How to Spend a Romantic Time in Paris

How to Spend a Romantic Time in Paris

Is there a city more romantic than Paris? Of course the answer to this question depends a lot on individual preferences, but it is a fact that most couples would want to visit Paris at least once. Paris is also a hot favorite among those who want to do something special on their honeymoon or anniversaries. Actually there's something special about Paris. Some say that there's always "Love in the Air", and others say that "Paris is a Lover's Paradise".

So have you decided on traveling to Paris with your special someone? Or maybe you want to celebrate your anniversary or the birthday of your spouse under the star in front of the Eiffel Tower. There are a lot of ways you could spend a romantic time in Paris.

A lot of people just walk through the beautiful Champs-Élysées holding hand in hand and browse through the fantastic array of luxury shops and cafes. Or you could do some serious shopping too. Why not gift your sweetheart that beautiful ring you have always wanted to do, or may be even that stunning and elegant evening gown? Paris is the world capital of fashion - every major fashion house has a shop here and the most famous models come down to the city all the time. So you could catch the latest fashion trends and even visit a shop or two.

If you want to skip the shopping part, then perhaps you should visit one of the several parks in this city. But just the two of you holding hands along the Champs-Élysées can stay in your memories for a lifetime.

Care for a cruise in Paris? There's the river Seine and its innumerable cruises for you and your partner. Just select from the many Paris short term rentals that can save you money, and the manager at your place could help you select one. These rental properties are indeed some of the best you could select from. And there's really nothing like a bit of wine and dinner while you are cruising the Seine with your partner.

But there's more to Paris than that. Why not head to the Moulin Rouge for a bit of cabaret and some serious musical and dance extravaganza?

There's one other great way to spend a really romantic time in Paris. And this is by doing nothing. Perhaps you and your partner would just want to laze around and spend some quality time together. Just find yourselves a cozy corner at one of the many street side cafes. There are plenty you could choose from. Just sit back and talk. Or hold hands and look into the eyes of your partner. Is there anything that can match this?

Visiting Paris with your special someone? Millions from across the world visit Paris. So always book your accommodation before coming to Paris. Sejour a Paris offers many fantastic options in Paris short term rentals that you could select from. Save money on your accommodation and have the time of your life.

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36 Great Tips for Keeping Travel as Simple as Possible (and Two Poems)

36 Great Tips for Keeping Travel as Simple as Possible (and Two Poems)

He who would travel happily must travel light.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

When you travel, do you want to be as light as possible? A light bag, and a light itinerary?

Many of us have had the nightmare experience of lugging around too much luggage, waiting in the baggage claims area, trying to cram too many activities into each day, and generally being so stressed that we need a vacation when we get home.

Instead, simplify your travel.

A few days ago, I asked the readers of this blog for tips for keeping travel as simple as possible. The result was an amazing outpouring of useful information, in the comments and via email!

I’ve compiled some of the best tips, combining some of them or choosing tips that were representative of a lot of comments. There are dozens more, so if you’re looking for the full list, see the comments in the original post.

I’m definitely going to be following some of the tips. Although there are a lot of great suggestions about useful items, my biggest aim is to pack as lightly as possible and to keep my itinerary loose and light. Here’s my packing list for my small backpack right now:

1. Travel docs (passport, credit card, ID)
2. deodorant
3. 2 pairs of shorts
4. 2 T-shirts
5. 2 pairs underwear
6. swim trunks
7. 1 book
8. journal and pen
9. camera, charger

Anything else I need, I’ll buy in Thailand.

“I travel light; as light, that is, as a man can travel who will still carry his body around because of its sentimental value.” - Christopher Fry

What to Pack

Many of the tips were about packing: how to pack light and what items are essential or useful. What follows are some of the best, but be aware that there may be contradictory tips — choose the ones that will work best for you.

Pack as light as possible. Ask the simple question: “Do I want it or do I need it and if I need it am I will to cart it around?” There is little you really need when you travel.

Travel with a light backpack. If you are moving between places, backpacks leave your hands free to hold their hands.

Pack just a few clothes with only a couple complimentary, solid colors — no patterns. Black is a good idea if you need to be able to dress up and be casual.
Pack only what you can carry on to the flight.

Put everything you want to bring in a pile and slowly strip away things that aren’t necessary.

Leave the laptop behind, as well as blackberry and any other tech gadget. For computer addicts, being away from the internet’s constant flow of data for a few days recharges and relaxes you in ways that you never experience at home.

