Christmas Markets in Paris

by Frenchie on December 2, 2009


Holidays in the french capital may not be snowy white, but it’s hard to not be full with xmas cheer if you’re in the french capital in December. The City of Lights lives up to its title in a big way, as the trees that surround the Champs-Elysées are surrounded by the numerous plants in Paris that get covered with strings of light, and the Eiffel Tower regularly gets the focal place of the nighttime skyline with its gleaming light.

In fact, viewing the xmas illumination in Paris is one of the best things to do when you’re visiting the city in December. The best places to go to check out the Paris xmas illumination are along the aforesaid Champs-Elysées, the length of the Rue Montorgueil and Rue Mouffetard, in the Place Vendome, in the windows of the big department stores (including the renowned Galeries Lafayette), and at the Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s at Notre Dame that you’ll also get to have a look at Paris’ Christmas tree, and even if you’re not a religious person you might do worse than to be present at a Christmas Eve ritual in the well-known church. You can reach all of these sights from Appartment in Paris

A different Christmas tradition in Paris is the short-term ice skating rinks that get arranged around the city. The locations every year might differ, but there are frequently rinks built in the open area close to the Paris City Hall, also known as the Hotel de Ville, and near Montparnasse. They tend to go up in mid-December and stay open through March, so even if you’re visiting the french capital past Christmas you can still take a spin. Generally speaking, to go ice skating in Paris on these short-term rinks won’t cost you anything, but if you have to rent the ice skates that’ll be a few euro.

Attending a ritual in one of Paris’ numerous churches can be a really amazing way to spend Christmas Eve, even if you’re not a super-religious person at home. And you don’t even have to speak French to get the most out of a ceremony - there are quite a lot of English-language ceremonies around the city you can enter into. Unluckily, the homepage for the Catholic churches of Paris appears to be completely in French - so you may need some assistance from a French-speaking colleague to translate it and find the English ceremonies, or you could just ask the Paris tourism office or in your Hotel in Paris when you arrive in the city. Additionally to attending Christmas ceremony in Paris’ churches, you may additionally want to do a expedition|visit} of the churches during non-service times in order to see the many nativity scenes they’ve erected for the time of year.

Christmas in the french capital, as well as the rest of France, tends to be a family celebration - which means that rather than dining out and celebrations with friends, Parisians are more likely to be having big meals in familiar apartments with family and partying in private. Nevertheless, for a traveler, the french capital at Christmastime can still be dreamlike - there’s a feeling of calm that you may not find in Paris at any other time of year (though don’t imagine the streets will be cast off or anything), and there’s something about the manner a city feels when it’s preparing for a family celebration that makes it feel cozy… No matter what the temperature is outside.

Wines France

by Frenchie on December 2, 2009


What is it about France that makes me experience like it’s OK to drink an whole bottle of wine at midday in your hotel in Paris? I suppose it’s the truth that here are so many places that make it easy-almost not possible not-to do just that.
My hands-down favorite spot in Paris for a boozy Sunday lunch is Le Verre Volé, the model Parisian wine bar and living proof that simplicity is the top secret to happiness-and delightfulness. There’s not anything better than a leisurely lunch of shared little dishes and an appealing bottle of wine, followed by a drunken stroll the length of the Canal St. Martin (I have yet to fall in!), most possible followed by a siesta. Afternoons like this make me question, “Does life get any better than this?” and I every time come to the same conclusion: no.
Thus book your appartment in Paris now!
Le Verre Volé is no top secret, but its sheltered place (just off the channel in the 10th) ensures that it’s far away enough from the sightseer trail to avoid being overrun. In addition, the chalkboard menu is in French-though the servers are pleasant and pleased to explain for English-speaking customers. The Verre Volé is part of a recent culinary style in Paris: the wine shop - restaurant hybrid. The walls of the little space (it seats only around 18 people at a moment) are adorned with varied bottles from the far-flung corners of France. You be able to buy one to take back home, or you can buy one to go with lunch or dinner (in which case, you pay a 7€ corkage charge). You can also get wines by the glass.
The wines are thoroughly selected from France’s most important regions and from small producers in villages you’ve probably never heard of. The diversity and creativity that has gone into the selection is revitalizing, but even more refreshing are the prices. Bottles begin at around 6€ and raise from there. Servers are glad to guide you towards great worth. A friend and I once splurged on a 25€ bottle of St. Joseph and spent the rest of the time in a state of syrah-induced rapture.
And in the end, Le Verre Volé is terminally trendy with no being over-hip. It’s nonchalant and friendly, but when you’re here, you understand you’re in the best spot at the right moment. This is one place that manages to strike a ideal balance between innovative cooking, exceptional wines, hip but cozy ambiance, and more-than-reasonable prices. I can’t wait to go back… is it noon yet?

