Month: December 2020

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Uncategorized

Cheap Travel in France as a family of 4/5

There’s a family of 5 on this picture.
Can you see it?
  • How much does it cost to travel in France as a family?
  • Here’s a sample Budget for a week.
  • The cost of life will comprise 5 Domains: Accommodations, Transportation, Landmarks & Culture, Restaurants & Groceries, and Entertainment.
  • The costs in this article will be indicated in Euros, for immediate projection purpose.
  • You can consider that 1$ approximately 1€.
  • It will even out in most cases.
  • Here’s an Euro-Dollar converter.

Smart travel & Itineraries

General considerations
  • What are you looking for in France?
  • For how long will you travel?
  • Booking several months ahead may guarantee you a better fare.
  • Choose your Airport/Terminal.
  • If you’re travelling in Southern France, you could book a flight to one Nice, Marseille, or Bordeaux to reduce costs.
  • Check that all your Passports & Visas are up to date.
  • The same for the medical cards & documents/prescriptions.
Travel Packages (or Vacation Packages)
  • Travel package include round-trip air fare & hotel stay.
  • They may include guided tours or restaurant vouchers and other cost-effective advantages.
  • However, some of them are sold under special conditions.
  • Therefore reading consumer reviews, on Trip Advisor, of the packages is essential.
  • You can compare Travel packages on sites like Kayak, Momondo, Hotwire & Skyscanner.
  • Air France & their partners proposes special offers on flights and travel packages during holidays.
Off-Season & Shoulder Season
  • The off-season lasts from November to March.
  • The shoulder season sits between peak and off seasons.
  • Generally around April-May & October.
  • The tickets, the hotels & most of the services will be cheaper.
  • The roads, the landmarks & most of the places in town will also be less crowded.
  • Off-season & shoulder season have some Drawbacks.
  • Less Tourist offices will welcome you, and may have shorter working hours.
  • Less museums & landmarks propose English-language tours.
  • Though, the largest ones operate all along the year.
  • You should not see the difference if you’re going to a major City.

The Gateway to Western Europe

France grants you direct access to all Western Europe nations.
Travelling by land, wherever it is by car or by train, will allow you to save money on some costly inter-European flights.

  • If you’re in Paris & Ile-de-France there are no access by lands but airports can lead you anywhere at a low cost.
  • Brittany (Bretagne)
  • The Provence region & Southern France is a Close to Italy.
  • It’s also an access to Switzerland.
  • The South West, the Occitanie & Nouvelle Aquitaine are the Closest to Spain.
  • The South West also leads you to the Basque Country.
  • If you are traveling through Alsace-Loraine & Eastern France you can progressively end in Germany without realizing it.
  • And Belgium & the Netherlands are just a little further.
  • Through Normandy & Northern France you can access the United Kingdom via the Eurostar or by boat.

Make the most of your journey by visiting as many countries as possible.

Lodging & Accommodation

Budget 2 & 3-stars Hotels
  • Lodging will be the 2nd biggest expense after Tickets.
  • As hotels are influenced airlines trends in terms of pricing you will win by books in advance.
  • Low cost Hotel chains such as Ibis budget, Premiere Classe, Campanile, Adagio/Hipark, Odalys, Park Inn or Residhome are recommended.
  • There are dozens of low cost hotel chains, the aforementioned chains tends to keep their prices low in most cities.
  • The average hotel stay will cost you between 800 & 1200 euros.
  • For a duration of 8 days.
  • For 2 bedrooms, 1 for 2 adults, the other for 1 adult (child over the age of 17) & 2 children (under 17 yo).
  • WiFi is included, cancelling requires no additional fee, and in most cases All you can eat breakfast are included.
Family Hotels & Resorts
  • Center parcs family resorts
  • Center Parcs are built under large domes.
  • The domes shelter landscaped tropical pools, water parks, restaurants, shops, and spas.
  • Center Parcs also offer outdoor activities.
    • Some common activities are: archery, zip wires, rafting, tree climbing, or horse riding.
  • The multi-bedrooms Cottages are fully equipped.
  • Most of them are situated in Northern & Central France.

1 week stay for 5 person : 2000 – 3000 €

  • Club med
  • The emphasis is put onto Children & Teenager-friendly programs.
  • Many sport-clubs types programs exist.
  • Family-Oriented ski resorts are the most popular.
  • The Club med resorts includes: agoras, récréative spaces, restaurants, shopping galleries & spas.
  • The resorts are free for Children under 4 yo (accommodations, meals & activities).

1 week stay for 5 person (connecting room, 387.5 sqft) : 6000 €

Apartment Rental
  • Apartment Rental has become a popular option in many Cities.
  • As most of them have a kitchen, you can save up some additional money on dining out.
  • If you plan to stay for a month this will be the most cost effective option.
  • A 3 bedroom apartment will cost you around 800-1000 (out of city center) & 1000-1400 (in city center) Euros.

Center ParksClub MedHotelsAppartments
ProsSheltered space
Everything in 1 Place		Everything in 1 Place
Ski resorts		Cheaper than Resorts
Familiar option		Cheapest
More rooms
ConsClosed space
North & Center only		Most ExpensiveNo Kitchen
Stay for 1 month
Chores?

