Can't believe how great it was

wonderful boutique hotel....classy but understated.....rooms beautifully appointed.....rates include full breakfast in main dining room which has a fabulous glass etched ceiling....welcome incredible....patrick the concierge was worth adopting...made it his mission for 4 dqys to retrieve our lost luggage..suggested wonderful restaurants, very caring...as was all of staff in hotel...location steps from arc de triomphe and great shopping...loved it

The perfect anniversary

My wife and I stayed at the Vernet in November 2003 for our 6th wedding anniversary. We took our 18 month old son with us and were looked after like royalty.

We were informed they had upgraded us to a suite to accommodate the cot and we found champagne, fruit and flowers waiting for us in the room.

The suite was courtyard facing, shabbily elegant and wonderfully Parisian. The courtyard is in fact the restaurant, with a glass roof designed by Gustav Eiffel.

Now, I am sure that Eiffel was not thinking about the technology of the future when he designed the glass roof of the restaurant, but it meant that we were able to take our baby monitor ino the restaurant with us and enjoy our meal without having to sneak out every hour (oh, we took our time over that meal!) to check on our son.

And just when we thought things couldn't get any better, England beat France in the Rugby World Cup semi-final which meant we had the streets of Paris to ourselves on the Sunday morning!

The Vernet is an undiscovered gem of a hotel, ideal for a romantic weekend if you want to experience the faded glamour of Paris.

Nice little hotel, but know the room you are getting

I stayed in the hotel late August 2005. Overall, it is a nice place and I would recommend it. However, as with all small hotels, you need to know what you are getting.

Positives:

1) Location is great; close to the Arc, easy metro access.

2) Street is relatively quite for the area.

3) Staff is very friendly, they really seemed to go out of their way for request on premises (see negatives).

4) The hotel has a unique charm. It is nice, yet a little shabby in a charming way. This sounds bad, but it really works for the hotel.

5) The dinining room is amazing (in looks) and the food very good.

Negatives:

1) The walls are thin and the lower end rooms can be noisy. I was only staying one night, so I booked the lowest price room. It was on the first floor (really second, as they start counting at the first guest floor) and in the front. I was awakened pretty much every hour by some sort of noise outside. By early morning (5:00 or so) the activity was enough that it was more "rest" than sleep. However, I spoke with people who stayed in the higher/more expensive rooms and they did not have an issue. One man who had stayed there several times said he is just picky about which rooms he will accept.

2) The on-site food is very expensive. There is no chance for an inexpensive breakfast. That is easy to fix as there are plenty of takeouts within a few blocks.

3) The staff tried hard to be helpful, but still seemed to fall short for issues that required offsite communication/coordination. When I got in there was a fax from my Paris contacts asking me to push back our meeting. I did not get it and thus showed up 2 hours early. Having just come off an overnight flight, those 2 hours could have been put to better use. My wife tried calling several times and was alternatively told I was not in my room, not even a guest and had asked not to get calls. She had a hard time communicating with the desk people. She finally just had to insist that they put me through to the room number she gave them. I don't think they were trying to be difficult (in fact, my wife said they were trying to hard to be helpful).

4) Their switch board does not allow the use of many calling cards. They could not explain exactly why. They were honest in telling me the international rates they charge are very high and that I should find a pay phone that would accept my card.

Just a few facts:

1) They ask that you drop your key at the desk each time you leave the hotel. They use that to keep track of whether you are in or out. I actually kind of liked it - it seemed friendly to be greeted each time - but others seemed to find it off putting.

2) They charge 20 euro's for internet access. In the US I am used to getting it free, but it seems like I always end up paying in Europe. Still, 20 euro's is high. Unlike many hotels in Europe, they did not seem to have a "business" office for quick e-mail checks.

3) You need to reserve spots for dinner, they will not let you just drop in. The dinner is very nice (though it is pricey and not a place you would eat every day you were there).

In summary, it is a nice hotel but like all boutique hotels, you need to know what you are getting. I liked the charm and would stay there again (but in another room). It would be a very nice place for a couple, not so much for families.

