Palourdes
Since this part of France has such a long coastline, it is no wonder that fresh seafood is a staple on many menus. Palourdes are baked clams that have been stuffed with shallots, garlic and herbs, then gently cooked in white wine.

Raw Oysters
If you enjoy oysters on the half shell, Brittany is definitely the place to be. Freshly shucked and enhanced with lemon, these Cancale oysters are considered the best in France.

Agneau (Lamb)
Meat is also on the menu in Brittany, in the form of lamb. This excellent meat is normally served with home grown vegetables and delightful sauce.

Breton Cotriade
A hearty fish stew is the perfect choice on a chilly day and Breton Cotraide is a traditional Brittany dish.

Pot au Feu de Homard
Though this is another fish stew, it is referred to as the ultimate recipe, thanks to its selection of mussels, shrimp, scallops and oysters.

Coquilles Saint-Jacques
Another seafood to try are coquilles Saint-Jacques, unshelled scallops that have been sautéed in white wine with potatoes, mushrooms, shallots and cheese and topped with breadcrumbs. It is guaranteed you will be demanding seconds.

Crêpes
This world-famous flat pancake originates from Brittany, where they continue to serve it with a selection of savoury fillings, which often include cheese and eggs. There are also dessert crepes, filled with fruit, chocolate and sugars.

The enchanting town of Les Andelys is the first stop, a castle-crowned settlement steeped in legend. The middle age castle looms from the river bank, home to the final chapters in the life of the great military leader Richard the Lionheart. Impressively said to have been built in a year, the views from the castle walls sweep right out over the curves of the Seine and the sprawling valleys beyond.

The luxury boat provides a perfect way to travel, as Normandy’s beauty lies in the landscape between the towns as well as the settlements themselves. The journey to Caidebec en Caux was just as beautiful as the historic market town which awaited us at the end of it. Caidebec is a sensory feast of culture and colour. The market there has been running for 600 years, with the stained glass windows and spires of the Gothic church of Notre-Dame acting as an impressive backdrop. From here we visited St. Wandrille and St. Martin de Boscherville, both quaint villages on the banks of the Seine. Franceís most stunning stretch of coast was also explored at Le Havre and Etretat, waves crashing against the alabaster cliffs and natural arches.

Honfleur is a beautiful working port, scenes of which can be found in art galleries across the world, some by local artist Eugene Boudin who was one of Monet’s teachers. The seafood suppers here are one of the town’s main attractions. Picturesque narrow streets and a lively quayside are backed by a host of unique shops and eateries.

Rouen is Normandy’s capital, a magical maze of cobbled streets, tall timbered houses and gothic churches. The walking tour followed in the footsteps of Joan of Arc past the immense Gothic Cathedral and to the square where she was burnt at the stake. This is also the city where the heart of Richard I was laid to rest. The steeples rising from the river scenery include France’s tallest. Look out for the ornate one handed clock which is hidden between black and white timbered buildings.

Next was a visit to Giverny, the location of Monetís house and famous lily pond. The gardens have been maintained and planted as they were in Monet’s day, with weeping willow and lily pads looking beautiful in the distinctive local light.

The trip ended gloriously in Paris. A coach excursion took in all the famous sights including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs ElysÈes, the city’s grand boulevard. I spent the rest of the afternoon in a cafe eating pastries and sipping coffee, watching the fashionable folk of Paris passing by and feeling truly continental.

To make the best of your visit in Paris for an official or informal vacation you need a car. Car rentals in Paris is a common thing and many companies here offers this service. You need to visit a number of them before finally settling on one of them. The car hire services can be looked into two, the self drive and chauffeur driven. Both of these have different rates and is up to you to make the choice. The chauffeur driven one is a bit expensive unlike the self drive one.

While with your rental car in Paris you will most definitely maximize the use of your time. You will be able to find time to visit some of the renowned places in Paris including Loire Valley, Versailles and you can later head to Paris for the famous French cuisine. You can still head west or to the eastern border to see Belgium, Germany and Italy. At this point it is important to know how to rent a car in Paris. Always look for the best rates and top services. Look for the one that meet most of your needs and one that offers excellent services.