Transportation

  • If you travel through Cities & Metropolises public transportation becomes an essential part of your journey.
  • And can cost quite a lot.
  • Consider buying a City Pass.
  • They are generally Weekly passes & Monthly passes.
  • They include transportation and entry to certain museums & landmarks.
  • Most of the time it will be Buses & Trains, but some passes include Subway.
  • They are available at local tourist offices, attractions, and hotels. 
  • On feet
  • If your journey is longer than a month you may want to consider a Car-Lease Buyback.
  • This option is offered by major car manufacturers.
  • There are several advantages over a traditional car rental.
  • Such as driving a brand new vehicle, and tax-deductible insurance tailored for this short period.  
  • Avis also propose one of the most popular Rent-a-Car option.
  • When it comes to Small towns & Villages where buses are rare, Cars become valuable.
  • When travelling between regions or countries, consider an overnight sleeper train.
  • It could save you the cost of a hotel’s night.
  • In the same vein, open-topped bus is a great way to visit a City and some of them have a dedicated guide.
  • It may come out cheaper than a tour of every city’s landmark & you may remember more things.

Landmarks & Parks

  • Many Landmarks are free to tour.
  • Most of the Cathedrals of France are free to visit.
    • They are some of the greatest monuments, depicting the evolution of France’s history.
  • France harbors many medieval towns & villages.
    • They are spread all over the country.
  • The same goes for Antique, mostly Roman ruins.
    • Most of them are situated in southern France.
  • Paris & Ile-de-France
    • Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral
    • Château de Versailles
  • Brittany (Bretagne)
    • Phare de L’Ile Vierge
    • Alignements de Carnac
  • Provence & Southern France
    • Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde – Marseille
    • Citadelle de Sisteron – Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
  • South West, Occitanie & Nouvelle Aquitaine
    • Bordeaux offers many free activities. The city center is a UN World Heritage Site.
    • Arènes de Nîmes – Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Alsace-Loraine & Eastern France
    • Cathédrale de Strasbourg – Alsace
    • Hospices de Beaune – Bourgogne
  • Normandy & Northern France
    • Cathedral of Amiens have remarkable sound & light shows
    • Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

Cinema, Museums & Culture

  • Paris & Ile-de-France
    • The Louvre, the Musee D’Orsay, and many other museums are free for kids up to 18 years old.
  • Brittany (Bretagne)
  • Provence & Southern France
    • Musée Picasso – Antibes
    • Musée Matisse – Nice
  • South West, Occitanie & Nouvelle Aquitaine
    • Musée Toulouse Lautrec – Albi
    • Musée Bonnat – Bayonne
    • Musée des Beaux-Arts – Bordeaux
  • Alsace-Loraine & Eastern France
    • Musée Miniature et Cinéma – Lyon
    • Hôtel-Dieu – Beaune
  • Normandy & Northern France
    • Musée d’art moderne – Lille
    • Palais des Beaux Arts – Lille
Special offers, Reduced fees & Holidays
  • City Passes offer you free access to many Landmarks & Museums.
    • Or reduced tickets
  • There are almost always Students prices.
  • Many Cultural attractions are free or have price cut in half for Children (under 13 or under 16).
  • Many Cultural attractions are free for Children (under 3).
  • Holidays are synonyms of lowered prices or even free entry.

Restaurants, Snack Bars & Cafes

There are many wonderful options for eating out, from street food, to Traditional regional specialties, to Grands Restaurants.
Here are some dishes you’ll want to try with your Children.
Most of them are Pastries & Bakeries, because…

  • Paris & Ile-de-France
    • Les Croissants
    • Brioche de Nanterre
    • L’Opera
    • La Religieuse
    • Le Paris-Brest
  • Brittany (Bretagne)
    • Gavottes
    • Kouign amann
    • Pallets/Galettes Bretones
  • Provence & Southern France
    • Brioches aux Pralines
    • Macarons de Massiac
    • Cassoulet
  • Center France
    • Tarte Tatin
    • L’Ideal Maconnais, (Filled Meringues & Buttercream)
    • Le Belfort
    • Le Rigodon
    • Boeuf Bourguignon
  • South West, Occitanie & Nouvelle Aquitaine
    • Le gâteau à la broche de Bigorre
    • La Crème Paysanne
    • Canelé Bordelais
  • Alsace-Loraine & Eastern France
    • Kougloff
    • Pain d’Epices
    • Flammekueche
    • Quiche Lorraine
    • Gratin Dauphinois
    • Chocolate Truffles
  • Normandy & Northern France
    • la Gâche de Normandie
    • Le Merveilleux
    • Speculoos
    • Creme Chantilly
    • Moule Frites
  • Most Pastries & Viennoiseries can be found around 2-3 euros.
  • Street food will cost you around 5 to 7 euros per person.
  • A lunch in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around 13 euros per person.
  • A 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant will cost you around 50 euros per person.
  • Soda is generally around 2-3 euros & Water under 2 euros (small bottles).

Easy Self-Cater

Breads, Charcuteries, Cheeses, you’ll want to try them all.

  • Paris & Ile-de-France
    • Baguette
    • Pate de Chartres
  • Brittany (Bretagne)
    • Rillettes de Noix de St-Jacques
    • Caramels au Beure sale – Morhiban
  • Provence & Southern France
    • Olive Oil
    • Aioli
  • South West, Occitanie & Nouvelle Aquitaine
    • Saucisse de Toulouse
    • Jambon de Bayonne
    • Huitres Atlantique
    • Tome des Pyrenees
    • Piment d’Espelette
    • Pelardon
    • Figues
  • Alsace-Loraine & Eastern France
    • Saucisse de Montbeliard
    • Saucisse de Morteau
    • Comte
    • Reblochon
    • Moutarde de Dijon
  • Normandy & Northern France
    • Camembert
    • Mimolette
    • Ficelle Picarde
  • Beef is around 7 Euro/pound & Chicken 3 Euro/pound.
  • Most Local Cheeses will be around 6.5 Euro/pound.
  • Milk is around 3 Euro/gallon.
  • Most fruits & vegetable are around 1 Euro/pound.
    • So are rice, pasta & bread (or even under).
  • Soda is generally around 1-2 euros & Water under 1 euros.
Expenses (4-5 persons)Euros €/w
Tickets
Off-season
Off-season – Child
Shoulder season
Shoulder season – Child		600
800
1200
Accomodations
Hotel (8 days, 2 rooms)
Apartment (1 month, 3 rooms)		800 – 1200
1000 – 1400
Communication
Phone + Internet (wifi/mobile)
VPN		20
5
Transportation (weekly pass)
One-way Ticket
Bus + Metro + others
Train (Yearly Discount pass)		1.7 – 2
50-70
399(+ ticket)
Financial services
Agency/Site
Insurance (Health + Home + Life)
112-157
Eat Out
Restaurant/Dinner
Lunch
Snacks/Bakeries		80-100
35-40
10-20
Self Catering
Groceriesup to 150
Entertainment (1 seance)
Cinema
Museum/Landmark		up to 10
up to 10
Categories
Business & Travel

