Cheap Paris Breaks

What Do You Know About the Paris Metro?

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:34:00 +0000

London has its Underground and New York has its Subway. In contrast, Paris has its Metro and it is one of the best ways to navigate your way around the city. Also known as the Metropolitain, it runs a close knit network of lines all over Paris. This makes it supremely easy to get from place to place as you find your way to all the most famous (and not so famous) destinations that Paris has to offer.

It may help to know a few things about the Metro before you use it for the first time however. For example sixteen lines form the whole network, and they intersect at various places. Of the 384 stops that exist, just under one sixth of them are capable of transferring you to another line.

It makes sense to grab a map of the Metro system as soon as you arrive in Paris, regardless of how long you are staying there for. Most people cannot resist the experience of hopping on the Metro even if they could happily walk everywhere, and you may well feel the same. You can also check a copy of the map online before you go if you want to get ahead of the situation and familiarise yourself with the lines.

The network itself is very close knit and most stations are actually quite close to each other. This makes the network better to use if you are travelling over a longer distance, but it is always good to know you aren’t far away from a station. The map is easy to look at because all the lines are colour coded, so you just have to find out where it is best to change lines if you need to.

It is certainly an experience to try and navigate the lines on your own. Even if your French is a little rusty you should be able to use the colours and the names of the stations to find your route from A to B. And even if you get lost it all adds to the fun!

Heading Out to Paris for a Shopping Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Paris is well known as a popular shopping destination. No matter what kinds of shops you care to look in, Paris is a popular choice for several reasons. Firstly it is very close to the UK while still offering all the allure of another country. Secondly it has lots of shops for you to browse round. And of course perhaps most importantly of all, it also offers plenty of other activities to get stuck into while you are away.

The most important thing to remember about shopping in Paris is that it doesn’t automatically require you to have a huge budget. There are certainly plenty of expensive shops you could go to if you wanted, but on the whole you will find that there are also other more accessible shops to enjoy as well.

As you may already know, Paris is split into several areas known as arrondissements. These are just specific areas of the city and there is no doubt that many of them are home to more expensive shops than others. The trick is to pick the right arrondissements to visit, so you can look forward to shopping in places that will suit your budget.

Ideally you should consider the kinds of shops you would like to visit before you even book your weekend in Paris. If you book the first thing you see you could find yourself in the midst of the more expensive shops, and miles away from the ones that would suit whatever cash you have to spend. Needless to say, a little planning before you go is the best way to ensure you book the most suitable shopping weekend for your needs.

To give you some food for thought, try the Boulevard Haussmann to get access to many of the big department stores Paris has to offer. The Avenue Montaigne is the place to find the designer stores, should you want to go to the very top of the clothing ladder. As you can see, Paris really does have everything you could possibly want from a European shopping trip.

Taking A Look At The Montparnasse Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:21:00 +0000

Now most people wouldn’t automatically think of seeing a cemetery on their weekend away in Paris (or in any other location come to that). But in reality it is more than worth going to see the Montparnasse Cemetery, because it reveals a side of Paris you may otherwise miss out on.

It is here that so many famous names and figures from Parisienne history now lie. While cemeteries do not usually feature on lists of the best places to visit in any locale, you will find many other tourists respectfully walking around this one, purely because of the links it has with the city’s history. There are many famous people who have been laid to rest here, and some of them have a degree of fame that is known well beyond Paris itself.

For instance one of the Montparnasse Cemetery’s most famous residents would have to be Guy de Maupassant. The French writer wrote many short stories during his rather short life (he died aged 42 in 1893) and many of them are famous today. Elsewhere in the cemetery you will find the grave of Camille Saint-Saens, who composed Danse Macabre among other compositions.

The cemetery itself is an extremely large one and the prevalence of the famous residents here means that many tourists make a point of seeing it while they are in the city. The caretaker of the cemetery has a map which points out the graves of the most famous inhabitants, so you can more easily find those which interest you.

Not all cemeteries have the same depth of feeling as this one does. But as probably the most famous cemetery in Paris (if not all of France) it definitely begs a visit. Jean-Paul Sartre, Samuel Beckett and many others have all found their final resting places here.

The cemetery is easy to find as it is located in the Montparnasse area of the city. This is in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, to the south of the river and the city itself. Even if the idea of visiting a cemetery on a weekend away still feels strange, make sure you give it a try.

