Luxury Layover: Paris

The famous Paris shopping district of Champs-Élysées at sunset

Do you crave a day of luxury in Paris? Or perhaps a whole weekend

There are endless possibilities. We've sourced the following to give you some ideas.

• A Parisian Lunch with a View at Galeries Layfayette - The Lifestyle Diaries
• The Best 6 Luxury Hotels in Paris For Every Occasion - Forbes
• Luxury Lineage: A Brief History of the Ritz Paris - Forbes
• Top 5 Must-Do Luxury Experiences in Paris - Luxury Launches
• 5 reasons we are excited for the opening of the Ritz Paris - Luxury Launches
• Our Top 50 Paris Restaurants - Paris by Mouth
• How Not To Make A Foodie Faux Pas In France - The Good Life France

Here are some luxury Paris tour and transfer options you might consider:
1. Bentley Chauffeur Service in Paris
2. Paris Picturesque Vintage Rolls Royce Tour
3. Private Guided Layover Tour of Paris Including Round-trip Transport
4. Private Tour: Romantic Seine River Cruise, Dinner and Illuminations Tour
5. Private Louvre Museum Tour with Hotel Pickup
6. Versailles Private Half-Day Tour
7. Paris Private Trip to Giverny: Claude Monet's House and Gardens and Musee des Impressionnismes
8. Private Day Trip to Normandy from Paris
9. Private Tour : Normandy Specialties Food Tour from Paris
10. Professional Photo Shoot Walking Tour in the Center of Paris


A Paris treat to remember your layover: a few luxury shopping ideas: and tours
Top 10 Luxury Souvenirs to Bring Back From Paris - Global Blue
Visitors ‘soldes’ on Paris as a shopping destination - Cynthia Dial
Precision Crafted Parisian Leather Goods - How to Spend It
20 or More Items to Bring Back from Paris - Girl's Guide to Paris
Bringing Chocolate Home from France - Paris by Mouth
Bringing Wine Home from France - Paris by Mouth
7 of the Best Jewellery Stores in Paris - Global Blue
Best macaroons in Paris - The Cultureur
Shopping in Paris - Like a Local Guide
Guide to the Markets of Paris - The Good Life France
Personal Shopper in Paris - Your Paris Experience
5-hour Fabulous Shopping and Make-Over Day in Paris Tour
Paris Bobo Shopping Tour
Paris Chic Shopping Tour
Paris Private and Customized Vintage Shopping Tour at Saint-Ouen Flea Market


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
Layover City: Paris
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Paris
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) transportation guide
Paris Orly International Airport (ORY) transportation guide
Paris Beauvais International Airport (BVA) transportation guide
Paris Le Bourget International Airport (LBG) transportation guide
Memorial Sites Near Paris Beauvais Airport

10 unique Paris tours

The famous Les Deux Magots cafe in Paris

Looking or something different to do on your Paris layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Paris tour options to consider:
1. Private Tour: Customize Your Perfect Day in Paris
2. Half-Day Historical Jazz Tour of Paris with Breakfast
3. Paris Through Paint: Create a Watercolor of the Eiffel Tower
4. Stade de France: Behind the Scenes Tour
5. 1-Hour Paris Perfume Tour of Jean Patou Perfumerie
6. Experience France: Learn How to Play Pétanque in Paris
7. Unexpected Paris: Trainings of the French Horse Guards
8. French Table Setting and Manners Workshop in Paris
9. Galeries Lafayette Shopping with Premium Lounge Access and Champagne
10. Paris dinner with Parisian hosts


Plus 3 great freebies!
FREE Tours and Walks in Paris - Paris Visitors Bureau
The FREE Original Paris Alternative Tour - Free Paris Tours
Discover Paris on Foot: FREE Walking Tours - Timeout Paris


Related reources
Learning Layover: Jewelry (includes Paris options)
Get cooking on your layover: Europe (includes Paris options)
Go running on your layover (includes Paris options)
Rock Your Layover: Paris
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Paris
Memorial sites near Paris Beauvais Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Paris Orly International Airport (ORY) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Paris Beauvais International Airport (BVA) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

Layover Learning: Jewelry

Pewter crafting at the Royal Selangor in Kuala Lumpur - you can take classes here
Creative Commons image istolrthetv on Flickr

Addicted to learning? Why not spend your layover learning something new?