Why Travel more as a Business professional?

Wherever you are a Manager, a Seller, a Marketing professional, in Public Relations or in Human Ressources, you are in the commerce of People.

  • Where are you the most exposed to the People you need to listen to?
  • Who are these future Customers?
  • How much diversity do you need to develop commercial empathy?
  • Do you need to travel very far to find different types of cultures?

  • Do you have a branch in Barcelona?
  • Will you open a business unit in Milan?
  • Are you familiar with the Context & the Culture of Cologne?
  • Have you began a Localization campaign in Tokyo?
  • The next time you have a business dinner in Southern France wouldn’t it look amazing if you could order in French while you display your knowledge of Provencal traditions?

Here’s why you may want to consider travelling more for your business:

  • Possible Advantages
    • Some jobs require you to travel
    • Flexible hours?
    • Better Pay?
  • Get in touch with Future Technology
    • Smart cities
    • Deep Learning integration
    • Other Innovative practices
  • Worldwide Networking
    • Preliminary preparations
    • New recruitment/partnerships
  • Hone your skills
    • Preliminary preparations
    • Commercial empathy
    • Managing Professional Trips
  • Learn new languages
    • Preliminary preparations
    • Partners & Business Divisions

Possible Advantages

Some jobs require you to travel
  • Have you been into Accounting, Marketing or Finance for more than a decade?
  • Then you may be interested into becoming a moving Consultant.
  • You don’t really need to be in the industry for so long, but a senior financial advisor will clearly be more at ease than a beginner, and therefore enjoy the experience more.
  • More jobs in Finance, PR, Healthcare, Design, Entertainment, Education & Programming become travelling jobs.
  • This is becoming particularly true for jobs that allow teleworking, as it tends to soften the new employee’s integration in the company.
Flexible hours?
  • Teleworking is the way to Flexible hours.
  • Travel working, not always.
  • If you’re a travelling writer/author or programmer it may be the case, since there’s little sense of emergency.
  • What makes the difference is your diligence & your commitment.
  • If you’re a travelling nurse or doctor on the other hand, or any other job that admits emergency situations, don’t count on flexible calendars too much.
  • They may happen, as impromptu may.
  • The same goes for any profession where you’re commissioned.
  • If you are a travelling seller or agent, your hours are flexible in theory.
  • In practice, you’ll want as many sales as possible.
  • Expect online travel agencies to grow tremendously in the upcoming 5 to 10 years, competition will burst.
Better Pay?
  • Do you have great people skills?
  • Do people say about you that you’re a great manager?
  • Do you like handling people?
  • Do people like listening to your stories?
  • Do you enjoy foreign culture?
  • Are you at ease in Metropolis as well as in small towns?
  • Could you spend your days in Museums, visiting landmarks & trying unusual restaurants?
  • Can you handle a group of 5 to 10 people?
  • Have you ever considered becoming an International Tour Guide?
  • Here’s the opportunity for you to share your love for exploration & meet curious people.
  • Communication skills are key since you may be leading medium to large groups through busy streets & other crowded places.
  • Of course you may only be a guide through Villages.
  • But diversity of settings & settlements size will allow you to meet more diverse people.
  • You could double that with an International Tour Guide website & social media following (LinkedIn & TikTok 1st).
  • And then you’re golden.

Get in touch with Future Technologies

Smart cities
  • Wherever you are in Urbanisme/City planning or not, smart cities will impact your business.
  • New techs such as augmented reality, voice devices or computer vision will impact your daily life.
  • All over Europe and Southern/Eastern Asia smart initiative are emerging.
Deep Learning integration
  • If you are or intend to become a machine learning engineer, a data scientist/analyst or an AI software engineer/programmer you may want to visit France, Japan & Spain.
  • Same goes mental health professionals interested in developing new treatment for their patients.
    • ELIZA has been developed on psychiatrists initiative
  • Wherever you’re in sales or finance Deep Learning, as soon as Blockchain technology becomes real, will transform your industry.
Other Innovative practices
  • Germany & Scandinavia have become extremely competitive in terms of Green tech.
  • For the last decade, and for the one to come, they’ve been heavy in infrastructure reconversion, energy networks redesigning & civic education in terms of sustainability.
  • Green Urbanisme & Cycling economies will become predominant in countries where ethical finance & green labeled companies have a foot in.
  • Teleworking is another innovation to follow for Managers, CEOs, HR directors & Chairs in the future decade.
  • Why teleworking while travelling may be the best combination?
  • Flexible hours.
  • Easier integration.
  • A unique position in the company.

