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 […]
Traveling to Estonia as a New Mother? Here Are 3 Important Things to Know
Picture this: the soft, golden light of the sun casting a warm glow on cobblestone streets. The cool air is carrying the scent of fresh pine and blooming flowers. There’s a feeling of total calm, of time slowing down just enough to catch your breath. Welcome to the breathtaking land of Estonia, where the countryside […]
Black Friday deals 2024 are here
Hi Frugalistas and France Travel Planners! Well, it’s the best time of the year for frugal first class travellers – Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are here. Because we all want to spend less and travel more, and have a first class time on a frugal budget Black Friday deals are an important travel […]
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 […]
Europe packing list: summer river cruise and fall
Hi Frugalistas! I’m back talking about packing lists. Mr Frugalfirstclass and I are off on a long planned river cruise in Southern France, followed by almost 3 weeks touring Paris, Normandy and Italy. While I’ve written previously about a European river cruise packing list, I need to update and rethink my plan for what to […]
Ultra light spring packing list for Europe
Hi Frugalistas! I’m heading to Europe very soon, and I’ve got a dilemma. I’m travelling alone so only want to take my tiny little Rick Steves suitcase rather than my international carry on. And I have to pack for both Copenhagen and Paris. And to add even more complexity, I’ve got business meetings in Copenhagen […]