Frugal First Class Travel

07/11/2024

I'm not at all adventurous and I don't like to hike, but I still managed to find plenty to please on a grey day in Interlaken and surrounds

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2020/08/02/interlaken-things-to-do-for-the-unadventurous/

07/11/2024

Apéritifs (or apero as they are usually referred to) are the pre dinner drinks and snacks generally taken after work and before dinner. When you visit France you will see locals everywhere in the later afternoon/early evening (often when we Anglophones are heading off for dinner) sitting in cafés enjoying their French apéritif. On our recent trip to France Mr FranceTravelPlanning and I were fortunate to enjoy French apéro on a Paris Latin Quarter walking tour with Take Walks. Combining an iconic part of French food culture and an iconic part of Paris, this apéro time walk offered by Take Walks’ specialist food tour company Devour Tours is an absolute winner.



https://francetravelplanning.com/apero-time-paris-latin-quarter-walking-tour-with-take-walks/

07/11/2024

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 to hit many of the big sites and explore some areas I had not visited before. And my verdict? Yes, Rome is still the eternal city, but while many things remain the same, it is a bit different.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/rome-three-day-itinerary-after-30-years-the-eternal-city-is-the-same-but-different/

06/11/2024

I first reviewed the afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Room in an early frugal first class travel blog post, not long after the Diamond Jubilee Tea Room opened. It was very special, and so very English. In fact it was so good, I forgot to take photos. Fast forward to my most recent trip to London and we wanted to experience tea at Fortnum & Mason as a family, so it was with confidence I booked the Diamond Jubilee tearoom again. Unfortunately, this time proved to be an enormous let down – and this is why: &mason https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2021/01/13/afternoon-tea-at-fortnum-and-mason-fortnum-and-mason-afternoon-tea-review/

05/11/2024

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 and spent a very pleasant 48 hours in Montreux. There are plenty of things to do in Montreux, so how to spend 48 hours in Montreux, Switzerland is easy.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2021/04/11/things-to-do-in-montreux-how-to-spend-48-hours-in-montreux-switzerland/

04/11/2024

Local south of France resident, Eric Schwartz, is back with more fun personal recommendations for an enjoyable visit – this time to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Grasse – three of the most popular towns to visit in Provence. If stunning vistas, fields of fragrant lavender, amazing cuisine, art, medieval history and delectable French wines are your thing, then a trip to Provence should be at the top of your must-see list in France. Provence is a sizeable area in southern France that offers a myriad of things to do and see. This feature will focus on some of Eric’s favorite places to explore; Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Grasse. On this trip, Eric spent five days in Avignon, four days in Aix-en-Provence and two days in Grasse, allowing one day at each end of the trip for travel to and from – two perfect weeks in Provence.

https://francetravelplanning.com/avignon-aix-en-provence-and-grasse-two-perfect-weeks-in-provence/

03/11/2024

I must admit I have never been a great fan of Charlie Chaplin, but when I was looking for day trips from Montreux on my trip to Switzerland last year I came across the Charlie Chaplin Museum (Chaplin World) in nearby Vevey. The Musée Chaplin is located in the Charlie Chaplin house just above Vevey. Despite not being a fan, I found it a fascinating museum, in a winning location and well worth including in your Switzerland itinerary.
https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2021/01/01/the-charlie-chaplin-museum-a-visit-to-the-musee-chaplin-in-vevey-switzerland/

03/11/2024

The last time I published a review of Singapore Airlines I asked my husband to provide a tall man’s view of Singapore Airlines Business Class. This time I’m back with my Singapore Airlines Business Class Review 2024 version. On this trip we travelled Singapore Airlines Business Class A380 Sydney to Singapore, Singapore Airlines 777 Business Class Singapore to Frankfurt, Singapore Airlines Business Class A380 Rome to Singapore and finally Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Singapore to Sydney.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/singapore-airlines-business-class-review-2024/

02/11/2024

The Musee d’Orsay is the favorite Paris museum of many visitors and is an essential component of many Paris itineraries. Unlike the Louvre it is not overwhelmingly large and the crowds are not quite as overwhelming either. Therefore it’s an art museum in Paris you can enjoy. The other thing I really like about it is that it combines art that you would definitely have seen (and indeed probably recognise and know quite well) with unexpected treasures you cannot imagine. In what is probably one of my most ambitious posts, whether you are an armchair traveller, an art lover, or planning a trip to Paris, join me on a Musee d’Orsay private tour…..

