January 2-22 in the hotel's Restaurant Le Dali. Rooms at the hotel during this time are averaging 530 Euros per night, while Queen Cake costs 14 Euros per slice.

The cake this year, created by Pastry Chef Camille Lesecq, hides a single yellow gold Tiffany & Co. key. Around it is flaky chocolate pastry "filled with frangipane, a filling made from almonds, complete with whole hazelnuts sprinkled on top." And, although the cakes are expected to be around until January 22, they're only making ten, so it's more like "or until supplies run out."

[Photo: Le Meurice]