If I Had a Million Dollars

Le Royal Monceau in Paris is one of those legendary hotels that has managed to survive the upheavals of history and still boast a guestbook that includes artists, heads of state, and pop royalty such as Michael Jackson and Madonna. Now a member of the Raffles group of hotels (read: luxury brand well-known throughout Asia  named for the eponymous property in Singapore where the Singapore Sling was "invented" and kissing cousin to Fairmont Hotel and Resorts), and owned by a Qatar investment company (read: extremely deep pockets), Le Royal Monceau Raffles reopened in October of last year following a two-year renovation project under the direction of design guru Phillippe Starck (read: unconventional, whimsical, and at times surreal).

So why would this property - with a standard guestroom rate of over $1000 a night - be on my if-I-won-the-lottery bucket list?  Mostly it has to do with the property's fierce approach to art.

• It has carpets that double as art (one with an artichoke and a horse resemblesa surrealist painting)
• Sculptures in the form of a family of life-sized wooden deer adorn the second-floor landing
• Bedside lampshades are covered in the writings of Malraux "as if he has woken up and recorded his dreams in a fit of panic"
• Artificial sugar packets read "Ceci n'est pas du sucre" - a nod to Belgian artist Rene Magritte
• An on-premises Art Concierge hooks up guests for after hours gallery tours or meetings with local artists
• The hotel's weekly newsletter "Art for Breakfast" lists a selection of can't miss shows (and the blog artforbreakfast.com is updated daily)

My own, more refined version of "Night at the Museum".