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Tags: Travel Contests / Fashion Travel / Paris / Paris Travel / → All Tags

YSL Will Send You To Paris For New Years, If You Prove 'Parisienne'

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.

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Tags: Credit Cards / Europe / Technology / France / Travel News / Paris / → All Tags

Did You Want To Use Your Credit Card In Europe? Sorry.

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:

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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.

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This Weekend In the World: Paris Loves Lance Armstrong and Seattle Loves Its Food

· 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."

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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:

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This Weekend in the World: Beer and Tennis Sound Great, Thanks

· Frankfurt: While we may have been talking up Berlin all this week, the weekend belongs to Frankfurt and its Forest Festival, or the Wäldchestag. Running tomorrow through June 2, the outdoor folk fest is a Frankfurt tradition, full of local foods (apple wine!), music and family entertainment. We recommend checking out the crafts market for some of those uniquely hand-carved wooden toys. Find out more information on the fest here.

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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

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This Weekend in the World: Warhols and Face Painting

· Paris: It is pretty much a guarantee that at any moment, in some world city, there is a Warhol exhibition taking place. This spring however, the mother of all Warhol shows is taking place beneath the ethereal dome of the Grand Palais. "Andy's Wide World," on display through July, brings together an incredible 140 of his portraits of society figures, actors, and pop royalty like Mick Jagger, Man Ray, Marilyn Monroe (of course) and Giorgio Armani.

Why go this weekend? Simply because this is just about the mid-point of the exhibition, so here's hoping the crowds will be in a lull and you'll have some Warhol gazing space. Check out the press release to read about the drama behind the portrait of designer Yves Saint Laurent.

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This Weekend in the World: Markets and Museums, Oh My!

· New York City: Can it be true? Is New York finally going to enjoy some 70-degree weather this weekend? Since this spring will find more urbanites with less cash for indulging their al fresco fantasies, we turn to the opening weekend of the outdoor Brooklyn Flea Market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Saturday. From 10am to 5pm on the grounds of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, 200 or so vendors will pitch their tents and hock everything from vintage vinyl and handmade baubles to churros and organic everything. Read all about this weekend's deals and the fun for the rest of the summer at the Brooklyn Flea's website.

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Tags: Events / New York City / Prague / Orlando / Paris / London / → All Tags

Surfing, Drinking and Anarchy On Schedule for Weekend Events Around the World

· Orlando: Technically on Cocoa Beach, the 45th annual Ron Jon Easter Surf Fest is an entire weekend of hanging ten, going shoeless and using words like "cowabunga" and "radical." Kicking off tonight at 8pm with a free al fresco film screening of a surf movie, the festival even includes an Easter egg hunt at 11am tomorrow. Check out the full schedule for info on every awesome event.

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