The Paris Traveler

Today’s guest post is from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and travel blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
When I headed off to Paris a couple months ago, it was a bit of a last minute trip. I had been wanting to make the trip for quite some time, but had to make some changes to the actual travel dates at the last minute. You can make things work at the last minute, so if you find yourself in this position, don’t abandon your plans, just dig in and make it work.
When I set my travel dates, I set them …read more

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This is a guest post from Mary Jo Manzanares, b5media’s Travel & Culture Channel Editor and travel blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
When I went to a trip to Paris. last year, I went through fairly extensive research and preparation.  The City of Lights has long called to me, and although I only had a short period of time, I was determined to make it a great trip.  
Research done quickly for a short trip can be productive, and I want to share with you  my preparation for the trip.  The process is one that can be replicated for most destinations.  If you have more …read more

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Many of you are gearing up for summer travel and some of it might include Paris.  Lucky you if it does! I myself, hate traveling at this time of year as everything from security check points, flights, hotels, restaurants, landmarks, the metro—everything is jammed.  But we keep doing it as that’s when we can get away just like the rest of the world.  There are ways to maintain your sanity in all this and I have found some sites that will offer professional pointers on how to survive.  
First, visit the TSA website to become familiar with what you can expect from …read more

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Since there isn’t a France Traveler and I am already in Paris, I am going to take it upon myself to nudge us outside city limits and discover other parts of this country.  It isn’t ALL about Paris!   Yes, it is crummy work, but someone has to do it.   Oh, alright, I guess I can.  

 You’ll need to pack a small bag as this is going to be a week-end trip.  We are catching the TGV out of Gare Montparnasse and in about three and a half hours on the high speed train (you are going to love …read more

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 y series on getting oneself to Paris and finding a place to stay hopefully got some of you thinking about actually going over.  I am not a travel agent and left out lots and lots of information that someone far more capable than myself would be able to provide you with.  But, having gone over numerous times, I do at least know how some things work in the “real world” sense–sort of through trial and error.
I left out that many times, renting apartments can be cheaper than staying in a hotel.  Again, you are not getting some of the services …read more

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If I could plan your trip to Paris and was allowed to select your accommodations, hands down, I would set you up in one of the hundreds of vacation apartment rentals available throughout the city.  I had no idea anything like this existed until I began researching places to live when I temporarily relocated there in 2005.  Back then, there were a “handful” of websites catering to this type of thing.   Now, there is an almost endless selection of apartments available to fit all needs–from tiny studios for one person to amazing homes that have been featured in numerous …read more

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Ok, hopefully, you have found a reasonably priced flight to get you to Paris.  Now, where does one hang up one’s hat once they arrive?  I see you having two options:  1.  Staying in a hotel or 2. Renting a vacation apartment.  

I am sure all of you are familiar with staying in hotels, but may not be familiar with staying in European hotels.  Just like anything, how much you spend determines what you get.  My experience has run the gamut from two to five star establishments.  2-stars should get you a clean room, perhaps a folding chair and fairly …read more

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Over the weekend, I worked on booking my next trip to Paris which will be in mid-February.  My last visit was in November and before that May, so it is quickly becoming second nature for me to be going back and forth–Yeah!  If you have never done it, here are some thoughts and sites to get you started.  
I usually fly Air France.  It is a weird thing with me, but I enjoy flying the airline of the country that I am visiting.  Hearing everyone on the plane speaking French gets my trip started right out of the gate–literally.  They …read more

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If you are planning a trip to Paris or any part of France, I think it’s important that you know when holidays take place there.  Important because if you happen to be there on one, it will sort of count as a non-day.  What I mean is, many things are closed on these days (stores, many restaurants, wine tastings or cooking classes might not be held–the important stuff) while museums may or may not be open so I would make sure to check.  The city becomes either something of a ghost town ( November) or mind-boggling busy (May).   Everyone …read more

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I received an e-mail today from Instant World Booking, a travel website that I found interesting and helpful, especially for travelers leaving their country for the first time to travel abroad. The post is about (what else!) “How to Travel Safely”!
It’s worth reading, even for experienced travelers. You can click here to read their post and I can only add that I hope everyone stays safe no matter where your journeys take you!
Photo Credits: Flickr

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