Nothing is worse than arriving loggy after a cross-ocean flight only
to find half the world in the passport control lines ahead of you.
May stats are in and according to Business Insider, the longest waits in May were at
• JFK Terminal 4 - 93 minutes average daily peak wait time, up 34.6% from 2012
• Miami North Concourse - 75.1minutes average daily peak wait time, up 23% from 2012
• Miami South Concourse - 72.7 minutes average daily peak wait time, up 18.8% from 2012
Lowest?
• Atlanta New Terminal (F) - 38.9, down 25.3%
• Seattle - 34.4, up 26%
• Atlanta Old Terminal (E) - 22.9, down 48%
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Off and traveling
 |
| Amicalola Falls. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
Georgia on My Mind
What: Pick a Georgia mountain lodge, stay two nights Sunday through Thursday and get the third night free. www.BrasstownValley.com or call 800.201.3205.Where: Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa near the foot of Brasstown Bald, Georgia's tallest mountain, starting at $169 per night. and get the third night free. www.BrasstownValley.com or call 800-201-3205.
The Lodge at Unicoi State Park in the Chattahoochee Forest and near Helen, starting at $89 a night. Call: 800-573-9659, or online at www.gastateparks.org.
The Lodge at Amicalola Falls at the Southeast's highest waterfall, beginning at $109 per night. 800-573-9656 or online at www.gastateparks.org.
When: Now through May 23, 2013.
Delaware Savings Passport
What: The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport provides discounted one-time admission to 11 members of the Brandywine Museum and Gardens Alliance:. Brandywine River Museum, www.brandywinemuseum.org
. Delaware Art Museum, www.delart.org
. Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, www.thedcca.org
. Delaware Historical Society (includes Delaware History Museum and George Read II
House and Gardens in Historic New Castle), www.dehistory.org
. Delaware Museum of Natural History, www.delmnh.org
. Hagley Museum and Library, www.hagley.org
. Longwood Gardens, www.longwoodgardens.org
. Mt. Cuba Center, Inc., www.mtcubacenter.org
. Nemours Mansion & Garden, www.nemoursmansion.org
. Rockwood Park and Mansion, www.rockwood.org
. Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, www.winterthur.org
When: May 25 through September 2, 2013.
How Much: Passports are $35 per adult or $75 for a family of two adults and three children, a savings of $100 per adult, $300 per family. Passports can be bought at any of the 11 attractions or ordered online at www.VisitWilmingtonDE.com/passport.
Golfer, Get Better
What: GolfTEC, a leader in golf improvement, offers a deal on their 60-minute swing evaluation.
Where: At more than 170 improvement centers throughout the U.S., plus sites in Canada, Japan and South Korea. Go to http://www.golftec.com to find the center nearest you.
How much: $99.
When: Now through May 29.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Round trip airfare to Africa for $999
 |
| Safari time? |
What: South African Airways round-trip flights from New York to Nairobi, Kenya, for $999 including taxes and fees; $1,019 from Washington, DC.
Limitations: Book by April 11 for travel May 1 through 31, 2013.
800-722-9675.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
WellsWorld on the radio: Spring flings in Europe and the U.S.A.
Timing tip
Planning a quick, impromptu getaway? If it's to the south of Europe better do enough planning to have confirmed reservations for transportation and lodging.After Easter northern Europe residents surge to the south and sunshine like swallows to Capistrano. Planes and trains that may have been mostly empty before Easter, are crammed and overbooked. Same with hotels, ferries and cruise ships to sunny islands.
Viva! Tallahassee
 |
| Timucuan Chief Saturiba. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
As Florida celebrates Viva Florida, the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon landing on its shores, the Museum of Florida History has added an exhibit to show what followed that momentous event.
Herman the giant mastadon, an earlier resident of the state, has been joined by Timucuan Chief Saturiba, a Spanish galleon and dozens more characters and interesting objects.
