I'm an American who's lived in Paris for nearly a decade. These 8 things have surprised me about living in the French capital.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Style
The Eiffel Tower, lit up against the night sky
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Antoine Antoniol/Getty Images

I spent 60 hours traveling on Amtrak trains from New York to Texas. Here are 10 things that surprised me most.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Composite of man smiling on train next to image of Amtrak train
I rode two Amtrak trains on a long-haul journey from New York to Texas.

Michael Rosenthal

I visited Amsterdam for the first time with my family — here are 4 things that surprised me most about our trip

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Alesandra Dubin, her kids, husband smiling on canal boat in Amsterdam
From fearless cyclists to Indonesian feasts, the Dutch capital challenged my assumptions.

Alesandra Dubin

I'm a New Yorker who went to Naples, Florida, for the first time, and 6 things surprised me

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A body of water with palm trees and mansions surrounding it
The author spent two nights in Naples, Florida, for the first time.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

12 surprising carry-on items you're not allowed to take through airport security

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
magic 8 ball
A Magic 8 Ball toy in its packaging.

The Image Party/Shutterstock

I dined at a 3-Michelin-star fine-dining restaurant for the first time. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

Tech Insider : Business
the author and one of the dishes from eleven madison park
I was surprised by the number of staff waiting on us, and that the plant-based courses were just as good as the meat dishes.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I've traveled over 4,500 miles on Amtrak trains. My rides have been better than expected and filled with surprises.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Malia stands in front of the Amtrak logo on a train.
After traveling over 4,500 miles on Amtrak, I've learned some surprising things about train travel.

Malia Yoshioka

I moved from the US to the Netherlands. Though I speak the local language, a lot has surprised me about living here.

Tech Insider : Business, Politics
sara posing on a stone bridge next to autumnal trees in the netherlands
I've lived in the Netherlands for five years.

Sara Wegman

I'm a New Yorker who spent 4 days in Atlantic City. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
the author at gordon ramsay steak in atlantic city
A New Yorker shares surprising things about visiting Atlantic City, from the free beaches to the chef-owned restaurants.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

We moved from the Midwest to Florida 5 years ago. Living here has been filled with surprise expenses and unexpected weather.

Tech Insider : Business
Allie Hubers and husband smiling at sunset in front of beach in Florida
I moved to the Florida Panhandle from the Midwest with my husband, and it's come with many surprises, from chilly winters to the high cost of living.

Allie Hubers

Subscribe to surprising-things