It's surprisingly easy. Whether it's self-directed learning at a museum, a university lecture, tour that has learning as its focus. a commercial course, or simply reading papers at the local library, there are lots of opportunities.

Here are some unique tours where you can learn jewelry-making and gemology on your layover:
1. The Ancient Italian Tradition of Jewelry Making in Rome
2. Leather Jewelry-Making Workshop in Florence
3. ccessory-Making Class in Paris: Cancan or Marie Antoinette Theme
4. Athens Private Workshop: Making a Greek Flower Crown With a Local
5. Kuala Lumpur: School of Hard Knocks and Pewter Foundry at Royal Selangor
6. Kuala Lumpur: Royal Selangor Visitor Center Tour including Pewter Crafting Lesson
7. Half-Day Cambodian Gemology Workshop from Siem Reap
8. Full-Day Cambodian Gemology Workshop from Siem Reap
9. New York City: East Village Jewelry Class
10. Chicago; Gorgeous Glass Pendants Class

You may find local jewelry-making and gemology classes in larger cities, both long and short, some even free, so it's worth Googling. To inspire you, here are a few that we found in popular layover cities:
Chicago Jewelry Classes - Eventbrite
New York Jewelry Classes Events - EventBrite
Jewelry Courses in the UK - Craft Courses
Jewelry Courses - The Birmingham Assay Office
Jewellery making holidays, courses & workshops - TravelQuest

Not enough time? Why not find a quiet area in the airport and indulge in some online learning time? And, yes, you can learn almost anything online! Check out:
FREE Jewelry Tutorials - Jewelry Making Journal
E-books and Classes for Jewelry Artists - Jewelry Making Journal
The Best Online Gemology Schools and Courses - Gemstone Advisor
10 Free Online Jewelry Making Courses - FREE Online Courses for All

Speaking of jewelry and travel...
Travel Tips From Six Jewelry Designers - Travel + Leisure
Travel Jewelry - A Fashion Love Affair


Related resources
Get Cooking on Your Layover: Europe
Get Cooking on Your Layover: Asia
Get Cooking on Your Layover: South America
Go Running on Your Layover
Layover Ideas: Crude Oil Bath

Memorial sites near Paris Beauvais Airport

Newdoundland Memorial Beaumount-Hamel
 creativecommons image adriam_fl on Flickr

While we tend to criticize Paris Beauvais Airport for its location (it is a LONG way from Paris) and lack of services, Beauvais does have a huge upside:
It is situated relatively near 6 important war memorial sites. 

Destination Beauvais Paris, a service of Beauvais Tourism, provides excellent information on each of the memorial sites, how to reach them, opening hours and website links.

The "Armistice Clearing" and Armistice Museum
Just 1 hour from Paris Beauvais Airport, tucked in the Compiègne Forest, lies the "Armistice Clearing", where the 1918 and 1940 armistices were signed. In the Armistice Museum, you can see a replica of the famous railway carriage in which, at 5am on November 11, 1918 the fist armistice was signed.

The Internment and Deportation Memorial and Royallieu Camp site 
Another Compiègne memorial site, the Internment and Deportation Memorial, site tells the story of nearly 45,000 Jews, political prisoners, French Resistance fighters, communists, Russian and American civilians interned at Royallieu Camp between 1941 and 1944.

The Historial of the Great War Museum in Péronne 
Just 1.5 hours from Paris Beauvais Airport in Péronne, the Historial of the Great War Museum aims to share the day-to-day lives of French, English and German soldiers during the First World War. Of particular interest are everyday items left behind by the soldiers.

The Somme 1916 Museum in Albert 
Recognizing the central role northern Somme played during the First World War, the Somme 1916 Museum highlights the everyday lives of the many brave soldiers.

The "Chemin des Dames" memorial trail 
This World War I memorial trail overs 35 kilometres, and is just ,2 hours from Paris Beauvais Airport.

