round trip travel and lifestyle blog

Tips and Tricks

8 {Mostly} Free Ways to Pass the Time in Line at Disney World

You’ve dreamt of Disney since you were little. And you’re finally here! The magic sets in, but then you see throngs of tourists and a queue line that could wrap around the Earth a time or two. UGH. You may plan your outfits and game plans for each day, but you probably didn’t take into account how much time you’d be spending just waiting to get on a ride. Unfortunately, Cinderella’s bippity-boppity-boo doesn’t work on the lines at Disney World (yes, even with Fast Passes). For my visit in mid-March, a 30-minute line was “decent” and “not too bad.”...

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6 Manicure Tips for the Traveling Woman

Looking cute after 10 hours on a stuffy flight or a walking tour in a heat advisory is tough.  Especially when you have bed head and a bit of drool on your chin from the little nap you took.  Or you have pit stains down to your hips and a nice “glisten” working through your foundation.  While choosing the right garb to strut Michigan Avenue is absolutely essential (look here for some tips!), another easy thing that will bring your outfit from 0 to 100 in a snap is a manicure.  Well groomed hands make you look more polished...

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Useful French Phrases

Becoming fluent in a foreign language takes years and years of practice.  And if you’ve planned a trip abroad, you probably don’t have that kind of time, money or energy.  So, if you’re headed over to France, here are some useful phrases you may want to become acquainted with before departure.  But what’s the point?  Parisians all speak English anyway!  However, it’s been said that Parisians are nicer when you at least attempt to speak some French phrases.  And after spending some time there, I would absolutely agree!  For more French phrases and pronunciations, click here.  Bonne chance! Useful...

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How to Bust Your Boredom on Your Next Flight

Nothing’s worse than having to sit for hours in a stuffy car or plane thinking about the salty waves and warm sand you’ll be feeling soon.  Here are several items you should bring along with you to pass the time quickly. 1. Headphones and a long playlist Music can be a great way to pass the time and get your mind off the distance between you and the ground below you.  Making a 10 hour playlist for my plane ride to London was a fabulous decision–I even added an album I’d never listened to that my sister had recommended! ...

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How to Cure a Wanderlust Bug Bite

Once you’ve tasted the Italian gelato and cruised down the Seine, there’s no going back.  But the crazy thing about a round trip is that there’s the coming home part, which is uneventful and not dazzling.  After readjusting from the 7 hour time difference and recovering from a terrible cold, I fully came to the realization that I was home and not in Europe.  Sigh.  Home: where I couldn’t walk to see the sights and actually needed a car to do things.  Where fresh Nutella gelato wasn’t just down the road.  Where I couldn’t see the breathtaking Eiffel Tower...

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7 Not-So-Touristy Souvenirs to Buy

It’s way too easy to buy the souvenirs that most others do: T-shirts, snow globes, and teddy bears.  But your trip is unique and what you buy should reflect that.  Here are some useful, memorable souvenirs that you’ll be itching to take home on your next vacation. 1. Postcards Yeah, they’re cliché, but some can be great pieces of art in your home.  Even if you aren’t able to send the postcard home from the city you’re in, they’re definitely worth the 50 cents.  They’re easy to frame or place in a collage board once you return. 2. Antiques...

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9 Things You Shouldn’t Forget to Pack

Underwear?  Check.  Swimsuit?  Yep.  Headphones?  Of course.  We each have our list of items we are sure to never forget.  But it feels that almost every time you reach your destination, you can think of more items you wished you would’ve packed.  Below I’ve shared several items that are easy to forget but are necessities: Here are some extremely important items that aren’t on most general packing lists or are extremely easy to forget. 1. Earplugs Nothing makes you more grouchy than a snoring roommate or a loud A/C.  Don’t forget to bring these to make sure that you...

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Bienvenue

Hey there, I'm Kristin, a Missouri girl living in southern France and teaching English. I love planning weekend trips, sharing my best expat tips and sipping iced coffee.

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