Ahh, New Years in Paris, what a fantasy trip that would be. Although we got the dream New Years vacation out of the way a few years ago in Venice, it doesn't mean that we can't lust after the combination of fashion and free travel that the new contest from Yves Saint Laurent offers.

Here's the details, for all you wannabe holiday jetsetters: YSL is launching a new fragrance called Parisienne and they've devoted a mini-site to it, complete with a blog of Paris travel tips. To win a trip for two to Paris for New Years, you must also share a story and photos, specifically "about how you have experienced the spirit of Parisienne in your own life." There's also a chance of winning a YSL handbag and Beaute products, but we'll just take the trip thanks. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-22T16:38:42-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/5/12458/8488

As if the cratering dollar wasn't enough of a problem for US tourists, the New York Times reports that even trying to use American credit cards in Europe is getting difficult. The problem is in the so-called chip-and-PIN verification technology that much of the world is adopting as an alternative to magnetic strip cards. Instead of swiping your card you're supposed punch in a personal ID that needs to match the one encoded on the chip. Only problem: US credit cards mostly don't have those chips.

The writeup manages to convey the issue with all the cosmopolitan awareness we've come to expect from the NYT Travel section. They relate the story of a passive-aggressive couple in Paris who—having had their cards rejected by bike kiosks—just walked around sullenly telling no one in particular how would awesome if they could ride a bike. Obnoxious. But that doesn't make the problem any less real:]]> Omri 2009-10-05T13:18:54-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/22/92048/6739

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. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-07-22T13:49:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/17/01322/9316

· Prague
You hit Miami's Art Basel and you've already passed through Venice for the Biennale, but what about swinging through The Czech Republic for even more art, and this time with feeling? Prague is throwing its own Biennale, the fourth annual, and this year brings the largest assemebly of young painters ever—120—who'll bolster the size and reputation of what is already a hugely significant exhibition of Central European art and photography. Find it all this month at Karlin Hall, Thamova 8 in Prague 8, and American are sure to be pleasantly surprised by the event's extra little show of "The Newest New York Young Photographers from the Big Apple." ]]> JetSetCD 2009-07-17T16:34:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/24/92657/3077

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]]]> cmb 2009-06-24T11:02:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/9/11230/64535

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]]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-09T13:07:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/7/235650/7486

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: ]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-08T10:02:08-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/