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• 5 photo/video apps for awesome travel shots
• Singapore hotels: 10 of the city's best
• Insider Guide: Best of Paris

5 photo/video apps for awesome travel shots Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:59 PM PDT Imagine you just hit the base of Mount Everest. The sun is rising, the mist is evaporating, but your heavy DSLR camera is buried deep inside your bag.  Even if you manage to get it out in time, there's shutter speed and aperture and tripod position and more to worry about before you can capture the moment. Which explains why one professional photographer is going a different route. "My iPhone was the camera I reached for," says John Barnett, a professional photographer who found himself in exactly the situation described above.  It was the first time the power of iPhoneography struck him. John Barnett: "You will probably end up capturing that beautiful once-in-a-lifetime moment with your phone, not your other camera." "You have your mobile phone with you 99% of the time, so you'll probably end up capturing that beautiful once-in-a-lifetime moment with your phone, not your other camera," he says. Barnett is now the co-founder and producer of Bright Mango, developer of Wood Camera photography app. He also led iPhonegraphy photo walks in Italy in 2011. Here are his picks for best apps and tips for being a smart(phone) photographer. Tips on iPhoneography "Remember to try and get closer to your subject -- zooming in with your phone just decreases the quality and size of your images," says Barnett. "It's better to get as close as you can." "Also, try to take some time and select a few images from your phone and have them printed out. Most people have years of digital images and very, very few actual printed copies. "I encourage people to print a few special images each year -- it's easy with apps like Shutterfly that allow you to make prints straight from your Instagram photos." Best photo apps 1. Slow Shutter Cam Lines of light made better on the iPhone. Strengths and weaknesses Barnett: "The best iPhone app for capturing light trails and blurred movement. It can be difficult to get a good shot without a small tripod or propping the iPhone so it's steady during the shot. I use the Glif tripod adapter to attach my iPhone to a tripod when I can't steady it on something." What it's best for Barnett: "Slow Shutter is best for capturing night scenes and movement. Traffic at night or shots of moving water look especially cool with Slow Shutter Cam." Tips  Barnett: "I usually use the 'automatic' mode or the 'light trail' mode. Try to prop the iPhone on its side or use something to keep it completely steady during capture -- any movement will cause the whole image to be blurred." Available on the app store, US$0.99. 2. ProHDR A good app for those who consistently over/under expose. Strengths and weaknesses Barnett: "Best solution for creating 'high dynamic range' (HDR) images on iPhone. It's easy to use the automatic mode and full control with the manual mode if desired. But the 'HDR look' can be overdone." What it's best for Barnett: "Best for landscapes and scenes that contain very dark areas and very light areas. ProHDR allows the user to capture two images of dark and light exposure in quick succession, and then combine the images into a single HDR image. "A sky full of bright clouds will become dramatic, while the darker parts of the scene will be properly exposed and balanced with the bright sky. "Also, try turning the saturation all the way down on a finished HDR image -- black and white HDR image can be awesome." Tips  Barnett: "Hold the iPhone steady while the two light and dark images are being captured -- this will help the images line up and will prevent ghosting and blurred areas where the two shots weren't aligned very well. "Keep in mind that the more extreme the light and dark areas you select, the more extreme the resulting HDR image will be. In manual mode, try to find a happy medium -- don't put your selection directly on the sun, or in the darkest area of the frame -- move the light and dark selections around until you find just the right spots. "Use the brightness, contrast and saturation controls to make the image less extreme and more like what our eyes see." Available on the app store and Google Market, US$1.99. 