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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.
The 31 hotels currently deemed “Palace” worthy:
- Hôtel du Palais – Biarritz (Pays Basque)
- Hôtel Le Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme – Paris
- Both of these hotels are bookable with Hyatt points
- Hôtel Les Airelles – Courchevel (Alps)
- Hôtel Berrière Les Neiges
- Hôtel L’Apogee – Courchevel
- Hôtel Le Cheval Blanc – Courchevel (Alps)
- Hôtel Le Bristol – Paris
- Four Seasons Hotel George V – Paris
- Hôtel Lutétia – Paris
- Hôtel Le Meurice – Paris
- Hôtel Le Plaza Athénée – Paris
- Hôtel Le Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel – Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Côte d’Azur)
- Hôtel La Réserve – Ramatuelle (Provence)
- Hôtel Le Byblos – Saint-Tropez (Provence)
- Le Château de La Messardière – Saint-Tropez (Provence)
- Le Royal Monceau – Paris
- Shangri-La Hotel– Paris
- Mandarin Oriental – Paris
- Hôtel Le K2 – Courchevel (Alps)
- La Réserve Paris – Paris
- The Peninsula – Paris
- Le Royal Evian – Evian-les-Bains (Alps)
- Le Cap-Eden-Rock – Antibes (Côte d’Azur)
- La Bastide de Gordes – Gordes (Vaucluse)
- Les Sources de Caudalie – Martillac (Gironde)
- Les Prés d’Eugénie – Eugénie-les-Bains (Landes)
- Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France – Saint-Barthélémy Island
- Byblos Saint-Tropez
- Château de la Messardière – Saint Tropez
- Château de Saint-Martin & Spa –Vence
- Villa La Coste – Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade
How does a hotel gain Palace status in France?
It’s a two phase process whereby the ministry of tourism awards the distinction:
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.
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
Other redeemable is Hotel du Palais Biarritz. WoH Cat.7 30k points
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.
Yep, I’d agree
IIRC, the Hotel du Palais is an SLH and can be had for Hyatt points.
oh snap, great shout! Missed that one!
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. 😉