Planning a Weekend in Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:51:00 +0000

The great thing about visiting Paris is that you don’t have to book a whole week there if you don’t want to. It’s close enough to enable you to have a great time there if you only have a couple of days to spare. Imagine a long weekend spent in the French capital over a Bank Holiday for example, or perhaps just taking a day off on the Friday and travelling early so you can have three days there.

The best way to plan for a long weekend is to think about staying somewhere central. You don’t want to waste time travelling from place to place. With a well chosen location to stay in you will be just minutes from all the venues you would most like to see.

You should also think about the types of attractions you want to see. Will you be a traditional visitor with sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees on your list of places to go to? Or will you make a list of alternative and more unusual sights to see?

Whatever you want to do while you are there, it’s a good idea to have some kind of plan prior to your visit. This will enable you to ensure you can get off to the best start when you arrive in Paris. It’s fine to head for your hotel room or accommodation to freshen up and make sure you are ready to explore, but you don’t want to spend hours there trying to figure out where to go. You want to make the most of the time you have in the city, so make sure you get overwhelmed by decisions before you go, so you don’t waste time upon arrival.

This trick also means you can enjoy the build up to your break even more than you would otherwise. With so much to see and do in the city you can decide whether you will be a traditional tourist or one who goes off the beaten track. Where will you be heading to once Paris beckons you?

Exploring The Military History Of France

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:33:00 +0000

Every city has some attractions that you may never have heard of until you actually arrive. But once you have seen them you wonder why they have not been better known or as famous as they should be.

One such example in Paris is Les Invalides, otherwise known as L’Hotel national des Invalides. The Musee de l’Armee is also in the same venue, so it is well worth seeing what you can of the location.

But what exactly is there to see?

The name of the location does reveal some clues as to what you can expect here. The venue was designed to be a hospital for war veterans’ way back in 1670 so it has been around for a long time. Part of it is still used for this purpose now, but it also houses a lot more that tourists can go and see as well.

It is also good value for money as one entry ticket actually covers five different venues to see. One of these is the Tomb of Napoleon I, which as you can imagine is a big draw for many people. He is not the only person to have a tomb at Les Invalides, but he does have arguably the best spot – right under the main dome itself.

The Musee de l’Armee – the Army Museum in English – has plenty to show you regarding the history of the French Army as well. In fact 2010 has been quite a year for the museum, as it signifies the end of a long program of renovation that has taken place over the space of several years. Therefore if you go now you will see the museum at its best. Look out for the saddle used by Napoleon III and some of the personal items used and owned by Napoleon Bonaparte as well.

As you can see there is a lot to enjoy here, so a full day is advisable. Don’t miss the Scale Models Museum or the Order of the Liberation Museum either; they’re all worth seeing and you will get a new understanding of the military history of France.

A View From Tour Montparnasse

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:10:00 +0000

When you are visiting a city for the first time – or even if you have been there many times before – there is nothing that surpasses the view from above. The idea is to find one of the high points of the city so you can look down on it and see more than you would from street level.

We are rather spoilt for choice when it comes to Paris. There is the rather obvious prospect of the Eiffel Tower of course, but there is also the Tour Monparnasse to consider.

This is a skyscraper and while it may not be as tall as the famous Eiffel Tower, it still offers a superb view across Paris. Situated in the 14th arrondissement of the city, construction started in the late Sixties and was completed in 1972.

We should make it clear that opinions on the Tour Montparnasse have not exactly been divided over the years. While there are no doubt some people who have liked the building, there has been a definite lack of excitement and enthusiasm for it. In fact some people have said it is well worth going to the top because you cannot see the building from there!

We beg to differ in this respect. We think the journey is worth it because of the view you are allowed over the rest of Paris. See if you can spot the famous sights from the safety of the 56th floor, a floor that has been set aside for visitors. This enables you to see around all the sides of the building, giving a true 360 degree view.

The Tour Montparnasse may have been deemed ugly enough to ban all other similar skyscrapers from going up, but this has actually been a good thing. It has given us a superb view all around Paris without having lots of other skyscrapers in the way. We could still get a good view from the Eiffel Tower of course, but where else can you go up this high in the city and still see the Eiffel Tower itself?

