The Danger of Public USB Charge Points — and How to Charge Your Devices in Public Safely
I am not a super spy, with secrets to keep. But I also don’t really want to get my devices all gunked up with the viruses that governments are using to go after each other. I recently dove into the research on the perils of using public USB charge points in airports, trains, buses, libraries, …
The Best Gift Ideas for Language Learning: Spanish, French, Chinese, and Anything Else
Got a special someone in your life who wants to take on a new language? Here’s a look at how to give the gift of learning a foreign language — what works best, what is the most fun, and what will be the most motivating as the receiver sets out on their journey. Why take …
Brazilian vs. European Portuguese: Key Differences to Learn in Grammar and Vocabulary
I’ve been speaking Brazilian Portuguese regularly for more than a decade, but have recently been spending more time in Lisbon and so I’ve had to make some adaptations for the European version of the language. So this will be my thorough guide to the differences to note between the two varieties; it’s especially intended for …
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: …
Go to Brazil Just for the Dancing — How, What, & Where: Complete Planning Tips
I’ve been going to Brazil frequently for more than a decade. When people ask why I keep going back, I invariably give my very top reason (of the many possible): to go dancing. There are calculated to be upwards of 300 styles of Brazilian music and they are just fantastic—not surprising since Portuguese is the …
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 …
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 …