About three years ago we first visited Versailles, one of the most famous landmarks of France, on a day trip. It was then, as we were leaving through the Grille de la Reine, that we noticed the gorgeous Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria hotel. As a notorious hotel geek, I never forget a hotel that caught my eye. With no big trips planned this summer, we decided to return to Versailles. This time we would stay for 2 days since there’s so much to do on the castle grounds. At the same time, it was a great opportunity to spend the night at the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles.
First impressions
As soon as you approach the hotel, you get a glimpse of the green setting and the classic façade. The valet parking was well organized, still the car was parked right across from the entrance so we could still access it when we needed to.
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We entered the lobby and were impressed by the elegant corridor in front of us. The front desk is located to the left, the concierge desk to the right and both are well indicated. Behind this intersection lies a long and narrow corridor with plenty of windows on one side that make it bathe in light.
We had to wait in line at the front desk but that’s to be expected when you arrive at a time when check-out is in full progress. The receptionist who greeted us, was genuinely kind and courteous. She acknowledged my Hilton Honors status and took her time to explain what was included in the “Incredibles 2 package” we had booked. Our room, located in the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles’ main palace building, wasn’t ready yet. That’s a matter we had anticipated since we arrived in the morning. So, we had planned a picnic around noon followed by an afternoon of exploration.
We decided to explore the hotel grounds before going picnicking in the Versailles park. The hotel has a manicured garden with beautiful flowers. To the joy of our girls, there were many butterflies to be found too.
Our room
It was early evening when we returned to the hotel. We picked up our keys from the front desk, no line this time. Our interconnecting rooms formed the Deluxe Palace Family Room with garden view on the 4th floor. It features two spacious rooms and one bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.
Each room has its own large double window with views over the garden, even to be enjoyed while soaking in the bathtub.
In the closet you’ll find a safe, an iron and ironing board as well as some shoe care essentials. The main bedroom also has a mini-bar, tucked away in a mirrored closet. Bedrooms are carpeted, which is not our preferred flooring but does minimize noise from other rooms. That being said, we spent a relaxing, noise-free night in the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles.
The bathroom is long and narrow but still allows enough space to move freely. There are two sinks next to the window, providing plenty of natural light which is a bonus. Two sets of bath robes and slippers are provided. Bath amenities are from Salvatorre Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul collection.
The girls found a personal welcome letter on their bed (someone researched us well enough to know their names) and some delicious candy. And we got pampered too! We were so happy to find the exquisite Alain Milliat fruit nectars in the room accompanied by fresh fruit. Just what we needed after an afternoon of visiting Versailles.
Food and drinks
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Breakfast at La Véranda by Gordon Ramsey
Breakfast, to me, is the highlight of my stay and an event I look forward to from the moment I arrive. At the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles, it is served in the La Véranda by Gordon Ramsey restaurant. The high ceilings, large windows and elegant chandeliers make it my favorite area in the hotel. The breakfast buffet is served in the adjacent room which lacks that natural light, making it too dark.
The buffet is decent but not wow. You’ll find everything you need for breakfast but nothing exciting. I missed the extra touch as in fresh smoothies, seeds, assortment of smoked fish, mini-quiches…. We have stayed in hotels with Gordon Ramsay restaurants before and I remember the breakfast offering more variety. The service was excellent, accept for one glitch: I asked a young lady for cinnamon for my oatmeal but never heard back from her. When asking one of her colleagues 10 minutes later, he brought it almost immediately. This really was an exception because overall the staff was very helpful.
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Teatime at Terrasse du Bar Galerie
The Bar Galerie is open from 10.30 to midnight and offers an extensive range of drinks as well as snacks and tea time. The terrace is such a lovely place to spend some time. It gives out to the garden too so the girls could stretch their little legs. We spent more time here than anticipated, enjoying our tea time in the most wonderful setting before heading home. The sandwiches, cakes and other delights were very well prepared.