3. Wood Camera All-in-one hipster photo app. Strengths and weaknesses Barnett: "An app for editing tools like brightness, contrast, saturation, straightening and sharpening. The app offers a bunch of full adjustable filters, textures, frames and also tilt-shift and vignette. "Wood Camera uses a 'lightbox' to help organize and streamline the editing experience, so the user can import a batch of images, make the desired edits, share to social networks and save to the camera roll, and the images are still readily available in the lightbox for re-editing or sharing later. "Wood Camera also has the option to share directly to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook." What it's best for Barnett: "Wood Camera works for any type of photo -- there are editing options for pretty much every situation. All of the 'lenses' are fully adjustable and have individual controls for tweaking and controlling each aspect of the image for the desired edit." Tips Barnett: "Find a lens that you like, and then play around with the brightness/contrast/saturation options. Each image needs a slightly different set of adjustments to get that perfect look. "If you're wanting lots of black and white options, try turning down the saturation slider -- every lens in Wood Camera can be turned into a unique black and white filter by just turning the saturation all the way down." Available on the app store, US$0.99. Note: Barnett is the co-founder of Bright Mango, developer of Wood Camera photography app. 4. Diptic Instead of spamming your friends' Facebook newsfeeds with 10 pics, you can do it with one. Strengths and weaknesses Barnett: "The perfect app for creating collages with your photos. Contains tons of customizable layouts for collages of up to nine images." What it's best for Barnett: "Diptic works with any type of image, and is especially fun for creating one big collage with highlights from a trip or a special event like a birthday or holiday. Use Diptic to tell a story with your images." Tips Barnett: "Don't be overwhelmed by the 165-plus layout options. Start with something simple and then adjust the aspect ratio and shape of the layout. Try connecting your Facebook account when importing images -- you can easily import photos straight from your Facebook albums to use in a collage." Available on the app store, US$0.99. 5. 8mm Vintage Camera The app that made an Oscar-winning documentary. Strengths and weaknesses Barnett: "8mm Vintage Camera is the easiest way to shoot 'retro' looking videos with your iPhone. You can also apply effects to existing videos." What it's best for Barnett: "8mm Vintage Camera works for almost any situation. The finished video looks like it came straight out of an old box of film from decades ago. The different films and lenses give you dozens of options for color and graininess." Tips Barnett: "When using the app, note that you can choose to record audio, or mute the sound for making a silent movie. You can also include a projector sound for added authenticity." Director Malik Bendjelloui finished his documentary, "Searching For Sugar Man," with the 8mm Vintage Camera app. See the director's interview with CNN Money. Available on the app store, US$1.99. More on CNN: Appy Traveler: Best new apps for travelers

Singapore hotels: 10 of the city's best Posted: 03 Apr 2013 03:01 PM PDT Keeping up with the latest Singapore hotels is a challenge.   New offerings include everything from leviathan package pads to boutique beauties, with the latter featuring a range of innovative design and hospitality concepts. Arranged by area, here are 10 of the top Singapore hotels to open in the last few years. Sentosa Island Capella Singapore  The 112-key Capella is surrounded by 30 acres of forest. Poetically draped across the top of a grassy hill on Sentosa Island, looking over Palawan Beach and the South China Sea, Capella is a self-styled grande dame property. Credit for this Singapore hotel's success goes to Lord Norman Foster's fine design work, which combines heritage components with sleek new-builds to create a neocolonial looker of a resort. If sea views are a prerequisite, we suggest booking a suite. Constellation Rooms feature a Jacuzzi on the balcony -- some also with a partial sea view included in the soak -- while the villas and manors come with a plunge pool. Each guest has access to a personal assistant, who is on call 24 hours a day. 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island; +65 6377 8888; from US$460 per night; www.capellahotels.com/singapore More on CNN: Sentosa Island: No longer just for tourists W Singapore, Sentosa Cove  The W brand is unapologetically trendy. The moment you arrive at W and walk up the red-carpeted staircase or alight your super yacht at the resort's private berth, you feel like a superstar. The hotel is a full sensory assault, with colors, textures, motifs, music and omnipresent design quirks all vying for oohs and aahs. The choice of marina, pool or ocean views outside the windows isn't bad either. The 1,338-square-meter lagoon pool has music piped in underwater. Above the surface a DJ spins regularly at the poolside Wet Bar, where neon glowing chairs and a lighthouse give the area its obligatory W vibe.  Four room types -- Away Room, Away Suite, Wow Suite, Extreme Wow -- all have a terrace plunge pool on their list of amenities, with the latter featuring an in-room DJ booth for a private shindig.  21 Ocean Way, Sentosa Island; +65 6808 7288; from US$305 per night; www.whotels.com/singapore  Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa  Lest you forget where you are, rooms facing Imbiah Lookout offer views of a 37-meter-high Merlion. Mövenpick's Sentosa hotel has two distinct wings -- the recently opened heritage wing and the contemporary wing. Between them there's a decent selection of room types to return to after a day at Universal Studios, a five-minute walk away.  