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In Paris, France, many of the French-style, small, informal bars or restaurants—called bistros—offer gourmet food at affordable rates. Generally, set menus are cheaper than a la carte menu. A set menu may be comprised of a starter, main dish, and dessert. You can save substantially by ordering from the set menu while dining at the bistros of the French capital Paris.

Plush department stores in Paris draw large crowds of tourists like its famous landmarks- Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower. Many of these stores boast impressive architectural elements in Art Nouveau style. These modern consumerist temples offer a complete shopping experience. Do not worry about money, just window-shop, enjoy a snack if you like, spot the celebrities, take pictures, and watch the world go by.

Carnaval de Nice 2011, one of the major European carnivals, will kick off on February 18, 2011 at the Place Masséna facing the Bay of Angels in Nice, the largest city of the French Riviera.

Photo by debs-eye

This time many activities will be either truly Mediterranean or inspired by the country, as the 2011 carnival theme is “King of the Mediterranean (Octopus 1st)”. The lively musical event will break monotony of the dull white winter for about three weeks. read full article

The Banks of the Seine in Paris were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) List in 1991 for its excellent urban riverside architecture, including wide boulevards and spacious squares, designed by Haussmann, which inspired town planners of 19th and 20th centuries across the world.

Even noted painters visited the river Seine looking for inspiration. The WHS covers Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité, natural islands in the river, and a number of architectural masterpieces erected along the river. The area stretches between Notre Dame and Saint-Chapelle in the east and the Eiffel Tower in the west. read full article

Disneyland Paris has had its share of controversy, catastrophe and crisis, but its position in the pantheon of top European and world tourist destinations has been assured for many years now. No matter whether you fall into the equally vocal ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ camps, here are five fun facts about the eternally divisive yet popular theme park resort.

Serious planning to bring the Disney franchise to Europe followed the immediate success of the Disney theme park in Tokyo in 1983. read full article

Paris has two main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG—the main international airport) and Orly (ORY). Both airports are well-connected and serviced by public transportation, so getting to central Paris should not be a difficult or inconvenient task. Here are some guidelines to help you:

My first ski holiday was at the tender age of 9, and I was hooked from the off. Generally speaking, when I am on a ski holiday I am at my happiest. Undoubtedly, the actual skiing and snowboarding play a big part in plastering a smile across my face, but there is so much more to it than that. For me, skiing is about spending quality time eating, drinking and generally making merry with friends and family, exploring an awe-inspiring natural landscape that I wouldn’t otherwise get to see, and of course there is a bit of exhilarating sport thrown in for good measure!

Photo: Walter Bibikow/The Image Bank/Getty Images

In terms of largest freshwater and natural (not manmade) lakes of a continent, and in terms of volume, all other European lakes pale in comparison to Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Additionally, there are not many winter ski read full article

Meet the green-fingered gardeners behind the scenes of some of Brittany’s most beautiful gardens that are highlighted for one week in June. Some of the spaces can only be seen during this three-day window. In total Brittany has 113 gardens, some of which have been awarded special status by the French authorities.

If you were to think about which city has the world’s best carnival celebration, you’d probably think first of Rio de Janeiro, and then perhaps of Venice or New Orleans.

Paris probably wouldn’t come to mind. You might even be surprised that Paris has a carnival at all. read full article

The French countryside is some of the most beautiful and varied in the whole world. You can go from lush flat green to hilly inclines to dry and hot to wild coastal and there’s really no better way to absorb the whole experience than in a car.

It’s a fairly common holiday now to drive through France with the family or friends, stopping off in the small villages or roadside motels and treating the whole travel as the holiday. It’s not Route 66 but it’s becoming just as iconic. read full article

Visiting France? Go to Paris! Bored with the usual answer to the first question?

This time around, why don’t you go off the beaten path and explore France beyond Paris and the best place… read full article

Planning a trip to Arles, Provence? Here are five sights and attractions that you shouldn’t miss when visiting this beautiful Provençal city:

1. Roman Arena

After 2,000 years, bullfights and bullgames still happen at the arena during summer months… read full article

Lille is a quaint relaxed city in the far northern tip of France in the region Nord-Pas de Calais.

Though it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, he city is not a typical traveler’s… read full article

Dreaming of spending Christmas in France, but can’t decide where to go? Consider the type of Christmas you want to experience.

While the various regions of France have several Christmas traditions in common, many regions have… read full article