Just like many European cities travel insurance is vital. Travel Insurance Paris covers all risk eventualities while traveling there such as loss of one’s property, an accident, medical related emergencies or flight cancellation. Therefore before traveling to Paris a comprehensive policy for travel and medical related issues is not only essential but advisable. Those traveling from outside European Union have no choice but take an insurance policy. It is also recommended for those traveling on budget flights.

There are also auto rental in Paris which offers online reservations services. There are many agencies that offer these services and what one just need is to visit their website and do the booking or do reservations. Regardless of where one is based this service is available so long us one is connected to the internet. This is very convenient for travelers and it normally relatively cheap unlike spot reservations.

There are so many companies in Paris that offers car hire Paris airport. As soon as you touch the ground you will find many companies that offer this service. It is wise that you book in advance to avoid the last minute disappointments. For anyone who want to travel to Paris it’s wise to get your car in advance and also take the most appropriate insurance cover.

The Four Seasons George V is one of the most luxurious Paris hotels. It is found a few minutes from the Champs-Elysees and has some private terraces that dominate the city. The service offered at this hotel has definitely redefined style and elegance in the French capital.  One of the main advantages of this hotel is that it is just a walking distance from the city’s main attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.

This luxury hotel in Paris offers its guests convenient access to some of the city’s best features. If you are thinking of making a Paris hotel reservation, you should try the Four Seasons for an experience of a lifetime. The hotel offers a concierge staff that is available all day and night.

The Four Seasons George V provides the largest guest rooms in Paris and offers a great dining experience. If you are looking forward to a chance to relax and unwind during your stay, the hotel has one of the finest spas in the area. Each of the rooms at the Four Seasons is uniquely designed to give you the utmost level of style and comfort. If you are traveling to Paris with your children, they will definitely enjoy the hotel’s Frog children’s programme.

The Four Seasons George V has a large gymnasium that is open 24 hours a day to provide guests with a chance to keep fit and healthy. The heated pool and sauna available at the hotel will also come in handy after a rigorous workout. There is no need to worry about a bad hair day during your stay at the Four Seasons because the hotel has a hairdresser to keep you looking your best.

Online booking for the Four Seasons has to be done using a credit card. Find out availability and best offers at this wonderful hotel in Paris, France.

If you would be staying in Paris for just a couple of days or weeks, then you no longer have to worry about how you would be able to survive in this city even without a car. This would definitely help work your way around the city of Paris and give you options as to how you would be able to travel from one place to another.

When it comes to the train system of France there is no doubt that it is truly one of the best. What is really remarkable about the trains in France is that these trains most of the time, if not always, leave an area and arrive at a particular area on time. If you would like to save time while travelling to and from various places in Europe, then you should take the bullet trains. Even if you only chose to take accommodations that are second class, you would surely feel as if you were able to get a first class accommodation. However, there could be times when some WCs are not well-maintained and might not look too appealing. You just have to make sure that the particular accommodation that you chose includes a meal as well as water.

Purchasing a Train Ticket

Technology has certainly made it possible for everyone to conveniently reserve a train ticket without having to wait at lines that seem to be endless just so you would be able to purchase tickets.  There are now ticket machines that are automated which may be found at the different train stations and you do not have to worry since it is user-friendly.

It would be very easy to get directions in English since you just have to click a flag to do so. The machine provides options whether you would like to get regular tickets or get the ticket at senior rates. If you go for second class, then you would be asked as to what configuration you would prefer, galley or compartment. When you opt for compartment configuration, this means that the seats would look like the seats at a traditional train wherein you face each other. On the other hand, if you choose galley, then you would get seats as if you are riding an airplane.

You should not forget to have your ticket stamped by a particular machine that is small. Once you are done with this, you may now go aboard the train and all you have to do is wait for the reliable conductor to drop by the compartment where you are located and would ask for the stamped ticket. But there would be instances wherein if you are on a short trip, then the ticket would no longer be collected or checked.

It would be best to purchase the Eurail pass if for instance you are going to travel to various countries in Europe, and if possible even before you arrive in Paris. However, if you have already arrived, you do not have to worry since you would still be able to check if it is possible to get one.  Make certain that once you visit a particular agency, you would be able to get a ticket since the numbering of the tickets is followed when attending to the people.  Once you have already booked the trip, then you simply have to get the ticket from the train station.

