The MAP – International Exhibition of travel and leisure, from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd March in Paris.

Le Monde à Paris, “International Exhibition of Travel and Leisure” will take place
from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 March 2009 in Paris close to your location paris. If you are passionate about travel, discovery, and want to know more about the world of tourism, this exhibition offers you the chance to get to know the various actors of this dream and escape world.

If you’re wondering how to organise your holidays this summer, the MAP will give you lots of ideas to make a trip of your dreams a reality. Representatives from all sectors of tourism will be present to allow you to get to know the services they offer: hotels, clubs, holiday rentals, tours, sports trips, outdoor activities … lots of ideas so you can have a unique holiday this summer.

The MAP also supports associations that you can find out about, such as tourism development projects in the developing countries, ways which make travel accessible to the deaf and disabled …, with the purpose of improving tourism as a whole.

Recreational activities will also be held, to the delight of the children, and traditional performances for adults will take place throughout the exhibition as well as games that can give you the chance to become one of the lucky winners of a trip for two to Marrakesh, as well as many other prizes on offer.

Don’t miss the chance to discover the world of tourism in all its diversity through Le Monde à Paris, International exhibition of travel and leisure few minutes away from your location appartement paris.

Practical Information:

Where? Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, Hall 4. Paris

When? From Thursday 19th of March to Sunday 22nd of March 2009 from 10am to 7pm – late-night opening on Thursday 19th of March from 7 to 10pm.

How much? € 8.50 per person – Free for children under 12

Founded in 1793, the Croix-Blanche is an institution within Chamonix. Opening onto the garden and pedestrian precinct, Hotel Croix-Blanches conviviality and charm will instantly seduce anyone searching for authentic chalets in chamonix.

More than just a brassiere or hotel, you will quickly uncover the hotels discrete entertainment, quality service, and unforgettable atmosphere, predominantly during the après-ski, along with traditional Savoyard cuisine.

And all year round, guests are able to congregate and admire the spectacular views of Mont-Blanc from the hotels terrace.

The hotels 35 rooms are appointed with a combination of good taste and simple Savoyard style. They all feature standard modern amenities such as a shower or bath, hair dryer, satellite television, and a mini-bar.

The lobbies at Hotel Croix-Blanche have welcomed guests for the past 200 years with professionalism and warmth. And it seems that the pioneers of alpinism have certainly left their mark. Whether for meetings or cosy get-togethers, the games/meetings room and lounge areas hold up to 20 people when needed.

Local restaurants like The Brasserie L’M allow you to dine outside-weather permitting, of course-and face Mont-Blanc whilst eating a hot meal or snack, or perhaps drinking a glass of mulled wine, all as you soak up the beautiful sunshine.

Chamonix has had a great start to the ski season, with some of the best ski conditions seen for many years.

After the gloom of last season it looks like skiers can be happy for the time being as talk of less snow looks less than convincing.

A chalet in chamonix is the best place to stay if you are thinking of visiting this mountain paradise. Chalets are built in the traditional Savouyarde style and blend into their surroundings beautifully.

Most have log fires and modern kitchens and interiors, they are not log cabins – so you won’t be roughing it!

A bride’s wedding day is supposed to make her feel like a queen for a day. Bring that royal feeling full circle with a Baroque-inspired wedding and become your own “Belle” of the ball at a wedding castle. A style that is becoming very popular and extending beyond the dress to an overall theme, Baroque-fashioned weddings are one of the latest trends to inspire brides this season

In the 17th century Baroque fashion dominated the French court of Louis XIV. Today that fashionable style is making a bold comeback in wedding dresses for today’s bride. Much more comfortable than the designs of old, the new Baroque fashions boast luxurious and extravagant materials that are elaborately detailed and embellished with crystals, metallics, and fine ribbons and fabrics.

