Airelles Château de Versailles, le Grand Contrôle

It has been a dream of mine to stay in Versaille at le Grande Controle since first hearing about it. Having been to Versailles twice before, in the 1960s when there was very little furniture but it wasn't crowded, and in the 1990s when it was very, very crowded, I really wanted to visit again and this seemed to be a unique way of experiencing it. It certainly lived up to my expectations. We were only able to afford one night but it was exceptional. The staff were lovely, so kind and helpful, from booking onwards as you are contacted about your itinerary and what you might like to do before you arrive. You can arrive in the morning (check in is afternoon) so you have more time to enjoy the experience. Guests are allocated their own butler, we had Thomas who looked after us beautifully and whom we much enjoyed conversing with. It is both a grand and an intimate experience, more like staying in a very well staffed private house than a hotel. It was our wedding anniversary and we found a delicious patisserie cake and greetings in our room. The interiors are beautifully restored and furnished and our room was delightful with lovely decor - more of a mini-suite really with an entrance vestibule, bedroom and luxurious shower room. I have never slept on such a comfortable bed, like being on a well supported cloud, and found that this was because the mattress and topper are produced to the hotel specification by a specialist French company (whom you can order from if you have the funds - I would if I could!). There was a whole larder of supplies in the vestibule - nibbles, chocolate, drinks, wine, cocktails as well as macarons in our room - there are macarons and such things all over the hotel so you won't go hungry! We didn't have dinner, which is a multi-course gourmet experience, but we did enjoy the food, light lunch, afternoon tea, light supper and a magnificent breakfast (including champagne). The weather was wonderful, warm and sunny more like June than March, and we had a great time touring the gardens of Versailles in a golf buggy and boating on the canal, organised for us by Thomas. It was warm enough for tea on the terrace. It's hard to single out any one thing from this wonderful experience but the tours of Versaille in the evening and the Grand Trianon the following morning were absolutely memorable. We were in a party of six guests, with a guide, and no one else there except for the Chateau staff member who accompanied each tour. Where you go depends on the day and we visited the King's state apartments and the chapel and the Grand Trianon. Other days include the Queen's apartments or the private apartments and the Petit Trianon. Each tour took about 2 hours, we had really knowledgeable guides who were most engaging and didn't mind being asked lots of questions (my husband is an architectural historian), we were not hurried along at all. The atmosphere in the evening was magical as the sun was going down over the c

We stayed two nights, and each provided masterclasses in history in comfort and luxury. Imagine a private guided tour of the Hall of Mirrors with only a few other guests of the hotel? How about use of a golf cart to explore the grounds? All part of the nightly room rate. To maximize the value, carve out a time when you can enjoy an immersive experience.

I would’ve loved ending my trip in Versailles instead of Paris! The stay was beyond amazing; I would rate it 100/10! After that, we visited the Mandarin Oriental, and let me tell you, the service was outstanding there but it was no airelles ! The beds, pillows, and views were simply breathtaking. Sleeping was like sleeping on cloud 9. The concierge letiesha took care of planning our itinerary, so I didn't have to worry about a thing! From the tours to the dinners, everything was perfect. And every night, we were surprised with a special gift on our bed from pajamas to special treats and tea! Even our departure was handled with such care! Letiesha was amazing. Let me tell you, this was luxury at its finest... I usually could find at least one thing off... But not this time... This is for my girls: when doing the palace tour, wear comfortable shoes...!

Invitée surprise pour mon anniversaire je ne connaissais pas ce lieu. J'ai passé un moment magnifique! Le Service est vraiment de très haut niveau, le cadre est merveilleux et la cuisine excellente ! Hâte de revenir ! Merci! La duchesse de Normandie...

This review is complex for me. I would not change my choice to stay at the Airelle Versailles property, and aspects of it were exceptional. However, there are things that deserve to be noted to other travelers that are drawbacks. I will annotate the good things as my primary act. First, my interactions with Eva were very positive during the stay. She was helpful and kind in an appropriate manner. Second, the access to the chateau is what made me willing to spend this amount of money on the stay and I was delivered the promised product. There were two private tours with exceptional guides. The access was unparalleled. Additionally, we had free rein of the gardens with specialized golf carts. That was a dream for me. Third, the rooms are beautifully appointed and very clean. Finally, the coffee (lattes) and tea selection (white peony etc) are truly excellent. Regarding the negatives: first, the food. What is served at the afternoon tea is nearly inedible. The man at the table next to me actually spit out food from his mouth into his hand and then put it into a napkin. The flavors are severe and unpleasant, and this nouveau cuisine is overdone. Second, the “royal” dinner was not worth it from a culinary perspective. The food is in a very similar vein to what is served at tea so it is harsh in flavor, hard to eat, and oddly paired. Additionally, the town of Versailles itself has truly excellent restaurants. My recommendation to other travelers would be to pursue the gourmet food in the town itself and avoid the hotel restaurant. This applies to pastries as well. The patisseries in the town are delightful. The breads I was served during my stay were not as high quality as what I found in town. Finally, the behavior of the other guests is not regulated on the tours at all. Our guide at the petit Trianon was overwhelmed by American high school aged children and their parents refusing to stay with the group and wandering off even after being chastised multiple times as well as other group members constantly talking over her and having loud private conversations. Similar things occurred on the evening tour. I did not realize that the cost could imply entitlement and I was shocked by the rudeness. It also made the tours, at times, quite difficult. This is not the fault of the hotel but an overall vibe for the stay. If you are passionate about French history and Versailles, this is likely a worthwhile pursuit. Consider other options for food and pursue the restaurants and patisseries in the town.

This property should be on your bucket list to complete your “Best of the world”. From the moment we entered the grounds of Versailles palace, the staff of Airelles treated my husband and I to a completely immersive experience that surpassed many of our stays throughout the world. Our butler, Hugo, provided outstanding service as we were treated to special insights into the Versailles palace. The food was superb as “The feast” dinner was a highlight of our culinary travels. And the ability to tour the property after closing hours was unbelievable.