There’s a swank new spa opening soon in Paris, and Luxury Travel Advisor has the skinny. Yesterday evening we went behind-the-scenes of the Shangri-La Hotel—and if you’re in Paris this season-- the holiday decorations are alone worth making a trip to the palace hotel.
Standing proud in the lobby, a massive Christmas tree glitters with Baccarat crystals, and a creative advent calendar--designed as a replica of the hotel’s façade-- contains a scroll behind each window, each detailing the gifts to be won by randomly chosen hotel guests- including two sets of Château Baccarat glasses, a complimentary Christmas Teatime or a complimentary night's stay—in the first 24 days of December. (Visit the hotel's Facebook page for details of the prizes and their lucky winners.) For dessert, we sampled the hotel's special Bûche de Noël, the traditional French Christmas dessert transformed into art with a sugar lace motif and a mahogany crystal from Baccarat's Médicis collection.
And the spa... By the end of the month, the Shangri-La will open a 16-meter indoor swimming pool that’s one of the prettiest in the city. We got a glimpse, and even though it’s not filled with water yet, we fell in love with the tiled mosaic, marble columns, and outdoor teak patio. Housed in the former stables of Prince Roland Bonaparte, the pool will be illuminated with natural light from expansive windows. The two spa treatment rooms are just as lovely, accented with back-lit sculpture reliefs, and equipped with hammam showers. (An additional three treatment rooms will open next September.) A range of exclusive Carita therapies will be available. The hotel is located at 10 Avenue d’Iéna in the 16th arrondissement, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/paris
Pictured: The horse-drawn carriage that will transport guests on evening rides to the Eiffel Tower, from December 21- 25, 2012, wrapped in faux fur blankets and warmed with gourmet hot chocolate.