RPMatt

Slovenia is a beautiful country split between the Alps and the Balkans. As such, it contains a mix of the two cultures. When traveling to Slovenia, you will experience a bit of all of that. Slovenia has a reputation for being underrated, cheap, pretty, or… Read more: What to know before traveling to Slovenia

Since travel restrictions related to Covid were lifted in 2021-2023, the travel industry has bounced back with a vengeance. People re-scheduled their busted plans, or took the time to finally plan trips for themselves. All this travel has led to over-tourism in places like Japan,… Read more: 5 Emerging Places to visit in 2026

Since we’ve moved to London, I’ve had the goal of visiting the other countries in the United Kingdom, as well as the English countryside. I had some early opportunities to visit Scotland and more of England, but Wales evaded me up until recently. For the… Read more: Skomer Island Puffins, Waterfall Country and the Tranquility of Wales

Tenerife is the largest and most populous Canary Island, a beautiful place full of diverse landscapes. When we were there, we got to experience many of the Tenerife beaches, as well as rainforests and mountains. A lot of people may have been to or heard… Read more: Exploring Tenerife beaches, mountains, forests and deserts

Hey! Welcome to RPMatt, today I’m going to give some tips that I learned on my solo trip to Madrid. I went for a short weekend from London, so I was essentially there 24 hours. Still, I had a blast and was able to make… Read more: Weekend guide to Madrid Solo Travel

Tromsø, Norway – “The Paris of the North” is a picturesque city in the north of Norway. From London, it is a three hour flight. With a similar distance from Paris, Germany and the Netherlands, you will see many visitors from these places as well.… Read more: Chasing Northern Lights in the Paris of the North

Last weekend, I took the train to visit Scotland from London. It was a cold February weekend, but the difference in weather between there and London was minimal. We spent most of our time in Edinburgh, but we took one day of the extended weekend… Read more: A breathtaking trip to Scotland from London

Today I wanted to write about a subject that I’ve often thought about: does traveling make you happier? Obviously, there is no one answer, and it is quite a subjective question. Even for me, the answer to the question has changed and evolved over time… Read more: Does traveling make you happier?

Howdy all! Today’s post I want to talk about how to plan your first trip to Europe. We’ll talk about how to pick where and when to go, how to score cheap flights, find hotels, and bounce around once you’ve made it across the pond.… Read more: How to plan your first trip to Europe

Howdy! Paris is one of my favorite cities to visit, despite complaints from lots of Americans that it’s dirty, crowded, scammy, and rude. Part of this is because I have spent many years learning about French language and culture. However, I think the biggest driver… Read more: Best neighborhoods in Paris for a totally different trip

Happy Travel Tuesday! As you’re looking to book your discounted flights, I’m sure Lisbon has crossed your mind. I just got done spending a long weekend there and thought I’d write about how I spent it, and how you might also. Where to hang around… Read more: How to spend a weekend in stunning Lisbon

Hiya! It’s been about two months now since I moved from Texas to London. I was able to get an expat assignment through my company, which will have me here for at least a year. I thought I’d share the things I’ve learned in hopes… Read more: What it’s like moving to the UK as an American Expat

The Big Bend region of Texas is located in the far west of the state. Named for the big bend in the Rio Grande river nearby, it includes many sites such as Big Bend National Park, Marfa, Terlingua, the Davis Mountains, and Balmorhea State Park.… Read more: Chasing the Texas Sun: An Odyssey through Big Bend, Marfa, and the Davis Mountains

Jacob’s Well is one of Texas’ most beautiful and unique destinations. Nestled in the hill country near Wimberley, it is a spring that makes up the headwaters of Cypress Creek, which flows through Blue Hole Regional Park and feeds into the Blanco River. The water… Read more: Discovering Wimberley: Dive into the Depths of Jacob’s Well and Beyond with Exciting Local Adventures

When you think of Costa Rica, you likely think of the ocean, the jungle, coffee, chocolate, volcanos, toucans, sloths, etc. Many visitors find themselves in the north of the country near La Fortuna or Monteverde or on the Pacific Coast at Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.… Read more: Discover the beauty of Piedras Blancas, Costa Rica

Chicago, a city renowned for its iconic skyline and diverse neighborhoods. Beyond the tourist hotspots in The Loop are neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, and Uptown. The first time I visited Chicago, I found myself pretty much never leaving “The Loop.” However, the… Read more: Unveiling Chicago’s Hidden Gems: A Neighborhood Odyssey