The Battle of the Somme, 1916 - the Memorial Route
The Memorial Route near Beauvais allows you to grasp the Battle of Somme's magnitude. Numerous sites, memorials and chapels pay tribute to the soldiers from no less than 25 nations, including:

• The Thiepval Missing Soldiers Memorial and the Tower of Ulster - 16 pillars atop the hill at Thiepval list the names of soldiers whose bodies were never found during the battle. Nearby, Ulster Tower commemorates the bravery of Irish soldiers. 
• The Newfoundland Memorial of Beaumont-Hamel - erected to honour the many Canadians who fought and died at Somme. The memorial includes a cariibou statue, and a panoramic view of the well-preserved battlefield, complete with trenches. 
• The Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle - created from the explosion of mines that launched the Battle of Somme and led to the death of many Allied infantry. A commemorative ceremony is held in the immense crater every July 1st. 
• The Australian Memorials of Pozières and Villers-Bretonneux - commemorate the Australian soldiers who stopped German troops on April 25, 1918, which led to the November 11th Armistice. Anzac Day is commemorated at Villers-Bretonneux annually. 
• The South African Memorial and Museum of Longueval - pay tribute to the bravery and loss of South African lives at Delville Woods (Devil's Wood). 
•  For more information, be sure to visit the Destination Beauvais Paris - Memorial Tourism website.

Related resources
10 unique Paris tours
Rock Your Layover: Paris
Layover ideas for the world's worst airports (2015)
Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA) transportation guide
Beauvais-Paris - more than just a stopover, it's a destination

Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports (2015)

* * Click HERE for 2016 * *

Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports (2016)

* * Click HERE for 2016 * *

_______________________________________________________________

Read below for 2015:

The results are in! Sleeping in Airports has announced the results of their 2015 Worst Airports in the World survey.

In case you get depressed upon realizing you have a flight to one of these dismal airports, here are some ideas to you survive your layover.

Tip: you may need a transit visa to leave some of the airports listed - do your research before departing!

1. Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC)

New to the list in 2015

It looks nice from this vantage point, but...
creativecommons image sixoone on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• "Most corrupt airport in the world"
• Unpleasant and unhelpful staff
• No seating, broken air conditioning, part of the terminal is a tent

Layover ideas:
• Read up on this area of Nigeria before you go
• Get out and stretch your legs if you can
• Travel with a suitcase or blanket you can sit on

Layover resources:
• Port Harcourt Airport Sleeping Guide
• Port Harcourt Airport transportation guide

2. Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)

No change, this airport was in the #2 spot on the 2014 World's Worst Airports list too

Be ready to line up for hours, especially during the Haj
creativecommons image ikhlasulamal on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• Distracted immigration officers (when they are around) and multi-hour long queues
• Chaotic, crowded, unclean
• Smoking in non-smoking areas

Layover ideas:
• Souq al-Alawi is located in al-Balad (the old town)
• Naseef House museum has great evening views from the top floor
• Atallah Happy Land Park has rides, skating, bowling, theatres, dining, shopping

Layover resources:
• Jeddah Airport Sleeping Guide
• Jeddah Airport transportation guide
• How to Obtain a Saudi Arabian Transit Visa
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - I Am Bound Here

3. Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)

No change, this airport was in the #3 spot on the 2014 World's Worst Airports list too

Check to see if you can see this Buddha mural
creativecommons image jaygalvin on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• Disgusting washrooms (bring your own soap)
• No air-conditioning
• Said to resemble a bus terminal

Layover ideas:
• Check out the mural of Buddha's life in the Arrivals area
• Cultural Walking Tour with Nepalese Cooking Lesson
• Kathmandu Evening Tour by Rickshaw
• Do anything that will allow you to pee elsewhere!

