Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 6 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/15/Mon Day 6 of Europe Trip

The main destination on the 6th day should have been Disneyland, but I got pickpocketed before I even got there!!

A few hours before I got pickpocketed, I packed my luggage and left my accommodation. There were a lot of people standing in front of my accommodation and the streets were blocked, so I asked the citizens what was going on. What I found out through conversation was that the torch relay route was in front of my accommodation! Many citizens were waiting and some were dancing lightly to the song. Since this kind of experience is not easy to have even in Paris, I waited for a while and experienced the torch relay in person. It was exciting and fun because a team that led the cheers and songs passed by before the torch relay! I was even more excited because I saw the torch relay just in time. However, I think I became complacent because I was so excited and happy. I stopped by MONOPRIX in the morning to look around the mart and stores, and I also briefly looked at the Seine River near my accommodation.

(MONOPRIX : https://maps.app.goo.gl/cZtPe5DdUFA2FQgu5)

I had to take the RER line to Disneyland, but the subway was as crowded as the rush hour subway. I had to hold my carrier and luggage in both hands, so my hands were not free, and I could barely get on the subway. Some young kids who looked like middle school or high school students helped me get on this side, so I was grateful for their help. They asked my friend who was traveling with me which country I was from, and told me to put my carrier a little further inside, and kept asking if my luggage was okay and safe, so I thanked them in English. After making my friend and I dizzy like this, the other group naturally opened their bags behind me and took out their luggage! Even though I was wearing a hip sack that hangs diagonally on the front of my body, I was so focused on the conversation and answered that I had no idea they were unzipping and taking out their luggage! The USB jack fell in the middle of the trip, and I thought it was something belonging to a child who had been talking to me, so I told him that it had fallen, but it turned out to be the USB jack in my bag!

I had no idea that I was being pickpocketed, and then I was so surprised when I saw my passport and cell phone in a citizen's hand! The citizen handed me the two items while telling me to be careful, and at first I was dumbfounded and surprised, but when I came to my senses, I was so grateful...! The things in my hip bag fell out in an instant, as if it were a joke! If I had lost my passport and cell phone, it would be so dizzying and terrifying! Just imagining it makes me despair and frustrated! Is this how accidents can happen in a matter of seconds? I'm so grateful to the citizen who found my passport and cell phone. She was a woman in her 40s or 50s, and I could feel the heart of a mother who was trying to protect me. In the middle of the trip, a middle-aged man in his 40s or 50s told me to be careful because the subway doors were opening behind me, but he actually told me to be careful of pickpockets...! My friend didn't see me get pickpocketed at all because another young friend talked to him and he was far away from me.

It happened right after I transferred to the RER to go to Disneyland. It takes about an hour to get to Disneyland on the RER, but it passed by so quickly that I don't know how it went. I was dumbfounded and the moment of being pickpocketed kept repeating in my head. I kept thinking about what would have happened if I had lost my passport. I was embarrassed that something like that had happened to me. I got my important things back, but I thought it would have been really painful if I had been pickpocketed, so I kept naturally reflecting on my insensitivity and complacency, and various thoughts and emotions came flooding in. I realized that I needed to be strong and be more vigilant about my surroundings. I later felt positive that I was okay because I had my passport and cell phone, which were really important, but at first, I felt angry and disappointed at the people who tried to pickpocket me because I had been so wronged!!!!!!!

Still, I arrved at Disneyland safely and got off. I arrived at Disney and it was raining a little, which matched my bad mood. First, I went to Five Guys to appease my hungry stomach. I was really lucky that my friend was with me and worried about me and comforted me. If I had been alone, I would have been overwhelmed by sad and dark emotions and it would have been harder to recover with a calm mind.

(Disneyland : https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZtNRETx9oXi8t9dm8)

I enjoyed both Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios with a ticket that allowed admission to both Disneyland Parks! I felt a lot better after riding the Iron Man ride! It was a thrilling roller coaster! I tried to enjoy Disneyland, which I could only enjoy for one day, with a happy heart! Mickey Mouse's magic show and the Frozen musical were also high quality and had sweet songs. The ride where you ride the train as a rat in Ratatouille was also exciting and the effects that went well with the animation were fun.

I would say that the highlight of Disneyland is the illumination show! It was so pretty with the gorgeous laser show, fountain show, and fireworks all together! The gorgeous lights in the dark night were beautiful. It was a shame that the drone show was canceled that day. I guessed that it was because everyone was mobilized for the Independence Day event the day before! Since it started late in the evening, I booked a place to stay at Disneyland, but since the RER line runs late and there is a shuttle, it seems like it would be a good idea to book a place to stay in downtown Paris!

After finishing, I called an Uber to safely find my luggage and return to my place on time, but I had a hard time finding the Uber's arrival location. To make matters worse, I didn't have much battery. Even if I was matched with a driver, it was canceled and reassigned several times. In the end, there were two drivers looking for customers nearby, and I took one of them. The price was a bit higher than Uber, but the match was so bad that I decided to ride. The two drivers seemed to know each other, and they offered each other a price to take us. I decided to take the driver's car, who offered me a small discount. I was worried that it might be a scam, but I was able to get to the hotel safely! I was so lucky..! It was an eventful day where I had fun, but also experienced things that were embarrassing and worrisome!

I hope that those of you who are planning a trip to Paris and Europe and are reading this article will not be pickpocketed!! I recommend that you be careful twice or three times on crowded subways and buses!!

I will return with a review of Day 7!

review of Day 1 : https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html

(Disneyland Castle during the day, which was uniquely pretty, and Disneyland Castle at night)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 5 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/14/Sun Day 5 of Europe Trip

The 5th day was Paris' Independence Day and BTS Jin carried the torch at the Louvre Museum section at around 8:30 PM. The day of the torch relay! I thought it would be a special memory to participate in the site, so I wanted to go to the Louvre Museum on time, but it was so crowded with people that I wondered if I would be able to return to my accommodation safely.

When I was planning my trip, I didn't know much about France's Independence Day and the torch relay schedule, so I planned to go to the Orsay Museum and the Louvre Museum on Sunday, the last day of the Museum Pass. However, I found out while traveling that there was an issue with public transportation control on July 14th, Independence Day. The subway and buses stopped running from 5 or 6 PM or had long intervals. While visiting the museum, I was worried that my return to my accommodation might be delayed or that traffic control might start earlier than expected, so I decided to enjoy and tour as close to my accommodation as possible.

When I turned on the TV in my accommodation in the morning, a live broadcast of a parade related to Independence Day was on the French channel. Bastille Day! I felt like a Parisian citizen who was spending Sunday leisurely watching TV in Paris like I was watching TV at home on the weekend. I experienced a very important Parisian holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison, which was the beginning of the French Revolution.

I had lunch at Trattoria Napoletana Da Enzo, a pizza place right below my accommodation, at around 11:30. I had margherita pizza, lasagna, and bottled beer. I was able to fully experience the feeling of being a Parisian by eating while looking at the street view from the table outside the restaurant. A meal that conveyed the unique atmosphere of Paris while looking at the buildings on the street! While I was eating lunch, a Parisian old man walking next to me told me that there would be fireworks in the evening and left! At first, I thought fireworks was just fire, but I was glad I understood it better later! Thank you for the good information, and I immediately added watching fireworks to my evening schedule.

