France

How to visit France on a budget: Thirteen cost-cutting tips for travel in France

May 25, 2019 by Steve Ertrachter 12 Comments

If you’re visiting France, you might be wondering how you can afford your trip between the food, the hotels, and the attractions. However, it’s definitely possible to visit France on a budget.

These are tips that I’ve perfected via my time living in Paris, traveling in France, and my dad’s recent trip around France. Traveling on a budget isn’t always about surviving on a shoestring, but cutting back on unnecessary expenses to splurge on the experiences that matter to you. I wrote this blog post together with my dad based on his recent trip to Provence and my travel around France. This post has been recently updated based on a recent trip. (April 2019).

…

Your neighborhood guide to the 14th arrondissement of Paris

March 20, 2018 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

I often write about travel, but travel is often about enjoying your surroundings. For most of my time in Paris, I lived in the 14th arrondissement. Although this arrondissement isn’t famous in the same way that other arrondissements for its attractions, there are many things to do in 14th arrondissement as well as some fantastic food. I hope that this neighborhood guide to the 14e arrondissement inspires you to stick around to explore a bit of this local neighborhood in Paris.

Shortly after moving to Paris, we found a charming apartment in a historic Haussmannian building in the 14th. It was small and I wasn’t sure what it would be like in the 14th arrondissement. Given how crazy the apartment market in Paris is, we took it although the apartment wasn’t exactly what we thought it would be (“CLEAN ME” written into the blinds). That said, I instantly fell in love with the neighborhood. Most people only visit the 14th for the Montparnasse Tower or the Paris Catacombs, however hopefully this little guide inspires you to find some good food after visiting the catacombs.

…

What it’s like to stay in a chateau in France and beautiful French chateaux to stay at

May 1, 2018 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

Each of us has a bucket list with experiences that they want and staying in a chateau in France has been long been on mine. While living in Paris, my husband and I took a weekend road trip to Normandy and I knew that this was my chance to stay in a chateau in France (also the clock was ticking). Keep reading for my experience of staying at a chateau in France as well as others’ experiences staying at French chateaux, and other beautiful chateaus in France that you’ll want to visit!

…

24 hours in Paris: A local’s guide to off the beaten path Paris

November 10, 2017 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

In a sea of blogs about Paris, Kate from MoreNativeThanTheNatives, a Parisian resident, is here to give you an insider’s guide to Paris off the beaten path and Paris on a budget. She’s crafted a plan for 24 hours in Paris with alternative things to do in Paris and some best kept secrets. Keep reading for this off the beaten path Paris on a budget guide with a map!

…

Four days in Normandy road trip: The perfect Normandy itinerary

April 13, 2018 by Karen Turner 25 Comments

Considering visiting Normandy from Paris? You definitely should! Depending on how much you want to do, you can visit Normandy as a day trip from Paris if you only visit Rouen or spend three to four days road tripping in Normandy to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside in Normandy.

If you’re thinking that Normandy will be anything like Paris, get that thought out of your mind. Expect incredibly friendly people, reasonable accommodation options, mind-blowingly good food at the same price as an average meal in Paris, stunning cities filled with history and fantastic drinks.

…

Your perfect Paris itinerary for four days in Paris by a former resident

May 17, 2018 by Karen Turner 7 Comments

After living in Paris, I have been asked quite a few times for my Paris itinerary recommendations. I’ve put a lot of thought into what do to do in Paris and how long to spend in Paris, so I’ve assembled this itinerary for four days in Paris (with an additional day trip to Versailles) for how long I think is just right.

This itinerary is a mix of the top things to do in Paris that everyone will tell you that you must do and lesser-known things in Paris that may not be on your radar yet. I also include my favorite restaurants in Paris. Keep reading for my perfect Paris itinerary for four days in Paris.

I’ve broken this itinerary into four days to show you the different sides to Paris, including the side that not everyone sees. Obviously, not everyday may be what you want to do in Paris, however I hope that it serves as inspiration for your Paris itinerary. If you follow this itinerary, please let me know what you think!

…

Secret Montmartre: a free self-guided Montmartre walking tour

April 12, 2018 by Karen Turner 14 Comments

Planning your visit to Montmartre and tired of the crowds of Paris? This guide to one of Paris’ most famous arrondissements covers secret locations that you won’t read about on most other travel blogs with a complete self-guided walking tour of Montmartre with map.

I lived only a stone’s throw away from Montmartre during my part of my time in Paris, so I often wandered up to Pigalle and Montmartre. In this guide to Montmartre, I cover the history as well as the little villages/streets that make Montmartre truly special. The walking tour of Montmartre should take about 2 hours. The total distance covered is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles).

…

Versailles Travel Tips: What to know about visiting Versailles from Paris

April 24, 2018 by Karen Turner 17 Comments

Are you planning on taking a day trip from Paris to Versailles? For fans of history as well as Marie Antoinette (the movie), Versailles is something that must be included on your Paris bucket list. Read tips for the best month to visit Versailles, how to avoid the crowds at Versailles, and how to get to Versailles from Paris.

…

The perfect day trip from Paris to Provins, a beautiful medieval town

February 26, 2018 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

Visiting Paris and looking for the perfect day trip from Paris? Look no further than Provins, a medieval town that has been recognized as a French UNESCO world heritage site. Traveling from Paris to Provins takes about an hour and a half by train, however it’s easy to spend the day exploring the city. Keep reading for what to do in Provins in one day and where to eat in Provins. There’s a downloadable map with the best things to do in Provins at the bottom.

…

Covered Passages of Paris: A free self guided walking tour of Paris arcades with map

January 21, 2018 by Karen Turner 20 Comments

If you’re visiting Paris, you might be looking for something unusual to do in Paris besides seeing the Eiffel Tower. Either way, you will not want to miss the arcades of Paris. In my time living in Paris, I loved getting lost in the covered passages in Paris, which retain an air of magic and make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

This free self-guided walking tour through Paris should give you glimpse into the secret Paris that Parisians know, love, and guard with their lives. This walk through the covered passages of Paris includes some of Paris’ most beautiful passages, including Passage Verdeau, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage des Panoramas as well as some off the beaten path attractions.

…