The good news is the dollar is getting stronger against the Euro. That helps! But the bad news  is our own economy is still faltering and nobody wants to spend more than they have to when traveling.  So, we went back to our good friends Pat and Robert Schmitt for some more advice about eating economically in France. And as usual, they had good tips, so here goes.

First and most important to Robert is to have a few really good meals. Plan your splurges as carefully as you plan your economies.

For the good meals, check the Michelin guides we recommended in another post. ( especially  Bib Gourmand  when you want to economize) Plan to spend at least an hour and a half..savor everything. You’ll have a first course, the French is hors d’oeuvre. Next will be a main course, plat principle.  Then expect a little cheese and desert.

In between the good meals, look for  bargains. There are pizzerias everywhere, and they offer the same, filling, tasty meal you can get at home. Also, go into little shops that sell cheese or bread and pick up quality  snacks to eat in one of the many parks that are everywhere.

The Schmitts remind us that a good French sandwich on wonderful French bread with fresh butter and ham is heaven!!! If you order L’American, you get pickles, tomatoes and slices of boiled eggs.

La Brioche is a Schmitt favorite chain that has stores all over Paris and in many of the small towns. The sandwiches are quite good and in addition, they serve coffee and pastries at a reasonable price.

And don’t forget McDonalds. It’s fashionable to make fun of this old reliable, but the French standards for good food demand that they keep up a reasonable assortment of acceptable food. You can get quick service and fair prices. Plus, the ice and convenient bathrooms make life a little easier.

When budgeting  your money, remember that the French dining experience is part of enjoying the best of French culture.

Robert and Patricia Schmitt are two of our biggest fans and best advisors. They have traveled the world and love to find good food. Robert recently sent us some great information about food in France, where they are living now.

Robert reminds us that eating in France is a cultural experience, entertainment and social life.  But the strength of the Euro has made it rather pricy, so he has some suggestions to make sure you get the best out of the whole dining experience.

The first suggestion is the red Michelin guide, which is updated annually. The best rating is three stars, restaurants Michelin says are ” worth the trip.”  And we assume are worth the money.

A few years age Michelin introduced the ” Bib Gourmand”;  restaurants they rate as exceptional value at a moderate price.

Below that are one, two and three fork restaurants. The food is usually excellent, but the setting, silver and service may not be as fancy.

Robert says ” food in France is never bad.” And he tells us that no one ever questions the accuracy or integrity of the Michlin ratings.

The Schmitts encourage us to treat ourselves to a truly French dining experience, the  way  to enjoy some of the best of French culture.  We couldn’t agree more.

If you go to Spain, don’t miss Seville. Everyone wanted to do a tour while we were working on Madrid and Barcelona, so we’ll have to go back.  Until we do, we picked up a few tips.

The don’t miss sights are the cathedral and the Alcazar. The cathedral is the world’s largest Gothic building and the Alcazar was built by the Moors in the tenth century and still used today. Third on the list is  the bullring.

 I know. People are squeemish about bullfighting.  But it still goes on, so you might as well see the place it happens. You don’t have to go to a performance.

People in Seville are warm and friendly. They haven’t gotten so jaded about tourists. And the food is really good. Have a meal or snack at an outdoor cafe near the cathedral. And for a low cost treat, go to one of the bars and get a sandwich to enjoy along the Guadalquivir River. Might as well get ham, after all, the Spanish are passionate about ham, which they call hamone.

Don’t leave Spain without eating paella and gazpacho. It would be like coming to America to a baseball game and not eating a hot dog.

Everywhere in Spain tourists must be on the lookout for pick pockets. Don’t get careless. But it is easy to get around in Seville.  Taxies are everywhere and the busses are cheap and reliable.

Let us know if you go. When we go back we’ll appreciate tips from you .

Our new tours continue the tradition of thorough research. These city walking tours give the history of significant monuments.  It isn’t always easy to distill long histories into a city walking tour that can be done in one day.  But we do it!
Our city tour of London was especially difficult, because that city tour covers so many things that directly relate to American history.  But we think  you will like what we did.  These new tours will help you make the most of your visit .

When you finish each tour, you will have enough history to know where you want to go next. You won’t go home feeling that you didn’t make the most of your trip.

We appreciate your comments and any suggestions for improvement. Keep them coming.