Hi Frugalistas! If you’ve been following frugal first class travel for a while you will know I love afternoon tea. The first time I treated myself to afternoon tea in Paris it was at Le Meurice. At that time I thought the Le Meurice afternoon tea was possibly the best tea time in Paris. And […]
Short term rentals Paris: Paris Perfect apartment review
Hi France Travel Planners! It had been ages since I had stayed in an apartment in Paris (because I prefer a hotel when I’m travelling alone), but when the team at Paris Perfect reached out and offered me an apartment for my recent Paris visit, I knew a Paris apartment stay was in order this […]
One bag travel: myth busting what to pack for Paris
Hi France Travel Planners! With many people planning to visit Paris soon, the topic of conversation in the France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you aren’t a member) has invariably turned to what to wear in Paris. I try really hard not to be too bossy, and I know my views […]
Disneyland in a day: Disneyland Paris day trip
Hi Frugalistas! There’s always so much discussion in the France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you aren’t a member) about day trips to Disneyland Paris – while it’s not a unique bucket list idea, it’s definitely a popular place to visit. Is it worth visiting Disneyland Paris, how to daytrip to […]
Weekend in Béziers: things to do in Béziers France
Hi Frugalistas! I’m the first to admit that Béziers is not on everyone’s radar when they come to plan a trip to France. But I had my reasons for spending a weekend in Béziers. Firstly, we were travelling by train from Barcelona to Bordeaux, so Béziers was a convenient point to break up what would […]
Which is better? An apartment for rent in Paris or a Paris hotel?
Hi Frugalistas! When you are planning a trip to Paris a basic question to think about, especially for less experienced travellers, is “is an apartment for rent in Paris best or is a Paris hotel better?” Would you be happier in some form of hosted accommodation such as a Paris hotel, hostel or B&B or […]
Sagrada Familia tips: Sagrada Familia inside visit
Hi Frugalistas! I first saw the Sagrada Familia, Antonio Gaudi’s fantasy basilica in Barcelona, Spain, as a much younger traveller in the early 1990s. In those days it was not possible to book Sagrada Familia – it was just a building site. By 2012 visiting Sagrada Familia was possible. I spent an amazing morning enjoying […]
Advice for first time visitors to France
Hi France Travel Planners! Many of the questions in the France Travel Planning Facebook group are first time visitors asking for advice. Advice on what to wear, where to go, facts about France, planning a Paris itinerary, how to get around Paris, you name it, we get asked it. In this post I’ve gathered together […]
Do it Yourself Free Madrid Walking Tour
Hi Frugalistas! It was a hot day when we arrived in Madrid. Just 24 hours in Madrid before we headed from Madrid to Barcelona by train. Despite the heat and our jetlag after the 24 hour flight we wanted to do a Madrid walk. Our do it yourself free Madrid walking tour took us through […]
Things to do in Montreux: how to spend 48 hours in Montreux, Switzerland
Hi Frugalistas! Most people who visit western Switzerland tend to stick to Geneva then head to the mountains. But Geneva to Montreux is a mere 60 km around Lake Geneva (Lac Leman in French), so I’m surprised more people don’t visit Montreux. On my trip to Switzerland in 2019 I travelled from Interlaken to Montreux […]