Paris Food

by Frenchie on December 1, 2009


Paris is a much loved European destination for many Americans. ParisApartamento barato Paris being the main destination in France, is the gateway for most travellers coming by airplane. As a gateway city, Paris ends up with tons of guests who spend time within that city unaccompanied. Not only is it a great tourist destination, it serves the purpose of being one of the main cities in France and Europe for big business. Many French companies have major offices in Paris. It is this mix of business and free time that help make Paris a multi-ethnic city.

Paris can be reached with no trouble from many cities around the USA. Most of the US carriers who serve Europe as well as Air France offer many non-stop flights to the Paris area airports. From Houston, you have a choice of two flights, four if you count the code shared flights between Air France and Continental. (Continental and Air France each operate a single flight with flight numbers from both airlines.) LAX on the west coast as well as numerous east coast cities serve as US gateway cities. If you are in London, it is likely to hop on the “Chunnel” and take a high tempo train between the two cities.

My Experiences

To my shock, on my last visit I found the folks in Paris far friendlier than I remember them from my visit 16 years ago. English seems to be spoken more now than when I was there last. It could have been the holiday season bringing joy around the world, or just a change in attitude towards those horrible American tourists who pour money into their economy.

During our stay, I was very glad to be treated so well by the desk agents in our hotel, and the wait staff at the restaurants we decided to visit. Our hotel was a small boutique hotel selected by my wife’s co-worker who was with her on the journey to Istanbul. She and her now husband visit Paris often, in fact she even has kin there, so she chose the hotel for its quaint setting and the nearby park. Unneeded to stay the staff treated us very well, and spoke perfect English. The desk agent even made sure that when we headed back to the airport that she came out and spoke in French Apartamentos Paristo the driver of our taxi to make sure he knew exactly where we were going.

We stayed and dined primarily in the Latin quarter. In this area, we found several small cafes that served up great French food. One sunset we went down a street full of family run restaurants where menus were displayed in the windows. As we looked at menus we were approached by the servers and owners all offering to serve us a great snack, either from the menu or they will make up a meal of our choosing. My wife was expecting so we did not drink any of the French wine while there. We did enjoy some great food from the menu. (Sadly I ended up coming down with the flu by the end of the weekend, which made for a long flight home.)

During one of our full days spent in the city was filled up with a city tour. We found one of the open top, double decker buses used by tour companies. I believe we ended up on the red bus as it seems like there were yellow busses, from another tour company doing the same tour. The entire circuit takes about two hours if you do not hop off and back on. We decided that hopping off at a duo of the sites was appeal it. In fact, we chose our stops earlier than the tour got going. That permitted us to plan out our day. (Weather was very cold and sad so walking was not too much fun.)

We stopped at the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and in close proximity to a industry centre where perfume shops were all over. If you have allergies those shops can be tough on your body. The tour guide on the Red bus was great. She explained the meaning of what we saw as we drove all-around the city. We cruised down several main streets. We cruised along the side of the waterway which has numerous beautiful sites along its banks. The tour guide pointed out the numerous architectural styles we encountered on our tour OH-Holidays. All around the Red Bus was a great way to use a day.

Paris Disney

by Frenchie on November 21, 2009


In July of 1955, Disney opened its first theme park in Anaheim, California. In 1971, Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida, promising to be even bigger and better than its predecessor. In 1983, Disney Hong Kong became a huge success, even though the weather wasn’t as nice in this new, foreign market. Following the smashing success of their first overseas venture, the fourth Disney theme park to open was Paris, France Disneyland and Magic Studios in 1992 and 2002, respectively. As of 2005, Tokyo Disney was the most recent addition. While Disney may not be the first thing that travelers think of when they imagine the location Paris, spending a day in the theme park with your family is a magical experience.

