Well, I guess there are a lot of reviews on the way, because Ford and I just planned a very last minute trip, to a hotel we’ve been wanting to check out for quite some time. Let me first talk about why we’re taking this trip, and then I’ll discuss the itinerary I booked (which was designed to maximize new flight experiences, of course).
In this post:
We’re staying at Airelles Versailles!
Airelles is probably my favorite boutique luxury hotel group in the world right now. The properties are expensive, but the hotels really offer an incredible experience, with amazing service, food, and inclusions.
If you ask me, Airelles is what Aman used to be in terms of quality and guest experience, though with a bit less geographic diversity (since all of the brand’s properties are in France).
I’ve reviewed most of Airelles’ properties, including Les Airelles Courchevel, Airelles La Bastide de Gordes, Airelles Saint-Tropez Chateau de la Messardiere, and Airelles Val d’Isère. The one property of the brand we haven’t stayed at yet is probably also the most intriguing. I’m talking about Airelles Château de Versailles, the 14-key property located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.
Everything about this concept looks incredible — the design of the property, the after hours access to the Palace of Versailles, the “Royal Feast” dining, etc. It almost seems like a hybrid between the typical Airelles experience, and some sort of (hopefully) non-cheesy performative event.
So, why did we decide to go now? For a long time, even being able to find availability at the property was a challenge, given its popularity and limited room count. In this case, the weather forecast for Paris looked nice (well, for February), the entry level room was available for booking, and we also had time to get away for a few days. I’m hoping it lives up to expectations!
We’re flying Air France’s La Premiere first class to Paris
To get to Paris, I decided to book Air France’s La Premiere first class on the Boeing 777. I haven’t flown it since before the pandemic, so I figured it was time to revisit the experience. I recently earned Flying Blue Platinum status, which allows first class redemptions, though at a steep cost. When I booked a couple of days out, all four of the first class seats were available.
I’m excited to see how La Premiere is holding up, and also to check out the new arrivals lounge in Paris. For what it’s worth, I booked Paris as the stopover point, and then booked a connecting flight to Vienna on the Air France Airbus A220 in business class, so it’ll be my first time on the carrier’s newest narrow body jet as well.
I’m flying Austrian’s 787 business class back home
Of course I’m always looking to review new products, so for the return portion of the trip, I’ll be flying Austrian’s Boeing 787 business class back to the United States. I think Austrian has the best soft product in the Lufthansa Group, so I’m looking forward to experiencing that amazing soft product on a daytime flight out of Vienna, while also enjoying the new hard product.
Ford is flying back separately, as I’ll be returning home a day later, in order to make this Vienna detour…
Where should I spend a night in Vienna?
For the return portion of the trip, I have a night in Vienna. Any requests for which points hotel you’d like to see a review of? During my last stopover in Vienna, I spent a night at the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere. Other than that, I haven’t reviewed any property in the city in a very long time.
Should I revisit the Park Hyatt Vienna, which is a highly regarded Hyatt property? Or should I check out one of the two historic Luxury Collection properties, as there’s both Hotel Bristol and Hotel Imperial?
I stayed at Hotel Imperial back in 2013, and I stayed at the Park Hyatt Vienna in 2015. In both cases, it has been so long that I’m just as happy to revisit either as to try something new.
Bottom line
We planned a very last minute trip to Europe, where we’ll be flying Air France’s 777 first class, Air France’s A220 business class, and Austrian’s 787 business class. On top of that, we’ll be staying at Airelles Versailles, the last property of the group that we haven’t checked out.
This will be a very quick trip, so expect some initial impressions in the coming days. Then I’m going to publish my full Hong Kong trip report, and then I’ll publish the full trip report from this journey.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned! And please let me know if y’all have any preferences as to which Vienna property you’d like to see a review of.
I stayed at the Hotel Imperial last year, and at the Ritz Carlton a few weeks ago. They are both great, but I like the Ritz better. They are only a block apart. Also stayed at the Intercontinental down the street, but that one you can skip. It is seriously in need of a refresh, but the staff were great.
Someone mentioned the Rosewood in Vienna, I would be very interested in reading your review (I am based in Vienna). Bristol does not make sense, since it is closing in a few days (GM is also leaving and not returning), it will be a few years before re-opening. The hotel situation in Vienna is not that great, Imperial probably the best option.
I have not been a fan of the new catering on AUA...
Someone mentioned the Rosewood in Vienna, I would be very interested in reading your review (I am based in Vienna). Bristol does not make sense, since it is closing in a few days (GM is also leaving and not returning), it will be a few years before re-opening. The hotel situation in Vienna is not that great, Imperial probably the best option.
I have not been a fan of the new catering on AUA flights, so will indeed be very interesting to read your review. In my view, it is mediocre at best.