The 62-suite heritage wing, formerly a 1940s British barrack base, has been carefully restored with a lot of the colonial architectural elements kept intact.  Over on the 129-key contemporary wing, 19 Onsen Suites come with an outdoor Japanese-style hot tub with retractable canopy, and two penthouse suites feature a rooftop infinity pool and a sea/skyline view combo.  On the F&B front, WOW (World of Whiskeys) by Waldhaus am See of St. Moritz carries more than 250 labels of fine -- and some very rare -- whiskies, along with food and cigar pairing.  23 Beach View, Sentosa Island; +65 6818 3388; US$141 per night; www.moevenpick-hotels.com More on CNN: Great Singapore hotels for a staycation Bay Area Fullerton Bay Hotel  No need for heritage when you've got views like this. Not to be confused with the Fullerton Hotel, its heritage sister hotel dating to the late 1920s, the waterfront Fullerton Bay Hotel joined the Singapore hotel scene in 2010.  All rooms and suites feature a balcony or sun deck, all the better to see the views, which range from Merlion Park and Clifford Pier to Customs House. For the quintessential Singapore panorama, the terraces of the bay-view rooms and suites offer a clear line of sight of Marina Bay Sands across the waters, with two Premier Bay View Rooms providing a Jacuzzi from which to enjoy the view. Five themed suites take the pervading neutral-toned decor up a notch with decor inspired by the Lion CIty's Chinese, Perankan, Indian, Malay and colonial roots. The 25-meter rooftop pool offers the same US$55 billion view of Marina Bay Sands.  80 Collyer Quay; +65 6333 8388; from US$443 per night; www.fullertonbayhotel.com   Urban settings The Quincy  Enjoy that minibar. You paid for it. Some travelers love volumes of options, others prefer their choices narrowed. If you're the latter type, The Quincy takes away the headache of preference with its all-inclusive offering -- the first in Singapore, and rarely seen at a city hotel. The full board package includes a one-way airport transfer, three meals a day, minibar replenished daily, unlimited Internet access, free flow espressos and latte, and cocktail and canapé hours from 6 to 8 p.m. In line with the relative lack of choice, room types range ever so slightly between the 24-square-meter studio and the studio deluxe, larger by two square meters. Chances are most guests staying on Mount Elizabeth are business types or shoppers with tunnel vision to Orchard Road just a five-minute walk away. The glass-enclosed pool on the 12th floor makes for scenic exercise. 22 Mount Elizabeth; +65 6738 5888; from US$193 per night; www.quincy.com.sg More on CNN: Singapore's best cocktail bars Parkroyal on Pickering Parkroyal's rooms are airy and bright with light wooden accents and clean straight lines. Managed by the Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Parkroyal is green -- inside and out. The 367-room "hotel in a garden" has more than 15,000 square meters of gardens with more than 10 flora species on display, as well as waterfalls and planter walls. These solar-powered zero-energy sky gardens are a first for Singapore. The hotel is adjacent to Hong Lim Park (more greenery) and with Chinatown, Bugis Village, Clarke and Boat Quays all within striking radius, retail and dining boxes can also be ticked.  Guests who foresee spending more time in than out may want to consider the Orchid Club rooms and suites, which come with benefits including champagne breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, Internet access, priority check in/out and access to two rooftop terraces. 3 Upper Pickering St.; +65 6809 8888; from US$226 per night; www.parkroyalhotels.com/pickering Alternative designs Wanderlust Hotel  Like your hotel understated? Wanderlust isn't for you. What happens when you bring together four homegrown creative firms -- three of them multi-disciplinary agencies with not a single previous hotel client  -- and give them free reign to put together a hotel? The aftermath of the creative overflow is succinctly captured in 29 unique rooms in Little India, collectively known as Wanderlust. The lobby theme is "Industrial Glam." It's a wacky combination of vintage ads, shades of cement gray, wildly colored furnishings and exposed beams and air ducts for that intentionally unintentional look. The rooms on the Eccentricity second floor are decked out in a single neon color, so you can pretend you're sleeping in a space capsule. Is it Black & White rooms on the third story feature stenciled art installations in the Pop-Art rooms, "folded" ceilings in the "Origami" rooms with a choice of four colors to brighten the space. Leaving the funkiest for last, the top Creature Comforts floor features rooms that look like they came out of the pages of a psychedelic dream book. From monsters to typewriters and spaceships, the loft rooms are what the hotel humbly calls "whimsical." 