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Critics Choice Vacations
Paris, France
Thanks to all of you who have been interested and following along on the trip my son and I took in OCT together. A special 12 day, 4 country tour. Today, we are finally reporting on our time in Paris. I hope you will enjoy the reviews and photos along the way.
AAH Paris, the city of love, the city of lights! There is always a great time to be in Paris.
I would like to share some highlights from our time in Paris!
Our first stop was at the world renowned Four Seasons George V Paris. We were treated like royalty here with an amazing staff, lovely rooms, flowers covering many parts of the hotel from top to bottom and very discrete yet friendly service. Our room was amazing and filled with special belated birthday treats including a welcome amenity to my son, a belated birthday cake and champagne for me and fresh flowers all over our spacious and luxurious room. What more can a girl ask for? Nothing! Included in our rate was an amazing and delightful breakfast in a gorgeous setting. The location in Paris cannot be beat! A few shots to indicate the beauty of this amazing iconic hotel. I lost my phone somewhere on the way from the Paris Orly airport to this hotel (the only major downside of our trip) and the staff went over and above including running security cameras to make sure I had not dropped it on my way into the hotel, during check in, on the way to our room, etc. They could not have been more helpful. A super gracious and lovely service staff from the front desk, to the concierge, to our sales team, etc. A big thank you to Mr. Ludovic Cayacy, Sales Manager at the hotel as well as the General Manager, Mr. Jose Silva
for a more than beautiful stay.
Continuing along with us on our journey, we had another wonderful day in Paris....some sightseeing and another amazing hotel where we were completely spoiled rotten....again! Outstanding over the top pampering at Dorchester Collection Paris Le Meurice, famous for its Restaurant Le Dalí (featured in a few photos below) and it's two Michelin-star Restaurant, Le Meurice with chef Alain Ducasse. Rooms were elegant and beautifully appointed and very spacious. Again we were treated like dignitaries during our stay. The hotel is another famous iconic hotel in Paris and located in a wonderful part of the city. A big hearty thanks to Marie-Pierre Morelle, Jean-Damien Prieur-Wirz, Marc-Antonine Salembier-Santi, and Christophe Chopineau,
Deputy General Manager for such an amazing visit with you.
As many times as I have been to Paris in the past, I have never had (made) time to visit the Eiffel Tower! I am usually just passing through or there for business of some sort. I have sent many many clients to tour there but never made it there myself, until this time! WOW amazing! We enjoy the services of the Batobus, which offers guides tours as well as a great hop on/hop off river access. It's a great way to see the city via river vs. fighting with all of the traffic.
For a complete album of Paris, please visit here: Paris Album
After two nights in Paris, we headed to Normandy (which I will report on under a separate blog), then we came back to Paris for one final evening.
So our whirlwind 12 day, 7 flight, 3 rental car and 4 country tour, with countless miles walked, had come to an end with our last and final night in Paris before we flew home.
We were invited for a lovely and amazing dinner at La Reserve, Paris
after we enjoyed a beautiful site inspection. Thank you so much Didier Le Calves
and Nathaniel Most
for the wonderful site tour and amazing final dinner in Paris.
Our final night's stay was at the beautifully appointed Peninsula Hotel Paris, which must be the most high tech property I have ever stayed in! A very chic and classy hotel with a touch and flare of Asia added in. Just stunning. Thank you Jacqueline Mocatta, Laura Cuinier, Camille Dumaine-Martin and Sophie Jacou
for a lovely site tour and amazing, albeit quick stay with you. We ended the final night with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower sparkling away in the distance. Certainly a lovely ending to an amazing adventure.
My heart is filled with so much gratitude to all of the wonderful old and new friends we met, wonderful supplier/vendor bonds strengthened, new places discovered, for God going before us orchestrating our plans of pencil into stone and allowing us all means by which to execute this trip. My hubby, Curtis Boehnstedt
for graciously staying back to "hold down the fort" and generously, without envy (at least that he showed), allowing us to go (I am not sure I could do the same if tables were turned). For my great CCV team Stephanie Cox (thank you thank you STEPH for all you did) & Isabelle Toulouse
for playing guardian angels over my clients so I could take a real vacation (1st real one in 15 years)!
Added to that, I have giant, sparkling diamond nuggets tucked away in my heart, each one a new memory made with my precious son Ian Boehnstedt. He was such a trooper with his crazy and schedule intense mom, helping to navigate our entire journey, getting up earlier than one would think necessary on a "vacation," to catch yet one more flight or train, whose jokes and smiles helped to brighten many unexpected (and sometimes tense) situations and his grown up demeanor making me so proud of him countless times. You are the best, buddy and I would travel the world with you! PRICELESS!
I am not sure who said this quote, “Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer,” but indeed we are much richer after this trip.
Like so many other parents this Fall, my husband and I became “Empty Nesters”. Our baby girl, and youngest of three was heading off to college and we were faced with the reality of being alone for the first time in 26 years. We decided that this was a life milestone that we should observe, rather than dread. We had spent years devoting endless time and energy to our children and now they were all out in the world as healthy, happy, productive members of society. We had much to celebrate. So, after dropping our daughter off at college we traveled to Montana’s Paradise Valley and spent a few days at Sage Lodge to mark this special occasion. Montana’s Paradise Valley starts near Livingston, which sits on I-90, and stretches south along highway 89 towards Yellowstone National Park. It is the major river valley of the Yellowstone River and is flanked by the Gallatin and Absaroka Ranges. Highway 89 was the original entrance into Yellowstone National Park, although there are now two additional entrances, one each in Montana and Wyoming. Along with its unmatched beauty and world-class fly fishing on the river, the valley also offers other natural wonders such as several natural hot springs.
Ernest Hemingway once described Switzerland as “a small, steep country, much more up and down than sideways, and stuck all over with large brown hotels built on the cuckoo clock style of architecture.” Susan’s recent travels between Geneva and Zurich proves that a lot has changed in the Swiss hotel scene since Hemingway’s observation. While she has lots of experience setting up pre- and post-river cruise activities and private trips in the area, this “self-imposed” familiarization was to acquaint herself with Virtuoso’s Swiss properties. Susan’s excited to share her thoughts on this diverse list of hotels, as well as the historic cities they call home.
This past fall, Susan was invited to sit on the Advisory Board for the German National Tourism Offices out of New York City. In partnership to boost tourism to Germany, she toured two of the country’s most iconic cities. From the eclectic coffee and artistic scenes of Hamburg, to an exploration of the tumultuous history of Berlin, there was a lot to take in. Susan hopes her journey will shed light on why Germany should be the destination of your next European vacation. Below you’ll find some incredible places to stay, cuisine to sample, and experiences that will put the discovery of German culture at the forefront of your travels.
With Paris and Rome, London forms the trifecta of must-visit cities for those first taking the dive into European culture. A hub of history, politics, architecture (both very old and very new), and the arts, London has a little bit to offer everyone. This November, Susan had the opportunity to tour over a dozen of the city’s best boutique hotels so you know where to stay during your visit. In addition, Susan also toured some of the charming villages that surround London that are perfect for a day trip, or quick weekend, to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. She hopes her exploration of this British metropolis will help you know where to start when planning your first (or next) European getaway.
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