Jaunted

Tags: Fake Airports / Paris / Airport News / → All Tags

Like New York, Paris Has Designs For A Center-City Airport

Looks like New York isn't the first to dream up improbable city-center airports; Paris had the idea back in 1932. Instead of paving runways into Central Park, as the New York plan calls for, the old-timey Paris dream was to install a whole new airport island atop the current location of the Île des Cygnes in the Seine River, just off the Eiffel Tower.

Paris already has a notable island, Île de la Cité, which holds Notre Dame cathedral and more. The addition of this airport would have meant flying tourists onto a Seine island just so that they can go visit another Seine island. Thankfully, the plan for the airport island was scrapped more than half a century ago, and these days, the thin existing island holds the replica of The Statue of Liberty, a pleasant walkway, and a subway stop.

more ›

Tags: Fees / Airport Telephones / Travel Tips / International Phone Calls / → All Tags

When A Two-Minute Phone Call at The Airport Costs $50

When we got our June credit card statement the other day, we discovered a mysterious charge for about $52. Upon further investigation with the help of the credit card company, we learned that the charge was for a phone call we’d made from a pay phone at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris…in April. Thanks to some wonky phone battery issues, we’d had to use one of those phones that accepts credit cards in order to leave a friend a voicemail that we’d arrived. The call lasted under two minutes, and cost more than a good meal out.

more ›

Tags: Rental Cars / Hidden Charges / Fees / Travel Tips / → All Tags

Les 'Hidden Charges' With International Car Rentals

Renting a car in a foreign country can be a wonderful way to see a lot of off-the-beaten path places you could not otherwise reach. It can also be an expensive, dangerous, and fraudulent experience. Chances are it won’t be, but just in case, here are a few extra charges to look out for next time you rent a car abroad.

A Little Insurance Policy
Many credit cards offer rental car insurance that extends to international rentals. Often, this insurance is better than what the rental agencies offer, and covers medical care as well. Educate yourself on your cards’ policies, then choose the best one for coverage of your rental. Just be sure to opt out of the rental agency’s (usually expensive) insurance program or your own will be void. For more about rental insurance and what to do if something goes wrong, check out last month’s article, “What Happens When You And The Rental Car Agency Don’t Speak The Same Language.”

more ›

Tags: Airport Hell / Jails / Public Intoxication / Jonathan Rhys Meyers / → All Tags

The Trouble With 'Sober Lock-Up' Areas at Airports, Aside From The Obvious

Some more interesting news has come out of Jonathan Rhys Meyers latest arrest on Saturday at the Charles De Gaulle airport. People Magazine reports:

The incident began when a bartender at the café area "Le Quotidien" in the departure area of the airport at terminal 2F refused to serve the actor, who appeared drunk, according to the news service. A shouting match developed between Rhys Meyers and the bar manager. Then when another bar employee tried to separate the pair, Rhys Meyers swung and punched the intervening waiter.

The police then locked up Rhys Meyers in a sober lock-up area for three hours. Guess he didn't make his flight! But really, we could care less about Rhys Meyers being all drunk in public. This isn't the first time Johnny has gotten into an airport fight. Two years ago, he attempted to board a BMI flight completely wasted. (May we suggest just taking a Xanax instead of trying to drink the fear of flying away?) What we're really curious about is that "sober lock-up" area.

It turns out Durango has actually had a first-hand experience with these places as one of his friends was arrested for being drunk at the DFW Airport.

more ›

Tags: Airport Photo Shoots / CDG / Paris / Jonathan Rhys Meyers / Justin Timberlake / → All Tags

Justin Timberlake Wards Off The Ladies With Armed Guard at CDG

Over the weekend, Justin Timberlake was spotted arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, rolling his own Louis Vuitton bag and being escorted by an armed guard, presumably to keep away screaming teenage girls.

Last night, Jonathan Rhys Meyers was also spotted with a guard in the Paris airport, only this guard wasn't trying to protect Meyers, he was trying to protect the general public. Apparently, the "Tudor" was on a bit of a bender as he threw money on the floor and drunkenly bragged about his wealth. He reportedly told the officers, "You wanna hit me? Hit me!"

We wonder if he was upset about the new baggage fees, which seem even worse now that there is a resolution in the House of Representatives to have the TSA take control of the size of carry-on bags. If passed, instead of each airline being responsible for screening the size of each passenger's bag, the TSA will presumably screen bags as people are going through the metal detectors.

This is supposed to insure a uniform standard for the size of all carry-on luggage, but will also mean your only choices in the airport will be to go through one more bureaucratic step or be gouged by the airlines to check your luggage. Maybe its time to get to know the Amtrak schedule a bit better.

Related Stories:
· Carry-on size may be policed by airport security [Wallet Pop]
· Report: Meyers detained by airport police [UPI]
· Airport Photo Shoots [Jaunted]

[Photo: TMZ]

Tags: Crime / Museum Travel / Paris / France Travel / → All Tags

Art Theft Travel: Paris Loses a Picasso

We love a good art theft mystery, but usually in the form of a book or movie like The Thomas Crown Affair. Today however, the real thing is going down in Paris as authorities have discovered the disappearance of a book of Picasso sketches from the Picasso Museum.

Its value? 11 million dollars. Its historical importance? Priceless. Although there are several Picasso museums in the world, including ones in Switzerland and Barcelona, the Paris collection is known for having over 3000 of his works plus paintings that he owned by the likes of Degas, Matisse and Cezanne.