To make it easier for you, you should be familiar with the train stations most widely used in Paris, which include the train station in Spain Gare d’Austerlitz, in Normandy Gare St. Lazare, Gare de Lyon, in Italy Gare de Bercy, Gare Montparnasse, among others. You should not forget to reconfirm the train station where you would depart from and where you would return, just to make sure that you know where you are going.

Once you go to the city, you may want to ride the Metro, which is the subway of Paris. What is remarkable about this subway is that it is really efficient, quick, and you would not even have to worry about your budget since it is certainly affordable.

You should make certain that you are physically fit once you take the efficient Metro since you may have to go up and down or must have to take steps no matter where you go. You would be pleased to know that dogs that would be able to help people are allowed, and even the people who accompany those who may be impaired visually would be able to ride without any cost.

While going around Paris, you might encounter a different kind of train without actually becoming aware of it. RER is another kind of train which is connected to the Metro wherein there may be instances where both trains may make the same stop and even take you to the same place. What is great about the RER is that it would be able to take you to places such as the airport in Charles de Gaulle, Disneyland Paris, or in Versailles.

While you may spend your whole time in Paris riding the underground trains and never know when you’ve hopped on an RER train, it’s a good idea to know about them. Places in Paris that most tourists are spending time on, they’re interlinked with the Metro lines to such a degree that many share the same stops and will take you to the same places. But they also go far beyond the borders of Paris – to places like Versailles and Disneyland Paris, as well as Charles de Gaulle Airport. You do not even have to worry about the ticket that you need to purchase for the RER, since it also utilises the same ticket as what is used when riding the Metro. However, you would have to get a special kind of ticket once you decide to go for a trip that may take an entire day.

Aside from the different kinds of trains, you may also ride a bus in order to get to where you need to go. Most of the time, you would be able to find easily a bus or rather a bus stop which might even be near your hotel. It is also possible that you would be able to see a bus stop first than seeing Metro station. This simply means that you might have to get acquainted with the places where you would be able to see a bus stop. This will surely be to your advantage most particularly if you would be staying at an area where the buses are readily accessible. However, if you feel like driving around the city of Paris, then you may also do so and all you have to do is rent a car.

Visiting some of the most romantic places in Paris would surely be something worthwhile to do. Paris is the only city which would surely be able to give the true essence of romance. Its splendour would surely make you rekindle the flame of love and relive the most romantic days of your life. If you are up for a view that is breathtaking and truly romantic, you should not miss the opportunity and allow the view that you would be able to see at Pont des Arts put you in awe.

Without a doubt, you this bridge would be able to showcase a view of the most renowned attractions in Paris like the Museum of Louvre, Ile de la Cite and the Notre Dame. Try taking the metro up to Saint-Germain-des-Prés and you could already start gazing even the entire day.

Seize the moment and cuddle with the person you love while sitting at one of the benches located at the very serene and romantic Trocadéro Gardens. You would be able to go there by metro and you would surely be glad to know that if you stay there you would definitely be able to see the magnificent Eiffel Tower. One of the most awaited moments is when it lights up for about ten minutes. You should no longer wonder why this particular area is known as the area where a lot of people make out.

Visit some place exciting and out of the ordinary yet still be at the perfect place for that special kiss by going to the very beautiful Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. This park will surely fill your day with adventure because of the numerous sights that you would be able to see and visit. You and your partner would certainly feel relaxed once you see the waterfalls, the park’s lush scenery plus take a visit to its grottos and breathtaking cliffs. Once you go up and reach the kiosk, you would be amazed with the very beautiful view overlooking the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.

The renowned “bridge of lovers”, or Pont-Marie is certainly one of the most romantic places that you should check out and people believe that if someone kisses under this bridge, and wish that their love would last forever, this would come true. Go ahead and ride a bateau-mouche, and try that kiss under the bridge. This will surely make that kiss truly memorable and even more special.

One of the most elegant and sophisticated restaurants that would make that date very meaningful is Lapérouse. This restaurant will take that date to higher level in the sense that it would make you and your partner truly comfortable and would make you feel as if you were a part of history, during the time when courtesans would meet at this restaurant and deal with their transactions. One of the best features of Lapérouse is that you would have a dining room that is private and you simply have to call for a maître d’ if for instance you need something. You should of course make a reservation for one of the restaurants private dining rooms and pamper yourself with what this restaurant has to offer.

