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Jana & Brett | Aplins in the Alps

If you love traveling Europe, getting off-the-beaten path, meeting locals, or having foodie experiences (especially coffee and gelato), then you're in the right place! We're Jana and Brett, a travel couple exploring Europe. Since we got married 10 years ago, we've spent more than 2.5 years adventuring in Europe. But we aren't your average travelers... —Dual USA and Italian citizens —30 European countries...and counting! —We didn't sell everything to travel (we still own our home in Tennessee!) —Both work online (Brett: business operations and consulting. Jana: SEO copywriting and content editing.) Get to know us better by joining our newsletter, binging our YouTube videos, or browsing our blog! When we're not traveling, you will find us hanging out with friends, hosting dinner parties, or playing strategic board games.

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Featured Post

BREAKING NEWS: the Berner Oberland Pass just...

📣 If there was a news station reporting on Swiss transportation, THIS would be the headline today all.week.long. If you've been following us for a little while Reader, then you know we're a bit partial to the Half Fare Card and Berner Oberland Pass. And there are a few BIG updates for the 2024 Berner Oberland Pass that you won't want to miss. Today's email is full of details, so give yourself more than 30 seconds to give it a scan: ▶️ New video: the Berner Oberland Pass just got even better 💬...

3 months ago • 2 min read

Reader, have you ever made any travel mistakes? We certainly have! We've been caught in a new country with the wrong currency. (I think it was Denmark? Or maybe Hungary?) When we were in Paris, we missed the last bus of the night, so we had to walk 3 miles back to our lodging. (We could've paid for a taxi, but we were traveling for 1 year+ on a tight budget.) One time we mimed back and forth for 10 minutes with a man in the French countryside because we didn't speak French and he didn't speak...

3 months ago • 2 min read

Happy New Year, Reader! We hope that the first few days of 2024 have brought you an abundance of joy! For us, we've enjoyed some walks where we watch our breath puff in the cold air, clean food (and minimal sugar after the holidays), fresh-outta-the-box board games, and an eagerness to get back to work (we have a lot of big projects for the next few months!). However, things don't always go as planned... For example: We planned to have dinner with friends on New Years Eve...but we got sick...

4 months ago • 2 min read

Real talk, Reader. If you’ve already started planning your trip to the land of cheese and chocolate (aka Switzerland🇨🇭), then we know the biggest question on your mind: What do I need to know about Swiss transportation? But hang on, before we get there, here's a peek at what's in this email: the #1 question people ask us Get ready for our *new* Guide! 5 tips to navigate Swiss transportation what we're up to on social media behind the scenes Thanks to modern globalization, we know that travel...

6 months ago • 3 min read

Can we be honest with you, Reader? We know that Switzerland is famous for Swiss cheese and chocolate...but beyond that? ...Switzerland isn't usually ranked up there with Italy or France when it comes to food. However, we're foodies! So we're on a mission to find the best foodie spots in Switzerland! And we've put together a list of our favorite restaurants, cafes, and bakeries in Lucerne! I hope you're hungry! Because we have TWO FULL DAYS worth of food in Lucerne for you to drool over while...

6 months ago • 1 min read

, can you believe that 🎄 Christmas is just 80 days away?! We can — because we just booked a few trips to visit Swiss Christmas Markets! ☃️ (Yes, of course we will share the details with you in our weekly emails!) But you know us, always trying to maximize our travel budget. Which is how we scored some 🍭 sweet discounts on hotels during peak Christmas market season! Meet HotelCard, which allows you to save up to 50% off hotels in Switzerland! We've enjoyed 10 nights so far using HotelCard We...

7 months ago • 3 min read

Reader, if our emails are in your inbox every week, then chances are high that you're been to/are planning to visit Interlaken, Switzerland. WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE: You can easily enjoy 7+ days in the Jungfrau Region without getting bored. (Ahem, that's why we live here now!) → Peep at allllll the featured destinations in our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region. 💡 BONUS IDEA Take a day trip from Interlaken to Oeschinensee — Jana's favorite alpine lake! → Yes, I know that's a BIG claim...but...

7 months ago • 1 min read

Hi, Reader! Ready for some insider tips that will transform your Swiss adventure? From navigating Swiss airports to finding the perfect stay in the Jungfrau Region, we've got your back. Here are the basics you need to know about traveling Switzerland. Swiss AirportsGeneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH), Basel (BSL)→ Ready to jet off? Discover how to plan your Swiss adventure: Swiss Trip Planning Guide Languages This tiny country uses 4 different languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch (although...

8 months ago • 1 min read

Hey there, Traveler! We've got 3 things for ya in this week's email: New video (Sorry it's a week late!) Consultations open for mid-September to mid-October Reflections on our week in Zermatt Let's jump right in, Reader! If you want to... ✅ Hear alphorns 🎶✅ See edelweiss ❀✅ Ride a cogwheel trail 🚂✅ Taste traditional Swiss food 🫕 Then you should add Schynige Platte to your Swiss itinerary! Ultimate Guide to Schynige Platte, Top of Swiss Tradition Cogwheel train ride, alphorn concerts, alpine...

8 months ago • 2 min read

Hi, Reader! We're planning a few trips for the rest of 2023...here's a behind-the-scenes look at our travel planning process! Feel free to steal borrow this outline for your own travels! How we plan our trips Tip of the week In case you missed it Behind the scenes How we plan our travels 1 | Where should we go? First, we do some general research to decide where to go. This usually looks like watching YouTube videos, scrolling Pinterest, or browsing tourism websites. Tip: We individually...

9 months ago • 2 min read
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