Four cities near Madrid that give visitors a taste of the real Spain

map of spain near madrid. map by openstreetmap.org.

Spain’s capital Madrid has its sights and attractions, but if you want to find authentic, historic, and unique Spanish destinations that are easy to access from Madrid, here are four marvelous cities for you to visit: Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, and Ciudad Rodrigo.

It is possible to do a day trip … Read >

Electric vehicle news summary for travelers: self-driving van, lamppost chargers, strong EV sales numbers in 2025

electric vehicle charger in shade under trees, two ev cars charging

Sales of EVs in Europe on a strong growth path while diesel and petrol cars continue to lose market share

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association has tallied up car sales numbers for the year 2025 so far (January – August). The growth trend for electric vehicles continues. The sales of fully … Read >

The best country to settle down after your active working years are behind

plaza in valencia, spain
A plaza with cafes in the city of Valencia.

If you have spent most of your working years in a country where the climate isn’t as pleasant you might hope, or living costs are higher than you like, you may have been considering moving to another country once you have … Read >

European railway news summary: unified train systems, off the beaten rail tips, Mr Bean restaurant

train at a station in the countryside. nice old train station building.
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An overview to the high-speed trains connecting European countries and cities

  • National Geographic regards the railway network in France the most extensive and functional in Europe, but the most extensive high-speed train network is in its neighbor country Spain. A number of good tips for train routes
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Vacation apartment scammers grab your money, and as a bonus may steal your identity as well

an apartment block in benidorm

Online scammers who are specialized in renting fake or non-existing vacation villas and apartments are prospering. Statistics collected by the Spanish Ministry of Interior indicate that cheating cases concerning accommodation bookings increased 29.7% in 2024 from the year before. Other key findings were that professional criminal groups are taking over … Read >

Nitpicker’s travel journal: behave, or else – unwritten cultural rules in Europe

benidorm levante beach in summer

If you think some European countries are setting new rules and restrictions just to make vacations for tourists in Europe more troublesome, you have forgotten thousands of years of culture. Many rules have always existed as unwritten behavioral etiquette that local people have followed without paying any attention to them. … Read >

Digital nomads feel powered by their lifestyle, but recognise inevitable downsides as well

laptop on a garden table
A digital nomad office in a garden in France.

Many people who like to travel may dream about the life of a digital nomad, such as working in a cottage next to a pristine beach, having incredible dinners in local restaurants far from tourist eateries, and exploring the nearby exciting … Read >