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venice italy gondola ride
LifestyleTravel

10 Unreal Experiences in Venice Italy to Book For Your Vacation

by Kayla Smith
written by Kayla Smith

Venice Italy is magical! Here’s what you can’t miss!

Out of anywhere in the world, I think Venice Italy is one of my favorites. It seriously feels like I’m on a movie set every time I visit. On my first trip, I went to Venice Italy after my study abroad in the United Kingdom and France. I went backpacking after my study abroad was over and ended in Venice. It was amazing but also SO hot in June. This time, we went in December and it was FREEZING so make sure you know that there are extremes haha. It was definitely worth the trip this time around since my entire family and my husband got to come along. We started our trip in Rome, went on to Cinque Terre, stayed in Florence for a few days and ended our trip in Venice. It’s been a crazy time but it’s been so much fun. We have some incredible experiences in Venice Italy this trip. If you’re planning on a vacation there, you need to add these to your list!

Things to Do in Venice Italy

1. Libreria Acqua Alta

This is a hidden gem I found on Instagram. The pictures make it look bigger than it is but it’s a tiny library down an alley in Venice Italy. It’s a super cool spot stacked with books all outside and inside. If you’re a book nerd, definitely consider find this cool spot. I loved the pictures from it and there’s a gorgeous view of the Grand Canal.

library in venice italy

2. Piazza San Marco

This is the main square in Venice Italy. There’s tons of shops, tourists and endless amounts of pigeons. St. Mark’s Basilica stands on one side with the Campanile di San Marco. You can find delicious food everywhere you turn so pick and choose where you want to go or spend an afternoon eating everything in sight. I won’t judge either way haha.

3. St. Mark’s Basilica

This is one of the most iconic spots in Venice Italy. St. Mark’s Basilica is absolutely breathtaking and one of the coolest spots to go to. Keep in mind that the lines are SUPER long and if you have a backpack, you need to check it by the door. They won’t let you bring it inside. My favorite part about the basilica is the crypt where all the previous bishops are buried. It seems kind of spooky while writing it but it’s an incredible experience.

4. The Campanile di San Marco

This is the tower on the corner of the Piazza San Marco. You can climb to the top and get a gorgeous view of the entire city along with a view of the ocean. It’s one of the best spots in all of Venice Italy! If you get the chance, head here first!

piazza san marco in venice italy

5. The Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is right around the corner from San Marco. It’s an infamous bridge that connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms. It’s rumored that when prisoners on death row were taken across the bridge for the last time, they would sigh as they took in the final view. I know it’s a morbid story but the bridge is very spectacular along with the incredible view.

6. Gondola Ride

If you go on vacation to Venice Italy, you HAVE to go on a gondola ride! It’s an experience of a lifetime. We loved going out as an entire family to explore the canals. The best way to travel is by boat and you can see things you normally can’t by foot. We snapped dozens of pictures and had the best time.

gondola ride in venice italy

gondola ride in venice italy

7. Rialto Bridge

This is the main bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice Italy. There’s a ton of shops lining the bridge along with a view of the whole city. My husband, Taz and I loved exploring the different stores and scoping out the best gelato shops.

rialto bridge in venice italy

8. Murano

Murano is just off the coast of Venice and it’s famous for creating Venetian glass. Since it’s not on the mainland of Venice Italy, you have to book a tour by boat to access Murano. You can see the artists blowing glass in person and purchase some of their handmade creations once you get to the islands. Their pieces are stunning and make great souvenirs to bring home or share with your friends! My mom got a gorgeous vase to remember our trip by.

9. Burano

Burano may sound nearly identical to Murano but it’s known for something different: lace! As an island off the coast of Venice, this tiny town sells intricate handmade lace. Venetian lace is beautiful! I wish I thought to get some but it just gives me a good reason to go back.

10. Venetian Markets

Last but not least, take a chance to go to the venetian markets. Venice Italy is known for its blown glass like I mentioned before, leather, lace and venetian masks. It’s so much fun to explore all the shops and see how creative the artists are. Last time I was in Venice, I bought myself a leather purse and this time we had a blast trying on all the venetian masks. The one in the picture is my favorite but there’s a ton of other ones that I loved.

venetian mask in venice italy

Those are the 10 must-see places in Venice Italy! We had the best trip to Italy and loved being able to spend so much time with my family. We started the journey in Rome and went on to Cinque Terre and Florence before ending our trip in Venice. I’m so sad our trip had to end but the trip was definitely one to remember. If you are planning on booking a trip to Venice Italy, definitely think about doing some of the things from this list. If you want any help looking for hotels or places to eat in Venice Italy, let me know in the comments! I would love to help in any way I can. Good luck!

