Notes: The Value of Spontaneous Travel

With a little legwork, last-minute adventures can be joyous and inexpensive

I went to Barcelona last weekend with $116 in my checking account. I knew I’d need five of those dollars to pay for the AirTrain from JFK to the Howard Beach Station, so I had $111 in reality. I do not have a credit card. I am fortunate enough to have nominal back-up resources if something goes wrong, but that wasn’t the point. I was …

A Secret Portion of Central Park Just Reopened

A previously restricted portion of Central Park has reopened to the public after over 80 years. Located just south of Wollman Rink, the four-acre peninsula was closed off to the public in the ‘30s by former parks commissioner Robert Moses to serve as a sanctuary for birds. Now, under a new initiative by the Central Park Conservancy that aims to revitalize unkempt areas of the …

Porter & Sail’s Travel Concierge Service in Barcelona

Navigating the Spanish city with expert cultural recommendations

With Casa Bonay (a 19th century mansion turned 67-room boutique hotel) as our home base, we recently spent time in Barcelona exploring the recommendations of digital concierge service Porter & Sail. We first looked into the app’s potential during London’s Frieze Week last year and found their system to be unique and effective. Porter & Sail partners with smart, design-forward hotels—like Casa Bonay (and The …