Feb 1st, 2010 by haveninparis
guardian.co.uk
Text by Erica Berman
Traveling has never been less easy. Fortunately, untold numbers of intrepid travelers continue to trot the globe appreciating that the joy of the journey trounces the irritation of a few hours almost every time.
I was lucky this weekend flying from Boston to Paris, and I got through security quickly and hassle- free. Before taking off (since I had arrived early anticipating long lines), I jotted down a few of my tried-and-true travel tips with the hopes of making your next air travel experience as pleasant as possible.
1. If you are traveling internationally, pack only one checked suitcase per traveler. Extra luggage is still allowed, but each additional bag comes with a price. (Note: Some American airlines charge for each checked bag when you are flying within the US).
2. Weigh your bag at home. Make sure it falls within your airline’s designated weight limit, unless you are prepared to pay a supplement (often upwards of $50 per bag, depending on your airline).
www.maximumpc.com
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Tags: airport information, Erica Berman, travel tips
Posted in Erica's Escapades, HiP Travel | No Comments »
Jan 22nd, 2010 by haveninparis
Mathilde, my local friend
Text and photos by: Geneviève Sandifer
Think back to that moment when you first landed in a foreign city and disorientation set in like a thick, heavy fog. If you were a girl or boy scout, maybe you could tell north from south, but buildings, perspectives, businesses and squares of sky blended together to form an impenetrable net of All Things Foreign. Armed with your map and your pocket translator you bravely approached passersby with questions ranging from the unavoidably inane (“Where can I buy a loaf of bread”) to the philosophically complex (“Where can I buy a good loaf of bread”). Animated discussions ensued, followed by an exchange of friendly smiles and you were left feeling more desperate than before because not only were you lost and hungry, you failed at survival challenge #2: communication.
Fear not! The Hip Paris team has just stumbled upon the aptly named “Rent a Local Friend”, an alternative tour service that sets you up with a friendly native to help you get over those first few moments of feeling like the city is an impenetrable mass of tourist traps and indistinguishable side streets. Continue Reading »
Tags: Alternative Tours Paris, Le Loir dans la Theiere, Lemon Pie Paris, Marais Tours Paris, Montmartre Tours, Paris tours, Rent a Local Friend, Romantic weekend Paris
Posted in HiP Travel, Tours and Classes | 3 Comments »
Dec 5th, 2009 by haveninparis
Photo: bbc.co.uk
Text by Tory Hoen
Is there anything cuter than a French-speaking kindergartner? I think not. That alone should be a reason to integrate bilingual immersion classes into the New York school system, and Williamsburg’s PS 84 has done just that. Starting in the fall of 2010, the school will join a growing community of New York schools (7 at present) that are getting on the French immersion bandwagon. PS 84’s program will begin with a bilingual immersion class for kindergartners and, presumably, it will expand over the coming years.
So if you’re a francophone parent in New York, or just a New Yorker who wants French-speaking children (we don’t blame you), you may want to look into an immersion program like this one. As PS 84 is a magnet school, it is possible for children in all parts of New York to attend. Continue Reading »
Tags: bilingual education, bilingual school new york, french school, french school new york, Josee Bienvenu, Lea Joly Sloan, PS 84, tory hoen, Williamsburg
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Nov 29th, 2009 by haveninparis
The living room of the Penthievre apartment
Text by Tory Hoen
With hotel rates on the rise, more and more travelers are learning that short-term apartment rentals are an ideal way to enjoy a foreign location. For those who seek the true insider travel experience, there is no better way to feel like a local than to rent an apartment where you can cook, entertain, and truly settle into the neighborhood. The benefits of renting an apartment are many, but for those who are not used to vacationing this way, the decision to rent an apartment can be daunting. It doesn’t have to be if you keep a few simple rules in mind. Continue Reading »
Tags: Apartment Rentals Paris, Craigslist, Haveninparis.com, tory hoen, Vacation Rentals Paris, VRBO.com
Posted in Buying & Renting in Paris, HiP Travel | 2 Comments »
Oct 15th, 2009 by haveninparis
Ceci Cela French Patisserie on Spring St. in New York - courtesy of www.plateoftheday.com
Text by Tory Hoen
I am living every Parisian’s dream, i.e., I am living in New York. After over a year in Paris and a few months in Montreal, I am back where I began, albeit with a much different perspective on just about everything. Since getting back, I’ve been delighted to find that you can’t go too far in New York without hearing some French. I find myself aggressively eavesdropping on French conversations in the subway and lingering a little longer on corners where French people are chatting, just in case they need my input on the matter at hand. Continue Reading »
Tags: ceci cela, ceci cela new york, Haven in Paris, l'express, l'express new york, Le Fooding, le fooding d'amour, p.s. 1, ps1 new york, save the cat, tory hoen
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Oct 8th, 2009 by haveninparis
Food blogger, photographer, and world traveler Heidi Swanson reflects on 10 idyllic days in Paris. From the flea markets at Clignancourt to the gelato at Pozzetto to dinner at Le Verre Volé, she hit a number of our favorite spots.
