World TravellerGuide to travelling the world

With some of the most famous monuments in the world, Paris is visited by millions of tourists every year. Iconic places such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and the Louvre are huge tourist attractions but there are also many hidden gems that are not in any of the guide books. Many of these sites are located away from the main tourist areas and Paris hotels, but they are well-worth travelling a little further afield to see.

Paris is world-renowned for its fine wine so Le Musee du Vin is a great place to learn more about everyone’s favourite tipple. Showcasing the techniques involved in French winemaking, the museum opened in 1984 and is also home to a restaurant and tasting room. The museum – housed in the former cellars of the Passy Abbey – is both interesting and educational and timing your visit when the restaurant is open is a good tip. Every visitor receives a glass of wine with their entry ticket, as well as the chance to take part in a wine tasting class.

A little known fact about Paris is that the UNESCO World Headquarters are located in the city nearby the Eiffel Tower and several cheap hotels. Tourists looking for a guided tour of the headquarters will need to make arrangements in advance but UNESCO’S Garden of Peace is available to visit at any time. This Japanese-style garden can be viewed in its entirety by standing on a platform in the upper garden but the “Nagasaki Angel” is what makes the garden really special.

Plucked from the bombed ruins of Nagasaki in 1945 after decorating the face of the Urakami Church in the city, this stone angel was presented as a gift to UNESCO in 1976 and placed in the Garden of Peace. It was the only thing left of the church after the atomic bomb was dropped and is seen as a sign of hope.

image from flickr

There are numerous chapels and churches in Paris, but the Chapelle Expiatoire (in the 8th arrondissement) is often overlooked by many tourists. The chapel was a burial site for beheaded members of the French royal family, which were exhumed in 1815. The remains were identified and moved to the French mausoleum at Saint-Denis but the chapel is still a reminder of the former inhabitants of the plots and is an interesting place to visit. The remains of 3,000 people who died during the French Revolution are entombed there today.

image from flickr

With so many unique and wonderful places to visit in Paris it’s hard to get around to seeing them all. Instead of the usual tourist traps why not think outside the box a little and discover some of the amazing hidden gems that the French capital has to offer.

More than 24 major cruise lines are operating today, offering short and long-term cruises to destinations worldwide. While some require you to fly to and from your ship, others – such as certain P&O cruises – offer no-fly options from ports like Southampton. Every cruise is different, so how do you choose the one that’s right for you?

Important things to consider are the age of your group, the degree of formality you’re after and the length of time you want to spend at sea. There are many types of cruise holiday, from weekend “samplers” in local waters, to 7 and 10-day tours of the Mediterranean, to transatlantic voyages lasting several weeks; all are covered in the P&O cruises 2012 brochure.

The atmosphere on board is very important. Some cruise lines, such as Cunard, offer a very traditional holiday, while others, such as NCL, have a far more laid-back approach. Certain cruise lines, such as Fred Olsen, have limited family facilities and appeal predominantly to the older age group, while others, like Disney and Royal Caribbean International, are family-friendly through-and-through.

P&O cruises offer the perfect balance between family-focussed fun and tradition. While Adonia, Arcadia and Artemis are adult-only ships, the rest of the fleet offers excellent facilities for younger passengers, with kids clubs, babysitting and teen activities, as well as a full range of sports facilities and live entertainment which the whole family can enjoy. With childcare facilities well into the early hours, parents can enjoy much needed “me time”, secure in the knowledge their younger offspring are being well looked after.

Friendly, affordable and British to the core – just three reasons passengers prefer P&O cruises and this year will mark a really special date; the 175th anniversary of the P & O line. On July 3rd, all seven ships of the fleet will be sailing from Southampton together for the first time, bound for Greece, Iceland, Tunisia, the Netherlands and many other fabulous destinations.