Review: Airelles Chateau De Versailles, Le Grand Controle (AMAZING!)

During our royal visit to Versailles, we spent two nights at the 14-key Airelles Chateau de Versailles, Le Grand Controle. Staying at this hotel was our main motivation for taking this trip. I had very high expectations, but OMG, even those high hopes were exceeded. This hotel is an absolute masterpiece.

In the past few years, I’ve become a huge fan of boutique French hotel brand Airelles, and at the moment, it’s my favorite hotel group. So far, I’ve reviewed Les Airelles Courchevel, Airelles La Bastide de Gordes, Airelles Saint-Tropez Chateau de la Messardiere, and Airelles Val d’Isère. There was only one Airelles property we hadn’t yet visited, and this was it.

Airelles Chateau de Versailles is unlike any hotel I’ve stayed at before. The biggest selling point of this property is that it gives you special access to the Palace of Versailles, even at times when it’s closed to the public (you get a morning and evening visit). The level of access is truly incredible.

But even beyond that, this property is astonishingly good in every way, with perfect service, and so much effort put into transporting you back in time, in the best way possible. This isn’t your typical luxury hotel experience — I’d say it’s a hybrid between a luxury hotel, a history safari, and an immersive, performative experience.

I mean, when’s the last time your wake up call consisted of someone scratching on your door, walking in with a lantern and live music, opening your curtains, making a bath for you, and serving you an orange-infused almond milk drink, like Marie Antoinette had back in the day? The whole thing was every bit as cool as it was awkward (note: this wake up is optional).