AS every girl knows, there is no such thing as travelling light. And, as the bellhop struggled manfully with my short-break case, and I witnessed the sheer opulence of the hotel lobby, I breathed a sigh of relief that I had packed so much.

The Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris has just undergone a $125m facelift and now ranks 32 in the world. So I was glad I had arrived in style with my ten dresses, five jumpers, four skirts and five pairs of shoes.

Having packed with military-type precision, there was still one thing I had forgotten - my trusty fluffy slippers. It would have been enough to ruin my stay, except the George V is the sort of hotel to cater for a guest's every need. The room contained not one pair of slippers, but two. Designed in the 1920s by French architects Lefranc and Wybo, and originally opened in 1928, it was described in early press coverage as "conceived in the spirit of modern and elegant luxury".

Over the years it has provided shelter to hosts of celebrities, including Mick Jagger

Rooms are gargantuan and feature every luxury imaginable. Mine was like a small apartment, with a bigger living room than I have at home. Like a child in a sweet shop, I had to explore every corner. There was a huge sofa, dining table, enormous TV and Sony PlayStation. Further inspection revealed a mini bar, fax machine and a fantastic view of Paris, which was even better at night.

From the living room, two French doors opened up to a bedroom which housed what is possibly the biggest bed I have ever seen and my excess baggage was easily swallowed by a huge walk-in wardrobe.

From the bedroom, another set of doors opened into the most sumptuous bathroom imaginable. The shower could easily hold a full football team with enough room in the bath for a rugby squad. All the fittings were marble and, as an added touch, there were his and hers sinks and big fluffy bathrobes.

However, accommodation like this does not come cheap. At £720 per night on a room only basis, the entire stay cost a little less than two months wages for a trainee reporter.

I chose to eat in La Galerie, and with a choice of mouth-watering food it was hard to decide what to have. After much deliberation, I chose the salmon. It was one of the best meals I have ever eaten.

The next morning, was spent eating breakfast in the award winning restaurant Le Cinq and after succumbing to fruit salad and a selection of eggs and bacon, it was time to explore the city.

The hotel itself is located in the most fashionable quarter of Paris, just steps from the Champs-Elysees, whilst the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Tower, are all just a short walk away.

And for those who prefer to let the Metro take the strain, the George V stop is just two minutes walk away.

After a tiring day of shopping and sightseeing there was no better way to unwind and relax than in the hotel's spa, where there was everything from state-of-the-art fitness equipment, fitness instruction and a refreshing pool.

Then it was time to pack and return back to the North-East. The worst part of the holiday was the feeling that in a few hours I would have to come back to reality.