Near Houston along what is now the Houston Ship Channel, stands a towering monument paying tribute to one of Texas’ pivotal moments. This monument honors the Texan army force that defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army in just 18 minutes. This… Read more: San Jacinto Battlefield Monument: A Historic Tribute to Texas Independence

Introduction Welcome to Wynwood, Miami, a neighborhood that radiates creativity, colors, and an infectious energy. Nestled in the heart of Miami, Wynwood has transformed from an industrial district into a thriving hub for art, culture, and nightlife. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a foodie, or… Read more: Wynwood: A Miami destination with some of the best energy and photos

Welcome to Brickell, Miami’s thriving Financial District and a neighborhood that encapsulates many people’s mental image of Miami. In this area, you will find sleek glass and steel structures, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, upscale shopping, and an array of culinary options. It’s easy to see why… Read more: Brickell: Miami’s new Epicenter of Urban Sophistication

South Beach, Miami is known for captivating architecture, sandy shores, and a unique energy which offers a sensory feast for visitors. Here, Latin culture clashes with the decadence of a bygone era which creates a wonderful mix of things to see and do. Whether you… Read more: South Beach: Miami’s best place to feel rich and famous

The Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston, TX is a wonderful terrarium tucked away in the Houston Museum of Natural Science. While the museum boasts many exhibits about natural history, the Burke Baker Planetarium, and even a collection of Faberge eggs; Many people are drawn specifically… Read more: Fluttering Beauty and Natural Wonder: Exploring the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston, TX

Howdy y’all! I finished up my Europe trip reports for right now, so I thought I’d shift gears back to something local. This post will hopefully make you aware of sort of a hidden gem in Houston. The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is… Read more: Visiting the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at Rice University (Houston, TX)

Amsterdam is a city with a youthful vibrancy like few others. The hustle and bustle of all the bicycles, pedestrians, trams and busses mixed with the old-world feel of the architecture and canals give it a unique vibe. The city’s open-mindedness is evident throughout, and… Read more: The Magic of Amsterdam: A City of Canals, Coffee Shops, and Culture

On my recent trip to Amsterdam, my German friend who I met there asked me what stereotypes of the Netherlands Americans held. I had to think about it for a second, but then I thought: Bicycles, efficient and widespread public transport, weed, the red light… Read more: How to visit Keukenhof from Amsterdam to see the Dutch tulips

On my trip to Europe in March, we took a train from Bruges to Amsterdam. There were multiple ways to do this route, including going back to Brussels and getting on a train. However, I received a tip to go through Antwerp due to the… Read more: Plan a stop for photos and old-world energy at Antwerp’s Central train station if you’re traveling through Belgium

For this weeks blog, I’ll be talking about my stop in Bruges, Belgium on my trip to Europe last month. We took a detour to Bruges from London on the way to Amsterdam. Getting to Bruges from London Getting there was super simple, we just… Read more: Bruges from London, a weekend trip to a fairy-tale village

Today, I’ll be continuing a series of posts related to my recent trip to Europe with a recap of our time in London. London was our second stop on the trip, and we took the Eurostar from Paris to London. We were only able to… Read more: A whirlwind day exploring Central London by bus, train, boat & foot

If you’re like me and you tend to drink a bunch of water throughout a normal day (3-4 liters, usually), you know that this can be pretty difficult to maintain when traveling, particularly if you’re trying to save money. I’ve built up the habit of… Read more: Refreshing yourself with the public water fountains in Paris

In March, my wife and I took a trip to Europe with our first stop being in Paris. Since we had been to Paris before, we decided this would be a good trip to try and venture out to Versailles and see the famous palace… Read more: How to plan a trip to the Palace of Versailles from Paris (without a tour guide)

Last month, my wife and I had the chance to visit Europe for my first time since 2021. While the weather was a bit colder than we were used to, the crowds were very manageable, the cherry blossoms were blossoming, and the weather was not… Read more: Summary of my trip to Paris, London, & Amsterdam: March 2023

Hello all, this post will help you navigate the Eurostar website which comes in handy when it comes to traveling by train between London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels. While this is not the only train company in this region and sometimes not even the cheapest,… Read more: Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam

Multi-city flights, or open-jaw flights, are a great way to fly cheaply and with flexibility when you’re booking a trip. This works particularly well in somewhere like Europe or Southeast Asia where things are connected by regional airlines or trains. The premise here is that… Read more: How to fly cheaply by booking a Multi-city flight

This weekend, my wife and I took a trip to the Houston Zoo at Hermann Park. Our main mission was simple: see the capybara’s. Prior to this outing, I hadn’t been to a zoo in at least 10 years, probably more. I hadn’t gone mainly… Read more: A day at the Houston Zoo in Hermann Park