Airelles Château de Versailles, le Grand Contrôle

First a shout out to our butler Charles for making my family’s experience a wonderful one. A stay at this hotel is a once in a lifetime experience. This hotel adjoins the palace of Versailles and used to be the abode of the finance minister. The private tours alone make a stay at the hotel worthwhile. It is a dream to be able to visit the hall of mirrors without throngs of visitors. Even though the clientele seems to be mostly couples, the hotel bent over backwards to cater to my young children. The tours can be tiring for children, but my six and eight year old enjoyed the golf carts in the gardens, the row boats and picnic by the grand canal. The older one loved horse back riding while my six year old had fun at the beautiful indoor pool with toys the hotel gave her. The children loved the doll house and stuffed animals in their rooms. The hotel itself is beautiful. The stay was idyllic. If you can swing it visit it. Only caveat, don’t do the royal feast if you have time to visit other restaurants around. Not that it’s bad, there are just better food. The hotel is not immediately kid intuitive, like beautiful glass ware is breakable and kids don’t need a tasting menu. However small things like this were easily modified. This is a once in a life time experience highly recommend

This is an amazing experience, particularly for history nerds like me. The opportunity to have access to knowledgeable guides in the empty palace was stupendous. We adored being able to explore further (than if walking) in our golf cart and electric boat. It was so atmospheric knowing we were in a restored 17thC building, with staff in costume, dinner by candlelight only, and menu inspiration from the days of Louis XIV. Couldn't believe the teenager ate smoked eel pie!! If you have the means then this is definitely recommended. My only regret was I didn't realise a visit to the Queen's theatre and hamlet was not part of the tours, and I didn't leave enough time to go their in my golf cart - now I have to go back!! My highlight - all the little details relating to the life of Marie-Antoinette, including her personal porcelain ware. My teenager's highlight - the gougere offered in the evenings (they were fabulous), and the challenge she set herself about how many macarons she could eat (11 in 48 hours). My friend's highlight - routine glasses of champagne for breakfast!!

Truly unique and a real destination property. We booked originally for the after hour access to the palace but the government had an event which blocked all access. Hotel did arrange a library tour which was nice though a tad long. The dinner was part theater that didn’t take itself too seriously so was a nice experience different than most fancy Michelin meals. The morning tour was amazing though to see the private residences of the king without any crowd. The afternoon picnic was the best picnic experience ever Afternoon tea was presented more plainly but was the best tasting one I ever had. The room itself was tastefully done and had tons of amenities including free minibar with quality drinks. The butler service was helpful. There is even a library study with free cognac that was also beautiful. I would come back next time in Paris