It's an easy way to learn and appreciate the state's fascinating history that ensued from the arrival of Europeans.
www.museumoffloridahistory.com
R.A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
(850) 245-6400
Austrian Beauty Week
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| GrandHotel Lienz |
Where: GrandHotel Lienz, named World's Leading Medical/Wellness Spa by World Travel Awards, amid the mountain scenery of Lienze, Austria.
When: May 8 to Oct. 31, 2013 and Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2013.
How Much: $1,690 per person per week May to October; $1,300 from November to December 15, based on exchange rates as of March 8, 2013..
http://www.grandhotel-lienz.com/en/
Luxury Tour of China
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| Great Wall |
What: Stay in 5-star hotels - Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La and boutique ship Victoria Anna - during a 16-day Dragon Heart of China Tour from China Spree. Includes 15 American buffet breakfasts, 26 other meals, guides, special shows, InSites Cultural Program, entrance fees, baggage handling and airfare.
Where: Fly from San Francisco to to Beijing, Xian, Guilikn, Chongqin, Yangtze River cruise, Suzhou, Tongli and Shanghai.
Cost: $4,799 per person, double occupancy ($5,099 from New York) if booked by March 31. Prices are cash only (add $200 for payment by credit card), subject to availability.
www.chinaspree.com
(Click on "China Tours" then "Luxury Tours".
1-866-652-5656
VIP Packages for South Walton Beaches Food and Wine Festival
What: "Grand Tasting Getaway" includes upgraded beach-view accommodations at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa and two tickets to to the Grand Tasting April 27 starting at $409 per night.
"VIP Wine Lover's Weekend" includes beach-view accommodations; two tickets to the the Exclusive Vibrant Rioja Reserve and Grand Reserve Tasting and Food Pairing event Friday, April 26; two Upgraded VIP tickets to the Grand Tasting Saturday, April 27; and two tickets to the "After-Party Party" Saturday, April 27; for $769 per night.
When: April 25-28, 2013
Details: Use code WP for Grand Tasting Getaway; code VP for the VIP Wine Lover's package.
www.hiltonsandestinbeach.com
800-559-1805
www.sowalwine.com
Book early to save at Disney Resort Hotels
For: Florida residents
What: Book by March 31, 2013, for lower rates at Disney Resort Hotels, slightly more for bookings April 1 to May 30, 2013.
How Much:
• All-Star Music Resort, $82/$88 per night
• Coronado Springs Resort, $136/$145
• Animal Kingdom Lodge, $221/$238
• Old Key West Resort, $240/$258
Add Discover Disney tickets and save on those too.
http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=flfy13q3room&market=flfy13q3room&CMP=EMC-WDWFY13Q3FY13Q3RES0006A
Free Guide to N.C. Mountains
What: A 48-page, full-color guide to leisure pursuits in Jackson County's popular mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Cullowhee, Dillsboro and Sylva. Information on unique destinations like the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, the nation's only fly fishing trail, and the Richland Balsam Overlook, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,053 feet in elevation. Also on where to stay, dine and shop including a pull-out map of hiking trails and waterfalls.
How: Call 800-962-1911, request online at www.mountainlovers.com or download.
Segway through historic St. Augustine
Details: Stay two nights at the Inn Sunday through Thursday and receive a complimentary two-hour ride through town on a Segway ($59 value) per person. Advance reservations at regular rates required.
Where: St. Francis Inn, 279 St. George S', St. Augustine, FL.
www.stfrancisinn.com
904-824-6068
Moms rule at Mainsail Beach Inn
 |
| Anna Maria Island |
What: "Month of Mom" package. Reserve a three-night or more stay Sunday through Thursday and receive a $250 American Express Gift Card for Mom.
When: Month of May, 2013.
Where: Mainsail Beach Inn, Anna Maria Island, Florida, 40 miles south of Tampa.