2 Dickson Road; +65 6396 3322; from US$143 per night; www.wanderlusthotel.com More on CNN: A local's guide to the new Singapore New Majestic Hotel   For couples who don't like sharing their bubbles, there are three Loft rooms with side-by-side vintage bathtubs. Owned by the same lawyer-turned-hotelier as Wanderlust, New Majestic opened in 2008 and shares plenty of the nonconformist, loud design attitude of its sister property. Thirty individualized rooms fall under four broad themes.  There's the Hanging Bed room, with oversized murals and seemingly suspended mattresses; Mirror room offers lots of voyeuristic ops; the exhibitionist-friendly Aquarium room has a glass-enclosed bathtub as its centerpiece.  Five designers from the worlds of fashion, furniture, graphics and film were invited to infuse their imaginations into five Lifestyle concept rooms, which range from a sexy party-den dubbed The Pussy Parlour to a minimalistic room with curvy surfaces and aptly called Fluid. Adding to the New Majestic hodgepodge are space-specific installations and artwork provided courtesy of nine local artists. 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road; +65 6511 4700; from US$194; www.newmajestichotel.com   Moon Hotel  The 30-square-meter Moonlight Suite has a balcony with a sunken tub for soaking under the stars. While some hotels are loud and proud, others cater more simply to a traveler's core needs -- a decent price tag for a clean, modern room and a comfy bed to return to at night. Rising five floors from the colorful sights and sounds of Little India, Moon isn't the flashiest Singapore hotel on the block, but it does what it says on the label. All 80 purple-hued rooms showcase what can be done with clever use of limited space. The Deluxe rooms, measuring a compact 18 square meters, are even able to squeeze in a long bath tub.  The only onsite restaurant serves just breakfast and cocktails, but the hotel's Little India location puts it at ground zero for hearty curries and other culinary adventures. For shopping, the hotel is within walking distance of Bugis Street and Mustafa, the latter shopping center conveniently open 24/7.  23 Dickson Road; +65 6827 6666; from US$122; www.moon.com.sg  Wangz Hotel  Wangz' Halo lounge is one of Singapore's top rooftop bars. Housed in a conspicuous cylindrical structure in the hipster area of Tiong Bahru, Wangz offers contemporary rooms ranging from 26 to 47 square meters. The hotel is also home to numerous nature-themed works of art, the majority of which were specially commissioned for Wangz and are collectively valued at SG$400,000 (US$323,050). Impressive for a hotel with just 41 rooms. Six room types include the soak room, which allows guests to enjoy the city views from the window-side tub, while the balcony rooms open up onto additional outdoor living areas. To experience the musically creative and artistic side of Singapore, we recommend dropping by the hotel's rooftop Halo lounge on Friday or Saturday evenings to catch live acoustic performances.  231 Outram Road; +65 6595 1388; from US$184; www.wangzhotel.com

Insider Guide: Best of Paris Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:02 AM PDT We'll always have Paris, goes the line, but it's easy sometimes to feel like Paris is having you. Lines at major sites are long and the coffee you just drank cost €6. Still, there's no denying the beauty of the best of Paris, with its elegant monuments and gardens, ornate shop displays, foodie traditions and artistic heritage. Almost every one of the 20 arrondissements in this city of 2.2 million residents provides visitors with something to see or do. Or at least something good to eat. More on CNNGo: 15 romantic European castle hotels Quick tips: Check opening hours before heading out, especially on public holidays and during the month of August. Manners matter here. The first thing you say to friend or stranger is always "bonjour" ("bon soir" in the evening), and always "merci, au revoir" on the way out of shops and restaurants. If you don't, you'll be the one who is being rude. Getting around is easy. The Metro is efficient, taxis are usually an option and there's an excellent public bike-sharing program. To soak in the best of Paris, however, walking is essential. Strolling neighborhoods, peeking behind courtyard doors and taking your time are legendary rites of the Paris traveler passage. Hotels Luxury Presidential Suite at the George Cinq. Le Georges V This Golden Triangle mainstay is difficult to top in terms of luxury, service and price. Capacious guest rooms incorporate styles of different eras for a result that's a little bit Marie-Antoinette, a touch Joséphine and unmistakably French.  