Backpacking & Hostels Make for Awful, Boring Travel — And Aren’t Always Cheapest Either
I’ve been constantly roaming Europe for a decade, and seen plenty of backpackers sweating under their loads as they struggle to find their hostels in some hidden outskirt. They’ll set the loads down for a day or two, rush to get photos of whatever sights as-seen-on-instagram, then heft their packs back on their backs and …
On the Snobbish, Obtuse Evil of Travelling with Portable Coffee Gear
Let’s talk about what you’re missing when you travel with your , you self-righteous, jittery vagabond. “Enjoying” a cup of local coffee in Belgrade, because I’m a trooper and didn’t bring my own gear. Or the other famous road espresso gear: your , , , and so on. The solutions for pulling a reasonably good …
The Essential Travel Trade-Off: Less Luggage = More & Greater Adventures
Your heavy pack affects your ability to improvise and enjoy travel. Sure, it’s nice to have the variety of outfits, the gear for getting a perfect Instagram shot, familiar-brand cosmetics, a range of screens to read and watch, souvenirs collected along the way, and everything else to make travel feel like more home. But the …
Experienced Travellers Inevitably Go Minimalist
It’s a truism that the more seasoned we are as travellers, the less we carry. And we start to get pretty adamant about it, to the point of proselytizing. We can and do pass this message on until we’re blue in the face, to anyone who will listen. On this site, I’m constantly reminding readers: …
Wheeled Backpacks for Girls: Cute Designs that Will Roll Through the School Year
What are the cutest, funnest backpacks for girls with the convenience of wheels? We’ve put together photos of the designs along with our thoughts on what are the most durable and useful options for middle and high school use (plus one smaller option for younger, elementary-age girls). As we’ve reported on the best rolling backpacks …
Cheap Eurostar Alternatives: Low Cost Tricks for London-Paris & More
When it works, Eurostar can be lovely experience, but of late it’s been awful. With the French train strikes earlier this year and the heat wave shutting down trains this summer, even the Eurostar itself has advised against using their own service at several points. Here then is a quick guide to the alternatives for …
The Most Durable Rolling Backpacks for High School — and Which to Avoid
We’ve taken a thorough look at the rolling backpack options for teens ages 13 and up (and we have a recommendation for elementary-age kids too). Our main goal was to find the most durable and practical option to recommend for middle and high school use, as well as for short overnight trips. We looked at …
All About How Wi-Fi Works on Renfe AVE Trains
A laptop connected to the Wi-FI on an AVE train Yes there is Wi-Fi on most of the Spanish high-speed trains known as AVE. For now, these are the only trains in Spain’s Renfe train network to have Wi-Fi internet. The Wi-Fi is free on these trains; it is included in the ticket price for …
The Experience Onboard Renfe AVE Trains
Spain’s national operator Renfe offers high-speed trains named AVE on routes between a number of major cities. They offer an excellent, comfortable, low-carbon alternative to flying. For example, the Barcelona-Madrid trip on AVE is just 2.5 hours, which makes it faster than flying when you figure in the time for getting to the airport and …
Luggage Restrictions On Trains in France — What to Know Before You Go
If you’re used to travelling by plane and thus conditioned to worry about the size, weight, and contents of your baggage, you’re in for a treat. Luggage restrictions for French trains are generally much more relaxed. The main rule is to not be taking so much that you can’t carry and stow it on your …