Art du Voyage
Travel Notes

Jan.-Feb. 2007

 

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Free nights in Paris

 


Springtime
in Amsterdam

Keukenhof garden
There is no better time than spring to visit Amsterdam. After a cold and icy Northern European winter, the city bustles with the promise of new life. The weather is crisp and clear and locals and tourists alike are tempted to take the long way home. Who can blame them? Amsterdam is one of the oldest and most pedestrian-friendly cities in the world. The city is spellbinding and best enjoyed at the gentle pace of a slow walk or cruise on a rented bicycle.
Amsterdam canals
17th century houses perch above quiet canals over which small bridges stretch to join narrow cobblestone streets and alleys. Not to be missed are the legendary flowers which splash the city with color every spring (daffodils in April, tulips in May). American visitors can even purchase their own bulbs at the famous Floating Market and be reminded every year of an unforgettable

Impressions of Amsterdam



Valentine's in Paris

Romance
This Valentine’s Day take the hand of the one you love and set out to explore the City of Lights. Take a quiet stroll along the banks of the Seine, be dazzled by the shimmering lights of the Eiffel Tower, and lose yourselves in the romance of Paris. At night, make your way to the Hotel du Crillon for a once in a lifetime dinner. Every Valentine’s Day, this world-famous hotel opens its private dining rooms to the public for a feast with a remarkable view.
Le Crillon private dining rooms
From their tables overlooking Place de La Concorde, guests can see more of the city’s monuments than most tourists see in a day. But the real treat is dinner itself, specially prepared by an extraordinary team of experts under the direction of Jean-Francois Piège, just named Paris Chef of the Year by the prestigious food guide Gault Millau. From the first tickle of champagne, you will know that this is a Valentine’s to remember.



What's cooking?

What better souvenir to bring home with you than the secrets of French cuisine. A cooking class can transform a normal vacation into an unforgettable cultural experience. The class begins with a guided walking tour of the local market where the day’s ingredients are handpicked. Then it’s back to the kitchen where a bilingual professional chef shows you the little-known techniques that make French cuisine easy to recreate at home. Be sure to take lots of pictures of your culinary masterpiece, because when the hard work is done, it’s time to sit down to your three-course meal.
Paule Caillat
Learning to be a French cook is easy, choosing your destination is the hard part. In the heart of Paris, Paule Caillat of Promenades Gourmandes will welcome you into her personal kitchen and offer you an amazing experience complete with cheese tasting and a visit to local bread and wine artisans.
Cooking class at La Mirande
Looking for a more rural experience? Travel south to Provence and the Marmiton cooking school at La Mirande, where the traditional wood stove is fired up with oak three hours before the class begins. Here you can choose from a wide variety of classes, including the very special Truffle Weekend, when you set off into the Vaucluse mountains with local guides and dogs to find the elusive “Black Gold.” The next day is dedicated to a special class about cooking truffles, followed by a lunch where your efforts will definitely be rewarded.

www.promenadesgourmandes.com
www.la-mirande.fr




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Alpine Paradise

Imagine standing on an alpine peak with Italy to your left, Switzerland to your right and 385 miles of skiing heaven laid out beneath you. With over 185 lifts in a network of trails three times larger than the biggest American resorts, it’s easy to see why Courchevel is considered the premiere winter resort of Europe… if not the world.
The Three Valleys
With that much territory to offer, it doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or a double-diamond pro. There’s plenty of room for everyone and plenty of assistance too. Courchevel is home to Europe’s biggest ski school with 500 instructors and mountain guides ready to show you the slopes. On a routine day you can ski or board down one mountain, cruise down a second (stopping for lunch on the sundeck of an on-mountain restaurant) and coast contentedly down a third.
But the charm of the Three Valleys doesn’t end on the slopes. It was, after all, the French who invented après-ski and in the Alps eating is as important as skiing. For the gourmand, there is the 2-star Michelin restaurant, Le Chabichou (see feature below). as well as a host of exceptional traditional Savoyard restaurants. After dinner enjoy a stroll past the skating rink, see what’s playing at the resort’s three cinemas, or buy a little something special at one of the 150 shops that call Courchevel home. When the living is this good, you’ll want to call it home too.

Courchevel resort website


Le Lana in Courchevel

Hotel Le Lana
For those who want to be at the center of it all, there’s no better hotel than Le Lana. Originally built in 1958, it was the first hotel built specifically for the Courchevel resort. Today it is a 4-star luxury hotel with direct access to the slopes. With a terrific central location, it is the ideal accommodation for the winter sports enthusiast or for those hoping to explore the town (and shops) of Courchevel. Room with a viewIts 57 rooms have views of snow covered mountains. Each of the hotel’s luxurious 19 suites includes a Jacuzzi (essential after a hard day on the mountain) and a view of the slopes. With a location this good, families can rest assured that everyone will be on time for dinner, as they can watch them coast down the mountain at the end of the day. And dinner at the gourmet Saint Nicolas is definitely not to be missed. In a land where one can easily ski 60 miles in one day, comfort is key and the onsite Spa Lana offers every service necessary to soothe your body and mind and get you ready for the next day.

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Le Chabichou in Courchevel

Hotel Le Chabichou
For those seeking the good life, Le Chabichou is the place to stay. Just a stone’s throw from the ski runs, its wooden gingerbread décor give it a homey, intimate ambience, but there is no denying that this is a luxury hotel. It’s a true ski-in/ski-out hotel and passes, skis and boards can be purchased or rented directly from the hotel.
Lounch
Along with its superb location, charm, and comfort, the shining beacon of this hotel is Michel Rochedy’s two-Michelin-star restaurant which offers the best of traditional Savoyard cuisine with just a pinch of the exotic. For those who want to make their gustatory experience just a little more unforgettable, Rochedy offers cooking classes every Thursday morning.

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Le Saint Joseph in Courchevel

Hotel Le Saint Joseph
Within the ambience of a luxurious country house, guests of Le Saint Joseph have four-star luxury service at their disposal every moment of the day. Its eleven rooms and three apartments each have their own individual style, with fabrics, paintings and antiques that have been hand-picked from the best of Paris, Lyon and Naples. Guests seeking a cozy and relaxed atmosphere might prefer the rooms “under the roofs” which have an atmosphere reminiscent of a family home and bathrooms in “the old style”. A stay in the Directoire Suite is a dream. Its shimmering red and gold fabrics harmonize perfectly with its super soft sofas, an immense canopied bed and polished floors. For large groups, two duplex apartments are available, with four bedrooms each, as well as saunas, Jacuzzis and private entrance and exit direct to the street. BedroomThe gourmet restaurant, “Le Hussard”, is the perfect place to warm yourself with a hot chocolate on your return from skiing or to savor a delicious dinner. Guests looking for a change from the traditional can try the hotel’s second restaurant, The Grand Café, featuring exceptional Thai Cuisine, before heading back out to the hustle and bustle of Courchevel, is a dream. Its shimmering red and gold fabrics harmonize perfectly with its super soft sofas, an immense canopied bed and polished floors. For large groups, two duplex apartments are available, with four bedrooms each, as well as saunas, Jacuzzis and private entrance and exit direct to the street. The gourmet restaurant, “Le Hussard”, is the perfect place to warm yourself with a hot chocolate on your return from skiing or to savor a delicious dinner. Guests looking for a change from the traditional can try the hotel’s second restaurant, The Grand Café, featuring exceptional Thai Cuisine, before heading back out to the hustle and bustle of Courchevel.



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©2007 Art du Voyage