I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Living in the South of France can be pretty awesome. Now, with the new TGV MAX Card, I can go wherever I want in France simply with a tap of a button on my smartphone (for more information on the pass, check out my previous post here). Naturally, this means that every free day consists of traveling. My first day trip? Paris.


For those of you that might be aware, Paris has a special place in my heart. I studied abroad in the Spring of 2015 and consider it to be my second home. Regardless of what I do in Paris, I always seem to enjoy myself. Though Paris might seem like a daunting city to tackle in less than 12 hours, it can be done (and almost all via on foot).


I started my day off by getting on the train from Montpellier at 7 am. By 10:45 am I was stepping out of the Gare Du Lyon station, located in the 12th arrondissement, ready to conquer the day. I started my day off walking along the Seine towards Hotel Du Ville. I have to say, it was pretty magical watching the sun creep up in the morning in Paris. It was as if I was in a movie. Everything seemed perfect. The sun was shinning. People were smiling as they jogged next to the river and kids were laughing at the park.



By 12, I found myself in an area of Paris that I usually don't go to: The Latin Quater. Sure, I have had my nights hanging around the bars over here but I had never seen the churches and buildings that somehow mysteriously emerge in this quaint neighborhood. As I made my way further up the street, I found myself over by Place D'Italie and then towards the Montparnasse Area. I'll always hold a soft spot for this neighborhood in particular since its where I went to school. There I was, transported back into time, at my favorite sushi restaurant as if it were the Spring of 2015 again.



To continue my journey going down memory lane I decided to take my favorite metro route on Line 13. Now you might be wondering why line 13 is my favorite. Sure the 6 is great for its spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower, but there's something about the energy (and the fact that it is always packed no matter what time or day it is) that makes this my favorite metro line. I'm sure that if you asked anyone who has lived in Paris they would tell you that i'm crazy for saying this.

I continued my day on Rue Saint Honore to do some window shopping. Until recently, I had never stepped foot into a designer store (Prada in Milan, naturally being my first). I decided to muster up the courage and see if I would be granted entrance into one of the coveted stores. Several minutes later (and what I assume were mini heart attacks as well), I found myself touching haute-couture and being shown the latest collection of Pret-a-porter from LongChamp (which is naturally my favorite brand). Sure, I might of walked out of the store empty handed but what I had couldn't be bought: happiness (cheesy, I know).


After being treated like a princess in Paris (this should be a slogan for something), I decided it was time to catch up with a friend and do what anyone does on a sunny day in Paris: tan on Pont Neuf and watch the sunset. It was amazing to think that somehow I had conquered Paris in such a small amount of time. 14 kilometers after, and a falafel for the road in the Marais, I was back by the Bastille where the magic had all began. Only a minute to spare, I hopped on my train at Gare Du Lyon and began thinking about where I would go to next.


Have you done a day trip in Paris?


Until next time,

Elie Saab 2017

Photo from http://reikian.com

Mango 2016

TheBlondeSalad.com

Stella McCartney

Until recently, I struggled with finding affordable ways to travel around France. Sure, I had the Carte Jeune which gave me 25% reduction fee, but tickets were still 60 euros one way to Paris from Montpellier on a good day. Here are some tips on how to travel within France on a tight budget.

1. TGV Max pass: This is a new program that only started up last month in February. The card is 79 euros a month for ages 16-27 and can be used throughout France on TGV max trains. I have already used this card for three day trips to Paris, Marseille, and Lyon in the last month alone. Be aware that not every train is a TGV so unfortunately some routes aren't an option. For more information on TGV max check this link. 
2. KelBillet: I cannot recommend this website enough. This is a great website that helps compare prices on every transport including trains, blabla cars, planes, and buses. Kel Billet will show you what date is the cheapest to travel with what mode of transportation. I used this website to book a last minute trip to Aix in October for 14 euros round trip (something that you wont be able to find on SNCF's website). 
3. Ryanair: I mentioned in an earlier blogpost my love for Ryanair. This discounted airline offers deals within France and to other countries for sometimes as little as 9 euros. Be aware that it can sometimes be difficult to get to Ryanair's selected airports. For more information on flying with Ryanair, you can check my review here. 
4. Train for 1 euro: This deserves an honorable mention for it's concept. If you know well enough in advance (about a month) I would recommend using this website to book your train ticket for destinations in the south of France. One way trips are 1 euro, but be careful: these tickets do sell out fast, so grab yours before its too late. For more information on the 1 euro train, click here. 

In case you hate reading excessive amounts of text via my blog (hey it doesn't always suit everyone's fancy I know), I have created a short video of my travels from last month. Hope you and enjoy and let me know what you think of the final project! Fingers crossed, I can create a semi-sentimental video of my time here in France in June.


