GPSmyCity Christmas 2024 Giveaway!

You know I'm always in the mood for a fun giveaway!

My longterm partnership with GPSmyCity travel article apps continues to be a fun and interesting addendum to my travel blogging. I have enjoyed writing through the perspective of someone walking around a city... because that's literally exactly what I do when I visit places! 

It is great to contribute to a platform that aligns with my personal "tourist values," such as getting to know the area on foot, taking my time to experience places more like a local, and being as ecologically-friendly as possible.

I know I used to spend A LOT of time and money on flights here, there, and everywhere, but as my life has rooted more deeply in Germany, and, specifically in Nuremberg, I appreciate the way GPSmyCity approaches travel experiences even more.

Ultimately, this giveaway is super easy: from Monday, December 9th, until Monday, December 23rd, you can access two of my favorite beachy travel article apps free of charge:

8 Must-See Sights in the City of Palma de Mallorca

8 Sights Up and Down Nazare Beach Town

Even if you aren't planning to be in Spain or Portugal in the next two weeks, it is a great opportunity to learn about how the app works and experience it for yourself. You can at least have a "dream read." ;)

Here's to hoping you and yours are having a lovely Christmas holiday season, and a very Happy New Year in 2025!!!

Watch for more GPSmyCity articles about my adopted hometown of Nuremberg to come in the new year!

You can download the iOS and Android GPSmyCity app options here.

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My 4 Efficient Travel Must-Haves

Even though my speed and rate of travel have considerably mellowed over the past few years, I still maintain my standards of travel efficiency! These items are my favorite go-to's for making sure my trip is full of light-hearted experiences and not weighed down by carrying stuff everywhere.

1. Samsonite Carry-On Roller Bag

I basically never check luggage anymore. It's expensive and all it means is I packed more than I can really carry. So I stick to carry-on roller bags like this Samsonite one I picked up after my other one broke (after it was checked!) in January this year. Easy to handle, keeps me lightweight, and has enough space for my necessities.

2. Backpack vs. Tote Bag vs. Daypack 

I could go on for DAYS about backpacks, tote bags, and daypacks. Having received numerous sports backpacks over the years, I have had lots of options to tryout and see what works the best for me. Typically, if I don't take the aforementioned roller carry-on bag, then I will take a medium-sized backpack, like this Mizuno backpack that would carry everything. 

Another option for when I plan to be away for three to four days, is my Nike tote bag. I think it was designed as like a "workout purse," but I find it's the perfect bag for an extra pair of shoes, maybe 1-2 outfits, and toiletries, with great pockets and can be fully zipped shut. I have the light blue version, but the black would probably look a bit sleeker in the airport.

Finally, I find my ACES Drawstring Bag is the best daypack option to throw into any of these larger bags for when I don't need to carry around as much. I can pack a water, snacks, notebook, book, pens, whatever, and it won't be exhausting to haul it around all day long.

 

All in all, deciding which bag(s) to build your journey into is the start of your adventure and will make a huge impact on how your days go. Let me know in the comments which bag(s) you prefer to bring with you!

3. Walking Shoes

I have been buying these super reliable Nike shoes for over fifteen years! Not only are they the most comfortable, light-weight and soft sneaker I have ever found, but they can also double as a chill workout, jogging, or coaching shoe. Knowing how sport tends to follow me around, it is very important that my "walking shoes" can fulfill my more intense activity expectations. My favorite thing about these shoes? They come in A LOT of colors! This one Amazon link alone has 16 options! I don't have official statistics, but I currently have three pairs of various stages of wear, and I believe I have had at least ten other pairs at some point. 

4. Pullover & Leggings

Obviously, weather plays a huge factor in what we should or shouldn't pack for our trips. However, I find that time and time again, no matter the season, I have some sort of long sleeve pullover and a pair of leggings with me. In the winter, these serve as sleepwear or loungewear options, and in the summer, they are perfect for a surprisingly cooler night. Both items can be used with other clothing I bring with me, and they are the perfect back-up travel apparel as well. I've linked another great ACES product here because it's a sweatshirt with a hood — crucial for any unexpected precipitation! 

