The TravelRight Dispatch

POSTCARD FROM LOS CABOS
​Yes, back in Mexico—this time to Los Cabos, a municipality at the bottom of Baja California Sur. BUT we side-stepped the south coast and instead wandered the Pacific coast town of Todos Santos (of "Hotel California" fame) and the beaches of East Cape at Los Barriles. We also explored the Sierra de la Laguna mountain parkland, splashing around in waterfalls, hiking the hot springs and scarfing down enchiladas. Watch for a few stories I have scheduled about this "quiet side" of Cabo, coming soon.

HOTEL CRUSH
Amet Nature Retreat
​We found luxury where you'd least expect it, at the base of the Sierra de la Laguna in central Los Cabos. Anchored to a palm-lined pond, the three-suite/three-tent resort is a lush oasis in an otherwise arid landscape. Amet is a great jumping-off point for hikes in the surrounding canyons. We glamped in one of the tents, did sunrise yoga and kayaked among the cranes with a guide named Napoleon. I even ate dessert! Who am I even?

EXCERPT
Discover Northern Spain​
The birthplace of the Spanish language, Castilla y León’s medieval cities of Segovia, Valladolid and Salamanca offer a history, rich with culture and packed with indulgences. This story appeared at Zoomer Mapped.

Travelling to Spain invariably evokes an agenda of sun-soaked beaches, tapas-filled afternoons and flamenco-fueled nights. But the northern region of Castilla y León—within easy driving distance of Madrid—reveals a different side of Spain, encapsulating the essence of the country’s historical and cultural evolution.

Unsung perhaps, but certainly not un-storied, this autonomous region is awash in abundant natural beauty, ancient traditions underlined by a profound architectural narrative.

THIS MONTH'S PODCAST
​The TravelRight.Today Podcast #34 tells you how to get off your ass and fit in with the locals when you travel. Engagement is enlightenment! We also seep into the quieter culture of the Cabo (as mentioned above). And for those looking to hook your next trip to a hobby or personal obsession (i.e. aspic salads), I also touch on niche travel trends like dark tourism and extreme wellness. Relax harder, fuck!

INTEL
How to Buy Smart Souvenirs
​Impulsively purchased souvenirs are always a good idea at the time, but the denouement is definitely lacklustre. And then you look like a doofus. This is a hard problem to side-step, as you can’t spit and not hit a gift shop in a lot of places. Ask yourself: Do I really need another key chain or basket or gaudy piece of pottery or cheesy fridge magnet? So many people come home from a trip with a suitcase full of trinkets they just end up throwing out. Here are a few ways to bring home a travel memento without making the landfill fuller.

1. Skip the tchotchkes for a more sustainable souvenir instead, something that supports the local community. This could be a variety of things, even an experience. With all this said, sometimes the situation calls for you to simply get out your wallet and buy something you don’t need—at an isolated roadside stall or an impoverished village market.

2. Food items are both delicious and make great gifts, while supporting regional farmers—things like spices or ingredients, organic coffee, artisanal chocolate, olive oil, honey and sea salt. These are generally produced using sustainable growing methods and promote the region’s biodiversity, too.

3. Instead of a hand-painted knickknack, why not buy yourself something substantial—a real present that will act as a souvenir? Think of how much fun it will be to say, “This bracelet? Oh, I bought it in Istanbul.” Best of all, a pair of gloves from Milan, a wool scarf from Reykjavik or a blanket from Bogota will all pack flat.

ALL TRAVEL, ALL THE TIME
​Where are you headed? I have the entire travel year mapped out already, but organizing yourself just by season is fine. While you're planning, pehaps take a tip or two from my travel-advice ebook How to Plan a Vacation. I laughed, I cried, I bought the Dukoral.

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