Layover resources:
• Kathmandu Airport Sleeping Guide
• Kathmandu Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Kathmandu
• A Night in Kathmandu - National Geographic
• Kathmandu Layover

4. Tashkent International Airport (TAS)

Not much change, this airport was in the #5 spot on the 2014 World's Worst Airports list

Looks can be deceiving - the reviews aren't as nice as this bar!
creativecommons image lindako on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• "One of Dante's circles of hell"
• Horrific queuing, at multiple stages
• No crowd control - "chaotic, verging on aggressive"

Layover ideas:
• Chorsu (Eski Juva) is the oldest bazaar in Central Asia
• Tellya Sheikh Mosque is home to the world's oldest Koran
• Tashkent TV Tower offers great views of the city
• Tashkent things to do

Layover resources:
• Tashkent Airport Sleeping Guide
• Tashkent Airport transportation guide
• Tourist Visa to Uzbekistan

5. Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS)

New to the list in 2015

Try not to let the crazy colours and patterns make you dizzy
creativecommons image 117032936@N08 on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• "Chaotic, uncomfortable and dull"
• No seating - the dirty floor is your only option
• Dirty bathrooms

Layover ideas:
• Cough up the money for private lounge access
• Take advantage of the free WiFi
• Go on a city tour

Layover resources:
• Caracas Airport Sleeping Guide
• Caracas Airport transportation guide
• Caracas layover ideas

6. Port au Prince International Airport (PAP)

New to the list in 2015

It's hard to fault Haiti for its airport, it's had other priorities
wikicommons image

Survey lowlights:
• Untrustworthy staff and aggressive porters
• Stifling heat and no seating
• Dirty bathrooms

Layover ideas:
• There's not a lot we can offer here
• Bring something to read and drink
• Keep your cool and admire Haiti's resilience

Layover resources:
• Port au Prince Airport Sleeping Guide
• Port au Prince Airport transportation guide

7. Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL)

New to the list in 2015

The old domestic terminal in Kabul
wikicommons image

Survey lowlights:
• Lack of cleanliness in the Domestic Terminal
• Lack of accountability on the part of staff
• Lack of facilities

Layover ideas:
• If you have the choice, spend your layover at the International Terminal
• Read a book
• Surf the net - there is supposedly free WiFi
• There's not much else to do... just stay safe

Layover resources:
• Kabul Airport Sleeping Guide
• Kabul Airport transportation guide
• The elusive Kabul Taxi

8. Ho Chi Minh City International Airport (SGN)

New to the list in 2015

Check out the old tank outside on your layover
wikicommons image

Survey lowlights:
• Rampant corruption - expect passport delays if you don't go along with the bribes
• Dirty bathrooms
• Lack of food options

Layover ideas:
• Amuse yourself watching the bribes (while keeping your valuables hidden)
• Live Like A Saigonese: Overnight Homestay Experience in Ho Chi Minh City
• Take a city sightseeing tour

Layover resources:
• Ho Chi Minh City Airport Sleeping Guide
• Ho Chi Min City Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

9. Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB)

An improved position, after sitting in the #1 spot on the 2014 World's Worst Airports list

Don't expect to go anywhere fast from Islamabad Airport
image source unknown

Survey lowlights:
• Crowding
• Pervasive corruption
• Still dirty, despite new lounge and bathrooms

Layover ideas:
• Lok Virsa Museum features 25+ large galleries
• Golra Railway Museum has locomotives and rolling stock
• Daman-e-Koh offers hiking, food, music and great city views

Layover resources:
• Islamabad Airport Sleeping Guide
• Islamabad Airport transportation guide
• Arriving in Islamabad - a taxi tour story

10. Paris Beauvais-Tille International Airport (BVA)

A bit of a change, this airport was in the #6 spot on the 2014 World's Worst Airports list

Tedium is the order of the day at Beauvais
creativecommons image matteoc on Flickr

Survey lowlights:
• Absence of chairs and kindness
• Insufficient toilets, lack of sanitation
• Getting the password to the free WiFi!

Layover ideas:
• Visit Beauvais Cathedral to see the Gothic architecture
• Beauvais things to do
• Head into Paris and take an Eiffel Tower, Louvre or Hop On, Hop Off Bus tour
• Take @AirportSleeper's advice and fly into CDG or ORY instead!

Layover resources:
• Paris Beauvais Airport Sleeping Guide
• Paris Beauvais Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Paris
• Beauvais-Paris - more than just a stopover, it's a destination


For more, check out the juicy sublists of 2015 Worst Airports for Africa, Asia, Caribbean & Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America and the South Pacific. There's also a list of the Worst Airports for Sleeping!


