A Short but Stylish Break at Hotel de La Tremoille in Paris

Last month Gary and I hopped onto the Eurostar and found ourselves in the centre of Paris within two hours. But our trip was going to be brief. We were traveling back the very next day.

I grew up in Paris. Lived there for half of my life. So it’s fair to say I know the city pretty well. And at this point, Gary has visited my family often enough to feel somewhat at home in the French capital. But we always stay with my parents. Indeed up until this point, I couldn’t even fathom booking a hotel in  Paris.

Well, this weekend was going to be different. Very different. Gary and I were about to spend the next two days in the lap of luxury in one of the most romantic cities in the world. And a luxurious, romantic weekend in Paris requires a stylish boutique hotel to match.

If like us you are only planning to stay a couple of days in the city of lights, then choosing your hotel and its location wisely will be essential to you enjoying your trip and taking in the flair of the city. It could even save you money by reducing travel costs.

Gary and I were lucky enough to be invited to stay the night at Hotel de La Tremoille, a luxurious five-star boutique hotel, with a heritage dating back to the 1920s and located on a charming quiet Parisian backstreet in the golden triangle of Paris,  just moments from the fashionable Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to Paris’ best-kept secret.

ABOUT HOTEL DE LA TREMOILLE

Hotel de La Tremoille was named after Louis II La Trémoille, a states man under François I’s reign and dates back to 1883. In 1923 the building was transformed from a private residence into a high-end hotel in one of the most luxurious districts of Paris.

During its heyday, in the 1960s, the golden era of Jazz, Hotel de La Trémoille welcomed a whole host of famous guests. In fact, some people claim that Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, used Hotel La Trémoille as a regular meeting place. As the story goes, it was during one of these regular catch-ups, that the two famous jazz players spontaneously let rip with their jazz ensemble on the street corner. It’s not hard to imagine what the hotel must have been like back then, also the hotel still frequently holds Jazz Nights and the entire street is still very much in keeping with this chic era.

Nowadays Hotel de La Tremoille is rather modern though, having undergone 24 million euros worth of extensive renovations, ten years ago. It houses 93 elegant rooms, including 13 suites,  decorated in more than 30 color schemes.

Whilst the hotel is very luxurious and boasts five stars to its name, it doesn’t try to compete with the likes of the Shangri-La, the Plaza Athénée or the Peninsula. Instead, Hotel de La Tremoille is aimed at the more distinguished customer who prefers a Parisian hideaway that costs a little less but still affords him with a very large and luxurious room by Parisian standards.

However, the most distinguishing feature of this hotel, for me at least, has to be its beautiful 19th century Haussmann facade, complete with original wrought iron balconies and mansard-roofed attic.

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LOCATION OF HOTEL DE LA TREMOILLE

Located on the very quiet Rue la Trémoille, in the heart of Paris’ fashionable 8th arrondissement, the five-star Hotel de la Trémoille, is situated bang in the middle of the ‘Golden Triangle’.

It is but moments away from the Champs Elysees, the fashionable boutiques of Avenue Montaigne and a brisk walk will get you to the Eiffel Tower, the Jardin des Tuileries, thé Louvre and the Seine in no time. It is thus ideal for tourists who would rather walk than take the public transport system. This is particularly advisable for those of you who are traveling to Paris with your kids. Nonetheless, there are several metro stations nearby that will whisk you to destinations further afield. Sacre Coeur anyone? Or you could visit the quirky Musée des Arts Forains.

Our journey from London to France couldn’t have been easier. We left London from St. Pancras, home to the incredibly efficient Eurostar train,  in the late morning and checked into our hotel in the early afternoon.

After a seamless customs check, we boarded the train and we were off. We enjoyed the scenic journey through the countryside, our comfy seats, and endless free magazines as we sped through the land.

Upon our arrival at Gare du Nord some two hours later, we hopped onto Metro 4, then changed to Metro 9 at Strasbourg St Denis and finally got off at Alma Marceau. This part of the journey took approximately 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you could get into the taxi line outside of the Gare du Nord (just beware of street urchins, who will try and steal your belongings) or ask the hotel to book a car to pick you up.

If you’re traveling light you might want to opt for the hour-long walk instead. It’s a straightforward route and a great way to soak up the Parisian culture. Even if you are tired by the time you get to the hotel the staff will gladly carry your bags up to your room without you needing to murmur a single word.