It seems we have a lot to thank the Tour Montparnasse for after all.

Enjoy The Gardens Of Versailles For Free

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:31:00 +0000

There cannot be many people around today who haven’t heard of the Palace of Versailles. But your visit to the palace should not be restricted to the building itself. The Gardens of Versailles are just as fascinating – and unlike the palace they can be explored completely free of charge. This is ideal if you are on a budget and you’d like to stick to it.

But you should be aware of one thing. The word ‘gardens’ really does not even begin to cover what you will find here. You can spend hours wandering around and seeing everything, such is the scale on show. But then they do belong to the Palace of Versailles, so perhaps the gardens should be expected to be equally as grand. They cover a total of some 800 hectares, so make sure you’ve got some comfortable walking shoes on!

Over recent years and despite a destructive storm that took place back in 1999, the gardeners here have been busy replanting vast sections of the gardens. This work is ongoing and as you will see when you pay a visit, the gardens always look stunning and extremely well kept.

If you are still trying to get to grips with how big these gardens really are, consider this – there are some two hundred thousand trees here and a total of fifty different fountains. You could wander round all day and still not see everything, such is the grand scope and scale of the place.

You can see that the Gardens of Versailles are just as grand as the palace itself. Indeed if you are intending to see both you might be better served spending one day in the palace and coming back on a nice sunny day to see the gardens. At least this way you won’t feel rushed and end up missing lots of things.

You should also make the time to indulge in a couple of the walks that are available in the gardens. The Water Walk and the Bacchus and Saturn Walk are just two of the many options you have available to choose from.

Visiting The Arc De Triomphe

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:14:00 +0000

Is this the most famous arch in the world? It must surely be high up on the top ten list, although we have a feeling we’d run out of contenders once we got past the top five.

The Arc de Triomphe is a triumphal arch, and there is a very good reason for this particular one to be there. It stands as a reminder of all the people who have fought for France over the years. It was designed in the early 1800s and was originally constructed to remember those who fell in the Napoleonic Wars. Since then it has also come to be a focus for remembrance for others who have died in other wars.

Perhaps most memorably the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which dates from the First World War is underneath the arch. But other events have also taken place in and around the Arc de Triomphe, some of which you may already be aware of.

Not everyone realises how big the arch is until they see it for themselves. But to give you an idea of what to expect, it is quite possible to fly a biplane through the arch. This was achieved by Charles Godefroy after the end of the First World War, to celebrate the end in a way people would remember. It certainly gives you an idea of what to expect if you have not yet seen the arch for yourself, doesn’t it?

The Arc de Triomphe also enjoys a prime spot in Paris. It stands at the Place Charles de Gaulle and it has countless different roads all meeting it as it stands in the middle of a roundabout. If you want to see the arch up close, don’t try crossing the road – it is far too dangerous. Instead use the pedestrian tunnel provided. You’ll be glad you did if you spend just a few moments watching the traffic trying to negotiate this crazy junction.

All in all this is one arch you won’t want to miss seeing. It is stunning from a distance and incredibly imposing from up close.

What Can You Expect Inside The Musee D’Orsay?

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:27:00 +0000

If someone were to ask you to name a famous museum in Paris, the chances are high that you would opt for the Louvre. But this isn’t the only museum worth seeing in the city. There is also the Musee D’Orsay, which houses some impressive artworks that are just as worthy of seeing as those in the Louvre.

The building itself is pretty impressive, since it is housed in what used to be a railway station. Look up as you are wandering around inside and you will see the curved ceiling with various glass panels letting in plenty of light on the wonders it holds inside.

The museum itself will hold its twenty fifth anniversary in 2011, having been formally opened in 1986. Inside there are works by many famous artists that visitors to the museum always flock to see. For example you can witness the Luncheon on the Grass by Manet, Montmartre by Renoir and Starry Night over the Rhone by Vincent van Gogh. There are other paintings by these famous and revered artists in the Musee D’Orsay as well, so be sure to see them all while you are there.

You can see some sculptures here as well from the likes of Mathurin Moreau and Paul Gaughin, but the bulk of the work can be seen in its paintings. There are hundreds here to be seen, including sixty from Pierre Bonard alone. If you have an eye for good art and you know some of the famous and not so famous names from art history, you will delight in spending a day here exploring the works.

