Things Every Traveler Should Know Before Visiting France

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Krissyar

France combines romance and classy living with history and fine wine. Throw in the stunning Riviera and Alps, and you’re sure to have your ultimate Luxury Retreats french summer getaways. But not every trip to France goes to plan. And that’s because tourists don’t take the time to prepare themselves before they arrive. If you’re thinking of travelling to France this summer, check out these essential things you should know before you go.

Paris is the city of romance, but…

Paris is the most famous city in the world. The name alone conjures images of roadside cafés, candlelit dinners and the iconic Eiffel Tower. For centuries, Paris was the centre of European culture. But in the 21st-century, this allure and appeal have diminished. Holidaymakers have a glitzy and romantic image of Paris in their head before they take their vacation. Some are disappointed when they arrive. Paris is an incredible city, just have a realistic expectation of what it’s like.

As much wine as you can drink

Vineries fill the French countryside in the southern regions of the country. Wine-lovers could easily spend a month touring the different grape growing regions and tasting the different varieties of wine. You can then buy a bottle straight from the vineyard as either souvenir to take home or to enjoy in your hotel or vacation rental. And when you visit any village, town or city, you’ll find hundreds of bottles filling the shelves of shops and supermarkets. Most come at a very affordable price tag as well as giving you the perfect excuse to indulge.

Don’t stay in one place

France offers diversity in its landscapes, architecture and culture. Tourists should seize the opportunity to get around and experience everything the country has to offer. If you’re planning a two-week vacation, why not visit three or four places instead of one? You can quickly get from one town or city to the next using the train. This gives you a chance to see the very best that France has to offer. Consider stopping by Paris before making your way down south to the French Riviera.

Rent a car

One of the most convenient ways to explore France is by renting a car. You can find a rental at the airport or in most cities at a reasonable price. Once you have a vehicle, you have the freedom to drive around and soak up the atmosphere and culture. A highlight is driving around southern France. You’ll pass through a network of small towns and villages. Each one has its own appearance and ambience. Stop by for lunch and to enjoy a coffee. Having a car also lets you travel further afield to explore Roman ruins and the mountainous landscape in the French Alps as well.

Don’t neglect the history

France has a rich history spanning millennia. Roman ruins fill the landscapes around Provence. North France provides an insight into World War Two and the chance to visit the places you read about in your school history books. Most tourists miss out on this part and prefer to spend their time taking photographs in the metropolitan cities. But with a dose of history, you can get a much deeper understanding and appreciation of France. If you decide to explore the past, it’s recommended to get a guide. Tour guides provide so much more value and insight compared to visiting alone.

Attend a festival

Festivals and local events take place on an almost weekly basis ranging from film festivals to Christmas markets to Mardi Gras. Visit in February and witness carnival parades. Plan your trip to coincide with the Tour de France. Throw in smaller events like the International Kite Festival. There’s always something going on. Get online and search to see what’s happening when you visit. Joining in the festivities is both fun and cultural experience.

Take the chance to experience rural France

Rural France consists of undulating landscapes, fields and vineyards. Other parts has mountains, long stretches of pristine coastline and the Alps. Rather than spending all your time in the city, get out and see more of the countryside. You can rent a car and drive along country lanes stopping off for a picnic en route. Or go hiking in either the Alps or Pyrenees Mountains. You can find yourself in the countywide within less than 30 minutes of most cities. Take the chance to see the best of France’s natural beauty.

Explore neighbouring countries

If you’re flying halfway across the world to visit France, why not explore some of her neighbours. France is part of the Schengen Agreement, which means you can travel to 26 countries on the same visa. If you’re in northern France, head over the border to either Belgium or Germany. Take a day trip to Geneva or Basel in Switzerland or drive into Italy from Southern France. Or you can visit the tiny micronation Andorra high in the Pyrenees Mountains. You won’t have the time to visit everywhere, but it’s always nice to see somewhere different. Public transport in Western Europe is extremely efficient, and high-speed trains can get you from one city to the next in a few hours.

Having an awesome vacation to France

France is among Europe’s most beautiful countries. You can visit romantic cities one day and spend the afternoons in Vineyards the next. Relax on the beach for a day or two before hiking in the mountains. France has a lot to offer in terms of travel experiences, activities and culture. Make the most of it.

Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

Outdoor Home Improvements – You’re Gonna’ Love These Ideas!

