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Evelyn Hannon
We're
delighted with the many tour operators
leading female-friendly adventures
to France who are also members
of our Journeywoman network of
classified advertisers. These
are the experts, the people we
go to when we need advice about
travel to Paris and the French
countryside. We asked each of
these savvy tour planners to share
one of their 'travel to France'
secrets with us. These are their
juicy offerings along with a bit
about each of their diverse woman-centered
travel companies. Keep this advice
handy. You never know when the
urge to be in Paris or France,
in general becomes too great to
resist.
| Paris
Travel Group...
Their female-friendly
tip
Divine
chocolat chaud...
The Fall is one of my favorite
times of the year to explore
Paris. So what could make
a quiet, relaxing fall or
winter day in Paris even
better? Sipping an unbelievably
rich cup of hot chocolate
in a cozy café while
you watch the world go by.
I’m always on the
lookout for a truly delicious
'chocolat chaud' (pronounced
‘cho-ca-lah show’).
My latest find is a comfy
little café, Ragueneau,
located around the corner
from the beautiful Palais
Royal. The chocolat chaud
is wonderful and generously
served in a pitcher, ask
for the Viennoise if you
prefer delectable whipped
cream. It is pure milk and
cocoa, no artificial powdery
stuff here, Parisians take
their chocolat seriously.
Visit in the late afternoon
and linger peacefully over
your chocolate feeling pampered
and very Parisian. Ragueneau,
220 rue St Honore, 75001;
Paris. Tel: 01.42.61.29.76
Their message
PARIS
TRAVEL GROUP -- Custom-Designed
Travel Services. Let us
create a Personalized Travel
Programme exclusively for
you, a unique itinerary
tailored to fit your interests.
Experience the true spirit
of Paris and be a part of
the excitement. Simply let
us know what you would like
to do and see and your Private
Concierge will custom-design
your detailed Itinerary
complete with highlighted
maps, dining and shopping
info, color photos, interesting
walking routes, addresses
and much more along with
an indispensable "how-to"
section so you can access
all the resources you need
to put Paris at your fingertips.
Bon Voyage! www.ParisTravelGroup.com |
| French
Escapade...
Their female-friendly
tip
Discover
Paris in a 2 CV Venice has
its romantic gondolas, London
its impressive double-deckers.
What will you ride in Paris
to feel sooooo French? There
is no better way to discover
the city than to ride a
2 CV. It is not the most
comfortable, it is not the
most luxurious, but it is
the Frenchest. Even with
a 9-hour jetlag, there is
no way you will fall asleep
and miss the view in the
bumpiest car in the world.
And you know what -- you’ll
love it!
With '4 roues sous un parapluie',
your chauffeur will take
you to the best parts of
Paris (also available in
Lyon), French style. Many
different tours are available
(from 30 minutes to 4 hours,
and even weekends). Some
of the top selling tours
are the 'Da Vinci Code'
tour and 'Shopping in Paris'
tours.
http://www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.com/
Their message
FRENCH
ESCAPADE --
Discover France another
way. We offer a new travel
concept to make you discover
the beautiful countryside
through the eyes of natives.
We (2 French native women)
welcome you for a week in
our luxury villa in Provence,
provide a chef on site,
escort you on day trips
and share our love of the
culture through local product
tasting, nature, history
and traditions. Tours are
limited to 8 women. www.frenchescapade.com,
toll-free 1-866-483-5713
|
| Paris
Woman...
Their female-friendly
tip
You'll
love this museum...
One
of our favourite places
in Paris is the Marmottan
Museum. It‘s situated
in the up-scale 16th arrondissement.
We take the #63 bus from
the Rue Cler area to its
end in the 16th and walk
a block to this lovely old
mansion. It’s small
and manageable -- just three
floors including the best
works by Claude Monet and
works by Camille Pissarro
and Renoir and Sisley. The
highlights are scenes from
Monet’s garden at
Giverny including his famous
water lilies. After our
visit we usually meander
through the delightful Jardin
du Ranelagh where children
are given rides on donkeys
and the world stands still
for a few moments in time.