(Trattoria Napoletana Da Enzo Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iimTSP5fAHKn9T2f8)

After lunch, I went to a large mart near my accommodation to buy some water and look around. The prices weren't expensive because it was so big. I wanted to try various fruits, so I chose kiwi, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, pears, peaches, etc. In addition, I bought yogurt, mozzarella cheese, burrata cheese, cookies, wine, etc. I was recommended to try dairy products because France has a developed dairy industry. I was impressed by the yogurt and cheese. I thought both yogurt and cheese were cheap for the amount and taste. The best fruit was the flat peach! The fruit pear had a unique shape, but the taste was similar but slightly different, so it was interesting and sweet and delicious! I ate Fermier yogurt, which was luxurious and had a different flavor!

(Intermarché EXPRESS Paris Mart Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VktYsAG7SeETx6Nf8)

I took a walk from my accommodation toward the Eiffel Tower while looking at the Eiffel view. While looking around the nearby streets and buildings, I saw a multi-cosmetic shop that felt similar to Monju Pharmacy, so I went in. After looking around and thinking about this and that, I bought Uriage lip balm because it was cheap! It was light and small, so it was easy to store in my carrier, so I bought several! I also bought a small hand cream. I refrained from buying heavy or food-related souvenirs like cookies and chocolates in Rome, the last destination of my trip.

(Pharmacie EIFFEL COMMERCE - Paris 15 store Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZR9KMJzTPVdRigU9)

There was a Statue of Liberty on the Seine River too! Mini Statue of Liberty. Since the Seine River is within walking distance, I walked to see the river and found it. I was curious about the story of the statue, so I searched and did a self-guide. It is said that France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States first, and the United States sent it to France in return. It was a cute mini Statue of Liberty. I enjoyed the river view, bought a croissant and coffee, and relaxed and healed.

(Paris Statue of Liberty Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZeaPF5GVE3SCyfyA8)

I arrived at my accommodation around 6:30 PM to have a simple dinner with the things I bought at the mart at my accommodation, and took a short rest. As I was lying in bed resting, checking the remaining schedule, and organizing my luggage, the time to go see the fireworks was quickly approaching.

I left my accommodation around 10 PM and walked toward the Eiffel Tower getting bigger, looking forward to the fireworks. Many citizens living near my accommodation also came out to watch, so I walked with them. I saw a mart on the way, so my friend and I bought a beer. Blanc and Heineken! While walking, a citizen said, “Best Good Heineken!”, so I laughed for a moment. The Eiffel Tower, which was visible between the buildings, was charming. The Eiffel Tower got bigger and bigger as I walked.

The fireworks was scheduled to start at 11 PM, but they started at 11:30 PM, which was later than the schedule. I was worried that the fireworks wouldn’t start because they hadn’t started yet, but I was glad that I was able to see them! Other citizens were waiting, so it was good that I waited with them! It was convenient because I could easily walk near my accommodation to see the fireworks, so I thought positively. The fireworks were not open to the public that day, so the area near the Eiffel Tower was completely controlled by the police. On the other hand, there were a lot of people near the accommodation, so we watched the fireworks together. On this day, if there was even a little bit of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there must have been a lot of people in every corner.

After watching the fireworks, we returned to the accommodation and finished our schedule by enjoying a late-night pizza that we took out and some fruit and wine that we bought at the mart. Since our trip coincided with a big anniversary in France, it was meaningful and nice to be able to enjoy the fun atmosphere together. We had a fun day with the concept of not missing the fireworks and enjoying it leisurely like a local near the accommodation!

It seemed leisurely, but it was a day where we walked and moved diligently again to look around the mart and the accommodation and watch the fireworks! Fortunately, we rested at the accommodation in between!

I will return with a review of Day 6!

(Moving accommodations for Disneyland and enjoying Disneyland)

review of Day 1 : https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html

 

(Eiffel Tower and beautiful fireworks in Paris on France's important national holiday, Independence Day)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 4-2 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/13/Sat Day 4 of Europe Trip

A reataurant with many reviews on Google Maps! The food was good, the menu was varied, and I liked the interior and atmosphere of the restaurant. I chose escargot for the starter, and for the main dish, I had steak with French fries and pepper sauce, and sea bass fillet, which was seasoned and cooked. For dessert, I had a cup of coffee and crème brulee. The coffee was cheap at 1 euro. The crème brulee was 3.8 euros, or 6,000 won, so I thought it was a bit pricey, but I understood the price when I saw the size of the crème brulee that came out after ordering. It wasn’t a small crème brulee, but it was quite large and had the rich flavor of egg yolk! I was planning to go straight to another schedule, but it suddenly started to rain, so I ordered dessert to avoid the rain. Fortunately, the rain slowed down a bit as I enjoyed the scenery of the rain. The name of the restaurant was Bouillon pigalle.

(Google Map Bouillon pigalle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3sFqTw6WMawT25LE8)

After eating, I stopped by Galeries Lafayette Haussmann for a while. The ceiling interior was gorgeous and pretty. Sparkling! I wanted to see the free observation deck, but I couldn't go outside because it was a little past the closing time. Even though it wasn't outdoors, I enjoyed the view of the Eiffel Tower outside the window from the inside of the department store observation deck. It was also fun to look around the displayed items and mart ingredients while looking around the department store.

(Google Map Galeries Lafayette Haussmann : https://maps.app.goo.gl/DXiBZE7Bi4n8HHHX8)

The Bateaux Parisiens didn'trun on Sunday, so I was going to go to Disneyland on Monday and then take a plane to Italy on Tuesday. Since I had to give up riding the Bato Parisien on Saturday evening, I decided to ride it as much as I could in the evening!

I tried to take a bus from Galeries Lafayette Haussmann to the Bateaux Parisiens, but there was a bus that wasn't running due to the Olympics. Google Maps said it would arrive in a few minutes, and there were people waiting at the bus stop, so I waited, but the bus never came, and the estimated arrival time kept getting pushed back. It seems that the bus I was supposed to take was the one that was not running. I changed the route, walked to the nearby subway, and went to Bateaux Parisiens!

I got in line at around 9:10 PM to board the 9:30 PM cruise ship to see the sunset at Bateaux Parisiens. A cruise ship sailing along the Seine River! The sky turned a beautiful pink and the sunset was beautiful. Personally, I think a pink sunset is prettier than an orange one, so I was happy that it was just pink. (Photo 1) As I was watching the sunset without any worries, the sky gradually got darker. The night view of Paris from Bateaux Parisiens on a dark night was really charming. The bridges of the Seine and the nearby buildings and structures were lit up, showing off a charm between splendid and soft, creating a dreamy atmosphere. (Photo 2) The unique European architectural style and lighting combined to convey the Harry Potter sensibility!