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Krissyar

It’s that time of year (and I am so grateful, summer is my favorite and I was getting really tired of the dreary winter weather). I have been itching to get outside and start working on my yard, my flowers, my porch and deck, and I have so many awesome ideas that I’ve found that I had to share them! You can make same great outdoor home improvements without spending an arm and a leg!

Put Up a Pergola
If you have an outdoor dining area you can put up a pergola that will not only make it gorgeous, but also give you some needed shade on those hot summer days. You can also hand a few lights with it to finish your look and it will be a gorgeous addition to your outdoor cookouts and dinners.

Multi-Use Furniture
Get a piece of furniture that can be multi-use. Furniture with built-in storage (it gives you seating and hides away your accessories for the yard or pool without looking messy) or a lounger that can be used for a bench as well.

DIY Seating
If you don’t have the budget for furniture – don’t worry! You can use low cost concrete blocks and cover them with a foam pad and pillows. I have seen people use this for seating around a firepit (just take the cushions and pillows in when it rains, or in the winter)

Lighting
Outdoor lighting is my favorite part of summer decorating. They are fun and pretty, and it gives you just enough light – its like stars in your yard! You can get outdoor lighting pretty cheap and they come in lots of different colors and shapes and designs. You can put them on your porch, wrap them around a tree, or even make an outdoor oasis and have them circle around your entire yard/porch. Don’t forget to add some to any outdoor dining areas. I love the lights we have on our outdoor table!

Decks

Though it can be a bit more expensive than my other ideas, a deck can be a long lasting investment not only into having a wonderful summer, but value to your home as well. Places like Decks & Docks Lumber Company offer some great deals on railings, hardwood and accessories

Landscaping/Hardscaping
I love walkways and edging made with stones and  rocks. Because it is a bit more expensive, you can just select a smaller area to make gorgeous. I have an idea to include some stone around my flowers – it really just makes the flowers pop!  

Trellis
Depending on the layout of your yard/porch and driveway or street you may want to consider a trellis. They can be a gorgeous addition that separates your oasis from your driveway or street without blocking the gorgeous view of your yard.

Outdoor Rug
I never thought I was one that wanted to deal with an outdoor rug, but it can really pull your look together (plus it makes it a lot easier to go barefoot).


Posted in Cleaning & Organizing, Crafts/DIY | Leave a comment

Tips for Surviving a Long Drive

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Krissyar

If you have a trip or a long drive ahead of you, you need to know the best way to get you there safely and comfortably. There is more to a road trip than packing – “Highway Hypnosis” is common when you aren’t prepared for what lies ahead.
More than 60% of drivers say they have gotten behind the wheel while sleepy according to a recent study. So you need to be prepared for your long drive to stay alert and energized. These tips should help you get there:

This post is sponsored by Volvo Cars North Miami.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Don’t start out sleepy – too many times have I went to bed late packing or preparing for my trip, and getting up early around 2 or 3 a.m. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to be well rested for any day, let alone a long day of driving. Be sure to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night for a few nights before your trip – that way you know you are plenty well rested.

BODY FUEL
Having a snack bag with vitamin-rich and healthy food can help keep you stay focused on your long drive, versus stopping and having fast food. Think nuts, cheese, apples, grapes, and so on.

KEEP HYDRATED
Keeping hydrated gives you maximum energy – however the downfall to that is more stops for bathroom breaks.

CHEW GUM
Chewing gum can actually help keep you awake! The repetitive process increases circulation and alertness – and it works with sugar free!

SIT UP STRAIGHT
Make sure that your seat is properly adjusted for your body ,and tilted for maximum blood flow. If you start to feel tired, or in that ‘highway hypnosis, sit up, take some deep breaths, move from side to side and wake your body up!

KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE
Listen and sing along to some music, or my favorite, use a book on tape to keep your brain active.

Whatever you do, don’t drive tired! Pull over, take a nap, get out and get some exercise! Your destination isn’t going anywhere – be safe!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Did You Know: The Meaning Behind Your VIN Number

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Krissyar

Most people think a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a random list of numbers and letters assigned to a vehicle – but it’s much more than that.
The VIN offers an abundance of information for drivers, car insurers, and anyone else who might need or want to know the vehicles history. The VIN can help the police prevent theft and fraud, and it can also help you avoid buying a lemon, or wrecked vehicle!

Your vehicle’s VIN is a mix of 17 letters and numbers that are displayed on the drivers side dash, under the windshield, and on the drivers door inside where it connects with the rest of your vehicle (like when you open the car door). The VIN is a unique marker for your vehicle and make identification much easier.

