A Wonderful Week Abroad

London is a modern, 21st Century city with roots stretching back to Roman times.

Several years ago, my wife and I enjoyed an anniversary trip to London and Paris - two of the world’s greatest cities. I’m not going to tell you how we spent our days in each locale, but rather focus on the stellar hotels we called home for a week and the fun trip we took between the two. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start from the beginning. We were fortunate to enjoy international First Class service from Washington’s Dulles Airport on United Airlines (when that carrier was flying a First Class product across “the pond”) and after clearing UK Customs on arrival, we took advantage of the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station. There is no better or faster way to travel to Central London. At present, these trains are operating every 30 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 and the trip takes only 15 minutes (allow a few extra minutes if departing from Terminal 5). They’re modern, air-conditioned trains with plenty of luggage space and on board news TV. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the train and at-seat power sockets. You can even upgrade to Business First if you desire a slightly larger seat with a bit more legroom but I never saw any value in doing that when you're only on the train for such a short time.

This is the customized Ritz Rolls-Royce Phantom. It's the epitome of luxury automotive transport.

Our destination was the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly. Those booked into one of the hotel’s four Signature Suites receive a complimentary, chauffeur-driven, one-way airport transfer via The Ritz Rolls-Royce Phantom. This eighth-generation vehicle was custom-built built by hand at the manufacturer’s UK headquarters in Goodwood, Sussex. It has a commanding presence. The gleaming chrome detailing is most impressive, the soft, rich-leather seats are oh-so-inviting and its bespoke Ritz blue paint is singular. This car turns heads wherever it travels. It also holds the distinction of being the quietest cabin Rolls-Royce has ever made. But if you didn’t book a Signature Suite you needn’t worry. The Phantom may be reserved for a one-way airport transfer for only £600 ($828 US). We certainly had no regrets choosing the Heathrow Express train and making the quick 2.5 mile journey from Paddington to the hotel in a much less-expensive classic, black London taxi.

This sitting room was a perfect "welcome home" after days spent shopping and sightseeing.

The Ritz is one of my favorite hotels and so it was a pleasure to check into one of their Executive Suites. Its 775 square feet of living space included a comfortable and impressive sitting room, an elegant bedroom and a beautiful bathroom with Asprey amenities. The Ritz is located in the very heart of London, just two blocks from Bond Street and within a kilometer of popular attractions including Oxford Circus, Westminster and Knightsbridge. This prestigious 5-star property has a rich history and is considered one of the world’s greatest hotels. Opened in 1906 by Swiss hotelier César Ritz, it’s been the benchmark by which other hotels have been measured ever since. Over the years, it’s been home to the famous and the infamous as well as thousands of discerning guests. The exterior was designed to resemble a Parisian block of flats. Inside, the lobby’s graced with glass chandeliers, fluted columns and a leaded-glass ceiling which tops a 3-story rotunda. Service, of course, is excellent at the Ritz and those at the concierge desk deserve special mention for securing last-minute tickets to popular West End shows!

Menus change seasonally at the Ritz Restaurant, offering fine cuisine in a spectacular setting.

It’s always a treat to dine in the world-famous, Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant where excellent meals are served by solicitous staff in a truly spectacular setting. With its sparkling chandeliers, towering marble columns and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking tranquil Green Park, this elegant restaurant is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful dining rooms in all of Europe. Executive Chef John Williams, MBE, is in charge of creating memorable meals here and he is on record as being passionate about using the best seasonal British ingredients in creating savory entrées. Sourcing the finest, freshest ingredients from around the country, he and his team buy organic beef from the Cornish moors, lamb from the Lake District and delicious lobsters from Southwest Scotland. The restaurant prides itself on delivering the highest of service standards and, after multiple visits, we have never been disappointed. We’ve also been among lucky weekend patrons on several occasions, treated with an orchestra performing classical favorites for a few unforgettable evenings of fine dining and dancing.

The Sleek Eurostar Business Premiere Lounge is the place to wait at St. Pancras Station.

