The city sparkles under the prettiness of the post-winter sunshine and the tree-lined avenues long for you to walk down them. 

Heading to the French capital for a romantic weekend, I was less interested in tourist traps (having done most of the sights before) and more in ambling, eating and drinking.And our accommodation at the four star Victoria Palace Hotel in the residential district of Montparnasse provided the perfect base.

As well as combining tradition (the hotel retains its 1913-style decor) with the ultimate in luxury (flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms), the building is in an ideal location for exploring the Rive Gauche (Left Bank).

And as if they read our minds, the hotel equipped us with a ‘foodie’s short discovery trail’ for the neighbouring area on arrival.Touches like this really set the service above the rest.

AMAZING DEALS FOR PARIS

On their recommendation we sampled an excellent family-run restaurant (steak and chips cooked to perfection) packed with locals and bursting with Parisian flair. 

And we were also pointed in the direction of a mouth-wateringly good chocolatier (we could have spent all day sampling their goodies).

And when we weren’t pounding the pavements of gay Paris, we found the hotel bar a haven for late night relaxation.With walls covered in luxurious stretched fabrics, comfortable leather chairs and an attentive but discreet barman, we could sip cocktails into the early hours in true vintage Parisian style. 

Victoria Palace Hotel is a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection. Double rooms start from £207.00. For more information or to book please visit http://www.ghotw.com/victoria-palace  or call 020 7380 3658.