At around 22:40, the Bateaux Parisiens finished its service and dropped me off very close to the Eiffel Tower. You can see the large Eiffel Tower right up close. While I was busy taking pictures, I saw the Eiffel Tower lights blinking up close at 23:00. They say that the Eiffel Tower lights up in the evening and the lights on the Eiffel Tower twinkle for 2-3 minutes on the hour. On the way to catch the subway to go back to my accommodation, I was able to enjoy the large Eiffel Tower from right below the Eiffel Tower.

I was surprised that there were many people on the street even at that late hour. In Paris, France, the sunset is around 9 PM, and if you want to see the night view, you have to go at 10 PM-11 PM, but it was surprising that many people came out late at night to enjoy the night view. Parisians with good stamina! It was Saturday evening, and the next day was Sunday, so maybe it was possible to rest?! I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Saturday in Paris, France.

I was worried that the subway might be the last train, so I hurried my pace and walked diligently while looking around. It was at 11:18 PM, so I checked the destination quickly and got on. I was anxious and nervous about going to a strange place far away because I was in a hurry, but I got on safely! Phew! I arrived near my accommodation at around 11:40 PM. It was much later than I expected, but I was relieved that I had a good time looking around and arrived at my accommodation safely.

I walked a lot that day too...!
I planned to take it easy the next day, Sunday. (What was the result?)

I will return whit a revuew of Day 5!

review of Day 1 : https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html
review of Day 4-1
: https://www.happybooo.com/2024/10/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%204-1%20France%20Paris%20Montmartre.html

(Pink sunset and evening night view of the Seine River in Paris, France, seen from the Bateaux Parisiens)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 4-1 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/13/Sat Day 4 of Europe Trip

On the 4th day, I checked I checked in to another accommodation in the morning and went to Montmartre to see the view of Paris from the top of the high hill, took a picture of the nearby Love Wall, ate gelato, found a restaurant with many Google reviews, stopped by Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, and took the Bateau Parisien to enjoy the night view of Paris. Since Bateau Parisien did not operate on Sundays due to the Olympics, I had to take it on Saturday. The schedule was packed like the day I took the Giverny Tour and the Night Walking Tour on the 2nd day!

I took a bus to my second accommodation, and I had a little small talk with the locals on the bus. When I go abroad, I try to experience various means of transportation such as buses, subways, and trains. The structure and method of use are new, so it is an impressive experience every time I use it. Tickets or transportation cards purchased for public transportation are also good to keep as souvenirs. As I accumulated experience looking at signs to find the station, I got used to finding it and felt like a citizen of the city for a while. When transferring subways abroad, there were often times when I could transfer by getting on the subway right across the street instead of walking a long way, which was convenient.

The name of the accommodation I arrived at was Beaugrenelle Champs Charles Tour Eiffel, and I decided to book it because it was near the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. The subway was right next to it, and I could walk to the Pont du Grenelle on the Seine River, where I could see the Eiffel Tower, in less than 10 minutes! If you go toward the bridge, you can easily go down, so it was very nice to enjoy the view from the Seine River. I could see the Eiffel Tower right away after walking for about 5 minutes from the accommodation! I couldn't see everything, but I could see the upper part appropriately. If I walked another way for 10-15 minutes from the accommodation, I could go to the Pont du Bir-Hakeim on the Seine River, which was closer to the Eiffel Tower.

If I opend the window from the accommodation, I could see the street right in front of me, which wasn't a bad view. Across the street, there was a Starbucks and a cafe, so I could see people using the Starbucks and outdoor tables of the cafe, enjoying the quiet leisure. The advantages of the second accommodation were that it was closer to the Eiffel Tower than the first accommodation, and that there was a subway, a large mart, Starbucks, and several restaurants. The advantages of the first accommodation were that it was near the subway station, the scenery outside the window was European-style, and the Montparnasse Tower was nearby. Both were in the 15th arrondissement, so the security and street atmosphere were good. Also, both were 3-star hotels, and the interior facilities and environment were both good. Personally, I prefer hotels that are 3-star or higher when traveling abroad. 4-star and 5-star hotels are good, but since the city tax and accommodation costs are rising ahead of the Olympics, I stayed mostly in 3-star hotels. Including the city tax, it was about 150,000-170,000 won per night for 2 people.

(Second accommodation: Beaugrenelle Champs Charles Tour Eiffel Google Map- https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tf3P59kzTcEpPR237 )
(First accommodation: Avia Hotel Saphir Montparnasse Google Map- https://maps.app.goo.gl/WWykw1tsWMyfbkj27 )

Montmartre Hill. The highest point in Paris. The Montmartre area, located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, is said to be where the painters Dali and Picasso used to live. I heard that on the way to Montmartre Hill, there were cases where people would force you to put on a bracelet and ask for money, but fortunately, that didn't happen. Since it was the month of the Olympics, the streets were kept cleaner and regulations were strengthened to prevent people from forcing things on you. It was a shame that there were places you couldn't go because of the regulations, but on the other hand, it was fortunate that there were these advantages. I hardly ever thought about the smell when I walked down the streets of Paris.

I was able to take a picture of the quiet area behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica by going down the road to Montmartre Hill. The size of the building also seemed much closer. I happened to go up the back road after looking at Google Maps, and it was nice to take pictures leisurely.

When I saw the view of Paris from the high hill of Montmartre, my mind was wide open with the wide view and the sunny weather. The blue and clear sky, the clouds floating appropriately, and the cool breeze under the shade! I slowly came down the hill of Montmartre and stopped by the I Love You Wall. It was a wall with the I Love You in various languages. The material of the wall was unique and the design of the languages ​​of various countries freely mixed together was impressive. I also had gelato on the way to the I Love You Wall to recharge my sugar. It was a unique Lebanese gelato with pistachios sprinkled on it. Fortunately, it wasn't too hot and it was a good day to eat some cool gelato.
(Google Map Gelato Bachir: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KJp5p6V1BCBMNije8)

After looking around here and there, I looked for a restaurant to eat at on Google Maps. It was near Montmartre, and I found a place with a lot of reviews on Google Maps, so I went there. Luckily, there was only one group waiting in front of me, so I was able to sit down right away. I went there because there were over 30,000 reviews, so I believed that many people had visited. I think it was possible because it was an ambiguous time between lunch and dinner. As I ate, the number of customers waiting continued to increase as dinner time approached. As a result, I was very satisfied.

Restaurants, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Department Store, Bateau Parisiens Review photos will be continued in the next article!

review of Day 1 : 
https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html

(Photos of the Paris cityscape seen from behind and in front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre. It was quiet and nice to go up to the back.)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 3 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/12/Fri Day 3 of Europe Trip

The 3rd day was a museum tour day. I visited three museums: Orsay, Orangerie, and Louvre. Since the locations of the three museums are close together, I planned to visit all three museums in one day and visit the museums again on another day if I had time. I purchased a 4-day museum pass and picked it up at the airport in advance when I left.

Orsay location Google Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCtpS5vAq8Z5mqDs8
Orangerie location Google Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SuPmHJrXu5mCJQ8k9
Louvre location Google Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gHQiK6iv6cs2S8wG9

I didn't reserve a Korean docent guide for Louvre Museum before the trip, but when I toured the Palace of Versailles on Thursday, the guide's explanation was good and impressive, so I thought it would be less noticeable if I went without the guide's explanation. So I reserved a Korean docent guide for the Louvre Museum the day before through the app. Since I had a museum pass, the guide made the Louvre reservation on my behalf.

