Category: Spain/Portugal
Fly to Barcelona for less than half the usual price.
Barcelona is one of our favorites cities in the world. As the capital of Catalonia, it’s absolutely one of a kind – as European as it is Spanish.
Blessed with some of the most amazing architecture anywhere, Barcelona is a must-visit for lovers of the Art Nouveau style, known there as “Modernisme.” In addition to Antoni Gaudi, architects Domenech i Montener and Puig i Cadafalch designed breathtakingly original homes, apartment buildings, gardens, hospitals, and churches.
Flickr image: OliverN5
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On the Road in Spain with Mario Batali et al.
Food is one of the great pleasures of travel. Having Moreton Bay Bugs in Port Douglas, Bucatini all'Amatriciana in Trastevere, beef in Buenos Aires, and Guinness at the source are some of our favorite travel memories.We've dined in restaurants recognized around the world for their excellence, sampled local treats from the market, and just followed our noses into some dives that gave us pause. But for the most part, we've eaten remarkably well without breaking the bank, stayed gastro-intestinally healthy, and rarely felt mistreated because we were tourists.
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Deciphering the hotel star-rating system.
If you've wandered around European cities, you've probably noticed that the star-rating system doesn't make a lot of sense. You'll see a three-star designation on an absolute dump, while that perfectly charming little auberge down the street has a solitary star.If you've wondered what's up with that, you're not alone. Many of the complaints on tripadvisor are because the reviewer expected a level of service or accommodation from the hotel's star designation that the property didn't deliver.
Here's why.
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