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Air Asia / Air Asia X / LCCs / Budget Travel / Nicolas Sarkozy / New Routes / → All Tags

Sarkozy Approves Air Asia X's Low-Cost Flights To Paris

Go get 'em low-cost carrier Air Asia X is taking another step towards world domination—well, their words were "global expansion"—with the big announcement that they have now received approval to start up cheap long-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to Paris.

None other than French president Nicolas Sarkozy himself informed Malaysian Prime Minister Razak this week that Air Asia X would be allowed to land at the Orly Airport in Paris. Air Asia X hasn't yet made more details public; we're in the dark on how soon this service will start, and what it will cost, but they launched their Kuala Lumpur to London service earlier this year, and you can grab those flights for around $250 one way.

We figure it's only reasonable to guess that the Paris version won't be too different. These low-cost long-hauls are certainly giving us ideas for some amazing budget around-the-world trips—we might go start loading up our backpacks while Air Asia decides on Paris airfares.

Related Stories:
· Air Asia To Start Paris Flights [AFP]
· Air Asia X Wants to Long-Haul You From New York and California [Jaunted]
· Air Asia X Launches Low-Cost, Long-Haul Service [Jaunted]

[Photo: Deanster1983]

Lawsuits / Nicolas Sarkozy / Carla Bruni / → All Tags

Sarkozy Postpones Hot Wife Travel To Search For Sense Of Humor

Globe trotter and French President Nicolas Sarkozy needs to lighten up. Between Hillary Clinton “nutcrackers” and dozens of books quoting the idiocy of George W. Bush, politicians in countries with freedom of speech are subject to mockery and the entrepreneurs who cash in on it.

That’s why a French judge yesterday rejected Sarkozy’s lawsuit against a company selling a voodoo doll featuring some of his most derided lines. His lawyer claimed he had absolute rights to his own image, but the judge ruled the doll was "within the authorized limits of free expression and the right to humor."

The company also made a similar doll mocking Sarkozy’s former presidential opponent, Ségolène Royal, who decided not to sue because, she says, “I have a sense of humor.” The French have a word for this dig: Touché.

Related Stories:
· Sarkozy Loses "Voodoo Doll" Case [BBC]
· Vacation Altercation: French President Jumps Aboard Photog's Boat [Jaunted]

[Photo: Daily Mail]

Europe Travel / Summer Travel / President Bush / Nicolas Sarkozy / Pope Benedict XVI / Silvio Berlusconi / President-Bush-European-Vacation-Map / → All Tags

Pricey Euro Not Bothering President Bush

It may cost $1.55 to buy a euro, but President Bush is still enjoying high season in Europe. The commander in chief has been on a whirlwind tour of the Continent since June 9, making stops from Slovenia to the UK.

Bush started his tour in Slovenia, which he once confused with Slovakia. After hobnobbing with European Union officials, he left for Germany to chat with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Later he flew to Italy for a two-stop meeting: After talking with Silvio Berlusconi, Bush skipped over to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

Later, after breakfast in Paris, the president crossed the Channel to the UK. His last stop was in Belfast, where he presumably changed his pounds back into dollars--and started planning his next trip to a place where the greenback is stronger.

Check the route on our President Bush European Vacation Map.

Related Stories:
· Bush Soaks in Europe as Only a President Can [AP]
· President Bush coverage [Jaunted]
· Europe Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The White House]

Airbus / Nicolas Sarkozy / → All Tags

Sarkozy Gets a Used "Air Force Un"

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had an embarrassing plane related mishap last year, and now, he's getting a new ride--sort of. France is upgrading its thirty year-old Presidential fleet, but according to the newspaper Liberation, Sarko's new plane, an Airbus A330, will be bought used.

Sarkozy might be ashamed flying around in a pre-owned plane, but it'll definitely be better than his old jet. Up until now, Sarkozy's been doing his traveling in a short-haul Airbus A319.

On his first official trip to China last year, Sarkozy's Airbus had to stop for refueling in Siberia while journalists covering his voyage enjoyed a non-stop journey. Quel dommage!

Related Stories:
· France Upgrades Presidential Aircraft [NYT]
· Nicolas Sarkozy coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of A330: caribb]

UNESCO / World Heritage Sites / Nicolas Sarkozy / Food Travel / → All Tags

La Tour d'Argent, UNESCO Site?

Between playboy and presidential duties, Nicolas Sarkozy is lobbying to get French cuisine UNESCO World Heritage status. Don't laugh, it is possible. In addition to sites of stunning human achievement and culture, the list, started in 1972, also includes United Nations-protected oral traditions, performance art, traditional crafts and social practices.

True to form, some French feel that escargot isn't on par with Machu Picchu: It's better.

Now up to 851, the list includes not only Mont-Saint-Michel and, for that matter, Venice but also lesser-known sites from Butrint in Albania to the Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe. Not all the French were thrilled at the thought of having their cuisine co-listed with parts of the Congo basin or an ancient church in Finland.