Despite its current success of $37.7 million in profit, 86% occupancy and 12 million visitors each year, Euro Disney in Paris got off to a rough start. Initially, the Disney crew believed that Europeans were ready to immerse themselves into a “totally American experience.” After all, the Disney movies sold better in Europe than they did in the U.S., and Hong Kong Disney was outperforming Disneyland in Anaheim. However, they had to make some changes to accommodate a multicultural audience. Now they sell espresso at refreshment stands, wine and beer with lunch and hand out park maps in six different languages. Currently the Disney strategy is to expand beyond the French market to attract other European visitors (40% of all tourists come from France) and to encourage people to stay at the parks and resorts longer, since the average stay is only about 2 days, compared to 4 to 5 in other parks.

Disneyland Resort Paris consists of two parks: Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Paris. There is also a shopping district called Disney Village. Disneyland Paris is comparable to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom with different “lands,” whereas Walt Disney Studios is more like Orlando’s Hollywood Studios with a movie-making theme. The whole Euro Disney experience is magical, from the sophisticated audio-animatronic robots and the beautifully landscaped grounds to the detailed settings and themed restaurants that borrow from Disney character films. Children are spellbound by the magic of Disney, but there is much for adults to enjoy as well. Sometimes children are too young to really enjoy the experience, so generally, parents should wait until their kids are between seven and twelve. It’s true that some kids as young as two have a perfectly fine time with no tantrums, whining or complaining, although they won’t remember the trip when they’re older.

Disneyland has now overtaken the Eiffel Tower Paris hotel region as the most popular attraction in the country. The 12 million annual tourists pouring into the parks can sometimes make the lines, the dinner reservations and the crowded walkways almost unbearable. The best times to visit are on weekdays outside of public holidays and traditional school vacations. The least-crowded months are from September to October and May to June. Since the French weather can be iffy, June will probably offer the most pleasant climate. There are also special offers during this time, like 3 days for the price of 2 days, including hotel stays. To avoid waiting in lines, hotel guests may enter the Paris parks an hour early and stay an hour late on select days. Also, any visitor can use their admission ticket to pick up “fast passes” for the most popular rides, which allows them to return during a set hour to bypass the long wait times.

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New French Ski property Leaseback Just launched

by Frenchie on October 17, 2009


A new leaseback French ski property development called ‘Les Fermes Emiguy’ has just been launched in the 11th century traditional village of Les Gets is a beautiful Alpine gem.

Les Fermes Emiguy has 74 luxurious studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. Designed in keeping with authentic Savoyard architecture the charming properties are covered in wood yet contain all the modern equipment a prestigious property would feature in a leading Alpine development.

Investors will also benefit from generous personal usage as well as the rental opportunities all year round. The luxurious apartments are managed by the prestigious Lagrange Group with over thirty five years in tourism experience including other French Ski property for sale in superb areas.

A skiers’ paradise
Les Fermes Emiguy offers skiing on your doorstep being only 400m from the Chavannes ski-lifts and approximately 300m from the piste of the Vieux Chênes. Les Fermes Emiguy is the perfect French ski property retreat set within the Portes du Soleil domain, one of the largest and most varied ski regions in the world allows access to 650km of marked runs over 400 square miles, 266 pistes, 10 snow parks and some 230 ski lifts.

Within the French Alps property resort there is a wide range of high quality facilities including:

Outdoor and indoor heated swimming pool
Whirlpool bath
Spa et Bien être area
A sauna
Laundry
Bicycle store
Business meeting rooms

Watch the You Tube Video

Accessibility
With stunning views of the Mont Blanc, properties in Les Gets are in great demand.

A number of low cost airlines fly direct from the UK to Geneva all year round including a new route from Manchester operated by SWISS from December 2009 from as little as £77 return. Therefore it is both affordable and simple to get to the region.

“We are delighted to be reintroducing connection between the UK and Switzerland, which was so popular last season. It demonstrates our commitment to both tourism in the Lake Geneva area and to our customers in northern England, north Wales and Scotland.”
Gregor Koncilja, country manager UK and Ireland at SWISS

Highly accessible by road (A40 motorway), rail (22km from TGV station of Cluses) and air (55km from Geneva airport) reaching your luxury apartment is simple. information about this excellent French ski property development go to French-Ski-Property.co.uk to download the exclusive investor

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Flying High with Domaine de Lavagnac, the premier property investment opportunity in the Languedoc Roussillon, South of France

by Frenchie on September 22, 2009


The Domaine de Lavagnac in the South of France Languedoc region is set to become the premier resort for the Languedoc region.