ATMOSPHERE AND INTERIOR OF LA TREMOILLE

The hotel is very elegantly decorated, it is quite traditional, yet still feels modern and glamorous.

The reception areas focal point, for instance, is a regal art deco staircase that reminded me that the hotel had once been a townhouse. It wasn’t difficult to picture the ladies of the house coming down the stairs in ball gowns before heading out to enjoy the 1800s Parisian nightlife!

The hotel was entirely redecorated in 2002, with plush carpets, dark wood furniture, and velvet sofas and silk curtains that blend beautifully with the traditional moldings and marble fireplaces. The result is tres chic!

The hotel’s atmosphere oozes discrete luxury. It has somewhat of an exclusive air – that of a prized secret, a hidden treasure trove to which you alone have been given a golden key. This is exactly why I prefer boutique hotels over chain hotels when I travel. Why I always chose a hotel with character.

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AMENITIES AT HOTEL LA TREMOILLE

Hotel de La Tremoille features a small fitness room and a spa area with a Sauna, jet showers and private massage rooms.

Whilst we sadly didn’t personally get the chance to check it out, my understanding is that these communal spaces are available to all the hotel’s guest.

The spa offers all the usual treatments (massages, facials as well as beauty care treatments) and you simply need to talk to reception to book a session.

The hotel also offers a bar, common sitting area and a restaurant. Although there are plenty of good restaurants within a five-minute walk from the hotel, Louis 2 is a good option if you wish to stay in for the night.

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CHECK-IN AT HOTEL DE LA TRÉMOILLE

We arrived at Hotel de La Tremoille in the early afternoon – the perfect time to check-in to the hotel, explore it and it’s locality for a bit before heading for dinner.

The entrance to the hotel was easy to find with its large canopy on the corner between.

The Porter opened the door for as we stepped into a bright, oval lobby hung with old portraits of the hotel and furnished with comfy little seats.

We checked in with the friendly staff of the hotel. Although I took the opportunity to test my rusty french, the staffs English was perfect. They welcomed us warmly and briefly explained everything we needed to know about the hotel and its surrounding before we headed up to our bedroom to settle in.

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DINING IN STYLE AT HOTEL DE LA TREMOILLE

Hotel de La Trémoille has its own restaurant on site, Louis 2. Run by Fabrice Debois, apprentice of the acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse, I can only imagine that the food is excellent. Unfortunately August is the quietest month of the year and the restaurant is therefore generally closed for business around this time.

Gary and I still got to taste the bar menu, which I found pretty impressive in itself.

The bar is decorated in deep shades of purple, brown and black. Yet it didn’t feel obtrusive in any way. There is even a little library nook, for those who enjoy a good book with their chosen tipple.

Apropos tipples, the bar at Hotel de La Tremoille has a wonderful selection of champagnes, all laid out in a bespoke champagne holder, making the bar a perfect place to stop before heading out into the night for dinner.

There weren’t many people in the bar and we thus enjoyed a nice laid-back dinner. It almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

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OUR ROOM AT HOTEL DE LA TREMOILLE

The rooms at Hotel de La Tremoille are very stylish and chic and a night here will certainly be a highlight of your trip to Paris.

Gary and I ended up staying in a gorgeous Deluxe Room on the second floor of the hotel and were treated to our own wrap around balcony.

The room itself was very spacious, with a small living room area, very large double bed and a luxurious marble bathroom.

The décor of the room was classically elegant, and perfectly reflected the hotel’s historical roots. It featured intricate coving and ceiling details, as well as more contemporary finishes like the gigantic gold and blue headboard of the bed.

A VERY SPACIOUS DELUXE SUITE

I love staying in a hotel room that indulges you with space. There is something truly luxurious about being able to relax in one area and sleep in another. Especially on longer trips, a little extra space, means you won’t feel as though you’re living on top of the person you’re traveling with.

This is why we were delighted to find out that our deluxe room had a small living room area, with big comfy chairs, a coffee table and several magazines that are hard to resist. I will admit now, that we spent a large chunk of our trip, relaxing in this private space.

