Hôtel de Varenne: Spacious and Tranquil
It's an exceptionally mild autumn evening on rue de Bourgogne. On this quiet, residential street at #54, thirty-odd years ago my family rented an apartment for the summer. It was my first experience of France, one that would resonate for years, until about six years ago when I returned, met the Frenchman I would marry and took up residence for several years.
The three-star Hôtel De Varenne is only a few paces from #54. Formerly a private mansion transmuted in the early part of the 19th century into a pension, it was renovated in 2008 into a very charming, typical little French hotel. Despite its nearby stellar attractions-- Le Musée Rodin is around the corner and Hôtel des Invalides a few minutes away, tourists don't often pass by this neighborhood, which gives rue de Bourgogne its steady bourgeois ambiance of calm predictability; for me, a welcome respite from the shoppers bazaar Paris becomes during the holiday season.
You enter into a stone courtyard, with its urns of plants, then through a small door to a reception area. There, Monsieur Pommier, the manager, will greet you. He says about 85% of his guests are Americans "because we have very spacious rooms and this is not usual for Paris." The elevator is teeny, which I adore, but the rooms indeed spacious. From some you can see the tip of the Eiffel Tower, a few have a balcony where you can take breakfast.
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An open letter to our Where To Go Next subscribers
Almost a decade ago we began publishing Where To Go Next, this travel e-newsletter for avid travelers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. At the same time, we launched WhereToGoNext.com, a website dedicated to news and features on all things travel.
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Now, nine years later, we have decided to focus more of our energies on another of our travel companies, Provence Escapes, small-group week-long personally guided tours in France.
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Accommodations
Recognized as the 2012 Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year and host hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, New York's Hotel Pennsylvania is preparing to welcome all canine hopefuls participating in the 2013 event. As in previous years, the Hotel will host a majority of the Westminster Dog Show contestants in New York. | More...
Fodor's, the leading name in travel guides for over 75 years, today announced that Kimpton's top-rated Miami flagship hotel, EPIC Hotel, has been recognized as a 2012 Fodor's Choice selection. This notable distinction designates the hotel as a leader in its category for service, quality and value in 2012. | More...
Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines will expand capacity on the West Coast with the introduction of year-round three and four-day cruises on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination from Long Beach, Calif., beginning January 26, 2014. The move will bring the total number of Carnival ships operating from Long Beach to three and further solidify the line's position as Southern California's largest cruise operator. | More...
Destinations
Two renowned American writers who live in Key West are to display their talent for visual art during a Jan. 12-20 exhibit at The Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene St. in the island's Historic Seaport district. | More...
Events
Food and wine enthusiasts can savor sunshine, stellar cuisine and superior vintages during the fourth annual Key West Food and Wine Festival, set for Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 24-27. Scheduled events showcase local chefs' culinary flair, indigenous Florida Keys ingredients, premium wines from around the world and food-related adventures including tasting strolls in unique Key West neighborhoods. | More...
Recreation
Salish Cliffs Golf Club at Little Creek Casino Resort - located a scenic, convenient drive from Olympia and Seattle - has again been honored by a national publication, this time garnering Top-10 status in Golfweek magazine's 2012 "Best Casino Courses" list. | More...
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Cruise News
Cruise Tips from Cruise Advisor Editor Ralph Grizzle
Traveling some 300 days a year, mostly at sea, Ralph Grizzle has sailed on over 100 ships everywhere from the rivers of Europe to the Panama Canal. He took time out between adventures to share his experiences and expertise with Signature Travel Network's The Travel Magazine.
What convinced you to focus your career on cruise travel?
One of my first cruises was in the early 1990s on the Royal Viking Queen. You can imagine what it was like to have gone from being someone who had backpacked and bicycled the world to traveling in six-star style. | More...
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