Spain, again

We're just back from yet another visit to Spain. We really can't get enough of our favorite country. Every time we visit we say to each other, "We should move (back) here." (We lived in Barcelona and Madrid in 1978-79.)

This time, we visited two places that were new to us: Jerez de la Frontera and Mérida. We also went back to the Extremaduran gem, Cáceres. And, we also snuck in a quick visit to Gibraltar, also a first for us.

So far, we've only written up What to do in Mérida Spain, Three Days of Roman History. Mérida is especially known for its ancient Roman artifacts, as it was once a Roman capital city in Spain.

The Jerez, Cáceres, and Gibraltar stories are still in draft stage. Coming soon.

Meanwhile, visit Spain.info for all your Spain travel planning.

Travel News

The 2025 Real ID Deadline is Real This Time
If you thought you could wait a bit longer to get your Real ID, there’s a real deadline now of May 7, 2025. If you plan to fly in 2025 and beyond, you’ll need to get one.

So, you have about a year to ensure your state-issued driver’s license or ID is compliant with the Real ID standards. If you don't comply, federal agencies like TSA won't accept your ID. While there have been many deadline extensions due to backlogs, travelers must now comply by May 7, 2025, or risk being unable to board flights or enter certain places.

If you already have an ID accepted by TSA, you might not need to rush for a Real ID. There are other forms of identification accepted by federal agencies such as US passports and passport cards, and trusted traveler cards like Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST. (See our primer on how to get Global Entry.)

The Rick Steves Guide to Life

Rick Steves has probably done as much as anyone to popularize travel to Europe. (Some might say over popularize...) There was a nice, light feature on him in the Washington Post this week: The Rick Steves Guide to Life. Worth a quick read.

Avoiding Travel Scams

The summer crowds coming to Europe (will you be one of them) bring out the scammers and pickpockets. (We've been pickpocketed in Paris and Quito, so we know whereof we speak.) Here are some ideas to beat the scammers and pickpockets. (Number One Tip: don't let anyone touch you.)

Upcoming Deals

REI, where we spend a good portion of our clothing budget, is having its annual big sale from this Friday, May 17 to 27. The REI Anniversary Sale (The link will update to the anniversary sale on May 17.) Save up to 30% off on selected items and, even better, members save 20 percent on one full-priced item and an extra 20 percent on one REI Outlet item during the sale dates. Use coupon code ANNIV24 at checkout.

Join AARP at a discount May 20 - Jun 3. Yeah, it's the butt of a few tired jokes, but AARP membership is one of the best deals in travel – with discounts on car rentals, hotels, and more. Here's a list of AARP member benefits. Wait until Monday, May 20 to join and the rate will be $9 per year instead of the usual $12. Use your member discount once at a hotel, and you've more than made back that fee.

If you've ever thought of signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium, let me just tell you about the flight deals they uncovered this week. First, they found round trip fares from several US airports to Dublin for under $200. The next day, it was round trips in business class to Paris or Amsterdam from multiple US cities for 50,000 points – the equivalent of $500.

Our favorite travel credit card is offering an enhanced welcome offer of 75,000 points – which are worth more than $900 in travel credits. And, that's on top of all sorts of other travel benefits, like a $50 annual hotel credit, 2x points on any travel purchases (5x points when you buy through the card's portal,) 3x points on restaurants, and plenty of opportunities to transfer the points to other hotel and airline programs to get free room nights and flights. The enhanced bonus offer won't last forever, so if your wallet can fit another card, this is the one to get. Read our story on how to pick the best travel credit card for you.

Keep traveling,

Tom and Kris