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Friends Getaway · October 20258/10
The hotel’s location couldn’t be more perfect — right in the heart of Paris, surrounded by everything that makes the city so special. The property itself is absolutely stunning and has that unmistakab...The hotel’s location couldn’t be more perfect — right in the heart of Paris, surrounded by everything that makes the city so special. The property itself is absolutely stunning and has that unmistakable wow effect from the moment you arrive. We loved the balance between its rich historical charm and the way everything is so impeccably maintained — every detail feels cared for, everything is spotless, and it’s clear the team takes great pride in the upkeep.
Our room was beautiful, elegant, and full of character, yet with all the comfort and modern touches you would expect from a top luxury hotel. Breakfast was another highlight — not only was it served in a gorgeous setting, but the service was also outstanding, warm, and attentive.
We also had the chance to visit the legendary Hemingway Bar, which truly lives up to its reputation with its intimate, classic Parisian atmosphere. Overall, the Ritz Paris fully deserves its iconic status for timeless elegance and exceptional service.
My arrival experience was, unfortunately, disappointing — especially considering that the Ritz Paris is listed among The Leading Hotels of the World, and my reservation was made directly through that program. I am an Aurelian Member, which represents the top 1% of High Return Guests within the LHW loyalty program — the highest tier offering benefits such as a guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out and upgrades to higher room categories.
At check-in, however, there was no acknowledgment of my membership or any recognition that the booking was made through LHW. Neither the front desk team nor the room setup reflected this in any way — there was no mention of the program, no welcome letter, nothing indicating that the hotel values its partnership with LHW.
When I politely asked about the guaranteed late check-out benefit, the lady at the front desk responded in a rather dismissive tone, saying that the hotel doesn’t guarantee late check-outs for American Express bookings. I explained that my reservation had nothing to do with American Express and showed a screenshot of my confirmed LHW booking, where the 4 p.m. late check-out is explicitly guaranteed. Her attitude became noticeably defensive, and instead of acknowledging the misunderstanding, she insisted that any late check-out would be granted only as a courtesy of the hotel — and added that, “for the future,” the property does not guarantee such benefits for any programs, including American Express.
Moreover, no room upgrade was offered or even mentioned. Normally, when an upgrade cannot be extended, a professional front desk agent would at least acknowledge the benefit and politely explain that, regrettably, the hotel is fully occupied at the moment. In this case, the lady at the front desk neither mentioned nor addressed it at all, which again reflected a lack of awareness of the program’s standards.
She also told me that she would call as soon as the room was ready, but no one reached out afterward. We were already seated in the bar, and closer to 4 p.m. one of the bar staff kindly offered to check whether our room was ready. Shortly after that, a different gentleman from the front desk came to meet us personally — he was extremely polite, pleasant, and took the time to tell us more about the hotel.
From that moment on, every interaction with the front desk and the concierge team was excellent — warm, professional, and truly reflective of the Ritz Paris standards. My comments therefore refer only to the lady who handled the initial check-in, and not to the rest of the team, who were outstanding in every respect.
Overall, this left an impression that the front office team could benefit from more consistent training regarding the LHW program and its benefits — particularly to ensure a smoother and more gracious first impression for arriving guests.
Another situation occurred upon arrival, involving a man working in the lobby area — possibly a security guard or bellman — whose behavior on two separate occasions was quite unusual and uncomfortable.
Right after check-in, while waiting for my room to be ready, I went to use the restroom inside the hotel. As I was walking through the lobby, this man suddenly stopped me and asked where I was going. When I replied that I was heading to the restroom, he told me that I was not allowed to “walk around the hotel.” I explained that my room was not yet ready and that I was simply waiting in the meantime, but he continued questioning me in a rather unpleasant tone, asking where my luggage was and implying that if I were a real guest, I would have left it with the staff. The exchange felt unnecessary and awkward, and because his English was limited, the conversation became even more uncomfortable. I found myself having to justify why I was there — even though I had already checked in and was waiting for my room to become available.
About an hour later, when my friend arrived, the same man behaved similarly toward him. My friend had just entered the hotel and recorded a short ten-second video on his phone of the lobby’s beautiful interior — without filming any people. The same man quickly approached him and, in a rather sharp tone, said that filming was strictly forbidden.
This was especially confusing because, while I was waiting earlier, I saw many other guests freely taking photos and videos of the lobby area — some of which might have even included me. There seemed to be no consistent enforcement or communication of any such rule. If filming in the lobby is indeed prohibited, it would be fair for the hotel to clearly inform all guests upon arrival, rather than applying this policy selectively.
Overall, these two encounters with the man in the lobby created a very uncomfortable atmosphere and unfortunately spoiled the first impression of the hotel — both for me and for my friend, at completely different times. It was surprising and disappointing to see how the attitude of just one staff member could negatively affect the perception of an otherwise exceptional property like the Ritz Paris.
At the same time, I would like to emphasize that the rest of the team performed excellently throughout our stay. In particular, Moussa, who assisted us with our luggage upon departure, was extremely polite, attentive, and genuinely kind — his attitude toward guests was the complete opposite, and he truly represented the gracious and welcoming spirit expected from a hotel of this level.
I would like to emphasize that this review is not written as a complaint, but rather as constructive feedback. The Ritz Paris is an outstanding hotel that I would confidently recommend to other guests.
My intention is simply to draw attention to these few moments involving two specific employees, as such small interactions can have a significant impact on the overall impression of the stay. I trust that the hotel’s management and training team will take this feedback in the right spirit — as an opportunity to ensure that every guest’s experience consistently reflects the world-class standards for which the Ritz Paris is so rightly known.Show More
