Plaza Athenee

The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athenee: Rejuvenate in the City of Lights

Filed under: Spas

The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée is a luxurious spa ensconced in a sumptuous hotel located in one of the most splendid cities in the world – Paris. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Institut is a nominee for a Luxist award in the best day spa category.

The connection between the Plaza Athénée and Christian Dior dates back to 1947, when the fashion house's namesake and founder chose the hotel as a place to photograph and showcase his models. Soon he began to invite his best customers there for lunch, or eat by himself in a private dining room. Dior even named a couple of his designs "Plaza" and "Athénée."

Gallery: Dior Institute Plaza Athenee

The Dior Institut was established to promote Christian Dior's goal to make women "prettier and happier," with a focus on reversing the effects of aging. The spa boasts five individual treatment rooms, including a VIP couples' room. There is also a fitness center, a sauna and a steam bath on the premises for clients to relax in after receiving treatments.

The typical treatment at Dior begins with a "Lifting 3D" massage, designed to raise energy levels and transform the guest's posture. Next, micro-abrasion revitalizes tissues and skin. Finally, Dior's anti-aging potions are applied to stimulate, reoxygenate and decongest skin. What better way to prepare for a night on the town in the City of Lights?

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Tags: awards-main, best day spa, christian dior, ChristianDior, day spa, dior institute, dior institute at the plaza athenee, luxist-awards, paris, paris spas, plaza athenee, spa, spa-main

Tour Central Park With An Expert Guide

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

For those who really want to get to know New York City's Central Park there could perhaps be no better tour guide than the park's official photographer and historian, Sara Cedar Miller who is also the author of "Central Park, an American Masterpiece". The Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York has created a partnership with the Central Park Conservancy to offer a private, custom tour of Central Park led by Sara Cedar Miller.

The tour will take place in a hybrid Toyota Highlander and each tour will be customized to the guest's interests and can include visits to Shakespeare Garden and Turtle Pond, the North Woods, Conservatory Garden, and other areas.

Each tour package includes a guestroom at the Hotel Plaza Athenee, a tour of Central Park and a signed copy of Sara's acclaimed book, "Central Park, an American Masterpiece". 100% of the proceeds from the tour portion of this package are turned over to the Conservancy to restore and manage the Park.

Tour package rates start at $990 for a midweek tour depending on the time of year. Three hour tours are available on the weekends. A four-week advance purchase reservation is recommended.

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Tags: central park, CentralPark, new york city, NewYorkCity, plaza athenee, PlazaAthenee, spring vacation, SpringVacation

Dior Institut at the Plaza Ath�n�e

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Pampering hits a new level at the Plaza Athénée in Paris. The hotel now boasts l'Institut Dior, the first hotel spa created by Christian Dior Parfums. The spa is located downstairs from the grand Plaza lobby, and is an extravagant retreat with a relaxation lounge and five treatment rooms including the double VIP room shown above. The spa offers a wide variety of face and body treatments such as the lavish 120-minute l'Or de Vie treatment which uses Dior's pricey L'Or skin care line and costs $670.

[via Time]

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Tags: dior, paris, plaza athenee, spa

The World's Most Expensive Tasting Menus

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Tasting menu's don't come cheap, but the range of flavors and the chance to experience more of the chef's repertoire is worth it for many. Some of the best restaurants in the world have gone to serving nothing but tasting menus, Charlie Trotter's in Chicago for example, and others simply offer them as a luxury for those who can afford it and want something a little different. So where to go if you're really looking to drop some cash and enjoy the great tastes of the best tasting menus? Well the single most expensive tasting menu in the world belongs to L'Arpege in Paris and runs $466, with the second and third most expensive also going to restaurants in Paris: Alain Ducasse Plaza Athenee ($437), and Guy Savoy ($402). Masa, in NYC, comes in at 4th with their tasting menu priced at $400 for 25 courses.

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Tags: Alain Ducasse, AlainDucasse, Charlie Trotters, CharlieTrotters, chef, dine, dining, food, gourmet, Guy Savoy, GuySavoy, l'arpege, masa, menu, menus, most expensive, MostExpensive, paris, Plaza Athenee, PlazaAthenee, restaurant, restaurants, tasting, tasting menu, tasting menus, TastingMenu, TastingMenus