The museum itself has an enviable setting on the Seine, positioned on its Left Bank. Many of the paintings you will see inside date from around a century ago and sometimes a little more, so you are really looking back into a classic period in art history that has a lot to show you. The museum is open from half past nine until 6pm most days except for Monday. On Thursdays you can enjoy longer in the museum if you wish, as it stays open until 9.45pm.

Is It Worth Heading Up The Tower?

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:21:00 +0000

Of all the attractions in all of Paris, the most famous one of all has to be the Eiffel Tower. But with all the advance publicity and the sight of it once you arrive in the city, is it really worth the effort of going up to the top?

In truth the vast majority of people who do make the trip up the tower are glad they did so. You may not be among them if you don’t have a head for heights though – after all it is more than a thousand feet tall. You don’t have to walk all the way to the top though; the stairs will only take you up so far, and after that you can rely on the lifts to get you to the uppermost level.

One of the most notable things about the Eiffel Tower is that it is open for long periods during the day and long into the night. Most of the time the opening hours are between 9.30am and 11pm, and these are extended during the height of the summer, opening earlier at 9am and staying open until midnight as well.

There are three levels in all that you can visit, and you should decide where you want to advance to before you buy your tickets. The price will vary depending on what decision you make. You can walk up to the first two levels and there is plenty to see and do once you get there. Why not stop for a bite to eat in one of the restaurants that are established on these levels? It certainly makes your time on the Eiffel Tower even more memorable.

There is arguably nothing better than heading right to the top in the lift, so you can get an amazing view of Paris from a thousand feet in the air. If you time it right you can go up near dusk so you can see the city in both daytime and nighttime.

But don’t miss out on the feeling of standing on the ground underneath the tower as well. You’ll be amazed how it feels to look up and see the Eiffel Tower stretching away above you.

Visiting The Latin Quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:07:00 +0000

Okay so you may have heard of it – but where exactly is it? And more to the point, what can you expect to see when you get there?

The Latin Quarter is an area of Paris rather than an attraction you can see in itself. As soon as you are there you can wander around the streets and soak up the atmosphere, as it lies within the 5th and 6th arrondissement of Paris. Perhaps the most famous sight here is the Sorbonne University, which many great names and thinkers have attended in years gone by.

But this is merely a small part of the Latin Quarter itself. The entire area provides you with a slice of history well worth exploring in more detail, so be sure to do so on foot so you don’t miss out on anything.

Another sight worth seeing is the Pantheon. No, this isn’t the Pantheon of Rome – this is France’s version. The front of the building may well remind you of Rome’s arguably more famous version, but it is the final resting place of some very different people. A Pantheon is a ‘temple of all Gods’, as the word is translated to mean. So be sure to see the French version when you are in Paris.

But perhaps one of the best delights of the Latin Quarter involves the many shops and streets which offer delectable goods to try and resist as you walk past. You may initially think of a croissant and a coffee, and indeed this is a good way to start the day. But there are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby too, which serve up delights at all times of the day.

Try the Atelier Maitre Albert if you want a delectable taste of French cuisine at dinner. Alternatively there is the Coin Des Gourmets which is delightful if you would prefer an Asian style menu. There are plenty more around every corner in the Latin Quarter if something else takes your fancy too, so don’t be afraid to explore. This is part of Paris that always has something new to show you, so be sure you see as much of it as you can.

Can You Explore Paris Without Spending A Lot Of Money?

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:50:00 +0000

No two people who visit Paris will have exactly the same budget to think about. For some lucky people money is no object and they can do whatever they want. But for others money is a concern, and while you want to make the most of your time in the city there may be some things they simply can’t afford.

However it doesn’t matter what group you fall into. There are plenty of things you can do without it costing you a single Euro in Paris, so let’s explore some of them right now.

You should never underestimate walking as one of the best ways to see everything the city has to offer. Apart from being free, you can also see a lot of things you may not stumble over in any other way. And walking after dark has a lot to commend it as well – seeing the city lit up is quite something.

You can also see Notre Dame since it is free to enter all week. If you want to go up inside the tower there may be a fee, but if you just want to visit the cathedral it won’t cost you anything to do so. Parisienne flea markets are another good bet if you love browsing. You will need to decide whether or not you want to buy anything but there is no charge to look and you’ll love the unique atmosphere these places provide.

