Advantages: ease of access, huge ski area, good resorts, excellent apres ski
Disadvantages: poorly groomed pistes and very busy at weekends

...It is very easy to get to, about 7/8 hours easy driving from Calais, you can take the Eurostar from London straight to Bourg St Maurice (which is the town at the foot of the mountains, below the three resorts Arc Pierre Blanche, Arc 1800 and Arc 20000 which make up the resort of Les Arcs) or you can fly to either Lyon or Geneva which are both about 3 hours drive from the resorts. Arc Peirre Blanche is connected to Bourg St Maurice by Funicular Railway or there is a regular bus service to take you to the three high altitude ski resorts. Arc 1800 is the biggest and busiest and is great for all standards and abilities of skiers, and also families as there is a choice of several kindergartens and kid ski schools. Also, the resort is traffic free, all vehicles having to park on the outskirts. There are plenty of bars, restaurants... Read review

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Advantages: quite cheap, panoramic views of Paris, interesting attraction
Disadvantages: v.busy,

...I went to Paris for the weekend last summer with my girlfriend and had a great time. It soon became clear that almost every major attraction offers amazing panoramic views over Paris and the Arc de Triomphe is no exception. It is one of the most famous monuments in Paris and fronts many postcards. The Arc de Triomphe is at the western end of the Champs-Elysees; a sight in itself. The arch is a tribute of respect to those that have fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic wars. It was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806; his work was taken on by Huyon in 1811 when Chalgrin sadly died. However, the monument was not completed until 1836 by Goust and Huyot. The Arc stands at 165ft tall, 148ft wide and 72ft deep, the design inspred by the Roman Arch of Titus. It has been unchanged for many years now but has to be occasionally... Read review

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Advantages: Massive ski area, no queues, well kept pistes
Disadvantages: A little expensive

...I am a seasoned skier and have been skiing for the past 24 years, as a holiday skier, and I can honestly say Les Arcs is the best ski resort I have been to. I went there about 3 years ago, and our hotel - the name escapes me - was built into the side of the mountain in Arc 2000. The boot room was on the top floor, which confused us on the first day. We went to the boot room got ready for our first days skiing, as we stepped out on to the snow we were greeted with our own downward slope on to the main chair lift which then took us to various parts of the Les Arcs mountains. Because of the location of the hotel we never needed to walk or use the ski bus to gain access to the slopes. And when we finished our days skiing, we skiied towards our hotel to get the hotels own drag lift back to the boot room. Whoever designed this hotel... Read review

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Advantages: Truer To The Historical Legend, Leelee Sobieski Stars, Great Performances, Charlotte Church Vocals, Inexpensive, Captivating
Disadvantages: You Might Well Have A Tear In Your Eye By The End, Two Sided Disc, Long Film.

...JOAN OF ARC - RATED 12 This is one of the best versions of the legendary Joan of Arc I've seen. The acting is excellent, no cardboard characters. Many well known stars, excellent story line, plus some backing vocals by Charlotte Church, make this a must see movie. DIRECTOR, CAST, WRITERS: Directed by Christian Duguay. Starring: Leelee Sobieski, Chad Willett, Jacqueline Bisset, Powers Boothe, Olympia Dukakis, Neil Patrick Harris, Robert Loggia, Maximilian Schell, Peter Strauss, Jonathan Hyde, Maury Chaykin. Guest appearances by Shirley MacLaine also starring Peter O'Toole as Bishop Cauchon. Written by: Michael Alexander Miller, Ronald Parker DVD FEATURES: · Picture Format: PAL 4:3 Academy · Colour Mode: Colour · Region Code: 2 · Feature Duration: 180 minutes approximately · Audio Content: Dolby Digital Stereo · · Special... Read review

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Advantages: Huge Ski Area-Huge bar area!
Disadvantages: French Airports!

