Express

The Robla Express is the “Orient Express” of the north

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We live in an environment in which having the skyrocketing cortisol levels and rushing everywhere is part of the daily routine. For that reason, travel by train It is once again a symbol of distinction. Not by arriving earlier, but by how you get there. In the midst of the so-called “slow luxury“, where time becomes the true luxury, the La Robla Express emerges as one of the most exclusive railway experiences in Spain. His proposal: recover the pleasure of travel without rushenjoying each section of the journey as if it were part of the destination. A journey where time stops He La Robla Express tours the north of the peninsula on two routes: The Robla route and the pilgrim route. The first connects Bilbao and León over three days and two nights, while the second route is circular and reflects the spirit of the Camino de Santiago with its beginning and end in Oviedo, extending its duration to six days and five nights. Both with a format designed for those looking for something more than a simple trip. Although the trip takes place on board the train, the itinerary is also built around the stops. The days alternate journeys lulled by the gentle rattle of the tracks with guided tours to northern cultural enclaves. From museums and monuments to historic towns, all of them accompanied by a guide and a support coach that transports travelers to visit. Gastronomy is also an essential part of the trip with lunch and dinner served in the luxurious dining rooms of the train that reminiscent of bygone eras. At night, the train remains parked to guarantee a complete rest, maintaining that calm that defines the experience. As in the other luxury trains from Renfetraveling on the La Robla Express is not an economical experience. The average price is between 1,300 and 1,700 euros per persona figure that reinforces its status as a premium product within the Spanish tourism offer. The best thing is to travel like 100 years ago Restored with care to preserve the spirit of the great classic trainsthe Robla Expreso combines lounge cars with large windows, warm compartments with bunk beds and a private bathroom, and an atmosphere that attempts to replicate the golden age of the railway at the beginning of the 20th century. This experience adds to the global movement that has returned prominence to the luxury trains that are resurfacing throughout Europe. The rise of “slow luxury“is reflected in the recovery of mythical routes and in the launch of new proposals where slow travel is the central axis. In recent years we have seen how They returned to the proposed luxury routes such as those of Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with suites that reach prices similar to those of the most exclusive hotels, are evidence of the extent to which the economic elite has once again looked at the railway as a symbol of lifestyle. In Spain, Renfe has followed the same path with the renewal of the Al-Andalus trainwhich has reinforced its position as a national alternative to the Orient Express model, offering a different way of getting to know the south of Spain at a calmer pace. In that context, the La Robla Express It occupies a unique space in which the aesthetics of classic luxury are combined with a more intimate approach and a tour of some of the greenest and most peaceful landscapes in the north of the peninsula. The new luxury is the experience of traveling slowly, carefully and far from the speed that dominates current transportation. This train represents a way of traveling that turns each kilometer into part of the memory. A luxury that is not measured in speed, but in the ability to enjoy the journey. In Xataka | Hotel chains no longer just offer luxury rooms: Ritz-Carlton dives into the superyacht business Image | Flickr (Luxury Train Consultancy), Renfe

The housing market is so broken that it has found an unexpected channel for express purchases: Telegram

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The housing market is overheated. It comes with taking a look at your price curvehe residential deficit calculated by the sector, the accelerated tempos of the agencies or simply the conditions (increasingly draconian) that real estate agencies require from tenants looking for an apartment to confirm it. There is another place however where that fever is clearly perceivedone that has little to do with agencies, portals like Idealista or the offices of the promoters: Telegram. There it is increasingly easier to find apartment purchases that are closed in minutes with a clear investment focus. Seen and unseen. The news I advanced it a few days ago The Country. If there were doubts about the imbalance between supply and demand in the Spanish real estate market or to what extent housing is awakening the appetite of investors comes with taking a look at Telegram. In the same messaging app that many of us use to talk to our families or friends, there are groups with thousands of subscribers that have become real real estate showcases. Of course, with certain peculiarities: speed prevails in the channels, the ‘seen and unseen’, with a clearly investor focus. It is not unusual for sales to be settled in a matter of minutes, sometimes by buyers who do not even get to visit the home they are purchasing in person. At the end of the day, you are not looking for a home. Generally, those who buy do so attracted by the promise of high returns. And one of the most popular ways is the rental market. How do they work? The mechanism is quite simple. The channels are run by specialized companies that are previously in charge of tracking the market in search of assets with potential, apartments in locations with rising markets, at reasonable prices and in which it is possible to charge tenants monthly payments that, over time, will translate into profitability of the 6%, 8%, 9% or even 13%, far above than other more conventional investments offer. Once the company ‘hunts’ that real estate asset, it offers it on its Telegram channel with a series of key data: area, location, age, sale price, estimated rent and profitability forecasts. Potential buyers send emails showing their interest and then the company chooses among the candidates, either by lottery or following the order in which they have written. It is not unusual for the buyer to never see the property or even live in another city. At the end of the day, what counts is the promise of economic return. How frequent is it? Last year the General Council of Notaries registered almost 716,200 home sales in Spain. Among this enormous volume of operations, those closed expressly through Telegram could have represented a small part (there is no official data), but even so the phenomenon is interesting enough that it has followers. The Country speaks from several companies that launch offers every week through groups in which they reach 3,000, 10,500 or even 15,000 subscribers. Specifically, he cites three companies in the sector: Winteromics, Nexiaprop and Buy 1 apartmentalthough not all of them are the same nor do they use Telegram with the same frequency. More than just speed. That the formula is arousing interest is explained by the characteristics of the real estate market. In cities with very stressed markets, such as Madrid, Barcelona either Valenciarents rise, but so do (and not a little) the price of properties, so its real estate stock loses interest for local investors in search of available homes to direct them to the rental market. Solution? Look beyond the metropolises, in other locations, if possible in municipalities where prices are still reasonable, where population is gaining or an increase in demand is expected in the near future, for example due to the arrival of a multinational. Hence, buyers are interested in homes that may be hundreds or thousands of kilometers from where they live. Mediation companies not only promise huge financial returns. Sometimes, if the expected returns are not achieved, they undertake to cover the difference or even offer their services as intermediaries to take care of the renovations or rental management. That is, even if the investor has in mind becoming a landlord, he or she will not even have to act as such. The company itself takes care of it… after payment (of course) of a commission. Looking for strategic areas. The focus is usually on homes located in working-class areas, without conflicts, with sales prices that usually do not reach or range around 100,000 euros. Companies also manage to ensure that these properties are not even offered on the open market, thus becoming the first to hunt for ‘bargains’ for investors. The companies they allege who with their work increase the rental supply and unlock properties that have been empty for some time. Of course, it’s not all advantages. As in any investment, the sector also recognizes that there are “risks”, especially for buyers who purchase apartments without first seeing them in situ. Images | Ivan Radic (Flickr) and Kaspar Upmanis (Unsplash) In Xataka | For years, motorhomes were a luxury. Now they are something else: the last stronghold against the housing crisis

