Trianon Palace Versailles, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Near Versailles garden entrance

Positiv: Excellent concierge services--available into evening. Spaciousness of 2 bed room and bathroom with nice balcony. Helpful staff. Free valet parking (need to tip) that allowed in and out if desired. Beautiful pool area with outside patio for lounging, coffee/tea/water available. Verandah restaurant very pleasant, but expensive. The hotel is next to the queen's gate entrance, which allows free entrance into garden areas every day (but limited access on "musical garden" days)--this seemed to be very popular for runners, bicyclists, picnickers, walkers, and so on. As Hilton members, we were treated to a few lovely extras -- water, fruit bowl, 2 free drinks.

Negativ: The old building, though beautiful, results in the usual Waldorf Astoria luxury not being quite up to par. We loved our room, but the deep soaking tub took forever to fill and the temperature of the water was extremely difficult to regulate. The air conditioning control had not yet been updated, so that we required assistance --- but that did work. Shower a little tricky but manageable. The Guerlain spa was not up to the standards I expected from visits to other Guerlain spas -- it was tricky to enter/exit, did not have quite the attentive service I am used to, and the massage was not what I expected--fairly standard "relaxation" kind of massage, not deep tissue, though that was what was booked.