I have always loved my Nike leggings, and highly recommend them still. They have great fit, longevity, and keep me warm and cool as needed. You can find them in several color and length options, and they also function as a casual pant to any top.

There are several other items I usually include in my packing lists, but these four (seven?) are my starter kit. This is a post with clear affiliate links to Amazon and ACES products I really have and use for my trips. I hope it helps get you thinking about your travel basics and maybe even leads you to some fun new items! 

Sound off in the comments below which items you never leave home without!

Happy travels!

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Coming Back for Córdoba's Courtyards

I always knew I wanted to return to Córdoba.

It was just a matter of time.

The first taste of this beautiful place was back in 2015, due to a canceled flight and a few extra bonus days in the south of Spain. As soon as I began walking around the gorgeously saturated palette, I knew one day was never going to be enough. 

But other trips and adventures took priority over the years, and we all felt the black hole of travel experiences during the pandemic.

Late summer 2022, I did a full week on my own in Granada, Spain (another extension of that aforementioned 2015 trip). That week could have gone to Córdoba, of course, but I wanted my Córdoba experience to be very specific.

I want Córdoba in May, during their unique-only-to-Córdoba festival.

So, here I am, nearly ten years later, planning my long-awaited reunion with one of the most colorful and historical cities in Spain.

Córdoba is not the easiest place to get to, but it is situated between several airport options. I elected to fly in and out of Madrid (despite the closer airports in Seville, Málaga, and Granada) to profit from a few extra days at the end of my trip to spend in Spain's capital city. I found great tickets on the Spanish Renfe train system between Madrid and Córdoba that work with my schedule, and I'm looking forward to watching the center of Southern Spain pass by my train windows.

Once I got my dates and transportation finalized, I referenced my go-to site for accommodation: Booking.com. Over the past decade-plus of traveling around Europe, I have found the site has evolved very well to offer the best array of options. It even includes the types of lodging that used to only be found on AirBnB, for example, and the discounts run deeper the more times you use the site. Additionally, there are tons of verified reviews from many more previous guests, and I have really felt like my experiences have matched what the site has stated.

This hotel in Córdoba will mark my 50th stay with Booking!!! For privacy purposes, I will just say I am super excited about the location being just a fifteen-minute walk to the beautiful Mosque-Cathedral. 

But the festival!

The whole reason I have waited for the right May to return to Córdoba.

The Courtyards Festival of Córdoba (Fiesta de los Patios de Córdoba) is essentially a garden patio contest that is open to the public. So. Many. Flores!!! The plants and flowers that can be grown in Córdoba's warm climate give it an incredibly rich vibrancy that contrasts with the classic whitewashed adobe structures. It will be like wandering an enormous city-size greenhouse, all against a typically clear sunny blue sky! 

In between enjoying the courtyards and imagining some sort of fun mystery novel in the setting, I am also looking forward to taking my time in and around the town. The Roman ruins, old churches, bright plazas, and bustling mercados will all be a wonderful part of every day.

Ultimately, I am aware of the fact that I am literally going to spend quite a bit of time in a city because of garden décor, and I am leaning into it! I think one of the greatest advantages of aging is understanding what one really wants to do with their opportunities, and being able to make it happen.

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GPS My Posts with GPSMYCITY, Round 2

I've got several of NEW blog posts that are linked to maps within the GPSmyCity app! Subscribing to the entire app or downloading the articles earns me a percentage of the profits for my writing.

Whether you download none, all, or some, it's great to be able to share some of my fun travel experiences through GPSmyCity!

You can check out all of my linked posts here: Christy Swagerty.

New posts include: 

SPAIN: Madrid, Granada, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Toledo, Valencia, and Sagunt.

FRANCE: Strasbourg, Nice, Deauville, Lyon, and a few more Paris Museum posts!

GERMANY: Baden-Baden and Hamburg.

PORTUGAL: Nazaré.

There will be more to come soon!

GPSmyCity is not sponsoring this post, however, I will receive about half of the commission from these blog post in-app purchases. 

Thanks for reading and sharing!

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