XOXO Kayla

view of venice italy venice italy canal view of venice italy

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croissant in Florence Italy
LifestyleTravel

Things to Do in Florence Italy For Your Next Vacation

by Kayla Smith
written by Kayla Smith

I have all my favorite things to do, places to eat and where we stayed in Florence Italy.

On our trip through Italy, we started in Rome, went on to Cinque Terre and our next stop was Florence Italy. We didn’t spend a ton of time in Florence and we were sick the majority of the time. However, the food was UNREAL and I loved every single meal we ate there. There’s not a ton to do here compared to the other cities but if you love shopping, this is the place for you. Florence Italy is covered with high end shopping plazas so if you are eyeing some italian leather shoes, you’ll want to come here. Here’s what we did during our stay in Florence Italy.

Florence Italy Restaurants

Osteria dell Olio

I think this is the best restaurant I had in Italy! I had the Spaghetti Arrabiata and it’s to die for. I could tell the chef put a lot of thought into the sauce because of the intense depth and flavor. Since coming home from Italy, I have dreams about it and that’s all I ever want to eat. Before you go, know that there is a service charge of $2-3 a person but I think it’s 100% worth the fee.

pasta arrabbiata in florence italy

La Carraria Gelato

I could cry thinking about this. Florence Italy was SO good to us! I got the Chocolate Orange Gelato and the Chocolate Mousse gelato. Hands down the best gelato/ice cream/dessert/anything I’ve ever had! We tried to go back later that evening to eat it twice in one day but they CLOSED one hour early! Their Google listing doesn’t have accurate hours so keep that in mind before going but it’s worth the risk.

gelato in florence italy

Ristorante Pizzeria il Pinolo

We loved eating here so much we went here two days in a row. Their pasta is seriously UNREAL! Plus, their pricing is very reasonable with how much food you get. It’s a little bit of a walk outside of downtown but it’s totally worth it.

spaghetti in florence italy cacio e pepe in florence italy

Lindt Chocolate Store

While waiting in line at the Duomo, we eyed a Lindt chocolate store across the street. We decided to explore while my parents waited in line and we couldn’t have been happier! They make fresh croissants and stuff them full of chocolate. I know there are Lindt stores all around the world so definitely go to the next one you come across wherever you are.

croissant in Florence Italy

Pizzeria a Taglio

This pizza place is right next to the Duomo as well! It’s nothing fancy but you can get pizza by the slice for a great deal. The people that work there are awesome and there’s tons of different flavors you can choose from in their window.

pizza in florence italy pizza in florence italy

Things to Do

The David

I knew that the David was in Florence Italy but I never realized how big it is. It’s inside a museum a couple streets away from the Duomo. It’s amazing to see since there are no visible mistakes so it’s technically a “perfect” sculpture. Along the hallway leading up to it, there’s all of Michelangelo’s sculptures lining the walls showing the process behind his iconic sculptures.

The Duomo

This is the most iconic building in Florence Italy. You can climb all the way to the top and get a view of the entire city. We didn’t reserve a ticket before going and the line was too long. If you want to go, reserve a ticket online before making the trip out there.

duomo in florence italy

Florence Italy Hotels

We stayed at the Goldoni hotel in Florence Italy. It’s a cool hotel in the heart of the city. It’s all on one floor of an apartment building which is weird but works. I think we liked the bed here the most but the bathroom was a little weird. It looked like someone had hung onto the shower railing and it was half falling off the wall. However, my parents bathroom was much nicer Overall, this place had a great breakfast and the staff was AMAZING! If you are making a trip to Florence Italy, it’s definitely a hotel to look into.

We had the best time in Florence Italy and I can’t wait until we make a trip back, especially for all the food! Have you ever been? What is your favorite part? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO Kayla

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kayla throwing up a peace sign in manarola cinque terre, italy
LifestyleTravel

Why You Should Put Cinque Terre, Italy On Your Bucket List

by Kayla Smith
written by Kayla Smith

The hidden gems of what to see, eat and things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy and why you need to go there.

