Tips and Tricks Archives

Basic French for Travelers

People like to joke about the French often, but the truth is that France is the most visited country in the world with 89 million tourists each year. And there’s good reason for it. If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with all things France and lived in Toulouse for a summer. Knowing a few key phrases for any country you visit is a great practice, and in France, these will come very much in handy. The French are known to be nicer to tourists who at least attempt French. If you’re traveling to France, here’s a quick...

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Our Trip to France Got Canceled, Here’s What We Did Instead

COVID has changed nearly every aspect of our lives, and it can be disheartening. Last April, my mom and I started planning my graduation trip to France. We’d start in Paris and then head down to Lyon and later the Riviera. My grandpa gave me Christmas money that I set aside for snorkeling in the Mediterranean, and my sisters, mom and I worked on a Google doc with our itinerary wish lists. We spent over a year planning and paying off our trip, and COVID canceled our trip to France. Although extremely bummed, my sister had the bonne idée...

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My Post-Grad Plans and Reflections on College

Displaced. I truly can’t think of a better word than displaced to describe the past few months but also this new life stage. It’s called college graduation. I truly can’t tell you what I expected to feel and experience, but it wasn’t this. No, this wasn’t the way I wanted to end my college career — in a global pandemic, that is. But is there really any good way to say goodbye? I hate goodbyes. They’re awkward and just make me sad; they feel forced, sometimes fake. I’m entering a new season of life, but I don’t exactly know...

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50 Most Used French Verbs to Know + Free Flashcards

Learning a foreign language can be a doozy. Sometimes I get so frustrated by what I don’t know that it takes away the joy from what I do know. My French teacher in high school reminded us that even though we’re native English speakers, we still won’t know every last English word and rule. And it’s the same when we’re learning French. Today we’re going to learn the 50 most common French verbs. Studying the most popular words in a language is a great place to begin learning. Paul Rivenc did a study* on the most commonly used French...

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13 Ways to Travel At Home During Quarantine

Being quarantined is a hard, emotional experience, especially if you love to travel. Although for very good reason, these travel bans can be tough to process if you got a case of wanderlust. Being a travel blogger, I feel you. It’s hard when one of the things you love most in life seems to have been taken away from you — even when you know this quarantine is for a good reason. Lucky for you, I’ve rounded up the 13 best ways to “travel” at home during quarantine. From travel podcasts to travel-themed crafts, here are the best ways...

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9 Best Travel Makeup Products

Confession time: I am a lazy girl when it comes to makeup, especially when I’m travel makeup. Don’t get me wrong: I love getting ready and all dolled up for a night out. But at the same time, I like simple, easy, not complicated. And when I’m traveling, my days are much more involved and active than the average day at work. Whether I’m climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris or hiking in Montserrat, Spain, I want to make sure what I apply in the morning lasts till the last call at the bar. I don’t want to constantly...

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The Beginner’s Guide: How to Plan a Trip to Europe

I had the great privilege of traveling to 11 different countries before I even turned 21, and most of these countries are in Europe. Getting a French degree and running a travel blog, I love traveling to Europe. This May, I’ll be headed to France for the fourth time! So, if you’re wanting to learn how to plan a trip to Europe, you’re in the right spot. This is one of the questions I get most. How do I plan a trip to Europe? What do I need to know? How do I get there? What do I pack?...

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7 Ways to Learn A Foreign Language

If you know me or have followed me on social media for any amount of time, there’s something you’ll pick up on quickly. I got a thing for the French language: learning it, speaking it, sharing it, writing it. At the end of 8th grade, I transferred schools and remember sitting in the counseling office of a new school that was literally 10 times larger. As I sat with my academic counselor, I agonized over what foreign language I would take. (I suffer from a rare condition my mom calls analysis paralysis.) Being the independent middle child I am,...

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5 Ways to Stay Healthy and Fit While Traveling

Croissants, gelato and pizza — travel is a treat, especially when it means trying new, decadent, rich foods. And although I’ll never recommend calorie counting while traveling (vacation calories don’t count!), our bodies do need proper nourishment and care, especially when we’re in a different routine. Vacation is definitely the time to order dessert and try new foods, but if you’re looking to keep tabs on your weight or simply want to stay fit and healthy while traveling, I’ve got you covered. I’m pretty religious when it comes to working out. It helps me relieve stress and puts me...

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