Though part of the Four Seasons group since 1999, everyone still calls it the George Cinq.  31 avenue George V, 8th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 49 52 70 00; doubles from €950 (US$1,220); www.fourseasons.com/paris   Le Meurice Breakfast at Tiffany's has nothing on breakfast at Le Meurice.The gilded Louis XVI interiors in this 200-year-old palace hotel were recently updated by ubiquitous designer Philippe Starck. Facing the Jardin des Tuileries, it's hard to get more central than this best of Paris hotel, and you don't have to leave the building to enjoy one of the city's most delicious and opulent dining experiences, courtesy of chef Yannick Alleno, a champion of local products. 228 rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement; +33 1 44 58 10 10; doubles from €640 (US$820); www.lemeurice.com    Mid-Range For those who prefer to cut le crap, a guest room at the Hotel de Nell. Hotel de Nell If toile and brocade aren't your style, consider the clean lines of this new boutique offering in the 9th arrondissement.  Foodies may feel especially comfortable: the hotel restaurant is the newest outpost of the beloved bistro La Régalade.  7-9 rue du Conservatoire, 9th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 44 83 83 60; doubles from €400 (US$515); www.hoteldenell.com   Hôtel du Petit Moulin To be king or queen for a day, you don't have to wake up a pauper.Housed in a 17th-century building, the 17 rooms of this Marais hotel were individually (and flamboyantly) decorated by Christian Lacroix. Are the heart-shaped mirrors a bit much? Maybe, but this is the best of Paris. Embrace it. 29-31 rue du Poitou, 3rd arrondissement; +33 1 42 74 10 10; doubles from €252 (US$323); www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.coml More on CNNGo: Best of Barcelona Budget             Mama Shelter Coolest of the coolest. The Trigano family (of Club Med fame) solicited Philippe Starck (him again) to design this surprisingly reasonably priced boutique hotel, which comes with plenty of amenities, including Wi-Fi, on-demand movies and Kiehl's products in the bathroom. It's not central, but it's convenient to the Metro, Père Lachaise cemetery is around the corner and, yes, that's the Eiffel Tower you see in the distance. If you want "real" best of Paris, this is it. 109 rue du Bagnolet, 20th arrondissement; +33 1 43 48 48 48; doubles from €89 (US$115);  www.mamashelter.com Apartments Just like home? The vibe is, anyway.Though you'll have to make your own bed, renting an apartment is often less expensive than a hotel, and frees you from the shackles of eating out all the time. Haven in Paris features a best of Paris collection of properties for weekly or nightly rental that'll make you want to drop everything and move here. For a more DIY experience  -- and more budget options -- try airbnb. Dining A few guidelines will help you navigate this fabulous food city: Bistros and restaurants have specific opening hours for lunch and dinner, and are usually closed at least one day a week. Cafés and brasseries are open all day for casual eating. For lunch on the go, most bakeries sell sandwiches -- for the best bread, look for the words "Artisan Boulanger" on the sign. Reservations are always recommended, except at the most casual cafés and brasseries, or when bookings are explicitly not taken. If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to mention it on the phone. Alain Ducasse recently celebrated its tenth anniversary by going back to basics. Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenée Under the deft hand of chef Christophe Saintagne, the cooking at Ducasse's Paris flagship has undergone a sort of makeunder, away from extravagance for its own sake and toward cleaner, stripped down style, without sacrificing any of the luxury or glamour for which this legendary dining room is known.  25 avenue Montaigne, 8th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 53 67 65 00; dinner: Monday-Friday; lunch: Thursday and Friday only; very expensive; www.plaza-athenee-paris.com   Fine beet sushi at L'Arpège. L'Arpège Chef Alain Passard's love of vegetables borders on fetishism, and yours may, too, after dining at this Michelin three-star, where les legumes get equal billing with lobster and lamb. Many of the best young chefs in Paris have passed through this kitchen.  84 rue de Varenne, 7th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 47 05 09 06; lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday; very expensive; www.alain-passard.com L'Astrance Pascal Barbot's modern cooking seamlessly incorporates global influences and ideas, while resting on solid classical underpinnings. A signature dish: a stacked gateau of shaved mushrooms and verjus-marinated foie gras with hazelnut oil and lemon confit. The dining room (mercifully) lacks the frou-frou that comes with so many of Parisian three-stars. You won't miss it. 4 rue Beethoven, 16th arrondissement; +33 1 40 50 84 40; lunch and dinner, Tuesday-Friday; very expensive More on CNNGo: Insider Guide to New York City Septime No tablecloths? Trés chic.Youngster Bertrand Grébaut made waves when he opened Septime in 2011 for serving food of obsessive quality and imagination at reasonable prices in a no-tablecloth setting in the 11th. This is what a contemporary Parisian restaurant looks like. 80 rue de Charonne, 11th arrondissement +33 1 43 