Walking along the Seine is another wonderful activity that allows you to see the famous river and also the life that goes on along its banks. Watch out for the bookstalls and grab a take away baguette to enjoy while sitting on one of the benches there. You can’t beat an al fresco lunch in a setting like this.

You can even visit a beach – yes, a beach – in Paris if you visit at the right time of the year. Visit the Voie Georges Pompidou along the Seine and look for the beach during July and August. You’ll love every minute of it.

Don’t Miss The Pompidou Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:14:00 +0000

Most people who visit Paris will think of visiting the Louvre first and foremost when it comes to seeing some art in the city. But while the famous gallery is certainly worth a visit, you shouldn’t miss out on the Pompidou Centre either.

This is located by the river, and it is one of Paris’s most popular attractions even when compared to sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. But what can you expect from a visit there?

Well it is firmly fixated on the arts, but you don’t just get an art gallery featuring hundreds of older sights and paintings to view. This is all about modern art as well, so if you have an interest in that you may well find it more impressive even than the Louvre itself.

It was vastly renovated during the last couple of years of the 20th century, and it was closed for a period of time as a result. The overhaul was well worth it though since it was soon back to its position as one of the most loved venues to go to in all of Paris.

There are always some stunning exhibitions at the Pompidou Centre, so these will be likely to change according to when you pay a visit. You can always visit the website shortly before your trip to Paris takes place, in order to see what you will have to look at when you arrive. Many exhibitions will last for some time though, so you have a good chance of seeing quite a good range.

But more than this there is a whole other side to the Pompidou Centre as well. For example you can see a film here and test your knowledge of French at the same time. Or perhaps a concert or similar performance would appeal to you more. Whatever it is you like the most, the Pompidou Centre is sure to have a performance to suit you.

So make sure you don’t miss the Pompidou Centre when you visit Paris for any reason. There is a reason why it is one of the most popular venues of all in the city.

Get On Your Feet And Discover The Best Of Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:42:00 +0000

There is plenty of transport you can use in Paris if you want to get around. But the best form of transport you could use will be the one you’ll be taking with you.

A walking tour of the city is the best way to see everything if you plan it well. And you have got two main options to go for too – you can either plan a route yourself or you can book a place on a guided tour that operates in the city.

The latter is great if you want to get to know the undiscovered parts of Paris as well as the more famous ones. And don’t assume you know all there is to know about sights such as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe either. The best walking tours will reveal all kinds of things you wouldn’t have found out from even the best guidebooks.

Most organised tours last for a couple of hours so you do get your money’s worth. They also provide a fantastic way to fill up a morning or an afternoon, and they usually finish in a good spot to enjoy some lunch or dinner too.

If you decide to go it alone you can still take some advice from those who provide these tours. Try hopping online before you visit Paris and have a look at the websites for the tour operators. You’ll find they sometimes give a partial or complete itinerary of where they go – and there is nothing to stop you following the same route yourself and taking more time over it. This is a great way to save some cash, although it doesn’t compare with finding out all the knowledge held by the tour guides.

So if you want to burn off all the calories you are likely to consume while sampling all the Parisienne food, a day spent walking around the city is the best and most entertaining way to do it. Pack your walking shoes or boots and make the most of it – you’ll love every minute!

Have You Seen The Best Of The Louvre?

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:08:00 +0000

No visit to Paris would be complete unless you took in the Louvre while you are there. This art gallery and museum has some of the best displays you can see anywhere in the world – and with thousands of items to see this is really a full day experience as well.

The most famous exhibit, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, is the one that most people head for. And despite it being over five hundred years old, it attracts more attention today than it did when it was first created by this master painter. The bullet proof glass which shields it goes some way towards revealing the degree of unwanted attention the painting gets at times too.

But what else can you see here? There are other famous sights such as the Ship of Fools by Hieronymus Bosch, the Venus de Milo and a portrait of St Michael by Raphael. But among all these you will find plenty of other delights to amaze you just as much. They may not all be household names, but it is the mix of art on display here – with paintings, sculptures, sketches, statues and much more besides – that really captures the imagination.

Even if you spend the whole day in the Louvre you couldn’t hope to see it all. It’s a good idea then to grab a map as you go in and spend a few minutes marking all the areas and exhibits that you don’t want to miss. You can then see those and explore the rest of the museum as you see fit.

