Hi France Travel Planners! With nearly 10 million visitors every year, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited historic sites in the world. Featuring near the top of many Paris day trips list of must dos, questions about taking a day trip to Versailles from Paris fill online forums such as the […]
Best Barcelona Food – a Culinary Backstreets Barcelona Food Tour
Hi Frugalistas! Barcelona is often cited as an example of overtourism – too many people ruining what is, at its heart, a beautiful and vibrant city. On our recent visit to Barcelona, Miss G, Mr Frugalfirstclass and myself were able to find an authentic, untouristed version of Barcelona, courtesy of our Culinary Backstreets Barcelona food […]
Paris day trips: the best day trips from Paris
Disneyland Paris day trip If you are travelling to Paris with kids, I’m sure you may not agree with me about Versailles being the most popular Paris day tour. Even sixteen year old MissG rates Disneyland number one on her list of Paris getaways. How to get to Disneyland from central Paris There are many […]
Paris afternoon tea: tea at the Ritz Paris Terrace
Hi Frugalistas! If you know me you know I love afternoon tea. I particularly love afternoon tea in Paris. My favorite Paris afternoon teas have included Le Meurice afternoon tea (my first high tea in Paris) and the Ritz Hotel Paris afternoon tea in the Salon Proust. So why am I writing about afternoon tea […]
Paris itineraries: one week in Paris for $1000
Hi Frugalistas! The other week in my Plan Your Trip to France Facebook group (you can sign up here if you aren’t already a member), I posted an article from the New York Times which demonstrated a $1000 (US) day in Paris for just $100. Group member Hollie was so excited by the article, as […]
French Riviera travel: a day trip to Cassis
Hi Frugalistas! I love the French Riviera and Mediterranean vacations, and I’m always looking for new French Riviera travel destinations to explore. While there are many daytrips from Marseille, my friend KB and I decided a day trip to Cassis would make an interesting comparison to the city. So a visit to Cassis it was. […]
French Shopping Etiquette 101: How to shop in France
Hi Frugalistas! Shopping in Paris, and the whole of France for that matter is quite different to shopping at home. And I appreciate that shopping in French may seem intimidating. If you also use this French shopping etiquette everywhere in Europe you will not go far wrong regardless of where the shopping bug bites. How […]
12th arrondissement: a friendly Paris neighbourhood
Hi Frugalistas! I love it when readers tell me what they want read more about on frugal first class travel. When I wrote my earlier post on my spring travel plans, a number of readers expressed interest in learning about the 12th arrondissement of Paris. I was visiting and staying in the 12th for the […]
Has Paris changed? Should you plan a visit to Paris?
Hi Frugalistas! As Europe adjusts to a new normal of acts of terrorism, and the millions of refugees arriving from Africa and the Middle East, I knew Paris would have changed. I had seen the changes in Paris myself over the past few years. Heightened security, bollards and barricades where I’d never seen them […]
How to use metro trains in Europe
Hi Frugalistas! One of my key tips is to do lots of walking when traveling. I find it a great way to enjoy where I am, see more and get a bit more exercise. But, there are times when I do need to use some form of transportation. Rather than expensive taxis, I prefer the […]