...One of teh most famous resorts in the Alps, Les Arcs is a purpose built resort on 3 levels. The 3 Villages at 1600, 1800 and 2000 have individual qualities which make them unique. 1600- near to bars and shops, obviously lower down the mountain , but more traditional than the other 2. Also nearer to the beginner slopes which makes it ideal for the family. 1800- Party Party Party! Bars and clubs, floodlit skiing. 2000- the highest and the best snow, purpose built this is a modern place with ample bars and restaurants, many ski in /ski out residences. Having stayed in all 3 places over the past few years all offer fantastic skiing and link brilliantly around the mountains and with the New link lift accross to La Plagne making this the biggest ski area in the alps (now bigger than 3 valleys) Always seems snow sure... Read review

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Advantages: An Excellent and Interesting album that's a Classic in its Genre.
Disadvantages: It might be a Slow-Burner for some.

...**ALBUM INTRODUCTION** If you want to know what hard work is about, just take a look back at alternative metal band earthtone9. If they weren't touring they were producing first-rate albums (and they produced three in just over two years) and it is here that we look at their third and last album. It's was recorded at Philia Studios in Henley on Thames and Backstage Studios in Ripley with the production by the acclaimed Andy Sneap (who used to be in legendary 80's UK metal band Sabbat). **ALBUM LINE-UP** Karl Middleton (Vocals). Owen Packard (Guitars, inc Bass). Joe Roberts (Guitars). Simon Hutchby (Drums). Jamie Floate (Bass). Fascinating Fact1 (lol): Owen actually played the Bass on 'arc'tan'gent'. When previous Bass player Graeme Watts left, they brought in Jamie Floate, but he only helped them out with a handful of gigs... Read review

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Advantages: Good view...
Disadvantages: ...but not the best

...♫ "Aux Champs Elysees… Aux Champs Elysees… Au soleil… sous la pluie…" ♫ Do you know the song? If not, at least you must have heard of the Champs Elysees. French people like to call it "The most beautiful avenue of the world". I am sorry to contradict them, but I have always wondered why. It is in fact quite ordinary. You'll find lots of cars, bad traffic, nice crowded shops and over-expensive coffee. That's it. Oh no! How could I forget? Among all that, you will find one of the most famous sights in Paris: the Arc de Triomphe. It was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 in order to commemorate his victories, but wasn't finished until 1836. It is 50 meters tall and 45 meters wide. I always thought the Arc de Triomphe was nice to look at, but I had never bothered visited it… until last summer. I had taken my... Read review

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Advantages: Less crowded than the Eiffel Tower, Great Views
Disadvantages: Thirsty Work, not

...In the first rush of love my fiancé and I decided to take a few days off and go away somewhere, a very Bridget Jones mini-break scenario! After looking at a few cities that we thought we would like to visit we decided on Paris. Paris is traditionally known as the city of romance and it did not disappoint. However this review is about the Arc de Triomphe, so I will stop rambling now. The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory in Austerlitz, regarded as his greatest victory of all time and destroyed the armies of enemies Russia and Austria. The arc was not finished until 1836, after Napoleon's reign had finished and indeed after his death in 1821. The structure was designed by Jean François Thérèse Chalgrin and completed during the reign of Louis Philippe. The Arc de Triomphe stands at around 50 metres... Read review

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Advantages: Nice features for price. Fits well under counter
Disadvantages: None as yet

...... Read review

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Advantages: Hypnotic film with an understated yet compelling performance by Florence Carrez.
Disadvantages: -

...How did an illiterate, 19-year-old peasant woman in the early 15th century become such a headache for the Bishop of Beauvais and his English controllers? Well, that 19-year-old just happened to have made history by leading thousands of French soldiers to triumph over the English occupiers in the final phase of the Hundred Years' War (1337 to 1453). Even more amazing, that same woman had had no previous military training whatsoever. And yet the armies followed her bidding with little question, and for their pains, got results - big, history-making results, as in the eventual retreat of the English from France in 1453. That woman, as you might guess, was Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc to the French). Some Background. So how exactly did she accomplish such feats? We get some illumination on the enigma of Joan from... Read review

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