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France: Trianon Palace & Spa ready for its close-up
Although the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's Versailles hideaway, remains closed through July 2008 for restoration, the renovation of the Trianon Palace & Spa, a hotel built in 1909 at the French queen's doorstep, will be completed this month. Both the vintage palace and newer pavilion wings as well as the entrance, reception area and spa are getting a stylish makeover by Fiona Thompson, design director of Richmond International, the English company responsible for the décor at the landmark Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest, Hungary.
Also debuting this month, like the crème Anglaise on the chocolate soufflé, is Gordon Ramsay au Trianon, a formal restaurant created by the Michelin-starred British chef; this is his first restaurant in France. Info: 1 Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles; 011-33-1-30-84-50-00, www.starwoodhotels.com. Doubles start at $440.
 This hotel, which dates to 1921, has 39 rooms and commanding perch by a big river. |
 A look inside the airline's first Airbus A380. |
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