For New Years eve, we chose the Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hotel, Paris Trocadero. It’s a charming hotel not far from the Eiffel Tower, yet in a neighborhood that is not dominated by tourists, making it a great choice for visitors! And it’s neo-classical style makes it a perfect fit for a romantic getaway to the City of Love!
On our recent trip, we leveraged Club Carlson points for our stay in Paris during what is one of the most expensive times of the year. We spent two nights at the Radisson Blu Champs Elysees (read review here) and then switched to the Le Dokhan’s Hotel to make the most of our points (read more about the Club Carlson program here) and Club Carlson credit card (read more here).
Location: We were planning to celebrate New Years Eve with a romantic dinner for two and a view of the light show at the Eiffel Tower. The Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s is located in the Trocadero neighborhood, across the Seine river from the Eiffel Tower with great views from the Trocadero gardens and Palais de Chaillot (10 minute walk). You can have a stroll across the river to the Eiffel tower in another 10 minutes. Yet, despite the tourist buses around the Trocadero traffic circle, a short walk in the other direction brings you to a Parisian neighborhood with fewer and fewer tourists after every block, allowing for a little more “local” experience. There is a Metro station at the Trocadero with access to two Metro lines, giving you good access to the city. A RER station is near the Eiffel Tower across the river.
Room: This Radisson Blu hotel makes use of the old building and creates an elegant experience that is unique and very charming. Neo-classical furniture and art by Picasso and Matisse welcomes you to the small property of only 45 rooms and suites. The lobby lounge with its fire place makes it feel more like a home than yet another hotel. Your welcome continues with what must be the smallest elevator on the planet. Two people and their luggage are a tight squeeze and you might need the assistance of the bell boys to get it to your room. The hallways also look more like a home and are narrow.
That theme continues with the rooms, which are equally small – and equally charming. The decor would be a perfect fit for any movie about Paris! If you are looking for the perfect room for a romantic getaway, this might be it! The room was decked out in neo-classical furniture and the bathroom in white marble. If you want a practical room, you should look elsewhere. Our upgraded Deluxe room was 23sqm and the separate hallway and sitting area made it feel cramped. It lacked room for luggage, clothes and some standard amenities, like coffee/tea facilities. The bathroom looked very neo-classical as well, and that included the faucets who fit the style but weren’t very practical either.
Amenities: The hotel has a champagne bar and restaurant, which looked equally elegant and charming, but we had other plans and didn’t try them. There is not much else in this boutique hotel – no pool, gym, spa or wellness area, so the charm over practicality theme continues. The front desk and concierge were very helpful and knowledgeable and ready to assist!
Service: After a less than thrilling service experience at the Radisson Blu Champs Elysees, this was a radically different and refreshing experience. When the RB Champs Elysees declined our request for a late check out, the Le Dokhan’s front desk went out of their way to get a room ready for us in 30 minutes and allowed us to check in early. When we arrived by taxi, our room was ready, they had given us a complementary upgrade and a welcome from the General Manager was waiting for us in the room! What might seem like little things, adds up to a much more pleasant experience of the hotel and can be the difference between a repeat stay and recommendation – or not. This great service experience continued throughout our stay, with housekeeping being thorough and complete, a late check-out being granted and completed quickly and the bell hop again helpful on departure. This service team would make any upscale hotel in Paris proud and is likely to make your stay a pleasant one.
Overall, if you are planning a romantic stay in the City of Love, you don’t need to look further: From the outside to the lobby and your room, the Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hotel looks like it is straight from an old movie and is the perfect base to explore Paris. The service is distinctive and much better than what I have experienced at other hotels in this price class in Paris. While the room prices (starting at $200/night) are not cheap, they are well worth the overall experience. You can also use your Club Carlson points for a stay to keep your stay in line with your budget. If you are looking for a modern, practical hotel, this hotel is likely to disappoint you and you should look at one of the many upscale hotels in Paris, including other Radisson Blu properties. For its target audience, I’d recommend the Le Dokhan in a heartbeat and would stay again!