Hotel: Hotel George V

Address: 31 Avenue George V, Paris

Website: fourseasons.com

TraveLife Ranking: Five Plus Stars

Rooms: 245

Room rates: $800+

Awards: Voted the No. 1 top international hotel by the well-respected ZAGAT Survey and also has awards from Conde Nast Traveler magazine and Travel&Leisure.

Highlights: Guests are greeted by sweet scents when they enter Paris’ best hotel – or maybe it’s the sweet smell of success? The smells actually come from the glorious flower arrangements that dominate the public areas of the George V - starting in the lobby. Pencil straight calla lilies standing tall in giant urns and beds of roses forming parallel rows in art deco glass – that’s what attracts a guest's attention when first entering the palatial hotel. It was general manager Didier Le Calvez who first planted the idea of using flowers to enhance the hotel's recently renovated public areas. That idea blossomed into one of the George V's most enduring features. Eight hotel florists import between 14,000 and 17,000 blooms every week from the Netherlands and turn them into 23 major arrangements for the lobby and public areas and 150 smaller bouquets that are used throughout the hotel. The arrangements are works of art, and George V’s floral displays are often described as "flower sculptures" - with new themes introduced each week.

History: The George V opened its doors in 1928 and has been the site of many important world conferences and important world politicians can be seen talking shop in secluded corners.

Interior highlights: The flower arrangements complement the 17th century Flanders tapestries that adorn the lobby walls, and the brilliance of Louvre worthy pieces strewn about the entrance is magnified by the enormous flower vases. There are plenty of antiques and statues that just enhance the hotel’s majestic setting.

In the next room: If you haven’t stayed at the George V, then you don’t qualify as an A-list Hollywood star. Every major actor has laid their heads down on one of George V’s down pillows, the same ones European royalty have favored since the hotel opened.

The rooms: Once you've managed to make it past the sweet smelling lobby and Le Cinq, you'll discover what makes the George V so special among Parisian hotels - its 245 enchanting rooms, 61 of which are oversized suites. They all come packed with the luxuries one would expect from a property of this quality. The history and glittering trappings in each room come without extra charge. Without exaggeration, staying in one of the George V's rooms is like sleeping at the Louvre. No matter whether you're staying in one of the hotel's executive suits (there are 11 of them), a one-bedroom suite (33) a Presidential (3) or Royal suite (2) or even a regular room, you will be surrounded by museum pieces that in many cases are priceless.

Amenities: The George V redefines spa luxury with an amazing facility where you are treated to all the latest treatments in a setting that evokes images of far-off romantic locations. From simple body massages to specialty treatments like "sweet dreams" - administered in the privacy of your room - the hotel's spa rates among the best in Europe, if not the world. A wedding party of six giggly females was enjoying the spa's ambience the day TraveLife visited, and the first-timers were clearly impressed. "My mother always told me that spas were wonderful and now I know what she was talking about," said one of the young French women. Her mom must be a regular visitor to the Four Seasons George V.

Restaurants: The George V’s landmark restaurant Le Cinq ranks No. 1 on most culinary experts’ lists. There are other glorious aromas floating about the spectacular George V as well - and they usually come from the hotel's Michelin three-star restaurant, Le Cinq. Le Cing produces culinary masterpieces that rate among the best in this gastronomic capital. Le Cinq's restaurant director, Eric Beaumard, is as famous as the restaurant. Over the years, Beaumard has been honored as best sommelier in France (1992) and best sommelier in Europe (1994); he was a silver medal winner in the world's best sommelier championship (1998) and was voted sommelier of the year by his peers in 2003. Add to that the Best Sommelier in the World award recently won by Le Cinq's current sommelier, Enrico Bernardo, and you can see why the restaurant has three stars.

Shopping: Some of the biggest fashion houses in Paris are just a short walk away from the George V’s entrance. Many, in fact, are right across the street.

Close By State-of-the-art hotel is located a short walk away from the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and most of Paris’ other iconic landmarks.

Tips: The price is a bit steep but the amenities and stature this hotel offers its guests are priceless. The hotel does offer some special rates in the winter months and mere mortals like us should take advantage of them. If you can’t afford to stay in the hotel, well, you can’t afford not to eat at Le Cinq. If your spouse didn’t love you before this romantic meal, then they will afterwards.