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Home » Reviews » Hotels » What’s better than 5 star? “Palace” Status
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What’s better than 5 star? “Palace” Status

Miles November 12, 2022 9 Comments

We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Monkey Miles and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Monkey Miles is also a Senior Advisor to Bilt Rewards Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


There are 31 Palace hotels in France

In 2010, France’s Ministry of Tourism introduced a new category of hotel that would be recognized as better than 5 star: Palace Status. If you see this demarkation on the outside of a hotel, rest assured, you are staying in the very best of the best. In fact, only 31 hotels across the whole of France have earned the honor.  While 5 star hotels offer bilingual services, spa facilities, concierge, etc – Palace hotels offer those certain “je ne sais quoi” factors such as history of the hotel site, environmental policy, character, et al. Check out the list, and you’ll certainly see that it is chalked full of the most famous and esteemed hotels France has to offer, and unless I’m overlooking one, the only redeemable with points is the Park Hyatt Paris.

courtesy of hyatt.com

The 31 hotels currently deemed “Palace” worthy:

  1. Hôtel du Palais – Biarritz (Pays Basque)
  2. Hôtel Le Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme – Paris
    • Both of these hotels are bookable with Hyatt points
  3. Hôtel Les Airelles – Courchevel (Alps)
  4. Hôtel Berrière Les Neiges
  5. Hôtel L’Apogee – Courchevel
  6. Hôtel Le Cheval Blanc – Courchevel (Alps)
  7. Hôtel Le Bristol – Paris
  8. Four Seasons Hotel George V – Paris
  9. Hôtel Lutétia – Paris
  10. Hôtel Le Meurice – Paris
  11. Hôtel Le Plaza Athénée – Paris
  12. Hôtel Le Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel – Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Côte d’Azur)
  13. Hôtel La Réserve – Ramatuelle (Provence)
  14. Hôtel Le Byblos – Saint-Tropez (Provence)
  15. Le Château de La Messardière – Saint-Tropez (Provence)
  16. Le Royal Monceau – Paris
  17. Shangri-La Hotel– Paris
  18. Mandarin Oriental – Paris
  19. Hôtel Le K2 – Courchevel (Alps)
  20. La Réserve Paris – Paris
  21. The Peninsula – Paris
  22. Le Royal Evian – Evian-les-Bains (Alps)
  23. Le Cap-Eden-Rock – Antibes (Côte d’Azur)
  24. La Bastide de Gordes – Gordes (Vaucluse)
  25. Les Sources de Caudalie – Martillac (Gironde)
  26. Les Prés d’Eugénie – Eugénie-les-Bains (Landes)
  27. Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France – Saint-Barthélémy Island
  28. Byblos Saint-Tropez
  29. Château de la Messardière – Saint Tropez
  30. Château de Saint-Martin & Spa –Vence
  31. Villa La Coste – Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade

Plaza Athenee Paris

How does a hotel gain Palace status in France?

It’s a two phase process whereby the ministry of tourism awards the distinction:

  • an initial investigation phase conducted by ATOUT FRANCE based on objective eligibility criteria. These mandatory criteria include having the following available to guests: fitness area, spa, multilingual team, concierge service and more.

  • an evaluation phase is conducted by an experienced panel, based on a set of assessment criteria including: location, appearance, history of the site, character of the establishment, involvement of staff in seeking excellence, gourmet restaurants, respectful environmental policy, and more.

Booking the Park Hyatt Paris or Hôtel du Palais Biarritz with World of Hyatt points

If you’re looking to score a deal, search for the Park Hyatt Paris in calendar mode. Remember both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards are transfer partners of Hyatt and 35k would be the off peak rate at category 8 hotels.

Personally I love visiting Paris in the winter – the temps don’t get too cold, the city is gorgeously dressed for Christmas, and it’s far less touristy. Just be prepared for some cloudy days, sporadic rain or even some snow.

And here is the Hôtel du PalaisBiarritz which is a category 7 hotel… starting late October through Feb 25k a night. You will find 30k nights in June/Sept as well.

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About Author

Miles

This Monkey didn't get the name Miles for nothing. I might look like an innocent little furball, but I am a Points and Awards BEAST!! Follow me around the world to see how I fly in lie flat seats and sleep in 5* suites for pennies on the dollar.

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9 Comments

  1. betsey Reply
    November 15, 2022 at 4:40 am

    as a travel agent I believe the term “PALACE” is just a way for these already TOP TIER hotels to just charge more. Ive already noticed their rates are at least 20% higher than they were last year

  2. Globalist Reply
    August 7, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    Other redeemable is Hotel du Palais Biarritz. WoH Cat.7 30k points

  3. Christian Reply
    August 7, 2021 at 11:45 am

    A very fine group of hotels to be sure. I do think that using the term palace as a classification will ultimately lead to confusion and disappointment for guests expecting, well, a palace.

    • Miles Reply
      August 7, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      Yep, I’d agree

  4. jfhscott Reply
    August 7, 2021 at 11:37 am

    IIRC, the Hotel du Palais is an SLH and can be had for Hyatt points.

    • Miles Reply
      August 7, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      oh snap, great shout! Missed that one!

  5. T Reply
    May 7, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    And of course, the Waldorf Trianon Palace Versailles, which is on the Palace of Versailles grounds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of the palace at some point in the past, isn’t on this list. 😉

  6. Pingback: What’s better than 5 star? “Palace” Status – Travel Blogs
  7. Pingback: Review: Intercontinental Paris Le Grand - Monkey Miles

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