Spain’s 100% Tax/Cheaper Skiing in Europe/Eagle Creek Gear Warrior
Nomadico issue #140
A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.
Spain Doesn’t Want Your $$$
We’ve previously reported on Spain’s onerous data requests for Brits and aggressive income tax grabs for foreigners already paying taxes elsewhere. Now the country is in the news again with more signals that they don’t really want foreigners putting down roots there. First, they’re ending their Golden Visa program, following similar moves by other countries who found it to be “too successful.” But the prime minister has doubled down with a statement that he wants to implement a 100% tax on real estate investments from non-EU foreigners.
Greener Chicago
While it’s valid to be concerned about how dirty federal energy policy will become under the next US administration, cities and companies keep marching into a cleaner air future regardless. Chicago recently announced that 100% of its city buildings—including its two airports—are now running on renewable energy only. The reduced pollution is equivalent to taking 62,000 cars off the road.
Brands and Big Business
JCPenney just announced it is merging with Sparc Group, which owns Forever 21, Aéropostale, Eddie Bauer, Nautica, and Brooks Brothers. The A/B InBev beer conglomerate stocks the sports stadium stands with its own Bud, Corona, Stella, Beck’s, Leffe, Labatt, Hoegaarden, Goose Island, and a potential 390 others. In travel, Expedia, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, CheapTickets, ebookers, Vrbo, and Hotwire are all part of the same company. I just made 2025 season price updates to this article on how it is so much more expensive to ski in North America than in Europe. It is partly because Vail Resorts owns 37 ski mountains and Alterra owns 15.
Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Suitcases
While I was wheeling an Osprey suitcase around Europe for two months, my wife carried an Eagle Creek Gear Warrior one we’ve been using for even more years. One of these costs two or three times what something from Samsonite or a lesser brand will, but it’s better made and guaranteed for life. In a quarter-century of using bags from Eagle Creek—an independent company—I’ve only actually thrown away one of them. The company has sent replacement wheels twice, so the warranty is not just an empty promise. See the current checked version in 4 colors or the carry-on version at Amazon. Or see the whole line at EagleCreek.com.
01/23/25