Make that proposal or give those three words a whole new meaning by letting your partner see the Wall of Love or Le mur des je t’aime and express your love in different languages as this mural would show you how love is being articulated in different languages. There are splashes that are said to symbolize hearts that have been broken and may be cured by means of the mural. You may also check the website of Le mur des je t’aime and learn how to say those three words in different languages, even before you arrive in Paris.

Be mesmerised by the beautiful De Medici Fountain located at the Luxembourg Gardens. This fountain was build for Marie de Médici, the wife of Henri IV, who was missing Italy. This fountain will surely help you escape those who are playing chess, the kids in the park as well as those sun worshippers. Take a trip to the Luxembourg Gardens and get to spend some alone time with your partner.

If there is one photo that would be able to truly show how romantic Paris truly is, that would be the renowned Le Baiser du Trottoir. Grab that opportunity to redo that moment and capture it by asking a photographer to take a picture of you and your partner with the same angle at the Café of Hôtel de Ville, and because of this you would no longer have to buy a copy of the picture since you already have your own version. This picture really gives you the real meaning as to why a lot of people would consider Paris a city full of passion and love. On top of that, whether you are on a vacation in Paris or you just simply love to go around Paris, surely you would be able to redefine this experience because of this.

Musee Carnavalet is now said to be the home of Madame de Kernevenoy, whose husband died during a duel when she was at the age of 25. This lady is known for the beauty that she possesses which in turn resulted to a long line of suitors outside her house. This in turn paved the way for her to be called “Carnavalet” because of the carnival of courtiers who even slept outside the mansion of this lady. This happened during the 1500’s, and now this place is known as the museum which houses Parisian history. You simply have to take the efficient metro only up to St. Paul, and you would already be able to check out this wonderful museum, and do lots of activities on the hallways of the museum as well as in its garden.

Meet with your special someone at the renowned Tuileries Gardens, which is located just outside the Louvre.  This place has been historic in the sense that no matter what class the particular couple belongs to, like for instance a couple from the middle class or a couple who is part of the nobles, they really opt to meet at this place. During the 18^th century, it was a very popular place for meeting someone. This means that if for instance an unforeseen event occurs, like for example it suddenly rains, then the person who intends to meet someone at that particular day will surely be somewhat frustrated since they would not be able to do so. Now, you would be able to spend time with your loved one while staying at an outdoor café in Tuileries.

Most of the time, when people think about France, particularly Paris, they would imagine all the famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or the excellent architecture found in the city’s different establishments. However, there is certainly more to Paris than just being a city full of magnificent lights. It is a city where you would surely be able to find a restaurant filled with savoury dishes that look really tempting to eat. Let this article help you check out five of the finest restaurants found in Paris.

First up is the restaurant located at the seventh administrative district of Paris, Le Bellecour. One of the restaurant’s most famous dishes is roasted lamb with a sprinkle of Chablis. Le Bellecour also offers luscious crab cakes that you would surely love. What is truly remarkable about this restaurant is that it makes certain that all the dishes being served to you is only the best and the finest, which is why for about thrice a year, it reinvents the menu so that the ingredients being used on the dishes that they serve are all fresh.

Another restaurant that you should never miss out on is Le Pré Catelan, which is situated at the sixteenth administrative district. This is where you should go if you have been longing to eat in a restaurant that is truly rich in culture and would make you feel like going back to the time of Napoleon III. Chef Anton offers French cuisine that is well-prepared and remarkably intricate.

If you feel like eating something fresh and exciting, but still want to eat at a superior restaurant, then you should eat at L’Ambroisie, located at the fourth administrative district of Paris. You would be pleased to know that this restaurant gives you the liberty to pick from a wide selection of wines that it is able to provide. Bear in mind to make a reservation when you eat at this fine restaurant.

Chef Besson offers a cuisine like no other, all of which are outstandingly well-prepared, traditional, and timeless. He never fails to serve the best dishes like eggplant caviar with a sautéed chanterelle and butter, paired up with a delectable lamb.

