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- 7 ways Paris out-techs other cities
- 8 best Istanbul hotels
- China with children: 8 family friendly activities
| 7 ways Paris out-techs other cities Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:00 AM PDT Paris doesn't conjure images of co-working spaces and iPads as much as rustic sidewalk cafés and tattered newspapers, but the city has eagerly implemented technology in recent years. There are apps for everything from 19th-century public drinking fountains to finding the closest pastry shop, and with two fully automated driverless metro lines, free public Wi-Fi in most parks and countless inventive public installations around town, the city is becoming a place where tech start-ups and the geeks that love them can thrive. "Where else can you find a citywide swipe-card bike rental system, as well as a region-wide swipe-card electric car rental system and cellular data access through the subway system?" says Thibaut Thomas, former communications director at the high-tech gallery Gaîté Lyrique. Here's where to go to get a taste of the digital advancements in the City of Light. 1. Nintendo 3DS at the Louvre
Nintendo audio guides, inaugurated last year, help visitors navigate the world's second largest museum while learning about major pieces and more than 700 other works of art in seven languages. For just €5 ($6.50), it's the best way to enjoy the Louvre without a private guide. Musée du Louvre; +33 1 40 20 50 50; open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 9 a.m.-9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; closed Tuesdays 2. LCD floor at Pavillon de l'Arsenal
Visitors can explore the projects by using one of four adjacent touch screen panels. Pavillon de l'Arsenal, 21 Boulevard Morland; +33 1 42 76 33 97; open 10:30 a.m.–6:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays 3. Video game workshops at Gaîté Lyrique Gallery
Even its roots are techie: it used to be theme park dedicated to Inspector Gadget. The gallery is also a stop for international DJs and musicians, such as German techno du Booka Shade and English electro musicians Nathan Fake and Wesley Matsell. The library hosts video game workshops that pair seniors with a youngster who will introduce them to the latest game craze. Gaîté Lyrique Gallery, 3 bis rue Papin; +33 1 53 01 52 00; open 2-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2-6 p.m. on Sundays 4. Apple stores in cool locations
Over by the Opera, the newest Parisian Apple store opened in 2010 in a gorgeous 19th-century building that once housed a bank. The juxtaposition of the building's high ceilings, glass atrium ceiling and wrought iron balconies and the latest Apple products is an apt representation of modern Paris. 12 Rue Halévy, open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wedneday, open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; Carrousel du Louvre, open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; www.apple.com More on CNN: Best of Paris shopping: The street market guide 5. Google's History Galleries at Versailles
Most just follow the tourists in front from room to room without really knowing what they are looking at in Louis XIV's grand estate. Google's Culture Institute stepped in and joined forces with Versailles to renovate the former prince's chambers, creating 11 new rooms dubbed the "History Galleries." Extensive Google Mapping and modeling along with 3D films present a step-by-step history of the chateau from hunting lodge to present-day glory, helping to put the rest of the visit in context. Chateau de Versailles; +33 01 30 83 78 00 6. La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Traveling themed exhibits highlighting topics from da Vinci to "Star Wars" join permanent galleries on energy, health, innovation and transportation issues in the world today. Visitors can also check out the Geode, a plus-sized movie theater showing the latest IMAX and 3D films, the 360-degree planetarium to experience the stars and a 1950s French submarine. La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, 30 Ave. Corentin Cariou; +33 1 40 05 70 00; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays 7. 'The Last Bar Before the End of the World'
