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Our rental investment in Nice. We did it again!
A few years ago, we became owners of a two-bedroom apartment in La Rochelle, we told you about it here. Six years later, we’ve just picked up the keys to another apartment in Nice. We bought it two years earlier while we were on the other side of the world. Once again, this article is a feedback post, not advice. This time, we went through the same financial advisor, who offered us three off-plan apartments: one in Saint-Étienne, one in Reims, and one in Nice. The purchase prices and estimated rents were different. For various reasons, we chose Nice because it seemed like the most dynamic city and the rent-to-buy…
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[Reflection] #13: Seizing Opportunities
According to the I Ching, an ancient Chinese book, success depends on you but also on the RIGHT TIME and the RIGHT PLACE. In my case, having a scholarship to study in Australia completely changed my life. Later, my English level set me apart from other candidates and I always managed to get the job. But a year later, I would never have studied in Australia because scholarships are only given every two years. I was able to seize the opportunity at the right time. According to numerology, everyone has at least 4 major opportunities in life. But the difficulty is daring to seize them. Because sometimes, opportunities come when…
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How to recover your Google Business listing (disabled or suspended)
During my travels, I occasionally coach my favorite local businesses for free to help them get more visibility, because I’m a “Local Guide Level 7” on Google Maps and my reviews carry much more weight than others. Among my favorite businesses is an absolutely adorable jeweler who loves to learn and keeps me updated on his business’s progress. For several weeks, he hasn’t been able to add photos/videos/his phone number to his Google Maps listing. I stop by his shop, he hands me his computer, and I improve the description of his listing. We chat happily. Two minutes later, we go back to Google Maps and it says “listing suspended.”…
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Scooter rental in Koh Tao (Thailand): address & prices
Disclaimer: be careful! You’ll have no trouble renting a scooter in Koh Tao (or anywhere else in Thailand). If you don’t have a motorbike license, it’s still illegal. It can expose you to fines (very unlikely on Koh Tao), but above all: you won’t be covered by your insurance in case of an accident. Moreover, it’s easy to get overconfident on Koh Tao. It’s a little paradise; you see foreigners riding without helmets, bare-chested and barefoot… It’s quite exhilarating, that feeling of freedom. It’s still dangerous: you drive on the left, there are steep ups and downs, there can be sandy areas, and during monsoon season, you can find yourself…
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A Week in Bhutan, the Land of Happiness: Part 1/4
We’re taking advantage of being in Asia to fulfill one of our dreams: visiting Bhutan, the country whose people are said to be the happiest in the world, to understand their recipe for happiness. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Choosing the Agency Although the cost of living is very low, visiting Bhutan requires a well-stocked wallet, because you have to: Since we’re at the start of the monsoon season (late May – early June), there are few tourists (except the Indian neighbors who are on vacation), and we have a private tour for a week. The agency we chose is called Bhutan Best Inbound…
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Prepaid SIM/eSIM in Bhutan: How much does it cost? Where to buy one? (2024)
Buying an eSIM valid in Bhutan If you want to keep things simple and have a compatible phone, you can buy an eSIM valid in Bhutan. Since Bhutan is a tiny country, there don’t seem to be many options available for it. Airalo offers one at an attractive price (USD 9.50), but with little data (1 GB). So it’s not necessarily a great deal. Buying a SIM card at the airport At Paro International Airport, you’ll find two counters selling SIM cards: You can’t miss them; the airport is tiny! The offers are pretty much the same. For a week with unlimited internet, it’ll cost you 1,100 ngultrums, or about…
