Frugal First Class Travel

11/02/2025

Planning a business and leisure packing list is not that hard. As with all my packing lists, it just takes some planning, a clear idea of what I am doing, and the weather.

Hi Frugalistas!  I’m spending my Easter break getting ready for my trip to Europe.  Like many of my trips, I need to combine some business and leisure.  This means I need a packing list for business and leisure.  But, of course, I still only want to take my usual one carry on bag. Planning a [...

10/02/2025

We were looking forward to our trip to Tuscany and exploring all the best places to visit. 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 resort to hit all the big ticket towns like Siena and Lucca, a morning spent exploring the hill towns of Tuscany, followed by an afternoon relaxing on the terrace or by the pool of our resort seemed to be best for us. After a busy time in Florence, Rome or anywhere else for that matter, I thoroughly recommend relaxing in Tuscany as one of the best things to do on your Italian vacation.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/relaxing-in-tuscany-exploring-the-hill-towns-of-tuscany/

09/02/2025

I’d driven through Monaco with Mr frugalfirstclasstravel about ten years ago, and visited Monaco at night when I was a young one, but had never really had the opportunity spend a day in Monaco and explore Monaco properly. So, what to do in Monaco for a day and how did I spend one day in Monaco?

Monaco is expensive and Monaco is private. In parts Monaco is just tacky and touristy. But spend one day in Monaco on my Monaco day trip itinerary and you will

09/02/2025

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/

08/02/2025

I have an English friend who had been telling me about the Ventimiglia market just over the Italy border from France for as long as I’ve known her. Stories of Louis Vuitton handbags, Gucci wallets and other designer gear – all genuine, and for a fraction of the price. The Ventimiglia, Italy market in the 1970s and 1980s was known as the place where the big design houses brought their overstocked items to sell off. So when I was staying in Pigna my friend KB and I knew visiting the market in Ventimiglia was something we wanted to do. Even if the market had changed over the years, we knew an Italian food market with Italian delicacies (and maybe, just maybe, some designer bargains) was definitely a fun thing to do in Ventimiglia.

The Ventimiglia market is definitely one of the fun things to do in Ventimiglia, and is a good Italian market. It may also be one of the best Riveria markets

07/02/2025

Guess what? After more than 30 years, I finally made it back to Rome! And this time, I had the pleasure of exploring this incredible city with Mr. Frugalfirstclass, who had never been before.

We knew we couldn't miss the iconic tourist sites - the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and of course, the magnificent Colosseum. So, when we got invited by the amazing team at Take Walks to join their Gladiator's Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, we absolutely jumped at the chance to feel like real gladiators at the Colosseum!

But that's not all! Our adventure didn't stop there. We also got to explore the Roman Forum and the stunning Palatine Hill. Can you imagine all the history that surrounded us? It was like stepping back in time!

If you're as excited about this Roman tour as we were, make sure to check out the full story and all the incredible photos below.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/being-gladiators-at-the-colosseum-with-take-walks/

07/02/2025

While Lisbon may not be a city in the centre of Europe, it is certainly a European city. In fact in many ways Lisbon’s architecture reminds me quite a lot of Paris. With elegant cafes, wonderful views and lovely, friendly locals it’s easy to spend 48 hours in Lisbon as part of your trip to Portugal and Spain. I found plenty of fun things to do in Lisbon, but here is my best Lisbon trip planner for a 48 hour stay.

There's so much to do in Lisbon, but I've found the best things to do in Lisbon in 48 hours. Plus the best things to do in Lisbon if you stay longer

06/02/2025

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 the old town centre as well as some newer spots. Visiting some of the popular sites in Madrid it proved to be a fun way to explore this stately, grand city.

https://frugalfirstclasstravel.com/2021/07/11/do-it-yourself-free-madrid-walking-tour/

06/02/2025

Regardless of how you like to travel a good guidebook is priceless. I've gathered together some of the best French guidebooks, including specialist books for children, women and budget travellers

I’ve gathered together the best guidebooks about France and the best books on Paris and beyond, regardless of your interests and budget.

05/02/2025

Eating out Paris style can have some tricks for the inexperienced, and a bad experience can affect your confidence and your memories of your visit. But eating in Paris is one of the most fun and authentic French experiences you can enjoy, so I’ve written this Paris eating guide to make sure dining in Paris is everything you hope.

Regardless of your budget, eating out in Paris is one of the best things to do in Paris. My guide to eating out in Paris tells you how to make the most of

04/02/2025

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/

02/02/2025

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/

02/02/2025

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/

01/02/2025

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/

31/01/2025

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/

31/01/2025

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. 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/

30/01/2025

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/