Waiting for your flight may just have become more bareable There is nothing easy about trying to grab a few hours sleep between connecting flights on those uncomfortable airport chairs, where plastic armrests and wafer thin foam pads hinder any chance of comfort. Combined with the drone of security and boarding announcement, excited children and stressed parents (not to mention the sounds and smells coming from the person next to you) its usually a long, trying and uncomfortable wait before you are able to board your flight for yet more insufficient rest. While some airport terminals do have connecting hotels where you can gather a few hours of contented rest (probably the only time most of us would consider paying for a hotel by the hour), the rates are usually too steep for most to consider this an option. An affordable solution is on the horizon however and may be coming to an airport (or even train or bus station) near you. The Sleep Box is a budget friendly, compact hotel ro...[more »]

Vigo, Spain Not too many people go to Vigo unless they have a specific reason to. It’s not one of the top Spanish destinations, and can’t compete with artsy Barcelona, grand Madrid, or sunny Seville. Vigo is a place you visit if you have a lot of time in Spain, and want to explore its lesser-known side. Vigo is in Galicia, which is an overlooked region of Spain that gets a lot of rain and is mostly rural. Galicia’s green hills tumble into the Atlantic Ocean where some of the country’s best seafood is fished out of rough waters. I’ve never had a bad meal in Galicia. While their regional dishes are simple, the ingredients are so fresh that breakfast, lunch and dinner are great across the board. The main foods to try in Vigo are the oysters, the razor clams, the white wine, and the cheese (a breast-shaped cheese logically called tetilla). Food in Galicia Seeing that it’s off the tourist track, Vigo is cheap, cheap, cheap…well, at least in compar...[more »]

Tarragona Why would you want to go to Tarragona? It’s not one of the most talked about Spanish cities…in fact, most people have never heard of it. You want to come to Tarragona and stay a couple nights (the weekend?) because it was once one of the most important Roman cities on the Mediterranean. Many of its Roman ruins are well preserved, and can be visited. Roman Tarragona It’s also just a really sweet little city. One of the largest metropolises in Catalonia, Tarragona has the cultural events and restaurants of a big city, but is less stressful to navigate than its enormous sister, Barcelona. Did I mention the beaches? Tarragona is set along the ‘Golden Coast’, a fabulous string of long beaches and clean waters for swimming. I much prefer these beaches to those around Barcelona. No doubt about it. Hostal Noria: Hostal is not youth hostel. In fact, Hostal Noria is very much like an Inn or Motel. Right on Plaa de la Font, staying here puts you close to ...[more »]