How Much: Rates begin at $234 for a two-bedroom suite.
amireservations@mainsailhotels.com
www.mainsailbeachinn.com
888-849-2642
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
WellsWorld on the radio: Sleeping on ice
Popsicle for a night
 |
| Hotel de Glace. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
Kind of like being a tightly-wrapped Popsicle in a deep freeze.
 |
| Me with Tom Griffith of Deadwood, S. D. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
What they don't tell you on the website or during the tours fills the 25-minute session on how to sleep in below freezing temperatures and wake up breathing.
Next. enjoy the hotel's amenities:
• Drink up at the ice bar. Photo © by Judy Wells.
• Dance in the adjacent disco. Photo © by Judy Wells.
• Slip down the ice slide. Photo © by Judy Wells.
 |
| Chapel. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
• Tour the hotel.
• strap on a pair of snowshoes or skis and hit the trails.
When ready for bed,
1. Get your body temperature up by hitting the hot tub followed by a session in the dry sauna. Oh, and you'll have to put on a bathing suit and hustle through the snow to get there. Don't get your hair wet or it will freeze. It did.
2. Come back into "camp," the heated Celsius building, dry off thoroughly - wet is what makes you cold - and get dressed for bed in anything except cotton which holds wetness. Better yet, wear nothing. No one was that brave or foolhardy.
 | |
| Sleeping chamber in Hotel de Glace. |
3. Go into your sleeping chamber and get the big black bag. Pull out the lining and sleeping bag, replacing them with anything you don't want frozen such as your shoes and coat. Store an extra pair of socks and valuables such as cell phones and cameras at the bottom of the sleeping bag. Don't put your glasses on the bedside table; it's ice and they'll freeze to it.
 |
| Photo © by Judy Wells. |
 |
| Photo © by Judy Wells. |
Oh, the bathrooms are a snowy trek away in another building.
It's an experience like no other, one best suited for young, agile bodies able to stand on the "bed" to step into said shroud and bag. The less agile will be constantly reminded that the bed is ice and the floor is snow and their bodies are not going to keep those drinks inside all night.
Sweet dreams.
Ski back to the '80s
 |
| Flipped collars, headbands and all things '80s at Beech Mountain. Photo by Amy Morrison. |
What: Bring your leg warmers, parachute pants and bandanas to the "big air, big hair" celebration at Beech Mountain, N. C. Retro bands and DJs, costume contests, freestyle jump competition and lots of remembering when during this lighthearted weekend of skiing.
When: Feb. 22-24, 2013
Where: Beech Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain, N. C.
Costs: Eighties-style, dudes. Lodging from $80.80 a night, $119.80 dinner specials, three bandanas for $8.80.
www.beechmtn.com
800-468-5506
 |
| Inn of the Five Graces |
Santa Fe luxury and culture
What: Southwest Splendor package features suite and breakfasts; Tibetan-inspired fireside massage for two plus Desert blend gift set of massage and body products; two four-day passes to five museums including The Place of the Governors, that houses the New Mexico History Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Museum of International Folk Art; and a one-hour cultural walking tour of Santa Fe.Where: Inn of the Five Graces, a Relais & Chateaux facility on Conde Nast's 2013 Gold List "Best Hotels in the World."
When: Now through April, 2013.
Cost: $1,065 for two nights totally inclusive.
Do good in Key West
Want a warm, laid-back voluntourism vacation? Consider Key West, Florida, which has a website for that.
Where: www.keysvoluntourism.com
What: That link connects you to Key West charities and nonprofits that can use your help building an underwater coral nursery, collecting data on reef fish, feeding injured birds, maintaining trails and an island's worth of other good deeds.
Organizations include Reef Environmental Education Foundation, Coral Restoration Foundation, Pigeon Key, Marathon Wild Bird Center, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Habitat For Humanity of Key West & Lower Florida Keys, Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and Key West Wildlife Center.
