Parisians have a reputation for rudeness that's not entirely deserved, but the idea is pervasive enough that one group of concerned citizens decided to do something about it. The Paris Greeters are a group of volunteer tour guides who conduct special tours designed to show visitors what a friendly, welcoming, and inspiring city Paris can be. As the AP points out, the greeters are happy to speak English (or nine other languages) and specialize in attractions that off the major tourist itineraries. For example, architectural tours generally skip the Eiffel Tower in favor of the 1930s-era buildings of the Trocadéro, while those looking for authentic French cuisine will likely end up in some delightful hole-in-the-wall restaurant that flies well under the Michelin radar. The tours are free and tour guides won't accept tips, though visitors are expected to pay their transit costs. We would reckon that a cup of coffee at a side-street cafe would be appreciated as well.

[Photo: AP]

Related Stories:
· Smiling Parisians Show You Their City for Free [AP via Yahoo! News]
· Paris Greeter [Official Site]
· Tour Guide Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2008-10-12T12:50:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/2/63025/3428

The Paris Motor Show kicks off for the 110th (!) time on Saturday. For two weeks, manufacturers from across the world will exhibit 90 new car models and organizers expect more than 1.5 million attendees.

Since hybrid vehicles are so 2008, this year's show is all about straight-up electric rides. And the car with the most buzz this year is the Volt, made by none other than General Motors, the US-based manufacturer that's brought us earth-raping behemoths of every stripe.

For the first time, GM has shifted toward developing small, fuel-efficient vehicles, with the Volt as its model for the future. It's a wonder how seamlessly market demand can overhaul a stubborn multibillion-dollar corporation! Now when will Paris start renting out Volts of its own?

Related Stories:
· Mondia La Automobile [Official Site]
· Cars coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: GM Blogs]]]> ced138 2008-10-03T09:45:38-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/3/82758/0983

Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron board a private jet to France to promote their forthcoming movie, "High School Musical 3."

France is just one of several countries which will see HSM3 before we will, but only by a little. So if you're a very wealthy teen with access to a private jet, fly to France, the UK, Egypt or the Philippines to catch its release on October 22.

That way you can brag to all your friends on return that you were the first to find out whether Troy and Gabriella go through with the experiment to clone each other so they never have to be apart. (Spoiler?)

Related Stories:
· Anticipated Movie Travel: "High School Musical 3" Filming In Utah [Jaunted]
· "High School Musical" Isn't Just Family Friendly, But Hotel Friendly Too [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]]]> egw 2008-10-03T09:15:38-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/30/10368/0436

This week in Paris, women bearing little resemblance to, uh, women have been strapping on their heels and climbing onto long elevated platforms as top designers unveil their spring 2009 collections at Paris Fashion Week.

Earlier this week, an amalgam of actresses and singers took front from at Christian Dior's Ready to Wear show. The group included one-hit wonders Lily Allen and Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson's ex.

The International Herald Tribune's Henry Alford used his time in Paris a bit more wisely, skipping out on some of the shows to let Jean-Paul Gaultier guide him through his favorite Parisian haunts. Check out a summarized version of what the guy who invented Madonna's cone bra considers Paris' crème de la crème:]]> ced138 2008-10-02T12:30:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/1/74355/0171

No tans please: Lily Allen, Dita Von Teese and Katy Perry represent the palest of the pale in the front row of the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week.

A recent New York Times story quipped "the sun never sets on the runway" with the proliferation of Fashion Weeks worldwide. Paris is even safer than New York, considering many of the classic ateliers like Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel are still open there. But "Islands of the World Fashion Week" in the Bahamas sounds like a fashion editor's excuse to take a vacation.

Related Stories:
· There Are So Many Fashion Weeks Each Year, You Cannot Attend Them All [NYT]
· M.I.A. Catches the Fashion Week Bug [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Socialite Life]]]> egw 2008-10-01T08:45:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/28/17421/5898

Salma Hayek takes daughter Valentina to the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, which Boston.com just singled out as one of the most kid-friendly places in the City of Light.

A mega-stroller is just the thing to take your one-year-old to the park, but can you get it on the plane? Despite TSA's protests that its policies will never separate mom from child, horror stories about the difficulty of getting a stroller through security can head itchy-footed parents off at the pass.

If you're headed out Salma's way, try e-mailing MESSAGE Paris, a parents' support network that might be able to recommend a good stroller store (or even lend you a spare!)

Related Stories:
· Demi Throws Ashton a 30th Birthday Party at the Bowery Hotel [HC]
· Kid-Friendly Paris gallery [Boston.com]
· Luxembourg Garden Carousel in Paris [Deliciousbaby.com]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]]]> egw 2008-09-29T09:15:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/22/61822/3290

Getting bored of sitting on a plane or train on your travels? Then you might need to head to Lisses, near Paris, for a session of parkour.

You might not know its name, but you've definitely seen parkour in action: That simultaneously crazy yet graceful art of jumping off buildings or climbing up walls made famous by Daniel Craig in the first chase scene of "Casino Royale." Lisses is the town where the whole parkour craze began and word is that on the last weekend of the month, a free training session takes place for novices.

Just meet at the famous Park du Lac--for example, this coming weekend should see some action--but don't forget to check first if your travel insurance will cover a broken leg caused by jumping off a staircase onto a wall.

Related Stories:
· Crazy Travel Experiences [news.com.au]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> amandak 2008-09-22T09:05:31-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/