In cases such as art theft, any press is good press for both the return of the artwork and tourist numbers to the museum. if you're planning a visit to the Paris Picasso Museum, expect heightened security, larger crowds, and general paranoia until the investigation gets further underway. But then, it's not like there aren't enough Picasso Museums to go around.

The Picasso Museum Paris is located closeest to the Metro Line 8 stop at Saint-Sébastien Froissart; the museum is open from 9:30am to 6pm, and costs 8.50 Euro per adult.

Related Stories:
· French police: notebook of Picasso sketches stolen [Washington Post]
· Picasso Museum [Official Site]
· Museum Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Kristin Myers Harvey]

Tags: Obama-Around-The-World / Presidential Travel / Barack Obama / Paris / France Travel / Michelle Obama / → All Tags

The Obamas Take Paris: A Guide To Their Family Weekend Getaway

None of that constantly hanging out indoors and sticking to all business for President Obama; his last few stops on a whirlwind tour have included some quality tourist time as he takes in more than just the interiors of conference rooms and embassies.

This past weekend when he swung by France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, he flew in the whole family for a little interlude in Paris. It was the first visit to Europe for Malis and Sasha, as well as Sasha's 8th birthday.

Before arriving, Obama hinted at his touristic ambitions by saying that "American people love all things French, you've got the food, you've got Paris," and sample the city and its cuisine he and the family did.

To do Paris in three days a la Obama, check out our guide to their hotspots from their visit:

more ›

Tags: France Field Trip / Rental Cars / Travel Tips / → All Tags

What Happens When You And The Rental Car Agency Don’t Speak The Same Language?

All this week Jaunted contributor Eric Rosen has been filling us in on his recent field trip, drinking his way through France. Today, however, he has a major buzzkill to report. Here's how he learned to deal with denting a rental car in a foreign country.

Renting a car in a foreign land can be a pretty daunting prospect. You don’t know how compact a “compact” will be until you try squeezing in your luggage, your mother, and a few presents for friends back home into a tiny Citroën hatchback. You also pray that you remember how to drive a stick-shift well enough to avoid any accidents. Accidents do happen, though, and you should be prepared, especially when renting internationally.

more ›

Tags: Airport Transportation / CDG / Paris / Paris Travel / Airports / → All Tags

On the Road Again: How to Reach Paris-Charles de Gaulle

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

· RER B-line Extraurban Train: Although the cheapest route into Paris proper, opting for the RER means quite a bit of slogging around with your luggage. First, know what terminal you'll be arriving into; if Terminal 1, you must take a green transport shuttle to the RER station there, and if Terminal 2, take a blue shuttle to the station where the TGV train also stops. In exchange for the run-around, your RER into the city gives you a whole host of jumping off chocies: Gare du Nord, Chatelet-les-Halles, Saint-Michel/Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, and Denfert-Rochereau.
Total cost: €8.40 per adult or €5.90 per child, each way
Total time: 35 minutes to Gare du Nord

more ›

Tags: Eiffel Tower / Tourist Traps / Iconic Monuments / → All Tags

The Eiffel Tower Still Standing Right Side Up

Joyeux Anniversaire La Tour Eiffel! The Eiffel Tower celebrated its 120th birthday today by releasing more than a thousand balloons into the sky, giving joy to all the tourists who happened upon the iconic monument today. But when Gustave Eiffel's creation was first inaugurated in 1889, not everyone was in love with it. A few famous Parisians called it a "dishonor" to the city. Writer Guy de Maupassant said he liked to eat lunch at the tower because it was the one place where he didn't have to look at it.

What a change a 120 years makes. Today, nearly seven million tourists fork over the 13 Euro fee to visit the tower and one woman even married the structure. Let's hope she has a real special birthday present for tonight.

Related Stories:
· Eiffel Tower turns 120 [Associated Press]

Tags: What Recession / Green Travel / Tesla / → All Tags

Get A Free Car In France (With Purchase Of House)

Now here's a way to really dig it in that you are a have and not a have-not in today's shaky economy: Show off your brand-new house and your brand-new car! Then hope no one decides to egg either when you head home to your new domain in France.

An eco-friendly home builder has started to offer a free electric Tesla Roadster with purchase of a green home in a luxury development outside Paris. The name of the "Welcome to France" company suggests this offer will be attractive to foreigners who want to get the whole expat package in one go, complete with resentment among the French people who live near you or see you zipping around, and it is. They even threw in a golf course and helipad!

more ›

Tags: McDonalds / Fast Food / Airport Restaurants / The French / Pharrell Williams / → All Tags

The French Could Care Less if Pharrell Williams Wants a Big Mac

We're not quite sure the employees at this McDonalds in a Paris airport would even care if Pharrell Williams could order a big mac in French--if they ain't open, they ain't open!

The performer/producer popped into the McDonalds wanting some food so desperately he even said he might miss his flight. (Side questions from us: What? Aren't you flying first class? Don't they serve you food in there? You really want Mickey D's that badly?)

Then he launched into a song and Jacko-inspired dance singing, "Big mac, filet o' fish, quarter pounder, french fries, icy cold milkshake, sundaes and apple pie." However, those airport employees could care less. They weren't yet open and when they did open, they would only be serving breakfast. One employee even left the McDonalds, leaving Pharrell totally disappointed that he wasn't getting no "Big mac, filet o' fish, quarter pounder, french fries, icy cold milkshake, sundaes and apple pie."

While we're sure Pharrell found some comfort in first class, we totally can identify with begging McDonalds to serve us a sausage McMuffin at 11am, even though they stopped serving breakfast at 10:30am. That truly is a universal struggle.

Related Stories:
· P vs. McDonalds [YouTube]
· McDonalds Coverage [Jaunted]