Last, but definitely not the least among the excellent restaurants found in Paris is Le Grand Venise. The ambiance in this very romantic place will surely make you feel like falling in love all over again. Le Grand Venise is situated at the fifteenth administrative district, and the name implies that you would be able to indulge with the best-tasting Italian food. In order to maintain the Italian culture, every August, this restaurant is not open.

All these restaurants will surely give a whole new meaning to your eating experience in Paris. It is beyond doubt that the dishes found at these restaurants are already part of the magnificent attractions found in this city. Because of the numerous delectable foods being offered at various restaurants all over Paris, it would surely be something to look forward to. This just goes to show that no matter where you feel like eating, every restaurant you go to would surely offer something that you would not be able to resist.

Those looking for some summer fun need look no further than Paris. Paris offers a myriad of summer activities of all shapes and sizes. Many Parisians leave the area for summer vacations which leaves more room for tourists. Each year on the 21st of June, Paris holds The Fête de la Musique. This popular event brings hundreds of street performers to the city streets. Many different types of music are played during the festival including jazz, hip hop, electronic, and rock. The festival gives tourists the chance to enjoy free shows as they explore the area.

July comes fun filled with Bastille Day on the 14th where a huge parade ends with fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. The Paris Cinema International Film Festival spans between the 2nd and the 14th of July. During the festival, tourists can see those new to the film scene as well as meet their favorite movie stars. In 2009, the festival will be held in arrondissement 5. The Summer Arts Festival also begins in July. This festival starts July 15, 2009 and ends on August 9, 2009. The four week long festival allows visitors to enjoys all types of art from dance to film to painted works. Located in the Latin quarter, tourists can enjoy the Bohemian feel of the area while enjoy many different types of art.

Also starting in July, is Paris Plage, which is a beach that is created especially for this festival along the banks of the river Seine. At Paris Plage, visitors can have fun in the sand while enjoying live music. Many vendors set up in the area where food and drinks can also be purchased. Paris Plage starts on July 20th and ends on August 20th. The Open-Air Cinema Festival at the Parc de la Villette runs from July 15th to August 16th, 2009. This is located at the Parc de la Villette. Visitors can come out here, spread out a blanket, and watch one of around 35 movies that are played on the large outdoor screen.

In August, besides enjoying the last parts of many festivals, many tourists can enjoy Shakespeare’s Garden Theater Festival where visitors can enjoy many of Shakespeare’s plays such as Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet in a romantic, open-air setting. Located in arrondissement 16, this festival is best enjoyed in August but actually starts in May and ends in October. It gives a great end to the wonderful summers that Paris offers.

If you are planning to travel to Paris on a tight budget, this article is for you. Although France in general is regarded as an expensive country, there are lots of ways to save money from the very beginning of your trip.
Lots of  ‘low cost’ companies will offer you cheap flights to Paris at very low rates, and if you take the time to ‘hunt’ for those special or last minute offers, you could end up traveling for almost nothing. Of course this method has its drawbacks. Normally these companies do not fly you to the more centric airports, and you have to be careful to arrange for transportation from the airport to your destination in Paris. You also have to keep in mind that some times, the time of the day for the lower rates only applies at hours that may not be the ‘normal’ ones.

For example, a company called ‘Ryanair’ could fly you to your destination very late in the night, arriving at 1 AM in the morning. Arriving at such an hour may make it impossible to take a bus or other public transportation. Also, you have to be careful not to end up buying a costly air ticket on a ‘low cost’ airline. Some of these companies advertise cheap rates but in the reality, you have to purchase your ticket at least a couple of months in advance to really take advantage of the great prices.

Keeping these simple tips in mind, you should be able to get a cheap flight to Paris with a little search, and this is without a doubt the best way to travel if you are on a tight budget. To find this companies and offers, the best way would be to use a search engine such as Google and input search terms such as ‘cheap Paris flights’ or ‘low cost flights to Paris’. That will return some companies that surely are present on your country.

To name some of the most well-known companies that offer great travel prices (not all of them are exclusively low-cost but normally have great offers) are:

Ryan Air

Easyjet

MyAir

Blue1

Transavia

Aer Lingus

Smart Wings

ClickAir

WindJet

Next step for your cheap travel: accommodation.

