Far and Away, France

FAR &AWAY W I N T E R

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• A SIMPLE GUIDE TO A GLAMOROUS TRIP •

PARIS & THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

BEST FRIENDS FOR

TAKE ME TO THE

GIVERNEY

TRAVEL

KING

GETAWAY

Things to consider before you book that group trip

The work around at Versailles that will help you avoid the crowds

A visit to the famous impressionists home

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Editor's Notes Our Editor-In-Chief welcomes you to this little jaunt through France.

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File It Under France A detailed 10-day guide to Paris and the South of France. Plus the mistakes we made that you don't have to!

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Overseas, Under Budget Traveling, especially internationally, definitely can cost but there are ways to save and sometimes find amazing deals. We'll show you how.Â

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Take Me To The King There's a pretty simple way to avoid the long lines and expensive tours that come with the splendor of Versailles.Â

FAR & AWAY

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EDITOR'S NOTE

From the Editor France, Paris and Cannes in particular, is like

a plan so grand that even 30 couldn’t stand

a bright light in my memory. It was there I

up to it. Turn 30 in the South of France. It

celebrated my 30th birthday with some of

was that vision that manifested into an 10

the most important people in my life. August

day adventure through Paris, the

in Paris was a beautiful mix of sunny yet chilly

Champagne region and Cannes. In this

days. Many shops and restaurants were

edition I’ll lay out some of the best (and

closed for the season, true. But the low time

worst) of the trip. What worked and what

brought a calm to the city of lights that

didn’t. You’ll also find some extras from my

made it feel cozy and familiar. Cannes, on

parents 40th anniversary trip to Paris where

the other hand, was all warm luxury. Yachts,

they were able to explore some places that

late night dinners on the beach, fireworks. A

just didn’t make it on the 30th birthday trip.

beautiful realization of a dream I’d had for

I hope this guide will help you create some

years. See, at the age of 25 I developed an

brilliant memories of your own.

unnecessary fear of turning 30. So, I crafted

y a l C e Ariell Arielle Clay

Editor-In-Chief

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU LOOK AT THAT MATTERS, IT'S WHAT YOU SEEÂ

".

file it under france WORDS BY ARIELLE CLAY

By foot, train & plane. Here is a look at a 10-day itinerary that includes some of Paris' most notable attractions and a few luxurious days in the South of France. Navigating wasn't always easy but the destinations were certainly worth it.

Day 1 Walking Tour - Seine River, Eiffel, Notre Dame, Louvre

Versailles. For full details on how

important detail to note in

to skip the long lines at the

planning. We purchased our

palace for just a few extra euros

tickets in advance online for 12

head to page 18. Trust me, it's

euros. Pre-purchasing was a life

worth it.

saver for many of our excursions

The 2.5 hour jaunt began at Fontaine Saint-Michele and took us by many notable locations including Notre Dame, The Louvre, Palais Royal and the Latin Quarter. We did not enter any of the destinations instead merely passing by them. Think of this as a good overview of the city that helps you decide what you’d like to revisit and explore more deeply.

because it guaranteed us We also took a Seine River

access and helped organize our

Cruise. There are many options

large-ish group. For the Arc de

for river cruises. We took the

Triomphe only some of us

more casual route which

decided to climb to the top.

included a ticket on a boat that

After walking around the Louvre

carried you down the river.

for hours, some in our group

However, more elaborate boats

were all walked out and decided

are offered that included dinner

to enjoy the view from the

and drinks. If you desire the

ground floor.

more casual option, there are many kiosks that offer day of

Day 4

cruises, no advance planning Interested? Contact:

required.

Champagne Region

Day 3

Bubbles were the only thing on

SANDEMANs New Europe for booking

Day 2

the menu this day. We Louvre, Arc de Triomphe

researched many options for a tour of the champagne region

Versaille, Seine river cruise

After a night of revelry and fun I woke up reluctantly to take in

For this day we chose to explore

including taking a train there

the Louvre and the Arc de

then joining a tour, hiring a

Triomphe on our own. The Louvre

private driver for the day and

is closed on Tuesdays. That’s an

setting up our own visits at each

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house, or booking a tour that departed from and returned to Paris. After careful consideration we went with the latter. Although it was not the most inexpensive option it provided convenience and some peace of mind. We went with Paris City Vision tours.

Day 5 Travel to Cannes

After some wonderful, action packed days in Paris it was time to head to Cannes. We traveled Air France which, while quite similar to Delta, did have some of its own unique features. The planes felt quite a bit cozier and their security was much stricter than America. Once we arrived into the Nice airport we hired two large uber vans for our transport to Cannes.

This was pretty simple as we used the airports free wifi to call the cars. That evening we had dinner at the beach. If you travel during the summer, there are fireworks displays as a part of the Festival D’Art which can be seen from the Bay of Cannes. It was an amazing addition to our meal. The shows are during July and August.

