european travel – Francois et Moi

European Train Travel: Lessons Learned

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 00:51:49 +0000

On our most recent trip abroad, Ken and I chose to buy Eurrail Passes to get from city to city, rather than fly or rent a car. The trains are a convenient and reliable way to get around Europe and see the countryside along the way! However, we did uncover a few lessons on the trains which I thought I’d share: In addition to purchasing your Eurrail Pass at least one month in advance, you’ll want to check to see if the train routes you’re planning to take require reservations. If they do, you’ll want to book reservations for those rides before you leave. This way you’re guaranteed a spot on that train, and you can just show up at the train station on the day of and hop on your train. Don’t forget to read the Eurrail literature that comes with your pass–there’s important information in there! Not all train lines are included in your Eurrail pass. There are some private train lines (i.e. the train that brings you up to Zermatt) that require you to purchase a separate ticket (at a discounted Eurrail Pass rate) for that leg of the trip. Trains show up at the train station as little as 5-10 minutes before it’s scheduled to […]

The post European Train Travel: Lessons Learned appeared first on Francois et Moi.

DIY Travel Wallet

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 13:23:37 +0000

I’m not a huge fan of the “bodysafes” or fanny packs that Americans are always told to wear to avoid being pick-pocketed when going abroad, mostly because anytime you whip it out to pay for anything it blatantly reinforces with a proverbial blinking arrow sign that you are a tourist, and thus potentially putting you at a greater risk for being targeted. I wore a bodysafe on my first trip abroad several years ago, and I found it uncomfortable and inconvenient, so I’m always interested to hear of alternative ways people stay secure, sans bodysafe. Taking a cue from Marcy’s 10 Packing Tips for European Travel, I made a lightweight, flexible 2.5″ x 4″ wallet, just big enough to hold my credit card, ID, & Euros (paper & coins), and one that I can keep nestled down in my front pocket (covered by my top and layered by my crossbody camera bag). It’s similar to my Mini Felted Clutch, only smaller and less complex. This baby came together easily in about an hour (The most difficult part was trying to remember how to thread my sewing machine and wind a new bobbin). I can’t wait to put it to work on our trip! Materials List: 4″ x 7″ wool felt […]

The post DIY Travel Wallet appeared first on Francois et Moi.

10 Packing Tips for European Travel

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:33:42 +0000

Marcy Russ, perpetual explorer, beauty seeker, and owner of Blended Blue, a Minneapolis-based rep group, has been all over this globe and has learned a thing or two along the way as to how to make the most of one’s travel experience. With my Euro trip just three weeks away, I asked her to share some of her tips for packing and preparing for travel abroad. Check out her killer advice below. Thank you Marcy! Adjust for the season, but packing light is golden. Always a carry-on. Always! You want your luggage to arrive with you, especially in a foreign country. Leave behind the extra weight and edit. The cardinal rule to packing light is to choose versatile pieces that you can easily mix, match and layer to create several different ensembles. Bring only minimal makeup (This will help you look European). Before you leave, pick up $300 in currency of where you’re going (unless you’re going somewhere silly expensive, then $400). Most everything will go on your credit card, so make sure to call your credit card company ahead of time, and tell them when and where you’ll be traveling. Otherwise, they may put a hold on your card, and it can take a some time to […]

The post 10 Packing Tips for European Travel appeared first on Francois et Moi.