Related resources:

• Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports (2014)
• Vote in the Sleeping in Airports 2016 Best and Worst Airports Survey
• Lousy Lagos Airport layover review
• Layover Ideas & Things to Do Anywhere in the World
• Go running on your layover
• Roundtrip layover tours from airports

Layover ideas for the world's worst airports (2014)

* * Click HERE for 2016 * *

Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports (2016)

* * Click HERE for 2016* *

_______________________________________________________________

Read below for 2014:

Today, Sleeping in Airports announced the results of their 2014 Worst Airports in the World.

Here, we do our best to weigh in on some options to help you survive a layover at these dismal airports. Be warned, the options can be limited... please feel free to add suggestions in the comments below!

Tip: keep in mind that you may need a transit visa to leave some of the airports listed - or tips assume that you've done your homework on that front.

View of Islamabad from Daman-e-Koh

1. Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan (ISB)

Survey lowlights:
• Uncontrolled crowds
• Pervasive corruption
• Taxi touts

Layover ideas:
• Lok Virsa Museum features 25+ large galleries
• Golra Railway Museum has locomotives and rolling stock
• Daman-e-Koh offers hiking, food, music and great city views

Layover resources:
• Islamabad Airport Sleeping Guide
• Islamabad Airport transportation guide
• Arriving in Islamabad - a taxi tour story

2. Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia (JED)

Survey lowlights:
• Rude immigration officers and long queues
• Limited services
• Limited, uncomfortable metal seating, not sleeper-friendly

Layover ideas:
• Souq al-Alawi is located in al-Balad (the old town)
• Naseef House museum has great evening views from the top floor
• Atallah Happy Land Park has rides, skating, bowling, theatres, dining, shopping

Layover resources:
• Jeddah Airport Sleeping Guide
• Jeddah Airport transportation guide
• How to Obtain a Saudi Arabian Transit Visa
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - I Am Bound Here

3. Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal (KTM)

Survey lowlights:
• Disgusting washrooms (bring your own soap)
• No air-conditioning
• Not sleeper friendly

Layover ideas:
• Cultural Walking Tour with Nepalese Cooking Lesson
• Kathmandu Evening Tour by Rickshaw
• Do anything that will allow you to pee elsewhere!

Layover resources:
• Kathmandu Airport Sleeping Guide
• Kathmandu Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Kathmandu
• A Night in Kathmandu - National Geographic
• Kathmandu Layover

4. Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines (MNL)

Survey lowlights:
• Overcrowding
• Lengthy queues (fly airlines that use Terminal 3, vs Terminal 1)
• Not enough seating

Layover ideas:
• Overnight Layover Tour with Hotel and Transfers
• Manila Old and New Sightseeing Tour
• 4 Hour Makati City & Museum Tour

Layover resources:
• Manila Aquino Airport Sleeping Guide
• Manila Aquino Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Manila
• 17 Hour Layover: Overnight in Manila Airport
• How to have a great stopover in Manila

5. Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan (TAS)

Survey lowlights:
• Horrific queuing
• Suspect immigration processes
• Sleeping discouraged

Layover ideas:
• Chorsu (Eski Juva) is the oldest bazaar in Central Asia
• Tellya Sheikh Mosque is home to the world's oldest Koran
• Tashkent TV Tower offers great views of the city
• Tashkent things to do

Layover resources:
• Tashkent Airport Sleeping Guide
• Tashkent Airport transportation guide
• Tashkent Airport Sleeping Guide
• Tourist Visa to Uzbekistan

6. Paris Beauvais-Tille International Airport, France (BVA)

Survey lowlights:
• Poor transportation options to distant airport
• Cramped, rundown, treats people like cargo
• Closes at night (no sleeping!)

Layover ideas:
• Visit Beauvais Cathedral to see the Gothic architecture
• Beauvais things to do
• Head into Paris and take an Eiffel Tower, Louvre or Hop On, Hop Off Bus tour
• Take @AirportSleeper's advice and fly into CDG or ORY instead!