The girls shared a croque monsieur (toasted cheese and ham), which was quite a bit on the pricey side. Right after they finished, the kids continued playing with their sweet new friend from Qatar. It was a pleasure meeting you, little lady. 🙂
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Dinner at La Véranda by Gordon Ramsey
Dinner was served on the terrace of the La Véranda restaurant. We did make reservations beforehand. The “Incredibles 2 package” includes free meals for the kids from the childrens’ menu. Fatih and I both opted for a vegetarian dish: the frégola sarda risotto with tomatoes and marjoram for him, the eggplant gratin with zucchini and parmesan for me. It was a feast for the taste buds.
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What we love
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The views
The French windows lead to a tiny balcony (on the 4th floor, the balconies on lower floors are slightly larger) giving out to the garden and boosting views of the Palace of Versailles.
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The location
The Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles is located steps from the Grille de la Reine entrance to the Versailles Park. From there you can either go straight towards the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon or turn left to reach the Château de Versailles. Whatever your destination may be, it will only take you about 20 minutes to reach (make that 25 minutes if you’re traveling with kids).
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The Terrasse du Bar Galerie and garden
The terrace is spacious and offers both table and sofa seating, offering a relaxed yet sophisticated setting. Also, the fact that it’s open towards the garden and not separated by a balustrade makes it feel really spacious. Plus, the kids could just come and go as they pleased without bothering other guests since the tables are located right next to the garden.
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The shuttle service to Paris
In the peak summer season (mid-July to mid-August), the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles offers its guests a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and the Arc de Triomphe in the heart of Paris.
What the kids love
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The pool
We spent several hours in the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles’ heated pool. It’s indoor but the large windows and high ceilings almost give the impression to be outdoor. And yes, even the pool wears a crown. The lifeguard on duty was such a sweet woman and provided plenty of supplies for kids. Swimming aids, rings, flippers… you name it and you’ll find it there. The water temperature is just perfect, not cold and not too warm and the pool area is spotlessly clean. The pool gives out to a solarium with loungers and larger sunbeds.
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The picnic bikes
We had packed our own picnic when leaving home and enjoyed it in one of the designated picnic areas in the Versailles park. But these picnic bikes offered the hotel look so cute that we almost regretted bringing our own basket. So, should you consider to spend a summer weekend at the Waldorf Astoria Versailles then make sure to check out the tempting picnic offers.
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The Trianon Mini Club
Since our planning was pretty packed as it was, we didn’t get to try out the Trianon Mini Club. It’s a complimentary service for little hotel guests, 4 to 12 years of age, on Saturday and Sunday. A professional team looks forward to getting creative with your children, either in their pavilion room or in the hotel’s gardens.
Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles trivia
Number of rooms: The resort offers 199 rooms divided over 2 buildings, the main one being the palace and the other one the pavilion. We have not seen the pavilion rooms but I do believe that the palace rooms are the preferred ones for most guests.
Hotel identity: Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria hotel is part of Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
Classification: 4*
Wifi: Hilton Honors members enjoy free internet and late check-out, depending on your status, a room upgrade and continental breakfast.
Price: During summer season, the nightly flexible rate starts around $310 (€265) for a double room in the pavilion and $390 (€335) for a double room in the palace. The flexible nightly rate of the Deluxe Palace Family Room with garden view as described in our review, starts around $650 (€560).
Nearest airport: The drive from Paris Orly Airport to Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles takes about 30 minutes, the drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle 50 minutes. We plan on writing a separate article on how to get to Versailles from Paris. Once it’s up, we’ll link it here.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an upscale hotel to get pampered after a day of exploration on the Versailles site, then the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles is where you want to be. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a family trip in style, you’ll feel right at home and enjoy excellent service. The food may be a bit on the expensive side but the gorgeous setting, especially on the terraces, makes up for it. The hotel enjoys a prime location for visiting Versailles and the shuttle service during the peak summer season makes it a wonderful basis for exploring Paris too.
Click here to book this fabulous hotel via Booking.com.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored article written in the context of a partnership with the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles. For more information, visit the Disclaimer page.