• I paid about $300 and used points to book an Air France business-class flight from Tbilisi to NYC.
• I had access to a lounge during my layover, a lie-flat seat, and a goodie bag filled with amenities.
• However, the aircraft was a bit outdated, and I wasn't a fan of my chicken entrée.

Two years ago, I had an incredible time in KLM's business class and was eager to treat myself to another upgraded experience. However, flying business class can be pricey, so I always considered it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

So, when I found out I could fly from Tbilisi, Georgia, to New York in Air France's business-class cabin for about $300 after using points and a monthly promotion from the airline, I knew I had to take advantage of the deal.

Because KLM and Air France are owned by the same parent company, I had high expectations for my flight.

I took the flight in two legs, and was was most excited about my trip from Paris to New York. Here's what my experience during this part of the journey was like.

I had access to the Air France lounge in Paris

During my layover in Paris, I visited the Air France lounge at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, which I was able to access as a business-class passenger.

Although it was a decent-sized lounge, finding a secluded place to sit was a little difficult. However, I was traveling during the busy summer season, so the crowds made sense.

Once I found a cushioned seat, I enjoyed the natural lighting while filling up on pastries from the buffet.

I enjoyed complimentary beverages and clean bathroom facilities, and the time passed fairly quickly, given the comfort of not having to wait at the gate.

I was grateful for my lie-flat seat, but the aircraft felt a bit outdated

For this flight, I was able to board early as a business-class passenger, which was a nice perk.

Once seated, I admired the lie-flat seat and looked through my goodie bag, which included an eye mask, socks, a toothbrush, moisturizers, and headphones.

However, I did notice the aircraft was a little older — the seats were a bit worn, and the TV and headphones seemed outdated.

That said, at the time of my flight, Air France was still in the process of reconfiguring its older aircrafts with updated, more comfortable seats, new TV screens, and Bluetooth technology. So, I must have been on a plane that hadn't been updated yet.

When it was time to eat, I really enjoyed my first course, but was underwhelmed by the entrée

For my first course, I received a summer salad, a shrimp dish seasoned with orange-and-honey vinaigrette, and a butternut-squash-and-carrot salad.

The food was delicious, and I felt so fancy using real silverware and a tablecloth in the air. This part of the meal wasn't just good for plane food — I genuinely enjoyed each dish.

Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by my chicken entrée, which came with zucchini and couscous. I thought the taste was similar to the dishes I get when flying economy, both in terms of flavor and presentation.

However, the real stars of the show came later in the flight — a plate of French cheeses as a snack, and a delicious coconut-lime-mango pastry.

I watched TV and got a good nap in before landing

After eating too much, it was time for the best part of the flight: pulling out the TV screen and reclining to a lie-flat position.

I was able to fall asleep within minutes, waking up three hours later — much longer than I have ever consecutively been able to sleep on a plane.

I was woken up for the landing meal, which was a brioche with garlic, herbs, cheese, and vegetables. Additionally, we were given one final French pastry, a financier with fresh fruit.

Overall, I had a great experience on my Air France flight

If I could afford to, I would always fly business class — it makes traveling more comfortable and exciting, and is something I'll never take for granted.

In the future, though, I'd opt to take a KLM flight or make sure I was flying on an Air France plane with upgraded business-class seats.

• I spent nine months traveling the world, and although I had a great time, I wouldn't do it again.
• Because I was on a tight budget, I often found myself turning down cool experiences to save money.
• I also struggled to make genuine friendships and missed having a space to call my own.

When I was working remotely in 2021, my boyfriend and I packed up and traveled to 22 countries across Europe and Latin America.

Although these were some of the best days of my life, I quickly learned that a lot of the videos I saw on social media that glorified full-time travel didn't always showcase the downfalls of the lifestyle.

More and more people are becoming digital nomads — countries like Italy have even implemented specific visas for remote workers. However, during my nine months abroad, I learned that the lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Here's why I wouldn't travel full time again.

I kept looking for places and experiences that felt like home

While traveling full time, I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home.

In some ways, it was cool to feel like a local in a new city. However, when I returned home and took shorter vacations, I started to value the places I was visiting for their differences rather than trying to find some semblance of home.

Nowadays, I like having a home base. Shorter trips help me to break up the monotony of life without sacrificing the comfort of home.

It felt like I was constantly thinking about money

When I was traveling full-time, I was on a strict budget. I either drained my wallet or ate cheap food to maintain some sort of financial security while on the road.

I talked myself out of going to every museum I wanted to and purchased cheap meals for dinner instead of indulging in local cuisine that might have been out of my budget.

The moments I would slip up on my spending were when I forgot this wasn't a never-ending vacation, but rather, my new everyday life.

During the first two weeks of our trip, I wanted to go to all of the must-try restaurants in Paris. However, I soon realized that came at the cost of establishing a strict daily budget for the remainder of our three weeks there.

Of course, it was worth it in the end to save money so I could travel for nine months. However, now that I take a few shorter trips a year, I have more flexibility to make them everything I want them to be.

My friendships at home changed, and the new ones I made were fleeting

I think what travelers yearn for the most is community. When I was traveling, it was really hard to find the same quality of friends I have at home.

When I did meet friends abroad, it was often short-lived. I found that many people traveling full time were only in a city for a few days. Even when I did find someone I connected with, it was hard to maintain a long-distance friendship.

Traveling full time also took a lot out of my friendships at home, as it seemed like they learned to live without me.

When I returned home, it felt like we didn't have as much in common as we used to. It took me months to get my friendships back to where they were before I left.

I missed having a space to call my own

While traveling, I stayed in 25 different places across nine months. Although seeing so many new places was cool, I missed having a space to call my own.

After spending so many nights in beds that weren't my own, it was an indescribable feeling to come back home. In fact, when I got back, I was able to create a space that took inspiration from the places I'd been.

I think traveling is something everyone should prioritize, but there are ways to see the world that don't involve doing it full time.

Nowadays, I plan to take at least four international trips a year, ranging from one to two weeks. This allows me to live a travel-filled life without giving up the comforts of home, career, and relationships.

This story was originally published on April 26, 2024, and most recently updated on January 9, 2025.