Skip to Content

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.

Americans Are Getting Retirement Residency in These 7 Countries in Under 45 Days

Let’s say the quiet part out loud. If you’re an American retiree trying to move abroad, “approval in under 45 days” is the kind of headline you click because you’re tired. Tired of: So here’s the truth in plain English: Most retiree residency approvals do not happen in under 45 days from start to finish. …

Read More about Americans Are Getting Retirement Residency in These 7 Countries in Under 45 Days

Spain Makes You Declare Every Foreign Account Over €50,000. The Modelo 720, Without the Panic

If you become a Spanish tax resident with money or property still sitting back in America, Spain wants to know all about it. Not to tax it, necessarily, but simply to see it: the country requires residents to file an annual inventory of their foreign assets, a form called the Modelo 720, and for years …

Read More about Spain Makes You Declare Every Foreign Account Over €50,000. The Modelo 720, Without the Panic

Forget American Pancakes: How to Make Authentic Dutch Pancakes at Home

When people think of pancakes, fluffy American stacks drenched in maple syrup often come to mind. But in the Netherlands, pancakes are an entirely different experience. Known as pannenkoeken, Dutch pancakes are thin, crepe-like, and large enough to fill an entire dinner plate, served with both sweet and savory toppings that turn them into a …

Read More about Forget American Pancakes: How to Make Authentic Dutch Pancakes at Home

She Moved to Valencia With $35K and a Child: Here’s What Was Left After 1 Year

She arrived with a single suitcase, a nine-year-old, and $35,000 in cash after closing out an American apartment and selling a car. No inheritance, no secret trust, no influencer deals. Valencia was the choice because rent seemed human, the climate was gentle, and the school calendar looked like something a working parent could survive. This …

Read More about She Moved to Valencia With $35K and a Child: Here’s What Was Left After 1 Year

9 Hygiene Habits Italian Grandmothers Taught That American Bathrooms Forgot

Spend time in an Italian home, especially one run by a grandmother of the old school, and you quickly realize that cleanliness there is a whole philosophy, a set of daily rituals passed down through generations and followed with a seriousness that can make an American feel faintly grubby by comparison. Italian nonne have firm, …

Read More about 9 Hygiene Habits Italian Grandmothers Taught That American Bathrooms Forgot

Tourists Order Sushi And Locals Know These Japanese Dinners Are Just as Good

Japanese cuisine is often celebrated for its delicate flavors, seasonal ingredients, and attention to presentation. While sushi and ramen tend to steal the spotlight abroad, everyday Japanese dinners offer a variety of dishes that are comforting, nourishing, and deeply rooted in tradition. From simmered stews to sizzling grilled meats, Japanese dinner fare blends simplicity with …

Read More about Tourists Order Sushi And Locals Know These Japanese Dinners Are Just as Good

Americans Overpack for Every Trip: The French Packing Rule That Makes One Carry-On Feel Like Enough

And What It Reveals About Elegance, Efficiency, and a Quiet Rejection of “Just in Case” Culture If you’ve ever watched a French traveler arrive at a train station or airport, one detail stands out immediately: They pack light. Impossibly light. No oversized roller bags. No bulging backpacks. No “maybe I’ll need this” panic.Just a compact …

Read More about Americans Overpack for Every Trip: The French Packing Rule That Makes One Carry-On Feel Like Enough

The Barcelona Restaurant Addition Americans Think Is Free Until the Bill Comes

And what it reveals about service culture, tourist profiling, and how Americans unintentionally change the rules wherever they go It’s a warm evening in Barcelona. The terrace is full. You’ve had grilled octopus, vermut, maybe a few too many patatas bravas. The waiter brings your bill with a quiet smile and walks away. You glance …

Read More about The Barcelona Restaurant Addition Americans Think Is Free Until the Bill Comes

11 Trips People Remember for the Rest of Their Lives

There are vacations — and then there are experiences that leave a mark on your soul. The kind of travel moments that stay with you for years, shape your perspective, and become the stories you tell over and over again. These aren’t your average beach days or hotel getaways — these are bucket list travel …

Read More about 11 Trips People Remember for the Rest of Their Lives

Why Pay Costa Rica Prices? These 12 Latin American Destinations Are Worth the Detour

Costa Rica has long been the darling of travel magazines and Instagram feeds, with its lush rainforests, eco-lodges, and endless beaches. But its booming popularity comes at a cost literally. Prices have soared, tourist crowds have swelled, and the once off-the-beaten-path vibe has shifted toward mass-market tourism. The good news? Latin America is packed with …

Read More about Why Pay Costa Rica Prices? These 12 Latin American Destinations Are Worth the Detour

The Peanut Butter Cookies That Disappear Before They Cool: How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies Easy Homemade Recipe

There’s something timeless and comforting about a warm peanut butter cookie crispy at the edges, soft in the center, and packed with rich, nutty flavor. Whether it’s childhood nostalgia or just a late-night craving, this classic cookie hits the sweet spot every single time. Homemade peanut butter cookies are shockingly easy to make. With just …

Read More about The Peanut Butter Cookies That Disappear Before They Cool: How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies Easy Homemade Recipe

The EU Pet Passport, Explained: How Europeans Cross Borders With Their Dogs

One of the small wonders of European life, to an American eye, is just how casually Europeans travel with their dogs. A family in Germany can pack up the car, drive through Austria into Italy, and never once wrangle a fresh pile of veterinary paperwork at a border. To an American, for whom moving a …

Read More about The EU Pet Passport, Explained: How Europeans Cross Borders With Their Dogs