Hi! I’m Karen

About me:

I'm from California and Chicago. I studied abroad in both France and Japan in high school and university. After spending a lot of time in Granada, Spain stole my heart and I moved to Madrid as an adult. I lived in Madrid for several years before moving to Málaga where I now live. 

I've been an avid traveler for as long as I can remember - as a small kid I could identify all of the airline companies and airplane types, even from a distance. Naturally, I entered the travel industry as soon as I could, starting working for STA Travel at the University of California - Berkeley campus right after university. Throughout my career in the industry I worked for other small agencies and Airbnb (who I no longer support as they have played a large role in Spain’s housing crisis. You can read more about our commitment to responsible and sustainable travel)

These days I work for myself as the founder of Spain Less Traveled. My travels around the world have brought me to over 70 countries, mostly solo. It's hard to name just a few favorites, but some of the places that really stuck with me were Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Ecuador (for the Galapagos!), Tanzania, and Utsjoki which is in the far north of Finland where you can see the most beautiful Aurora Borealis. My favorite cities outside of Spain and the US are Paris, London, Berlin, Bologna, Sydney, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires.  

And here are my Spain top 5s:

1. Favorite Spanish city:

I could easily say Málaga, Granada, or Madrid, but I decided to mention a city I have not actually lived in. Bilbao. I love the gritty and artsy scene, the people, the Basque language (even though I can't speak it), the food, and the architecture. I always love an escape to the North of Spain, especially a city break in Bilbao!

2. Favorite Spanish food:

Little (not so) secret. I am a vegetarian, so that somewhat limits my Spanish palate. But I love a good serving of patatas cabrales - slightly fried potatoes smothered with an Asturian (again, Northern Spanish) blue cheese. Yum!

3. Favorite Spanish monument:

Offff, this one is hard as I am an art/architecture/history nerd. The obvious choice here is the Alhambra, which is really my soul place, but I am also going to say the Mezquita of Córdoba. The fact that the Christians saw the beauty and preserved it during those times speaks volumes.  

4. Favorite Spanish festival:

La Fiesta de los Patios in Córdoba. I love poking around in private gardens, meeting the owners, and seeing the colorful flowers and the architectural features that make these patios so important to Córdobese culture. The Spain Less Traveled team actually hosts an experience in Córdoba most years (but we are taking 2025 off).

5. Favorite Spanish pueblo:

Grazalema in Cádiz province. I love the stark contrast of the whitewashed village nestled in the green mountains. I love the local cheese (payoyo) and the goats who make it. A few other favorites are Pollenca on Mallorca, Albarracín in Aragón, Hervás in Extremadura, and Cudillero in Asturias. 

Let’s connect on LinkedIn, and if you have any questions, let me know. I can’t wait to meet you and help you design your dream Spain itinerary.