3 Things I Learned During My First Solo Trip

My long weekend in Paris this summer was the first time I ever traveled solo, and I learned a lot within that short span of time. I had a lot of questions before I left, which I can assume are the same nervous jitters most people get when they travel by themselves for the first time, especially to a foreign city. Starting in Paris was a good "intro" to solo travel, so if I ever travel by myself again, I have a good impression of it.

3 Things I Learned During My First Solo Trip

1. Do your research

I read travel blogs, looked up places I was going on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and skimmed a couple guide books. Since I didn't do any formal tours of the city, I looked up a quick history of the main attractions I'd be walking past to have a little background knowledge. Most importantly, I found quite a few tips and tricks over TripAdvisor and Yelp about where I was going - like cutting my time in line at The Louvre in half by going in the underground entrance! Research also helped me be aware of the tourist scams so I could avoid them.

2. Walking is the best way to see the city

I lucked out in Paris with beautiful sunny weather every day, which made walking everywhere enjoyable. One morning I got up early to make an hour-long trek from my hotel to Notre Dame. I loved seeing the city slowly wake up and the peacefulness of walking along the Seine. I took a couple wrong turns (but quickly found my way!) and stumbled across cool things I never would've found, had I taken a cab or public transportation.

3. People are friendly

The hotel staff was very friendly, because, well, they're a hotel staff. They were so nice and gave me tips and showed me scenic routes to walk on a map. But even out in the city, people were friendly too. If I had to ask a Parisian something, of course I would try to attempt my best to say it in French first, or at least ask them in French if they spoke English. I never experienced any of the stereotypical "Parisian snottiness," everyone was friendly. I met a number of other people traveling as well who were from all over the world. Smiling is the universal language.

Paris in the summer was a great intro to solo travel for a number of reasons: it's already a pretty safe city, and since it's high season, there are plenty of people/tourists out and about; it happened to be warm and sunny, which was great for walking (and saving money on not using public transport); and there is so much to do in the city that you're bound to avoid boredom and loneliness. I would definitely suggest Paris as an intro to solo travel.

The Most Beautiful Beach Towns in the Mediterranean

There is nothing more beautiful or glamorous than hitting the beach on the Mediterranean. As an avid beach-goer whenever possible, I've had the opportunity to explore quite a few beaches on this lovely stretch of water surrounding Southern Europe. My top three destinations are listed below. Cannes, France

The country's annual star-studded film festival wouldn't settle for a less-than-spectacular backdrop, would it? The sand is soft between your toes as you inhale the smell of the salty breeze. Yachts are docked at the marina, fabulous shopping and restaurants line the streets, and other seaside towns like Nice, Eze, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez are nearby. Did I mention Cannes is my favorite place in the world?

Positano, Italy

Here you will find the popular picturesque view of Amalfi's pastel cliff houses. To get to the town, you must drive down winding roads, and then walk downhill to get to the beach. Along the way you'll find the area filled with purple flowers, trees, and the scent of lemon from the nearby lemon groves. Find a spot in the sand (or rent a long chair), grab a drink from one of the beach bars, and feel the summer sun that lasts through autumn.

Split, Croatia

Croatia is one of the more off-the-beaten-path destinations in Europe, but not for long before more and more tourists head to this unique and beautiful country. Home to over 1,000 islands, it's tough to pick just one island for this list. Stay in Split, a medieval town on the water (and home to Diocletian's Palace) for easy access to island hopping boat cruises. Whichever island you stop at, you're bound to find turquoise water, spectacular landscapes, and fresh, delicious seafood.

Bone-Chilling Berlin - Remembering The Past

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While I was only in Berlin for a few days and was working during most of it, we got to get out and explore the city a little. I really liked Berlin - the people were friendly, the food was great, and the city was clean and beautiful. During our time out and about, we visited both the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust Memorial. It was a chilling experience to literally be standing where so much history happened during and after World War II. It was interesting to see all the designs on the wall and take a walk through the memorial, which had a much different feel than the rest of the modern city. I'd definitely recommend a visit to these two places if you find yourself in Berlin.