Bring along a small, foldable umbrella to protect against the UV rays of sunlight and possible rain.

Most toiletries can be found easily in your destination country.

If it’s something you think you can buy there more cheaply than at home, then don’t bring it (especially if it’s something you don’t already have).

Bring one book, and when you’re done, find a book-exchange and trade it for a new one.

In Asia, sarongs are a traveler’s best friend! A sarong works as a towel, a skirt, a makeshift bag, a scarf, a sheet. They’re especially good to have if you’re traveling low-budget, staying in hostels or guesthouses, which often don’t offer towels or even top sheets. The best thing is that they dry really, really quickly, even when it’s humid. A wet towel can take all day to dry in the tropics, and if you have to stuff it in your bag before it’s dry it can get all dank and midewy, and so can all your stuff.

Get one of those totes or bags that fold up into a small package to slip into your backpack. You can use this to collect your souvenirs. Alternatively, mail your purchases home as you go. This reduces what you must carry around with you, what you have to list for customs.

Bring old clothes and undergarments and dispose of them each day leaving more room for momentos to bring home if you choose. It also cuts down on items that need frequent washing while away.

Take baby wipes. And lots of Ziploc bags.

Don’t travel with anything in your pockets except your passport and wallet. You won’t have to dig everything out of your pockets every time you go through security. Sitting in the plane is a lot more comfortable as well. Make sure your wallet is in your front jeans pocket. Sitting on your wallet for long periods of time will put your back out of alignment.

Photocopies of sections of guidebooks so at the end of a leg of trip the copy goes in the trash.

Take a photocopy of all your credit cards, passport and any other valuable document you have. Write down the emergency phone number for each credit card beside its photocopy. Leave this with a neighbour or family member along with your itinerary. Should you have your wallet and bags stolen and be only allowed to make one phone call, call this contact person who would be able to cancel your credit cards etc. for you. Alternatively, instead of photocopying your important documents consider scanning them and mailing them to yourself. That way you can always access these documents. Another reader suggested that you should encrypt documents if you email them to yourself.

Pack only high-tech fabrics, the kind that dry quickly so that you can do a wash in the sink. You can get away with 2 pairs of socks for a 2 week trip by rinsing out the dirty pair at night. High tech fabric means it’s dry by the next morning. Cotton will stay soggy for days.

Tilley makes underwear you can wash in the evening, and it will be dry by morning. You only need two pair, or even one if you are sure of finding somewhere to wash it!
Tip for quick drying: roll a towel over wet fabric,and squeeze tightly.

Bring a small amount of foreign currency to cover incidental expenses upon arrival, then change the rest in your destination country, as exchange rates are usually more favorable.

On Planning and Doing

Aside from what to pack, there were some great tips submitted about what to do when you get to your destination (along with some tips en route to the destination):
Don’t overplan your trip. Keep your travel itinerary fluid, so that you can soak up the atmosphere in each place. Leave room for the serendipitous and when plans don’t work out, treat it as an opportunity!

Arrive earlier than you think is necessary — for domestic travel, try to arrive at least 2 hours before flight time; on international, make it three. This reduces the stress of waiting in a long security line as the time of your departure inches ever closer, and those desperate rushes to your boarding area. Besides, a relaxing drink at one of the restaurants is a lovely way to start a vacation!

Take time for naps. Seriously.

Smile a lot and talk to the locals.

Eat, eat, eat and savour the flavors.

Don’t get caught up with sights. Plan some must-dos and leave the rest to chance.
Wander around at night and stay open to the crazier elements of the culture.
Get lots of massages.

Prepare for security check in: Wear slip-on shoes; don’t wear a belt with metal; put the jacket or sweater in your carry-on before you get to security; have your electronics on the top of your carry-on along with the plastic zip-lock bag with your liquids so you don’t have to search through your bag to find them (and then repack after you go through security).

Split your cash and financial assets up. Credit card in one pocket. Some cash in another. Some in a hidden backpack pocket. Some in your shoe(s). Some in a money belt. Go to the bathroom and enter a stall before taking out cash from any of these places.

Don’t bring all your cash/credit cards etc. on you when you go out. Leave some in a safe at the hotel, and leave the extra credit cards back home.

Keep a card on you featuring your embassy’s #, some local friends’ numbers.
Get up early. In hot climates, this will help you avoid the heat of the day; in any climate, it will help you avoid the crowds and get more out of your day at a more leisurely pace. Equally, do the thing you really want to do first, as often plans go awry as the day goes on.