Day 6 It was a birthday dream. A day out at sea on a boat thanks Beach Day

to the careful planning by my friends. The trip included lunch, champagne and two stops where the boat's skipper lowered

We decided to walk to the beach. FAIL. Wanting to

the anchor allowing us to swim in the Mediterranean for

avoid uber costs for a group of 8, we thought we

hours. Truly an incredible day.

could handle the trip to the beach on foot. It turned out to be hot, long and much more treacherous than

Day 8

expected. Once we arrived we found a packed beach that didn’t offer chairs or umbrellas. We

Monaco

purchased an umbrella at a nearby shop for the group to share and ended up enjoying ourselves

By this point in our trip many in our group were exhausted.

thoroughly. For dinner we visited La Mome which I

Living in luxury can do that to you! So we split up. Some of us

cannot recommend enough. It was amazing, delicious

hung out around the house while the rest of us decided to

and included a DJ who made the atmosphere cool

uber to Nikki Beach in Monte Carlo. It was great for those of

and fun. Love love love this place!

us in the group who are big partiers. There was a DJ, drinks and hookah. Everyone there was up for a good time so we

Day 7

had plenty of dancing and pool time. Since the uber was pricey to get there (around 75 euros) we decided to take the

Out at Sea

train back which required us to walk to the station since taxis from Nikki Beach wouldn’t take us there. It was a bit labor intensive after a day full of drinking but certainly very cost effective.

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Day 9

to more than one headache.

Travel to Paris

Day 10

While most of the group decided to fly back to Paris, I

Departure

convinced my parents to take the train so that we could see the French countryside. DON’T do this

Our last day in Paris we slept at a hotel near the airport

unless you are traveling light. With a large suitcase

(be careful ours had bedbugs) and then took a shuttle to

like the one I had, this was such a bad idea and led

catch our plane.

NOMADIC

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OVERSEAS, UNDER BUDGET WRITTEN BY TANISHA WATKINS

A common misconception about traveling abroad is that it’s super expensive. That’s not entirely true!

No matter your profession or income, traveling internationally is something everyone can and should do. One place you can save substantially is on your flight. Here are four things you can do when purchasing your plane ticket, to ensure traveling overseas doesn’t put you over budget.

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1. Track your flight It’s never too early to start looking for flights.

Use apps such as Hopper, Skyscanner, and Momondo to monitor the cost forecast of your ticket. Also, make sure to sign-up for alerts so you don’t miss when there is a drop in your fare and act fast! Some tickets are only lowered for a few hours.

2. Fly low fare air Sometimes the journey is not as important as the destination, you just need to get there. Therefore, do not be afraid to fly with a low-cost airline carrier when flying abroad.

You can save hundreds of dollars, by forgoing a few perks that are nowhere as memorable as the trip you will have.

3. Save with Skiplagged This website is awesome but requires careful attention to detail. Skiplagged helps travelers save money by exposing hidden city stops. It may be cheaper to buy a ticket to another destination that has a layover in the city you really want to go to. There is a drawback. You can’t check a bag. So this website is ideal for domestic flights, but it can still work for international travelers, you’ll just need to think strategically about your luggage needs.

4. Get a Groupon The discount website offers air inclusive, international getaways

for a fraction of the price. Make sure to read the reviews and if you’re still wary, most listings provide contact information so you can speak to a travel representative if you have additional questions.

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Giverney Getaway If you are in Paris, one of your destinations has to be a stop in the quaint town of Giverny. Visiting the famous impressionist, Claude Monet’s home and colorful gardens located there, was like opening a jewel box, resplendent with precious stones; Burmese rubies, Ceylon and padparadscha sapphires.

Words & Photos by: Phyllis Clay

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One of the guidebooks notes that visiting Monet’s home is like “walking into a work of art”. You will be able to view where Monet was inspired to create some of his most famous paintings like Water Lily Pond, Green Harmony (1899).

My husband and I booked the half day tour on a double decker bus online although you have the option of choosing a whole day. I really believe that the whole day tour is better if you have the time because you will be able to view the house and gardens and stop to have lunch. Also when you book online you don’t have worry about standing in those long lines.

Make sure you choose a season when most of the garden is in

bloom so that your senses can take on the full experience. We went in the spring and it was gorgeous! If you like the intense heat of summer, go for it. Just make sure that you arrive early.

Avoid national holidays and strikes! It was a national holiday when we went and we were packed in the garden like sardines. As mentioned earlier we took the half day tour so we had to choose between touring the house and spending time in the Gardens. Being the budding gardeners that we are, we chose the latter.

"Make sure you choose a season when most of the garden is in bloom so that your senses can take on the full experience."

If I had the chance, I would visit again

opportunity to experience another

and again and again. It is just that

perspective of the garden. The

beautiful. Even some of my Master

opportunity awaits you to visit this work

Gardener buddies go quite often and have

of art in nature. Bravo Claude Monet!

told me that each visit offers them the NOMADIC

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BEST FRIENDS FOR TRAVEL

B.F.F.T.