Opened in 2012, this bar is, of course, the hangout for lovers of sci-fi, manga and any other category that self-defined geeks can imagine. Dozens of board games are free to play, while three floors feature futuristic and steampunk-inspired décor and restrooms with flatscreens above urinals for nonstop entertainment. Tech geeks will also love Touch'in Paris, where patrons can order food and cocktails directly from their tactile tables. Using interactive Resto-Touch technology, modern French dishes and an array of cocktails are just a tap away. Le Dernier Bar Avant la Fin du Monde, avenue Victoria; +33 1 53 00 98 9519; open 10 a.m.-1 a.m. daily Touch'in Paris, rue Vignon; +33 1 40 06 02 64 20; open 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Saturday More on CNN: 10 best French restaurants in Paris      |
| Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:01 PM PDT In Istanbul, you're never stuck for something to do, see, eat or drink -- no matter what time of the night or day it is. But even the most energetic travelers need somewhere to take a breather. In a city packed with more hotels than you could visit in a lifetime, finding the best isn't easy. But these eight -- ranging from five-star palaces to quirky boutique retreats -- are arguably the best the city has to offer. Pera Palace Hotel
If you're an Agatha Christie fan looking for luxury and 19th-century grandeur, the Pera Palace Hotel is home. Re-opened three years ago following a €23 million renovation, the hotel was originally opened in 1892 to cater to passengers who arrived in Istanbul on the Orient Express. With 115 rooms (including 16 suites), a spa, Agatha Restaurant, tea lounge, patisserie and views over the Golden Horn, the hotel is a two-minute walk from the city's main thoroughfare, Istikal Caddesi. Pera Palace Hotel, 52 Mesrutiyet Caddesi, Tepebasi, Beyoglu; +90 212 377 4000; from €160 (US$210) per night W Istanbul
In a hipster neighborhood, the W Istanbul occupies one of the attractive Akaretler Row Houses, which were built in a distinctly Western style in the 1870s. Here you'll find 20- and 30-something hipsters taking advantage of free Wi-Fi in the lobby lounge, Sip, and downing cocktails before dinner at one of the many area restaurants. A short taxi ride (depending on the unpredictable traffic) from Istanbul's major sites, the W Istanbul is the focal point of a quiet and very European neighborhood. W Istanbul, 22 Suleyman Seba Caddesi, Akaretler, Besiktas; +90 212 381 2199; from €180per night (US$235) More on CNN: World's 15 most expensive hotel suites Georges Hotel Galata
Forget shabby chic. This 20-room boutique property with its high ceilings and exposed brick entry located on a cobbled alleyway is just plain chic. Several of the rooms have balconies offering Bosphorus views and guests can enjoy in-room yoga sessions and massage. From the terrace of the hotel's French restaurant, Le Fumoir, you get uninterrupted views of the historical sites of Sultanahmet. The hotel is a short walk from the Galata Tower. Georges Hotel Galata, 24 Serdar-I Ekrem Sokak, Galata, Beyoglu; +90 212 244 2423; from €135 (US$175) per night The Istanbul Edition
Trekking the streets of Istanbul can be tough on the feet. With its color palette of light and dark woods, grays and golds, the Istanbul Edition is designed to help you rest and recover from your exertions. A 15-story tower in the upscale Levent district, near luxury shopping malls, the property has 78 rooms, including a full floor penthouse suite, three-story ESPA spa, Cipriani restaurant, Gold Bar, nightclub and a screening room. The Istanbul Edition is ideal for the visitor who has seen the sites and simply wants to enjoy the city's many pleasures, from eating and drinking to shopping and nightlife. The Istanbul Edition, 136 Buyukdere Caddesi, Levent; +90 212 317 7710; from €195 (US$255) per night More on CNN: Meet the boss of the world's most luxurious hotel Ciragan Palace Hotel
A former Ottoman palace built by Sultan Abdulaziz, the five-star Ciragan Palace Hotel has lost none of its regal opulence. The Sultan's Suite is one of the most expensive in the world. Guests staying in any of the 11 Palace Suites can arrive by private helicopter to be greeted by their own butler. On the shores of the Bosphorus, located between the quiet neighborhoods of Besiktas and Ortakoy, just a 10-minute taxi from Taksim Square, the property isn't just for the super rich. There are a number of marginally cheaper but only moderately less luxurious rooms, many with views over the Bosphorus. Ciragan Palace Hotel, 32 Ciragan Caddesi, Besiktas; +90 212 326 4646; from €570 (US$740) per night Hotel Ibrahim Pasha