The development is a an extremely interesting investment opportunity offering both financial gains and enjoyment. As you can currently invest in a property for an initial low deposit of 10% with the rest of the price covered by a 25 year term mortgage paid for the investors via a guaranteed rental, investors also benefit from 4 weeks usage per year.

Investors will own the property outright after the 25year mortgage is paid meaning this is a superb low cost way to purchase a Languedoc Roussillon Property with hardly any financial outlay.

The development consists of a selection of luxury homes featuring modern architecture; an 18 Hole Championship Golf Course & Clubhouse and a luxury 1000m2 Spa.

All the properties will be unique with there own individual landscaping and colours which ensure a different feel and identity of each house and all will be will be built from the highest-quality, natural materials, such as Mediterranean oak, Caune marble and local limestone.

Watch the video on YouTube

Here are two recent news items which show the demand for property in France.

On the 11th of August 2009 Ryanair announced it would open its 34th base at Leeds Bradford Airport in March 2010 with two based aircraft and 14 new routes being launched, one of which is Montpellier in Languedoc. This will further open up the Languedoc region to additional visitors and will have a positive effect of the success of the 5 star luxurious Domaine de Lavagnac which as mentioned is set to become the premier resort in the region.

Another recent article in the news on the 17th of September on the IFAonline website called ‘France steals top spot for Brits buying abroad’ highlights statistics that France has taken Spain’s crown as Britons’ destination of choice for buying property abroad.

The Domaine de Lavagnac offers an attractive long term investment with guaranteed ROI in the form of the investor’s mortgage and all costs being paid for them with the added benefit of 4 weeks personal usage in the soon to be premier resort for the investor’s enjoyment.

For more information contact specialist overseas property investment company Experience International on 0207 321 5858

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Hiring a car in France

by Frenchie on August 4, 2009


The best way to arrange this is to buy it in combination with your flights
and hotel to form a package as a discount can often be acquired this way. It
is important to check whether the company you are renting from requires an
international driving license for use of its vehicles. It is also advised that
you book a car beforehand if you intend to drive to other European countries
from France, in order to avoid paperwork in foreign languages. A passport is
another essential, as visitors need to be at least 25 years of age to be able
to rent a car, and a passport can act as evidence of this.

An alternative to renting a car via international car hire firms or from travel
agents is on the internet. There are numerous websites that provide a search
and comparison option, whereby a list of service providers is given, along
with the prices they charge and the types of cars on offer. You will normally
have to specify the area of pick-up and drop-off, country of residence, dates
on which you would like to rent the car as well as the age of driver. Search
results will then provide the exact make of the car, its passenger and baggage
capacity as well as the price of hiring it. These can then be selected and
compared, and easily booked once a decision has been made.

It is advised that before completing the booking procedure, any terms and
conditions are read thoroughly to be aware of any mileage restrictions, and
whether insurance is included in the price offered or not. In France, the most
popular pick-up locations are outside airports and railway stations but a commercial
address is always an option as well.

Car hire France can search multiple rental companies to find you the best
deals or Nova Car Hire, Easy Car and EuropCar are examples of popular car rental
companies in
France.

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Ski France In Style At The Courcheval 1850 Resort

by Frenchie on July 14, 2009


The Courchevel 1850 resort in France is one of the best ski resorts in the world if you happen to be a beginner. Yes, we were all beginners once, and no one knows better than the Courchevel 1850 resort, that if you get the beginners right, the intermediates and advanced will follow. With over 50% of all runs dedicated specifically to beginners, it is a haven for those learning to ski, or looking to refine their skills and expertise whilst on vacation. Go to Sports Holidays for more information

Rumored to be the most expensive resort on the French Alps, this isn’t strictly the truth. You can find really good deals if you know where to look, and there are really good discounts for group bookings, although you get what you pay for, so don’t expect a cheap vacation. Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys resorts, and itself is divided into four distinct areas from the bottom to the top: 1300, 1550, 1650, and 1850.

