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The next instalment in the Expat Interview Series! I’ve reached out to expats in different countries to hear why people might choose to move abroad, and how they do it. If you want to know more about moving to a particular country this is the place. If you’re interested in taking part, or want to see a certain place featured let me know! My latest Expat Interview is with Nadine, a fellow Kiwi! Like me she prefers to travel by moving abroad, and living like a local. I loved hearing about her experience moving to France, somewhere I really want to explore a lot more of. If you want to know more you can follow her adventures on Le Long Weekend! Table of Contents 1 Tell us about yourself 1.1 What made you decide to move to France? 1.2 Tell me about the cost of living in France 1.3 How do you make a living? 1.4 Do you need a visa to live in France? 1.5 What’s the social scene like? How easy is it to make friends? 1.6 What’s the best thing about moving to France? 1.7 What’s the har...

On a mission to find the prettiest and most charming towns in France, it was inevitable that our itinerary would soon lead to Strasbourg. Located close to the border between France and Germany in the Alsace region, Strasbourg is a unique bled between the two influences in a range of ways, but most noticeably in architectural and culinary influences. If you’re visiting Strasbourg for the first time, here is everything you need to know to make the most of your stay (or if you’ve just come here for inspiration, prepare to be inspired!) Checking In: Sofitel Strasbourg For our stay in Strasbourg we were nearing the end of our Spring European journey, so we decided to check in to the centrally located Sofitel Strasbourg for a couple of nights to explore the small city and surrounds in the Alsace region of France. The hotel had a great location just a two minute stroll from the major shopping area and a maximum of five minutes walking to reach the Strasbourg Cathedral and La Pe...

Things to do in Carcassonne , the south of France. I must start this article by thanking my mother and boyfriend for their insights and tips. If they both weren’t so busy I would have asked one of them to write the entire thing, but in the end I settled for picking their brains. I’ve heard a lot about Carcassonne. I read Kate Mosse’s books set in the city and so I was always curious. The walled city sounded so magical in her stories. But also, my mother visited in 2015 and her photos were to die for. My boyfriend visited in 2016 and only had good things to say. All of this coupled with the fact that I love France and the super cheap Ryanair flights from Dublin to Carcassonne made me want to find out more about the city. So, I asked my mother, boyfriend and my French friends to give me their top tips for things to do in Carcassonne. You are in good hands Things to do in Carcassonne – A Guide About Carcassonne The town of Carcassonne Carcassonne is a med...

Volcano Piton de La Fournaise Reunion Island, France Sweat drenched my shirt as I stumbled through pitch black darkness, groping at jagged glass-like walls for support while trying not to hit my head on the shrinking ceiling. We were deep inside Piton de la Fournaise, an active shield volcano on Reunion Island. It’s part of Réunion National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Earlier our group explored the desolate red landscape on top of the volcano at La Plaine des Sables, which looks very similar to NASA pictures I’ve seen of Mars. Bizarre rock formations in many hues of red laid out across rolling hills and craters in all directions. The sudden change of scenery from lush green forests to red apocalyptic wasteland is quite shocking. La Plaine des Sables Volcanic Highway Red Martian Landscape Piton De La Fournaise Reunion is a tiny French island off the East coast of Africa. The tip of a giant underwater volcano that rises 4000 meters from the bottom of the Indian...