I’ll be honest with you, where you stay in Paris matters more than almost anything else on the itinerary.

The right hotel doesn’t just give you a beautiful room. It gives you a beautiful rhythm. It shapes how your mornings feel, how you move through the city, whether you end each day energized or drained.

That’s why I keep coming back to Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal.

Tucked between the Louvre and Place Vendôme, in one of the most architecturally perfect pockets of Paris, this hotel sits right inside the Palais Royal, the same neighborhood you’ve probably seen on Emily in Paris. The Savoir office exterior, those gorgeous arcade scenes, the polished golden-hour energy that’s all filmed right here.

But here’s the thing. Television shows you the setting. Travel lets you actually live in it.

Why this location is so special

When I’m planning a trip for a couple or a family, I think about location the way a film director thinks about a set. Everything flows from where you are.

From Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, you can walk to the Louvre without crossing a single major boulevard. Jardin du Palais Royal is literally your front garden. Rue Saint-Honoré and its luxury houses are a few steps away. And at night, you come home through candlelit arcades instead of fighting for a taxi.

It’s Paris with room to breathe. Elegant without being stuffy. Central without being hectic.

What a day looks like from here

Morning

You step outside and into Jardin du Palais Royal before the city fully wakes up. Grab an espresso at Café Kitsuné. Watch the light hit the columns. There’s no rush, no metro, no logistics, just a slow, gorgeous start to the day.

This is the kind of morning that sets the tone for everything that follows. And I’ve found that for my clients, it’s often the moment they talk about most when they get home.

Late Morning

The Louvre is right there, and we don’t do museum marathons. I’ll arrange a private guide who focuses on one curated wing so you experience it deeply, not exhaustingly. You walk in feeling curious and walk out feeling inspired, not depleted.

Midday

Lunch somewhere that matches the mood: maybe a crisp white-tablecloth classic, maybe a seasonal modern French spot. I pick restaurants the way I pick hotels: based on who you are, not what’s trending on social media.

Afternoon

From this address, Rue Saint-Honoré is seamless. If you love fashion, I’ll set up private appointments at specific maisons — no wandering, no decision fatigue, just the pieces and experiences that matter to you. And if shopping isn’t your thing, a stroll through the Tuileries with a pastry in hand is equally perfect.

Evening

Dinner might be at a candlelit bistro or a contemporary French table but it depends on the evening plans and how you’re feeling. But my favorite part? The walk home. Through those illuminated arcades, quiet and golden, back to your hotel. No taxis, no chaos. Just you and Paris at its most beautiful.

Why this matters

When families and couples trust me to plan their trip, they’re not just booking a hotel room. They’re investing in how Paris is going to feel.

That means I think about pacing — making sure the day has breathing room. I think about proximity — so you’re not spending your vacation in transit. And I think about the emotional arc of each day, from that first quiet coffee to that last walk through the arcades.

Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal isn’t the flashiest hotel in Paris. It’s the most thoughtful one.

In my experience, thoughtful luxury is the kind that stays with you long after you’re home.