This issue of our newsletter brought to you by the DIY Trip Summit​

Hello Reader,

First, a friendly reminder: The free DIY Trip online conference – all about trip planning for Europe – starts tomorrow, January 7.

Make sure you're on the email list to receive the links you'll need to claim your virtual gifts and watch the expert-led sessions. Tickets are FREE and you can watch online for 48 hours after each session goes live.

Tom and I are offering tried and true tips for packing light with a presentation on January 9 and sending DIY registrants our Minimalist Packing Checklists for men and women. Plus, Kris will be part of the live travel tips Zoom session on Thursday and chatting with attendees throughout the week. We’d love to see you there!

Register for free at DIYTripSummit.

P.S. Want to rewatch the sessions or get bonus resources? You can upgrade to the First Class Pass and unlock extended access to the sessions, plus premium travel resources and discounts!

🧭 Where in the World?

Ireland in Focus. There's only ONE spot left on our tour to Sligo, Ireland, with Ireland In Focus, October 17-24, 2025. We are still offering a discount of $300 if you use the code "TP50" at checkout. Don't miss this distinctive deep dive into a small corner of Ireland. As a bonus, you'll get expert photo instruction from our host Ciaran McHugh and Tom. All the details and sign-up here: irelandinfocus.ie.

Highlights of Sweden & Norway with Travel Past 50. Stay tuned! We will be announcing details of our TP50 Tour to Sweden and Norway within the next week or so. This will be our second time leading a small group through outstanding areas of Scandinavia, visiting cities, small towns, countryside and historic spots. Want a preview? Read one or two of our related posts: Åre, Sweden: Adventures in Jamtland, 5 Top Day Hikes in Sweden, or St. Olav's Way, Hiking in Sweden and Norway.

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🧳 Our Latest Posts

We know our 2025 travels will take us back to Spain, so we thought we’d share our new survey of Spain’s most fascinating fiestas. Read 12 Great Traditional Cultural Festivals of Spain to learn about events all across the country and throughout the year.

What were Travel Past 50's most read posts in 2024? Here are five of our most popular stories:

​Visiting the Auschwitz and Birkenau Nazi Death Camps​

​A Winter Visit to Death Valley National Park​

​16 Great Cathedrals of Spain​

​The Camino de Santiago Backpack​

​The Ultralight Packing List for Women​

Has any particular post of ours helped you plan your travels this past year?

🗞️ Travel News From Around the Web

• Here are some good tips how to get that upgrade to First Class without spending your entire travel budget.
• Effective January 8, US travelers (and others) traveling to the United Kingdom will need the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you're allowed to enter the country. The easiest way to go through the process is with the UK ETA app for iPhone or Android. The fee is £10 and can be paid by card or Apple or Android Pay.
• As of sometime in May, you're going to need the ETIAS authorization to travel to the European Union. Applications aren't open yet, but will be soon. Keep an eye open if you're going to Europe this year. It would be a very big disappointment to be denied entry.
• And, if you're looking for recommendations of where to go in 2025, check out these ideas from Travel and Leisure and Afar.

💸 This Week's Best Deals in Travel

• Looking for deals and a way to reduce your carbon footprint? At REI you can shop and trade in used gear.
• Apple has lowered their price even more on our favorite, and most useful, travel accessory: Apple AirTags are at an all-time low price of $70 for a pack of 4. Put one in your bag if you're checking. Or even if you're not.

📖 What We're Reading

Tom is finishing up The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz for his book club, and is anxiously anticipating the next book on the pile: The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook, by Hampton Sides.

Kris is on the last pages of The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.

For a lighter – and much shorter – read, check out this essay by famed travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux from the NY Times, "The Hard Reality American Expats Quickly Learn".

For our previous book recommendations, check out this list.

❝Travel Quote of the Week❞

Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again. – Joseph Campbell

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Happy travels,

Kris and Tom

​ Tom Bartel and Kristin Henning ​Travel Past 50​ ​ Connect with us: Facebook, Threads, Instagram, ​ Join our Facebook community.

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P.S. What more can we do for you? Reply to this newsletter and ask us anything.

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• See our favorite travel resources​
• Check out our recommended travel accessories​
• Get the best travel credit card for you​
• Read all our Travel Skills tips posts​

Some other recommendations from our partners:

• See the travel gear and books we recommend at our Travel Past 50 Amazon shop​
• Shop our favorite place for outdoor gear and travel clothing at REI Co-op​
• Get your travel insurance with Allianz Travel Insurance​
• For your Spain travel, check out suggested itineraries at Spain's official tourism site​

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