After staying in three Madrid neighborhoods, I realized the neighborhood mattered less than I expected. Here’s what I’d prioritize instead.
How to Get from Madrid to Segovia Old Town by Train + Bus or Taxi
A quick, firsthand guide to getting from Madrid to Segovia Old Town, including the train, bus/taxi transfer, timing tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
Segovia Day Trip from Madrid: A No-Car Itinerary + Map
A no-car day trip to Madrid’s ancient neighbor Segovia, with train and bus notes, cochinillo lunch, aqueduct and castle views, city wall wandering, ponche segoviano, and a route that does more than follow the crowds.
What to Do in Madrid: A Practical Guide to Sights, Food Stops, and Neighborhoods
A practical guide to what to do in Madrid, with sights, museums, food stops, neighborhoods, honest impressions, planning notes, and tips for deciding what’s worth your time there.
Madrid in 1 Day: A Full Walking Itinerary (with Map)
Spend one day in Madrid on a thoughtfully routed walking itinerary through Retiro, the Prado, Gran Vía, Plaza Mayor, classic food stops, and the Royal Palace area.
What Almost Losing $700 on Airbnb Taught Me About Booking Low-Friction Stays
After an Airbnb access issue nearly cost us $700, here’s what I learned about hidden booking friction, documenting everything, cancellation handling, and choosing stays with fewer failure points while traveling.
Madrid Travel Guide: Start Here
A practical Madrid travel guide with itineraries, logistics, neighborhood advice, transit tips, and one-bag packing strategies to help you explore the city with less stress and more confidence.
How I Plan Low-Friction Travel Itineraries
My step-by-step process for building low-friction travel itineraries, from messy wishlists and maps to geographic clusters, logistics checks, loose day blocks, and flexible routes for easier trips with less stress.
My 3 Travel Modes: How I Plan Around Energy, Not Just Time
I plan trips around 3 travel modes — explore, functional, and recovery — to make travel feel more sustainable, realistic, and low-friction without losing the excitement of exploring.
One-Bag Packing List for Valdivia, Chile: Rain Layers, Grip Shoes + Humidity-Friendly Clothes
Pack for Valdivia in one bag with practical layers, grippy shoes, rain protection, slow-drying laundry strategy, and essentials for buses, ferries, and coastal weather.
Valparaíso Day Trip from Santiago Without a Car: A Mapped Itinerary
A no-car Valparaíso day trip itinerary from Santiago with a mapped walking route, transit tips, viewpoints, seafood, and practical safety notes.
Valdivia, Chile: How to Get There + Plan an Easy, Walkable Trip
Plan an easy, no-car trip to Valdivia, Chile. Learn how to get there, where to stay, and how to get around with simple, walkable logistics and minimal planning.
Jump Rope Log: Santiago #02 — Progress is Asymmetrical and Nonlinear
A second Santiago jump rope log about practicing in a near-ideal Airbnb setup, learning crossovers and arm skills, and noticing how progress can feel asymmetrical, nonlinear, and frustrating over time.
My 8 Items That Make One-Bag Travel Work
These are the 8 items that do the most work in my one-bag travel system. They reduce friction, keep my bag manageable, and make moving between places simpler and more flexible.
How I Travel With Less Friction
A practical framework for planning and moving through trips with less friction — fewer decisions, smoother logistics, and more time spent actually experiencing the place.
Jump Rope Log: Santiago #01 — A Rare Frictionless Setup
First log from a consistent stretch of jump rope practice in Santiago, where a near-ideal setup made it easier to build momentum and start progressing on more technical skills.
A Skill I Come Home to on the Road
How jump rope became the practice I come back to while traveling, and why it helps me keep a sense of continuity, progress, and home on the road.
Niebla Day Trip from Valdivia (No Car Itinerary): Coastal Forts, Local Ferias & Ferry to Corral
Plan an easy Niebla day trip from Valdivia with this practical itinerary covering Castillo de Niebla, a feria costumbrista lunch, scenic ferry ride to Corral, and coastal views across Valdivia’s bay.
4 Days in Valdivia: An Easy Itinerary for Markets, Isla Teja & the Niebla Coast
A relaxed but structured 4-day Valdivia itinerary with riverfront walks, local markets, Isla Teja parks, craft beer, and an easy coastal day trip to Niebla and Corral.
Running the Viña del Mar Half Marathon 5K: A One-Bag Race Weekend from Santiago
A recap of running the Medio Maratón de Viña del Mar 5K, with race logistics from Santiago, where to stay near the start line, one-bag packing tips, course experience, and surprisingly great race swag.