I’ve traveled all across Italy from Milan to Rome and Florence to Venice, but nothing quite compares to Cinque Terre, Italy. A lot of the bigger cities crawl with people 24/7 but they dwarf in comparison to the charm and magic of Cinque Terre, Italy. I’ve never been one to be speechless. However, when I was standing on the edge of a cliff over Riomaggiore, I had no words. There’s a magic about Cinque Terre, Italy that doesn’t compare to anywhere else in the world. I’m sharing my favorite parts about each city and where we ate because the food is enough of a reason to go haha!

Things to Do

A big reason Cinque Terre, Italy should be on your bucket list is because there’s something there for everyone. Each one of the cities have their own unique charm. I’ll share some of our favorite things from each of the cities and which ones stood out the most to me.

Riomaggiore

Out of all the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy, I think Riomaggiore is my favorite. On our first day, we spent half of Christmas day exploring the town. There was NO ONE there which I liked since the hustle and bustle of Rome became overwhelming at times. It’s the first city from La Spezia and the train station is very easy to navigate. Some of the other ones are NOT easy (but we will get into that later haha). There’s two sections of the town. We hiked up the first one and once you get up to the overlook, there’s a small pathway that leads down to the marina and some rocks overlooking the ocean. It’s semi-difficult to navigate since the railings are really rusty but the view is so worth it!

From the marina, we hiked up to the city square, All the houses are painted in pastel colors which makes for beautiful pictures. Our pictures here turned out amazing and the sunset was UNREAL! If you need a spot to watch the sunset, pick this city because it’s the prettiest out of all of them.

cliffs of riomaggiore cinque terre, italy overlooking the railing in cinque terre, italy Kayla and Taz overlooking Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla standing in the square in Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla and Taz overlooking Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy

throwing up a peace sign in Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy

Manarola

Manarola is the most popular city in Cinque Terre, Italy for good reason. The colorful houses and amazing views are unreal. Add in delicious seafood and you’re set! If you’re a seafood lover, this is the city for you! However, we are not and struggled to find a place that sold anything other than seafood spaghetti. Despite our food trial, the trail leading up to the overlook gave us a 360 degree view of the city. It’s by far the most crowded of any other place but the pictures are worth it! We could’ve spent all night here.

Kayla overlooking Manarola in Cinque Terre, Italy sunset in Manarola Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla and Taz in Manarola Cinque Terre, Italy

Corniglia

Corniglia is probably the smallest city in all of Cinque Terre, Italy. This city is the hardest to navigate since the train station spits you out at the bottom of the cliff and you have to climb (A LOT of) stairs to actually get to the city. There’s no other way up so it isn’t the most accessible. However, I appreciated being able to burn off some of my endless amounts of pizza and pasta haha. AND the views are stunning just like the other cities in Cinque Terre, Italy.

overlooking Corniglia Cinque Terre, Italy

Vernazza

I LOVED Vernazza! It’s an adorable fishing town with a marina and tons of grapes everywhere. If you get a chance to go, walk down to the marina and spend the afternoon down by the water. There’s a ton of places to go eat and walk around. We also went on a hike up by the old church. There’s a view of the entire city that’s absolutely breathtaking!

overlooking Vernazza in Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla overlooking Vernazza in Cinque Terre, Italy

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the smallest of the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy. We didn’t spend a ton of time there but the beach is so relaxing. There’s a ton of rocks to walk out on and it would be the perfect place to lay out in the summertime. It’s an adorable little town with a lot of spots to fish and swim in Cinque Terre, Italy.

standing on the rocks in Monterrosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, Italy standing on the beach in Monterrosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, Italy

Place to Stay

I wanted to share one of the best Cinque Terre hotels because we loved our hotel so much! Here’s our experience:

Cinque Terre Hotels

My family loved staying at Firenze al Continental. There aren’t a lot of Cinque Terre hotels but this is the BEST place to stay if you are looking to visit Cinque Terre, Italy. It’s the main city of La Spezia where you can take the train to visit all of the five cities of Cinque Terre, Italy. I would recommend staying in La Spezia over any of the Cinque Terre cities because lugging suitcases up the side of a cliff would be absolute misery. We stayed on the third floor and it was by far our favorite hotel on the entire trip. The staff gave us directions and a ton of help and laid out an incredible breakfast on the top floor every morning with a view of the entire city. We all wish we could’ve stayed there the entire trip!

hotel in La Spezia outside of Cinque Terre, Italy

Food to Eat

Cinque Terre Restaurants
La Bottega Del Fritto (chain)