Related Stories:
· Does French Cuisine Deserve UN Status? [IHT]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Éole]

Nicolas Sarkozy / Carla Bruni / Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz / Destination Weddings / Wedding Travel / → All Tags

Destination Weddings: Sarko's Ex-Wife Gets in on the Trend

Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz, the ex-wife of Nicolas Sarkozy isn't letting him have all the re-marrying fun. She's getting hitched to her lover Richard Attias in New York later this month. (The two previously had a year-long affair in 2005.)

The news was leaked by Versace, which is proud to brag that it's the label of choice for the wedding party. Rumor has it the pair will keep the luxe life up after the nuptials: They were spotted checking out a pad at the recently-renovated Plaza hotel across from Central Park.

Central Park? If they wanna top the globe-trotting Sarko--and his new wife, Carla Bruni--they're gonna need to go further afield than that.

Related Stories:
· Sarkozy's Ex to Re-Marry in New York [AFP, via Google]
· Cecilia Weds for "Revenge" [Page Six]
· Encore, Sarko and Bruni [Jaunted]
· Sarko and Carla Acting American in Paris [Jaunted]

[Photo: Daily Mail]

Nicolas Sarkozy / Carla Bruni / Ryanair / Centralwings / Wizz Air / BVA / Low Cost Carriers / LCCs / → All Tags

Told You So Travel: Ryanair Ready for Sarko-Bruni Honeymoon

After a globe-trotting whirlwind romance, Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni got hitched in Paris this weekend. And though they spent their wedding night at the Palace of Versailles, they could do much better to keep up their Super World Traveler status.

Ryanair, the airline the couple sued over a witty ad, has lots of departures from Paris. What better way to put a ridiculous lawsuit to rest than snagging a super-cheap seat on the low cost carrier?

Flights leave Paris Beauvais airport--which is about 50 miles north of the city--for Stockholm, Rome, Dublin and Valencia among other spots. Sarko hardly seems like the romantic type, but what bride wouldn't love a trip to Venice? And if the duo isn't ready to put the feud with Ryanair behind them, no worries: Beauvais is also served by Wizz Air and Centralwings.

Related Stories:
· Sarkozy Marries Royally with Versailles Wedding Night [Guardian]
· Encore, Sarko and Bruni [Jaunted]
· Ryanair coverage [Jaunted]

Ryanair / Travel Advertising / Nicolas Sarkozy / Carla Bruni / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Encore, Sarko and Bruni

The European press can't spill enough ink over Nicolas Sarkozy and his paramour Carla Bruni, who've been traveling up a storm lately. (They've been spotted at both Disneyland Paris and touring Egypt's pyramids.) But the latest jab at their whirlwind romance has Sarko tres irrité.

Ryanair, which isn't known for its subtlety, used a photo of the couple in an ad in today's issue of Le Parisien. The thought bubble above Bruni says:

With Ryanair, my whole family can come to my wedding.

That may be--as long as her relatives don't want to check bags--but the French president didn't appreciate the joke. Ryanair's apologized, but Sarko plans to sue the airline for "improper use of the president's image."

Related Stories:
· A Ryanair Ad Provokes the Ire of the Elysee [Le Figaro, in French]
· Sarkozy to Sue Airline over Advert [AP, via CNN]
· Sarkozy Fails to See Ryanair Joke [Press Association]
· Sarkozy Threatens Suit Against Ryanair [Telegraph]
· Ryanair coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Le Figaro]

Nicolas Sarkozy / Carla Bruni / Disney / Disneyland / Christmas / Theme Parks / → All Tags

Sarko (and Carla): Acting American In Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy just divorced his wife two months ago--but that isn't stopping him from enjoying Disneyland Paris without a lovely companion. Sarko was spotted at the theme park, just outside the city, with Carla Bruni, a former model and present-day singer-songwriter who's been linked to Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

The pair were on hand to take in Euro Disney's Christmas Parade, which continues until January 6. Also on tap for Christmas at the park is Mickey's Winter Wonderland, a kid-friendly musical production, and Belle's Christmas Village, a Disney-approved holiday fair like the ones you find throughout Europe.

Oh, and unlike Sarkozy, Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year!

Related Stories:
· Disneyland Paris [Official Site]
· Nicolas Sarkozy coverage [Jaunted]
· France Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: AP Photo/Francois Mori]

Nicolas Sarkozy / Muammar al-Gaddafi / Travel News / Paris Travel / → All Tags

Paris Travel: Where Is Al-Gaddafi's Bedouin Tent?

Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi is in Paris this week, meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy and seeing the city for the first time in more than three decades. The newly diplomatic dictator is sealing arms deals and taking care of other business while in town, and is also making time for visits to Paris' banlieues and Versailles.

The most interesting part of the visit, at least to us, is the Bedouin tent that Gaddafi's had set up on the lawn of the Hotel de Marigny, across the street from the Elysee Palace. The heated shelter is a far cry from the grubby tent you have stashed in the garage, and the Libyan leader takes it everywhere. It's unclear whether he'll actually sleep in the tent, though it's probably warmer than most Parisian hotel rooms.

If the visit goes well, we can imagine Sarko returning the favor with a trip down to Libya. The country is on top of the travel trends (it's going green!) and we'd guess it has fewer paparazzi than New Hampshire.

Related Stories:
· Gaddafi Arrives, Tent and All, in Paris [NYT]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]