Renfe has climbed into the luxury train with a renewed proposal proposal express: al-Andalus

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Renfe celebrates the 40th anniversary of one of his most emblematic tourist trains, the Al-Andaluswith a great renovation for its 2026 season. With this exclusive luxury train, Renfe climbs into the “Slow Luxury” rebirth car that are promoting international luxury operators such as Belmond Train, owned by LVMH, with proposals for proposals for more rest and exclusive trips aboard of the Orient Express or the Britannic Explorer. A luxury train to the heart of Andalusia. In its proposal by 2026, the Al-Andalus expands its route to include Historical and cultural destinations from Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and the Community of Madrid, offering an exceptional trip inspired by the elegance and glamor of another era. This “Orient Express” Spanish It moves passengers to another era full of luxuries and sophistication, but in which everything develops at a slower pace, in contrast to the speed at which the current world moves. That is precisely the experience of traveling on this exclusive train, to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. New route for 2026. The 2026 route is an invitation to discover the patrimonial and gastronomic wealth of the south and the interior of the Peninsula. For seven days, Al-Andalus travelers travel Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid, with stops in such emblematic cities such as Jerez, Cádiz, Sevilla, Córdoba, Toledo, Aranjuez, Cáceres, Mérida and the Spanish capital. This journey maintains the classical duration of seven days and six nights on board, where time passes between fascinating landscapes, cultural stops and an atmosphere that revives the elegance of the early twentieth century. Comforts and luxury services on board. The Al-Andalus train is the longest train that circulates along the Spanish roads, with 450 meters long, equivalent to a skyscraper of 150 plants. It consists of 14 cars that house a total of 64 passengers. Among its amenities are a kitchen car, two restaurants, a bar, a game room and seven beds to rest with all the Comodities of a luxury hotel. The services vary according to the category of accommodation that travelers choose. The large class has an area of ​​6.58 m2 with two individual beds and includes all meals, visits and excursions, welcome cup, cleaning products and shoes. The Deluxe suite offers 8.26 m2 with a careful design and double bed, private bathroom with hydromassage shower and adds exclusive services such as the personnel are responsible for making and undo bags, opening and closing beds and all non -alcoholic beverages of the suite are included. Experiences of another era, current prices. Traveling in Al-Andalus is a luxurious experience that is not available to everyone: For the 2026 seasonprices range between 5,000 and 14,000 euros, depending on the type of accommodation. The Double Class Cabina costs 13,200 euros between two people, while the individual is valued at 11,200 euros. The most exclusive option is the Deluxe double cabin, whose price reaches 15,800 euros, with an individual rate of 13,800 euros. This rate includes a luxury bus that accompanies the train during the tour to facilitate displacements on excursions, in addition to a multilingual guide, safety service and free train transfers from and from the start and end points of the route. In Xataka | Private Jets have lost glamor among the rich: now they prefer to go “of Chill” in exclusive luxury trains cars Image | Renfe

If you already have the Nintendo Switch 2, these are some of the best MicroSD Express cards you can buy

