Travel Movie: Amelie

Amelie is a quirky romantic comedy by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and in his distinctive style he paints an intimate picture of Paris and its eccentric residents.

The fanciful world of Amelie may appear to be anything but reality, but the locations featured in the sweet film are all real places in Paris.

Visitors to Paris can't help but travel on the Metro, and you can visit Abbesses Station (where she first sees Nino) and Lamarck-Caulaincourt (where she leaves the blind man).

Amelie works in the Cafe des Deux Moulins (Two Windmills), located at 15 rue Lepic, and the infamous fruit stand she lives above is Le Marche de la Butte, at 56 rue de Trois Freres.

A pivotal scene in the movie, when Amelie leads Nino on a wild goose chase through a park, is set in the park below Sacre Coeur, and visitors can take a look through the coin-operated binoculars or have a ride on the carousel.

Verdict: Rent it

5 Most Disappointing Attractions in Europe

There are world-famous attractions that people dream of seeing their whole lives, but many of them don't (or can't) live up to that amount of hype. In fact, there's a whole phenomenon (Paris Syndrome) that occurs in extreme cases when the reality just doesn't match up with the fantasy.

Here are our top five most disappointing attractions in Europe:

Manneken Pis (Belgium) - Can you spot the world-famous attraction in the picture above? A little difficult, isn't it? Unfortunately the Manneken Pis, a cheeky fountain of a naked little boy peeing from atop a pedestal, is a quirky attraction that has been completely overwhelmed by the hordes that come to photograph it. To top it off, the city of Brussels often insists on dressing the poor lad in outlandish seasonal costumes that completely obscure it.

Photo by Henry Sivonen

Eiffel Tower (Paris) - Now before you get upset with me, I'm not saying you shouldn't see the Eiffel Tower... you most definitely should. What I'm suggesting is that the rather nice view from the top is not worth spending three hours of your Paris holiday in a queue. There are other lovely places to get panoramic views of Paris from, like La Tour Montparnasse or La Sacre Coeur in Montmarte.

Photo by Andrew Crump

Loch Ness (Scotland) - See that pretty, tranquil, and rather mundane lake pictured above? That's Loch Ness. Yup, that's it. Looks like most lakes you've seen right? Now you can stop kidding yourself that you'll be the person to finally spot the fabled Loch Ness Monster and admit that the only thing waiting for you there is overpriced plush seamonsters. Granted, there are some nice castles nearby, but whether that's worth taking the trip out is another matter.

Photo by Dave Conner

Mona Lisa (Paris) - Of all the thousands of priceless works of art in the Louvre Museum, the Mona Lisa is the one everyone makes a beeline for. One of the most well-known paintings in the world, the subtle beauty and timeless mystery of the masterpiece are best enjoyed at home with a detailed picture, as this is likely to be the best view you get (unless you're exceptionally pushy).

Photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

Gondola Rides (Venice) - It's a romantic image: two people sitting cosily in a gondola while their gondolier serenades them with Verdi operettas as he glides them through the Grand Canals of Venice . Unfortunately the smooth ride resembles Friday afternoon gridlock, with boatloads of tourists snapping pictures of each other as they squeeze past each other. The rides are also prohibitively expensive, starting at €80 for 40 minutes and getting even pricier after dark.

Photo by NH53

Travel Movie: Monte Carlo

The latest vacation movie for this summer is teen-oriented Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meister, and Katie Cassidy. The movie tells the story of three Texas teenagers who ditch a disappointing package tour of Paris in order to live the high life in Monte Carlo when one is mistaken for an heiress.

The movie was originally set to chronicle three Midwestern schoolteachers who pretend to be wealthy in order to find rich husbands in Monte Carlo, but the plot was changed to be more youth-oriented.

Don't expect anything life-changing or even particularly memorable, but the film capitalises on a classic American teen girl fantasy: going to Europe and falling in love. Glamorous dresses, mischievous hijinks, and learning to being true to yourself are present in abundance.

