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Kris and Tom of TravelPast50.com

Since 2010, we've traveled to more than 80 countries. Our goal for our newsletter is to help you travel more, better, and for less money. We do that through our travel tips posts and destination guides. Sign up to see how we can help you achieve your travel goals.

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🌎 The best foods of Spain, region by region, and how to think about travel in uncertain times

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We are busy back at home after a couple quick jaunts, including Kris's 50th college reunion. Though we didn’t have far to travel, the reunion brought the world closer to home. It was record-breaking attendance for a Carleton College reunion, and even our class (consider the disaffected era) exceeded expectations. Remarkably, the gathering wasn’t a trip down memory lane. The tone reflected the group’s engagement in the present and concern for the future....

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We’re off to Vail, Colorado, and looking forward to some biking and hiking, eating, and wandering around gardens and art galleries. Elevation: 8,000 feet. Wish us well, and if you have experience in Vail, send us a note on what we should not miss! 🛫 Get Going: Tours We Recommend For You The last spots on our Ireland tour in October were snatched up quickly. If you missed that chance, you can join the waitlist for this year, or reserve your spot for 2026. 🧳...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? Even a week after Memorial Day, we’re still suspended in that space between spring and summer, it seems. Judging from the activity in our TravelPast50 Community Facebook group, though, planning is underway for many of you! Discussions range from walking tours in Brugge, to riding the rails in Canada, to inbound USA travel, to speculation on this summer’s air fares and hotel rates. Do you have questions about your next destination, or helpful experience you...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? Whee! We’re sliding into the Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer and a new travel season. What is it for you, road trip or air travel? Domestic or foreign? To your usual retreat, or to someplace new? For our part, we’re planning a trip to Vail, Colorado, for food and outdoor fun in the Rockies, and a visit with family in Bellingham, Washington. In the meantime, Kris is threatening to clean out some closets and clear some corners to make...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, Imagine a free flight! This will be a short and sweet email. The extraordinary deal of $1000 added value on the Capital One Venture Card is going away next Monday, May 12. Don't pass this up. And, while you're at it, think of signing up for Daily Drop Pro. If you're not willing to commit to the pro version, there's always the free version of Daily Drop. See below for more info. 💸 This Week's Best Deals in...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Daily Drop Pro (now $30 off!) Hello Reader, Kris with the classic "agua de Valencia" made with Spain's Cava sparkling wine and fresh squeezed Valencia orange juice. ✈️ Where in the World? These last days of April are the between times, a sort of limbo. It’s neither winter nor summer and barely spring. We think of spring cleaning but aren’t yet inspired. Potential frosty nights mean it’s still not safe to plant the garden. The wind and chill keep...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, Valencia oranges, with a lemon or two thrown in. Only one of a million reasons to visit Valencia. 🧭 Where in the World? We're here at home in Minnesota, doing more than our usual due diligence on a couple of upcoming trips to Europe. Given that the dollar has lost about 10 percent of its purchasing power in the last couple of weeks vs. the Euro, researching lower priced hotels and securing bookings before...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, There are two seasons in Minnesota: winter and road construction. 🧭 Where in the World? Greetings from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where major road construction season has begun. Despite the closing of the main Interstate highway connecting Minneapolis with St. Paul over the weekend, 25,000 people made their way to the State Capitol for Hands Off demonstrations. We hope others, like us, took the...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? As you read this, we're about to head home after three weeks in Valencia, Spain. We'd been to Valencia several years ago, but only for a couple of days, and when not much special was going on. This time, we coordinated our visit with the famous Fallas Festival, and also made time to see some wonderful museums and eat paella at least four times. A more comprehensive post on Valencia will...

This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, We upped our paella game at an excellent cooking class at Cocina Club Valencia 🧭 Where in the World? We’re so busy seeing things here in Valencia, Spain, that we’ve barely had a chance to upload photos! The dust (and ashes) of the monumental Fallas celebration have settled, and we’re lucky enough to stay on in Valencia for another week to report on the more normal, everyday experiences in this city. Those...