This post is sponsored by Winner Hyundai.

CAR HISTORY
Many companies store, share and sell information using the VIN number. The biggest source of VIN information is the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Repair shops also keep track for routine maintenance, accidents and flood damage. Local law enforcement and fire departments may have a list of them as well in their database for accident and thefts.
Insurance companies and car dealerships (think CARFAX) and junk and salvage companies also access and share info gathered on vehicles through their VIN number.

CHARACTER 1-3
The first three characters of a VIN number are called the “World Manufacturer Identifier” The first letter corresponds to reveal where in the world your car was made. For example, 1,4, and 5 usually mean the U.S. 2 means Canada, J for Japan, and W for Germany.

CHARACTERS 4-8
While the standards vary between manufacturers and countries, these figures relay info about your car’s safety features, engine type, transmission, body, etc. It’s also a reference for mechanics and anyone who may service and work on your car.

CHARACTER 9
The 9th character of a VIN is a ‘check digit’. It verifies that the VIN is legitimate and its not fraudulent.
The U.S Department of Transportation established a complex mathematical equation that multiplies and divides the numbers and letters of your VIN to arrive at the check digit – if it doesn’t match, something fishy is going on.
You can actually go online and use some tools to check to see if your digit is correct.

CHARACTER 10
The 10th character will actually tell you what YEAR the vehicle is.
Cars from 1908 – 2000 typically carry a letter A-Y (for example A is for 1980, B is 1981, etc). Cars built between 2001- 2009 use the numbers 0-9 in order, and in 2010 many companies reset the lettering system.

CHARACTER 11
Character 11 is the specific manufacturing plant for the specific company that made the vehicle.

CHARACTERS 12-17
This is identifying marks for your car specifically. Pretty much the last few digits tell us when your car came off the assembly line. These last 6 digits are unique and will never be the same as any other vehicle.






Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

DIY Debt Reduction vs. Professional Debt Relief

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Krissyar

If you’re looking at past due balances on credit cards, and creditors are beginning to call and leave messages about the status of your accounts, you might be wondering what your options are. It’s increasingly common for individuals to find themselves in precarious financial situations after hardships or poor money management.

It’s not easy to bounce back, and once the creditors begin calling, you might start paying closer attention to the ads of companies who offer to take all your stress away and settle those debts for you. But what’s the better option? Should you do it yourself or should you leave this task to the professionals?

We’re going to lay out the pros and cons of both, and help you make your own informed decision.

Professional Debt Relief

Professional debt relief companies handle cases like yours all the time. They call companies regularly, and negotiate all day long. There isn’t an emotional component to their conversations. They simply have the goal of reducing your overall payoff amount and getting you the most savings so you can reduce the time it takes to pay off your debts.

Often, because of their affinity for negotiating, they may be able to accomplish lower payoff amounts than you could on your own. They also dedicate their working hours to negotiating on your behalf, and that’s time you may not have to spare.

There are a lot of pros to calling companies who specialize in debt reduction, but they come at a price. While they may do this regularly and remove the stress of having to confront your debt yourself, they charge fees for their services. Those fees may reach amounts as high as 25% of your total debt owed. Other fee structures may charge up to 40% of the total money saved after negotiations. Either way, there’s a potential hefty fee for those services, and that can make a significant dent in your wallet when you’re trying to become debt free.

DIY Debt Relief

If you find that settling your debt is your best option, apart from bankruptcy or a family loan, you might want to consider navigating it yourself. After all, you’d be handling everything on your own and not having to pay any fees that negate the settlements you work hard to negotiate.

Confronting your debt takes courage, and many people fear this as they consider doing it themselves. But when you take charge of your debt negotiations and work hard to clear your financial slate, you have an intrinsic motivation to get- and keep- your finances in order. And that kind of motivation has the potential to change your habits long-term.

It may be worth it to take a hands-on approach with your debt settlement, but begin the process with realistic expectations. Negotiations have the potential to drag on for months, even years.

Debt collectors operate with a goal of getting you to pay the highest possible amount on your debts. They will likely adopt strategies that provoke emotional responses from you, which can make your efforts feel exhausting. You will need to deploy patience and understand that it may be hard, but it can be worthwhile if you press toward your goal.

While there are benefits and drawbacks with both approaches to debt settlement, it’s still a very personal decision. You have to consider factors like time, resources, and stress as you determine the appropriate path you take. Whatever you decide, we commend you for taking the steps to become debt free. 

Posted in Money Matters | Leave a comment