Worldwide Networking

Preliminary preparations
  • Can you ask your colleagues about a contact in the country you’re moving to?
  • That’s the most convenient way to make connections.
  • Are you on a conversation exchange platform?
  • Learning a foreign language through conversation exchange is an easy way to ask about the country’s culture while acquire the most useful phrases.
  • Prepare a small introduction : Name, Age, Origin(country & city), Profession, Hobbies, Wage/Salary/Annual Revenues.
    • In some countries like Japan it is an institutionalized practice, so be ready
  • In some regions Service & Hospitality are key and declining an employee trying to act as they’ve been trained can be seen as rejection.
  • If you need your bag on your back at all times allow the helpers to help you by answering questions or showing you around.
  • Tip is not needed everywhere, as in most of Europe, although it can be appreciated.
  • In some other places where Hospitality is part of the service, namely Eastern Asia, it could be seen as inappropriate or disrespectful.
  • Asking about company travel policy, traveller safety & employee’s well-being during the travel would also prove essential.
  • However, it may overlooked.
New recruitment/partnerships
  • If your future partner/customer knows about unusual locations in town that only the locals know capitalize on it.
  • There is some genuine love for the unique places people live in & frequent on a regular basis.
  • If you plan to become an athletic recruiter or a construction manager you’ll soon be in charge of diverse team of foreign people.
    • That should be interesting

Hone your skills

Preliminary preparations
  • Which skills do you want to learn?
    • Marketing & Selling
    • Management & Social Psychology
    • Accounting, Finances & Taxes
    • Programming & UI/UX design
  • Why do you want to learn them?
    • Are you a manager willing to better understand her team members?
    • Therefore, you’ll want to learn the basics of everything
    • Are you financial professional interested by predictive bots?
    • Then, you may want to learn a bit of Python & Javascript
    • Do you want to up your skills in social Marketing?
    • You need a crash course in vertical design (LinledIn, TikTok, YouTube shorts)
  • Why do I need to travel, I could learn these skills anywhere?
    • Yes, so why not somewhere else?
    • True, you can learn all of this from a Skillshare/LinkedIn course
    • But, what about learning them 1st hand from a future colleague/partner?
    • As everything in this post, it is another occasion to meet people that are different from the place you’re in
    • And that’s why you though about travelling in the 1st place
Commercial empathy
  • Let’s say you intend to become the best Manager or the best CEO
  • What do you need?
  • Yes, Empathy.
  • Empathy is the juice that will allow your customers & employees to speak to you freely.
  • And if they speak to you freely you could leverage their best ideas more easily.
  • How do you acquire Empathy?
  • By getting into the culture of the other person.
  • How do you do that?
  • Getting some perspective & some context of people’s daily life may help a lot.
  • How do you get that?
  • T-R-A-V-E-L.
  • That doesn’t have to be very far.
  • You could just spend a week in Lisbon, a week in Marseilles, & a week in Cologne.
  • You don’t even have to quit your country.
  • But the further, the more diverse & foreign.
  • And therefore the more valuable.
Managing Professional Trips
  • Or how to become an amateur International Tour Guide.
  • Learn the essential phrases in your target language.
  • Learn about the city/country’s basic history & cultural differences.
  • Learn about the best places in the country/city for the after-work.
  • Mix & match under appreciated destinations & well-known spots for the best result.
  • And wait for everyone to be impressed.

Learn new languages

Preliminary preparations
  • Which language do you want to learn?
    • If your target language is French or Spanish it shouldn’t be too hard since you’re already an English speaker
    • German, Russian or Indian may be more difficult to learn
    • Mandarin, Japanese & Arabic will prove the most challenging, but as with any difficult skills to learn, it’s rare
  • How much time do you dispose of?
    • If you’re learning a romance language, a month should do
    • Double that for Germanic & Slavic languages
    • Indo-Iranian languages may take you up to 3 months
    • East asian languages will be the most challenging, again, but 90/day for 3-4 months should give a good conversational level
Partners & Business Divisions
  • For which purpose do you learn this language?
    • Contract writing?
    • Integrate a new company?
    • Business Lunch?
  • Who will you speak to?
    • Customers?
    • Executives?
    • Future partners?
  • What do you do after work/on holidays/on your free time?
  • What are the best places in town?
  • Do you have additional input on that project we could discuss afterwards/after the meeting?
  • What do you do to endure your employee well-being?
  • Do you plan to adopt teleworking?
  • Is it challenging?
  • Do you have an AI division (if with a tech/finance company)?

Categories
Business & Travel Games & Travel

Why Travel more as a Game Designer?

  • Graphic artist, Musician, Programmer, Scenarist, Quality controller, you design games.
  • Board, Cards, Code, Graphics, Themes, you design games.

Why Travel?
If you are creating a World, you ought to know this One.

Here’s where you could start:

  • Work with limitations
  • Create your World with Mind Maps
  • Compose a travel Diary
  • Buying Memories
  • Landmarks, the Soul of a Nation
  • Restaurants & Cafes, for you & your players
  • Create a Continent
  • Parks – The Game’s Hub
  • Artistic Awareness – What’s Fun?

Learning to work with limitations

  • Limited Material & Tools
    • You don’t need a desk to be productive.
    • No internet is the best way to come up with new designs & Ideas.
    • A 200 pages moleskin journal is enough.
  • Limited Time
    • Having less time to create your next project will force better result.
    • Less time means less time to hesitate.
    • Think crucial features through & implement.
  • Focus on 1 project or have multiple one?
    • How long is your trip?
    • You’re visiting Italy for a week , can you get a Book out of it?
    • How many settings are you visiting? 1 piece = 1 setting?
    • Should you create a Pamphlet for this City, this Country?