You shouldn’t try and see everything in a given place. In fact, you’ll probably have a better time if you focus on meeting great people (instead of going to great places): visits to great places will naturally following if you meet the right people during your travels.

Try to stay away from big tourist spots (unless there’s something you REALLY want to see). meeting locals, doing the things they do, and eating the things they eat always makes for a better stay. If you have any friends there, ask if you can stay with them for a short while; that would give you a true local experience.

And a couple of poems

A couple of readers submitted short and sweet poems that summarized simple traveling so well I had to reproduce them here:

From Elise:
Open your heart and mind to everything
Accept everything and everyone
Forget your own background, habits and norms
Follow your heart (or nose)
Reinvent yourself moment by moment

Light Haiku for Trips
by Maggie Marie Dougherty

Pack light and remain
open to light in people
who bless you with smiles.
Source: Zenhabits

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World's Weirdest Hotels - Part Deux

World's Weirdest Hotels - Part Deux

At Berlin's Propeller Island City Lodge, each of the 30 rooms is weird in its own way. The artist-owner, Lars Stroschen, has seen to that. One room, the first built, is made to look like a brightly painted medieval town, with an ultra-mini golf course surrounding the castle bed. Another has furniture attached to the ceiling, another has coffins for beds, and still another has lion cages on stilts (the website claims that kids "love to sleep" in them).

Read More...

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5 Travel Trends for 2009-2010

5 Travel Trends for 2009-2010

Granted we only have a handful of months left in 2009 however there are some pretty interesting travel trends that will carry over into the New Year that you may want to take part in.

The state of the economy undoubtedly has everything to do with travel trends that have surfaced over the past year and for this year.

During tumultuous times like the present we are prone to returning to classic destinations that made us feel good and took our minds off the current situation. We are more apt to seek out serenity and comfort.

According to travel sources a new breed of traveler has evolved in light of the economy and travel trends. This newly developed traveler has been defined as a flashpacker. The flashpacker is a more sophisticated backpacker, preferring private accommodations to public and group accommodations.

A few interesting changes of events that have taken place with travel companies were sprung from a need to be more empathetic to today’s traveler. In fact, Virgin American Airways are now requiring employees to go to ‘empathy training’ to help deal with stressed out and disgruntled passengers.

Several different cruise lines are even reinventing themselves by offering a more comfortable and less flashy feel to their passengers.

Destinations that have become more alluring and more popular to travelers in the past few months and experts think will continue to be alluring and popular destinations are:

1. Prague which used to be known as slacker cool now has a spruced up image and is attracting travelers of all ages.
2. Marrakesh Africa offers many luxury hotels that are set in palm groves and shadows of the Atlas Mountain range.

And a few travel trend destinations that are a bit more accessible to people living in the states:

1. Miami Beach. If you visit Miami Beach there is a restaurant called Table 8 which comes highly recommended by past and present customers. The chef at Table 8 named Chef Govind Armstrong has concocted a meal he calls the ‘recession confession.’
2. St. Helena California. If you decide to relax in St. Helena California make sure to eat at the Martini House which is known both for the ambience and the food.
3. New York City has become an extremely popular destination as of late. Regardless of where you go in this majestic city you are sure to find a plethora of wonderful eateries however our sources tell us to try Convivio.

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The Economical Crisis Postpones Merlin

The Economical Crisis Postpones Merlin

The plans for floating Merlin Entertainments were canceled due to economic crisis.

Blackstone has postponed The Merlin IPO, the operator of Madame Tussauds and Legoland just hours after the announcement for a £1.2bn listing of Travelport.

A week before it was announced the acquisition of a theme park in Florida. The plan was pulled due to meager investment interest.

However, Merlin had solid business model, which institutions was expected to approve. Merlin was supposed to confirm its intention to float and list the shares before Easter.

Another reason for the postponing of Merlin float is the volatility in the markets lately, which made the plans insecure, in spite of their good business plan.

The debt crisis in Europe and especially in countries such as Greece and Spain plus American plans for bank levy caused the fear index- the Vix to grow to a three-month high. The plan is now canceled for unknown time.

Sad news for the ones who planned to pack up their bags and see it go.

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Clubs, Carjackers, and Undertakers

Clubs, Carjackers, and Undertakers

Perhaps the most interesting and revealing aspect of the summer was how I spent my time outside of work. Socially, we hung out with three distinct groups of people characterized by how we got around.