Great 4 star gem in a great location

We stayed here during August for 1 night after our flight back to the UK was cancelled. We booked a very short notice but paid only £150 for what I would describe as one of the best 4 star hotels I have stayed in. The hotel is relatively small and service feels personal and incredibly attentive. The decor has a quality feel with antique furniture and quality fittings. The ceiling in the dining room (designed by the same chap who designed the Eiffel Tower) is really quite impressive. Our room was spacious and very well equipped. We especially appreciated the in-room spar bath after a tiring day sight-seeing. The bed was extremely comfortable and we found it turned down with chocolates, fruit and bottled water on our return from a night out. The location is perfect for the Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe with the musée du Louvre, Notre Dame and Left Bank easily accessible by the near by metro stations.

I would highly recommend this hotel as a brialliant four star, especially at the £100 - 150 GBP mark. We have noticed that some intermediaries (i.e. Expedia) describe this as a 5 star hotel and if the available rates rise to near the £200GBP /night mark, there are bona-fide 5 stars available to you.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as my fiancé and I did.

A very nice four star hotel

Well its my favourite issue on this site really.Who chooses whats 4 star and whats 5.As allways start on the good.Its a very quiet location for so close to the Arc.The A/Cin the rooms are unlike some hotels inaudable and the double glassing and the drapes ensure a good nights sleep.The staff were very cheerful and did their utmost to help.On the downside I couldnt help but notice that the rooms and the hotel itself was looking a little bit tired and could do with at least a lick of paint.Now I know Im been picky here,but I was advertised 5 star and this just isnt compared to the George V and the others,but dont let me put you off.If you want a quiet,cool room with good attentive staff,then this is for you.Its just that I dont get the rateing system.Prehaps a Zagart type of independent scoring system out of a hundred would be best.

C'est magnifique! Recommend it to everyone

I stayed at the Hotel Vernet in 2000 quite by accident. We had checked into a nightmare hotel (big American chain) nearby, and were desperate to find another hotel. When we went to the Tourism Board, all of the hotels I asked about were full or over $500/night. The Tourism Board person sent us to Vernet without charging us for the referral. When Charlotte, the desk clerk, found out it was our first visit to Paris and that our trip had been completely horrible so far, she (and the rest of the staff) went above and beyond to make sure the rest of our stay was absolutely lovely. The hotel is in a great location, is immaculate, and is beautifully appointed.

I just booked a reservation for 5 nights in July. I can't wait. I recommend this hotel without reservation. You can check it out at their website

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A jewel of a find

This was the first hotel my husband and I stayed at the beginning of a three week vacation in France and it set a standard. What a find, hidden away on a little street, but in a great location. We couldn't have asked for a more attentive staff. The room was actually serviced three times a day. The dining room, with its elegant Michelin starred restaurant also served breakfast. What a charming spot.

Perfect

The Hotel Vernet is a gem in Paris. Just behind the Arc de Triomphe you find a tranquil, elegant, very French place to stay. The staff is efficient, extremely friendly and attentive. From the elevator which runs with a glass roof through the seven floors of this old building to the rooms you will experience the best old world charm can offer. Our room was fabulous, separate living room, two bathrooms, quiet look into a courtyard. Their restaurant Les Elysées boasts one Michelin star and is worth every Euro you can spend there. Highly recommended!

Lovely Hotel, Wonderful Staff

I stayed at this little boutique hotel in November and loved it. It is in a great location, near shops, restaurants. The room I stayed in was huge and the bath was equally large and wonderful. The furnishings were modest antiques - nice but not grand, but who wants to stay in their room in Paris! We had three adults stay in the room and we were not crowded at all. But most importantly, the staff was wonderful. They were very attentive. I became ill while there and they promptly got a doctor to visit me in my room and went out and got my medicine. They certianly tried to ruin this American's less than positive perception of the French! I would definitely recommed this hotel.

Excellent and little known Central Paris hotel

I have eaten at the Vernet and also stayed on business. It is well (but quietly) positioned near the Champs Elysees, impressive public areas, large and comfortable rooms (at least mine was) and appears to be largely off the tourist trail. It manages to feel like a traditional Pairisian hotel but with all the modern necessities. |The Jaipur bar has a strong Indian character. The food when I ate there was magnificent. I would certainly use it again.