Until next time,

You probably have heard of the airline, 'Ryainair' before. Known for their cheap flights, this airline has a reputation for charging customers high rates from printing boarding passes (50 euros) to selecting seats. If you read my last blog post, you might have seen that I traveled for two weeks around Europe using Ryanair. Here are a few things you need to know about the airline company before you go on board for your next voyage:

1) Yes, they really do have the cheapest flights: Flights range from 5-100 euros. Typically you can find deals flying throughout Europe for under 20 euros one way. Throughout my two week voyage in Europe the highest rate I ever payed for a flight with Ryanair was 25 euros. That's a pretty good deal if you ask me1

2) There are extra fees: Beware of extra fees with the company including selecting your seat (this ranges from 2-4 euros) as well as luggage and printing out boarding passes.

3) NON EU CITIZENS: Be aware that you cannot use the app at this time as a boarding pass. You must print off your boarding pass and complete a visa check in before heading off to your designated gate. Though this might seem like a hassle, if you prepare and print all of your belongings before hand you'll have no problem getting on board.

4) Luggage: You can bring one carry on luggage on-board with you. Check to see if your suitcase matches the requirements before heading off to the airport. Though the company is known to have a reputation for being strict on carry on size, I never had (or saw) anyone have a problem fitting their suitcase in the over head compartment. Be aware that the majority of people flying Ryanair also have carry-ons and that space on the aircraft is limited to the first 90 customers. If you would prefer not to wait in line for your suitcase after landing, be sure to be in line before boarding begins to ensure a place on the aircraft.

5) Plane cleanliness: You might be asking yourself why boarding is always a breeze with Ryanair. Your answer: Compared to most major airlines, after the plane has landed a cleaning crew will arrive before the next group of passengers board. This is not the case for Ryanair, as they only seem to clean their planes at the beginning of the shift and at the end. My tip: bring disinfectant.

6) Check in: Remember that you can check in online sometimes up to 30 days in advance before your flight. Be sure that you have done this so that you can print out your boarding pass.

7) Airports: Ryanair serves various destinations that can sometimes be hard (or almost impossible) to access to the city center. Be aware of this and that sometimes your taxi or train ride can cost more than your flight.


Other facts to know:

• Ryanair does not provide free food or beverages on board (for purchase only)
• Ryanair does not have a frequent flyer program
• Ryanair is an Irish company
• If you arrive on time or early to your destination trumpets play on the speaker

One of the perks of being a language assistant (other than the fabulous students) are the many breaks that occur throughout the school year. If you look at my work contract for example, you will be surprised to find out that almost 50% of my stay includes paid vacations. Naturally, this means for my travel addict self that I have to explore the world. Just one catch. My vacation is for two weeks. Now for someone that might live in Europe (I'm talking to you- British Council assistants), I do not have the luxury of taking a train or plane to Rome for example for a weekend holiday. So, I did what many Americans do: cram and see as many locations as possible within Europe in a short amount of time. Here is the breakdown of the trip my friend and I took for two weeks
 

         London: Three night, two days
         Dublin: Two nights (one day in town, another day on the west coast for the Cliffs of Moher)
        Brussels, Belgium: Three nights, two days
        Gent, Belgim: Day Trip
         Milan: Two nights, one day
         Bologna: Day trip
         Florence: Two nights
         Genova: Day trip
         Nice: Two nights

In the span of two weeks we somehow managed to visit five countries and ten different towns ON OUR OWN. We didn't use a tour company or follow a study abroad group. We simply looked at a map of places we wanted to visit, checked prices on Ryainair, and crossed our fingers that we were making the right decisions. Sure, we had traveled around America on our own as adults, but this was really the first time that we had successfully managed to create a long term trip together. Though there were nights that I would have rather been at home instead of a hostel with twenty people in a room , I can honestly say that this trip was an experience of a lifetime. I got to see, meet, and of course eat so many wonderful and new things while traveling (which I'll explain further in my next blog post). I won't lie and tell you that my travels were always glamorous.




For two weeks I lived out of a carry on suitcase, had a twisted ankle, and could be found in airports at 4 am in the morning searching for a coffee stand. But it was worth it. I wouldn't take back any of the experiences that we had traveling those two weeks together because they helped shape not only how I viewed the world, but also how I travel. Sure, it can be nice to travel in luxury every once in a while (after all, everyone deserves to feel like a princess once in a while), but its not necessary to always stay at a fancy hotel or travel via cruise ship. Staying in hostels gave me the possibility to meet new people, try new things (like a pub crawl for example), and see parts of the cities that one probably can't find in pamphlets. So here's to trying out new foods, meeting new people, and exploring different parts of the world that I could never imagine. You never know what might happen.

Until next time,