If you’re dreaming of a vacation traveling across Italy, discovering its many wonders without spending too much, you’ll need to plan every detail with great care. When it comes to transportation, the train is without a doubt the best option for combining speed and affordability. It also offers the chance to enjoy a surprisingly pleasant […]
Day trip Cinque Terre to Portofino
Hi Frugalistas! If the Cinque Terre is all about slow, low key travel, Portofino is definitely its glamorous, posh (and expensive) sister. Just an hour away by train, it makes one of the best daytrips from Cinque Terre . So sit back, and enjoy the visit on a day trip from Cinque Terre National Park […]
Rome three day itinerary: after 30 years the eternal city is the same but different
Hi Frugalistas! The last stop on our recent trip to Italy was Rome. It had been 30 years since I had visited Rome and Mr Frugalfirstclass had never been before, so I was keen to see whether it was still the magical city I remembered. On our Rome three day itinerary we had the opportunity […]
We spent two nights in Florence: this is what we did
Hi Frugalistas! Continuing our travels in Italy, after our relaxing stay in Tuscany we spent two nights in Florence. I had been to Florence as a day trip over 30 years ago, but Mr Frugalfirstclass had never been, so we obviously had a lot of catching up to do. This is how we spent our […]
Relaxing in Tuscany: exploring the hill towns of Tuscany
Hi Frugalistas! We were looking forward to our trip to Tuscany and exploring all the best places to visit in Tuscany. But after a hectic trip around Normandy, once we got into the Tuscan countryside, relaxing in Tuscany seemed like the right thing to do. Rather than driving long distances from our Tuscan resort to […]
Open the Sistine Chapel on the Vatican Keys tour
Hi Frugalistas! Have you visited the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums? It’s very crowded isn’t it? So crowded, it’s hard to hear the guide or even really appreciate the splendid art in the Vatican Museum. In some ways the Vatican Museum is one of the pin ups for over tourism – massive queues, crazy […]
Being gladiators at the Colosseum with Take Walks
Hi Frugalistas! It was over 30 years since I’d been to Rome. Mr frugalfirstclass had never visited. Spending three days in Rome it was therefore quite appropriate that we decided to focus on the popular Roman tourist sites. The Vatican, Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum were all on our list, so when the team at […]
Ventimiglia market: Italian delicacies and more
Hi Frugalistas! I have an English friend who had been telling me about the Ventimiglia market just over the Italy border from France for as long as I’ve known her. Stories of Louis Vuitton handbags, Gucci wallets and other designer gear – all genuine, and for a fraction of the price. The Ventimiglia, Italy market […]
Cinque Valli Italy: the new Cinque Terre?
Hi Frugalistas! If you’ve been reading frugal first class travel for a while now, you’ll know that a few years ago I visited the Cinque Terre on the Liguria coast of Italy. It was a wonderful visit and the Cinque Terre is beautiful. But I am just starting to wonder if the Cinque Terre is overcrowded […]
Living like a queen at Liguria Holiday Homes in Pigna, Italy
Hi Frugalistas! When I was planning my recent trip to Europe I decided a stay on the French Riviera was in order. There was only one problem: it was school holidays and there was little accommodation that took my fancy in any of the places I wanted to stay. Imagine how thrilled I was to […]