Vive la difference

Travel

In a city of high fashion, even our Neil Connor could find a beautiful hotel. But the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome is more than a cut above the rest.

It is definitely a female thing; the art of strutting your stuff in designer labels to impress all who you come into contact with in the day. Not for a night out, or even a dinner party. These are people who dress up for anything.

You see them all over the place. Sitting in coffee shops, tilting their Prada sunglasses and looking at their tiny mirrors from their makeup boxes, stopping momentarily to text their friends. Or on the train, surrounded by dozens of designer-label adorned shopping bags, reading the latest bestseller - so long as it fits into their Louis Vuitton handbag.

Many well-educated women have transformed a trip into town for a coffee and a shop into their own catwalk experience. And these people are not even meeting their friends. Dressing up is for the benefit of the people who are lucky enough to be in the same cafe or train carriage.

Now, if you are one of the hordes of wannabe Carrie Bradshaws reading this from a pavement café, don't feel the need to send me a hateful text. Take another sip from your cappuccino, relax, and let me tell you where I stand on this issue. I believe those who take the time and effort to, er, make an effort, should be applauded.

Dressing up for complete strangers is an artform appreciated by men other than builders. And women also, surely feel more at ease when they are not the only ones in the Bullring dressed head to toe in clothes made by Italy's finest designers.

But strangely enough, this trend does not seem to replicate itself when people book hotels for a city break.

There is nothing wrong with booking a budget airline flight. Who wouldn't want to pay £30 for a flight that costs many £100. There might be subtle differences in service and legroom, but it is only two hours out of your life.

But most of us are sometimes put off with plush hotels, believing them to be strictly for rich Americans and business travellers, rather than internet holiday bookers.You deserve a slice of the action. Luxury accommodation is no longer reserved for the likes of Paris Hilton.

This is especially true in the city that brought us the designs of Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton - as it has a hotel of equal breathtaking beauty. Set in the heart of the Paris trendy shopping district, within easy walk of the sights and sounds of Europe's most fast-moving city, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome is the diamond button on the lapel of Parisian hotels. And given that my other half is a dedicated follower of fashion - what better setting for a weekend away for us both in Europe's fashion capital.

I knew beforehand that the Vendome ticks all the right boxes in terms of quality, service and décor. That comes with the territory for Hyatt, but could it meet two exceptionally high standards set for the purposes of my trip?

Firstly, would it meet the high standards set by those - including my other half - who want in their surroundings what they expect in their clothes.

And secondly, for people like myself who would rather lose themselves in the bar than in the décor, does the Vendome offer all the services one would expect of a five-star in Paris?

Entering the hotel, one is surprised at the space laid out before you. Beyond a tiny entrance is a Tardis-like foyer filled with the creams and browns that give Hyatts their special powers.

To the left, a bar with a stunning selection of cocktails. The waiter cooked up the house special - which was so elaborate with its ingredients that I forget the name. But it was difficult to forget the mint leaves lining the bottom of the glass. The waiter obviously enjoyed making the cocktail, throwing it around like a baton-twirling majorette.

Lining the bar were Parisian professionals of the type to be found in Birmingham's swankiest boozers. They were dressed impeccably. I needed a taste of my ice-filled cocktail to make me even half as cool as most of the clientele.

I stayed in the Park Room. It was luxurious to the point where there was even a second room/wardrobe where you can lay out clothes that have been purchased in the day before hanging them up.

The bathroom was a harmonious paradox of space and light. Somewhere to enjoy a tipple of French red with grapes and aperitifs. But don't forget to have a wash!

Four and a half years after its opening, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome has invested £3.5 million in revamping the hotel.

The existing Presidential Suite will be refurbished to integrate an 'In-suite spa', and two new Presidential Suites will be added with the same concept in mind. Five prestigious suites will also be renovated, as will the hotel's spa. The upgrade will help to cement the hotel's reputation as one of the most stylish in Paris.

So where does all this panache come from? You needn't look any further than Birmingham's very own Broad Street for the answer.

Phillippe Roux-Dessarps, manager of the award-winning Hyatt Regency Birmingham, was general manager at the Vendome before taking over at Birmingham's landmark hotel.

You could be forgiven for passing off Phillippe's well-known Parisian flair and stylish suits on Broad Street for him being, well, French.

But his influence in Paris also stands out from the crowd; and don't just take my word for it - uprooting my partner from the Vendome was a painful experience.

• FACT FILE
  The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome can be booked via www.paris.vendome.hyatt.com.
  Prices for rooms range from 700 to 810 euros, and suites from 910 to 8,000 euros. The hotel offers 168 rooms, including 36 suites.
  Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome 5 Rue de la Paix, Paris, 75002, France Tel: +33 1 5871 1234 Fax: +33 1 5871 1235 Email: vendome@hyattintl.com

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