Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris

For quintessential Parisian glamour, you can't surpass the Plaza Athénée, with fussing doormen, celebrity guests, sumptuous suites and an Eiffel Tower view that made Carrie giddy with joy in the finale of Sex and the City.

For those who venture out of their suite, there's the Dior Institut spa, wine tasting in the 35,000-bottle cellars, or haute cuisine at Alain Ducasse's three-Michelin-star restaurant. Should you (dare we say it) fancy dining out, a reservation at L'Ami Louis brasserie in the fashionable Marais district is essential.

If anyone can get you a table, it's Athénée's concierge.

WOW FACTOR: Le Bar is the place to be - not only does it change from relaxing blue to party red at 10pm, but the cocktails are unlike anything we've tasted.

GO: Superior Room from £759 (plaza-athenee-paris.com). British Airways (britishairways.com) flies from £110 return.