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The New Nintendo Switch 2 He has been hoarding headlines since he was put up for sale (and even before) and is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. If you already have it, one of those essential accessories to expand the storage space is a MicroSD Express card. This New Nintendo console It does not accept memory cards but only microSD Express. If you wonder why, the reason is simple and they offer much faster reading and writing speeds. So the cards you had for your old Nintendo Switch will not serve you. These are the two alternatives we have found in the market right now. Sandisk Microsd Express 256 GB By 68.90 euros At Amazon you have this MicroSD Express card available with 256 GB capacity of the Sandisk firm, leader in this type of cards. Offers Reading speeds up to 8.8 times faster than a standard card. Thanks to these speeds, it will save you time, since it allows saving up to 4.5 minutes when transferring 60 minutes of video 4K UHD. In addition, when you buy it, you get the file recovery software Rescuepro Deluxe. Sandisk Microsd Express, 256 GB * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung Micro Sd Express Card For Nintendo Switch 2 This Samsung card has Official Nintendo license and its design is in red and with the m of ‘Mario Bross’ on the front. Its official price, at the moment, is 59.90 euros In Amazon. Like the previous model, it has a storage capacity of 256 GB. Samsung Micro Sd Express Card For Nintendo Switch 2 * Some price may have changed from the last review Other accessories that may interest you for your Nintendo Switch 2 HEYSTOP FOR NINENDO SWITCH 2 ACCESSORIES * Some price may have changed from the last review Jsaux 3-Pack Protector screen for nintendo switch 2 2025 * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Álex Alcolea (Xataka) and Nintendo In Xataka | In which stores is available to buy the Nintendo Switch 2: Amazon, Mediamarkt, Fnac and more In Xataka | Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch. What hybrid console buy and how are they differentiated

This is the Dolce Vita Orient Express, the Italian train of up to 21,400 euros the room for two nights

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Thinking about a vacation in a luxury medium is to think, automatically, on a cruise. These huge ships They have become synonymous with high transport standingwith proposals as exclusive as the experiences of the Four Seasons yates. However, another transport wants to make way to elbow in this segment: The trains. Seeking to emulate the sophistication of the Orient Express, Italy has just opened a train not suitable for all pockets: the Dolce Vita Orient Express. Retro-Chic. At the beginning of April, a strategic collaboration formed by several Italian companies announced the debut of the first national manufacturing luxury train. Baptized as La Dolce Vita Orient Express (because yes, the iconic Belgian company is behind), it is a vehicle that wants to mark a milestone in luxury tourism in the country, showing its cultural heritage and what they can do regarding gastronomy and sophistication. In a cradle country of some of the most important developers and brands such as Maserati, Ferrari either Lamborghini (And the Alfa Romeo of beauties like the Montreal), that mixture between mechanics and luxury was not something that was questioned. And the idea regarding interior design is to combine the styles of the middle of the last century with more contemporary elements. Luxury. Designed by Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, they recognize that the idea is to invite passengers to a trip on a train with a “sumptuous decoration.” The two designers comment that they have designed all the details not with the idea that it is an example of the ostentatious luxury, but to give the impression that it has always existed. The interiors are imposing, with details such as the very spacious dining room, rooms with sofas and, above all, the rooms. Seating Rooms. They are the ones who monopolize attention and there are two types. On the one hand, the Deluxe cabins that have wood everywhere, a sofa that becomes a bed of 140 x 190 centimeters, coffee table, stool, private bathroom and an area of ​​7 m². Deluxe And his bathroom On the other hand, the suite cabins. With 11 m² and more windows, a table with two seats and a bed of 140 x 190 cm. It also has a bathroom, mirrors everywhere, as well as design lamps and accessories such as bronze finishes. Suite And his bathroom To eat, beyond the room service, there is a dining room in which chef Heinz Beck, with three Michelin stars, has designed the menu based on the country’s gastronomic tradition. Get to the seat. The intention of this new Express Orient is to emulate the experience of the Belgian original that connected Paris with Istanbul and already turned into his day into synonym for glamor and exclusivity. For the Dolce Vita Orient Express, eight itineraries have prepared with durations of one or two nights, depending on the route, and covering trips between Sicily and Rome, the ‘Trufa route’ or that of the vineyards, that of the beaches of Sicily, Venice and Tuscan or Venice and Portofino. The prices? The one of the vineyards of one night, from 3,060 euros per passenger. Venice and Tuscan of two nights from 5,440 euros per passenger and Sicily to Rome from 8,880 euros per passenger, but that if two people go. If only one goes, the Deluxe room comes out for 16,872 euros and the suite for 21,432 euros. In addition, you can reserve extra experiences such as visits to Taormina and Mararatea for another 800 euros. Revival of the train. Something interesting is that this train is not unique in Europe. He Britannic Exploreralso with Michelin star menu and Art Deco cabins to explore the United Kingdom, it is an example. Another is the Simplon Orient Expresswhich was the train that, until the arrival of La Dolce Vita, kept alive the spirit of the original orient express. And in Spain we have Alternatives as luxurious as transcantabric. These proposals are still very exclusive to attract luxury tourism national and international. Or for anyone who wants to give a whim Caprichazo Images | Orient Express In Xataka | The luxury cruise that became an excrement prison: the unpleasant history of Carnival Triumph

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