Reims, France impressed us! Slow travelers share costs & highlights

Reims, France impressed us! Slow travelers share costs & highlights

What if you could stay near Paris? Close enough for a quick 45minute train ride while enjoying a calmer pace of life in a less expensive and less crowded city. In this video, we will show you what it is like to spend a month slow traveling in Ron, France, a walkable and welcoming place about 80 mi northeast of Paris, right in the heart of the Champagne region. [Music] By the way, although it’s spelled Rams, it is pronounced Rants, like France without the F. We are a slow traveling couple in our 50s, exploring Europe one city at a time with our 10-year-old dog, Dory. In each city, we settle in for about a month, live like locals, and experience everyday life beyond the tourist checklist. In this video, we will share what our daily life looked like in Rance and break down our monthly expenses to give you a sense of what it costs to stay here. [Music] When we first arrived in Rance, we were not immediately drawn to the city, but that quickly changed. Within a week, it started to grow on us. The more we explored, the more we appreciated its charm, walkability, and overall atmosphere. [Music] Most people know that Rance is famous for champagne, but did you know it’s also home to one of the most historically important cathedrals in France? Notradam de Ros is not just beautiful, it is where French kings were crowned for hundreds of years. This is the place where monarchs officially began their rule. [Music] Architecturally, it is even more impressive than the famous Notraam in Paris. The towers are about 40 ft taller and it has four times as many windows. The stained glass is absolutely stunning with some pieces created by Mark Shagal. And incredibly, the cathedral contains 2,33 statues, more than any other religious building in the world. Unlike Notradam in Paris, this cathedral is not crowded and entry is free. You can take your time, explore at your own pace, and appreciate the space. [Music] [Music] if you are in Rance during the summer, do not miss the free evening light show. The cathedral lights up with color and animation projected onto the facade. When we visited in June, the show was held on Friday and Saturday nights at 10:45 p.m. We enjoyed it so much we went twice. [Music] Grants holds an important place in history. It was here in May 1945 that the German army surrendered to the Allies, officially ending World War II in Europe. The very building where this historic moment took place is now the Museum of Surrender. Sadly, it was closed for renovations during our visit, but it’s definitely a place we hope to see next time. [Music] [Music] We travel without a car, so staying in a walkable area is a must for us. And Rants delivered. Our Airbnb was in a quiet, safe neighborhood where everything we needed was just a short walk away. Within 10 to 15 minutes, we could reach the town center, supermarkets, cafes, a gym, and a park where we took our dog, Dory, for daily walks. We paid $1,458 for 28 days. [Music] Rance also has a reliable public transportation system with both buses and trams, but we did not end up using it much. The city is so walkable that we were able to get everywhere on foot. The only transportation expense we had this month was $52.12 for a day trip to Epern. [Music] There were a few supermarkets near our apartment that we relied on for daily shopping. The main one we used was Care for a large chain that’s common throughout France and other parts of Europe. On Sundays and holidays, most supermarkets in France close around midday. But we were glad to discover an intermareteer in the downtown area that stays open into the evening. Our total grocery spending for the month came to $931.31. [Music] [Music] We ate most of our meals at home because we enjoy cooking, but we also like to eat out now and then. During our month in Rance, we spent $57.76 on dining out. The downtown area is full of cafes and restaurants. And on nice days, both locals and visitors made the most of the weather by eating outside. [Music] France is considered the unofficial capital of the Champagne region in France. World famous for producing champagne, the city is home to many champagne houses where you can take tours and enjoy tastings. We did just that at Lancen, which was conveniently located only about a 20-minute walk from our apartment. The tour was both fun and educational, and the $91.98 price was well worth it. It included a tasting of two champagnes. Reservations are required and tours are available in English. [Music] Our fun activities didn’t stop with champagne. We also attended a classical music concert at the Rance Opera House, a magnificent building dating back to 1873 and inspired by the Paris Opera House. We paid $6747 for two seats and enjoyed a lovely evening. [Music] Working from our apartment wasn’t always ideal, so I joined a co-working space called La Capsul. It had everything I needed to stay productive, comfortable work spaces, a quiet atmosphere, and best of all, blazing fast 1 1/2 GB internet. I paid $120.34 for the month, which felt like a great deal considering the quality and setup. While my main goal was simply to find a quiet place to work, I also enjoyed the social side of it. During coffee breaks, I got to meet some friendly people, which made the experience even better. [Music] If you have been following us for a while, you know that we like to join a gym whenever we stay somewhere for a month. In rants, we signed up for global training sport and paid $158.11 for both of us. We even joined a weekly body pump class which quickly became the highlight of Galit’s routine. [Music] During our stay, Galit got a haircut that cost $1742. She keeps a few photos on her phone of a haircut she likes. So, when she is in a place where English isn’t the first language, she simply shows the pictures to the stylist. It has been a helpful way to communicate what she wants. [Music] This was our last stop in the Shenhen area before heading to the UK, which requires dogs to receive a tapeworm treatment before entering the country. We scheduled a visit to a local vet that spoke English and paid $7547 for the service. We will share more details about traveling to the UK with a dog in an upcoming video. [Music] We took a day trip to Epern, a town of about 23,000 people in the heart of the Champagne region, roughly 80 mi northeast of Paris. Its main avenue, Avenue de Champang, is lined with one Champagne house after another, each with its own unique history and style. [Music] There are many parks and green areas around Ron. A major one is the Amar Canal which is 35 m long connecting the A and MN valleys in northeastern France. The section close to our apartment was mostly shaded making it perfect for a morning jog or a dog walk. We enjoyed the other parks as well. [Music] There are even a few hammocks where you can kick back and relax. How cool is that? [Music] Our total cost for 28 days in Rants came to $3,52264, which averages out to about $126 per day. Rants exceeded our expectations. We found friendly locals, a vibrant downtown, a great mix of oldworld charm and modern convenience, and a nice balance of walkable streets and green spaces. It turned out to be a wonderful place to live, work, and explore, and a great base for slow travelers like us. We hope you found this video informative and helpful. If you did, please consider subscribing to our channel. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And stay tuned for our next video. [Music]

We are slow travelers who spent 28 days in Reims, France, staying in an Airbnb and exploring everything this beautiful city has to offer. In this video, we share our full monthly expenses, show you what life is like for nomads in Reims, and highlight top attractions you won’t want to miss. We also took day trips from Reims to Paris and Épernay, famous for its Champagne houses, and we’ll show you how easy it was to plan and enjoy. Whether you’re a slow traveler, digital nomad, or just curious about living in France, this video will give you a real look at the costs and lifestyle of staying in Reims, France for a month.