Why Pay for Flexibility
And The Forgotten Work Essential
Back on the train. Can you believe I changed my ticket 3 times?
I’ve grown to prioritize flexibility and after having recent calls with clients and friends, I am grateful to have the ability to be flexible.
It’s empowering to be able to change.
To change destinations.
To change days & times.
To change your mind.
When I first started traveling, I went for whatever was cheapest. Simple. Then I found a way to have the ability to travel almost anywhere, last minute while also opportunities for upgrades. It kept me loyal to certain companies, however, it came with the risk of overbookings/missed flights and too many options at times. Now, I do have my preferred loyalties, I aim for direct travel (better carbon footprint this way too). I pay for advantage cards and plus programs that give me discounts and perks. And instead of looking for the cheapest price, I pay for flexibility. It’s worth it - especially for someone like me.
And I must say that these tickets aren’t that much more expensive. Vueling, for example, has fair pricing for flexible tickets that are fully refundable (up to a certain period before the flight) that, last time I checked, was under 20€. Delta was amazing with me for changes - however I did need to have silver status. What I have discovered recently with SNCF is that you can change your ticket up to 30 minutes before departure, only once. (TGV INOUI Semi-Flex tickets can be exchanged with a €19 fee from 6 days up to 30 minutes before departure. From 30 minutes before, you’re limited to one exchange for the same day and route, and the ticket becomes non-refundable after that.) After you change, your ticket is nonrefundable.
Today however was my lucky day - my luck flipped.
I was careful about keeping all of my belongings together and checking out following the instructions provided especially with the key drop, however something told me I was forgetting something. I thought it was my passport, but kept heading towards my train, not wanting to miss it. En route, I discovered it so I felt assured.
That was until I boarded my train.
That’s when I realized my purse was lighter than usual….
A flashback popped into my head - I closed my iPad when it was time to go, but I didn’t put it in my bag! It was on the sofa.
Luckily, I received a call from the host, and they quickly advised me to get off the train and take a later one. I had already planned how I would work without the iPad for the time being - but it would have been a challenge.
I quickly gathered my things and hopped off the train just as the whistle blew. Thankfully, I had actually researched later train options so I knew there was one available. I went directly (well, first to the wrong counter) to the ticket office and thankfully the staff there understood my issue and helped me get rebooked for the least amount of costs possible.
I still had to pay a rebooking fee, but not having to forfeit my full fare was well worth it. Plus they saved me almost 100€ to book a new ticket entirely!
This kind of customer service—the human kind, with compassion and understanding—is just as important to me as flexibility.
In the age of AI, I hope we don’t lose this. At the very least, we won’t let it happen at L’EAUTELIER.
This is all so related to what we are working on and going to launch…. I can’t wait to tell you more.
In this edition:
Upcoming Events
Travel Guides
Designing for Home & Away
A note before we dive in: I wrote this post on the train, and later had a conversation about my writing with the friend whose place I’m staying at. It sparked a deeper discussion about the needs of travelers and how the world is shifting toward deeper connection—more than just the meet-cutes at nomadic coworking spots. We are entering an age that brings hospitality back to where it originated: the hearth.
Upcoming Events
Besides being in France, we have a few places you can find us and the team in the coming months. Whether you are local or will be visiting as well - let us know! It would be great to see you!
Bluedots Italy Living Lab - Milan, Italy Mar 13-14
Next on our aquatic itinerary is the Bluedots Italy Living Lab in Milan, running from March 13th to 14th. This gathering is a deep dive into the Blue Tourism Economy, bringing together institutional voices and practitioners to map out practical, people-first solutions for our coastal, river, and lake destinations. Friday is a highly interactive living lab, featuring hands-on workshops, curated peer learning, and business speed dating designed to turn surface-level conversations into tangible collaborations that protect our fragile water environments. Key themes include managing visitor flows, protecting fragile places, and reducing impacts on plastics, water, waste, and energy. It is ultimately about finding harmony between mindful hospitality and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of our beloved waters without increasing the pressure on local ecosystems.
On Saturday, March 14th, the current flows into the Fa La Cosa Giusta fair at Fiera Milano City, a national event focused on critical consumption and sustainable lifestyles. The Bluedots cohort will embark on guided networking routes to explore innovations in responsible tourism, territories, and sustainability. While our curated living lab tour is for selected participants, the Fa La Cosa Giusta fair itself is open to the public—meaning you are more than welcome to join the wider ecosystem of changemakers, cooperatives, and conscious initiatives gathering there. If you are in Milan, come immerse yourself in the fair’s fresh ideas and help shape a more regenerative future for travel. Get your free tickets here.
WIN-BIG Atlantic Event - Malaga, Spain Mar 25-26
From March 25th to 26th, the currents will carry us south to the shores of Málaga, Spain, for the WIN-BIG Atlantic Event. This beautiful gathering celebrates the vital contributions of women across the ocean and maritime sectors. I’m deeply humbled to share that L’EAUTELIER is featured as a “Women Ocean Champion” in their newly published book, which will make its official debut during the gathering. Even more thrilling, the Women from the Sea Europe (Mulheres do Mar) documentary - for which we were filmed in Cork last year - will have its European premiere on March 26th at La Térmica.
I would be absolutely overjoyed to see some of your familiar faces in the crowd. If you are able to join us in Spain, please register to attend, but if you cannot make the journey, you can still tune in to the livestream and share in the energy from afar. You will also be able to order a hard copy of the Women Ocean Champions book so you can hold these inspiring stories in your hands. The book is available in three ways: picking it up at the event, covering shipping costs to have it mailed, or accessing a print file to print it locally. Register to attend in person or online here.
10th Anniversary YAS - Wageningan, Netherlands May 28
Finally, our spring journey culminates at the 10th Anniversary of the Young Algaeneers Symposium. It’s a profound honor to gather with the brightest emerging minds in the algae space. I will be hosting a dedicated workshop during the symposium, sharing our deep dive into algae-based design and the future of regenerative hospitality. While the symposium itself is a paid event, the currents of knowledge and connection flowing from it are truly invaluable for anyone deeply invested in our macro- and microalgae futures. A fun fact: this event takes place at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), exactly where the very first edition of YAS was held back in 2012!
But the magic doesn’t stop at the conference doors. As we whispered in a previous post, we are also bringing our immersive “seaweed suite” to life! This sensory, algae-infused space is completely free and open to the public. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome you in to touch, feel, and experience the regenerative embrace of seaweed firsthand. You can RSVP to visit the suite right here.
Want to know how I’m evolving my travel planning system? Or get a behind-the-scenes look at our residential design process? Keep reading below.
Breaking the Rules
Today I am on an intercity train to my next anchor point where I shall be for the next month. I am facing the opposite direction of the train movement, next to the window. Train travel is typically my preferred way to travel. It’s calm, relaxing. Big windows that you can see the various terrain, cities, stations and so many trees pass by. The freedom to get up and move. The free wifi to work with. The cafe if you need a snack or to socialize. The quiet as sounds, calls and music are all to be silenced. Train travel is peaceful.
