Where to stay in Barcelona? You have plenty of gorgeous options! The enchanting city of Barcelona is our favorite city in Europe to explore, and we love indulging in its unique culture. We’re not alone — tourists around the globe flock to this coastal Mediterranean city year-round, seeking out beautiful beaches, a vibrant culinary scene, and lively …
Where to Stay in Barcelona — Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation Read More »
Picture it: Lloret de Mar, Catalonia. 2012. A young girl stands in a blue tank top and hopes her flimsy strapless bathing suit top will withstand the vigors of a hike along the Costa Brava coast. Well, um, except that young girl was me, and that top, a magenta bandeau that I found for $12 …
For my final night in Costa Brava, Spain, I arrived in the inland town of Caldes de Malavella. This beautiful town ended up being an unexpected highlight of the region. I’d never heard of Caldes de Malavella before my arrival. The small town is an hour from either Barcelona or the French border and 15 …
Caldes de Malavella and The Best Sunset of My Life Read More »
Let me tell you something: it’s easy to go to Europe and see nothing but cities. For years, that was my modus operandi — to hit up the major cities and ignore small towns along the way. It’s the easiest and most convenient option, especially if you’re traveling by train. But in the past year, …
As much as I’ve traveled in Europe, there has been one major gap in my European travels: beaches. I’m puzzled over how this has happened. I’ve even been to cities like Lisbon, Barcelona, Rimini, and Venice without setting foot on any of their famous beaches! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some absolutely gorgeous beaches …
El Codolar, Tossa de Mar: My Favorite Hidden Beach in Europe Read More »
This past March, I visited Barcelona for the first time. As you may recall, I was massively underwhelmed, finding the city dirty, crowded, and expensive compared to the rest of Spain, and even the lovely architecture couldn’t lift my spirits. This September, I had a day and a half to spend in Barcelona between TBU …
Barcelona and Me: The Complicated Relationship Continues Read More »
Shortly after arriving in Spain for the first time back in March, I swiftly declared it one of my favorite food countries (along with Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, and France). Spanish food is simple and delicious. But in Costa Brava, the food really outdid itself. You had everything that makes Spanish food great, along with plenty …
Costa Brava may very well be the best kept secret in Spain. This September, I spent time in this region of Catalonia for the first time ever, and I was blown away by its sheer beauty, the variety of things to do, and its warm hospitality. From beaches to cities, from jamon to tomatoes, Costa …
13 Reasons to Fall in Love with Costa Brava, Spain Read More »
Early this year, I visited Spain for the first time and quickly declared it one of my favorite countries. The culture, the architecture, the food, the beautiful men — how could I not fall for Spain? Of all the cities, I found myself falling for Granada and Sevilla the most. But my new favorite? I …
Throughout the world, I’ve found places that I’ve fallen in love with — perfect beaches, isolated islands, wild and interesting cities of all sizes. New places are constantly being added to my list of favorite places in the world. But could I live there? That requires a whole different set of criteria. In an ideal …