La princesa de la mochila viaja por Eurail otra vez

Lauren Resnick, author of "Princess with a Backpack", traveled by Eurail through France in September 2008. This is her story.

“How exciting a random adventure can be... One day you are wondering what you are going to do in London for two weeks, and the next minute you are offered a first class ticket from Eurail to travel around Europe! “No way” I hear you say? Well, its true and it happened to me! It just goes to show, if you think about something you love doing all the time, it may just come true...”

Leaving London by Eurostar

I didn’t have a great deal of time to travel as I had to be back in London within a few days so I wanted to make the most out of my time. The first destination had to be close so that I didn’t spend the whole day traveling…and to get out of London by train you need to catch the Eurostar.

The Eurostar is different to the rest of the European trains. From London, the options for this train travel to Brussels, France, and other destinations in the UK. So, France it was. A country that is close, gorgeous and stylish.

First stop: Lille

My first stop was Lille. I decided to go to a city I had not been to before, and to let the rest of the trip fall into place. No plans, no other destinations known. Once I was out of London, my Eurail pass would kick in and I was free to move wherever I wanted!  Just imagine, you are in Paris and decide that you have seen all there is to see, eaten all the baguettes you can possibly eat, and it was time for some authentic pasta and some Italian culture in Rome…all you would need to do is show up at the train station and voila! The next morning you would wake up in a different city. Hassel free travel – what could be better?

The journey from London to Lille was a breeze. I took a quick nap, and before I knew it – I was there. Out of London into a sweet little French town.

train stop in Lille

Lille was gorgeous, quaint and exactly the type of place I was looking forward to exploring. The hotel I stayed at was equally as gorgeous as the town itself. A great little room and fantastic, helpful staff made the experience really enjoyable. The hotel was called Hotel Brueghel, and although it was only 2 stars, it was nicer than expected, and surprisingly more than comfortable. I love little boutique hotels; they are a lot more personal and allow you to mix with other guests. This one was a real gem.

Next stop: Paris

My next stop was Paris. For me, the journey itself has been on of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. It’s so easy to travel by train. No long trips to the airport, waiting around, expensive taxi rides and so forth. Traveling by train means you arrive straight into the city itself. This was an important consideration when you do not have a lot of time – as in my case.

It is a chance to stop, enjoy, relax, observe and appreciate the countryside. Although I have been to Paris before, I just (j’) adore it! I needed more than one night in this city to really get a chance to enjoy it and take my time. I caught up with friends and made new ones as well. It is a destination where people from every part of the globe visit for business and pleasure. It was the perfect time of the year to be there – end of September, which is still warm, though not too hot that walking around all day took its toll.

Remember to save up for Paris. I believe it has the best shopping in the world. I would rather sleep in an inexpensive room and spend the extra money on something wonderful and unique to Paris. My weakness is the jewelry and shoes! Seriously irresistible.

Fashion shopping in Paris

Final destination: Avignon

The next and final destination in this whirlwind French tour was Avignon. I decided to go there on the advice of the staff at the hotel in Lille. They mentioned that they have a Chateau in Avignon and that it would be worth my while to visit. “Hhhmmm a Chateau in the South of France!? OK. You’ve twisted my arm. I’ll do it!”

Once I had arrived at the Chateau, after the wonderful train ride through the French countryside, I was shown the room I would be staying in for the next few nights. WOW, wow and wow. De Chateau de Mazan is four-star accommodation, just 30 minutes outside of Avignon itself, and worth every penny. The room itself looked out onto the pool two storeys’ below, and beyond that to the rolling vineyards that surround this little town. I felt very lucky...and super stylish.

four star-accomodation in Avignon

The final leg back to London was tiring, but worth it! What a great experience, and one I will never forget. A big Thank you to the wonderful staff at Eurail for my ticket and their helpful advice along the way. It was nice to know that I had support, just an email away whilst on the road.

Bon Voyage and remember to travel in style…always.

Yours,
X

Lauren
Princess with a Backpack

Travel like a Princess?

Princess Tips (in no particular order):

  1. Make train travel reservations while your still at the train station. This ensures you have a first class seat reserved and takes the panic out of arriving at the train station prior to departure.
  2. When dinning alone, try and find a busy and popular café. If there is a bar, sit there and order, it usually allows you to meet more people that way.
  3. Take comfortable walking shoes. I would go so far as to say take a pair of running shoes. They may look unstylish, but if you only have your best shoes to walk in all the time and you get blisters – the pain is worse than the lack of style.
  4. For healthy breakfast options in France, go to the local Super market, or street market and purchase natural yogurt, small serve of cheese and fruit. It’s all delicious and fresh.
  5. Remember that most stores close at 1pm for lunch. How sensible! So make all your purchases in the morning, and note that this includes Banks.
  6. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your departure. Things always pop up at the last minute… like being at the wrong side of the Station or the wrong station altogether!
  7. Take a pashmina or thick scarf to use as a pillow or blanket on the train. It will make the journey more enjoyable with a little rest.
  8. Never order a taxi! If you must get one, make sure you hail one from the street. In France they will charge you from the time the call is placed, not from the time of pick up. How rude.
  9. Just because they serve a bowl of free hot chocolate at your hostel, does not mean you have to finish the whole bowl! As tempting as it is, rather go to one of the better pastry stores and order a good quality dessert (or breakfast) and see what all the fuss is about.
  10. Take and buy accessories along the way to create a stylish outfit. Keep the clothing and shoes basic, and add a silk scarf, an interesting belt, or fabulous necklace. Does not have to cost a fortune, but make sure its neat and well looked after.


Cover of Princess with a Packpack book

Princess with a Backpack is a guide for the princess who desires to see the world and experience more than her comfortable home, friends and society. Lauren Resnick's book was published in June 2008 by Morgan James Publishers.

More Princess Tips:

  1. Do some research on the place you will be visiting next. You will know where to find great ho(s)tels in the city centre, and safe money not having to waist money on a shuttle if your accommodation is not in the centre of the city.
  2. Pack a silk scarf to place over your pillow if you are uncomfortable with the state of the pillowcases provided. Not the case in the Chateau!
  3. Check which train station your train is leaving from BEFORE you get there. Often there is more than one station in a city.
  4. You won’t always have to reserve your seat with Eurail (this can be done in the train station). Some short trips don’t have reserved seats – so first in, not best dressed (unfortunately).
  5. Remember: traveling is hard work sometimes. There is a lot of preparation work to do before arriving at your destination. This includes, booking accommodation and making sure you have a connecting train/flight or bus to get you to where you want when you want.
  6. Buy a journal and write down interesting places, experiences and people’s contact details. You never know when you’ll be back. Some times sooner than you realize.
  7. Remember to pack your copy of Princess with a Backpack. It really helped me when I wanted to know where to shop eat or go out at night. When you are traveling by yourself, its nice to know that someone – like you, has tried, tested and approved all the noteworthy venues.

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