The first were the working class, primarily our coworkers. This involved going to bars, watching football (soccer) games, and sitting around eating pounded yam and fish sauce, which was about as good as it sounds. When meeting up, we’d travel via public transportation, which never ceased to be an adventure.

The second group was made up of wealthy Nigerians, primarily people who had studied abroad and received advanced degrees. Here we traveled in Land Rovers and Escalades to the poshest Nigerian clubs, clubs that would be uber popular even in Manhattan. The only problem was the DJs all went to the same school. I heard ‘Candy Shop’ so many times that I started singing it in my sleep. We also hung out with U.S. Marines and Consulate Officers. This involved rides in armored vehicles with police escorts.

Befriending the Consulate guys had its advantages. We were invited to the U.S. Ambassador’s house (John Campbell) for his 4th of July Party. I began a conversation with one attendee only to find out he was the local undertaker. Asking one of our consulate friends why an undertaker was at the party, he said – no lie – “We were told the first two people we should befriend are an airline official and the best undertaker, because you never know when you may need to ship a dead body home.” There were times when I was slightly concerned that that dead body might be mine.

Our free time in Lagos wasn’t all fun and games as I have stories of Al Qaeda threats, witnessing a murder, being in the midst of the ensuing riots, abandoning vehicles in an attempt to escape from armed carjackers, and escaping a voodoo demonstration that, if observed, was supposedly punishable by death. I could go into more detail, but I’m relying on selective memory to allow me to forget most of those events. Though these events were traumatic in their own right, they did add an element of excitement.

Much like New York, Lagos is a city of extremes. From the chaotic to the blissful our social calendar was filled with wide ranging events, each leaving an indelible mark on my Nigerian experience. via: Sosauce

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Top Ten Tips for New York Tourists

Top Ten Tips for New York Tourists

Don't be intimidated by the big crowds and bigger buildings. New York can be a friendly and manageable city for visitors if you heed some of this time-tested advice.

1. Don't be afraid to wander. Start spreading the news: New York is the safest big city in the United States. Gone are the days when people were warned not to venture into Alphabet City or the Lower East Side. Pretty much nowhere in Manhattan is off-limits – though it's still an urban area, so do use your common sense (for instance, you may not want to walk around at 3 a.m. by your lonesome). Most of Manhattan, with the exception of a few downtown neighborhoods like the West Village, the Lower East Side and Battery Park, is laid out on a grid system with very few hills, making it extremely easy to find your way around. In fact, a highlight of your trip will likely be strolling the streets gazing at the fascinating people, buildings and sights that pop up on every corner.

2. Take the 'A' (and the 'B' and the 'C'…) train. Though the New York subway system is ancient – the first underground line started running in 1904 – the trains are well-marked and surprisingly fast, often a better bet than cabs if you're trying to cross the city from east to west or vice versa, or traveling during the morning or evening rush hours. The subways do run 24 hours a day, but if you're alone, you may feel more comfortable taking a taxi after midnight, though you'll find many people still riding the rails. Try HopStop.com to figure out which subway line will help you reach your destination fastest, but keep in mind that there can be a lot of routes re-routed or closed for maintenance, especially on weekends, so also check the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website for the latest subway route updates. Tip: The 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard is usually a good deal so you don't spend $2 on MetroCards each time you hop on the train.

3. Eat dinner early – or late. When New Yorkers eat out, they like to take their dinner between 8 and 10 p.m. If you want to eat at the same places they do, it's best to make a reservation in advance – at least a week ahead of time for most places and a full month ahead for perpetually booked favorites such as Daniel, Babbo and Le Bernardin – and to go for an evening between Sunday and Wednesday rather than the always-crowded Thursday through Saturday. But if you've left things till the last minute, try calling a day or two ahead and reserving a table either for before 7 p.m. or after 10:30 p.m., which exponentially increases your chances of getting seated, even at the hottest spots in town. Of course, this tactic won't work at the handful of trendy restaurants that don't take reservations in advance, like Momofuku, Boqueria and Bar Jamon. There, you'll have to queue up with the rest of the ravenous foodie masses.