67 38 29; open Monday for dinner only, Tuesday-Friday for lunch and dinner; moderate-expensive; septime-charonne.fr Mini Palais That's a terrace.Mini Palais bills itself as a modern brasserie, feeding a chic crowd with a menu that manages to be both gourmand and plenty of fun. A best of Paris setting, in a corner of the Grand Palais, doesn't hurt, and the terrace is one of the prettiest in town. Inside the Grand Palais, entrance on avenue Winston Churchill, 8th arrondissement; +33 1 42 56 42 42; open all day, daily; moderate; www.minipalais.com Chez L'Ami Jean Cozy French cuisine.This bastion of Basque pride has evolved into a serious gastonomic destination, but it's still elbows out in the packed, noisy room. With only an €80 (US$102) prix fixe option at dinner, it's not the steal it used to be, but you won't walk away hungry after being subjected to Stéphane Jego's belly-busting, imaginative bistro cooking. 27 rue Malar, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 47 05 86 89; lunch and dinner, Tuesday-Saturday; moderate-expensive; www.lamijean.fr Yam'tcha Adeline Grattard earned her stripes at L'Astrance and in Hong Kong before opening this restaurant with her husband, who serves as tea steward and sommelier in service of her exquisite, Franco-Chinese cooking that's neither one nor the other -- it's just hers. Call exactly 30 days before you want to eat here. 4 rue Sauval, 1st arrondissement; +33 1 40 26 08 07; open Tuesday for dinner only, lunch and dinner Wednesday-Saturday; expensive; www.yamtcha.com Also on CNNGo: Incredible international cooking classes Breizh Café You can't enjoy the best of Paris without eating a crêpe. As an alternative to one of those street stalls, this superb Marais address serves perfect, lacy buckwheat galettes with organic fillings and a range of easy-drinking ciders. 109 rue Vieille du Temple, 3rd arrondissement; +33 1 42 72 13 77; lunch and dinner, Wednesday-Sunday; budget-moderate; breizhcafe.com/fr Le Relais de L'Entrecôte You came to eat, not stare (at the flowers).The only thing on the menu at this best of Paris eatery is steak, served with a never-ending pile of golden fries and an addictive, herb-laden secret sauce. It's all served by uniformed women who mean business. They don't build waitresses like this anymore. Locations in the 6th and 8th arrondissement, see website for details; no reservations; moderate; www.relaisentrecote.fr Jacques Genin No, you're not shopping for jewelry. Even better. Dessert!If it's sweets you're after, the tea room of this masterful pastry and chocolate shop has unrivaled mille-feuille and biting lemon tarts. Genin's chocolates and caramels make an excellent gift. For yourself. 133 rue de Turenne, 3rd arrondissement; +33 1 45 77 29 01; Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; jacquesgenin.fr Nightlife Experimental Cocktail Club Cocktail culture in Paris got a jumpstart when this speakeasy-ish bar opened, serving seriously well-crafted drinks -- both new and old school -- to a friendly crowd that gets younger and hipper as the night wears on. 37 rue St. Sauver, 2nd arrondissement; +33 1 45 08 88 89; opens at 7 p.m.; closed Sunday; www.experimentalcocktailclub.com Le Baron Bordello red meets disco silver.Le Baron was founded by one-name impresario André and is lodged in a former bordello. Most of us can't get into Le Baron, but chosen ones can expect dancing models, red walls hung with soft-core art photos and maybe a few celebs. 6 avenue Marceau, 8th arrondissement; +33 1 47 20 03 01; opens at 11 p.m.; www.clublebaron.com La Vue at Concorde There are two main draws to this mod lounge in the Concorde-Lafayette hotel: expert drinks mixed by a champion barman, and a panoramic view over the best of Paris. Both make it worthwhile. 3 place Général Koenig, 17th arrondissement; +33 1 40 68 51 31; opens at 5 p.m.; www.concorde-lafayette.com Harry's Bar An institution, Harry's has been pouring drinks since 1911. Hemingway drank here (not everyone approves of the current incarnation) and some stories pin it as the birthplace of the Bloody Mary. 5 rue Daunou, 2nd arrondissement; +33 1 42 61 71 14; opens at noon; www.harrysbar.fr Shopping Rue Saint-Honoré A box of Paris to take home with you. Rue Saint-Honoré and neighboring streets offer ample opportunity to empty your wallet -- while sightseeing, of course -- from best of Paris haute jewelry stores on Place Vendôme to vintage shops along the gardens of the Palais Royal. Those too young to remember the Eighties clamber into concept store Colette (213 rue Saint-Honoré; +33 1 55 35 33 90; www.colette.fr) to pick up a Lanvin iPad case or a late-model Polaroid. Leather goods granddaddy Goyard (233 rue Saint-Honoré; +33 1 42 60 57 04; www.goyard.com) is handy if you're in need of a new steamer trunk. Ceramicists Astier de Villate (173 rue Saint-Honoré; +33 1 42 60 74 13; www.astierdevillatte.com) is good for a chic tabletop. The Flea Market at Porte de Vanves Keep looking, you're bound to find something worthwhile.A more manageable size than its Clignancourt cousin, the Vanves marchés aux puces is also a little less expensive. Like all flea markets, there's plenty of trash among the treasures, but it's French trash. Avenue Marc Sangnier, 14th arrondissement; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; pucesdevanves.typepad.com More on CNNGo: World's sexiest accents   Printemps was the first store in Paris to run on electricity and to offer set prices. