As with the rest of the world’s hotel industry, the Guardian reported yesterday that the luxury 4 star end of the Paris hotel market is suffering more than the budget end. This is probably not that surprising given the current climate but what it can mean is that a stay in a really stylish individual hotel may not be out of the reach of mere mortals.

I have been lucky enough recently to stay at the stunning Trianon Palace and Spa in Versailles with it’s views of the Versailles Palace and the amazing gardens. The journey from door to door from South London via Eurostar and a 20 Minute RER journey from Gare Du Nord was about 3 hrs which even my two sons found manageable.

The hotel get the balance of luxury and relaxation just right. Right now there are one night breaks from just £169 per person including Eurostar - if you can stretch to it, ask about a room at the front of the hotel - floor to ceiling windows and batchrooms as big as my house. Of course there’s a cost, but given the current climate you may be surprised. Oh and did I mention the Gordon Ramsey restaurant……

Offers like this are around at the moment, and ones like the 3 for 2 offers at the higher end hotels in Ghent , Lille, Bruges as well as Paris are worth checking out.