The Baroque-inspired fashion of today’s wedding dresses, have intricate bodices and pristine yet full gowns, some of which come complete with overskirts in the fashion of Marie Antoinette if you want to go the full meringue look.. Wedding Corset styles are very popular. The beauty of the corset is that you do not need to worry about your exact size on your wedding day. If you are overcome with stress or are just plain lucky enough to lose those few extra pounds before your big day it is no problems. No need for any last minute alterations, just get your Maid of Honour to tie you in nice and tight.

On the other hand if your method of dealing with wedding strss is to take solace in a tin of biscuits and you put on a few pounds, there is plenty of extra space in a wedding dress designed with a corset.

Also wedding corsets open up a whole load of wedding photography possibilities. You must instruct your wedding photographer to take a photo of you getting laced up. Sepia tones particularly lend themselves to this style of photo and if you have the wedding castle location with chaise longue, mirrored armoires, cherubs and chandeliers, these add that special touch and continu that romantic baroque theme.

Think royalty, think luxurious, think rich; whether in ornamentation, decor, fabrics, wedding accessories, favors or invitation and stationary design. Begin your Baroque-styled wedding with embellished invitations sealed with ornamental baroque monogrammed stickers. Add some detail and sparkle to your ceremony decor with crystals and metallic ribbons, for church pews or chair decor accessories. As an idea for a baroque-inspired centrepiece, think candelabras dripping with crystals in silver, or platinum, and continue your theme with a silver and chrome-plated cake serving set.

For a venue, nothing says baroque more than a renaissance wedding castle in France rich with velvet drapes, a ballroom-styled reception room complete with grand chandeliers suspended from the ceiling with light reflected in infinity mirrors and antique chaise longue lining the dance floor.

Color for a Baroque-themed wedding should be as rich as the style itself. Champagne and deep rose red, or vibrant purples are beautiful choices with lots of metallic details interspersed amongst your accessories. Brocade is a popular fabric for the baroque bride and brocade velvet is a good choice for a winter bride.

For food think rich and sumptuous. Have foie gras, figs and duck breast.

This park comprises glasshouses, computerized fountains, waterfalls, a wilderness and themed gardens featuring different coloured plants and sounds. An impressive park for far off, it gets better the closer you get to it, and if you plan to spend a weekend away in Paris, make sure you rent Paris accommodation or Paris apartments nearby.

The paved area by the fountains is perfect for walking around the park and really getting a feel for the postmodern design which is so characteristic of this park. The South edge of the lawn is bounded by a monumental canal — the “Jardin des Métamorphoses” — composed of an elevated reflecting pool that reaches through granite guard houses, lined by a suspended walkway. On the North side are two sets of small gardens: the six “Serial Gardens”, each with a distinct landscape and architectural design, and a “Garden in Movement” that presents wild grasses selected to respond at different rates to wind velocity. A 630-meter diagonal path cuts through the park, which constantly changes in its nature.

In addition to this, the park is home to a moored gas balloon operated by the Eutelsat company, which allows visitors to rise above the Parisian skyline. The balloon is filled with 5,500 cubic meters of helium. It is 32 meters high and has a diameter of 22 meters. It is moored to the ground with a hydroelectrically-activated cable. It can rise to an altitude of 150 meters and has a carrying capacity of 30 adults, or 60 children. The balloon provides a view of the Champ de Mars, the River Seine, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur and the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Finally, a bit of history. The park was created on the site of the old Citroën factory, built in 1915 by André Citroën on the banks of the Seine, operating it until it closed in the 1970s.

Everyone knows about France’s rich and colourful history with regards to the monarchy. The bloody decapitation in 1793 of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, infamous for her line “Let them eat cake” and of course, the proclamation of the French revolution in 1789.

Central to the French revolution was the city of Paris. The place where the hunger was epidemic, people were angry, and the symbol of power and wealth of the few, poverty for the masses. The King and Queen were safe in their Palace in Versailles, and as you can imagine, with the power, wealth and well documented greed of Marie Antoinette in particular, Versailles was the height of luxury. So much so in fact, that Versailles has become, over the centuries, the most sumptuously clad château in the world, absurdly over the top, but a definite must see on a trip to Paris.