And of course there are sunny montages of the spectacular Monaco scenery, although Paris gets the short end of this stick.

Verdict: Skip it (unless you're a teenage girl)

Top 5 Amusement Parks in Europe

While many people think that California has a lock on great theme parks, there are plenty of amazing family amusement parks in all corners of Europe too. Whether you're looking for thrilling rides, childhood nostalgia, or famous cartoon characters, these parks have it all. Here's our top 5 amusement parks in Europe:

Disneyland Paris (France) - The mother of all European theme parks, Disneyland Paris has all the magic and your favourite characters from the American parks, within easy distance of Paris. Comprising two amusement parks and seven resort hotels, the park is a perfect reward for kids who've been dragged to every museum in Paris.

Legoland (Denmark) - Most of us have a set of Legos at home (and have stepped on them at some point), but few could dream of the sorts of creations you'll find at this theme park nearCopenhagen. There are replicas of the city, pirate ships and waterfalls, and even a medieval kingdom to explore.

Siam Park (Spain) - This Thailand-themed waterpark opened in 2008 with more than ten water rides, an amphitheatre and sea lion pool. Located on Tenerife, the lush grounds hold several records, including the largest statue of a dragon and the largest man-made wave in the world. It's also the world's first 'green' waterpark.

Parc Asterix (France) - Forget Mickey Mouse, many children in Europe grew up reading books about the irrepressible Gaul Asterix and his massive friend Obelix. This amusement park, just outside of Paris, brings that world to life with a number of rollercoasters, water rides and other attractions.

Europa Park (Germany) - Located in the southwestern city of Rust, Europa Park is a huge amusement park with 13 different sections themed to different European countries, including Greece, Italy, Spain and Russia. With more than 50 rides, the park is a fun tour of Europe for any family on holiday in Germany.

Travel Movie: Midnight in Paris

No matter how many other cities try to claim the crown, Paris holds a special place in the imaginations of all aspiring travellers for sheer romance.

No other city experiences this level of idolatry. When people think the ultimate in romance, somehow it always includes marriage proposals at the top of the Eiffel Tower, dinner at a candlelit French bistro, and a stroll along the Champs-Elysees.

With this starry-eyed monopoly, things are bound to be a little different than expected, but the Woody Allen comedy Midnight in Paris takes it to a new level. Aspiring novelist Gil (Owen Wilson), finding himself uncomfortable with his fiancée's (Rachel McAdams) pretentious friends while on holiday, soon discovers himself living it up with the city's most famous residents of the past.

The film premiered at Cannes in 2011, winning rave reviews even from jaded French critics who've seen one too many American romances set in their capital. If you're as in love with Paris as the main character, see it on the big screen just for the scenery. If not, however, save your money and rent it for a cosy night in with a bottle of French wine.

Verdict: Rent it (date night!)

PS - Click here for a perspective on a first-timer's day in Paris!

Time-Lapse Flight Photography

A man flying from San Francisco to Paris found he had an entire row to himself, and took advantage of this by setting up his camera to take photos out the window every two minutes. The result can be found here in a beautiful time-lapse video of the flight.

Be sure to watch around 1:00 when the Northern Lights appear somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean!

Top 5 Most Romantic Cities (that aren't Paris)

Paris, Paris, Paris... when romantic cities are the topic that's all you ever hear about! But there's more to romance than the Eiffel Tower.

We put together a list of the top 5 most romantic cities in the world, but it could easily have been 10, or even 20. The truth is, there's romance everywhere! Here are a few of our favourites, and if we missed any, be sure to let us know in the comments.

Buenos Aires

The fiery excitement of the tango is enough to awaken anyone's passion, whether formally on the grand stage of the Teatro Colon or spontaneously on the streets of the Plaza Dorrego. The nightlife in Buenos Aires sizzles with live music and dancing, and makes a perfect romantic getaway for couples looking to spark the romance in their relationship.

