France is a country with which nearly any traveler has a friendship. Often dreams of the pleasures of living are shown by the endless cafés, picturesque villages, and world-famous gastronomy.
Some come to follow the direction of the great French thinkers, authors, and musicians, or to immerse themselves in the beautiful language of the world. Others are also attracted to the country’s geological diversity, with its long coastlines, vast mountain ranges, and spectacular views of the countryside.
Besides my home country, Romania, France is probably the second on the list of places I visited the most, especially after I relocated to the Var.
France isn’t cheap, especially when compared to Romania and other countries from Eastern Europe or the Balkans. But it has a lot to offer beyond the major cities. If you go out into the countryside or to smaller towns close to popular travel destinations, you’ll see that it’s possible to discover France even while on a budget.
Speaking of the popular travel destinations in France, the major ones, in alphabetical order, are Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Paris (the capital).
Thinking about moving to a small village in the South of France? Before you pack up and chase the dream, read this honest guide to what life in a French village really looks like. I share the real costs, the slow pace, the beauty, and the challenges of building a life far from cities. From buying property and budgeting as an expat to learning village etiquette and dealing with isolation, this guide covers what no one tells you. Living in a small village in Provence is rewarding, but it demands more patience, resilience, and work than you might expect.
Flying Animawings from Nice to Bucharest with a toddler? Here’s my honest review of the inaugural flight AWG607 on 17 April 2025 aboard the Airbus A220-300. From check-in problems and confusing customer service to surprise help from the PR team and baby-friendly inflight moments, I’m sharing everything you need to know. This is not a sponsored post, it’s a real story about traveling with a child on Animawings, what worked, what didn’t, and whether I’d fly them again. If you’re considering direct flights from Nice to Romania, especially with kids, read this first.
La Réunion is beautiful. It’s also intense. While visiting La Réunion island, I expected hikes and views, markets, and Creole food. I got all of that. But I also climbed more than I ever had before, nearly gave up on a trail, slept in a gîte without a single window, and got rescued by someone’s GPS watch on a foggy volcanic ridge. My husband and I went to visit his best friend and our témoin, who had recently moved there, and we ended up with the kind of local insight you can’t pay for. Still, there were things we got …
Welcome to Provence in the spring! If you’re thinking about planning a trip to this stunning corner of France, you’ve picked the perfect season. Spring in Provence means sunny skies, blooming fields, and charming villages that are refreshingly free of the summer crowds. It’s the time when the region feels alive but still relaxed — perfect for wandering its cobblestone streets, enjoying local markets, or simply sitting at a café with a glass of rosé. Visiting Provence in March, April, or May has its perks. The weather is pleasant, with daytime temperatures hovering around 15°C in early spring and warming …
Imagine stepping back in time, the rhythmic chug of a steam engine filling the air as you embark on a journey through the heart of Provence. The Train des Pignes à Vapeur is a living piece of history, a historical steam train that has faithfully traversed the scenic landscapes of the South of France for over a century. This isn’t your average train trip but an experience steeped in nostalgia and tradition, where every whistle and puff of steam evokes the golden age of rail travel. As the train meanders through charming villages and rugged mountains, you’re not just a …
