About

Welcome!

Basic Bon Vivant is my little corner of the Internet highlighting the many adventures, travels and discoveries of my expat life based in London. Check back here each Tuesday for a new travel post and (some) Thursdays for London and expat-focused posts!

Meet the basic bon vivant

Hi, there! I’m Jenn, an American expat living in London. I moved to London from Boston in September 2016 for my (now) husband’s job. I started this blog as a way to keep active as a trailing spouse, but as my expat life in London grew, so too did my love of documenting everything on here!

I’ll be the first to admit that I am totally basic (how I miss living somewhere with several months of PSL season!), but I’d also consider myself an aspiring bon vivant. London is a fabulous place to work on that, with easy acces to some of the world’s best food, drink and events.

bon vivant definition

the basic bon vivant — *Champagne tasting… in Champagne, of course!*

I love exploring new and familiar places alike and hope those featured here will ignite your imagination and wanderlust.

So come along with me! Check out my travels here or on this map.

Come away with me to...

Two Days in Milos, Cyclades, Greece

After researching the many, many islands of the Cyclades in Greece, Milos was the island I was most excited to visit. The otherworldly beaches and …

9 Days in the Cyclades, Greece – Milos, Naxos and Mykonos Itinerary

After a year of living in London, we learned that a sun-filled beach trip (or two) is necessary to surviving grey London summers (and winters… …

Three Nights in Sarlat-la-Caneda, France

If there’s one place I recommend you go in France, it’s Sarlat-le-Caneda. This gorgeous medieval town is the perfect home base for exploring …

For my fellow expats, I’ve compiled my first-hand American expat in London tips here.

Expat Tips

Tips for Surviving London’s Hard Water with Curly Hair

When moving somewhere new, there are things we humans generally do to prepare and adjust to the new place. There’s a heck of a …

5 Not-so-Obvious Tips for Americans Moving to London

Though we share a language, things can feel pretty different when you move from the US to London. Many blogs and articles will offer you …

Everything You Need to Know About Cell Phones When Moving from the US to London

Having just returned from the US, my experience navigating what the heck to do about my cell phone when moving to London is top of …

Get in touch!

Have an expat moving question or want to contact me? Please email me at basicbonvivant@gmail.com.