Thomas's Weekly Whims, Vol. 25

My new favorite shirt brand, travel reflections and travel tips that can save you money

Thomas here. Julia and I got our wire crossed and we both turned in our Weekly Whims so this got pushed to today. It’s mostly filled with travel themed items.

1. Buck Mason Shirts T-shirts tend to feel almost disposable to me—after a year or two, they lose their shape, fade, and inevitably gather a few too many armpit stains. I've been meaning to visit Buck Mason's Charleston store for a while. Shopping online was overwhelming due to the sheer number of options, so I finally went in-store and bought eight new shirts. They’ve been fantastic. Usually, Julia gives me feedback on my wardrobe selections, but this time, due to our pre-trip rush, I had to go solo. Surprisingly, she's complimented every shirt, especially two with added texture, including one cashmere blend that's probably the best shirt I've ever owned and this hemp ribbed shirt that looks good dressed up with slacks for an easy but put together summer look.

2. Open Jaw Flights Later this year, we're visiting London and the English countryside, followed by Ireland to see family and for me to run a race in Northern Ireland with my brother-in-law. Whenever I book multi-city flights, I always compare round-trip versus one-way fares. Open-jaw flights, which allow arriving and departing from different cities, saves around 30% compared to booking one-way tickets separately. For this trip, for example, we’ll fly into London and return from Dublin booked through Delta, then book intra-European flights separately, saving quite a bit.

3. Travel Shorts I’ve never been a cargo shorts fan, but I’m grateful they're back in style. My go-to pair for travel this year has been from Mr P. Their cargo pockets are perfect for stashing earbuds or passports—especially handy for the dad who's responsible for everyone's travel documents.

4. English in Europe Our last trip to Greece was 11 years ago, and reflecting on changes in travel since then, I noticed a few things. Wi-Fi is now effortlessly available, unlike a decade ago when Julia and I spent hours hunting for cafes with Wi-Fi. Another significant change is how prevalent English has become across Europe. As an English speaker, I feel incredibly spoiled by the convenience it offers, and it certainly removes communication barriers for hesitant travelers.

5. The Bear Season 4 For our trip I downloaded season four of The Bear. It’s been one of my favorite shows although at times it can be really hard to watch. I'm appreciating that this season feels less hectic compared to previous seasons where episodes of dysfunction always had me on edge—definitely worth watching if you’re a fan. There were even a few moments that brought out a tear or two later in the season.

6. ATM Travel Tip When using ATMs abroad, always opt out of the currency conversion offered at the machine. These rates are usually unfavorable compared to letting your bank handle the conversion automatically. Look carefully, as the wording at ATMs is intentionally confusing.

7. European Beach Clubs I wish European-style beach clubs existed in the U.S.—there’s nothing quite like them. Spending a day at a beach club, enjoying service right at your chair with a leisurely lunch is incredibly relaxing. Many of them even had water sports which our whole family loved. On the Greek trip, we visited Faragas Beach Club and Monastiri Beach Club in Paros, and in Mykonos, we went to Nammos and Scorpios. In Spetses we've done Keiki and Paradise Beach Club. And the Amanzoe beach club was pretty awesome too.

8. Greek Dishes I'm Stealing Greek food is incredibly fresh, tasty, and perfect for summer. Julia and I felt great after every meal there, inspiring us to recreate dishes like Greek salad (we have 1-2 per day), baked feta, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, tzatziki and other Greek yogurt dips, meatballs, and I'm even considering trying to grill a whole fish at home. I did try to make a Greek salad a day or two after we returned home, it didn’t quite taste the same despite following the recipe perfectly.

9. Digital SIM for Travel Years ago, when T-Mobile introduced its unlimited international plan, Julia and I switched to dual SIM setups, changing physical SIM cards at each destination. I nearly lost sim cards in airplane seats, it was not a fun process. Eventually, I fully switched to T-Mobile for its convenience. However, their "unlimited" data slows after reaching a threshold, prompting me to use Holafly digital SIMs. For around €60, I get 30 days of unlimited high-speed data, essential for data-heavy tasks like navigation with Google Maps. The setup is seamless, keeping my regular phone number active for calls and texts.

10. Roka Goggles I've always loved swimming, though my brother was more the competitive swimmer. Now, watching my daughters develop the same love for water is rewarding. Having reliable goggles is non-negotiable for me. After borrowing a friend's Roka goggles—and already being a fan of their sunglasses—I chose Roka's X1 goggles for their wide field of view. Highly recommend!