Le Pavillon de la Reine, Paris, France

TI reviewer Valentine Low:

There may be better luxury hotel locations in Paris than that enjoyed by the Pavillon de la Reine; but not many. Situated on the north side of one of the city's most charming squares, the Place des Vosges, the luxury hotel itself is hidden away behind a nondescript archway that leads through to a delightful 17th century mansion. Outside there is rather more greenery than one might expect from somewhere so central: a formal garden at the front, with standard bays and box hedges, a rather more relaxed courtyard garden within.

The facilities

Given its history - the building was originally designed as a royal residence, and counts Racine and Moliere among its visitors - Pavillon de la Reine could not be anything other than firmly traditional, with period furniture and fabric wall coverings the order of the day. Breakfast is in the vaulted cellar, with its tapestries and statues of the odd scowling king: there is no dining room as such, but as you are in the heart of the buzzing Marais, this could not matter less.

The rooms

The rooms at this luxury hotel are all different, so while one might be a muted affair, all oxblood and burgundy, another might be altogether lighter and brighter, with wallpaper depicting jolly peasant scenes. The duplexes are fun, with the bedroom on the upstairs floor - perhaps platform would be a more accurate description - and double height windows giving the place a sunlit, airy feel. There is also a flat screen TV in every room for guests’ entertainment needs.