Farther South of France

These moves come as overall tourism to Morocco continues to grow. The improvements to these small towns give travelers on vacation a chance to take sidetrips to places that have a more laid-back pace than popular Fez and Marrakesh.
But there are some drawbacks. Casablanca has been hit by terrorist bombings, including several this year. And as Morocco is a Muslim country, alcohol can be restricted in some places -- something to which wine-loving Europeans need to adapt when dining out.

Hotel Le Parc Joins Marriott International’s Renaissance Brand Portfolio in Paris

Almost a century-old, the Le Parc Hotel was formed by the merging of two main buildings and annexes. The first, at 55/57 Avenue Raymond Poincare, was built in 1912 and immediately became the residence of choice for the elite of Parisien society of the time. The second, the Hotel Particulier at Number 59, former residence of Alfred Nobel, is older, having been rebuilt in 1910 in the Art Nouveau style by architects Charles Letrosne and Camille Garnier, and holds a partial listing in the listings of French historical monuments. Its lush garden at the rear of the hotel is surrounded by buildings that previously housed the bronze and glassware workshops of the famous jeweler Bagues.

The stones of Paris

They no longer know Paris who only Paris know. To see fine buildings made from the warm, elusive, cream-grey stone of the French capital, you once went to the Louvre, or to the Invalides or to the Place de la Concorde. Now, to contemplate the glories of "Paris stone", you can also visit Los Angeles or Las Vegas, Kuwait, Knightsbridge or Marlow in Buckinghamshire. The stone which illuminates the "city of light" is rolling around the world. "Paris stone", which actually comes from a half-dozen limestone quarries in the Oise, 25 miles north of Paris, has become an architectural fashion accessory for the wealthy and famous. Its cheaper varieties are also much in demand in Britain, where they compete success-fully with local stone as a versatile, and economical, building material.

Lufthansa creates Frankfurt-Bordeaux link

Lovers of wine and European culture alike have received a boost to their travel prospects with the news that Lufthansa is commencing services between Frankfurt and Bordeaux this year. The German carrier will introduce a thrice-daily service between the two cities on 28 October this year as part of its winter timetable.
This is the latest addition to Lufthansa's extensive network to France, with Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Mulhouse, Nice and Toulouse already served by the airline.

A Paris city break for a wheelchair user

It’s my mother’s 80th birthday next year and I’d like to take her on a European city break to celebrate, such as Paris, Rome or Florence. She is confined to a wheelchair with Parkinson’s so I need a mode of transport and a hotel that will be easy to access. Can you wheel someone onto the Eurostar to Paris in a wheelchair? And which hotels are a) central and b) wheelchair friendly, also with disabled bathroom facilities? What would you recommend?

Paris: Chic ways to get there

Fares vary depending on the season and the airline. In the high season, from mid-May through August and December to mid-January, airfares are about $200 to $400 higher than in the low season (from mid-January through February, and October to mid-November).
To get the best deals, shop around and compare prices. Garuda currently offers low-season flights from $1800, while most Asian airlines' Paris fares fall into the $2000 to $2400 bracket and include a side trip within Europe.

New rail link slashes London-Paris travel time

Eurostar's new rail link between Paris and London was launched yesterday and completed its run in two hours, three minutes and 39 seconds. This is a record timing for a Channel Tunnel rail link, brought about the introduction of a new line from St Pancras International following its renovation. Yesterday's launch was carried out in the company of invited guests, dignitaries and journalists, although the service is set to open to the public later this year.

France loses perch as top tourist spot

After years of grunts directed at foreign visitors, the French have come up with at least two initiatives that could improve their reputation. The first is a rugby glossary, Oui Je Parle Rugby, published last month by the Foreign Ministry. The second, more audacious, is Meeting the French, an agency which arranges for tourists to be invited to dinner in French homes. The preliminary tourism figures for July, published last week, showed a sharp decline in bookings in northern France and a rash of cancellations or early departures on campsites in Brittany and Normandy.

The bridge is the Millau Viaduct in the South of France

We had come to this part of the French Aveyron (considered a crossroads of southwest France, Languedoc and the Massif Central) not for the countryside of high sheep-farming plateaus and vibrant green valleys, not for the dramatic mountain gorges, not for the medieval chateaux, not even for one of the world's most famous cheeses. We had come for the bridge.