Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Travel

Frugal Traveler Blog

London, This Time Following in More Mature Footsteps

Camden Passage market in Islington.
Andrew Testa for The New York Times

Camden Passage market in Islington.

When I went to London in January, my idea had been to build a trip around advice from graduate students living there. But after my fourth chain pub, I suspected that I could benefit from some more sophisticated advice - and thus turned to tips from more, ahem, mature sources.

After the end of World War II, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was the uneasy entry point to the Iron Curtain. Now it is a popular site for tourists, with no bar to crossing.

Why We Travel

As the traveler’s map is redrawn, parts in unsettling and tragic ways, voices might whisper, “Stay home.” Don’t. There are opportunities to be had.

Baratin, just off Rue de Belleville in the 20th Arrondissement of Paris, is an attractive restaurant with a number of elegant touches like the water carafes on the bar.

Four Paris Restaurants Worth a Metro Ride

To find high-quality affordable meals, it helps to venture out from the city’s expensive center.

In Transit Blog
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Q&A;: Turkey for a Cultural and Exotic Destination

"For our vacation in July, we would really like to replicate our Morocco experience, which was cultural, adventurous and exotic. Any suggestions for us?"

Practical Traveler

Summer Rental Deals

Vacation properties are being snatched up early this year, though there are still a few places where bargains can be found.

  • comment icon
36 Hours
From left At Jack Fry's, once a haven for bootleggers and bookies; the legendary Churchill Downs; and the Muhammad Ali Center, honoring Louisville's native son.

36 Hours in Louisville, Ky.

The last decade has seen a cultural and civic blooming in Louisville, with new galleries, restaurants and performance spaces taking their place alongside the city’s stalwart attraction, the Kentucky Derby.

A full moon party at a beach bar in Gili Trawangan, once a fisherman's settlement. It is now the liveliest of the Gili Islands, an archipelago in Indonesia's Bali Sea just off the coast of Lombok.

On an Island East of Bali, a Backpacker’s Hideaway Goes Upscale

Luxury villas are springing up on Gili Trawangan, an island once more famous for its magic mushrooms.

Itineraries
A room at Ink48 with a view toward the east and New Jersey. Ink48 is a boutique brand of Kimpton Hotels.

The Rush to Boutique

Hotel industry analysts estimate that boutique hotels could account for 6 percent of all hotels in the United States in the next 1o to 15 years.

On the Road

Private Jets Warming Up for Presidential Campaign

Private airplanes are a crucial part of campaigning, given that national candidates typically need to make multiple stops in a day — often in places far from a major airport hub.

Frequent Flier
Paul Wight, known as Big Show, is a star of World Wrestling Entertainment. He is over 7 feet tall and weighs about 450.

Five-Time World Champion, and Struggling to Fit In

To Paul Wight, a performer with World Wrestling Entertainment, even first class is sometimes snug.

The author is fitted for a cheongsam, the traditional Chinese dress, at Linva Tailors.

In Hong Kong, in Pursuit of the Perfect Dress

Growing up, the author watched glamorous actresses wear cheongsams in films. On a trip to Hong Kong, she decided to get one of these form-fitting traditional dresses for herself.

Slide Show: Riverside Lynchburg, Va., Builds on Its History

Developers have preserved the historic feel of the downtown area, as new loft apartments, art studios, restaurants and a tearoom now fill the hulking warehouses and factories along the banks of the James River.

A “suspended bath” room at the hotel.

Hotel Review: Hotel Seven in Paris

A space-age boutique hotel on the edge of the Latin Quarter.

The Seymour Tower, one of the fortifications on the island of Jersey in the English Channel that take guests.

On the Island of Jersey, Fortifications Turned Lodging

On Jersey, in the English Channel, 10 fortifications, built between the mid-1800s and the mid-20th century, have been renovated and are taking in guests.

Restaurant Review: Mesob, in Rome

Mesob, which opened in July, serves authentic Ethiopian food in a setting as casual and convivial as any trattoria.

Book Your Trip

Featured Destination Guides
Slide Shows
Traveling When Some Say ‘Stay Home’

Throughout history, the traveler has been forced to recognize that the fact of leaving home means encountering uncertainty.

Glorious Gili Trawangan

Luxury villas spring up on an island once more famous for its magic mushrooms.

36 Hours in Louisville

In the Derby City, a glass of fine bourbon and good conversation aren’t hard to find.

Good Value in Northeast Paris

Mark Bittman explores dining alternatives in far-flung neighborhoods.

Multimedia
Why We Travel: Readers’ Photos 2010

We asked readers to submit their best travel photos and share the back story. Here is a curated selection of the images.

Why We Travel

“We were fortunate to see something that not everyone sees: lions in a tree on the Serengeti at sunset.”

Advertisements

Last Minute Travel Deals

Multimedia

Slide Show
Paris, Divided
Paris, Divided
Slide Show
36 Hours in Seattle
36 Hours in Seattle
Slide Show
A Waterfront Revival in Astoria, Ore.
A Waterfront Revival in Astoria, Ore.
The Scoop

New York City iPhone App

An insider’s guide to what to eat, drink and do in New York from the staff of The Times, including a new category on favorite day trips outside of the five boroughs.

Eurofile

In Alexander Lobrano’s new column, Eurofile, the author of “Hungry for Paris” writes about the best tables (and beds) on the continent.

The 41 Places to Go in 2011

From the beaches of Mexico to the wilds of Kurdistan, the places on this year’s list take you to the end of the world and back.

Featured Interest Guide
Special Issue Archive