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Ruben Arribas

About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.

10 Most Popular Whisky Cocktails Everyone Should Try at Least Once

Our guide on the most popular Whisky cocktails to try in the world. Whisky (or whiskey) is a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the base for many classic and modern cocktails. Whether you prefer the smoky, peaty flavors of Scotch, the smoothness of bourbon, or the robust character …

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I Counted My Steps on a European Vacation vs My American Week: The 22,000-Step Gap Nobody Mentions

Like a lot of people, I wear a watch that quietly counts my steps all day, a number I have always mostly ignored. But on a recent trip to Europe I happened to glance at it one evening and did a genuine double take, because the figure was one I had genuinely never come close …

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9 Grocery Store Habits Europeans Have That Confuse American Shoppers

Buying groceries is such a basic, automatic task that you never think about how you do it, until you try to do it somewhere else. Step into a European supermarket for the first time and a series of small, unexpected obstacles appears between you and your dinner, from a shopping cart that simply will not …

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How to Make Homemade Falafel That’s Crispy Outside and Fluffy Inside

Falafel is more than just a street food favorite it’s a cultural icon of Middle Eastern cuisine, beloved for its crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and bold flavors of herbs and spices. Whether stuffed in a pita, served on a platter, or eaten as a snack, falafel delivers a satisfying bite that’s both hearty and naturally …

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I Used Portugal’s Winter Heating Method for 30 Days: My Bill Dropped by $840

Portuguese families survive winters in stone houses with no central heating while Americans blast furnaces at 72°F and still feel cold because we’ve destroyed our bodies’ ability to thermoregulate. My Lisbon neighbors wear wool sweaters indoors, use hot water bottles, and spend €20 monthly on heating while I was spending $300 keeping my insulated American …

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The 3-Meat Trick That Makes Nonna’s Meatballs Taste Better and Feel Less Heavy: How to Make Traditional Italian Meatballs Like a Nonna

You twirl spaghetti, bite into a tender meatball, and wait for the burn that usually follows store-bought sauce. It does not come. Nonna did something different, and it was not luck. At the family table, meatballs are soft enough to cut with a spoon. The sauce is bright but not sharp. You lean back and …

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They Bet Their Retirement on Granada Spain With $125,000: Eight Years Later, Here’s the Reality

A couple from a small Iowa town moved to Granada in September 2018 with $125,000 in combined retirement assets. They were 60 and 58. By American retirement planning standards, this asset level should not have supported a comfortable retirement. It has supported eight years of comfortable Spanish life and a sustainable trajectory into their seventies. …

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I Ate Dinner at 6pm Like an American for 30 Days While Living in Spain: My Evenings Fell Apart

The usual version of this kind of experiment runs the other way entirely. Someone moves to Spain, adopts the famously late local dinner hour, and reports how surprisingly well it suits them. I wanted to try the reverse. I already live in Spain, surrounded by people who sit down to dinner at nine or ten …

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Spain Has a Second Breakfast at 10:30 and Offices Plan Around It: The Almuerzo, Explained

Somewhere around half past ten in the morning, all across Spain, something quietly but universally happens: work pauses, the bars fill up, and people sit down to eat again in earnest, only a few hours after their first breakfast. This is the almuerzo, Spain’s second breakfast, a genuine, sit-down mid-morning meal that has no real …

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Moving Retirement Money Across the Atlantic: The Transfer Mistakes That Cost Real Percentage Points

At some point, almost every American who retires to Europe has to do something that sounds perfectly simple and turns out to be quietly expensive: move real money across the ocean, converting a chunk of a hard-earned dollar nest egg into euros to actually live on. And here is the uncomfortable truth that catches so …

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8 Sauces From Around the World That Make Everything Taste Better

Sauces are the secret language of global cuisine. They transform simple ingredients into memorable meals, bringing depth, texture, and personality to every bite. From creamy classics to fiery blends, each sauce carries the essence of the culture it comes from. Across the world, sauces do more than flavor food they tell stories. French béchamel reflects …

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Americans Are Moving to These Cities Because $2,000 a Month Goes Much Further

Living in a beautiful city on a budget of less than $2,000 USD per month is achievable in many parts of the world. Some cities offer affordable living costs while providing excellent quality of life, vibrant culture, beautiful surroundings, and modern amenities. Here’s a travel guide to some of the most beautiful and best cities …

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