The selling point of the Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is its location in Sultanahmet -- the historic area of the city where most of Istanbul's tourist sites are located. On a peaceful side street, the boutique property puts you in the heart of the action while providing a cozy escape from the tourist hubbub nearby. The four-story hotel, a combination of two turn of the century houses, operates a strict no-smoking policy. The guest-only rooftop terrace bar offers fantastic views of the Blue Mosque. In winter, you can warm yourself in front of one of the lobby fireplaces. Hotel Ibrahim Pasha, 7 Terzihane Sok, Sultanahmet; +90 212 518 0394; from €120 (US$155) per night More on CNN: Insider Guide: Best of Istanbul Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul
Four Seasons operates two properties in Istanbul. The Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet is ideal if you want to be close to the city's major tourist sites In the calm but centrally located neighborhood of Besiktas, however, the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus steals the show. A converted Ottoman palace just meters from the shore of the Bosphorus, the hotel has everything you'd expect from a luxury property, from a fine dining Mediterranean restaurant to a spa and indoor and outdoor pools. With 24-hour babysitting services, a child-friendly attitude and everything a parent could require from strollers to cribs, it's perfect for a relaxing family holiday. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, 28 Ciragan Caddesi, Besiktas; +90 212 381 4000; from €370 (US$480) The House Hotel Nisantasi
The House Hotel Group is an extension of the popular chain of excellent House Cafes that frequent visitors may have enjoyed across the city. This 44-room boutique property -- one of three House Hotels in Istanbul -- has a faultlessly contemporary design. The affluent district of Nisantasi is famed as the home of Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, and for providing the setting for many of his best-selling novels. It's also home to Istanbul's most expensive shopping street, Abdi Ipekci Caddesi, and most of the city's designer stores, as well as a vibrant night life. The House Hotel at Nisantasi, 34 Adbi Ipekci Caddesi, Nisantasi; +90 212 224 5999; from €169 (US$220) per night More on CNN: 6 insanely opulent hotels in the Mideast    |
| China with children: 8 family friendly activities Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:43 PM PDT For some travelers, visiting China with children is a non-issue. Their kids are curious about the world. Eager to try new things. They don't complain, not even during four-hour guided tours of Beijing's Forbidden City or visits to the Shanghai Museum to gaze at historic Ming vases. We're just kidding. Children like that don't exist. Here's a list of kid-friendly destinations and activities to try in China that will delight even the hardest to please teenager. 1. Great Wall joy ride
Standing atop the Great Wall is one of those amazing travel experiences that needs no gimmicks attached. In theory. But for kids who are especially hard to impress, the Mutianyu section of the Wall has a 723-meter-long ski lift to the top (640 meters above sea level) and a toboggan ride down to the valley via a 1,580-meter track. Mutianyu is about 75 kilometers northeast of central Beijing. Great Wall admission: RMB45 ($7.20) for adults, RMB25 for children 12 and under. Round-trip ski lift/toboggan ticket: RMB80; open April-October 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; November-March 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. More on CNN: Beijing's big 4 sites: The ultimate weekend guide 2. Panda cuddle
For animal lovers, Chengdu is the place to hit with children. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has been raising the country's biggest stars since 1987. Visitors can see the animals in a park-like setting or pay RMB700 ($113) to be an intern for a day, feeding the pandas and scooping up their poop. For anyone who has dreamed of hugging a panda, this is the chance. For RMB1,300 ($210), you can don gloves and a gown and briefly hold one in your arms. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Bei Xiongmao Da Dao, Chengdu, Sichuan; +86 28 8350 7814; open daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission RMB58 ($9). www.panda.org.cn More on CNN: 'One panda is worth 10 of our lives' 3. Princess makeover
At Disney World, parents can spend $189 to have their daughters dress up as princesses, get their makeup done and take part in a photo shoot. Tourists in Tongli, a canal town outside Suzhou, can pay just RMB10 (about $1.60) for a slightly less VIP experience. Girls are lent silk embroidered gowns, have flowers pinned in their hair and pose for a photographer in an ancient courtyard. Boys can dress up as mini-emperors. Similar rent-a-costume stands exist throughout China for children -- and adults -- in popular tourist spots. Tongli is about 18 kilometers southeast of Suzhou and 80 kilometers west of Shanghai. Shanghai Tourism Distribution Center (2409 Zhongshan Nan Er Lu) organizes day trips to Tongli for RMB130; +86 21 5351 4830 More on CNN: 6 tips for traveling with kids in China 4. Scorpions on a skewer