First, I headed to the Orangerie Museum in the morning. I had reserved the Orangerie online before the trip. When I was charging my Navigo card on the subway heading to the museum!!

There was a problem!! Very embarrassed!! Surprised and sad!!

The issue was that the Navigo card was charged at the subway machine, but the payment was made but the charge was not made!! I should have kept the card on the machine and not removed it, but when I picked up the card a little early, the payment was made but the charge was not made. Shocking,,,

I explained the situation to the station staff, but they kept saying that the details on the Navigo card were not showing up, so it would be difficult to get a refund!! I was shocked that an amount worth about 30,000 to 40,000 won was being consumed in a few seconds like this when I was charging 10 Navigo tickets at once.

I found hope after reading a blog post that said that a refund could be processed if the receipt was not processed. I contacted the card company through chat and they said that it was possible if the receipt was not processed! I was worried that the receipt was not processed, so I was a little worried about whether a refund would be possible, but I still had hope and focused on my trip. I waited for 7 business days and the refund was processed!!! On the second day of the trip, I had some income from a public offering, and I tried to think positively that it was for stupid expenses, but I was so glad that it was refunded.

I searched and found out that there was a fine for not punching a paper ticket in Italy, so I thought I should be careful when I went to Italy, but I never imagined that I would have a hard time using public transportation in Paris where I had a Navigo card. However, time passed and the problem was resolved, so it became a memory in my heart.

I left my accommodation for the museum in the morning to make my reservation at the Orangerie Museum, but my arrival time was delayed due to an issue with recharging my Navigo card. On the way to the museum on the subway, I changed my reservation for the Orangerie to around 12 o'clock after appreciating the Orsay, and changed my route to visit the Orsay first, which does not require a reservation if you have a museum pass.

I was glad that I didn't have to make a reservation for the Orsay Museum because I had a museum pass! Thank goodness! Phew!

After appreciationg the Orsay and and Orangerie Museums, I walked to the Louvre Museum. Since I was pressed for time because I had to visit both museums, I packed a sandwich for lunch on the way. Orsay was also quite large. I was worried that it would take a long time to make a sandwich, so I asked the employee if they could prepare it quickly, and they said they could, so I ordered it, but it ended up taking quite a while for the sandwich to be packed. I quickly gathered at the Louvre Museum! I arrived 5 minutes before the gathering time! It was healing because the surrounding view was so good while doing the alarm in Paris, France, Europe.

On the way to the Louvre Museum, there were quite a few parts where the road was restricted or I couldn't walk due to the Olympic preparations! It was disappointing that the view was limited due to the parts I couldn't go to and the installed structures, but I thought that this was something that only people who visit Paris in the year of the 2024 Paris Olympics could experience. I was curious about how these places would be used when the Olympics actually took place, but I thought it would be too crowded and complicated, so I planned my travel schedule to end before the Olympics.

It was fun to understand the large Louvre Museum while learning about important works and good viewing points with the guide's explanation. I think it was a wise purchase because I learned a lot of knowledge. The first work of art I encountered when I went to the Louvre Museum was the Sphinx. It was a new feeling to appreciate old works of art. In addition, there were many sculptures from the Greek and Roman eras. People in the past were so good at making things and making a lot of them! As I came into contact with the culture of the old era, I felt closer to that era little by little.

While waiting for the famous Mona Lisa, I walked forward one step at a time and was able to get really close! After appreciating the painting, instead of going back, there was a guide who opened the passage so that people could pass through. The guide managed it well, so I was able to take a selfie from a relatively close position to the Mona Lisa! I was proud! Selfie tip: If you walk forward one step at a time, people who have already appreciated it will pass through, so you will soon be in the front row! You can watch from the front row!

When I saw the Statue of the Goddess of Victory, Nike, I felt my heart open and the dynamic posture and strength were impressive. It felt like I was seeing a statue of a goddess leading warriors with strength, and it was a work that gave me the energy to win.

The Venus statue also showed off beautiful curves with pretty proportions and created a unique atmosphere, which was impressive. It was well-made with ideal proportions, and I was curious and interested in how they made it so well.

The expected tour end time was around 16:30, but the long explanation lasted almost until 17:30, so I was able to hear more, which was nice!

After visiting the museum, I walked towards the subway to go back to my accommodation after leaving the Louvre Museum, and I saw the Arc de Triomphe, and there was grass, so I sat on the grass and looked at the green grass and sky with emotion, and I had some leisurely time. I bought postcards as souvenirs that I liked at each museum. I think Paris will come to mind every time I look at the postcards. I left one souvenir for myself, mainly postcards and magnets.

After finishing the museum, I took my time looking around, and when I arrived at my accommodation, dinner time was a little late, and I was tired from walking a lot, so I decided to eat and rest at my accommodation. I walked diligently to appreciate the works here and there in the museum. It's no secret that I ended up walking a lot because it was bigger than I thought,,, For dinner, I had cheese and dried apricots together with wine and fruits such as flat peaches and nectarines!

Flat peaches! They were really sweet and had a unique aroma and savory taste! They had a soft textour like a mushy peach and were rich in flesh. Personally, I prefer hard peaches, but flat peaches were a fruit that I wanted to keep eating even though they were soft. Very satisfied!

I'll come back with a review for the 4th day!

review of Day 1 : 
https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html

(The Louvre Museum in Paris's unique transparent pyramid sculpture and the elegant architectural style of the building)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 2 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/11/Thu Day 2 of Europe Trip

On the second day, I went on a day tour of Giverny Monet's House + Gogh Village Auvers-Oise + Palace of Versailles, and then a night walking tour.

I walked over 20,000 steps by going on a night walking tour, which is a process of physical training! There are still European schedules left, but since I rapidly exhausted my energy on the second day, it became an opportunity to plan the next schedule more leisurely. I was glad that I had time to rest for my tired legs. I chose a product that gave a discount if you compare the day tour and night tour on various sites such as My Real Trip and Wag KKday.

Monet's House in Giverny was the place where Monet lived, tended the garden, and painted the scenery. Monet's water lilies and various natural landscapes, which I had only seen in paintings, unfolded before my eyes in the actual garden. It was a healing course with nature. There were many paintings by Monet in Monet's house, and although they were forgeries, it was still nice to learn about what kind of paintings Monet had painted and how he lived in the house. They said that the garden that Monet had managed was still maintained, and I could feel Monet's skills and emotions as he managed the garden.

I also got to see the vast wheat fields that Van Gogh had painted in person. The vast fields and the sky blended together, and I felt my heart open. I understood that many of Van Gogh's wheat field paintings were created because I saw such a vast field. I heard about Van Gogh's strange life through the guide, and it was a time when I felt sorry and thought about what kind of feelings he had when he painted the paintings.

