The Versailles Has a Luxury Hotel—Here’s How to Stay There - AFAR

"Opened in 2021 by a French luxury hotel company, this property occupies a converted 17th‑century palace building originally envisioned by architect Jules Hardouin‑Mansart. It has quickly become a coveted stay and earned three Michelin keys in an inaugural hotel ranking. The 14 uniquely decorated rooms and suites are furnished with restored and recreated period furniture, artwork, fabrics, chandeliers, and artifacts; notable facilities include dining overseen by Alain Ducasse, a spa by La Maison Valmont, and a 50‑foot indoor pool. Rates are steep (Deluxe Rooms from about $2,885 per night, while the grand Suite Necker—a former private apartment of the Controller‑General Jacques Necker with 14‑foot ceilings—starts at just over $16,000), and a stay often includes perks such as round‑trip transfer in a Mercedes S‑Class, one lunch and one dinner per day, and a private guide for exclusive tours. Guests receive privileged access to areas normally closed to the public, private morning tours of the Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet before opening hours, an evening private tour of the palace, unlimited garden access (with boats and golf carts), and optional add‑ons such as a Marie Antoinette–themed costume fitting, a private performance at the Royal Opera, or private dining with a live string quartet in the former apartment of Louis XV’s daughters. As of late April 2024 there were still rooms available for the latter half of the Olympic Games (Aug 7–11)." - Nicholas DeRenzo, Michelle Baran