If you're in China with children and looking for a quick source of entertainment, new food could be the answer. In Beijing, you can hit Wangfujing Snack Street and take photos of all the funny food you can't get at home, such as scorpions, centipedes and even weirder fare like sea horses. Australian Lynette MacDonald, managing editor of Shanghai Family magazine and mother of two boys aged eight and 12, says she remembers taking her kids here and hearing a vendor call out, in English, "Have you ever eaten sheep's penis?" The market also serves dumplings, steamed buns and fried noodles, which MacDonald says are tasty and prepared fresh in front of diners. Beijing's Wangfujing Snack Street, Dong'anmen Dajie, at the north end of Wangfujing; open daily 5:30-10:30 p.m. More on CNN: Bugging out: 5 extreme foods at Beijing's night market 5. Chinese superheroes in action
Chinese acrobats are akin to living superheroes -- they usually do their stunts without ropes or nets. Both Shanghai and Beijing have affordable shows that will amaze even hard-to-impress teens. Shanghai's main show, "Era, Intersection of Time," has live music, artistry and polish, while its Beijing counterpart has cheesier costumes and crazier stunts. Both shows run no longer than 90 minutes. Both culminate with motorcyclists zigzagging upside-down and all-around inside an on-stage globe. Even the cheap seats are good. Era, Intersection of Time, 2266 Gonghe Xin Lu, near Guangzhong Xi Lu, Shanghai; +86 1 6652 5468; daily 7:30 p.m.; tickets from RMB 190-590; www.era-shanghai.com/era/en/ Beijing's Chaoyang Theater Acrobatics Show, 36 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing; +86 10 6507 2421; shows daily at 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; tickets from RMB 280-880. www.bjcyjc.com More on CNN: Joyland is China's 'Disneyland' for the digital era 6. Yangshuo float
Yangshuo County in southeastern China has long inspired artists with its tranquil river scenes and otherworldly rock formations. If you're in China with children, you can make the excursion more lively by renting water guns and cruising down a bamboo raft on the river, squirting people in other boats. Yangshuo offers plenty of opportunities to burn off kids' energy. They can bike through rice paddies, explore caves, go rock climbing or take a mud bath. Most travelers reach Yangshuo from Guilin. Buses bound for Yangshuo leave every 15 minutes from Guilin Bus Station on Zhongshan Lu and Guilin South Railway Station. The journey takes around 90 minutes and the fare is about RMB 15 per person. Yangshuo County; yangshuotour.com More on CNN: 40 beautiful places to visit in China 7. Kung fu class
Travelers heading to Beijing with kids can check out The Hutong, a cultural exchange center that offers classes and outings geared toward older children and teenagers. Families can make hand-pulled noodles together, tour a food market or join a theatrical walking tour in which historical characters pop out of the landscape and interact with visitors. For RMB625 ($100), The Hutong can also set kids up with a private 90-minute lesson with a kung fu master who trained at Shaolin Temple. The Hutong, 1 Jiu Dao Wan Zhong Xiang Hutong, Beijing; +86 159 0104 6127; www.thehutong.com More on CNN: Video guide to Beijing's best street foods 8. Kite flyingFamilies visiting China's big cities will likely need a break from the noise, concrete and traffic. Parks are a great place to let children run around without worrying about cars. Small kids will easily make friends, giving parents an opportunity to meet local families. In Shanghai's Fuxing Park, families can picnic, fly kites or ride on retro carnival equipment. Adults won't be bored either. The people-watching opportunities are endless but our favorites are the retirees, who can be found ballroom dancing or slapping themselves (it's good for circulation) as they stroll. Fuxing Park, 516 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu, Shanghai; +86 21 6372 0662; April 1-June 30, 5 a.m.-6 p.m.; July 1-September 30, 5 a.m.-7 p.m.; October 1-March 31, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; open daily, free admission Have you visited China with children? Share your travel tips in the comments box below.    |
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