Four Seasons Hotel George V
Paris, France
I stayed at the George V twice last year. Once in March, once in September.
- My mother had been talking about this hotel since I was a kid. She stayed there on her honeymoon in 1987.
- I turned 40 and decided to finally see what all the fuss was about.
Room + Booking Tips
Which room should I book?
I stayed in a Superior Room the first time. About 40 square meters. Fine but felt cramped for the price. Second stay I upgraded to a Deluxe which was maybe 50 square meters with a sitting area. Much better. If you can swing it, ask for a room facing the courtyard. Avenue George V gets noisy with delivery trucks starting around 6am.
How much does it cost?
The Superior was €1,450/night in March. The Deluxe was €1,850 in September which is peak season. I booked directly through Four Seasons. Rates on third party sites were about the same so no real savings there.
Where exactly is it?
Just off the Champs-Élysées, about a 3-minute walk. The Arc de Triomphe is 10 minutes on foot. Closest metro is George V on line 1 which is convenient.
Is there parking?
They have valet parking. I think it was €60/day. We didn't have a car. Taxis from CDG were around €55 with the flat rate.
The iconic lobby experience
The Hotel Itself
Flowers & Atmosphere
The lobby flowers are real. I asked. They change them twice a week. There's an entire team just for floral arrangements. Seems excessive but it does look impressive.
Dining
I ate at Le Cinq once. The tasting menu was €420 per person before wine. The food was very good but honestly I preferred Le George which is their Mediterranean restaurant. Had lunch there twice. The €65 prix fixe is more reasonable.
Amenities & Services
The Spa
The spa is in the basement. I booked a massage on my second trip. 80 minutes for €290. The therapist was from Thailand and it was excellent. Better value than some other palace hotel spas I've tried in Paris.
The Pool
The pool is small. Maybe 15 meters. Gets crowded after 4pm. Go in the morning if you want to actually swim.
Breakfast
Breakfast buffet is €75 per person. We did it once for the experience. Good pastries. The eggs were overcooked. After that we walked to a café on Rue Marbeuf and spent €18 for coffee and croissants.
What Actually Stood Out
Housekeeping came three times a day. Morning, turndown, and once mid-afternoon to refresh towels. I've never experienced that anywhere else.
The concierge got us a table at Septime with 2 days notice. That restaurant is usually booked weeks out. Worth asking them for help with hard reservations.
The toiletries are Bulgari. Full sizes, not the tiny bottles. I took a few home.
What I'd Do Differently
Download the App
Join the Four Seasons app before you go. You can message the staff directly for requests. I didn't set it up until day 2 and wished I had it from the start.
Bring an Adapter
Bring an adapter. The outlets are European type E. The hotel has adapters but I had to call down for one at midnight.
Skip the Minibar
Skip the minibar. A small bottle of Evian was €12. There's a Monoprix grocery store 5 minutes away.
Would I Go Back
Probably not every trip. It's a lot of money even by Paris palace hotel standards. The Bristol is similar quality and about €200/night cheaper when I compared.
But for a milestone occasion it delivered.
My mother cried when I showed her photos. She said the courtyard looked exactly the same as 1987.
They have a dress code for Le Cinq. Jacket required for men at dinner. I saw someone turned away in a polo shirt. Also bring layers – the air conditioning runs cold and they don't seem to adjust it much even if you ask.