Your essentials:

  • A small notebook + Post-it (to create categories)
  • Multiple 4-colors pens (for Mind mapping)
  • A Camera (for photo references)
  • Your phone (Interviews, post on social & check you mails)
  • Your laptop (Books & Graphic design)
  • A 512GB Flash drive (if you can’t trust Clouds)

Create your World with Mind Maps

  • Mind maps are by far the easiest way to collect & process data.
  • Wherever you are interviewing someone or taking notes about a specific setting, that will serve as the Game Hub, it is the way to go.
  • After practicing for 4 years you could put 500 pages books onto 4 sheets of paper without losing any substantial information.
    • This way you could already write the game’s manual.
  • The Process:
    • Take a piece of paper horizontally, separate it in 4 equal sections with 2 diagonals.
    • Trace 4 circles/ovals/squares/the shape your prefer with 4 different colors, (a 4-color Bic is the easy way to go).
    • Choose 4 topics you want to study.
    • Or the main 4 parts of your next project.
    • As you use it more & more you’ll realize you’ll need more than 4 topics.
    • In the early stages it’s more convenient to synthesize.
    • A Game has 4 main elements: Story, Graphics, Music & Programming.

Compose a Vibrant Game Manual

  • You notebook has 4 sections: Story, Graphics, Music & Programming.
  • Of course this is a basic overlay as every topic in intertwined with all the others.
  • And Gameplay is developed through each of them.
  • Keep a Programming section even if you’re not developing a video game.
    • There will always be some Algorithmic in every game.
    • Developing a quick Player-Behavior schema is always a good idea in order to determine how the game may end.
  • Use Post-it to separate your 4 sections (and eventual subsections).
  • While visiting take visual notes, sketch the important settings to anchor them into your world dynamics.
  • Sketch cartoon versions of the people around to define your characters physical archetypes.
  • Color is the way to go.
  • Make this booklet for you.
  • Exaggerate, dramatize, so that other people will want to read it.
  • Design clean logigrammes as easy to read procedures.
    • Most of the rules should come directly from the game design, but this journal is for you to have fun.

Buying Memories

  • Looking for Rare Items?
  • Looking for a symbol, an emblem for your game?
  • Or an accessory for your character?
  • Antique shops will give you the inspiration you need.
  • Look for foreign objects.
  • Look for useless objects with great design.
  • Buyback your Childhood memories.
  • What’s that small box that can contain nothing?
  • You can’t put nothing inside it, because it’s already full of circuits!
  • You could also go for Brocantes or Brokers.
  • Both have uniques items to sell, if you are willing to ask?
    • What’s the most expensive item you have?
    • What’s the most useless item you have?
    • What’s the most ludicrous item you have?
    • Will you sell it to me?
  • Get in with your own stuff & see if you can trade.
  • Looking for Rare consoles & board games?
  • Visit Game & electronic shops.
  • Ask around:
    • Can I have 30% off of this PS1?
    • Do you have a Japanese Dreamcast?
    • Do you have a Super Famicom?
    • Do you have 1st edition Alpha & Beta cards?
    • Anything for the Urza trilogy?
  • Look for rare pieces, 1st editions, limited editions on a discount.
  • Look for Games, especially board & card games, you couldn’t find anywhere else.
  • Visit Discount Stores.
    • Ask if they have some extra cards, board games, they would like to liquidate.
  • You won’t be able to find these things online.
  • Play again.
  • Watch the products carefully & remember.
    • Did you find this 1996 Yu-Gi-Oh! booster packs that were only sold in Japan?
    • Or the 2004 north american Magic Ruler/Metal Rider?
  • Meet fellow Gamers.
  • Ask for recommendations.

Landmarks, the Soul of a Nation

  • If you are building a world this is the place to start.
  • Make a list of x landmarks to visit, 1 per day.
  • Make a list of the questions you are going to ask/ask yourself.
  • What type of Landmark is this?
    • Tower?
    • Library/Museum?
    • Transportation system?
    • Gardens?
  • What does the Monument looks like, from the outside?
  • From the inside?
  • Observe people around you, are they happy to be there?
  • Are they tourists or locals?
  • Asking for the Landmark’s history is the best way to know the place.
  • Ask for a Guided tour to fill the blanks & you’re ready to go.
  • Create Context for the player.
  • Where does you game take place?
  • Do you have a clear idea on how you’ll build your settings?
    • What is the atmosphere?
    • What are the resources?
    • Who are the inhabitants?
    • How’s the wildlife?
  • Are you building a full scale adventure game or a 1-room survival?
  • Will you focus on Exploration, Sagas, Epics?
  • Or more intimate and smaller scales games?

Restaurants & Cafes, for you & your players

  • An Inn by the lake?
  • Is this a survival-horror?
  • A point n’ click mystery?
  • A mix of the former 2?
  • Does it have comedic elements?
  • Dramatic elements?
  • Surely, all of this would work very well.
  • If you can make the setting more alive, more human.
  • How do you make it?
  • Observation.
  • How’s in the interior design?
    • How’s the furniture?
    • The structure of the building?
    • Why does this Inn need a small library?
    • What are those noise coming from the kitchen nobody else seems to hear?
  • Who are the people? Both customers & employees.
    • What do they wear?
    • How do they act?
    • Why does this man keep put his hat on & off?
    • What did this woman hid in her purse?
  • You could completely reinvent Clue.
  • Try to mix it with Monopoly in create mechanics such as Clue transactions, or common clue pot.
  • Think about penalties such as a room that will serve for temporary custody and/or interrogation.
  • Imagine a how quick game could develop.
    • Mystery.
    • Clues.
    • Hypothesis.
    • Revelation.
  • Imagine 3 quick characters.
    • Solver (goal + skills/accessories).
    • Leader (goal + skills/accessories).
    • Conscience (goal + skills/accessories).
  • Imagine the tools you’ll have access to.
    • Cards, dices, boards, notepads, life-counters, coins/tokens.
  • Try this in multiple locations, not just inns.