BTW, the Austrian coffee menu that you loved in past reviews is only available directly after the main course, I always wanted to point that out.
Make sure to review the Vienna Lounge on departure (assuming your flight leaves from the D gates), it is just before passport control and pretty great. The Austrian Lounge at the D gates however is tiny and nothing special.
Last time I was in Vienna we stayed at the SO/Vienna and loved it. The building and the interior spaces were designed together by Jean Nouvel and so it's a uniquely immersive architectural/design experience - one of the most memorable hotels I've stayed in in a while. Also, the cocktail bar and breakfast buffet restaurant are at the top of one of the highest buildings in town, so the views are incredible. And then to...
Last time I was in Vienna we stayed at the SO/Vienna and loved it. The building and the interior spaces were designed together by Jean Nouvel and so it's a uniquely immersive architectural/design experience - one of the most memorable hotels I've stayed in in a while. Also, the cocktail bar and breakfast buffet restaurant are at the top of one of the highest buildings in town, so the views are incredible. And then to boot you're one block away from the Metro and tram stops at Schwedenplatz.
I think there are a core set of airlines that you focus on. There are many more airlines around the world and I hope that you could also try them out and report on them.
Another boring sponsored trip to Paris, yawn
Yes, I'm also getting a bit tired and yawning by the increasingly narcissitic and boring tone of this blog
An “off the beaten path” fun one could be the Hotel Grand Ferdinand, part of a smaller Austrian chain. It’s 2 blocks from the Hotel Imperial, has a great restaurant (Meissl & Schaden) for schnitzel, and a nice rooftop. A fun quirk is that the hotel also offers very reasonably priced bunk bed “dorm rooms” for 50 euros a night via Airbnb for budget travelers.
Other than that, Sacher or Ritz are great too
Will fly the 787 business next week. IAD-VIE. Looking forward to it. A review of the hotel Sacher would be interesting.
I recommend that you do the tour of the Versailles Library; that was the one "extra" thing that we did there and it was amazing if you appreciate history.
Can't wait to read the review of the hotel in Versailles. Have really enjoyed your reviews of their other hotels. I'd also love to see a review of the Rosewood in Vienna.
Ritz Carlton in Vienna.
Plus one for a Sacher review in Vienna.
What a great trip this will be!
@lucky Wow will you be spending just one night in Versailles?
Consider the Ritz Carlton - really enjoyed a one night stay there last year.
Park Hyatt or the Rosewood Vienna
Would be a nice trip to tell brainwashed E39 what SkyTeam actually is.
What ended up happening with the Park Hyatt potentially leaving the brand or being sold? I'm rusty on the details.
The A220 is a joy to fly, I really wish we'd see more in the US (I know the backstory, it's a shame).
They are currently seeking a new owner but management within Hyatt is ongoing. In fact a new GM took over the property in, I think, January. The contract with Hyatt is for another 10 years so whenever a new owner is announced there is no immediate threat to it leaving Hyatt.
Check the Ritz Carlton or Rosewood
My hungry self thinking you were talking about Miami’s Versailles at first
Should be amazing!
Just took my first ever La Première flight a few days ago, IAD-CDG. It was exceptional. Do note, oddly, that Air France does not serve alcohol on the ground even in F. Apparently same thing out of JFK these days. Current Champagne in F is LPGS.
One positive development is I was served a full tin of proper sturgeon caviar. In the past AF only did caviar out of CDG and had paddlefish roe out of the US.
Park Hyatt would be nice to see reviewed again. But here's one I haven't seen mentioned yet: Hotel Sacher Wien. Part of LHW Group, looks pretty amazing as you'd expect. Palais Coburg is another LHW option.
Really looking forward to the OS 787 review!
Ah, I see this has been mentioned by someone below. Sacher would be a good one if you're trying something new but still very upscale.
Ben, The Hotel Bristol will be closed beginning in March for the next 2.5 years for major renovations. It’s my favorite hotel in Vienna so would recommend trying it in the future. Meanwhile, I’ll be staying at the Sacher.
Any Hyatt property in Vienna would be my vote.
I like the pace of the review trips compared to last year. Also a good idea to fly on Austrian after what will be a disappointing first class experience as AF is in Skyteam.
Park Hyatt hands down, my favorite Park Hyatt in Europe!
Exciting! I’d personally like to see you review Hotel Imperial or Hotel Bristol, in Vienna. Or maybe the Ritz-Carlton? I know, poor bonvoy elite recognition at RC’s, but embassador does unlock some of the benefits and I think it would be a good experience to report on. Thanks Lucky!
You could check out the Linder options in Vienna?
LOL, this is a very luxurious trip which he does NOT want to spoil with a very average/below average hotel stay.