Florida Keys visitor information: www.fla-keys.com
Winter golf deal$
Winters in the South can be colder than a toilet seat of ice or as balmy as a warm spring day and you never know what you're going to get. Golfers are eternal optimists, though, and the prices are the best you'll get all year. So pack the sticks, toss the tee and drive on.
 |
| Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront course, Palmetto Dunes. |
What: Stay & Play package includes 4 days, three nights in a resort view villa, two rounds of golf, free tennis, resort dining and merchandise discounts.
Where: Hilton Head Island’s Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.
How much: $129 per person per night.
When: Through March 5, 2013. A group golf getaway with three rounds and range balls is available for groups of 12 or more through March 13, 2013 for $399 per person per night.
www.palmettodunes.com, 866-306-4330.
 |
| Santee National Golf Course. |
Where: Santee, S. C.
When: March 4 through April 28, 2013.
How much: $274 per person.
www.golfsantee.com.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
WellsWorld on the Radio: New for 2013
 |
| Crusader's castle at Acre. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
Cruise from Haifa to Acre
What: A new 30-minute boat ride will connect Haifa, Israel's third largest city and port, with the fortress city of Acre. The line will offer twice daily runs between Haifa, which backs up onto Mount Carmel and is home to the Baha'i Shrine and its famous Hanging Gardens, and Acre, once Akko, the Crusader capital of the Holy Land.When: The boat service is due to launch in March 2013.
AirTran Flights continue to Key West
What: Southwest Airlines will assume the routes - one daily nonstop between Orlando International Airport and a daily nonstop between Tampa Bay International Airport and Key West International Airport.A new daily nonstop flight between Key West and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will be added.
Boeing 737-700, 143-passenger aircraft will be used on the Key West routes.
When: March 9, 2013.
www.southwest.com
www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY
Romantic deals
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| Hilton Sandestin. |
What: Celebrate the month of love with a Romantic Rendezvous Package at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. It includes upgraded beach-view accommodations and breakfast for two at Sandcastles Restaurant, plus a complimentary box of Godiva chocolates, bottle of champagne and one dozen red roses.
How Much: Starts at $217 per night .
When: Available February 1 - 28, 2013.
Fine print: Reservations must be made at least seven (7)-days in advance; limited availability; not applicable to existing reservations or contracted groups; the Hilton Sandestin Beach reserves the right to modify or discontinue this package at any time at its sole discretion.
www.HiltonSandestinBeach.com or (800) 559-1805 and use booking code “RT.”
 |
| Serene Little St. Simons Island. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
What: Couples escaping to a private island stay three nights and get the fourth night free at exclusive and inclusive (even the sun block!) Little St. Simons Island.
When: Feb. 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2013.
How Much: $549 per couple per night for three nights.
Fine print: Includes boat trip to and from the island, accommodations, three full meals and a cocktail reception each day, all activities and equipment. Does not include taxes and service charges.
www.littlessi.com or 866-855-0718.
 |
| Unicoi Lodge. |
Winter Woodlands Getaways
What: The Lodge at Unicoi State Park, Georgia, with 30 cabins, 100 Lodge guestrooms and the Unicoi Dining Room, is open all winter with special rates.How Much: From $89 a night Sunday through Thursday.
When: Now through Feb. 28, 2013.
Where: The Lodge at Unicoi sits on 1,063 acres between the Chatahoochee River and the town of Helen.
What: Cabbage Patch Kids Package at Unicoi Lodge includes a one-night stay in a Lodge guestroom, breakfast for two, a park pass, a certificate for a free gift at Babyland General, and a crib in the guestroom for the for newly adopted Cabbage Patch Kid.
How Much: From $95.
When: through March 15, 2013.
www.gastateparks.org or 800-573-9659
Special Restaurant Week prices
What: Nineteen different island restaurants, each offering a special fixed menu, three courses and a non-alcoholic beverage priced at either $20.13 or $30.13.Where: Amelia Island, FL.
When: Jan. 18 through 27.
