The Trekking Pawns' Diary

(I couldn't resist, I absolutely love the view from our window!) *** Bonjour from Nice, France! The Trekking Pawns have officially started our immersive French adventure, and what a journey it’s been so far. Our trip started with a layover in Montreal, and although it was just five hours, we had a surprisingly good time at the airport! We debated leaving the airport to explore the city—after all, Old Quebec looked incredible from what we’d seen online. However, considering the hour-long trip into the city center and the fact that our layover was from 4 pm to 9 pm, we didn’t want to risk getting stuck in immigration or missing our flight back through security. A hop on hop off bus would have been a fun easy way to quickly see all the big spots! Instead, we decided to stay put in the international terminal and made the most of our time there. Montreal Airport Fun The international section of the Montreal airport has quite a bit to keep you entertained. There was a little putting act

As The Trekking Pawns, we’re all about making the most of our travels—and that includes figuring out the easiest and most affordable way to get around! During our time in Nice, France, we discovered a few public transportation options that made exploring the Côte d’Azur a breeze. With the city’s modern contactless cards from Lignes d’Azur , getting around has never been easier. Here’s a quick rundown of what we learned and how we plan to use these options during our French adventures. 1. "Ma Carte" : The Ultimate Go-To for Regular Travelers We love the convenience of the "Ma Carte"! This personalized contactless card can be reloaded with ease and comes with your name and photo, so it feels like your very own travel buddy. For just €2, you get a reusable card that allows you to purchase and top up occasional tickets or season passes. Plus, if you ever lose it (we’ve all been there), you can get it replaced along with all the tickets you’ve purchased. Super convenient

 We are so excited!! Choosing EF for our French language journey was an easy decision for us, and here’s why. French isn’t just a beautiful language; it’s one of the most important languages in the world. From the United Nations to the International Olympic Committee and the Red Cross, French is a key language in international relations, business, and humanitarian work. It’s spoken across continents, from Canada to Haiti and North Africa, making it truly global. We wanted to learn a language that would not only enrich our travels but also open doors to new cultures and connections around the world. When it came to choosing where to study, EF offered us the perfect options: Paris or Nice. Both cities are incredible, but we decided to immerse ourselves in Nice. Picture this—learning French in a place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Alpine foothills. Our days are filled with intensive French courses that build a solid foundation, but we also get to practice our French in real-world

As travel bloggers, we often get asked how we plan our trips and which sites we trust to book everything from flights to activities. It’s a great question because, let’s be honest, the internet is overflowing with options! We’ve found that using a few trusted sites makes travel planning so much easier, and we’re here to share our go-to platforms for booking flights, hotels, and activities. When it comes to booking our flights and hotel stays, we love using Booking.com and Expedia . Both platforms are incredibly user-friendly and allow us to quickly compare prices and check out flexible dates, which is crucial when we’re trying to squeeze in an extra day or catch the cheapest flight! It’s also handy to have everything in one place—hotels, flights, and even car rentals—so we’re not juggling a million tabs. We’re also big fans of both sites' cancellation policies. Let’s face it, plans change, and it’s nice to know that we can cancel or modify bookings without stress. Having that peac

Hey there, fellow adventurers and book lovers! It's one of The Trekking Pawns here, and I recently am in the mist of reading the enchanting novel Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. As someone who loves to explore the world through the lens of literature, I am captivated by the story of Casiopea Tun and her thrilling journey across Mexico. This tale beautifully blends historical fiction with Mayan mythology, taking readers on a journey from the dusty town of Uukumil to the vibrant streets of Mexico City and beyond. Inspired by Casiopea's adventures, I couldn't help but daydream about visiting the places featured in the book. So, let's dive into a travel itinerary inspired by this captivating story! ( Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.) Uukumil: A Quiet Beginning Our journey begins in the small, fictional town of Uuk

  Hello, fellow book lovers and travel enthusiasts! As one half of The Trekking Pawns, I have a particular passion for finding books set in the places we visit. There's something magical about reading a story and then seeing those locations come to life before your eyes. Our latest trip took to Paris , but this novel too me from the opulent mansions of New York's Fifth Avenue to the battlefields of war-torn France, all through the pages of Danielle Steel's "A Good Woman." This historical novel follows the incredible journey of Annabelle Worthington, a woman whose life is forever changed by tragedy, love, and resilience. New York: A World of Privilege and Loss Annabelle's story begins in the glamorous world of early 20th-century New York society. Raised among the elite, she lives in the luxurious homes on Fifth Avenue and the summer estates of Newport, Rhode Island. The descriptions of these settings are lush and vivid, painting a picture of a world of privile

  Greetings, fellow wanderlusters! The Trekking Pawns are back with tales from the frontlines of travel planning, where the elusive plane ticket has become our ultimate quest, a quest that unfolds like a comedy of errors. The Dilemma Deepens: Round Trip vs. One Way Picture this: The clickety-clack of keys, the glow of screens, and the constant hum of airline engines in our dreams. We've delved into the mysterious realm of plane tickets, attempting the daring feat of booking separate one-way tickets. The result? A perplexing revelation that they might actually cost more than a well-behaved round trip! Who knew airfare math could be so amusingly perplexing? Airport Roulette: To Drive or Not to Drive? Ever tried spinning the airport roulette wheel? We have. Different airports, different vibes, and apparently, different ticket prices. But, and it's a big but (and we cannot lie), is it worth the journey – both in gas and sanity – to save a meager $30? The struggle is real, folks.