Vive la Ritz! New changes at the iconic Ritz Paris have created plenty of hotel industry buzz, with the much-anticipated unveiling to take place January 2016. Dusted in pastel hues and decorated with original art, each of the 71 rooms and 71 suites reflect sumptuous 18^th-century luxury accessorized with the latest technology. Details include polished wood, fine silk and shaded private terraces overlooking the hotel’s stunning French gardens. A state-of-the-art fitness center, Turkish bath, sauna and Art of Chanel wellness center have been added to the property’s legendary Ritz Club.

Prestige suites, named for past guests Marcel Proust, Frédéric Chopin, Coco Chanel and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, feature the fully restored furnishings favored by each. Enjoy tea at Salon Proust, where namesake Marcel Proust once made high art of surveying — and commenting upon — the intricate dance of Parisian society. Within the cozy confines of Bar Hemingway, head barman Colin Peter Field serves up bespoke cocktails, while multi-starred Executive Chef Nicolas Sale creates haute cuisine in the chandeliered dining room. Learn a few kitchen secrets of your own at the Ecole Ritz Escoffier, offering degree programs in French cuisine and pastry.