Sure you have best friends, but are they the right companions to hit the open road or friendly skies with? Here are some things to consider before you book that group trip.

reason I believe so many of my jaunts have been a success is because my travel mates and I subscribe to the same "travelology." From lodging expectations, spending limitations and overall taste levels, I have found a group, that gets me.

And believe me, everyone won’t. It’s not

I've traveled with friends across the

just “new” friends who may not match

globe. From trotting down the steps

your travel style. It may be someone in

of Palatine Hill to splashing in the

your life since childhood who is just not

crystalline waters of Varadero Beach.

cut out for the way you globe trot. And

For my birthday I did it again.

that’s fine as long as you realize it before

Gathering up 9 of my closest family

you book the tickets. Here are a few

and friends for an epic trip to France.

pieces of advice to help you recognize

The experience was amazing. The

who will make the best travel pals.

No we’re not talking about the moral kind. When deciding if someone is a good fit to be a travel buddy, consider how they value their money such as what they deem cheap and expensive. This is not always a comfortable thing to ask outright but but there are ways to determine it before committing to a destination. First, compile a list of activities and housing accommodations that fit your wallet and taste. Then, email them individually to the people you are

DNEIRF

VARYING VALUES

SPIHS

considering traveling with. The reactions you get will tell you a lot about if you and a certain person would enjoy the same type of trip.

Some people are budget travelers who flourish in hostels and hole-inthe-wall eateries. Others are splurgers who consider their travels as a time to live it up. Some are a bit of both. Know which you are and try and find friends who closely align with your spending habits.

There is nothing worse than someone frugal traveling with a splurger. It can lead to a trip full of disappointments on both parts.

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ACTIVITY COMPATIBILITY It’s not just how much you want to spend, but also what you want to spend it on. You and your friends in travel may be on the same spending page, but may not share the same interests. Some value catching a buzz on the beach, eating good and then slinking off for an afternoon nap.

Others like to go full throttle visiting every museum, monument and must see landmark. Those people tend to start early and end late. In some cases the two different styles can bring out the best in the other. Two of my friends are more of type 1, while I am all type 2 and we tend to travel well

together. However, there are moments when we just don’t see eye to eye. If you find yourself in that situation remember separation is key. Don’t be afraid to venture out on your own or split the group up based on what people want to see and do. In France, after days of activity, some of our group just wanted to chill. The others though, were not ready for the turn down. So our group split. Some stayed at the house to relax, swim and nibble on snacks while the rest of us caught an uber van and headed to Monte Carlo to party.

TRAVEL

OH SNAP! PICTURES ANYONE?

This may seem silly, but in this day and age of Snap and IG addiction, making sure you travel with people who have similar social media principles is important. Those who are more experiential and less documentarians may find themselves highly frustrated traveling with friends who need to stop and take a boomerang every 10 steps.

Vice versa, if you are one of those people who subscribes to the “if I didn’t instagram it, did it really even happen?” school of thought, then spending a day abroad with someone who wants to just live in the moment

can feel like one missed opportunity after another. This isn’t make or break.

But you will have to reach a compromise. If you don’t, it could lead to an unnecessary and honestly trivial meltdown. Try this, agree on a picture cap for each day or even each landmark.

But set this precedent. The experiential person can’t just snap random shots of the photo junkie barely looking at the camera. To hit the picture cap, photo junkie has to get “the one.” Then the day is free for both to enjoy.

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Style Point Paris in the summer is both sunny and cool. A melancholic down time that allows you to roam freely without the usual crowds of the bustling city. Layer up and be prepared to peel out of your sweaters and light jackets as the day warms and then pull those pieces back on as the sunsets into a romantic streetlight kissed night.

TAKE ME TO THE KING With all its grandeur and gold gilded visage it’s no wonder that the Palace of Versaille is one of the most popular attractions in France. It draws hundreds of people a day and lines can be long and stressful. There is an alternative to waiting in line and buying a ticket or taking an expensive tour.

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To avoid crowds and high cost purchase a tour of the King’s Apartment.

It is a well reviewed addition to the Versailles trip and only costs a few extra euros. But maybe most importantly it allows you to skip the long entrance line. At the time of our trip the ticket to Versaille was 25 euros.

We paid an additional 7 euros for a tour of the King's Apartment. The tour has limited space and is only done twice a day for 25 people so as soon as you decide to do it, make sure to go purchase your tickets online.

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Although it looks sunny here, our visit to Versailles quickly turned wet meaning we could not visit the famous gardens seen from this window.

Keep in mind if you do the King’s Apartment tour that you will not follow the traditional flow of the museum. You’ll be seeing things in a bit of a different perspective from your counterparts entering through the main entrance. I didn’t find this to be a problem but it’s something to consider when planning your experience. Also, cross your fingers for

fantastic weather. We went on a cold and rainy day which meant we missed out on one of the highlights of Versaille, the gardens.

This was a full day trip and we took the train from Paris to the palace. It was a straight shot and pretty clearly marked so you shouldn’t have any trouble doing the same.

"The voyage never ends, the mind can never break from the journey"