Recently in France Category

Explore

Zip Around Nice by Vespa

Friday August 27, 2010

There are walking tours and bicycle tours, but no tour feels quite as hip and European as one taken by Vespa. Left Bank Scooters allows you to explore Nice for hours by way of a spunky red two-wheeler.

Your guided tour begins in the heart of Nice - at the front door of the Four Points by Sheraton Elysee Palace - and continues for a glorious three or six hours, depending on your preference. But first comes a brief lesson in how to drive the scooters on French roads! Once you're comfortable, you'll zip over to the beachfront Promenade des Anglais along the lovely La Baie des Anges (The Bay of Angels) and take in some local landmarks, including the Theatre de l'Opera and Casino Mediterranée. From the coast, you'll head into the Vieux Nice (Old Town), where you'll get to explore galleries and sample traditional Niçois food. Your tour of the French Riviera then takes you beyond the town, up into the mountains on a stunning drive that deposits you atop Mont Vinaigrier, which offers impressive panoramic views of the city below. The longer tour option then continues along the coast, through Villefranche-sur-Mer and into Monaco, where you'll see the Casino de Monte-Carlo, palace, port, and old city. Should you be reluctant to hand over the keys, take heart: For a small additional fee, you can keep your Vespa for an additional 24 hours.

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

recent articles

Explore

La Vie en Rose in Paris

Tuesday August 24, 2010

Want to make sure you have no regrets on your next trip to Paris? Make time to visit the Musée Edith Piaf when you next stay at Le Méridien Etoile.

One of France's most famed singers, Piaf is best known for songs like "La Vie en Rose" and "Non, je ne regretted rien" (and for being played by Marion Cotillard in 2007's La Vie en Rose, which won the actress an Oscar). You'll be able to glean some lesser-known facts about Piaf with a visit to the private museum in a Belleville apartment, a neighborhood Piaf spent time in as a child. It's owned by Bernard Marchois, who knew the singer for the last six years of her life and wrote two biographies about her. You'll need to call ahead to make an appointment and get the code to enter the building, then walk up four flights of stairs. What awaits is a two-room labor of love, a collection of memorabilia that includes her famed black dresses, a pair of open-toed heels, china, books and music, and gold and platinum records. Private letters from the likes of the word boxing champ Marcel Cerdan, Piaf's married lover who died in a plane crash en route to visit her, and photos provide an even fuller picture of Piaf.

recent articles

Savor

Eat the Best Ice Cream in the World in Paris

Friday July 16, 2010

A tiny shop in Paris makes what many say is the absolute best ice cream in the world. Whether you're saddled with a mean sweet tooth or just love to taste la crème de la crème, a stop at Berthillon is a must.

The luxe ice cream maker opened its doors in 1954 - and now it opens its door daily with 30-some ice cream and sorbet options; by day's end, the available choices will have dwindled to just a handful. Located across the river from the Westin Paris just beyond the Notre Dame on the Ile Saint-Louis, its fame stems in part from its 50-plus-year commitment to using natural ingredients: no preservatives or chemical sweeteners, just the best milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, accented by real fruit and flavorings. No description will do its incredibly concentrated flavors real justice - you just have to taste them. But what exactly can you taste? Flavors include pistachio, dark bitter cocoa, rum raisin, cassis, licorice, and praline with lemon and coriander, among others. Take the multi-scoop cone route so you can sample more than one. Be prepared to wait in line, and to be wowed. A tip: The scoops are on the smaller size and fairly expensive. Savor, don't criticize, or be prepared to frowned upon by the foodies of the world.

recent articles

Inside

Bid Starpoints for Concert Experiences Beyond North America

Thursday May 13, 2010

Live Nation Moments Image.jpg SPG's moments.com auction site has a great new way for members to enjoy some amazing concert experiences through its partnership with Live Nation. With On Tour with SPG: Beyond North America, you can redeem Starpoints for premium tickets to some of the summer's most popular concert events in cities where you live and travel. There are many different artists and cities to choose from. Do you like to rock and roll all night? KISS will do just that in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, May 28. And those who dig the romantic R&B of Alicia Keys can enjoy prime seats for her upcoming gig in Paris on May 31. All it takes is 5,000 Starpoints for a concert package that includes two concert tickets for premium-level seats to the event in your selected city. Simply visit the site, select the event you're interested in, and click your way to a musical paradise. If you don't see your favorite band, check back every Friday for the latest shows. Wherever the music takes you'll, you'll find a Starwood hotel where you can rest your head after the show, from the Westin Paris to the Le Mériden Budapest.