We visited four of the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy. We went to Vernazza and loved the adorable town! You can walk down the entire city and see two other cities from where you are. On our way back to the train station, we got chips (fries) at La Bottega Del Fritto and they were DELICIOUS! They give you your French fries in a little cone with a stick so you can stab them and eat without getting your hands dirty. The fries tasted equal parts crispy on the outside to soft on the inside. I could’ve eaten three more cones!

eating french fries in Vernazza Cinque Terre, Italy

Gelateria Vernazza

After we devoured our fries, we walked across the street to the Gelateria Vernazza. It has some of the best gelato in all of Italy! I got chocolate and stracciatella (chocolate chip) and it came with a little waffle chip on the top. It was a nice treat from all the walking around.

eating gelato in Vernazza Cinque Terre, Italy

Pizzeria Masaniello

I’m almost positive this is the name but it’s in La Spezia right down the street from our hotel. They make incredible neopolitan pizza and it’s absolutely delicious! Beware that the servers only know broken English so make sure to point to what you want on the menu if you don’t speak Italian. My sister asked for a #12 which is a ham and cheese calzone and got a #21 which was a pizza covered in eggplant, artichokes and bacon with a PUMPKIN sauce. A bit of a stretch from a basic calzone! Haha. Taz got the Diavola (pepperoni) and I got margherita which are much safer options.

pizza in la spezia outside of Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre, Italy should be on your bucket list if you love adventure, delicious food and traveling off the beaten path. I loved the chance to explore and discover new places that I had never seen before in pictures or posted all over Instagram. I could’ve spent an entire month exploring the coast of Cinque Terre, Italy and I can’t wait to go back one day. If you have any other questions about my trip or some suggestions of what else to do, feel free to reach out!

XOXO Kayla

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Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
LifestyleTravel

Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

by Kayla Smith
written by Kayla Smith

I’m sharing all the things to see, places to stay and amazing things to do in Edinburgh!

I shared a little about the beginning of my three-month study abroad. We began in Paris, moved on to London and then to Scotland with Edinburgh as our first stop. We spent a couple days there and I loved it! It’s such a cool city. I wanted to put together this blog post so you know the best things to do in Edinburgh before you make the trip!

Things to See

Hike

Hiking was one of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh! We hiked over to the Pentland hills which is super close to the city center. It gives a gorgeous view of the city and it’s one of the best spots there.

a hike is one of the many things to do in edinburgh

Royal Mile

After the hike, we went exploring on the Royal Mile through the city. We walked through a cemetary, visited the Museum of Edinburgh and bought trinkets at some tourist shops. The cemetaries there are creepy, but also cool. Definitely stop through a couple when you visit town.

watching the bagpipe player is one of the many things to do in edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

I never went inside the Edinburgh castle since it is definitely pricey to get inside, but it was a fun place to take pictures of! Compared to France and London, Edinburgh is a lot smaller so I enjoyed the “small town” feel. The castle is the center of the city and can be seen for miles around. If you don’t go inside, still make a trip up the Royal Mile to go see it from the outside.

seeing the castle is one of the many things to do in edinburgh

St. Giles Cathedral

This is a super cool cathedral just off of the Royal Mile. (Are you catching a pattern here? 🙂 ) It’s full of gorgeous architecture and unreal stained glass. It’s a good place to escape the rain and admire one of the coolest buildings in Edinburgh.

seeing the St. Giles Cathedral is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh seeing the St. Giles Cathedral is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh seeing the St. Giles Cathedral is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh

The Elephant House

This is one of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh! JK Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, first wrote her ideas of the book on some napkins in this little cafe. There’s a cemetary behind it that also has a bunch of the names she used in the book. You can find Tom Riddle, Sirius Black and John Knox who Dumbledore was inspired after. It’s proof that you can find inspiration anywhere!

The Elephant House is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh The Elephant House is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh A cemetery tour is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh A cemetery tour is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh A cemetery tour is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh

Places to Stay

We stayed at the Smart City Hostel. There’s four bunk beds in each room with two bathrooms. There’s a bar downstairs with delicious food and there’s a 20% discount for students.

Food to Eat

StarBucks

If you need a spot for a hot drink and some WiFi, StarBucks will be your best friend! It was freezing there even in May when I went.

The Baked Potato Shop

The Baked Potato Shop made me so happy! They have baked potatoes the size of footballs! This place is by far one of the most fun things to do in Ediburgh. Baked potatoes are covered in all sorts of toppings, but I decided to go simple with butter, salt, pepper and cheese. If you’re ever in Edinburgh, you can’t miss it!