4. The world on a menu. New York City houses so much diversity of cuisines that it's a shame to stick to tourist neighborhoods or chain restaurants you probably have at home. Travel to some of the city's ethnic enclaves to sample delicious, cheap and authentic fare. In Queens, an easy subway or cab ride from Manhattan, there's renowned Indian food in Jackson Heights (the area's Jackson Diner is regularly rated some of the best Indian food in NYC) and hard-to-find Egyptian cuisine in the "Little Cairo" neighborhood of Astoria. Astoria is also home to many old-time Greek restaurants, primarily situated on Broadway or Ditmars Blvd. You can have a more authentic Italian meal on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx than in the tourist-clogged streets of Manhattan's Little Italy, and it's hard to beat the soul food found in Harlem, including the famed, family-run Sylvia's. Consider expanding your boundaries with a guided neighborhood food tour, such as one offered by Savory Sojourns and run by Addie Tomei, mother of Marissa.

5. Scout out the smaller shops. It's nearly impossible to visit one of the fashion capitals of the world and not drop some dough on clothes, shoes and other goodies (unless you have a lot of willpower!). But don't just confine yourself to the shopping meccas of SoHo and Fifth Avenue, though each does have its own New York charm — SoHo for its beautiful 19th-century cast iron buildings and Fifth Avenue for its elegant department stores and proximity to Central Park. Head to the Lower East Side to check out intimate boutiques that feature local designers as well as trendy new and vintage pieces that you can't find anywhere else. You'll also find special shops sprinkled throughout the downtown neighborhoods of the West Village, the East Village and Nolita, as well as across the East River in artsy Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

6. Buy-buy Broadway. With the opening of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein last year, the top price of a Broadway ticket reached $450 for the first time ever. Though this is an extreme case, it's difficult to find a seat at a popular Broadway show for less than $100 nowadays. A couple of options can save you money: Sign up for the free discount ticket listings at www.theatermania.com and www.playbill.com, which offer savings on advance ticket purchases for select Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Or get in line at a TKTS Discount Booth on the day you want to see a performance to save up to 50% on a variety of plays. (Tip: The South St. Seaport location is usually a lot less busy than the Times Square one, and only there can you purchase tickets the day before for matinees.) That said, if there's a particular Broadway show you've set your heart on, buy tickets as far in advance as possible (and be prepared to spend top-dollar). If your show's sold out, check out the online ticket brokers such as www.stubhub.com or www.razorgator.com, where people sell extra seats or re-sell ones they won't be using.

7. Hear the music. It's tough to claim boredom in New York. Every night of the week you can listen to world-class musicians of all types in venues across the city, from classic settings like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall to gritty downtown (or, increasingly, Brooklyn) rock clubs to traditional jazz bars (though the era of the traditional smoky bar is over, since smoking was banned at bars and clubs in 2003). You can find indie rock events listed at www.ohmyrockness.com, classical music events at www.classicaldomain.com and jazz at www.gothamjazz.com. Best of all, some of these concerts are free of charge, especially in the summer months.

8. Pack your running shoes. On the weekends, Central Park closes to traffic and becomes a huge open-air running (and biking and inline skating) track. Enjoy the prime people-watching as you exercise, or opt for other scenic paths along Riverside Park on Manhattan's Upper West Side, along the Hudson River heading downtown to Battery Park, on a trail next to the East River, or across the Brooklyn Bridge. Though it's more comfortable to run in the spring or fall, you'll find many hardy New Yorkers braving the extreme heat and humidity of summer or the bitter chill of winter for their outdoor fitness fix.

9. Don't crowd yourself out. A lot of tourists (and relatives visiting local family members) who come to NYC can't get over how crowded the city is. The crazy secret about New York is that many locals can't stand crowds – which is why they stay away, at all costs, from Macy's anytime except weekday evenings, holiday store windows and Rockefeller Center between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Times Square whenever humanly possible (except when they must venture over there to work or to catch a show). While you may want to see these iconic parts of New York City, consider planning your visit so that you're not hitting the big department stores, say, the week before Christmas – unless you think that braving hordes of pushy people is part of that old-fashioned New York City charm. (And it really isn't!)

10. Mind your city etiquette. Unfortunately, tourists have a reputation for doing a few things that drive New Yorkers crazy: taking up the entire sidewalk so that other walkers can't pass; coming to a complete stop at the top or in the middle of the subway stairs, thus blocking the way down; looking over a shoulder or down at a guidebook while ambling straight ahead, thus sideswiping people walking toward them. New Yorkers like to walk quickly with a purposeful strut and are often in (or appear to be in) a hurry. Respect their sense of purpose and be mindful of the space around you – and you'll win renewed respect for tourists from the world over! On the other hand, if you need directions or if you drop something on the subway or sidewalk, New Yorkers will be the first to run after you, offering their assistance. They really are nice folk, after all. Source: New York City Guide, abcnews

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