In general, the further up you go, the more expensive your trip is likely to be, so it is wise to consider going slightly further down, where you can still find some amazing skiing, both off piste and cross country, as well as some great downhill runs. With an astonishing 65 ski lifts across the resort, the Courchevel is an enormous skiing resort, and attracts a wide variety of tourists from across Europe, and indeed the world. Refer to Tailor Made Holidays for more information.

The Courchevel 1300 is located right at the very bottom of the resort, and is truly beautiful in an unspoilt, picturesque sense. It is a fantastic challenge for beginners, and is ideal for those looking for some relaxation out of their skiing vacation. Alternatively, moving up, there is the 1550, which is seen as the playground of the locals.

Here you can benefit from some amazing self catering deals, whilst still managing to find great skiing, so this is perhaps a good consideration for those with families. Again, moving up there is the 1650, home of the famous ski school, and a number of top quality restaurants. With largely chalet accommodation, this is also a great resort to choose for your French skiing vacation. Finally we have the 1850.

The 1850 is home to the rich and the famous, and you’re looking at an arm and a leg if you want to ski there. Although the skiing isn’t that much better (unless you’re looking for off-piste), there are heftier queues, and the resort isn’t overly child friendly or family orientated.

Of the four resorts on the Courchevel, you are guaranteed to have a great skiing vacation whichever you choose. Each has the benefit of world class skiing, although the facilities may differ between each. It is important to decide what it is you are looking for, and then to base your choice around this, so you can make the most of your skiing vacation. Why not consider taking a few lessons in the world famous Courchevel ski school? Or how about sampling some of the extensive night life these resorts have to offer?

Whether you are a dedicated skier, or have never been on a pair of skis in your life, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for on the Courchevel, and you are guaranteed a vacation to remember. Visit Group Sport Holidays for further information.

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the best museum for art lovers

by Frenchie on July 7, 2009


The Albertina is a very interesting museum and was constructed where the old wall of Vienna could be found. The building is located in the heart of Vienna, enclosed by other symbolic places. And its architecture is on a par with its fortunate location.
Its great external splendor can’t be compared with the huge graphic collection, made up of over 65.000 drawings and a million engravings which can be found inside. This is one of the principal and most diverse in the whole world.
The works are classified by periods and you can admire both the ancient and important works, as well as the most innovative modern works.
This contrast is the most interesting of them all because the differing styles keep every visitor busy in the numerous sections of the museum at all times. I’m sure that if you visit this colossus of art you will find a section which will take an entire afternoon away from you.
The most famous item in this museum is Durero’s works, which have travelled to other significant museums in the world, such as the Louvre or the Prado. However, the prints dedicated to the triumphs of Maximiliano was the work which caught my eye the most.
This is one of the most representative museums in the city and its a must-see, because the richness of its works seems to be almost irresistible for all art lovers who visit Vienna.
When you visit Vienna, don’t forget to visit this famous museum, where you can see drawings of people, animals, battles and the daily life of the Austrian capital. You shouldn’t forget either that the alquiler apartamentos viena is usually a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel, and it will also give you the chance to life in the city like an Austrian.
The Albertina is located next to the Burfarten park and all you have to do to get there is get the tram and get off at Wien Oper station.

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Package Travel Versus Independent Travel

by Frenchie on June 11, 2009


When traveling on a budget, one of the most often questions is whether it is best to travel independently, making your own airfare, hotel and sightseeing reservations, or choose a package tour where everything is set up for you in advance. Go to Vacation Packages for further information.

There is unfortunately no easy answer to this question, as it is largely dependent on the location and the specific deals that are available.

For instance, travel to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off season.

On the other hand, travel to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand and India, are often much less costly when booked through a package company or travel agent.

That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.

For instance, last year I traveled solo to Egypt from New York for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

This is far less than I could have booked on my own, since airfare alone would have run me over $700. The key to this great deal was the relationship of the tour operator with Egyptair and the hotel at which we stayed.

Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget travel deal.

Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal. Go to Africa Safari Travel for more information.

It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost.

Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optionals. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.

If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly you may be out of luck.

It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a package deal or independent travel is up to each individual travelers. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent travel to the same location.

It is also important to take your own personal travel style into account. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent travel provides. Visit Travel Deals for further information.

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