The Palace of Verailles was magnificent and grand. There were so many rooms and rooms, and each room I entered had so many paintings that I couldn't rest my eyes. Just when I thought I was getting used to the grandeur, I was surprised to see an even more magnificent space. The hallway filled with chandeliers was overwhelming in scale, and it was nice to be able to see all the beautiful chandeliers without any restrictions. I even had a brief moment of fun imagining what it would be like to be invited to a royal ball and dance in a space like this. It was fun to see various paintings and chandeliers, and I was amazed at how splendid the royal palace was at that time.

I thoroughly toured Monet's house, Gogh, and the Palace of Versailles, but since I had already booked a night tour, I also had to force myself to do the night tour. After the night tour, I realized that I had overestimated my physical strength. Still, I was proud of myself for having safely completed the schedule.

The night tour was held at a place where the Eiffel Tower was visible. There were restricted areas ahead of the French Olympics, so the originally announced meeting place was changed, and we met at a different place. I was disappointed that I couldn't go because more and more places were restricted ahead of the Paris Olympics!

I was happy that I was able to take commemorative photos because they took pictures of key places such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées during the night tour. I was worried about public safety, so I felt comfortable walking around with them. There were small mosaic paintings all over the city of Paris, and I walked around restaurants and stores and listened to explanations, which made Paris feel more familiar.

Since I woke up early in the morning and walked around a lot until late at night, I decided to go to the museum the next day at a leisurely pace until 10 AM. The day was really long! I saw and saw many things, so it was a fulfilling day and I was able to sleep soundly!

+ I visited Monet's house, which was a bit far away, and saw Gogh Village and the Palace of Versailles together through a day tour, and I was satisfied because I rode in a group car and listened to the guide's explanation!

+ It was a day when I thought about whether to sell the stocks I had bought at the beginning of the market because 3 AM on July 10th and 11th was 9 AM in Korean time, and I ended up waking up for a moment at 3 AM to check the results, sold one, slept again, woke up, checked the trend, sold more, and sold more! I made a small profit! I worked hard to keep up my physical strength in many ways!

I'll come back with a review of Day 3!

review of Day 1 : https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html

(The garden scenery that served as the motif for Monet's water lily painting was truly beautiful.)

Overseas travel - Europe Travel Review Day 1 (France, Italy)

I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.

2024/07/10/Wed Day 1 of Europe Trip

Since it was a morning flight at Incheon Airport, I woke up early in the morning to get ready and checked my luggage once more. My father said he would drive me to Incheon Airport, so my friend and I were able to load our carriers into the trunk and arrive at the airport comfortably.

When I arrived at Incheon Airport, I measured and checked the weight of my carrier first. After that, After that, I checked in and received my printed boarding pass. Before entering the gate, I received my Paris Museum Pass and went to the bank window to receive the money I exchanged. I applied for the exchange using the bank app, paid in advance, and designated the pick-up date as airport pickup. I didn't exchange much money because I thought the card would work well with the Travel Wallet Card. I was also worried about pickpockets if I carried a lot of cash. First, I exchanged about 50,000 won into euros. When I arrived at my accommodation, I also planned to find an ATM nearby with a free fee and withdraw money. There was also an ATM near the subway station that offered free fees. When I applied for a day tour, I had to pay for the receiver fee, food, entrance fee, and activity experience fee in cash, so I wanted to exchange additional euros and withdraw money while I was staying in Paris.

After checking and completing what I had to do outside the gate, I went straight into the gate. After a quick look around the duty-free shop, I went to Starbucks to sit and chat before boarding the plane. Since I was going to be sitting on the plane for more than 12 hours, I packed a neck warmer, eye mask, thin slippers, charger, spare battery, mirror, toiletries, toothbrush, and toothpaste in my carry-on bag in advance. Although I was allowed to bring my carrier on board, it was convenient to put it on top, so it was convenient to put the small items I needed separately in my carry-on bag. It was also convenient to brush my teeth after eating the in-flight meal and wash my face in between. Since I usually improve my eyesight with Dream Lenses while sleeping, I also wore Dream Lenses in between. Since the restroom is crowded right after eating the in-flight meal, it was okay to use it before the in-flight meal or 1-2 hours after eating the in-flight meal. The quality of the in-flight meal was also satisfactory.

The expected arrival time in Paris was around 6 PM, but it was nice to arrive earlier than the expected arrival time. Since I had a lot of luggage, including a carrier and a carry-on bag, and there was also the issue of pickpocketing, I went to my first accommodation in Paris via Uber. There was a designated Uber pickup location within the airport. I almost missed the Uber pickup location in the fairly large airport, but I checked it out step by step and asked around before I found it. I was glad to know that the Uber pickup floor was different from the one I was on. The Uber driver also told me to be careful of pickpockets and mentioned pickpockets again, which made me realize that I was in Europe.

The first accommodation I stayed in Paris was the Avia Hotel Saphir Montparnasse. After arriving at the accommodation safely, I verified my identity with my passport and paid the city tax. When deciding on a place to stay, I mainly considered the 15th arrondissement. Considering the safety, price, and location of the Eiffel Tower and museums, the 15th arrondissement was suitable. It was fun to find out how the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrondissements of Paris were located and how safe they were. ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/WWykw1tsWMyfbkj27  Google Maps - Avia Hotel Saphir Montparnasse )

The time I arrived at the accommodation was between 7 and 8 pm. After unpacking and organizing my luggage, I took a short break and looked for a nearby restaurant. I didn’t make a reservation in advance because I was worried that my flight might be delayed, and decided to eat dinner depending on the situation, but since I had some free time, I looked around for a good restaurant here and there. I wanted to try escargot and foie gras, so I looked for a restaurant near the accommodation, and based on the reviews and ratings, I decided on Aux Artistes and headed out. It was an impressive restaurant with a hip interior that had a European feel. ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7pvrLEo1m9JsyYG9  Google Map-Aux Artistes Restaurant )

I was confused when I first received the menu, but I kept holding on to it and spent time interpreting it! I also used Papago to take pictures and referred to the translated content, but since the French translation didn’t translate well into Korean, I translated it into English and studied the menu in various ways. I understood the method of ordering a set of starter, main, and dessert, and each of us chose one menu we wanted and ordered two sets. I chose escargot as a starter, beef goulash as a main, spaghetti as a side dish, and lemon sorbet as a dessert. My friend chose foie gras as a starter, grilled steak as a main, mashed potatoes as a side dish, and yogurt with honey as a dessert.

After eating the starter as a course, the main dish was served after it was cleaned up, and after eating the main dish, the dessert was served after it was cleaned up again. As we were eating slowly while talking, it was almost 10 p.m. I was surprised by the large portions and it was a moment when I could understand why French meals take 2 hours! There were quite a few locals who ordered a set alone and ate slowly. The good thing was that it was bright until 9 p.m. and the sun set a little after that, so it felt quite bright until 10 p.m. The day was long, so I could use the time until late at night!

After dinner, I was going to withdraw Euros from a BNP ATM nearby with no fees and buy water from a nearby supermarket before going back to my accommodation, but dinner time passed more quickly than I thought. I felt fine when it was bright outside, but after the sun set, the streets became dark and it was getting late, so I had to hurry.