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Why A Weekend In Prague Is Never Enough

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I love Prague. I was lucky enough to spend a weekend there last winter and a day and a half there just last week. There is so much to do in the capital of the Czech Republic, but it's tough to do it all on a short amount of time. I've been lucky enough to skim the surface of the city with just a few days total, but there really is plenty to do. If you have the opportunity,  I'd recommend more than a weekend in Prague, and here's why:

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There's more to see beyond the walking tour

Don't get me wrong - the main stops along a typical Prague walking tour are amazing: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, etc. It's the side streets that spark my interest though: the little alleys lined with shops, cafes, or just even graffiti that deserve a walking through. Unfortunately with just a weekend, there isn't as much time to get lost.

The nightlife is crazy

If you like to go out at night, there is an endless supply of places to go. Prague is known for nightlife, and with just a weekend you won't have the time to experience it all.

Things are cheap (ex: beer is cheaper than water)

If beer is your drink of choice, then you'll be able to afford plenty with meals or when you go out at night. (One beer at a bar came to about $1.20 USD). This also means you'll have some leftover cash to spend on food, shopping, entertainment, etc. With my day and a half in Prague last week I spent a total of 500 Kc ($25 USD) on food and drinks. Had I had more time, I would've used this opportunity to go shopping and save some cash!

Quick Money-Saving Tips For Paris

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It's no secret that Paris isn't cheap. Even hostels can be in the three digits for a mediocre place to stay. Eating out at restaurants could be a splurge too if you eat out often. As a 22-year-old with limited funds, I had to make a few sacrifices in terms of budget during my weekend in Paris. I'll have to go back again later in life to experience some different/expensive things, but if you're looking to save a few euros during your stay, here a few tips I found helpful:

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1. Going up the Eiffel Tower: take the stairs instead of the elevators

This is both a time-saving and money-saving tip. If you take the elevators, the line is much longer than the one for the stairs. Most people say the stairs are fine for an average person, and you'll still need to take an elevator from the second floor up to the top. You have time to stop and go to the shops or restaurants on the first and second levels if you'd like. The stair route is cheaper than the elevator route.

2. Choose which viewpoints you want to see Paris from

Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Sacre Coeur are just a few places to see fantastic aerial views of Paris. However, they all cost money to climb to the top, so choose one or two as your main viewing places. I loved the top of the Arc de Triomphe because there are viewpoints of all the tree-lined streets going out of the main circle, views of the Eiffel Tower, etc. Of course they all have great views, but you could say that the view is similar all around (just from a different angle).

3. Walk or take public transportation instead of taxis

My motto while in Paris was: why pay to get somewhere when I have my own two feet? It was warm and sunny the whole time (sometimes a rarity in rainy Paris), and I enjoyed seeing the city by foot. I also found more cute little gems along the way and saw a lot more than if I had just taken the metro or taxis the whole time.

4 Things That Surprised Me About Paris

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Everyone already knows that the Mona Lisa is underwhelming, French bread is delicious, and Laduree macarons are a must. Here are four things that surprised me about Paris that made my trip even that much better. 1. The gardens are large and there are tree-lined streets

When I think of big cities I normally just think of tall buildings, bustling people, and lots of concrete. Especially when I was living in Florence the main city center had no trees, grass, or plants, so I wasn't expecting so much greenery when I went to Paris. Though there are plenty of gardens with flowers, grass, and running paths as well as streets lined with large trees.

2. There are many more places to see art than just The Louvre (though The Louvre is pretty amazing).

Yes, I went to The Louvre, and yes, it was amazing! However there are so many more places to see some of the world's finest artwork. For example, many of Van Gough's works are in an exhibit at Musee d'Orsay (which was worth the visit to d'Orsay for me).

3. The Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes every hour on the hour (after sunset)

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Helpful to know if you don't already - I was glad I found out this tip before I walked an hour to the Eiffel so that I could make it there before the sparkles came and went. For some reason I thought it sparkled during the whole night. Instead it lights up as the sun sets (so cool) and then on the hour it sparkles for five minutes. This was one of my favorite things I did during my whole time in Paris!

4. It's must faster to get into The Louvre underground than by entering in the pyramid

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Well, I first assumed that the famous clear pyramid was just for decoration outside The Louvre, but it is actually the main ticket entrance to the museum. What's better is the underground entrance instead - the line is much shorter because less people know about it. Next to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is a staircase that goes underground to the shopping mall that is below The Louvre. You save time and you get to wait inside instead of outside in the heat/cold/rain/whatever.