Four Seasons Hotel, George V, Paris

The Four Seasons Hotel, George V doorman jumps to attention as he welcomes your arrival. In his bright blue and gold tuxedo and cap, he looks like an elaborately detailed peacock. "Bonjour, monsieur," he says, pushing open the revolving door. A bellhop already has grabbed the luggage. Inside, uniformed waiters rush back and forth. An Old World anachronism? No, the times are very delightful in Paris and if you have money to spend this is indeed the place to spend it.

At the Four Seasons Hotel famed chefs have been hired (including Alain Ducasse), turning this venerable institution into a veritable gastronomic mecca, with infamous wine lists to match. But more than anything else you will experience, the truly aristocratic personalized service continues to distinguish this "palace" from ordinary luxury hotels. They have taken history, richly woven and brought it into the third millennium, as a revamp of the entire 25,000-bottle wine cellar has made the Four Seasons Hotel a wine enthusiast's paradise. Steps from the Champs-Elysees, with private terraces and commanding views across Paris, the esteemed Four Seasons George V redefines quality service in the "City of Lights." Step into the palatial surroundings of this Parisian Art Deco landmark, complete with lovingly restored 18th-century tapestries.

The extravagant renovations at the Four Seasons Hotel have generated virtuous competition yet not quite enough to even begin to compare. Modernizing luxury has also meant toning down the stuffiness and reaching out to a much wider audience, which has proven to be a rare and wonderful discovery for all who dare to tread the path to luxury with pride and an "essence" of historical perspective tucked away in their hearts. But informality only goes so far before noble tradition again beckons. Tradition doesn't come without a hefty price tag, one that ensures you will be spending time with only the "elite". In France, the word “palace” refers to the hotels that are historic, expensive and oh so grand. By common consent and attention to nothing less than “perfection”, the Four Seasons Hotel boasts a spacious hotel with everything one has come to love and expect when traveling abroad. Before then, historically, the best food and lodging was found in privately owned chateaus, the meals prepared by the aristocrats' own chefs. Inns and post-houses were all that could be offered those required to travel independently.

The Four Seasons Hotel lobby itself is indeed worth a visit, as it is magnificently highlighted by immaculate marble columns and floors and augmented by flowers that simply glow with beauty. Working with the unusual art deco facade and interior renovation has given the hotel the incredible opportunity to return the building’s original charm and to reinforce the Hotel’s place in the architectural heritage of Paris. Arches have been restored to their original proportions, resulting in a grander perspective of the interior courtyard, which is both welcoming and private. Soft shades of beige, off-white and pale grey have lightened public places and richly textured fabrics and warm wood paneling from Normandy underscore the grandeur of the 13,000-square-foot meeting space fit for kings and queens. Tapestries from 17th century Flanders, a 500-square-foot Savonnerie carpet and an original bay window brings a feeling of greatness and history to this renowned property.

And a meal at the Four Seasons George V Hotel's famed Le Cinq may be an extravagant expense, but well worth it as its well-earned 4+ stars from a plethora of prestigious travel guides proves that sometimes critics are impeccably accurate. A dining experience here is like a vacation unto itself— the service is constant but very non-intrusive and you can linger for hours on end over a meal whose courses just seem to improve with each serving. Hotel facilities at the the Four Seasons Hotel also include a swimming pool, cardiovascular equipment and fitness instruction as well as a separate men and women’s sauna, whirlpool, locker rooms, relaxation rooms and juice bar.