Elite Traveler Winter 2021

Shangri-La Paris, L’Appartement Prince Bonaparte PARIS, FRANCE Shangri-La Paris is often dubbed one of Paris’s best hotels. The former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte (great-nephew of Napoleon) was built in 1896; the hotel is listed in the French Monuments Historiques . Fans of Shangri-La hotels won’t find many signature brand touches here; instead, the history is celebrated (with some original features intact) with a healthy dose of opulence. The suitably regal L’Appartement Prince Bonaparte, with its soaring ceilings, authentic crown molding, gilt work and period artwork, was once the prince’s dwelling. The 2,960-sq-ft suite has one master bedroomwith walk-in closet, spacious living roomwith guest washroom, and a separate dining area for eight guests with a butler’s kitchen. Best feature Regal decor and original features From $18,000 per night. Contact Frederique Dobiezynski, customer sales manager, frederique.dobiezynski@ shangri-la.com, +33 153 671 964, shangri-la.com

Le Bristol Paris, Imperial Suite PARIS, FRANCE Classic French style is embodied in Le Bristol Paris’ 3,475-sq-ft Imperial Suite, with refined touches and thoughtful embellishments. The suite’s main bedroom has a floral yet understated decor with quintessential French fabrics, courtesy of Manuel Canovas and Veraseta. The adjoining bathroom is decked out with a deep bathtub, separate rain shower and twin vanity unit, as well as a steam room. For extra space, guests can make use of the adjoining rooms to transform the suite into a two- or even three-bedroom accommodation. Sleeping arrangements aside, the Imperial Suite also offers a large dining room and a formal lounge space with views across the hotel’s stately gardens (complete with its own insect hotel and beehives for homemade honey) — a remarkable feature in itself considering the hotel’s central Paris location. Best feature The 12-seat dining room, where guests can enjoy a culinary experience by chef Éric Fréchon, who leads the hotel’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant From $15,711 per night. Contact reservations.lebristolparis@oetkercollection.com, +33 153 434 300, oetkercollection.com

Photos Claire Cocano, Vincent Leroux, Adrien Daste

Hôtel Byblos, Missoni Home Suite SAINT-TROPEZ, FRANCE With a glittering roster of A-list regulars, the iconic Hôtel Byblos was never going to fit into the category of ‘ordinary.’ In the hotel’s presidential Missoni Home Suite, explosions of color and hypnotic prints are kept in check only by natural textures and calming base colors, resulting in a design-led space that is as daringly stylish as it is comfortable. Spread over 1,950 sq ft, the suite is made up of two sharply decorated bedrooms, an impressive four bathrooms, and a spacious living and dining area with poolside views. To soak up the European sun in complete privacy, head to the private terrace, complete with alfresco dining space. Best feature Complimentary helicopter transfers fromNice airport for stays over five nights From$5,484 per night. Contact saint-tropez@byblos.com, +33 494 566 800, byblos.com

The Ritz Paris, Suite Impériale PARIS, FRANCE

The Ritz Paris needs little introduction — the level of splendor at this hotel is known across the world. The icing on top of the Ritz’s incredibly elaborate cake is its Suite Impériale, which, having taken inspiration from the Palace of Versailles, embodies the richness and elegance of 18th-century French nobility. The 2,347-sq-ft suite can only be described as ostentatious (in the very best way, of course), with ceilings that stretch nearly 20-ft high, gilded finishes and a plethora of glittering chandeliers. In the wood-paneled bathroom, a central stone-topped, gold-tapped tub takes center stage, while the stand-out feature in the lounge is floor-to-ceiling windows with views over the Place Vendôme. Best feature Larger-than-life four-poster canopy bed that is an exact replica of one in Marie Antoinette’s private quarters From $20,381 per night. Contact reservations@ritzparis.com, +33 143 163 030, ritzparis.com