Layover resources:
• Paris Beauvais Airport Sleeping Guide
• Paris Beauvais Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Paris
• Beauvais-Paris - more than just a stopover, it's a destination

7. Frankfurt Hahn International Airport, Germany (HHN)

Survey lowlights:
• The 2 hour bus ride to distant airport
• Bleak and bare-boned
• Uncomfortable metallic seats, floor sleeping

Layover ideas:
• Use the advanced bag drop-off and storage lockers to get out of the airport
• Go golfing or go-karting nearby
• 10 Things to do near Frankfurt-Hahn
• Take a Hop On, Hop Off Bus, cruise or guided city tour in Frankfurt

Layover resources:
• Frankfurt Hahn Airport Sleeping Guide
• Frankfurt Hahn Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Frankfurt

 

8. Milan Bergamo Orio al Serio International Airport, Italy (BGY)

Survey lowlights:
• Crowded with sleepers, constantly woken up by cleaners
• Lack of WiFi and electrical outlets
• Short-tempered security staff

Layover ideas:
• Take the funicular up to Città Alta, the medieval old town
• Explore the Città Bassa (lower town)
• Bergamo Main Sights

Layover resources:
• Milan Bergamo Airport Sleeping Guide
• Milan Bergamo Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Milan

9. Berlin Tegel International Airport, Germany (TXL)

Survey lowlights:
• Limited seating, little personal space
• Crowded restaurants
• Especially crummy since it's not even a low-cost carrier airport

Layover ideas:
• Private Berlin City Layover Tour with Airport Transport
• Third Reich Sites Half-Day Walking Tour
• Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
• Take @AirportSleeper's advice and fly into SXF instead

Layover resources:
• Berlin Tegel Airport Sleeping Guide
• Berlin Tegel Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Berlin
• Berlin Layover from Tegel Airport

 

10. New York City LaGuardia International Airport, USA (LGA)

Survey lowlights:
• Security lines, unhelpful staff, services shut down (even when crowded)
• Counterintuitive layout (like the bar on the wrong side of security!)
• Lousy seating, not conducive to sleeping

Layover ideas:
• Visit the historic LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal
• Plan ahead to see a show
• See the Manhattan skyline from the Empire State Building
• New York Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour

Layover resources:
• New York LaGuardia Airport Sleeping Guide
• New York LaGuardia Airport transportation guide
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in New York 

For more, check out the juicy sublists of 2014 Worst Airports for Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America.

Too bad there weren't enough votes to produce a Worst Airports in the South Pacific list (there is a Best Airports in the South Pacific list). If you travel this region, be sure to add your 2 cents in the 2015 Best and Worst Airports Survey.

Related resources:

• 2014 Best Airports - Sleeping in Airports
• 2015 Best and Worst Airports Survey - cast your vote!

Get Cooking on Your Layover: Europe

Get up close and personal with a country's culture by taking a cooking class abroad!
(Tau Consulting, Flickr, creative commons)

Love food? Wish you could cook those amazing dishes that you eat overseas? Why not take a cooking class during your trip?

While some choose to 'attend' a famous cooking school for an extended period, there are plenty of other short classes you can take for just a few hours, or a day.

In Cooking Classes Abroad: Travel for Taste, @Frommer's contributor Charis Atlas Heelan provides inspiration for expanding your culinary repertoire - along with a mouthwatering slideshow.

"A cooking class abroad brings more pleasure and knowledge than merely sampling traditional cuisine in a restaurant overseas," suggests Bethany Smith for @bootsnall in The Best Travel Souvenir: Cooking Classes Abroad. A veteran of cooking classes around the world, Bethany also suggests you be ready for impromptu lessons (hint: if you like a dish, ask questions of the cook!).

So, let's get cooking! In this, our first in a series, we look at cooking classes in Europe:

Chocolate-making demonstration in Bruges, Belgium
(Jennifer Morrow, Flickr, creative commons)

Belgium
Brussels: Chocolate Workshop and Tastings

Croatia
Dubrovnik: Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class

Czech Republic
Prague: Traditional Czech Cooking Class 

Making vanilla and caramel macaroons!
(Danielle Fenske, Flickr, creative commons)

