REAL DEALS
Thailand, Air/15 Nights, From $1,795
Meet Buddhist monks, ride an elephant, dine with locals at their home, and otherwise immerse yourself in Thai culture as you journey from the country's urban south to its rural north.
FACE-LIFT
Mirror, Mirror in the Hall
September 2007 issue
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It took a team of about 80 artisans to restore the Hall of Mirrors
(Benoit Tessier/Reuters/Corbis)
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It's been three years since sections of Versailles's Hall of Mirrors were sealed off for a top-to-bottom, $16 million makeover. Drop cloths have finally been removed, allowing visitors to once again view the hall in all its 240-foot-long, 357-mirror splendor. This was the first time that the hall--built as a royal banquet space for Louis XIV--had been completely cleaned and restored, from the parquet flooring to the Le Brun ceiling frescoes. chateauversailles.fr, from $14.
Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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