The Baked Potato Shop is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh The Baked Potato Shop is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh

Mexican Food

This sounds crazy, but some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had was in Edinburgh. It may be because I hadn’t had good Mexican food in weeks, but it was so good! I’m kicking myself for not writing down the name, but if you see any Mexican food while in Edinburgh, I guarantee it’s probably the only one.

Travel Tips

I wasn’t there very long, but if you couldn’t tell already, find a place to stay off of the Royal Mile. It’s where the majority of things are located so everything is easily a walking distance away.

Those are all my favorite things to do in Edinburgh! If you ever get a chance to go to England, definitely make the trip over to Scotland too. It’s very underrated and super cool! I loved my time there and I hope you enjoy it too. If you’ve been and I missed something, let me know in the comments and I will add it to the list.

XOXO Kayla

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Pictures of the Eiffel Tower in my Paris Travel Guide
LifestyleTravel

Paris Travel Guide: Places to See + Things to Do in Paris, France

by Kayla Smith
written by Kayla Smith

Tips and Tricks to Tackle the Best Sights in this Paris Travel Guide

Believe it or not, I spent a summer in Europe 3 years ago! I can’t believe it’s been that long. Thankfully, I wrote down all my experiences in a travel journal. Thank goodness that the one time I journaled it was for something good and not just about whatever boy I liked that week. I’m gathering all the details of my trip together and writing a Paris travel guide for your reference. I visited Paris twice that summer and had the best trip of my life! The first time, I went with my art study abroad and second, I backpacked with two girls from my classes. Paris was by far one of my favorite places to go because of the amazing things to do, places to see and food to eat. I’m hugging my past self for documenting all of these experiences that I get to share with you. Here’s my ultimate Paris travel guide! (Keep in mind these pictures are pre-blog days so be kind 🙂 )

Things to Do

Bastille

The first day I was in Paris, we went to see Bastille. It is the remaining piece of the prison during the times of the French Revolution. Sadly, no one was singing from Les Miserables, but it still was a cool monument to see.

Picture of Bastille from my Paris Travel Guide

Notre Dame

This is by far the best thing I did in Paris and the #1 best thing to do in this Paris travel guide! I climbed all the way to the top and if you want to do the same, please do not skip leg day. It has some of the steepest stairs I’ve ever seen, but the view is totally worth it.

Musee D’ Orsay

The Orsay is my favorite museum I’ve ever been to and the best museum in this Paris travel guide. (Even better than the Louvre!) It’s an old train depot that is filled with sculptures, paintings and other pieces from artists like Monet and Van Gogh. But, my favorite parts weren’t anything in the museum. In one corner, they have a reception hall that is something out of Beauty and the Beast. They decorated the hall with so much gold and ornate details that I secretly wish I could have hosted my wedding reception there. Along another part of the museum is a giant clock! It was so magical and definitely insta-worthy!

Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is amazing! Sadly, I wasn’t able to go through the gardens when I went, but seeing the sheer mass of everything took my breath away. It’s definitely a day trip so make sure you budget enough time for traveling and anything else you want to do in that part of the city.

Eiffel Tower

You can’t go to Paris without going up in the Eiffel Tower! I took the elevator to the main base and then climbed stairs the rest of the way up. It’s a magical place to be especially once it starts twinkling at night. Take a picnic and sit on the lawn during the day, but don’t forget to see it at night at least once.

The Arc D’ Triumphe

This is an awesome place to go, but taking pictures there is difficult. Under the arch, there’s the tomb of the unknown soldier. When I went, they were having a ceremony celebrating the tomb so I wasn’t able to go underneath, but I did go climb to the top!

Pompidou

If you are a fan of modern art, go to the Pompidou. The entire plumbing system is actually on the outside of the building so it looks super cool. However, even though I went on an art study abroad, I’m not a fan of modern art and didn’t appreciate it fully compared to other people.

The Louvre

The Louvre is definitely a place to go to. If you want to see the whole thing, I would designate an entire day. I only had a few hours so I made sure to see Winged Victory and the Mona Lisa along with the crown jewels of Europe. Pick and choose the things you want to see before going if you can’t spend the entire day there.

Palais Garnier

This is the place that the plot of Phantom of the Opera takes place. It was unreal! The halls are exquisite and when we got into the auditorium, they lit up the chandelier which usually never happens! We were super lucky to see it.