Of course half of the delight of the Louvre is the controversy that has popped up from time to time about the exterior of the building too. The Louvre itself is a study in classic French architecture, taking you back more than two centuries to when the museum first opened its doors.

And at the front there is the huge Pyramid that draws the eye towards the rest of the building. Whatever you might think of this, there is no doubt that the Louvre draws an opinion from everyone who sees it.

Paris is a Beach!

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:26:00 +0000

16 July 2007

Not everyone wants to spend their days sun worshipping on holiday. But even the most dedicated visitor to Paris this summer will find its impressive artificial beach – Paris Plage - more than a little tempting as a haven away from its museums and galleries.

For anyone going to Europe’s capital of style, culture and romance this August, the beach is a perfect place to relax for while. It has to be one of the must-do things this summer in Paris.

August in Paris has a completely different feel to it from any other time of year. As Parisians head south for their own holidays, Paris makes an extra effort to welcome its own holidaymakers with this annual transformation of the Seine, complete with deck chairs, palm trees, parasols, floating swimming pool, aquagym, dance sessions, boules, concerts and free entertainment.

So after you have tired of the Louvre, need recovery time after a night of clubbing or want to sleep off a large meal, heading for the banks of the Seine for a bit of sun bathing is the perfect thing to do.

Paris Jazz Festival - From 16 June to 29 July 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:57:00 +0000

11 June 2007

What could be nicer than spending a lazy summer afternoon in the Parc Floral listening to some of the best jazz musicians in the world? The Paris Jazz Festival, now a fixture on the international jazz calendar, is held on summer weekends every year, to the delight of music lovers.

From 9 June onwards, big name international jazz: musicians who generally play gigs in some of the best clubs in New York and London will performing for fans of jazz, blues and funk at the well-known botanical garden in the French capital.

This year’s line-up includes the Sample Trio & Randy Crawford, the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Richard Bona and Thomas Dutronc. The event in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes also attracts a number of wellbeing adepts who wish to enjoy open-air concerts in the midst of a flower-filled park. If you’ve never been to the festival, don’t miss this year’s concerts, on every Saturday and Sunday until 29 July.

Chilling out with culture: feels like the holidays!

The World's Top 50 Tourist Attractions

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:07:00 +0000

1 May 2007

The Sydney Opera House has been named by Forbes Traveler website as one of the top 50 visited tourist attractions in the world. The Sydney icon came in at No. 38 with more than four million annual visitors and is the only attraction in the southern hemisphere listed.

Thirteen countries are represented in the list with the US home to 20 of the locations, followed by France and Britain with seven each.

Amusement and theme parks are the world's dominant attractions with 16 in the top 35 including all five Disney theme parks (Orlando, Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Hong Kong) and the three Universal studios (Orlando, Osaka and Los Angeles).

Times Square in New York topped the list with an estimated 35 million visitors while Trafalgar Square (No.4) was the most popular attraction outside of North America.

Paris featured seven attractions, the most from any one city.

Forbes Traveler excluded shopping centres and religious pilgrimage sites, such as Mecca, from the list. Although some religious sites, such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Vatican, were included for their cultural significance.

The top 10
1. Times Square, New York
2. Memorial, Washington D.C.
3. Disney World, Orlando
4. Trafalgar Square, London
5. Disneyland, Los Angeles
6. Niagara Falls, Canada/USA
7. Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
8. Disney Resort, Tokyo
9. Notre Dame, Paris
10. Disneyland, Paris

Paris Museum Gets Renovation to Restore Forgotten Touches

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:26:00 +0000

Two decades ago, France transformed an abandoned railway station into a glittering museum for Impressionist masterpieces. Now, the Orsay Museum is getting another overhaul - to resurrect forgotten architectural details of the original train depot.
The museum on the banks of the Seine River is shrouded in scaffolding and netting as experts paint it, rebuild corroded metal marquees and restore pollution-stained stonework.

The touchups on the facade are part of a broader renovation that will cost upward of euro12.4 million (US$16 million). Instead of just cleaning up the stones, researchers have gone on a search for the building's roots.

For its opening in 1986, architects painted the building's metal accents in pale blue-green, giving the museum its unusual look - a mixture of imposing stone and delicate metalwork.

