Off Season Layering – Any Time But Summer in Europe Going back to England to see relatives required two things as a kid. Dealing with cigarette smoke literally everywhere, especially the plane, and lugging a winter coat that we rarely needed back home in Houston. Even a few years ago I brought a big, heavy, stylish wool coat on a memorable February trip to Paris. I wanted to be warm and fashionable. (Yes, we have a white dog). Well I looked nice. And it was heavy and once you go in a warm place you have to wrestle your way out of the coat and are almost immediately boiling and……

Two luxury 5-star small hotels in Paris that are sure to please. A comparison of the Hôtel Grand Powers and Le Damantin in Paris Luxury travel hotel reviews in Paris are often focused on the big hotels like the Bristol and the George V.  Those hotels are great, but we’ve found the best experience to be at Paris’ small luxury hotels. The value for money is just so much better with small luxury hotels in Paris. Today, we look at two of our favorites: Hôtel Grand Powers and Le Damantin. I’ll compare the hotels in 6 categories. Let’s go! Service: Hôtel Grand Powers wins when it comes to service. There…

Paris in winter has a quieter charm: fewer crowds, glowing lights, and cozy cafés offering a warm retreat. Take advantage of this serene season to venture beyond the city on easy day trips. Whether you want to wander medieval streets, savor comforting winter cuisine, or explore festive markets, here are our top five picks: Embrace the Magic of Winter in Paris – Our Top Day Trip Picks 1. Lyon Day Trip Why Go: Discover the culinary soul of France in Lyon—famed for its bouchons (traditional restaurants) and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval districts. Stroll through the secret traboules (covered passageways) in the Old Town for a dash of intrigue and…

by Laura Glendinning England has cheddar, Italy has Parmesan, Holland has Gouda, Greece has Feta and France has Roquefort, Camembert, Brie, Comte, Gruyere, and, well you get the idea.  As Charles de Gaulle once asked “how can you govern a country in which there are 246 kinds of cheese?”  Make that at least 1200 and some say 2000.  You won’t ever taste it all, but you can try! Cheesemaking goes back to the Egyptians, according to some archeologists, and spread throughout the ancient world via trade routes. In Europe, after the fall of the Romans and the descent of the Dark Ages, cheese was considered peasant food at best and…