recent articles

Celebrate

Glamour Reigns on the Côte d'Azur at the Cannes Film Festival

Tuesday May 11, 2010

Cannes Festival Poster 2010.jpg Film festivals tend to be classy affairs, marked by celebrity appearances and fancy galas, but nothing even comes close to the sophistication of Cannes. Yes, it's time once again for the Cannes Film Festival (May 12 - 23, 2010), which, for 11 days each spring, transforms this small town on the Côte d'Azur into the center of the motion picture universe. Now in its 63rd year, the 2010 festival aims to be one of the most memorable since its inception, with American film director Tim Burton lined up as President of the Jury and an eclectic slate of films from around the world competing for the coveted Palme d'Or. Burton, who directed such films as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland, will add a touch of quirkiness to the proceedings as he and his fellow jurors vote on such categories as best feature film, best short film, best actor and actress, and best director. The complete list of films in competition will be released in a few weeks, but there's tons of excitement for the festival opener, director Ridley Scott's adaptation of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe as Robin and Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. It will set an appropriately adventurous tone for nearly two weeks of movies, Hollywood stars, lavish parties, fancy yachts, and beautiful people. Starwood has two hotels in nearby Nice, the Four Points by Sheraton Elysee Palace and Le Méridien Nice, and one in nearby Monte Carlo, Le Méridien Beach Plaza.

recent articles

Inside

Discover the Westin Paris With SPG Free Weekends

Tuesday May 4, 2010

What's the only thing better than a weekend in Paris? A Free Weekend in Paris! That's what the SPG Free Weekends promotion is all about. This week, we are featuring five of the top redeemed hotels from last year's Free Weekends promotion. Which brings us back to the Westin Paris. Located in central Paris, this luxurious hotel is minutes from the Louvre, the Place Vendôme, and the Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris and an excellent spot for people watching. Spend your day unraveling the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile or splurging on some haute couture, and then return to the first arrondissement for a treatment at the hotel's signature spa, Six Senses at rue de Castiglione. With a stunning two-story vertical hanging garden designed by Patrick Blanc and innovative cocoon-like treatment rooms, it's the ultimate destination for total rejuvenation. Dining is a pleasure at Le First Restaurant Boudoir Paris, where Chef Gilles Grasteau puts a refined twist on traditional Brasserie-style cuisine. When the weather permits, Le First extends outdoors to La Terrasse, adding even more superb gourmet dishes to become a haven of dining tranquility. To start earning Free Weekend Night Awards that can be used in Paris and around the world, simply register by June 30, 2010.

recent articles

Inside

Starpick the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Centre

Thursday April 29, 2010

Springtime in Paris. What could be better? A great offer on a stay in a beautiful Paris hotel, that's what. The Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Centre is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends, so it won't take much to find yourself on a springtime stroll through the City of Lights. This modern hotel is as convenient as it comes. It's the only hotel built directly inside Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport's international Terminal 2, so you can go from your airplane to your guest room in just ten minutes, and it's just a half hour from the the city center by convenient high speed train. If you're new to Paris, you'll want to check out major attractions like the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, and the Eiffel Tower, which retain their magic no matter how many millions of visitors stream through. And if Paris is like an old friend, explore some lesser-known destinations like the Musée de l'Orangerie, full of amazing Impressionist paintings, or the Cluny, with its ancient Roman baths and abundant medieval art. However you spend your day, you'll find everything you need to relax and feel good back at the hotel, from a fitness facility and sauna to four outstanding restaurants and lounges. A weekend in Paris has never been easier. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.

recent articles

Offbeat

An Arabian Afternoon in Paris

Wednesday April 7, 2010

In the 1920s, a grand mosque was built in Paris in honor of the North African colonies who came to France's aid during World War I. The gorgeous pink marble building is covered in Byzantine details and looks just like the ones in Morocco. Of course, Paris is home to a large Muslim population, who pass beneath its arched entrance on days of Islamic worship. But you don't have to be Muslim to enjoy the offerings of this splendid fifth arrondissement landmark. The mosque includes a wonderful Arabian style bath, garden, restaurant, tea room, and market.