I exchanged Euros directly from the app using my travel wallet card and withdrew money from the ATM. The BNP ATM was free of fees, so it was useful. I checked the darkened surroundings while withdrawing money, but fortunately, no one was trying to pickpocket me. There was also a supermarket near the ATM, so I went in and bought water and returned to my accommodation safely.

The reason why water was more important than I thought while traveling was that hotels do not provide water and there were no water purifiers. Some hotels have coffee pots, but others do not, so it was important to diligently purchase 1L or 1.5L of water from a nearby supermarket. Since the price of water varies from store to store, I looked for a supermarket with cheap water and used it. If the supermarket is too far away, I bought it as close to my accommodation as possible because the weight of the water is heavy. So I bought one. I also learned that the water unit in Europe is cl. 500ml=50cl. I found a bottle of water that was about 25cl in size and bought it additionally. Since the weather was hot when I was moving, I drank water often, so I bought a small bottle of water and put it in my bag and it was very useful.

I'II come back with a review for Day 2!

(The pink clouds and sunset I saw while eating dinner. It was bright and nice until then.)

Overseas travel - Reasons for deciding to travel to Europe and pre-departure preparation review 2 (France, Italy) (유럽 여행 결정 계기와 출발 전 준비 후기 2 English ver.)

This is a continuation of Review 1.

I would like to write it in the form of a monologue diary. I hope that my recent review in 2024 will be of some help to your trip!

It was more cumbersome than I thought to frequently pack my carrier luggage while traveling to 6 accommodation, including 3 accommodations in Paris and 3 accommodation in Italy. On the positive side, I unpacked only the necessary items and quickly packed them. Thanks to this, my skills in unpacking, packing, and organizing my carrier luggage improved. After experiencing this, I thought it was better to stay in one accommodation in Paris, so when deciding on my next travel accommodation, I will try to move my accommodation as little as possible. I will continue to write additional reviews for each day of my trip, including which accommodations I stayed at.

The illumination show at Disneyland started at 11 PM, so I chose a accommodation near that area, but the subway (RER line) was still running after the illumination show ended. In addition to the subway, there was also a shuttle service. In Rome, I had to pack my carrier luggage in the middle of my stay because the accommodation included a room change. There was the fun of using various accommodations and the joy of getting to know the area around the accommodations. However, since the time spent packing and moving can be used elsewhere, I should consider carefully when choosing the next accommodation. I think I will be able to make a wiser choice on my next trip if I gain this experience.

Since I had the opportunity to go to Europe, I thought about planning for a month, but since each day would require additional time and money, I hesitated. I decided to travel for about two weeks and then spend time preparing for employment. Two weeks was a good budget for enjoying activities and day tours and comfortably eating delicious food and desserts. Thinking about my next trip to Europe, I decided to experience Europe for two weeks first.

I decided to go to France, Swizerland, and Italy and take a train to gradually go down, but I decided to go to just two places, France and Italy, because I wanted to see more of Italy. I decided to thoroughly enjoy Italy, which was the country I wanted to go to the most, and France, which my friend wanted to go to the most. Instead, I discussed stopping by the Dolomites, where you can see the Alps, to see the Swiss view from northern Italy. Since it takes quite a long time to travel from Paris, France to Italy by train, I looked up a way to fly to Venice, Italy. I decided to fly because it would save time and the cost was reasonable. After checking reviews to see if EasyJet was good, I installed the EasyJet app and paid with a credit card.

I checked the size requirements for carry-on luggage and made sure it weighed less than 10kg, so I could bring it on board instead of checking it in. The first reason was that it was easy to carry around since there are many stairs in the European subway. The second reason was that I felt comfortable taking it on board because I was worried that there might be a problem with my luggage when using EasyJet.

My Italian itinerary was confirmed to be Venice, Florence, and Rome. I thought about stopping by Milan for a bit, but I ultimately ruled it out. I decided to take a detailed look around Rome and book a southern tour that departs from Rome and stops at Pompeii and Positano.

I also considered taking a packge tour. Although it was convenient to travel, considering the opportunity cost, I concluded that independent travel was better. Even if I traveled with a package, I only had to share accommodation and transportation, and the daily schedule was similar to independent travel, so I thought about pursuing the convenience of transportation or accommodation. When there were variables that I wanted to rest or visit different places, unlike the planned schedule, I was inclined to plan a more free route and go with a package.

There were also some parts where the airfare would differ if I wanted to fit the pakage, and there were some undecided parts such as which day of the week I would do the day tour and which day of the week I would do the night tour, so I chose independent travel. Since I made up my mind a month in advance and made the plan, I tried to find out as much as I could, but I wanted to change the route flexibly. Even if I planned an independent travel, I could travel to distant places through a day tour and get information from the guide. I wanted to enjoy the experience of choosing accommodation and taking the train as part of the trip. I thought a lot about which day tours to do, but I decided to make the most of the various day tours. I was worried about the safety of the streets at night, so I also booked a night tour. I decided to use the Paris Museum Pass and the Rome Pass in Italy later to see how things would work out.

I thought about how to plan my route, where to visit first, what to see, what time to take the train, and how to prioritize the places I wanted to visit and what day of the week to arrange them. I also searched and checked the weather. After that, since the days available for day tours are limited, I made a reservation first and arranged the places I wanted to go to freely instead of on tours, and then I wanted to change the order if possible depending on the situation.

7/10 Paris, France 18:05 landing, Charles de Gaulle Airport arrival, transfer to accommodation
7/11 Paris, France Giverny, Monet's House, Van Gogh day tour + Paris city night tour
7/12 Paris, France Orangerie, Orsay, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe
7/13 Paris, France Montmartre
7/14 Paris, France Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, around accommodation, leisurely schedule
7/15 Paris, France Disneyland
7/16 Paris, France → Venice, Italy flight, dinner
7/17 Venice, Italy Dolomiti day tour
7/18 Venice, Italy → Florence, Italy Italo train transfer, dinner
7/19 Florence, Italy Michelangelo Square, Florence Cathedral
7/20 Florence, Italy → Rome, Italy Leaning Tower of Pisa transfer to Italo, dinner
7/21 Rome, Italy night tour sightseeing around accommodation, leisurely Schedule
7/22 Rome, Italy Italy Southern Tour
7/23 Rome, Italy Vatican Tour (later changed to 7/24)
7/24 Rome, Italy Vatican Tour Airport transfer 20:20 Takeoff

I made a rough plan based on the places I wanted to visit and the day tour. I will organize the specific route and accommodation review one by one in the future. I want to write about how I moved around by travel timeline, where I visited and toured, and how the day tour was.

I hope that even one of the things I experienced will be helpful for you to plan a good trip!

Overseas travel - Reasons for deciding to travel to Europe and pre-departure preparation review 1 (France, Italy) (유럽 여행 결정 계기와 출발 전 준비 후기 1 English ver.)

 

I would like to write this in the style of a monologue diary. I hope that the latest review in 2024 will be of some help to your trip!

I felt skeptical about whether it was right to continue doing this while working at the company. I was worried about the commute that took over 3 hours round trip and the structural issues. I had more and more thoughts, but I was busy trying to get through each day.