If you will be staying at places for ‘backpackers’ like boarding houses or shared-room hostels, you should find them in advance so you know were to go for the cheapest stay option. Although you most likely will have to share the room with other backpackers, these places are normally clean and safe.

If you wish to stay in a hotel, the best advice we can give you: book early. Booking in advance is the best way to find great hotel deals in Paris. Some travel companies or websites such as lastminute.com will offer combo packages (flight + accommodation) that could be very cheap. The offer of Paris hotels is so enormous it would be impossible to comprise a list of them, so again, you should resort to the best tool available: a search engine. Keywords like ‘cheap hotels in Paris’ or ‘cheap accommodation in Paris’ will render a lot of hotel WebPages and offers of all kinds. Just make sure you check that the hotel address is centric or at least nearby a public transport, or you could end up in a cheap hotel lost in the suburbs. There are great mapping tools like ‘Google maps’ that will show you how the hotel in Paris looks like and where it is located. The wonders of technology!

Last but not least: where to eat?

France is famous for their delicious cooking and Paris, being the capital of the country, accommodates some of the better restaurants in the world. Of course, if you are minding your expenses, you will have to be careful and think twice before entering a restaurant. Of course, you will be able to find fast food chains such as Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etcetera.

Or you could buy a sandwich in a bakery for 4-6 euros, or a falafel or Turkish sandwich in Saint Michel for 5 euros. Also, there are Greek restaurants in the Quertier Latin that serve cheap menus. Nearby Boulevard St Michelle, in the left bank of the Seine, there are small roads with lots of restaurants, with their prices at plain sight, so there will be no surprises.

The best advice: ask the locals. They will know which places serve good food for a cheap price.

If you happen to be visiting Paris, there’s a thing you cannot allow yourself to miss: museums. The ‘city of light’ has to offer great museums showcasing all kind of items, from classic to modern, from furniture to sculpture, from painting to archeology, from science to religion. Trying to compile a comprehensive list of Paris museums would be almost impossible, so in this article we will try to offer you a small selection of museums that, we believe, are worth visiting.

Louvre Museum

Some say it’s the biggest museum in the world, although that fact is not proven, the Louvre museum (officially Grand Louvre) surely is the best know in the world. Within its great

halls visitors can find almost everything history and art has to offer. Some of its more famous collections are:

- Egyptian antiquities (more than 50,000 unique pieces) including relics brought by Napoleon on his expeditionary trip to Egypt on 1789.

- A great collection of Near eastern antiquities such as the ‘Code of Hammurabi’or the Stele of the Vultures.

- A Greek and Roman section with unique antiques like Borghese Gladiator or the ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’.

- One of the finest painting collection in the world, with such marvelous examples as ‘The Mona Lisa’, ‘The Slaughtered Ox’ or ‘Tree of crows’.

Rodin Museum

Located within the premises of the Hôtel Biron (an incredible château with a rich historic past) we will find the Rodin Museum, one of the most visited in France. This Museum hoses some of the greatest items that belonged or where created by the polifacetic French artist Auguste Rodin. Sculptures, sketches, painting and his personal art collection (statues, Van Gogh, Renoir, photographs…). Definitely a must-see.

Orsay Museum

Located in the heart of Paris, in a building that was constructed for the World Exposition of 1900 and later used as a train station. The building is a work of art on itself and a must-see on itself. Inside its walls, divided in three levels, we will enjoy works of art, sculptures, painting and photographic collections, graphic art and architecture.

Musée de la Publicité

Within its permanent exhibition rooms at la rue de Rivoli, the ‘Musée de la Publicité’ (also known as ‘Musée de l’Affiche’) showcases an incredible collection of more than 50,000 contemporary posters from 1950 to the present day. It also contains more than 50,000 advertising films, press advertisements, radio commercials, promotional objects, etcetera. A great way to understand and know the way of thinking in the 20th century.

Other interesting museums that are very close-by (so you will be able to visit all of the same day are: Musée National Picasso, Musée Grévin, Musée de l’Orangerie des Tuileries, Musée National du Moyen Age-Thermes de Cluny and Snc Costes Au Centre Pompidou.