This beautiful place is perfect for a weekend trip if you are staying in Paris accommodation, as it is not far away (roughly an hours drive) and means you can get away from the hustle and bustle of inner city Paris. Ostentatious does not really describe the luxury of the palace and gardens, with beautifully decorated rooms inside, walls embellished with tapestries and gold leaf and the “Hall of Mirrors” – a dazzling 73 metre gallery overlooking the garden, hung with chandeliers. Commissioned in 1678 by Louis XVI and decorated by Le Brun with scenes from the emperor’s reign, it has a staggering 357 mirrors lining its walls.

Another interesting sight to see in Versaille is the Grand Trianon, Petit Trainon and Domaine de Marie-Antionette. This is where in 1678 Hardouin-Mansart built the pink marble Grand Trianon in the north of the park, away from the court. Louis XVI took his mistress and secret second wife here. As well as this, The Petit Trainon, built for Louis XVI’s second mistress, is beautiful and definitely worth seeing. Finally, and perhaps most interestingly is Marie Antoinette’s Domaine. This hide away given as a wedding present to Marie Antoinette by the King in 1774, was where Marie Antoinette escaped from court to play in her little model village and included a chapel, a theatre and a farm and dairy where she pretended to be a humble milkmaid. This is now open to the public and iPod guides are available.

So, make sure you leave your apartment in Paris or hotels Paris for the day and take a trip to this fantastic place!

No matter what time of year you go, where in France you find yourself, you will undoubtedly run into a myriad of festivals, fairs and events. It’s what France loves.

Big cultural cities and small rural villages all enjoy year round festivities, each specialising in their own favorites. Some of the ones you definitely do not want to miss are the Tour de France, one of the key festivities of France.

The Cannes Film Festival is a must see, the biggest names in movies and art films will all be there as they parade and mingle with you while you sip drink café au lait on the beach.

The Beaujolais Nouveau begins at the coming of midnight in celebration of this regions wine.

The Carnaval of Nice is a ten day event with street theatre, parades, concerts and more. Basitille Day is perhaps one of Frances most famous events; it may need to top your list.

However, if you can be in France for during New Year’s Eve, be rewarded whether you’re in Paris celebrating among the club scenes or in the countryside and any of France’s premier vineyards, perhaps at Loire Castle or the Pyrenees.

But find yourself in France, anywhere, any time and you will be bountiful with jazz festivals, theatre celebrations, fairs and parades to help you enjoy your holiday.

From city to city there is always a plane. It can be expensive but it is quick and convenient. Paris has flights in and out of most all cities and villages you would want to visit.

One of the most common ways to get around France is by rail. Highly recommended. On the schedules, you will commonly see a bicycle symbol, this means that you can carry a bicycle on board the railway with you. Bicycling is still one of the most popular ways to travel in France and many commute long distances by bicycling the short distances to the railways to take the longer journeys by. In countryside areas of France, you may find the railway doesn’t go that far.

However do not despair, there will be buses to aid you in your journey. You can always hire a car. It will be more convenient, giving you exclusive freedom, but it will be expensive and finding a car park may not always be that easy to obtain.

The quickest and easiest way is always by air. No matter where you are in the world or which part of France you desire to go to, there is always a plane travelling to and from. But if you can, and you’re coming from abroad, take more time to travel to France and cruise.

If you are coming from the UK, there is no better way to get to France than by Eurostar, or Euro tunnel. Departing from Kings Cross St Pancraas, the Eurostar takes just over two hours to get to the center of Paris.

From other european destinations, its easy to get to France by rail and coach.

There are a lot of really fine cruise ships and lower key affordable cruise ships to choose from. Whichever your flavor, a cruise is a holiday in itself with the reward of France at the end. However if you are already in Europe or choose to fly to some other part of Europe before entering France, then by all means take a slower journey to France by rail.

Yes it will take longer and add days to your holiday but there is nothing more rewarding than the countryside by rail.