Mont Saint Michel

If you have a chance to make a day trip to Mont Saint Michel, do it! It’s an old abbey that monks used to live in hundreds of years ago. Depending on the time of year, it’s completely surrounded by water, and it’s the inspiration behind the castle in Tangled. It was by far one of my favorite places on this trip and I hope to bring my husband there with me someday.

Food to Eat

Sadly, I wasn’t as good about writing what restaurants and shops I went to as I was about sight seeing. I know what I did like there so maybe that will help. Sorry for the lack of specifics!

Pizza

I went to a tiny hole in the wall shop near Notre Dame and got pizza. They folded it into a cone so it was easier to eat. I don’t know if it was good because I hadn’t eaten in 16 hours or what, but it was delicious!

Crepes

You can find crepes just about anywhere and it’s the best thing ever! The nutella ones are the best, but that’s when I found out I can’t eat hazelnuts. You win some you lose some.

Macarons

I found macarons everywhere too! When I was in Paris, my favorite ones were amache and passion. I wish I could try every flavor because I still dream about them!

Baguettes

Every morning, I bought a baguette and the fixings for a sandwich so I could bring it with me for lunch. It’s a lot cheaper to go get food at the grocery stores around there so if you want to save money on your trip, make your own breakfast and lunch.

Croissants

There’s croissants EVERYWHERE! No matter where you go, you can find deliciousness.

Chocolate Stuffed Beignet

I’m kicking myself for not writing this place down, but behind the Eiffel Tower and down an alley to the left, there’s a hole in the wall bakery. I got a chocolate-stuffed beignet and it was by far the best thing I ate the entire time I was in Paris! When I can bring Taz back there, it’s where I am going first! If you try anything from my Paris travel guide, try this.

Frites

When I went to the Eiffel Tower, I got a basket of frites by the carousel, because I couldn’t go to France without getting french fries (even though I know french fries didn’t come from France.) They’re fried in butter and absolutely heavenly!

Gelato

You can find gelato on every corner in every street. Apparently, there’s a shop that cuts gelato into the shape of a rose, but I couldn’t find it! If you go and know where it’s at, let me know in the comments.

Places to Stay

Hotel Campanile

This is the hotel I stayed at with my study abroad and it was adorable! They have continental breakfast which is a plus and I don’t think we were very far from the city center. I would definitely recommend staying there.

Air BnB

The second time I went, I stayed at an Air BnB. I’ll have to find the name so you DON”T stay there haha. The hostel/hotel split us girls up into two rooms so I was in a room by myself. Each room had their own sink, but there was a communal toilet and shower AND no AC. Majority of places in Europe don’t have AC, but this place was exceptionally hot. Oh I almost forgot…blood covered an entire wall in the elevator when we got back on night. It look like someone was stabbed. Yikes! My family is going to an Air BnB there this summer and there’s looks very safe and clean. Just make sure you read reviews before renting.

Travel Tips

Take money out before hand

When I went to Europe, the United States didn’t come out with credit cards with chips in them.  Thankfully, I got a reloadable debit card that worked without any foreign fees, but majority of companies won’t charge you now as long as you let them know ahead of time. Always take some money out in case of emergencies, because that happened to me a lot.

Be wary on the metro

The Paris metro is the worst train in all of Europe. It’s absolutely disgusting. A man was PEEING in a corner of a car I was in and I thought I was going to be sick. Be really careful about your bags too, because people will try to unzip your bag without you knowing.

Pack light

I’ll be honest: I didn’t pack light and I instantly regretted it. Almost none of the places I stayed in Europe had an elevator and it was miserable to lug bags up and down the stairs. Pack light! You’ll thank me later.

Invest in a waterproof raincoat NOT water resistant

I don’t know what time of year you plan on going, but if you go during the busy season, it will rain. I packed an umbrella too, but that’s not fun to drag around. Investing in a waterproof raincoat will change your life for the better. If you take any advice from this Paris travel guide, please do this. I sized up in mine so I could hide my bag underneath and avoid getting soaked.

Whew! I’m sorry this Paris Travel Guide was veryyyyy long, but I get questions about my time in Europe constantly. I didn’t want to leave anything out that would be important to know. I guarantee I forgot to add something, because I’m a human. If you have any questions about my time in Paris, feel free to ask in the comments below. Good luck and happy travels!

XOXO Kayla

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