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps These landmark department stores rub shoulders on boulevard Haussmann, creating a massive shopper's paradise. Between the two, all label lovers should be able to find what they're looking for, though the draw here isn't just fashion: both stores feature stunning glass cupola ceilings, and the sixth floor café at Galeries Lafayette offers a panoramic view over Paris.  Galeries Lafayette, 40 boulevard Haussmann, 9th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 42 82 34 56; Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. (9 p.m. on Thursdays); moderate-expensive; www.galerieslafayette.com  Printemps, 64 boulevard Haussman, 9th arrondissement; +33 (0)1 42 82 50 00; Monday-Saturday, 9:35 a.m.-8 p.m. (10 p.m. on Thursdays); moderate-expensive; departmentstoreparis.printemps.com Le Bon Marché/La Grande Épicerie Even the escalators are arty. The oldest (dating from 1838) and chicest department store in the best of Paris pantheon, with a food hall to match, Le Bon Marché and La Grande Épicerie are perfect for watching Rive Gauchers in their native habitat. And good picks for edible souvenir shopping. From here you can walk to the Luxembourg Gardens or stroll the St.-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, which, though it's developed an international, high-end blandness, still inspires dreams of literary grandeur with its iconic pair of cafés, Les Deux Magots (6 place St.-Germain-des-Près; +33 1 45 48 55 25; www.lesdeuxmagots.fr) and Café de Flore (172 boulevard St. Germain; +33 1 45 48 55 26; www.cafedeflore.fr) Le Bon Marché, 24 rue de Sèvres, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 44 39 80 00; Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday); www.lebonmarche.com La Grande Épicerie, 38 rue de Sèvres, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 44 39 8100; Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; www.lagrandeepicerie.fr Attractions Eiffel Tower You won't leave without a photo of it. We dare you. Yes, it's going to be crowded, but Gustave Eiffel's 320-meter-high (1,049 feet) curving lattice of puddle iron is iconic for a reason. You can take the stairs or an elevator to the second floor, or ride all the way to the top of what is the tallest building in the city. (Ochlo-, claustro- and acrophobes should think twice.) In warmer months, consider picnicking on the Champs de Mars. You can join the cheering when the glittery evening light show starts -- and ponder the fact that many critics judged the tower an eyesore when it was built as the grand entrance to the 1899 World Fair. Daily, June 15-September 1, 9 a.m.-12:45 a.m. (last elevator to the top, 11 p.m.; stairs close at midnight); September 2-June 14, 9:30 a.m.-11:45 p.m. (last elevator to the top, 10:30 p.m.; stairs close at 6 p.m.); adult admission €5/8.50/14.50 (stairs/elevator to second floor/elevator to top); ages 12-24, €3.50/7/13.00; ages 4-11 and disabled visitors €3/4/10; free for under-fours; www.eiffel-tower.com Notre-Dame, Sainte Chapelle and the Islands It's possible to make a discovery, even at one of the oldest places in Paris. This is the oldest part of Paris, tracing its metropolitan roots to the 17th century. On Île Saint Louis you'll find a touristy-but-charming main street, and quiet spots to perch along the river. Île de Cité is home to the Palais de Justice and the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette awaited her doom), along with two landmark churches, Notre-Dame (which celebrates its 850th anniversary this year) and Sainte Chapelle. Entry to Notre-Dame is free, unless you want to ascend 387 steps to the towers, which affords a decent view of the city and a chance to play out any Quasimodo-Esmeralda fantasies in front of the 13-ton Bourdon bell. Notre-Dame cathedral is free. Entry for the towers is on rue du Cloître; open daily; April 1-September 30 from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in July and August); October 1-March 31 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; €8.50 for adults, free for under-18s; notre-dame-de-paris Saint Chapelle entry is at 4 boulevard du Palais; open daily, March 1 -October 31, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; and November 1-February 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; €8.50 for adults, free for under-18s; sainte-chapelle Le Marais The narrow streets of Le Marais offer the best view of Pre-Haussmannian Paris. Once the city's aristocratic center, it's now a hub of gay life, a fashionable district that spreads from the 4th into the 3rd arrondissement. There are always lines for lunch at L'As du Fallafel (34 rue des Rosiers, closed Saturday) in the heart of the old Jewish quarter. You can learn more about the best of Paris through archival photos, civic relics and decorative objects at the Musée Carnavalet, dedicated to the history of the city.  (23 rue de Sévigné; +33 1 44 59 58 58; closed Monday; free; carnavalet.paris.fr) You can shop on rue des Francs Bourgeois, contemplate the divine symmetry of the Place des Vosges or hang out at the Maison Victor Hugo (6 place des Vosges, closed Monday; free; www.musee-hugo.paris.fr). The ultimate bourgeois-bohemian shopping experience starts or ends the day at Merci (111 boulevard Beaumarchais, +33 1 42 77 00 33; closed Sunday; www.merci-merci.com). Proceeds from your new Isabel Marant leather pants will go to charity. Retail therapy never felt so good.  Museums Paris has an astounding collection of world-class art museums and exhibition spaces. If you plan on packing in several, consider a Museum Pass, which includes entry to more than 60 museums and monuments while allowing you to skip ticket queues each time. Admission to most Paris museums is free on the first Sunday of each month. Musée du Louvre What? No lines? Simply one of the world's greatest museums, this sprawling palace houses works of art from prehistory through the 19th century (and an Apple store in the attached underground mall). The best strategy for tackling this huge place is to not try to cover too much at once, and have an exit strategy. It's the Louvre. It'll exhaust you, but you must go. Entry at the courtyard Pyramid, 1st arrondissement; +33 1 40 20 53 17; daily, except Tuesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (open until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays); €11 for adults, free for under-18s; www.louvre.fr More on CNNGo: Best of Rome Musée d'Orsay Always makes a good impression.The Orsay picks up where the Louvre leaves off, with a collection of mostly French art from the late-19th and early-20th century that's packed with Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces. 1, rue de la Legion d'Honneur, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 40 49 48 14; daily, except Monday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (open until 9:45 p.m. on Thursday); €9 for adults (€6.50 after 4:30 p.m., except Thursday), free for under-18s; www.musee-orsay.fr Musée de l'Orangerie Just across the river, this smaller sibling to the Orsay houses Monet's "Waterlilies," which look much better here than on a coffee mug. A €16 ticket lets you see both museums in the same day. Jardin des Tuileries, 1st arrondissement; +33 1 44 77 80 07; daily, except Tuesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; €7.50 for adults, free for under-18s; www.musee-orangerie.fr Le Centre Pompidou/The Pompidou Center Enter art. This polychrome, inside-out building has been dividing public opinion since its construction in 1977. Love it or hate it, it houses a pulsating survey of 20th- and 21st-century art in the permanent galleries that no Modernist should miss. There are also vibrant temporary exhibitions and multimedia activities. Place Georges Pompidou, 4th arrondissement; daily, except Tuesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (last admission 8 p.m.); €13 for adults, free for under-18s; +33 1 44 78 12 33 www.centrepompidou.fr Musée Rodin Impossible not to be thoughtful in the presence of Rodin. If you saw Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," you'll recognize the gardens of this museum, dedicated to the life and work of Auguste Rodin. An exquisite mansion houses the interior galleries, and outside you can walk among some of the artist's most celebrated bronzes, including "The Thinker" and "The Gates of Hell." 79 rue de Varenne, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 44 18 61 10; Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. (last admission at 5:15 p.m.); €9 for adults, free for under-18s; www.musee-rodin.fr Musée du Quai Branly It's not for everyone. Or meant to be.A cultural legacy of the Chirac presidency, the Branly (opened in 2006) is dedicated to non-European art. Supporters of the museum rejoice at the effort toward multiculturalism, while critics smell the unpleasant scent of lingering colonial attitudes in its conception and displays. 37 Quai Branly, 7th arrondissement; +33 1 56 61 71 72; Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday); permanent collection €8.50 for adults, free for under-18s (some sections require extra admission, see website for details); www.quaibranly.fr Le Grand Palais The art of symmetry.Crowned by an expansive, barrel-vaulted, cast iron and glass ceiling, the Grand Palais is itself an attraction. Constructed for the Universal Exposition of 1900, it contains multiple galleries that play frequent host to blockbuster traveling exhibitions. Entrance on avenue Winston Churchill, 8th arrondissement; +33 1 44 13 17 17; opening times and admission prices vary;  www.grandpalais.fr

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