France
Avignon: Provençal Cooking Class and Market Tour
Cannes: Hands-On Cooking Classes & Shopping at the Market
Cannes: Authentic French & Mediterranean Finger Foods Class
Nice: Food Market Tour and Cooking Class
Nice: Patisserie Cooking Class
Nice: Provençal Cooking Class
Paris: Free Cooking Lessons in Paris
Paris: Cooking Class - French Christmas Menu
Paris: Cooking Class - Desserts and Pastries
Paris: Cooking Class - Gluten Free and Organic Desserts
Paris: Learn How To Make French Macaroons
Paris: Small Group French Cooking Class
Related resources - Paris
Paris Cooking Classes, Schools, and Wine Tastings - David Lebovitz
Le Cuisine Paris - Cooking Classes Review
The Other Side of Paris - suggestions for celiacs and vegetarians

Express appreciation for your meal in Greece, and you just might get tips from the chef
(Ana Raquel S. Hernandes, Flickr, creative commons)

Greece
Athens: Greek Cooking Class in an Athens Tavern
Athens: 3-Hour Cooking Lesson & Dinner
Athens: Cooking Class and Food Tour
Athens: Private 5-Hour Gourmet Greek Cooking Course
Athens: Private Walking Tour & Cooking Classes
Chania: Crete Cooking Class
Heraklion: Private Tour - Greek Cooking Class in Crete
Katakolon: Private Greek Cooking Class (shore excursion)

Israel
Tel Aviv: Full-Day Food Tour and Home Cooking Lesson


While you may not have the oven at home, it's still great to learn how to make pizza in Naples, the birthplace of pizza!

Italy
Florence: Tuscan Cooking Class and Dinner
Florence: Small Group Italian Cooking Class
Florence: Chianti Semi-Private Cooking Class at a Tuscan Villa
Florence: Cooking Class - Learn How to Make Gelato and Pizza
Florence: Cooking Class - Learn How to Make Tiramisu
Florence: Cooking Course and Local Market Visit
Florence: Handmade Italian Pasta Cooking Course
Lucca: Half-Day Private Cooking Class
Lucignano: Half-Day Private Cooking Class
Milan: Italian Cooking Class
Naples: Learn How to Make Authentic Neapolitan Pizza
Naples: Gelato Class and Tasting in Capri (from Naples)
Padua: Veneto Cuisine - 5-Hour Private Cooking Activity
Padua: Private Cooking Class with Fish and Seafood
Palermo: Half-Day Sicilian Cooking Class
Palermo: Evening Cooking Class with Nonna Lina
Palermo: Sicily 7-Hour Cooking Class and Winery Tour
Piedmont: Private Cooking Class Including Lunch and Wine
Rome: Walking Tour and Cooking Class
Rome: Cooking Class and Dinner with Nonna
Rome: Kid's Pizza Cooking Class
Rome: Artisan Gelato Class
Rome: Half-Day Cooking Class and Walking Tour
Rome: Small Group Cooking Lesson in the Roman Countryside
Taormina: Sicilian Cooking Class
Taormina: Sicilian Cooking Class and Market Tour
Taormina: Half-Day Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour
Taormina: Half-Day Pizza Making Class
Siena: Tuscan Cooking Class
Sorrento: Cooking Class at the 'Love is All You Need' Villa
Verona: Italian Cooking Class
Related resources - Italy
Go to Cooking School in Italy - Budget Travel
Cooking Classes in Italy - Karen Brown
Cooking Schools in Italy - Why Go Italy
Cooking Schools, Courses, and Classes in Italy - About.com

Poland
Krakow: Polish Home Cooking Class

Portugal
Lisbon: 4-Hour Cooking Class

Enjoy eating paella? Why not learn how it's made while you are in Spain?
(Tau Consulting, Flickr, creative commons)

Spain
Barcelona: Small Group Cooking Class
Barcelona: Private Tour - Cooking Class in Chef's Local Residence
Barcelona: Private Cooking Class and Market Tour
Barcelona: Food Tour and Cooking Class - Catalan Cuisine
Cordoba: Andalucian Cooking Class with Wine Pairing
Granada: Cooking Class - How to Make Paella
Madrid: Cooking Class - Learn How to Make Paella
San Sebastian: Gastronomic Society Cooking Class: Pintxos and Basque-Cuisine
Seville: 3-Hour Andalucían Cooking Class
Seville: Tapas Cooking Course

