Solstice

You and the spouse decide to get away from it all and pick Beau Rivage, the Solstice home in Paris. Wine is a must, cheese and crusty bread are a given and chocolates are highest on the list because you’re both self described “chocoholics”. In fact, you both would join hands and dive into a pool of anything bitter, sweet or milk if it ends in chocolate.

Stephanie, your Lifestyle Specialist, knows your preferences for Bordeaux and Brie, and that your anniversary is in April. She helps plan the whole trip — and she’s up to something as a special request from you as a surprise during the trip.

You arrive. Paris is perfect and the Beau Rivage is just what the doctor ordered. Intimate, right on the Ile Saint-Louis and the bread sticks are piping hot and crusty just around the corner. Louise, the Paris Destination Manager greets you at the door with an inviting smile, walks you through your gorgeous 17th century pied a terre and points out all of basics. As she leaves, Louise discretely slides you a card that reads, “Mission Accomplished”. All settled in, you decide to take a stroll before dinner and open the Solstice Paris Passport to see what’s recommended. After a quick check of the top restaurants, activities and sights nearby, you check the map on the flip side, and off you go.

A car pulls up next to you in the street at quarter to six; just as the gas lamps begin to glow with that familiar yellow-gold light. The driver calls your name and summons you in. Stephanie’s done it. You whisper a simple request to your partner, “Just trust me”. And you both jump in. The car pulls up ten minutes later in front of La Maison du Chocolat, home to the most exotic and rare collection of loose teas and confections on the earth. You catch a pleasing grin rising from the corner of your spouse’s mouth that expresses an unspoken emotion of what’s to come after sampling the chocolates on your anniversary night. Mission Accomplished.