I stayed at a 'Palace' in Paris where rooms can cost more than $20,000 a night. See inside Le Royal Monceau, a hotel frequented by the stars.

29.07.2023 - 11:23 / insider.com / Winston Churchill / Philippe Starck / Robert De-Niro / Ray Charles / Royal / Paris

It's not often that I'm treated with a stay at a five-star hotel. It's even less often that I can stay at a hotel that's been ranked even higher than five stars — in fact, it's only happened once, earlier this month.

On a trip to Paris this summer, I stayed at Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, a hotel deemed a French "Palace," a designation awarded only to France's most exceptional hotels.

The "Palace" ranking was established by the French Minister of Tourism in November 2010 as a way to highlight already exceptional hotels, according to Explore France. Throughout the country, there are just 31 such hotels; In Paris, there are even fewer, with just 12 making the list. 

Le Royal Monceau, a property by the international Raffles Hotels & Resorts group, is one of the city's few palaces. On its face, Le Royal Monceau boasts a typical Parisian facade; enchanting and ritzy. Inside, however, is a playful display of art and culture. French designer Philippe Starck redesigned the hotel in the early 2000s, which gave the property new life as an art deco lover's paradise.

The palace is filled with works of art: a wooden herd of 15 life-sized elk and deer welcomes guests to their rooms in one hallway. Elsewhere, an all-red smoking room symbolizes pleasure and the descent to hell. One suite is decorated with portraits of Ray Charles — a nod to the man who used to stay in the same room.

Charles isn't the only big-name guest who's stayed at Le Royal Monceau. Winston Churchill and Michael Jackson were once counted as frequent patrons; more recently, Madonna and Robert De Niro have called the palace home for a time.

The hotel's star-studded clientele is reflected by its cost: a junior suite, the room I stayed in, can cost $3,000 a night. More deluxe rooms, like its presidential suite, can cost nearly $20,000 per night. 

I spent three nights at Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris. From being picked up at the airport to dining at its in-house Michelin-starred restaurant, here's what it was like.

Insider paid a press rate of $1,000 for three nights.