Cape Town

South Africa's most chic city brings European-style elegance to the wilds of Africa. Whether your taking a sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront, having dinner on top of Table Mountain, sharing a picnic on the beach, or sampling local vintages in the Cape winelands, Cape Town offers no end of romantic activities for couples.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh blends the old and the new, with sleek and modern restaurants next to quaint pubs, and fashionable shopping areas in the shadow of ancient castles. A simple stroll down the scenic Royal Mile can be a romantic way to spend an hour, and any man working up the courage to pop the question can take strength in the excellent whisky!

New York City

While it may seem a bit cliche, New York City offers everything you need for a romantic holiday. Do the classics like a carriage ride in Central Park, ice skating at Rockefellar Center, and playing games on the midway at the Coney Island Amusement Park. Watch the sun set from the top of the Empire State Building, and take in a Broadway show before dinner at some of the world's top restaurants.

Santorini

Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, with mountaintop cities overlooking sparkling the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. Sample wines at the local vineyards, lounge on the picturesque beaches, or stroll through the towns and have a candlelit dinner in a tiny family restaurant. Whatever you do, it's easy to forget the rest of the world exists.

(Pssst! For the low-down on Paris, check this post!)

Win a Trip to Paris!

See this picture? This cheesy 'holding the Eiffel Tower' picture that everyone who visits Paris has to take?

This could be your picture, because you could win a trip to Paris from Low Cost Holidays!

Open to all UK residents. Enter here.

5 First Impressions of Paris

I recently visited Paris on a 15-hour layover flying from the USA to South Africa. This was probably a very silly idea as I was on my own, spoke no French, and was tired enough to be only vaguely coherent. Nonetheless, to Paris I went on a grey Sunday morning. I skipped the ridiculous queues at most of the major tourist attractions, and just went wandering.

Working in the travel industry, you hear a lot about famous destinations, but I deliberately went unprepared in order to discover for myself what the city was like. Here are a few of my first impressions of Paris:

One of the first things I headed for was the Christmas market still running on the Champs-Elysees. I've heard much of these European markets, and Paris' has a bit of a reputation, but I came away unimpressed by the overpriced generic goods on offer. They seemed to sell only three things: hot mulled wine, Russian nesting dolls, and (fake?) fur hats.

I couldn't not do the Eiffel Tower, but I'll admit to being pretty underwhelmed here. It's pretty, but having to dodge twelve hundred guys throwing cheap plastic models at you and stand in a queue for four hours to actually go up the elevator rather cheapens the experience. I tried to take the obligatory 'me in front of the Eiffel Tower' photo, but in the end I just looked tired.

I had been warned that going to Notre Dame was a commercial experience likely to disappoint, but it was one of my favourite places in Paris. This is probably because I visited on a Sunday morning when there was a service in progress, which made the whole thing feel a little more intimate and special. Not so intimate and special were the rude tourists taking flash pictures of the congregation.

This statue, I found in the Luxembourg Gardens. I gave the gardens a handicap for scenery since it was January, but the statues were beautiful and somewhat enigmatic. Can someone tell me what is going on here?

My favourite spot in Paris was the Pont des Arts bridge over the Seine. Apparently 'love locks' pop up in many cities worldwide, but I had never seen them before. It felt personal and special to stumble on evidence of the love Paris has a reputation for, in the form of these locks put in place by lovers from all over the world. I've heard that the city considers them an eyesore and plans to remove them, but I sincerely hope they reconsider.

Top photo from here.

Paris Blog

I'm spending one day in Paris in January on an extra-long layover, and I get more excited as it's gradually getting closer and closer!

While I'm only there a few hours, I do intend to look the part and squeeze out every last drop of chic-ness from this amazing city! That's why I love the website Do It In Paris, which has a special focus on showing us girls how to do the City of Love and Lights (and yummy pastries) right!

(photo by vl8189)