We stroll down rue Passy
admiring the stately 19th
and 20th century buildings
along elegant tree-lined
streets. The 16th is less
crowded and more devoted
to the local clientele.
Some stores to visit in
the area are Etam for bags
and shoes and Franck et
Fils a very old-world department
store as well as L’Entrepot
with its abundant housewares.
Their message
PARIS
WOMAN --
A taste of luxury in Paris.
Join our group of 12 women
as we visit Paris. Plenty
of opportunity to express
your independence while
enjoying the comfort of
our friendly circle. Tea
at the Hotel de Crillon.
Fashion Show at the Hotel
Le Bristol. Drinks at the
Ritz. Visit Paris’s
romantic 19th Century shopping
malls – Les Passages.
Tel: 416 499 5094 Website:
www.pariswoman.ca
|
| Untours...
Their female-friendly
tip
Best
hot chocolate in town...
If you're looking for the
best hot chocolate in the
Paris, or even the world,
look no further than Angelina's,
a lovely Viennese café
on the Rue de Rivoli just
opposite the Tuileries Garden
and the Louvre. It's the
perfect post-museum spot
to luxuriate in the rich,
thick hot chocolate served
in a pitcher with a mound
of whipped cream on the
side. The pastries there
are equally sumptuous. Try
their signature dessert,
the Mont Blanc, a true zenith
of a dessert, comprised
of a meringue base piled
with chestnut puree and
whipped cream. Address:
226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001
Paris. Metro: Tuileries
Their message
UNTOURS
-- Get off
the bus and into a culture.
Untours lets you live in
Europe instead of just traveling
through it. Our packages
include 14 nights in a fully
furnished vacation rental,
ground transportation, optional
airfare, and on-site support.
Average package price w/
air: $2,400/person. Destinations:
France, Italy, Germany,
Spain, Austria, Switzerland,
Greece, Holland, Prague,
and Budapest. “One
of the world’s ten
best travel bargains!”
according to Arthur Frommer.
Website: www.untours.com,
phone: 888-868-6871, email:
travel@untours.com |
| Gourmet
Safari...
Their female-friendly
tip
The
foodie underground with
Its 'hidden kitchen' In
Paris...
When you are next in Paris
why not eat with the locals
-- even better, in their
own hidden home kitchen.
Hidden kitchens seem to
be popping up around the
globe (US/NYC, Italy, Asia
for starters) and the latest
one in Paris is receiving
rave reviews. When you make
your arrangements to go
for dinner at someone's
private home, this is truly
an underground experience
(home by day, restaurant
by night). Step one is to
request a seat by e-mail,
they set the stage and the
menu, you pay for the meal
prepared, not knowing what
the menu will consist of
or who will be seated next
to you. The price of dinner
is 80 Euros, this includes
an aperitif, the ten-course
tasting menu, wine pairings
with most courses and coffee
or tea to finish. The dinner
is set is a large, beautiful
Haussmanian Parisian apartment
that seats up to 18. It
is the perfect venue for
groups traveling, solo travelers
and also for meeting new
people. They do either communal
seating (one big table)
or two separate tables depending
on the occasion. This experience
is highly recommended when
you are in Paris, definitely
find your way there! See:
http://www.hkmenus.com/english.html
Their message
GOURMET
SAFARI -- We
offer hand-picked authentic
culinary vacations in key
culinary regions of Italy,
France, Spain and Morocco.
Take in cooking lessons
with local chefs using only
the freshest of seasonal
produce, visit local villages,
restaurants, open-air markets
& wine estates. We provide
an authentic culinary travel
experience that is unique
and exclusive, with an orientation
towards a highly personalized,
independent service for
the individual traveller.
Website: www.gourmetsafari.com
Email: info@gourmetsafari.com
Tel: 416.238.9987/800.839.5795
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