Participating Restaurants include:
29 South, eclectic, 904-277-7919
BarZin Bistro & Wine Bar, American bistro, 904-310-6620
Baxter's, steak and seafood, 904-277-4503
Brett’s Waterway Cafรฉ, casual seafood and steak, 904-261-2660
Bonito Grill and Sushi, Asian fusion, 904-261-0508
Cafรฉ Karibo, eclectic American, 904-277-5269
Crab Trap, seafood, 904-261-4749
David’s Restaurant & Lounge, fine dining, 904-310-6049
Espana Restaurant & Tapas, Spanish and Portuguese, 904-261-7700
Falcon’s Nest, casual dining, 904-491-4242
Horizon’s, eclectic cuisine, 904-321-2430
Le Clos, French cuisine, 904-261-8100
Lu Lu’s at the Thompson House, American cuisine, 904-432-8394
Marina Seafood Restaurant, casual seafood dining, 9-) 261-5310
Merge, eclectic cuisine, 9-277-8797
PLAE, fine dining, 904-277-2132
Salty Pelican Bar & Grill, seafood and burgers, 904-277-3811
Sandy Bottoms, American, 904-310-6904
Sliders Seaside Grill, seafood and steak, 904-277-6652
www.ameliaisland.com/yummy
Stay Over: In conjunction with Restaurant Week, several of Amelia Island accommodations are available with a “Free Night, Any Night” deal, allowing visitors a Free Night with a minimum three- or four-night stay.
www.ameliaisland.com/freewww.ameliaisland.com/free.
Wild Webcam
Take a peek at the watering hole and salt lick at The Ark in Kenya's Aberdare National Park. Last time I checked http://www.thearkkenya.com/live-webcam-feed, six Cape Buffalo were congregating within sight of the live video cams.Fair waring: It's addictive.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
WellsWorld on the radio: Travel goodies for Christmasts
Disneyworld's present: New Fantasyland
 Belle tells her story with visitors' help, the Beast stalks through his castle while diners enjoy French cuisine, Ariel takes humans on a trip under the sea and two identical Dumbos fly over a new recreation of a 1930s circus. At Epcot, guests design their dream drives then take them for a spin on the Chevrolet Test Track. Meanwhile, at Downtown Disney, Splittsville provides bowling, booze, sushi and more to keglers. Merry Christmas, Disney devotees. New worlds to visit. Pros offer bargains | ||
| Bid for seven-nights at Morgan Bay Beach Resort, St. Lucia. |
What: The Society of American Travel Writers' annual on-line auction is open to all with bargains to be had in travel packages, photography and travel writing courses.
 |
| Fairmont St. Andrews |
 |
| Windjammer Cruise |
For instance, a six-day Windjammer Cruise or a four-night luxury Nile cruise, stays in Abu Dhabi or St. Andrews, family packages in the Smokies or Legoland, hip and historic hotels.
 |
| Hotel Matilda, San Miguel Allende, Mexico |
When: Now through 11:45 p.m. (EST) Dec. 30, 2012.
How: http://auctions.readysetauction.com/societyofamericantra/
Happy bidding.
Dine IN Gingerbread
 |
| Great Wolf Lodge, Pocono Mountains. |
Where: Snowland in all 11 locations of Great Wolf Lodge, the largest family of indoor waterpark resorts. This includes resorts in North Carolina, Washington State, Virginia, Texas, Ohio and the Pocono Mountains, PA.
When: Now through Dec. 25, 2012
How: Book a stay and pay a $20 seating fee which goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Bet you won't be able to pass up dessert.
Ultimate Outdoor Experience: Camping overnight in Antarctica
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| Camp on the White Continent in 2013. |
• 10-day "Classic Expedition" focuses solely on Antarctica, sailing through the Drake Passage to landings that immerse guests in the remote landscape and exotic wildlife of The White Continent.
• 13-day "Polar Circle Expedition," similar to the 10-day experience, spends its extra days traveling as far south as the Antarctic Circle.