Text and photos by Heidi Swanson, 101 Cookbooks
It’s 5:45 in the morning, the sky is starting to glow ever so slightly near the horizon, and all is still and quiet outside. I’m sitting on my sofa wide awake. My body thinks it’s the middle of the day, and there is no way around it – I’m in for a couple more early mornings before I can shake this jet lag. So. I thought I’d make myself some tea, watch the sun come up, and take a bit of time to share my notes on Paris, before the details of this adventure start to slip my mind. Continue Reading »
Tags: 101 cookbooks, atelier brancusi, august sander, berthillon, breizh cafe, cartier-bresson, centre pompidou, chocolate and zucchini, clignancourt, du pain et des idees, e. dehillerin, ets lion, gerard mulot, heidi swanson, jeu de paume, la briciola, la grande epicerie, laduree royale, le chambre claire, le verre vole, librarie la hune, Luxembourg Gardens, mariage freres, Musee D'Orsay, musee de l'orangerie, museum maison europeene de la photographie, planet parr, Poilane, Pozzetto, rose bakery, rose bakery paris, whsmith
Posted in Art, Film, Music, Literature, HiP Travel, Parisian Living | 2 Comments »
Sep 29th, 2009 by haveninparis
Guest blogger Richard Nahem (of Eye Prefer Paris tours) offers insider tips for eating, drinking, shopping and strolling within minutes of the city’s major railway stations in his article for The Guardian…
Canal St Martin – courtesy of france.jeditoo.com
Gare du Nord – Gare de L’Est
Head south down Boulevard de Magenta and you’ll find the trendy Canal Saint-Martin neighbourhood. Stop at Galerie Impaire (galerieimpaire.fr) at 47 rue de Lancry, an outpost of the innovative Creative Growth Art Foundation from California, and view the impressive artwork from self-taught artists and artists with disabilities. Feeling peckish? Worth waiting in line for are the delicious pastries at the boulangerie Du Pain et des Idées at 34 rue Yves Toudic (specialities include a delicious puff pastry with chocolate and pistachio paste). For a quick beer or some light eats, La Marine on quai de Valmy and Chez Prune on rue Beaurepaire are good bets right on the canal.
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Tags: between trains in paris, Eye Prefer Paris, gare d'austerlitz, gare de l'est, gare de lyon, gare du nord, gare montparnasse, gare saint-lazare, grande mosquee de paris, jardin des plantes, neighborhoods paris, promenade plantee, Richard Nahem, the guardian, train stations paris, train travel paris, Viaduc Des Arts
Posted in HiP Travel | 1 Comment »
Sep 26th, 2009 by haveninparis
Text by Sarah Raymond
Photos courtesy of La Petraia, Michael Grant & Sarah Raymond
In the US, the vast majority of food & grocery shopping is done in supermarkets. We cook with canned beans or tomatoes, pre-butchered meats, and shrink-wrapped cold cuts – or consume industrially prepared foods – rarely stopping to consider where exactly these things come from. One item could be fresh from a nearby farm, another from halfway across the world. While many Americans are becoming increasingly aware of how and where their food is produced, there is still a sense of detachment between the food we eat and its origins. Recently, however, following an eye-opening Italian dining experience at La Petraia – in Tuscany’s Chianti region – I was inspired to rethink how I purchase, prepare, and consume food.
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Tags: agriturismo, Chianti, farm, Italy, La Petraia, luxury accommodations, restaurant, Susan Grant, sustainable agriculture, Tuscany
Posted in HiP Eats, HiP Travel, Italy tips & suggestions | No Comments »
Aug 30th, 2009 by haveninparis
Photo www. jaunted.com.
Text by Sarah Raymond
Today, the last Sunday in August, people all over France will pack their bags, shutter their vacation homes, and make the voyage back home – many to Paris. In the U.S., you might picture cars stuffed to the gills with bags and family members, hours spent stuck in long traffic jams. And it’s true that there will be some of this. However, in places like Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Montpellier, Rennes, and many other cities large and small, there will also be crowded train platforms full of people waiting to board their TGV home.
The TGV, which stands for train à grande vitesse (high speed train), is hands down the best way to travel through France. Continue Reading »
Tags: Fast Train France, tgv, TGV France, Train de Grande Vitesse
Posted in Green, Bio, Eco Paris, HiP Travel, Parisian Living | No Comments »
Aug 29th, 2009 by haveninparis
Sometimes the best trips result from last-minute impulses! Summer may be over, but that doesn’t have to mean an end to your travels. Due to a last minute cancellation, Haven in Paris is offering a great special offer on the spectacular Elzevir apartment for the week of September 14-21. At 15% off the regular weekly rate, you can enjoy your own little corner of the Marais… with all of the neighborhood’s cafes, galleries, shops, and museums just outside your door.
Contact Haven in Paris for more information by clicking here.
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Tags: elzevir apartment, marais apartment, marais apartment rental, paris apartment, paris rental, paris rental apartments, Paris Vacation rental
Posted in HiP Travel | 1 Comment »