I realized that I couldn't continue living like I did now. I needed time to think and rest. It would have been okay to look for a new job and transfer, but I thought I needed to take some time to think about it. Since I've been so busy working, I decided to give myself some healing time with peace of mind.

I wrote down things I want to do at least once in my life. As I was reading Dale Carnegie's book, I was told to write down what I wanted to do on paper and rank the things that would make a big difference in my life. Among the things I wrote down, the thing I wanted to do the most and was most memorable was traveling to Europe.

When I was a child and made art with the Vatican's Peter's Basilica in art class, I always had the thought of wanting to see that building with my own eyes someday. In addition to that building, there seemed to be beautiful scenery overseas, including paintings drawn after the Renaissance period, baroque cathedrals, various buildings, museums, etc., and it seemed like it would be visually enjoyable no matter where I looked. I wanted to travel to a place different from my daily life. I decided to refresh my mind through new experiences and take the time to worry about the future and organize my thoughts.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, I couldn't travel abroad for quite a long time. Before Corona, I thought I should go abroad at least once, but then I ended up not being able to go at all. As it became possible to travel abroad after the coronavirus outbreak, I went on my first overseas trip to Australia in 2023. On my way to Australia, I also stopped by Singapore for one night. When I went there once, everything was new and I experienced a variety of cultures and was very impressed. The year I went on my first overseas trip, I also traveled to Taiwan and Japan.

Even walking on the subway or bus, a transportation method I was used to in Korea, was surprising and new because the method abroad was different and unfamiliar. Last year, I traveled overseas a few times and gained courage. I also felt proud of having traveled to countries with unfamiliar cultures. I planned my first trip to Europe with the intention of going to Europe before I became resentful of not being able to go because I didn't know when I would get the chance.

The flight was paid for with an Asiana airline ticket. Since my birthday was in June, I was able to purchase it cheaply with a birthday discount. I decided to quit my job in early June, and my departure date was set for July. I paid for my airline ticket in June and then planned my trip for about a month. My elementary school friend and I both quit our jobs, so we decided to go on a trip. The itinerary is about 15 days, including 6 days in Paris, France and 8 days in Italy, with an evening flight and one night.

- July 10, 2024 in Paris, France
- July 24, 2024 Out in Rome, Italy 
- July 25, 2024 Arrival at Incheon Airport, Korea

 For accommodations, I first checked comparative prices on several platforms through Google Maps. I mainly made reservations through Agoda because it was cheap and I used it often so I was familiar with it. When I looked at the map format showing the location of the accommodation, I ranked the location as the number one priority. I wanted to find it near a subway or bus stop. After that, I decided on a place with reasonable conditions and price. Accommodation reviews were based on photographs, focusing on interior design, air conditioning, and hygiene.

I looked for a 3-star hotel and was able to make a reservation for between 120,000 and 160,000 won per night for two people. City tax is charged separately and calculated upon check-in at the hotel. It is said to be a tax paid by the hotel to the government. Including city tax, it was between 140,000 and 180,000 won per night for two people. There were places where city tax could be paid with both card and cash, but there were also places where only cash was accepted.

-2 nights at an accommodation in the 15th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower, 3 nights at another Paris accommodation in the 15th arrondissement, 1 night at Disneyland
 A total of 3 accommodations in France
-2 nights accommodation in Venice, Italy, 2 nights accommodation in Florence, 4 nights accommodation in Rome, 1 room change
A total of 3 accommodations in Italy

I will write an additional review later! I hope the latest review from 2024 will be of some help to your trip!

Key preparation items for overseas travel - Suitcase and supplementary bag preparation checklist tips (캐리어와 보조가방 준비 목록 체크리스트 팁 English ver.)

When I travel abroad, I tend to make a list when packing my luggage, and the next time I go, I refer to the list and add or subtract items. I tend to look at my list of necessities 2-3 weeks in advance to check and prepare items that need to be purchased, such as clothes I want to wear abroad or shower filters. In reality, if you put your luggage into the carrier little by little a week in advance, complete 90% of it 2 days in advance, and check it thoroughly the day before and the day of, you will be able to pack it without leaks.

Suitcase + large auxiliary bag + small auxiliary bag

I recommend placing a ready bag or a large supplemental bag on top of the suitcase. This is because electronic devices are removed from the suitcase and continuously inspected. Put electronic devices, a scarf, eye patch, cabin slippers, extra blankets or outerwear, toiletries, cosmetics, etc. in the large auxiliary bag. Passport, exchanged cash, cards, USB and charger terminals, auxiliary batteries, etc. are in the small auxiliary bag. It is convenient to separate and pack your luggage. When I check my suitcase as checked baggage, I tend to make good use of the large extra bag as there are items that come to mind that I need on the plane.

Checklist of luggage preparation list

□Passport

□Cards that accept overseas payments
□Card wallet, coin wallet

□Clothes
Short sleeves, long sleeves, bottoms, pajamas, outerwear
Underwear, socks, long pants, shorts 

□Shoes
Sneakers, sandals, slippers, thin slippers 

□Toiletries (be careful of liquid container and capacity)
Cleansing foam, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, gargle

□Cosmetics (Be careful about liquid container and capacity)
Basic cosmetics skin, lotion
Color cosmetics, cleansing tissue

□Febreeze
□Dress perfume
□Perfume
□Hand sanitizer

□Sun cream or sun stick

□Mirror
□Hair essence
□Glasses cleaning
□Mask
□Artificial tears
□Lens

□Hat
□Sunglasses

□USIM
□SD card
□Cellphone spare air system
□Adapter converter
□2 or more auxiliary batteries
□2 or more charger USB cables
□Earphones

□Shower filter and shower head
□2 or more anti-theft straps
□Bicycle lock

□Early medicine
□Nutrients

□Wet tissue
□Toilet paper 

□Raincoat
□Umbrella 

□Extra plastic bag
□Zip bag
□Dust bag

□Tumbler small water container

□Pas  

□Neck pillow
□Eye patch
□Earplugs

□Book

□Writing implements
Ballpoint pen, pencil, highlighter
Note, A4 paper

□2 or more sappers

□Travel clothesline

□Carrier cover

□Emergency form
Hetbahn, cup ramen, tube red pepper paste

□Film camera
□Selfie stick
□Tripod
□Blanket

□Scissors
□Nail clippers

□Mat

□Handkerchief

□Print voucher paper or necessary documents

+If the travel destination is summer

□Debt

□Mini fan hand fan

□Swimming supplies
Swimsuit, tube, swimming earplugs
Aqua shoes, sports towel, swimming goggles

+If the travel destination is winter

□Winter goods
Scarf, earmuffs

It is convenient to print it out and take it with you by marking the V in the □ space. Since there is a way to purchase overseas, there is also a way to keep only the important things simple!

If you are bringing liquids, please note that only 1L in size (less than 100ml) can be brought on board in the bag taken on the plane. We recommend using a travel kit or empty bottle when taking cosmetics or toiletries. If you use liquids after unpacking, storing them in the suitcase is also a good idea.