On top of this, the Deluxe Room has its own dressing room, with a large wardrobe and suitcase rack. Whether you tend to live out of your suitcase or can’t resist hanging up your clothes, at Hotel de La Tremoille you can neatly store away all your belongings and feel right at home.

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SLEEPING ON CLOUDS

Over the years I have become very fussy about beds. If the mattress and pillows aren’t just right I tend to wake up with a sore head, which sours the rest of my day.

But I had no complaint at Hotel de La Trémoille.  I felt like I was resting on clouds and slept soundly all night.

It’s also impossible not to feel like a princess, when you are lying in a bed with a gigantic damask headboard and curtains.

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AN INDULGENT BATH

The bathroom was the highlight of the room for me personally. Decent in size and a tastefully decorated dream of grey marble and dark wood, this is what I wish my bathroom was like back at home.

The bathroom itself is tucked away behind the bedroom. To access it you need to walk through the dressing room. This meant that it was secluded enough for me to have a relaxing bath in the evening while Gary drifted asleep.

The bathroom offers both a shower and a bathtub, fulfilling all your bathing needs. As mentioned, I spent a couple of hours pampering myself in the deep bathtub that evening. Whilst in the morning I enjoyed the intense water pressure of the rain shower and thankfully found it easy to control the temperature.

The bathrooms at Hotel de la Trémoille is a Molton Brown Showroom.  And no I’m not over-exaggerating. You’ll find four large jars of Molton Brown toiletries in varying fragrances both in the shower and the bath. There’s something for every mood whether you’d like to relax or energise yourself. The only downside is the time you’ll spend to choose your favorite. Although these jars are fixed to the walls, the staff at Hotel de La Trémoille have kindly filled a basket with additional miniature sized bottles.

Once you’re done with your pampering session, you’ll probably want to dry off and wrap yourself in a fluffy robe and slippers. No problemo. Towels are provided a plenty and there is a luxurious bathrobe and pair of slippers for both you and your partner in the basket below the sink.

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LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN PARIS

If the feature wall and marble bathroom aren’t enough to draw your attention, there’s also a huge balcony that wraps all the way around the room. Throw open does double french doors for a morning breath of air or to simply soak up the Parisian atmosphere.

Even when closed these large doors allow a beautiful burst of sunlight into the room, that gently strokes the thick Damask curtains and settees.

You might think that with the sun also comes the hustle and bustle of the busy city but this high up and secluded, all you can hear is the birds chirping.

The balcony is adorned in the typical french way with sculpted wrought iron balustrades and if you’re a girl will probably send your romantic heart a flatter.

There’s just enough space for a small table and chairs, which were sadly not provided on our balcony. You can be sure though, that if they had, Gary and I would have breakfasted alfresco.

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THE SERVICE HATCH

Talking about breakfast, the rooms at Hotel de la Trémoille have a very nifty feature.

Every room has a little hatch which can be opened both from outside and inside the room. Through it staff can serve both breakfast and fresh laundry, without entering your private domain, guaranteeing ultimate privacy.

No need to get out of your pyjamas or even answer the door. Simply order what your heart desires and it will magically appear in the service hatch. Comfortable, cozy and civilized.

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BREAKFAST IN BED AT HOTEL DE LA TRÉMOILLE

Waking up at La Trémoille in our marshmallowy soft bed, we opened the doors to the balcony and lived the Parisian dream as I sipped my coffee underneath the blue awnings.

Our stay included breakfast, which I think is great when traveling. On weekends breakfast is served until midday, meaning there is definitely enough time for a lie-in, as well as a long, hot shower. It’s bliss, especially when so many other hotels finish breakfast by 10am.

Le petit déjeuner can be eaten either in the restaurant downstairs or in the comfort of your own room. Remember that service hatch? This is when it truly comes in handy.

Gary and I don’t often spoil ourselves with breakfast in bed but we did on this occasion. We ordered the typical french breakfast, consisting of toast with butter, jam and marmalade, freshly made baguette, croissants and pains au chocolat, freshly squeezed orange juice, and two large mugs of hot chocolate.

If you prefer a hot breakfast, there are plenty of options available including omelets and eggs benedict.

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FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR STAY AT HOTEL LA TREMOILLE

You can find more guides for France here. Or if you haven’t fully decided where to go yet, you can find other great destinations in Europe here.