Sweden
Stockholm: Swedish Cooking Class

Turkey
Cappadocia - Private Food and Culture Tour - Ayvali Village Turkish Cooking Class and Wine Caves
Istanbul: Half-Day Turkish Cooking Tour
Istanbul: Authentic Anatolian Cuisine Tour for Groups
Istanbul: Regional Cuisine Tour for Groups

Ukraine
Kiev: 6-Hour Ukrainian Cooking Class


Related resources - cooking classes abroad

• In Europe, Cooking Classes for Every Palate - New York Times
• 10 Great Cooking Classes - Intelligent Travel
• What Are the World's Greatest Destination Cooking Schools? - Outside Magazine
• Best Cooking Classes Around the World - Travel+Leisure
• Cooking Class Reviews - Trip Advisor
• Culinary Travel Guide Vacation Cooking Schools - Food Vacation
• Travel to Eat and Drink: From Independent Culinary Travel and Wine Tasting to Cooking Tours and Schools - Transitions Abroad
• Hottest Culinary School Vacations

Updated periodically with new links.
Have a resource to add? Please leave a comment.

Rock Your Layover: Paris

Summer layover in Paris? Check out Paris Plages, on the banks of the Seine.

Have a layover coming up in Paris? Wondering what you could do with your time? Here's a little inspiration.

We've gathered the following resources - tips, stories and layover ideas - to help you get the most out of your time here.

In a nutshell:	 Widely considered to be the world's most beautiful city, romantic Paris is brimming with history, culture, fashion, food and design. With a large part of the city a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, is it any wonder the City of Lights is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations? Where better to have a layover?
Free:	Paris Free Sightseeing Tours Top 10 Free Things to do in Paris - the Guardian Always-Free Paris, Sometimes-Free Paris, Almost-Free Paris - Parislogue Paris for Free - ParisInfo (Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Unique:	Paris Dinner with Parisian Hosts
Picks:	After-Hours Tour of Notre-Dame Cathedral Towers Skip the ine Arc de Triomphe Summit Access and Champs Elysees Highlights Private Guided Layover Tour of Paris including Roundtrip Transport
Shop:	Paris Shopping Tour: Discount Couture Teen Shopping Tour in Paris St-Ouen Flea Market (Marché aux Puces St-Ouen) Tour
See:	The Paris Pass  Paris Discount Cards: Passes & Benefits - Parislogue
Hop:	Hop On Hop Off Bus - several to choose from
Do:	Paris Layover Ideas & Stuff to Do in Paris
Eat:	Paris by Mouth My Paris - David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen The 100 Best Restaurants in Paris - Time Out Paris Best Cheap Eats - Time Out Cooking Classes - from croissants and macaroons to gluten-free pastries (tours)
Tips:	No Reservations: Paris - Anthony Bourdain The Layover: Paris - Anthony Bourdain A French Guy’s Practical Tips for a Quick Trip to Paris - Olivier Knox 10 Tips for the Perfect Paris Trip - Girls Guide to Paris Finding free WiFi in Paris - Parislogue
Watch:	YouTube: Paris city guide - Lonely Planet YouTube: How to use the Paris Metro - Rail Europe
Look:	Pinterest: Paris
Read:	Paris on Amazon.com My Paris Kitchen
To/from the airport:	Make sure you know which Paris airport you are flying in and out of - there are several! Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Paris Orly Airport (ORY) Paris Beauvais Airport (BVA) Paris Le Bourget Airport (LBG) Paris Vatry Disney Airport (XCR)
Good to know:	Paris transportation is, unfortunately, prone to strikes, so it is a good idea to have a Plan A and a Plan B for your airport transfers. The train from CDG airport is a good option. Being a major international city, there are plenty of travel scams in Paris  - be alert.
Tourist info:	ParisInfo (Convention and Visitors Bureau) Tourism Roissy-en-France Tourism

Created with the HTML Table Generator

Related resources:

• 10 unique Paris tours
• Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Paris
• What's the Best Way to Spend a Layover in Paris? - Wendy Perrin, Condé Nast Traveler
• Layover in Paris - Tourism Roissy-en-France
• Memorial sites near Paris Beauvais Airport
• Book your private Paris airport transfer from IHateTaxis: CDG, ORY, BVA