When it was time to depart for Paris, we headed over to St. Pancras International Station for the Eurostar train journey that would take us under the English Channel. This international, high-speed rail service connects the UK with France (as well as Belgium and the Netherlands). It took eight years and 13,000 workers to build the Channel Tunnel which is 31.5 miles long. (That's the equivalent of 169 Eiffel Towers stacked one on top of another!) Our Business Premier tickets entitled us to wait in the Business Lounge. It’s long and rather narrow, but well spaced out on two levels with stairs at either end, including a spiral staircase at one of them. Both floors looked stylish with a mix of glass wall paneling set amidst the building’s original stone and red brick. Cozy leather chairs were placed throughout and any number of newspapers and magazines were on hand as well as a variety of snacks. The self-service bar was stacked with wine, beer and soft drinks and free Wi-Fi was available. If you got bored waiting for the train, a foosball table was also on hand to capture your attention!

Raymond Blanc is now at the helm for all on-board Eurostar catering in Business Premiere.

I love trains (but not nearly as much as planes) and was excited to make this “crossing.” I was also pleased to learn Eurostar introduced new e320 trains to coincide with their 20th anniversary in 2015, the first complete train redesign in the company’s history. The new Wi-Fi-enabled trains reach speeds of up to 320mph and let me tell you, that’s fast. The interiors have been crafted by the Italian design house Pininfarina, which also counts Ferrari and Maserati among its other clients. Before 11:00a, breakfast was served in Business Premiere and an afternoon tea service was offered as well. We traveled over the lunch hour. As such, we were given a choice between a hot and cold option served with champagne as part of a 3-course meal designed by famed French chef Raymond Blanc (of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire). After a tasty salad, we chose the braised beef for the main course and for dessert, a very tasty chocolate tart. In about 2.5hours, we pulled into the Paris Gare du Nord Station. In addition to the convenience of starting and ending our trip in both city centers, the Eurostar journey generated 90 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than those of a short-haul flight!

The elegant furnishings and window treatments are reminiscent of an upscale Parisian apartment.

Within 15 minutes, our taxi pulled up to the iconic Four Seasons Hotel George V. This 5-star, art-deco landmark was built in 1928 and named for King George V of the United Kingdom. Nestled in the “Golden Triangle” of Paris, off the historic Champs-Élysées, the hotel is within walking distance of the Arc de Triumph, the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde and many other attractions in the City of Light. Walking through the golden revolving door at the main entrance, it felt like we were transported back to the early 1900s, a time when the city sparkled in all its grandeur. This is one of the most beautiful hotels in the city enhanced with grand floral arrangements on display throughout the lobby and its many corridors. The eight-story property has 244 rooms and 59 suites and we were checked into a king-bedded Premiere Room which was actually a junior suite of 651 square feet. It was very nicely furnished in a soft color palette in the Louis XVI style. We had all the comforts of home, including twice-daily housekeeping service, a walk-in closet, a writing desk as well as a plush sofa and chair. Our fully clad marble bathroom featured a double sink along with a separate shower, soaking tub, TV-embedded mirror and Bulgari toiletries.

The warm and club-like atmosphere of Le Bar made it a welcome locale for evening cocktails.

Dining choices abound at this posh establishment. The swank Le Bar was the place for a daytime coffee and where we were also able to appreciate an evening cocktail. The atmosphere here is intimate and sophisticated and patrons include both hotel guests and city residents. Another option is La Galerie, the all-day lounge featuring 19th Century art and live musical entertainment. We found it to be the perfect spot for post-shopping tea but all-day dining is also available from Michelin-starred Chef Alan Taudon. Le Cinq is the hotel’s premiere restaurant and a Paris destination in its own right. It has become synonymous with the apex of modern French cuisine, paired with fine wines selected by award-winning Head Sommelier Eric Beaumard, Its three Michelin stars are a reflection of the fine food to be enjoyed here in one of the city’s most majestic dining rooms. There are two other Michelin starred restaurants in the hotel as well, L’Orangerie, where the cuisine is light with an emphasis on plant and fish-based dishes and Le George, the perfect spot to discover modern Mediterranean-style cuisine that promotes local sourcing. We found the latter to be a great spot for a leisurely lunch.

All good things must come to an end and so it was for our whirlwind seven days abroad. With heavy hearts but many fond memories we went to the Charles De Gaulle Airport for our First Class journey aboard the United Airlines B777-200 flight that safely returned us to Washington. Staying in two of the world’s best hotels in two of the world’s greatest cities was such a special treat. Traveling on the Eurostar between them was the icing on the cake!

Until next time…stay safe.