Visitors pass through the mosque's courtyard to enter the Hammam, where a series of steam baths get hotter as you progress through the ancient Middle-Eastern bathing ritual. Compliment your bath with a massage or exfoliating treatment for a truly enriching experience that will leave your skin velvety soft. Once you're properly cleansed and relaxed, continue your Arabian afternoon with a cup of aromatic mint tea in the salon de the, or a tagine or couscous dish at the adjacent restaurant. Then go peruse the shelves of the souk. All those brass incense burners, colorful cotton tapestries, and earth toned clay bowls will make you wonder if you've been transported to Marrakech. Just don't expect to venture back to your peaceful room at Le Méridien Montparnasse in a caleche (Moroccan horse-drawn carriage). Look for a car with a "Taxi Parisien" sign on top and ask the driver to turn the station to 88.6. "Radio Soleil" plays Arabic music all day.

recent articles

Savor

The Sweet Life in Paris

Thursday March 25, 2010

There are so many patisseries in Paris, and each seems to have its claim to fame. Here's a fun treasure hunt for you to try when you next stay at the Prince de Galles.

Savor a praluline at François Pralus, near the Centre de George Pompidou. The rich brioche is studded with almonds and hazelnuts coated in rose sugar.

Stohrer is the oldest continuously running patisserie in Paris, tracing its roots back to the kitchens of Versailles under Louis XIV. It's the birthplace of the baba au rhum, and its éclairs at are some of the lightest and most indulgent you'll find.

You might think that Paris is immune from the cupcake craze, and you'd be right ...mostly. Berko is the first cupcake bakery in Paris, and offers a dazzling array of varieties in full and bite-sized.

recent articles

Offbeat

A Zen Paradise in Paris

Monday March 22, 2010

Paris is home to some of the most sensational tea salons on earth (Ladurée, Mariage Frères, Fauchon). But there's one lovely little house of tea that's not so typically French. In fact, it's quintessentially Japanese. The Buddhist Pantheon (Panthéon Bouddhique), part of the Musee Guimet, is a quiet sanctuary complete with a Zen garden, a tea pavilion, and one of the world's most exceptional collections of Buddhist statues.

A ten minute walk from the magnificent Prince de Galles, Paris, the Buddhist Pantheon is housed in the former 1913 mansion of American banker Alfred Heidelbach. Ancient artworks and artifacts from Japan and China date back to the 11th century, including hundreds of statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas, arranged as they would have been in the venerated Buddhist chapels of Asia. The exquisite galleries open upon gardens of wondrous tranquility. Water flows beneath simple wooden footbridges, filling the air with the sound of tiny trickling waterfalls. Tall bamboo and graceful Japanese maples lead the way to the authentic tea pavilion, where tea ceremonies are performed regularly.

The Buddhist Pavilion is one of those secret Parisian delights, tucked away beyond the bustle of the city streets. While the mobs are flocking to Notre Dame Cathedral, go here and soak up the ambience of Zen serenity. Where in Paris do you go to find a quiet moment of peace?

recent articles

What Are You in the Mood For?

Starwood Preferred Guests can now stay updated on the latest travel trends. A core group of experts – including Starwood employees and SPG members – provide updates on unique and noteworthy travel experiences around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at exciting Starwood travel destinations and receive daily articles using TheLobby.com widget for your blog, desktop or web page.

Find out recommendations from our SPG members about what to do and where to go when you're on vacation. View the Articles

Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico

Set amongst the El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the US, this majestic destination boasts world-class golf, signature dining and a myriad of outdoor pursuits. Book your trip now!

Looking for advice about SPG? Ask questions to our SPG insiders and other SPG members or answer the questions submitted by others. submit your question or answer