The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

France

Soaring Through the Sky in Châtel, France {Fantasticable Review}

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Fantasticable Review Chatel, France

If your travels take you anywhere near Châtel, France, give this means of transportation a try! Take a flight with Fantasticable.  Of course you won’t be going far, but strapped comfortably into a harness,  you’ll soar over the hamlet of Plaine Dranse at a height of more than 200 meters, seeing the sights from a different perspective.  It is a exhilarating experience with breathtaking views that should not be missed.

As part of K’s 11th birthday celebration, my family went on Fantasticable rides.  K and Derrick each rode alone while Lucy (8) and I rode double.  She was just at the weight mark to ride by herself, but we wanted to experience the thrill together and, to be honest, we were a little chicken to fly solo!

Kids all geared up and ready to soar.
Kids all geared up and ready to soar.

The first line is 1257 m (4124 ft) long and 150 m (492 ft) high.  Adventurers go between 80 and 100km/h (50 – 62 mph), depending on the weight of the passenger and the wind conditions.  Since Lucy and I rode tandem, I figure our combined weight had us going closer to the 62 mph mark!

The second line is the longest and highest of the two – 1323 m (4341 ft) long and 240 m (787 ft) high.  The maximum speed is 120km/h (75 mph).

Derrick getting locked into his harness waiting for the countdown.
Derrick getting locked into his harness ready to fly.

It’s an incredible experience!  The ride is smooth, but the wind whipping by your ears as you fly through the air will keep your heart pumping.

K made a video of his adventure.  Watching him soar over the mountain beats the written word at describing this thrill.

Can’t see the video? Click HERE

Rates:
36€ per person

Restrictions:
Weight must be between 35 and 120kg but can vary depending on wind conditions.

Access:
Use the Pierre-Longue then the Rochassons chair lifts.  You will see the building to get weighed and your gear to the left once you exit the final lift.  Make sure to purchase your tickets at the base of the mountain.

Website:
http://www.fantasticable.com/chatel_anglais.php

Mom and Lucy on Fantasticable
Mom and Lucy on Fantasticable

 

K flying with Fantasticable
K flying with Fantasticable

We would love to hear about your experience with Fantasticable or similar zip line companies.

Don’t miss our article on things to do with kids in Châtel, France for more fun ideas.

Where to Zip Line in Chatel, France

Disclosure:  Our experience was courteous of Châtel Tourism.  As always, all options are 100% my own and may differ from others.

Our March 2015 Expenses in France

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Expenses in France

Another month has come and gone.  We closed out March WAY over budget – $1,000 over budget!

So what happened?

First, we became official French residents.  Part of our final approval involved paying 482€ in taxes (241€ each.)  We also prepaid 10 hours of French lessons in the amount of 197€.  That is only 20€ per hour which is AMAZING!  French lessons are ridiculously expensive in Nice.

We also went over our grocery budget by $300, spent $40 on a taxi getting to the OFII to obtain our residence sticker, bought Derrick a new pair of jeans, and well… you can see how things start to add up quickly.

March 2015 Expenses Chart:

Can’t view the chart? Click HERE

Expenses:

Grocery $1,320.38
Eating Out $450.48
Miscellaneous $1,082.33
Entertainment $13.10
Transportation $128.10
Housing $1,302.85
Health Insurance $499.00
US Car Insurance $97.61
US Storage unit $136.00
Total $5,029.85

Our US expenses are $233.62 total for our US car/umbrella policy and our storage unit for the items we kept for our return to the US.  We also have an international health insurance policy (required for our Visa) that is $500 per month.

The exchange rate is still low at just 1.07€ to the $1.  I prefer to translate all our expenses to USD since our income is in dollars. My goal is to not exceed $4,000 per month.  While other travelers could spend significantly less, this budget allows my family of 4 to live comfortably.

What are your secrets to staying in budget while living abroad?

See more of our monthly expenses here.

Carnaval Nice 2015 – Your Ultimate Guide to Nice Carnival, France

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Nice Carnival Tips

The Nice Carnival or Carnaval de Nice is one of the largest carnivals in the world. Each year, approximately 1 million visitors flock to this winter event along the Côte d’Azur.  During the 17 day’s of Carnival,  Nice is brimming with people from all over the world enjoying the parades, beach and great food.

History:

Carnaval de Nice can be traced back to 1294. Before fasting for lent,  the people of Nice would celebrate by attending masquerades and indulging in rich cuisine. The celebrations also included mocking of everything and everyone while hiding behind disguises of masks and costumes.

In 1873, the 1st parade was introduced along with “Ymagiers” (image producers), a structured production and paying stands.   Just three years later, the 1st Flower Parade or Bataille de Fleurs (Battle of Flowers) emerged.   Although the Nice Carnival has changed over the years, it still retains some of it’s original grandeur, big head construction and peculiarity.

Each year,  the modern carnival boosts a new theme. The 2015 theme was King of Music and the 2016 theme will be King of Media.  I’m anxious to see updates as the Carnavaliers create new floats for the upcoming Carnival.  The attention to detail on the floats is phenomenal!

Where:

The Carnival Parades and Parades of Lights take place around Place Masséna.  The Flower Parades take place on the Promenade des Anglais. These locations are in the city center,  near Old Town.  As a tourist, it’s easy to find the locations – just look for the bleachers!  You can find a map of the parade locations through the Tourism office or online. This is a handy map to pick up, and will help you stake out your parade spot in advance.

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February 2015 Expenses in France

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France Expenses February 2015


February in Nice was definitely more expensive than January.  We had our first full month in France, so our grocery budget tripled.  We also spent more on entertainment – visiting the Monaco Aquarium and purchasing tickets for stadium seating at the Nice Carnival.

We left the beautiful port on the 28th of February and are now spending 3 months just down the street from the famous Negresco Hotel. It’s a completely different feel on this side of town, more residential and traditional.  We opted for a taxi (40€) to get us to the next apartment instead of walking with our luggage.  We need to send A LOT of stuff back with my Mom before our big tour of Europe this summer.

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How Much Does It Cost to Live in France? January 2015 Expenses

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January 2015 Expenses in France


Moving overseas is terrifying.   Most people don’t think they could ever pick up and live abroad, especially with kids. We are sharing our expenses living in France for a year to help you see that your dream can be a reality. While our expenses may be different from what your family would spend, this is what my family of 4 spends per month in Nice, France. How Much Does It Cost to Live in France? January’s data is a little skewed. We were supposed to arrive in France on 1/6, but we had to push back our trip to 1/22 due to family obligations. We still paid 3 weeks rent, and the exchange rate at time of payment was approximately 1.23€ to the dollar.

View near our apartment
View near our apartment

We are staying in a 2 bedroom apartment along the Port of Nice. We wanted a central location for experiencing the city on foot.  We could have rented cheaper accommodations but the locations weren’t as central.

There are 10 days of food which include many start up necessities such a cleaning products, laundry detergent, olive oil, spices, etc. We also ended up eating out 3 times. Our budget allows for 1 meal out per week, so we blew that one this month.

We also spent 45€ for a taxi ride to the apartment from the airport and experienced a bit of a mishap with the tram that cost us an extra 6€.

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