The suite life of Paris (Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris la Defense)

Member Name: apuskiduski

Product:	Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris la Defense
Date:	28/02/09 (94 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Part of Eurostar package, spacious, maid service, home form home

Disadvantages: Outside the centre of Paris

We stayed in the Fraser Suites Harmonie In September 2006. We are a family of 5 and it is often difficult to find somewhere where we all fit in, basically.

But we found a solution in this accommodation and it only took 15 minutes to discover on the Eurostar website.

When we arrived at Esplanade de La Defense we left the Metro and were at our hotel within ten minutes. The directions provided by the hotel were spot on. We had to exit the Metro, go down an escalator and then enter a small hotel garden via a secure, buzz-in gate. This led to reception. It was secure at least.

La Defense is predominately a commercial area and the hotel we had booked caters for people on conferences and business trips. When we arrived, we wondered if the high rise and concrete surroundings of this modern part of Paris were really what we wanted. I'll return to this later.

We'd had a long journey. The alarm had been set for 4.30 am and, now standing at reception, it was 1.20pm. While waiting to speak to a member of staff I noticed the wonderfully new and fresh fragrance of the place.

We thought our room might not be ready - you know the check in at 3pm routine - but lucky for us we could move in and unpack. Customer service was friendly and efficient on check in. Lots of local information was offered and we felt welcomed.

The apartment itself was absolutely first class, comprising:

Two double bedrooms each with firm, comfy beds, two bedside lamps and fully fitted wardrobes.

A spacious lounge with TV, CD player and internet access for those on business. There was a ready made up double bed settee, dining table and chairs that could double as a workstation and wall to wall sliding wardrobes with bags of extra bedding for all of us.

Off the inner hallway there was a small separate toilet and standard sized bathroom(bath, shower and sink) with body wash dispenser, free toiletries, a hairdryer and lots of fluffy white towels in a variety of sizes.

The kitchen was something else. Not only had it got a toaster, which I had never seen before in France, but also a microwave, full oven and hob, coffee maker and dishwasher. There wasn't an item of cutlery, crockery or gadget that you thought "Where's the....?" It was absolutely perfect and definitely 4 star.

Another thing to mention is the decor. The interior design is wonderful, with rich red and creams blending perfectly together giving a real sense of opulence.

I have to say we never used any of the other facilities in the hotel although there is a bar, breakfast room, gym and the obvious conference facilities. We bought our own food and had a quick breakfast in our room, then we were out until about 10PM before crashing in bed ready for the next fun-filled day.

Breakfasts in 2006 would have cost us 10 Euros each. We thought they would have been OK for an expenses form but not for a family keen to watch their Euros.

Our whole stay was amazing. The girls absolutely loved Paris (but mostly ate Italian food funnily enough) and can't wait to go back one day.

I mentioned earlier that we weren't sure whether the concrete nature and high rise environment of La Defense would suit us, but I have to say it was perfect for a few reasons.

1. It wasn't in a tourist area, so no peddlars of anything, very few beggars and no one with a sheet on the ground selling you hair braids.
2. Each day as we were leaving, everyone was arriving for work and as we were coming home, everyone was leaving, so we always managed to be against the flow of people.
3. Because you're the second stop on Line 1, the Metro is always empty when you go into Paris, so you are guaranteed a seat at least once every day. This isn't always the case on your return journey but at least you see life like Parisians.
4. Very few pickpocket-y types in the area.
5. You can be 'on top' of one of the most iconic buildings in Paris if you go up the Grande Arche in La Defense
6. When you stand in front of the Grande Arche you can see the most fabulous vista all the way to the Arc De Triomphe. An awesome sight.


Fraser Suites Harmonie ticked every box for us.

I hope this has been of some help to anyone looking for something more than a typical hotel room, or for someone on business who perhaps can take their family at the same time, lucky devil, whoever they are!

For more details about Eurostar see www.eurostar.com

For more hotel details see http://paris.frasershospitality.com/

More info and links to Paris metro http://www.paris.org/Metro/

Summary: Fraser Suites Harmonie, well worth remembering.