When you go to the airport, there are scales to measure the weight and size of your suitcase. If your weight is less than 10kg and you don't have scissors or a knife, you can take your suitcase on the plane. So, if it's a hassle to leave your luggage and retrieve it, I often bring my suitcase on board.

I hope you take care of everything you need and have a satisfying trip.

Key preparations for international travel - All you need is to get ready to go (이것만 챙기면 일단 떠날 수 있다 필수 체크 요소 팁 English ver.)

 

If you've never traveled abroad, I'm writing this down in the hope that you'll think it's not as difficult as you think. Last year, my sister and I went on our first overseas trip to Singapore and Australia, and since then I have traveled to Taiwan, Japan, France, and Italy! Once I went, I got a taste of traveling abroad and kept going!

If I prepared with the idea of preparing the really essential parts first and adding additional parts, it was less burdensome. First of all, travel begins when you leave for another country, so if you have the idea of traveling abroad at least once in your life, I encourage you to make up your mind to leave.

If you have a style of researching and preparing thoroughly, I will continue to post reviews about additional necessary parts and realizations that I felt while traveling, so it would be helpful if you could refer to that article as well. 

To summarize briefly, if you have passport, airline ticket booking, accommodation reservation, overseas transportation, overseas payment method, suitcase luggage, and Papago and Google Maps app installed on your mobile phone, you can go abroad and enjoy it enough, so I will write down the reviews and tips of the preparation experience for each item!

1. Issuance of a passport

The passport was issued within two weeks.
I applied on January 13 last year, and I received a KakaoTalk that was issued on January 26 and I was supposed to pick it up. I applied for issuance at the Seocho-gu office near the company and received it at the Seocho-gu office. I like the fact that each ward office has days of the week when passport applications are done until late in the evening, so you can apply for passport issuance even after work. Even if you didn't have to live or go to the ward office near your company, you could get a passport. You will need one physical passport-size ID photo and the cost of issuing your passport. (Passport 10 years, 58 pages, 53,000 won)

2. Airline ticket reservation

After deciding on the days of the week you want to travel, look for flights first.
When booking a ticket, it is recommended that you write the same name as the English name on your passport and the same name as the English name on your payment card, just in case. Even if your passport has not yet been issued, you can still make a reservation. If you check in later, you'll need your passport and get it up to the day or two before departure.

There are several airlines such as Korean Air, Asiana, T'way, Jin Air, and Jeju Air, and it is more convenient to book a ticket after signing up for each airline in terms of changes and refunds later. I first compared prices with Skyscanner and Naver Air, and then installed an app for each airline to compare and book flight prices. It was relatively cheap to buy a round-trip flight from one airline.

Even when I was using an overseas airline, I installed the app and paid through a credit card, and it was fine. However, receipts and instructions will be sent to you by e-mail, so it is important to check the e-mail. In terms of international flights, I used Jetstar for domestic flights from Australia and easyJet from France to Italy. I'll be diligent in writing that review as well. It was a truly unforgettable experience on Jetstar. Whether or not I fly with Jetstar again next time is something I need to think about a little more.

3. Reservation of accommodation

Decide on a brief selection of the criteria for the accommodation you want to find a place to stay.
I booked the accommodation based on Google Maps and Agoda, compared prices with other places. It is recommended that you make your accommodation reservation with the same name on your passport and that your payment card is the same as your passport's English name. When you arrive at the accommodation, you will be checked with your passport, so it is convenient to put your passport in a small second bag that is easier to take out than a carrier.

There are a variety of places to stay, but location is important, so it's useful to find a place you often go around and a nearby subway station. It's convenient to stay near the airport for 1 or 2 nights, but if you're traveling far from the airport, we recommend staying close to where you'll be staying often. 

4. Overseas Transportation Confirmation

Think about the way you want to get around.
Since you have your luggage, you can easily take a taxi, or you can use the Airport Railroad or Airport Bus to get to the center of the city and then use public transportation such as the subway or bus. Usually, when you get out of the airport, you have to travel a bit from the airport to get to the center of the city, where you can see, enjoy, and play. It's easy to find accommodation near the center.

In the case of taxis, you can pay with a credit card through the Uber app, and for Airport Railroad and Airport Bus, you can book tickets in advance, or you can pay for tickets directly from overseas through a station attendant or machine. If you are taking a bus or subway from overseas, you need to check because there are payment cards used in each country, such as T-money in Korea, or there are Korean credit cards that can be used immediately. You can also rent a car abroad or travel in a package as a group.

5. Confirmation of payment method

When you go to a restaurant abroad and pay for the items you want to buy, it is necessary to know what kind of cards are accepted and what benefits are available for trading. If you use a credit card, there may be a fee, but there are some parts that can be refunded. There are a lot of different credit cards, so you can get a new one or pay with your old one.

Some stores are difficult to accept credit card payments from overseas, so it's a good idea to decide how much money you want to exchange in that country and exchange money through your bank in advance or pick up the money at the airport. 

6. Pack your carrier

There are standards for what you can and cannot bring on board, so it is necessary to be aware of them. There is a slight difference between the standards of what can be carried on board and what can be carried in a suitcase. Regarding liquids, you can only carry up to 1 liter of liquid on board with no more than 100 ml in total, and scissors and knives are not allowed. However, if you put it in a suitcase, you can carry a little more liquid and carry scissors or knives.

In addition, there are some items that are not allowed to be brought in, such as food with seeds, so it is a good idea to carefully check the precautions when booking air tickets. When it comes to carrier luggage, I have a checklist that I personally pack, and I'll write an additional post about it.

7. Papago and Google Maps app on your phone

It's fun to communicate using English, but it can also be difficult to communicate with a variety of people. If you are worried about communication due to the difference in language overseas, you can use voice recognition translation through the Papago app to help you communicate. Even if it wasn't a voice-activated translation, it was convenient to write it down in Korean, translate it into the language of the country you want, and then show the text.

Google Maps supports all countries in the world, and with GPS turned on, it was easier to get directions around. It was beneficial to refer to restaurant reviews, hotel reviews, and star ratings. It's a good idea to find out how many minutes it actually takes to walk and how to get around by subway or bus.

When I had never traveled abroad, I felt vague and overwhelmed because I thought there would be a lot of things to prepare, but I realized that if I solved a few important things, I could go on a trip first, and it wasn't that difficult. First of all, I had to go on a trip, experience this and that, and buy or search for what I needed. I also tried a lot of things. You may not be able to go on a trip because you are just thinking about it and preparing for it, so it's okay to leave first. Once I went there, I wanted to go to other places again, so it became easier to get there.

Of course, the more you search and find out where to go in advance, the richer and better you can adapt to it. However, rather than not being able to leave even after preparing for more than 6 months or 1 year, it is recommended that you set the maximum preparation period for yourself and experience the overseas country for yourself. Sometimes things don't go according to plan, and even if you don't achieve everything, there are times when other methods are better. If you take things lighter and think of the unexpected as part of your trip, it becomes an experience and you can enjoy the whole process! 

I've only written down the preparations that are so essential and basic, but I'll come back to write about the additional things I need and the things I personally need to prepare using this as a framework!