La Première is La Première, as always. How will Europe’s best first-class product hold up against EK and JAL? Enjoy the first-class redemption while it lasts, as I can’t imagine AF’s new F will allow any redemptions!
Austrian has come a very long way, and it’s far and away my favourite LH Group airline. The 787 should provide a great experience, especially the Eiskaffee!
If you're going this big on this trip, keep it going and do a review of the Rosewood Vienna. Would love to see that/see how it's keeping up.
Enjoy Le Grand Controle - it's a special property. Take advantage of the exclusive access it offers, even at the extra cost.
We stayed at the Rosewood Vienna last summer. It was excellent, the restaurant terrific, the bar nice and very busy, and it's a great location. I would enjoy Lucky's review as well.
I stayed at the Amauris Hotel in Vienna-it was very nice.
If someone would scratch on my door there like in the video id kick his/her ass out!
P.S. Also you can stay in Bratislava, just 1 hr away in Grand Hotel River Park, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Buses depart every hour or more from the airport.
Looking forward to the coffee concoctions on Austrian as their coffee menu looks mega.
Bon voyage monsieur.
Just flew the OS 787 yesterday to IAD. A few takeaways:
1. While the seat and screen itself is a great improvement over the aging 767 product it is still nothing earth shattering within the industry as a whole.
2. These new 787's seem to have been slotted for someone else. There is nothing 'Austrian" about the interiors like the 767 had. They are charmless and bland in many ways.
3. Watch to...
Just flew the OS 787 yesterday to IAD. A few takeaways:
1. While the seat and screen itself is a great improvement over the aging 767 product it is still nothing earth shattering within the industry as a whole.
2. These new 787's seem to have been slotted for someone else. There is nothing 'Austrian" about the interiors like the 767 had. They are charmless and bland in many ways.
3. Watch to see if you are going from the D gates in Terminal One. If so, don't get there early. This is an adjunct concourse for Austrian that seems to now service the U.S. flights. The lounge appears ad hoc and is a closet with little to offer and is over crowded for the small space. As well, there is no other lounge in that area. Security would not allow me to go through the normal F/G Terminal Three entrance to access the main OS lounge or contract PP ones. It seems you are stuck with going to Terminal One and funneled through the D entrance.
4. The food was fine. But three flights the past month on Turkish and Austrian has me feeling that DoCo has lost its step. Still better than most, but nothing to me like it used to be.
5. The amenity kit was laughable. Eyeshade, socks and lip balm. No moisturizer or anything else.
I am working in Vienna each month now and can tell you that the Park Hyatt is still the best. Rosewood is nice and the restaurant is fantastic, but for plentiful upgrades and overall ease the PH still shines, even amidst the ownership issues they are having. Of course, that could all change once the MO opens.
Indeed about the concourse. The way security has been segregated, the Priority Pass lounge that once was accessible is no longer.
For the next time @Antwerp, the amazing Vienna lounge is accessible when departing from Terminal 1
How? Would love to know. I could not find it once I got through passport control and was told the Austrian lounge is all that's in the D area. It must be prior to passport control and that was the issue. I am always going out of Terminal 3 so was a bit lost yesterday.
Agree with everything you said. I took the VIE-IAD flight last month and it was very meh, nothing really stood out. The crew kept the cabin so hot that I was sweating and they don’t have individual air nozzles at the seats so it was a long 10-hour ride. Lounge situation at VIE was shockingly bad.
I'm really looking forward to the Airelles review.
My go to hotel in Vienna is the Hotel am Konzerthaus, an M Gallery property. Would love to hear your perspective on it!
Skip the points hotel and check out the Rosewood Vienna
It is nothing to write home about. The bathrooms are quite nice, definitely a hundred times nicer than at Rosewood Munich.
Try the Imperial in Vienna. Or, if it doesn't have to be points, the Sacher. Park Hyatt is still good, but the Sacher is a local institution
220k x 0.0169 =$3700 one way :) ouch.
Can fly from Indonesia to Australia 6x return in business for the same price as one return flight on Air France first class.
Can someone explain why more airlines don’t use curtains like Air France? Would seem like an easy win for Qantas or Lufthansa first class? No big investment needed and instant privacy.
Funny enough, I have a few clients who don't like La Premier specifically because of the curtains. The reason being that they block the overhead bin access, so if they are flying solo and have their bags up there, they can't access them if needed without an awkward interaction.
Then you use your assigned locker. There is one above each seat.
There are only overhead bins above the window seats in La Premiere. The storage at the seats and under the ottomans is not large enough for a carry-on bag.
Something tells me you won’t be staying in their entry level room…
Ha I thought the same thing! Flying all the way to Versailles for a tiny room in a great hotel.
My first thought when reading this article was 'Is Versailles in Austria?!'
Wow I didn’t know there were any flights to Versailles