Ever walked into a hotel and thought, ‘This just isn’t me?’ That’s precisely the feeling I got during my stay at the SAX Paris, a Hilton LXR hotel. This review dives into my experience, offering a candid look at a property that, while well-intentioned, left me feeling more bewildered than bedazzled.
During my Parisian adventure, I chose to experience a couple of hotels, including the SAX Paris. The hotel, with its 118 rooms, opened its doors a few months ago, and is positioned as Hilton’s most luxurious offering in Paris. With room rates around €600 per night and the option to redeem 110,000 Hilton Honors points, it seemed like a good opportunity to use an expiring free night award.
But here’s where it gets controversial… the SAX Paris just didn’t resonate with me. It felt like a confused blend, and I felt out of place. While I’ll provide a full review soon, here are my initial thoughts.
The design of the SAX Paris is, to put it mildly, unconventional. The LXR brand is known for luxury, but this hotel leans more towards a lifestyle vibe. The design choices, especially the excessive use of mirrors, created a disorienting experience. Low lighting further amplified this effect, making it difficult to read even the simplest of labels.
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I was upgraded to a deluxe room. However, the 280-square-foot room felt cramped, with minimal views, and hardly exuded luxury. It’s fascinating because the press release images looked amazing, but in reality, the room felt like a closet. This is likely due to the hotel’s origins. Initially, it was slated to be the Hilton Paris Eiffel Tower, with a planned opening in 2019. The project went upmarket, but the existing structure remained the same.
The lobby is tiny, with only two couches across from the reception desk. The overall vibe is confusing. Is this a haunted house, a themed restaurant, or something else entirely? The outdoor courtyard, with its elevated pool and hot tub, seems out of place.
And this is the part most people miss… The hotel seemed aimed at a younger demographic, yet the guests were primarily American Hilton Honors members. It felt like the hotel’s vibe didn’t match its clientele.
To be fair, there were positives. The staff was young, friendly, and professional. The hotel features an excellent Japanese rooftop restaurant, Kinugawa, with views of the Eiffel Tower, which is worth visiting. The breakfast selection was also excellent, with a wide buffet and a small a la carte menu.
In conclusion, Hilton LXR’s SAX Paris is a peculiar hotel. While the staff is friendly, and the rooftop restaurant is great, the design is a deal-breaker for me. It’s marketed as luxury, but it feels like a strange lifestyle hotel, with small rooms, too many mirrors, and inconsistent lighting. It’s frustrating when hotels don’t manage expectations well.
What are your thoughts on Hilton’s SAX Paris? Do you find the design appealing, or do you agree that it misses the mark? Share your opinions in the comments below!