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 […]
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 […]
Big Island Hawaii: hotels, Kona and Hilo things to do and daytrips
Hi Frugalistas! The second island we visited on our Hawaii trip was the Big Island, Hawaii. Arriving in Kona and departing from Hilo we experienced some of the best Kona and Hilo things to do and day trips. Kona Activities We elected to stay at the Sheraton Kona resort (now an Outrigger) on the recommendation […]
Honolulu: Waikiki Hotels, Waikiki Things To Do and Honolulu Daytrips
Hi Frugalistas! Are you planning a trip to Honolulu? I know it’s a popular place to visit as part of an Hawaii itinerary. On a recent trip to Honolulu I got to check out some great Waikiki hotels, Waikiki things to do as well as some great Oahu day trips. Flying the enjoyable Hawaiian Airlines […]
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 […]
10 things to avoid on your first trip to Paris
Hi Frugalistas! Did you catch up on my post about the 10 things you must do on your first trip to Paris? Or are you planning your first trip to Paris at the moment? Or maybe you just like Paris and like reading about Paris. Regardless of where you are up in planning a trip […]
10 things to do on your first trip to Paris
Hi Frugalistas! I think I’ve been to Paris about 20 times over the last 35 years. Even after all that time I’m still finding wonderful things that I didn’t know about, hadn’t seen, or hadn’t made the time to visit. If you are on your first trip to Paris, it can be daunting at first. […]
More Paris tourist scams you need to know
Hi Frugalistas! My earlier Paris tourist scams post has been very popular with readers and on social media. It’s also generated a lot of feedback, with many readers sharing their own experiences of scams and pickpockets in Paris. These are new Paris tourist scams (well, new for me anyway) so I definitely need to share. Remember, […]
Five tourist scams in Paris you need to know
Hi Frugalistas! Tourist scams in Paris are a fact of life, as they are in many parts of Europe. My readers have reported them, and travel bloggers also know them well. I have personally “experienced” (but never been caught out) by several Paris scams. This is what you need to know about Paris tourist scams, […]
Beyond Checkpoint Charlie: an insider guide to Berlin
Hi Frugalistas! In this Insider Guide we’re off to cosmopolitan Berlin, with my very cosmopolitan friend Angelique Larderot. A true citizen of the world, Angelique has her own unique take on this great city! 1. Berlin has a lot of history attached to it – a lot of it is stereotypical of Berlin’s Nazi and Communist […]