As the song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but the Christmas shopping part can sometimes be more stressful than anything else. So StyleNest decided to hop on the Eurostar to take advantage of Mandarin Oriental Paris’s Festive Season Package, a luxury Christmas shopping experience with accommodation at the hotel and VIP access to Printemps, one of the city’s most prestigious department stores.
Located on the Rue St Honore, the Mandarin Oriental Paris couldn’t be in a more perfect location for some stylish Christmas shopping. As we walked past the designer boutiques down the pretty Parisian streets, twinkling with Christmas lights, we couldn’t wait to hit the shops. And with Printemps, the famous Parisian department store just a 10-minute walk away from the hotel, we had everything nearby all under one roof to take the stress away.
We arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Paris to be greeted by the hotel’s friendly staff and glasses of champagne, the perfect way to start a weekend, and it was Christmas after all! After checking in to our room, which was impressively spacious and equipped with the latest gadgets and technology for a luxurious and comfortable stay, we headed out with our lists for Santa to start our shopping at Printemps thanks to their special VIP shopping services organised with the hotel. The Festive Season Package had thought of everything to take the stress out of shopping, including a personal shopper team who would look after our purchases as we browsed the store, gift wrapping, delivery, a Printemps VIP card with special offers, and even a surprise Christmas gift so we could have a little treat ourselves.
We arrived back at Mandarin Oriental Paris a few hours later laden down with bags, and after been pampered by Printemps we felt ready for a little more pampering in MO’s incredible spa. Downstairs we found a large, tranquil swimming pool, herbal steam room, the best equipped hotel gym we had ever seen, and even a Guerlain shop where we could browse in the peace and quiet of the spa. After a couple of hours of relaxation we headed back up stairs to get ready to see Paris by night, but not before stopping off for cocktail in the hotel’s beautiful bar.
The next day after a peaceful night’s sleep in our huge, comfortable bed, we headed downstairs for breakfast. The beautifully presented buffet breakfast had thought of everything, as had the hot breakfast menu, and we didn’t know whether to indulge in the pastries and traditional French cakes or try to be healthy with delicious fruits and fresh smoothies. Feeling full, relaxed, and very looked after, we weren’t even on to our second cup of morning coffee before we were already planning our return, but after been so thoroughly spoilt by the Mandarin Oriental we wont be waiting until next Christmas for our next trip to Paris, or a stay at one of it’s most luxurious hotels.
Need to know
Rates: A stay in the Mandarin Oriental Paris starts at € per person per night.
Check-in Time: 3pm
Check-out Time: 12 noon
Facilities: The Mandarin Oriental Paris boasts an excellent city centre location, close to Place Vendôme and only minutes from the Tuileries gardens and the world-famous the Louvre.
The hotel offers 98 guestrooms and 40 two or three bedroom suites, all soundproofed and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Designer duplex suites are also available, many with private balconies, with the impressive Royale Mandarin Suite boasting two private terraces, large living areas and bathrooms, and 360-degree views of Paris.
There is a state-of-the-art gym available for hotel guests, as well as 14m indoor heated swimming pool, Oriental herbal steam room, and an extensive beauty therapy menu. Four single treatment suites and three couple’s treatment suites are available to enjoy one of the hotel’s massages or facial therapies by Guerlain. All treatment rooms come with private facilities and steam showers for ultimate privacy, and once your treatment is over, why not browse the Guerlain shop to pamper yourself back home.
The hotel offers two restaurants, with fine dining is available in the 2-Michelin starred Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx, or head to Camélia for all-day dining, also overseen by the award-winning Marx.
The Mandarin Oriental also offers cocktails and light dining at Bar “8”, pastries, cakes, and coffee at the Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop, and boasts a peaceful inner courtyard to sit and enjoy your drinks.
How to get there: Conveniently located in centre of Paris, the hotel is easily reached by taxi or metro from the airports or Paris’s many train stations.
A taxi from Paris Orly or Charles de Gaulle airports costs around €70. If arriving by Eurostar, a taxi from the Gare du Nord train station costs around €30.
The closest metro stations are Concorde or Madeleine.
Mandarin Oriental, 251 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, 75001