Recommendations for Larger (Checked Luggage) Rolling Backpacks
What is the best full-sized luggage with both wheels and backpack straps? We’ve analyzed all available options as well as the reviews put out by consumer testing organizations, travel bloggers, and professional critics. This is more than just an obsessive research exercise; after 20-plus combined years of living around the world out of suitcases and …
What Is Ouigo? And Is This Budget Train Worthwhile for Crossing Spain, Catalonia, and France?
Ouigo, put simply, is a French railway answer to the budget airline. The tickets are cheap, and there are no frills, but you get to where you’re going on lovely high-speed trains while enjoying the beautiful countryside. In terms of comfort, Ouigo is nowhere near as bad as a budget (or any) airline, though the …
The Best (Most Intriguing, Fun, Informative…) Italian Podcasts Being Made in 2023
The world of Italian podcasts has exploded with slick new options; as Italian language learners, in 2023 we’re no longer limited to drive-time jabber from RAI (Radiotelevisione italiana) or sloppily uploaded audio from Italian amateurs. Italian podcasting can compete with podcasts anywhere; there are quality offerings in the genres of true crime, humor, in-depth news …
My Favorite Books for Learning Turkish
I dived into a number of books while learning Turkish over the past year. There are not a whole lot of great options, but, fortunately, there are a few that work great for taking you from zero to intermediate-level Turkish. These books make an excellent basis for learning and supplement other learning methods (online or …
Travel Hacks for Cheap European Bus Travel
I’ve long used buses as a cheap way to get to interesting corners of the European continent. I’ve taken buses to travel more cheaply at the last minute when my favorite train booking platform was no longer able to find a good fare, such as from Barcelona to Paris. And I’ve used buses to get …
The Differences in the Top Osprey Daypacks — And How to Choose the Perfect Smaller Pack for Daily Use
I’m obsessed with lightweight travel and have been using Osprey packs and daypacks for years. I also think they’re very much worth recommending for school, hiking, cycling, outdoor sports, shopping, carrying laptops and gear for work, and more. An older favorite I’ve used for years: The Osprey Daylite Travel daypack. It’s got a full set …
Wheeled Backpacks for Girls: Cute Designs that Will Roll Through the School Year
What are the cutest, funnest backpacks for girls with the convenience of wheels? We’ve put together photos of the designs along with our thoughts on what are the most durable and useful options for middle and high school use (plus one smaller option for younger, elementary-age girls). As we’ve reported on the best rolling backpacks …
The Most Durable Rolling School Backpacks (2022 Recommendations)
We’ve taken a thorough look at the rolling backpack options for teens ages 13 and up (and we have a recommendation for elementary-age kids too). Our main goal was to find the most durable and practical option to recommend for middle and high school use, as well as for short overnight trips. We looked at …
Solutions for Buying Train Tickets for France in Spite of Credit Card Rejections from Ouigo and SNCF Connect
The French train operator’s websites SNCF Connect and Ouigo are notorious for rejecting bank and credit cards from outside of France. Those from Brazil, Eastern Europe, the United States, Australia, and Canada in particular report problems with payments not going through or getting rejected. We’ve been carefully researching the best alternatives for foreigners looking to purchase …
Solved! The Problems with SNCF Connect and Ouigo Websites — and How We Buy French Train Tickets in Spite of Them
If you are blocked by error messages on the SNCF Connect or on Ouigo.com, you’re not alone. The websites and apps have lots of redirects and undergo constant updates that can render them in some cases nearly unusable. In particular, the transition to the new SNCF Connect website has been very rough and disabled a number …