Create a Continent or more

  • Your journey begins before you quit home.
  • Plan your schedule beforehand to optimize your travel time.
  • You can get access to valuable places and people to collect unique information.
  • And start.
  • Traveling by land is cheaper.
  • It’s also generally easier if you don’t need a visa or have to learn a new language every time you move.
    • Though it could be a missed opportunity.
  • Speak with the inhabitants.
  • Collect rules of local games you couldn’t find in books.
  • Ask for local versions of a popular games.
  • Ask why they didn’t like the rule they replace.
  • Ask why they never read the rulebook.
  • Would recreate the US?
  • What’s the most popular game in every state?
  • In every city?
  • Take a landmark/landscape you like and just add some Thematic contrast.
  • Make a game with the Architecture.
  • It doesn’t have to be a Sim game…
  • Same thing if you’re living in Europe.
  • The Latin culture in the west, the Germanic culture in the north & the Slavic one in the east.
  • Start your trip in Lisbon and then all the way to Minsk.
  • As you go around mix & match cultures, monuments, plants, wildlife and so on.
  • That’s the way to create new unique environments & characters.

Parks – The Game’s Hub

  • Parks are the ideal location to rest & focus at the same time.
  • Find inspiration in grassland?
  • Is there a cafe around?
  • Do you have a favorite dish?
  • An evergreen treat?
  • Then, treat yourself.
  • That’s part of the creation process.
  • You need to refuel this jauge called motivation.
  • By thinking about new projects?
  • By imagining your next composition on that little piece of napkin.
  • Or just by resting…

As usual, look around:

  • Observe the people to identify character traits.
  • Listen, for dialogues & game mechanics.
  • Watch at the Setting & Environment and describe it.
    • Write down good design choices around you

Look for the mixes of Green & Blue.

  • Today was a journey, tomorrow will be too.
  • What are the after effects of this journey?
  • What have you learned today?
  • What will you do tomorrow?

Have you ever wondered why we feel at ease in Parks?

Artistic Awareness – What’s Fun?

  • What makes you happy?
  • What makes you fulfilled?
  • Will you visit Italy before Germany?
  • Will you visit the whole Japan or just Tokyo & Kyoto?
  • What makes you travel more?
  • Or travel at all?
  • You may be aware that travel is good for developing your observation & design skills?
  • But what does it bring to you?
  • Do you need to travel abroad?
  • Or just to your hometown?
  • Do you want to create Characters?
  • Do you want to create People?
  • Do you want to create Settings?
  • Do you want to build Planets?
  • What were you doing before Game Design?
  • If you have a background in Mathematics or Programming that will surely help you realize how valuable the experience was?
  • Are you artist or a writer?
  • Do you still play with the page?
  • Or is it painful to put ink on paper?
  • Were you a musician?
  • Are you still a musician?
  • Do you believe Music is integral to Game Design and isn’t just an extra?
    • If you’ve ever played Silent Hill you probably do…
  • Where were you when you made your 1st game?
  • Where did you bought your 1st game?
  • Where did you play your 1st game?
  • Do you return to this place regularly?
    • Do you still buy the MTG/YGO cards from this local game store you pick your 1st booster from?
    • That’s travelling…
    • In time.

Categories
Business & Travel Writing & Communication

Why Travel more as a Storyteller?

Wherever you are Authoring Scripts, Novels, Poetry, Textbooks or other Non-Fiction you need to constantly expose yourself to new arrays of Ideas.

Wherever you are a Teacher, a Manager, a Marketing professional, a Parent you draw your ideas from Life.

  • Where are you the most exposed to this Life you need to create?
  • What form does this Life takes?
  • How much diversity do you need to evolve as an Artist?
  • Do you need to travel very far to find Life?

Here’s where you could start:

  • Learning to work with limitations
  • Get organized & Play more, with Mind Maps
  • Compose a travel Diary
  • Buying Memories
  • Landmarks, the Soul of a Nation
  • Restaurants & Cafes, refuel your Body & think
  • Write a Continental Epic
  • Artistic Awareness, rekindle your Soul
  • Parks – Rest, Remember & Restart

Learning to work with limitations

  • Limited Material & Tools
    • You don’t need a desk to be productive.
    • No internet is the best way to come up with new designs & Ideas.
    • A 200 pages moleskin journal is enough.
  • Limited Time
    • Having less time to create your next project will force better result.
    • Less time means less time to hesitate.
    • Think crucial features through & implement.
    • Between 120-150’/day for your main project.
    • Between 10-20’/day for a side project.
  • Focus on 1 project or have multiple one?
    • How long is your trip?
    • You’re visiting Italy for a week , can you make a Book out of it?
    • How many settings are you visiting? 1 piece = 1 setting?
    • Should you create a Pamphlet for this City, this Country?

Your essentials:

  • A small notebook
  • Multiple 4-colors pens (for Mind mapping)
  • A Camera (if you need it)
  • Your phone (Interviews, post on social & check you mails)
  • Your laptop (Books & Graphic design)
  • A 512GB Flash drive

Get organized & Play more, with Mind Maps.

  • Mind maps are by far the easiest way to concentrate data.
  • Wherever you are interviewing someone or taking notes about a specific setting it is the way to go
  • After practicing for 4 years you could put 500 pages books onto 4 sheets of paper without losing any substantial information.
  • The Process:
    • Take a piece of paper horizontally, separate it with 2 diagonals.
    • Trace 4 circles/ovals/squares/the shape your prefer with 4 different colors, (a 4-color Bic is the easy way to go).
    • Choose 4 topics you want to study.
    • Or the main 4 parts of your next project.

