Whether you’ve watched too much Emily in Paris or are just in need of a good dose of that French culture we all know and love, then why not escape for a long weekend in Paris? The romantic city is full of history, art and top-notch food and wine aka everything you want from a city break. For us Londoners it’s easy to hop on the Eurostar for a couple of hours and travel to Paris, and unlike most train journeys in the UK, it can be pretty reasonably priced too.
This is exactly what we did, swapping London for Paris and indulging in a much-needed dose of escapism. During our trip, we set up camp at Sonder, a hotel group that has thousands of sites across 35 cities around the world. The best way to describe Sonder is a combination of hotel and Airbnb as they manage bookings and all comms through their easy to use app. As well as making bookings on the app, they also have neighbourhood guides, 24/7 in-app chat and contactless check-in. The rooms and apartments are all pretty swish, tech-savvy and won’t break the bank – what more could you want?
We stayed in the Atala, their four-star hotel just off the Champs-Elysees. The hotel was only a five-minute walk from the main street, close to designer stores like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and to the metro. Even though Paris is much more condensed than London, the hotel is in a great central location and we were able to reach most places easily and quickly. Once stepping foot into Atala, you will be greeted with a lobby covered in artwork and sculptures. There’s also an outdoor courtyard where you can escape the busy streets around the Champs-Elysees and grab a glass of wine.
Rooms at Sonder start from 129 euros per night, and suites from 245. We were fortunate enough to stay in their Stellar King suite with panoramic views and a terrace. Sonder wasn’t wrong when they said the room came with views, and the view of the Eiffel Tower from the window was breathtaking. The room also has a balcony at the other side of the room, which provides more views across Paris including the Sacre-Coeur, which we took advantage of when sipping on our morning coffee.
As for the room, it was spacious and had all the amenities including a coffee machine, flat-screen TV and a comfy large bed. The bathroom had a huge walk-in shower, a bathtub, plenty of Malin + Goetz products and another flat-screen TV (very boujee and ideal for soaking in the tub getting some R+R after sightseeing).
After our first Sonder experience, we’d say it ticks all the boxes you’d need for a city break stay. Their Paris site Atala is a great location, good value and perfect for a romantic getaway to the city of love.
10 Rue Chateaubriand, 75008 Paris, France
sonder.com