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2016/05/01/join-me-on-a-musee-dorsay-private-tour/

01/11/2024

If you are on your first trip to Paris, it can be daunting at first. Where to spend your time? What’s worth seeing and what should you skip? It’s so easy to be sucked into one of the many tourist traps in Paris, that the real Paris can be overlooked. So, with 25 years in the making, here is my list of things to do on your first trip to Paris. These are the things I wish I had known on my first visit to Paris and that I’m thrilled to be able to share with you – whether you are planning your first Paris vacation, or looking to explore more of this beautiful city. This post has been updated in April 2019.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2016/05/14/10-things-to-do-on-your-first-trip-to-paris/

01/11/2024

Do you want to be French? If you don’t want to be French, is there a part of you that wishes you had just a teeny bit of that French je ne sais quoi as you do the weekly supermarket shop or school run? I’ve been traveling to France for many years, and am also an avid reader of any books about France or the French I can lay my hands on. While I know that no matter how good my French language skills are, whether I sport a Hermes scarf and how often I go there I will never actually be French, there is a little piece of me that wants to feel French. So, taking some lessons from the literature on the topic of “Frenchness” here is my slightly tongue in cheek guide on how to be French……

Do you want to be French? Is there a tiny piece of you that wants that French "je ne sais quoi"? A tongue in cheek look at being French

31/10/2024

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 to Paris there are some things to avoid when you first travel to Paris. It’s not that they are necessarily “wrong” – after all, it’s your holiday and you should do whatever suits you and makes you happy. They are just the things that I believe either represent poor value for money, will waste your time or not deliver an authentic Paris travel experience. Of course, there are more than 10 things to avoid on your first trip to Paris, but here are my top 10 choices.

I've written about the 10 things to do on your first trip to Paris, but there are also 10 things to avoid on your first trip to Paris. Mistakes in Paris

31/10/2024

Regular readers will know I love wandering the backstreets and quaint lanes of places I visit. When I was researching my trip to Lisbon I discovered that right in central Lisbon was exactly my kind of place – the Alfama, a fishing village in Lisbon. Exploring the Alfama was therefore a highlight of my Lisbon experience. So join me in exploring the Alfama – a fishing village in Lisbon.

I love exploring old backlanes when I travel and exploring the Alfama in Lisbon I found a perfect old fishing village to wander in the centre of town

30/10/2024

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 public transport system – especially the underground train systems. How to use metro trains in Europe is a skill any traveler can learn. While the name of the transport system may change (Metro, Underground etc) and the language may change, using the train doesn’t actually vary that much from town to town, so my basic rules can be used anywhere.

Rather than expensive taxis, I prefer the metro train in Europe. How to use metro trains in Europe is a skill any traveler can learn.

29/10/2024

If you are planning a trip, here is an idea of what will be on my packing list for summer in Europe. And of course, it is guaranteed to fit in just one carry on bag.

If you are planning a trip to Europe in summer you need to check out my one bag travel packing list for Europe. Endless outfits and style guaranteed.

28/10/2024

One of the things we talk about in the France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you aren’t a member) is shopping for souvenirs of France. Group members have plenty of great ideas for the best things to buy in Paris – and beyond. Based on ideas from the generous members of the group I’ve created this post on the best Parisian souvenirs and the best gifts from France.

https://francetravelplanning.com/fantastic-souvenirs-of-france-things-to-buy-in-paris-and-beyond/

27/10/2024

Making a day trip to Giverny from Paris is an easy trip to make. It’s a fun trip to make. And you can make a day trip to Giverny from Paris yourself – yes, there are tours to Giverny from Paris, but really, it’s a simple trip you can make independently. Here’s how to tackle making a day trip to Giverny.

Making a day trip to Giverny from Paris is easy to do yourself. You don't need to take an expensive group tour. My guide shows you how.

27/10/2024

Regardless of where I go I love to eat local food. While there is no specific local Parisian cuisine, Paris combines the best of France’s regional food culture and history. One of the best places to eat in Paris is at a brasserie. Literally meaning a brewery, brasseries are more casual (and cheaper) than their restaurant cousins. Choose wisely, and you can eat the best brasserie foods in Paris, and indeed all of France, at a great price.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2016/03/26/best-brasserie-foods-paris/