Compose a Travel Diary

  • Why not start Epigrams in postcards form of the places you visit?
  • Or compose your poem & then record your words.
  • Your diary will become fuller & more diverse with every day passing.
  • Develop a clear unique style.
    • Short sentences, not more than 3 words
    • Impactant nouns & verbs
    • Use allegories
  • You can’t write much?
  • Why not try a Haiku or a Haibun?
  • It will help you synthesize your thoughts in an usual way.
  • You could also draw the place you are in with words.
  • Try Concrete poems.
    • If you are in front of a lake, describe it in the shape of a lake
  • Get inspired by the place you’re in to design appealing shapes.
  • Use the name of the place to write an acrostic.
  • If you’re in Tuscany, take T.U.S.C.A.N.Y and compose a 7 verse poem all beginning by the corresponding letter.
  • Do the same with every landmark & landscape that inspires you.
  • Produce a piece a day.
  • Post daily.
  • People may soon contact you to buy your content.

Buying Memories

photo of closed Sony PS1 with DualShock 1
  • Looking for Rare Items?
  • Antique shops will give you the inspiration you need.
  • Buyback your Childhood memories.
  • Look for foreign objects.
  • Look for useless objects with great design.
  • What’s that small box that can contain nothing?
  • You can’t put nothing inside it, because it’s already full of circuits!
  • You could also go for Brocantes or Brokers.
  • Both have uniques items to sell, if you are willing to ask?
    • What’s the most expensive item you have?
    • What’s the most useless item you have?
    • What’s the most ludicrous item you have?
    • Will you sell it to me?
    • Can I have 30% off of this PS1?
  • Get in with your own stuff & see if you can trade.
  • Visit Bookstores.
  • Look for rare pieces, 1st editions, limited editions on a discount.
  • Look for Books you couldn’t find anywhere else than in the country your in.
    • If you’re in Florence look for an original version of La Divina Commedia or early works of la Commedia dell’arte movements
    • If you’re in Frankfurt why not pick an original of Faust?
  • Visit Discount Bookstores.
  • You won’t be able to find these things online.
  • Look for a new Journal, a special pen.
  • Look for a 6 color pen, that exists.
  • Look for tools & material that makes you want to write, to sketch, to design, to invent.
  • Ask to try the items.
  • Meet fellow Storytellers.
  • Ask for recommendations.

Landmarks, the Soul of a Nation

  • Make a list of the landmarks you want to visit the most.
  • And then go for your 1st draft.
  • What does the Monument looks like, from the outside?
  • From the inside?
  • Observe people around you, are they happy to be there?
  • Are they tourists or locals?
  • Asking for the Landmark’s history is the best way to know the place.
  • Ask for a Guided tour to fill the blanks & you’re ready to go.
  • Make Contextual Stories.
  • Who lived in this place?
  • Why did they lived there?
  • Were they happy or miserable?
  • Does your Story belong to the location you’re in?
  • Just ask to locals about the City/Town’s symbol or motto.
  • Focusing on travel-related themes: Adventure, Exploration, Epics & Sagas.
  • But also the Mundane, the Daily, the authentic.
  • You can write a ballad on the shores of the sea, or a as you walk in royal gardens.
  • Do you prefer the Extravagant?
    • Go for it.
  • Would you rather relate the tales of sailboats & seagulls?
  • Would you compose your next elegy under cypresses at dusk?

Restaurants & Cafes, refuel your Body & think

  • Find inspiration in a restaurant?
  • Do you have a favorite dish?
  • An evergreen treat?
  • Then, treat yourself.
  • That’s part of the creation process.
  • You need to refuel this jauge called motivation.
  • By thinking about new projects?
  • By imagining your next composition on that little piece of napkin.
  • Or just by resting…

As usual, look around:

  • Observe the people to identify character traits.
  • Listen for dialogue opportunities.
  • Watch at the Setting & Environment and describe it.
    • Write down good design choices around you
  • Today was a journey, tomorrow will be too.
  • What are the after effects of this journey?
  • What have you learned today?
  • What will you do tomorrow?

Write a Continental Epic

  • Your journey begins before you quit home.
  • Plan your schedule beforehand to optimize your travel time.
  • You can get access to valuable places and people to collect unique information.
  • And start.
  • Traveling by land is cheaper.
  • It’s also generally easier if you don’t need a visa or have to learn a new language every time you move.
    • Though it could be a missed opportunity.
  • Speak with the inhabitants.
  • Collect legends & fables you couldn’t find in books.
  • Ask for local versions of a popular tale.
  • Ask for corrections, most movie adaptions didn’t get that specific element that could make your own book famous today.

Plan to write a Pentalogy:

  • If you are living in the US, it may be easy to make a chapter for every state.
  • 5 * 10 chapters = 5 Books
  • You may also have some favorite cities or monuments.
  • Take a landmark/landscape you like and just add some Thematic contrast.
  • It may be temporal, spatial, or just vocabulary.

Plan a trilogy:

  • Same thing if you’re living in Europe.
  • The Latin culture in the west, the Germanic culture in the north & the Slavic one in the east.
    • That’s 3 volumes
  • Start your trip in Lisbon and then all the way to Minsk.
  • As you go around mix & match cultures, monuments, plants, wildlife and so on.
  • That’s the way to create new unique environments & characters.

If you don’t feel like writing down a 1000+ pages series, just make a short story (1 to 2 pages) for each state/city you visit.

Artistic Awareness, rekindle your Soul

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Lovely-Summer-Noon-Tiktok-Background-576x1024.jpg
  • Do you want to create Characters?
  • Do you want to create People?
  • Do you want them to know the world was waiting for them?
  • Do you want to create settings?
  • Or places of legacy?
  • Do you want to make planets?

