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Top 10 Tips to Save Money Visiting France

July 1, 2020 by Dana Zeliff 10 Comments

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

Save Money Visiting France

A visit to France, and specifically Paris, is the trip of a lifetime for many people. While it’s true that it is an expensive place to visit, there are several ways you can make your euro go further. Here are ten ideas to save money visiting France to get you started!

10 Tips to Save Money Visiting France:

1. Rent an Apartment. Hotel prices are sometimes exorbitant but there are plenty of people who rent their apartments out for visitors. This is a great way to save not only the initial cost of housing, but to also save money when it comes to food.  This is why we chose a France rental apartment instead of a hotel.

2. Eat in. While it can be incredibly tempting to eat out every meal while you’re in such a food mecca, but the cost of feeding a family is high. If you plan to eat every meal in a restaurant you could easily spend 150E or more a day on meals. Instead opt for breakfast in or grab a few items for a picnic dinner.

3. Fixed Price Lunch. If you’re going to eat a meal out, make it lunch where you’ll be able to get more for your money. Most places offer a fixed price lunch & dinner (plat du jour), where for 12-15E you get a 3 course set meal (with wine included). Ordering ala carte off the menu will cost you a bit more but lunch is still the best value meal of the day.  This is also the freshest food – usually straight from the market!  And let me tell you, it’s fabulous!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: France, Europe Travel with Kids, Travel Budget Tips

10 Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

June 3, 2020 by Dana Zeliff

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

 

Are you getting excited about your next getaway? You’ve made all the necessary reservations, planned activities, shopped for a new swimsuit and started packing your bags. But have you thought about how to stay healthy while on the journey? Changes in routine can cause havoc with your digestive system. Eating new foods and not getting enough rest or exercise can quickly turn your vacation from fun to troublesome. To help combat some common issues and help you have an amazing trip, I’ve put together 10 tips to stay healthy while traveling. Follow these tips and hopefully you return home with stories of adventures.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel Tips & Tricks

Road Trip Planning Made Easy: How to Organize Your Car for a Road Trip

May 6, 2020 by Dana Zeliff 16 Comments

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

 

Are you planning a road trip this summer?  Whether you’re making the annual road trip to Grandma’s house or heading off on a new adventure, you’ll want to make planning and organization a top priority.  Learning how to organize your car will help you start off your vacation with less stress. For my family, keeping the car organized creates space, keeps things clean and makes the journey more comfortable. Not to mention, I want to be able to find what I want, when I need it!

Before you hit the road, it’s important to make a list of everything you may need during your trip. Personally, I like to make 2 lists, one to help with packing our luggage and another for packing the car.

Food is a necessity when traveling with kids and I like to ensure we have all the fixings for breakfast and lunch, plus plenty of beverages and savory and sweet snacks on hand to keep the entire family hydrated and fed during our journey.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Road Trip Planning

Free Printable Kids Packing List

April 29, 2020 by Dana Zeliff 3 Comments

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

Free Printable Kids Packing List
{Pin It}

Let kids get excited about travel and allow them to pack their own bag with this kids packing list. The pictures are sure to keep your little one on point with what they need to pack for summer travel.

Boys Packing List - Kids Packing List

Download and print the Boy Packing List HERE in PDF format.

Girls Packing List - Kids Packing List

Download and print the Girl Packing List HERE in PDF format.

Come back and let us know how your kiddos liked the custom kids packing list!

I love this kids luggage – Trunki if you need an idea.  The lightweight Trunki allows children to ride their luggage through the airport or train station.

You might also like Travel Activity Box for Kids or Kids Printable Travel Games!

Filed Under: Travel Tips & Tricks, Travel Printables

Top 5 Things to See in St. Augustine with Kids – Plus St. Augustine Itineraries

April 6, 2020 by Dana Zeliff 6 Comments

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

Top Things to See in St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine, Florida is a wonderful city to visit. It is so rich in history, being the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States, that it’s the perfect place to take your world schooling kids. Plus a trip doesn’t have to be long and expensive!  In just a couple days, you can experience five of the top things to see in St. Augustine.

Many of the things you want to see are close to each other.  As long as you’re okay with some walking, you can see a lot in one day. If you can spend three days, you will be able to see a lot that the city has to offer.  Our itinerary calls for at least 2 full days.

Below are 5 things that you won’t want to miss during your visit. Follow along for some tips and personal experiences with each attraction.

It’s worth noting that there are several hotels in the area. We have visited a few times and learned that the hotels near I-95 are about 5 miles from the downtown area where you’ll be spending time. For the most part, they are not much cheaper than the hotels in town. Spend the money, if you can, and get a centrally located hotel. You can walk to many of the places we will mention plus you won’t have to worry about finding parking and paying parking fees. These fees could possibly make up the difference between staying in town vs. out of town.

Things to See in St. Augustine with Kids

Indian Area at Fountain of Youth Park
Who wants to drink from the Fountain of Youth?
Archeological dig site at Fountain of youth

 

First on the list of things to see is the Fountain of Youth. It is located just a few blocks from the historic downtown as well as 3 of the other places on this list. It’s just behind the Old Town area, so try and combine those into one day if you can.  How much you pack into one day will depend on the ages of your children and how much time you have in St. Augustine.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Florida, North America, Destinations

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. I believe planning a great trip doesn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling through travel forums and getting overwhelmed by all the logistics.

My approach to travel is built on real-world experience. Alongside my husband and our two kids (who are now 19 and 22), I’ve explored 48 countries across 4 continents including a life-changing four years living as expats in France.

Whether you want a custom European trip built from scratch or a seamless cruise vacation, I combine my firsthand travel knowledge with top industry credentials to handle the stress of planning. You just pack your bags and enjoy the journey. Read More…

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