But recent laboratory tests showed that the metal accents were in fact painted in beige and wood hues when the original train station opened in 1900. At that time, architects generally tried to hide the metalwork -- viewed as functional, but not pretty - by painting it to blend in with the stone.

When the scaffolding comes down in May, the museum will have restored that lost color scheme.

"In 1986, the operation was to prove that we could transform a train station into a museum, and put a museum for 19th century art inside," Benjamin Mouton, the chief architect for France's historic monuments, told reporters Tuesday. "Today, (the challenge) is putting a bit of the train station back into the museum."

The station, with an attached hotel, was built by architect Victor Laloux for the 1900 World's Fair. During World War II, it became a mailing center for sending packages to prisoners of war. Later it temporarily housed a theater troupe and an auction house.

In 1977, President Valery Giscard d'Estaing gave the order to turn Orsay into a museum. Today, with 3 million visitors a year, it is one of Paris' most popular tourist attractions, showcasing art from 1848 to 1914 and holding a treasure trove of works by Monet, Degas, Manet, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Cezanne. The museum will stay open during the renovations.

After overhauling the facade, the museum will refurbish a gallery that holds large paintings by French master Gustave Courbet to improve the lighting, museum director Serge Lemoine said. The current blend of artificial and natural light covers the works with a glare.

Officials also plan to set up a new gallery of animal sculptures upstairs, near the huge clock that is a remnant of the old train station. They will also improve visitors' access and enlarge gallery space.

The museum has steadily acquired more works over the years - today it has 79,783, compared to 47,172 in 1986 - and it is running out of space. Down the line, Lemoine said, the museum is interested in buying nearby buildings so it can expand comfortably.

For more information visit The China Post

Asiana to Fly to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:48:00 +0000

Korea and France have agreed to allow multiple airlines to operate the Seoul-Paris route, enabling Asiana Airlines to fly to the French capital.

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation said late Wednesday night that the two governments decided to allow two carriers from each country to operate the route and to increase the frequency of flights next year. The agreement was made during aviation talks held at the Kwachon Government Complex in Kyonggi Province.

The decision came as Korea agreed to France’s demand that Korea accept the EU community clause, under which France can designate an airline of any other EU member country as its national flag carrier.

France insisted on the demand to protect its airline market, as France has only one national flag carrier, Air France, while Korea has two, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. Air France and Korean Air _ one carrier from each country _ have operated the route daily since 1973.

According to the agreement, up to two carriers from each country will operate the route starting March 2008. Air France can select one carrier from any EU member country.

The number of weekly flights will increase from the current seven per country to 10. The added three flights are likely to be given to Asiana Airlines, according to a new standard for air route distribution. The distribution will be confirmed after discussions by a distribution committee.

An additional flight will be added in March 2010, the ministry said.

``Through the increase of airlines and operations, we expect competition among carriers to lead to airfare discounts. The agreement will also enhance travelers’ convenience by increasing the frequency of flights on the route,’’ a ministry official said.

The two nations also agreed that if Korea and nearby Asian countries form a bloc similar to the EU, Korea can designate carriers of the bloc members as national flag carriers, as France does under the EU community clause.

Visitors to Eiffel Tower Climb to Record in 2006

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:21:00 +0000

PARIS, France - A record 6.7 million people visited the Eiffel Tower in 2006, most of them foreign tourists, the firm that manages the Paris landmark said on Friday.

Since the tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair, 230 million people have climbed its 1,665 steps or taken the elevators to admire the views from the 324-metre (1,063 ft) high structure, the SETE group said.

Early last year, tourism officials said they feared student protests in the city center and the 2005 riots in the suburbs of the French capital and other cities would deter visitors, but the fears were not borne out.

Visits to the Eiffel Tower rose by 300,000 last year compared with 2005, with up to 30,000 people visiting it daily on busy days, SETE said.

Tourism Paris Markets Its Own Rudeness

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:09:00 +0000

A Paris tourism agency is courting British travellers by assuring them they're right about the French being rude and encouraging them to try it, too.

The Paris Ile-de-France tourism agency launched a campaign called "It's So Paris" in which Britons are taught how make the same irritated expressions and dismissive gestures, USA Today reported Monday from London.