  • Why did you begin to create?
  • When did you begin to create?
  • Where did you begin to create?
  • Maybe in your own room, in your bed or on your desk.
  • But the impulse came from outside.
  • A most distant land you can barely remember.
  • Maybe it didn’t really exist.
  • The memory persists.
  • Where can you rediscover this place?
  • Will it be in the red Mountains, made of Fire & Rocks?
  • While running in the Plains, coursed with Wind & Light?
  • Under the Seas, on lone Islands, where flow wonderful Waters & dismal Currents?
  • Deep in the Forest’s domain, where reign Earth, Wood & Shades?

Parks – Rest, Remember & Restart

  • Parks are the ideal location to rest & focus at the same time.
  • Train your eyes.
    • Observe the mimics.
    • Train your speed by lashing drafts on paper.
    • Write without thinking much, only about writing.
  • Listen
    • Go around.
    • Record Background sounds, dialogues, conversations, take quick pictures of animals & people.
    • Do you have some experience with CGI or Video edition/SFX?
    • Why not capture some footage for a future animated text?
  • Feel.
    • The Climate variations
    • The Atmosphere shifts.
    • Try trees & grass texture.
    • Put your hands in the water.
    • And wash them afterwards.
  • Meet fellow Storytellers
    • They will be here for similar reasons.
    • It’s a time as good as any to exchange a few words on your upcoming project & maybe contacts.
  • Dream.
  • Dream under a tree.
  • Remember these images that push you to the page.
  • Were they reveries or nightmares?
  • Elusive phantasms…
  • Or persistant apparitions?
  • Presences leading you back to the page with deepest stories you could have hoped for while awake.
  • You don’t need to actually sleep.
  • Just let the pen go around the page.
  • Write in reverse, in front of a mirror, or simply with your non-dominant hand.
  • You can create many writing games.
  • Dream awake.
  • Travel is supposed to be fun.
  • It is also supposed to be the moment when we rest.
  • As in, ‘Do we really have fun?’, think.
  • Did I really rest?
  • Did you rest?
  • Start another project.

Have you ever wondered why we feel at ease in Parks?

Categories
Best product Ergonomic Travel Minimalist Travel

Minimalist traveling & Packing

  • Why would you want to take less things with you?
  • What if you miss something?
  • You would do it for yourself, but as a large group there’s no way you could bring so few things.
  • Where should you start?

This is where you should start:

  • There will be a reason for you.
    • More Health
    • More Money/Space
    • More Time/Experiences/Convenience
    • More Aesthetic
    • More Less
    • More Willpower
  • Your Minimalist Backpack
    • Clothes
    • Electronics
    • 1st aid kit
    • Hygiene products

Minimalist Traveling – Why?

1st thing : Book at a great hotel.

You’ll need some services like laundry, good hygiene products,

  • Do you want more Space?
  • Less luggage.
  • Do you want a more Healthy travel?
  • Physical efforts can affect your anxiety by enhancing your cortisol levels.
  • These physiological changes express themselves through spikes in your Body Temperature.
  • All this weight pressures your Articulations.
  • Same for your Spine & your Back in general.
  • Do you want more Money?
  • Bringing less things will diminish the luggage fee.
  • Buy less items, more expensive one, and quality-wise you’ll win.
  • Less possessions, more durability.
  • Buy what you really want
  • Do you want more Time?
  • Do you want more Experiences, more Convenience?
  • Traveling is a transformative experience.
  • You don’t want to waste a 5th of your day waiting for your luggage.
  • As you always keep it with you diminish the risk of loss or theft.
  • It becomes easier, or least quicker, to go through airport security.
  • And even more so through Customs.
  • Then go out and visit more.
  • Do you want more Aesthetic?
  • You’ll look less clumsy with only 1 bag.
  • It helps you to limit your choice to your best clothes.
  • Minimalism cultivates your sens of design.
  • Do you want more Less?
  • You may have began minimalism because you realized you needed less things.
  • No Binge Shopping.
  • Walk your way to what’s essential.
  • You don’t need to change your towel everyday.
  • You don’t need your own shampoo/conditionner.
  • Do you want more Willpower?
  • Minimalism is the way to resilience.
  • Declutter your mind for better & faster decisions.
  • Not influenced by travel’s ambiance from the airport to the theme park.
  • Travel more responsibly.
    • Consume conscientiously
    • Less pollution (chemical, audio, physical)

Your Minimalist Backpack

How to choose it?
  • Not bigger than your back.
  • Pick a bag that allows you to keep your balance through proper weight distribution.
  • Ergonomic for walking and taking public transport.
  • Its Volume should be around 30-40 liters.
  • Preferably made of waterproof sailcloth.
  • Conveniently partitioned to find your tools easily. 
  • Do you need a day-pack?
  • An additional bag to bring what you’ll need for the day.
    • Useful if you travel as a family
  • If you’re really into minimalism your day-pack may become your definitive backpack.
What’s inside?
  • Pack only essential items for one week.
    • Book in a hotel with a laundry service, or look for a reliable one in your vicinity.
  • Wear your jacket/vest or shoes to save even more room.
  • Choose durable fabrics & simple colors.

Travel Lightweight for a week:

  • Clothes
    • 2 Jeans/Skirts
    • 3 Dress/Shirts
    • 1 Vest/Jacket
    • Underwear/Socks 1 per day
    • 1 pair of Shoes
    • Glasses/Sunglasses
  • Electronics
    • Laptop/Tablet/Camera
    • Chargers/Headphones
    • External HDD/SSD – opt for a 512GB flash drive for more space
  • Wallet
    • ID Cards/Driver Licence, Cash(100$)
    • In-Emergency Contact Card / Embassy Contact
  • Health
    • Mini 1st Aid Kit
    • Important medical papers
    • Reusable Water bottle/Water Purifier Bottle
    • Contraceptive pills + Condoms
  • Hygiene products
    • Tampons
    • Toothbrush + paste + floss
    • Razors + razorblade