Bon Voyage
Notes for the savvy traveler PLOT DEVELOPMENT
For garden lovers, BEDS OF LUXURY
• Located on Quai Saint-Michel across from the cathedral, the newly renovated Hôtel Notre Dame is the latest Paris hotel to be given the full-on design treatment by couturier Christian Lacroix. Guestrooms reference the city’s art and history through murals, wall hangings and even trompe l’oeil carpets; many offer stunning views, but even those facing the courtyard have screens that relay live images of the quay. From €230 (free Wi-Fi included); hotelnotredameparis.com. • Comprising 59 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, Le Burgundy—a new hotel in the Madeleine district—combines contemporary and classic décor elements in that deceptively effortless way that seems to come so naturally to Parisians. This deluxe establishment (five stars are The new Burgundy hotel boasts refined pending) also houses a bar and restaurant, contemporary décor. a spa and a swimming pool. From €342; leburgundy.com. • Just a few yards from Cannes’s old town and harbor, the four-star 1835 White Palm Hotel serves up the proverbial luxe, calme et volupté. Eighty percent of the rooms—done up in a palette of soothing neutrals with little pops of color—have ocean views, while Le 360º rooftop bar and restaurant boasts magnificent panoramas. The hotel’s luxurious H20 seawater spa is a destination in itself. From €310; 1835-hotel.com.
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in Chaumont-sur-Loire is truly a growth experience. This year’s theme, “Body and Soul,” explores the therapeutic nature of gardens—both physically and spiritually—through some 20 diverse creations by selected international designers. Fittingly, the jury was headed by French neuroscientist Jean-Pierre Changeux—a biologist by training who has authored
GOOD DEALS
This year’s summer sales run from June 30 through August 3, with savings of up to 70 percent on clothing and accessories. But even if you miss this big event, there are still plenty of bargains to be found: Once limited to two sales annually, French stores can now hold up to two weeks of “mini-sales” throughout the year to help stimulate the economy. • Making Connections The new “Culture Connect” program entitles Eurostar travelers to two-for-one tickets at select museums and galleries. Once you reach your destination, you have five days to take advantage of the offer—just make sure to hold on to your train ticket. Participating Paris venues are the Musée du Quai Branly, the Jeu de Paume, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Cité de la Musique and the Grand Palais. • The Loire for Less There’s good news for those who are planning on working the Loire Valley into their fall trip to France: During five weekends in November and early December, they’ll be able to get half-price at more than 50 hotels, plus coupons for various tourist attractions. A list of participating properties will be available online as of October 12. plusdetouraine.com
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International des Jardins
• Discount Fever
works on art, ethics and philosophy. Through Oct. 17; domaine-chaumont.fr.
christophe bielsa ; Eric Sander
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the innovative Festival
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