Among the instructions on the cestsoparis.com Web site is how to feign ignorance or show lack of concern by sticking out the lower lip and raising the eyebrows and shoulders simultaneously, the report said.

The guide said visitors should master the off-putting gestures "and people will start mistaking you for a native in no time," the newspaper said.

About 3.2 million Britons a year travel to France but that number has slipped by 1 percent in the past year.

Natalie Moine, spokeswoman for the regional tourism office in Paris, said it was decided go to with a lighthearted approach after surveys showed about two-thirds of British tourists found Parisians difficult to talk to, arrogant and rude.

January Shopping Parisian Style

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:02:00 +0000

Those of you thinking of joining the post-Christmas sales rush on the high street may wish to consider heading to Paris in the new year instead.

Unlike in Britain, where shops begin their sales at various different points after Christmas and the new year, the Parisian authorities decreed in 1999 that all the city's major department stores will begin their sales at the same time.

So it is that visitors can descend on such famous names as Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Au Bon Marché and BHV on January 11th, safe in the knowledge that they will not have missed any bargains.

The sales season lasts for six weeks and those that that leave their bargain shopping until mid February can expect reductions to be even more spectacular than the previous month, with many items going for 70 per cent off the advertised retail price.

If you or your other half is the shopping fanatic, Paris of course has a variety of different structures, churches and art galleries to keep those less enthused by the sales, amused.

Trams Return To Paris After 70-year Gap

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:56:00 +0000

The tram, forced from the streets of Paris by the advent of the car, returned to the city Saturday. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe and Tourism Minister Leon Bertrand opened the 8-kilometre "Tramway" in the south of the French capital.

For three years work had continued on the largest construction site that Paris has ever seen. In total, the tram line cost 311.5 million euros (408 million dollars) to build.

Parisians can ride the new tram line, which runs from the southern edge of the city at the Pont de Garigliano to the Porte d'Ivry, free this weekend. An opinion poll published Saturday showed that some two-thirds (63 per cent) of Parisians were happy that the tram had returned to the city.

The Tramway has 17 stops, each four minutes apart. It is expected that 100,000 passengers will use the tram every day, double the number that travel by the overburdened bus network.

Parisian bus drivers welcomed the new tram line with a strike.

In France a total of 26 cities either have tram networks already, including Nantes and Bordeaux, are constructing one or have plans for one.

Paris During the Holidays Can be a Magical Place

noreply@blogger.com (Co-op Travel) — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:24:00 +0000

Paris in springtime inspires poets and postcards. But Christmas in the City of Light has its charms, too.

A stroll up the Champs-Elysees, all aglow for the season, is unforgettable. At the end of the broad boulevard, the Arc de Triomphe, lit by floodlights, stands silhouetted against the night sky. As the human tide on the wide sidewalks surges and ebbs past glittering shop windows, street vendors sell hot chestnuts, a few snowflakes drift down, and delectable scents rise from costly cafes.

Reminders of the season are everywhere in Paris. Festive lights line all of the main boulevards and markets are filled with colorful decorations and trinkets. In a tradition dating from the 19th century, Christmas firs are installed around the city's historical sites, alongside highways, and in public squares. Some of the trees are draped in artificial snow; others shimmer with baubles and lights.

In front of the Hotel de Ville, the town hall, ice skaters whirl around a rink. In 2004, another rink opened 187 feet above the ground at the Eiffel Tower, delivering a splendid view as you glide, slip, and slide high above.

Christmas in Paris offers more than holiday finery, though. Lines at many of the tourist attractions are shorter; particularly during the last week of the year, when many Parisians visit relatives in the provinces. The weather is usually chilly but hardly arctic - think daytime highs in the 40s, nighttime lows in the 30s. If you shop around well in advance, bargains are available for lodging and airfare.

If you're a first-time visitor, several Parisian attractions are de rigueur. Monsieur Eiffel's landmark by the Seine certainly deserves a visit, however annoying the hordes of sidewalk vendors peddling little Eiffel Towers. Dress warmly - that winter wind whips pretty fiercely across the first and second floors. But the view is breathtaking. And be sure to stop in the souvenir shop, where thousands of other little Eiffel Towers are available for purchase.

An even better view of Paris is yours from atop the Arc de Triomphe at night, looking down on the Champs-Elysees, the city's lights spread out before you. The climb up the stairs is well worth it.