• 13-day "Weddell Sea Expedition" follows the path forged by British Captain James Weddell, who reached 74ยบ latitude in 1823 - a first for explorations;
• 17-day "Christmas Expedition" celebrates the season with traditional carols, festive meals, Santa Claus visits and a New Year's gala and includes the Falklands and South Georgia;
• 19-day "In the Realm of the Great Explorers" explores the areas visited by Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, and takes in the sub-Arctic eco-system of the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.
Details: Each camping night is limited to 15 in two-person tents. Campers are accompanied by expedition guides and will be supplied with cold-weather gear, but all is weather permitting. Should more than 15 sign up, a lottery will be held determine who participates. A second camping experience can be scheduled if weather and land conditions permit.
 |
| Your neighbors. |
Cost: The night of camping is $500 per person; cruises start from $5,327 to $10,321.
www.hurtigruten.us.
You've got to admit this is the gift for anyone who has everything. Talk about bragging rights.
Tickets to Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
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| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Photo © by Judy Wells. |
What: One of the nation's top gathering of automotive collectibles from classic town cars to world-famous racers.
When: March 8-10, 2013; Concours display March 10.
How: Buy tickets now and save. Advance adult tickets are $55, at the gate $70. You the ages 12-18 $30 in advance, $35 at the gate.
Buy: www.amelia concours.org.
Reduced winter rates for Grand Canyon and Zion Lodge
 | |
| Grand Canyon in winter. |
What: Grand Canyon - $85 a night at Maswik Lodge South, $115 per night at Maswik Lodge North. Now through March 7, 2013, excluding Dec. 21-31, 2012.
El Tovar Romance package - $380 plus tax for one night, a bottle of California sparkling wine, and dinner for two with a bottle of Grand Canyon label wine. Available now through Feb. 14, 2013, excluding Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2013. Use promo code "romance".
www.grandcanyonlodges.com
 |
| Zion with a smattering of snow. |
www.zionlodge.com
Special holiday rate at JIA
What: Economy Lot 3 at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) opens from Dec. 21 through Jan. 5 - or until the lot fills - for a flat fee of $20.Details: It's first come, first served with the fee payable by cash or credit card upon entry. Travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before their flight in case the lot is full and they have to find alternative parking. Options include Economy Lots 1 and 2, $5 a day; daily surface lot, $8 a day; Daily Garage, $14 a day, and Hourly Garage, $18 a day.
Picking someone up? Wait in the free courtesy lot next to the JAA administration building and have your traveler call after picking up their luggage.
Give or get an Oxford education
 |
| The Quad, Christ Church, Oxford. |
What: Learn something new in one of the world's most prestigious centers of learning. Study a variety of topics from the operas of Verdi to quantum mechanics or mythical animals during a one-week residence and savor the Oxford experience.
Where: Christ Church, Oxford University, England.
Cost: Tuition, accommodations and all meals are included for approximately $1,885 (US). Private bathroom will add to cost.
When: One-week periods from June 30 to August 10. Registration deadline is May 1, but the most popular courses fill early.
www.conted.ox.ac.uk/oxfordexperience,
Splurgiferous Family Christmas
+86r003h+-+Eiffel+Duplex+Terrace+Suite.jpg) |
| Shangri-La Hotel, Paris |
What: Head to Shangri-La Hotel, Paris for the Noel en Famile package, a two- night minimum stay in an Eiffel Premier Suite for parents and a connecting room for the children including a Christmas tree to decorate, breakfasts and tea, a two-hour tour of Paris in a horse-drawn carriage and VIP treatment at Studio Harcourt where movie stars go for portraits. Champagne for adults, fruit juice for children, professional makeup sessions and a two-hour photo session for four or six people. A framed portrait, a low-res digital copy plus a book and 50 greeting cards. You could also set the session in your suites around the Christmas tree.
Price: Approximately $11,674 (US) per night, but that includes value-added tax, visitor taxes and service.
Book: www.shangri-la.com/paris/
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