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[Summary & Review] Netflix’s How to Change Your Mind + A Really Good Day on LSD Microdosing
Psychedelics are a topic that has interested me for a long time. Not because I’m a user (I don’t drink, smoke, or even drink coffee), but a friend I deeply respect told me about them. I had a lot of preconceptions, but I took the time to educate myself to understand why he needed them, and what was wrong with him. That led me to watch interviews and read articles by Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist who conducted studies on the effects of LSD. Then, a few years ago, I took part in a holotropic breathwork session (drug-free), which produces minor effects, but comparable to LSD. I really enjoyed that session…
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Car rental abroad: credit card or debit card?
This is a nasty surprise many travelers renting a car abroad encounter. After booking (and often paying for) a car online, you go to the agency to pick it up. Since you took the mandatory minimum insurance, the rental company asks for a bank hold for the amount of the deductible (to be able to charge repair costs if you have a problem during your rental. Nothing unusual so far. The drama occurs when the rental agent explains that you absolutely must present a credit card while you have a debit card. In France, we don’t make much difference and we use a misnomer to refer to our payment cards…
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How can I tell if I have a credit card or a debit card?
If you need a credit card, I recommend the American Express Air France Gold card. It’s 100% free for the first year, and you’ll get rental car insurance and cashback on every purchase you make with the card. To learn more and get a referral link, read my dedicated article.. In France, the credit card is the most widely used payment method. However, this is a misuse of language, as you need to distinguish between credit card and debit card. Without going into too much detail, debit cards are those that directly deduct money from your account, while credit cards are those that charge you later (e.g., at the beginning…
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Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Malta: how to buy a 4G internet SIM card?
Roaming fees Roaming fees are the infamous charges that operators apply when you use your smartphone abroad. Good news: since Malta is a member of the European Union, there are no roaming fees. So you can use your French plan in Malta just like you would in France. This applies to internet, making and receiving calls, and SMS. Still, make sure to check the internet data allowance you can use, as it may be lower abroad than in France. If you don’t have a French plan, it would be worth buying a local SIM card. Buy a SIM card before you leave If you want to be sure to have…
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My Take on the “Suite Night Upgrade” Perk at Accor Hotels
When you reach Platinum status at Accor, you get two “Suite Night Upgrades.” Then you get an extra one for every 4,000 status points (up to 12 per year). This perk can be used at Accor’s premium and luxury brands: Sofitel, Mgallery, Pullman, Raffles, … and consists of a guaranteed suite upgrade. All you have to do is click “Use my Suite Night Upgrades” when searching on the All Accor website. For example, at the Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam, I can book the Prestige Suite at 472 € instead of 919 €. Interesting, but not all that much. If I search without requesting to use a Suite Night…
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My review of the Platinum status at Accor Hotels
The loyalty program has 5 statuses (from the simplest to the most prestigious): So far, I’ve enjoyed Gold status thanks to the shareholder club benefits offering Gold status for a year (which was extended by a year due to Covid-related travel restrictions). In 2022, I had the opportunity to stay 45 nights in Accor hotels and earned 15 status nights through my (free) membership in the Accor payment card. I thus earned Platinum status, which requires 60 nights or €5,600 in spending. Here’s my take on the various perks that come with Platinum status. Member rates Whatever your status, Accor gives you a 10% discount off the public rate. It’s…
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Private tour of Officine Universelle Buly
We took advantage of our two-month stay in Paris to continue benefiting from our LVMH shareholder perks. Two years ago, we had already enjoyed tours of the cellars of Veuve Cliquot and Moët Chandon. In November and December, we were able to visit the Moynat brand, the Asnières workshops of Louis Vuitton and the Officine Universelle Buly on Rue de Saintonge in the 3rd arrondissement. To be honest, I had never heard of this brand until it was acquired by LVMH in October 2021. I had then seen a few photos of the brand’s boutiques and was struck by their very distinctive design. It should be noted that the Buly…
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The welcome drink at Accor hotels
Want to earn Accor miles easily? You can get an American Express Air France Gold card. It’s 100% free for the first year. With my referral, you get 12,000 welcome miles, convertible into Accor points. Click here to get my referral. It’s a small perk always appreciated: from Accor Silver status (reachable after 10 nights per year), you get a “welcome drink” at each of your stays. This drink comes in the form of a voucher handed to you at check-in. You theoretically don’t need to ask for it (it only happened to me once at the Ibis hotel in Reims). The choice of drink varies by hotel. Alcoholic drinks…
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Tour of the Louis Vuitton house & workshops in Asnières (France)
JB and I are LVMH shareholders and, from time to time, they organize exclusive (and free) tours for their shareholders. We’ve been lucky enough to attend a few of these, and we take advantage of them every time we’re back in France. This year, JB managed to get us two spots for the tour of the Louis Vuitton house and their workshops in Asnières. You should know that Louis Vuitton has a ton of workshops, but this one is the most prestigious because it’s here that they still make trunks (their original craft), one-of-a-kind pieces (like the trunk that carries the FIFA World Cup trophy), and special orders (custom requests).…
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I tried the Tea Time at the George V Paris (Four Seasons)
Several Parisian palace hotels offer tea time. We already tried the one at the Ritz Paris in a beautiful setting, so it’s time to try the one at the George V Paris. I know this palace by name, and I know for instance that they have a Hermès boutique (it’s the only hotel in all of Paris to have one), very well-trained estheticians (a facial or a massage at George V is on my wishlist). When JB suggested going there, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I’ve been so spoiled with many luxury hotels in Asia , and and in Dubai in recent years that the George V lobby cooled…
