Nomad Travel Company

12/06/2016

Vietnam here we come!

26/08/2014

Cuba is all but a mystery to the typical American. Thanks to the slew of 1950's American cars throughout the country, Cuba is famous for looking like a place that's truly stuck in time. With American travel restrictions evolving (yet still in place), venturing to Cuba is finally getting easier. Here's a beautiful 2-minute video showing off Havana; the capital and most populous city in Cuba. It's a visual tribute to a city & country that America has shunned for over half a century. Enjoy.
-RW-

Havana is one of those cities that stay with you long after you have left. Shot over a few days in January 2013. Photography, edit and color grading by Ezaram…

25/08/2014

Travel a lot for work? Take public transportation to the office? Whatever the reason, if you've got a car that spends more time gathering dust than it spends on the road, then RelayRides could be perfect for you.
It's a brand new car sharing service that allows you to rent out your car whenever you feel like it (or rent someone else's car while you're traveling). Say you're going on a business trip for a week. Instead of paying WAY too much to park it at the airport...using RelayRides you can rent out your car while you're traveling. San Francisco folks even have the option to park at the SFO airport for free! Plus, you're insured for up to $1 million dollars for any wrong doing while your car is in a renter's hands. Sounds pretty ideal to me.
-RW-

Rent cars from our nationwide car sharing marketplace or make money by renting out your car. Revolutionary selection of car rentals for a great value. Join our community.

23/08/2014

Another super-cute tear drop trailer. -PW-

23/08/2014

Once you arrive at Ha Long Bay, you can rent a boat to give you a tour of the bay. See the one we rented below, each boat being a work of art in bright colors. One of the amazing sights is the floating villages. Spread over four "village" areas are 400 households totaling around 1,000 people. The first couple of villages were formed at the beginning of the nineteenth century. They adapted to rising waters by making homes on boats. -PW-

19/08/2014

Just back from camping in the Oregon high Cascades at Little Cultus Lake. Amazing area to visit in the NW - where else can you go boating (kayaking, fishing boat) and feel like you have the entire lake to yourself? Highly recommended! In the meantime, Staying with the theme of amazing places to visit check these amazing sights out. -PW-
http://www.boredpanda.com/amazing-places/

Our world is so full of wonders that new and amazing places are discovered every day, be that by professional photographers or amateurs. Different geographical locations, climatic conditions and even seasons offer the widest variety of natural wonders: pink lakes, stunning lavender or tulip fields,…

19/08/2014

Be honest...when it comes to traveling accommodations, do you think of hostels as just a cheap and dirty option that only college students and murderers use? I bet more often than not, staying at a hostel doesn't even cross your mind.
But disregarding them may be a bigger mistake than you'd ever imagine. I'm a big fan of hostels. They're nearly always the most inexpensive option, plus you get perks like guided tours, daily breakfast, bar/restaurant hopping events, and a social scene that your Best Western can only dream of. You may not get robes & a dozen ice machines, but you can actually have fun staying at a hostel.
In hopes of swaying your opinion even more...here's an article highlighting "Hostels with a view" from all around the world. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
-RW-

When you hit the road, usually seeing the sights is pretty high on the list of priorities. So why should your time in a hostel be any different? There are many hostels on Hostelworld.com with great views, but we’ve picked out some of the best here, ranging from city skylines to stunning mountain vis…

18/08/2014

The Skeleton Coast in Namibia may just be the most menacing place on Earth...
Here's a few highlights from the Skeleton Coast --- it's the home to more than 1,000 shipwrecks, it's endearingly called "The Gates of Hell", as well as "the land God made in anger". How charming. Love seals? Who doesn't. Well, it's not uncommon for The Skeleton Coast to house a quarter-of-a-million seals at a time. Apparently the smell of that many seals is another "charming" trait of the coast. Plus, it's the only place in the world where the sand dunes quite literally roar. Even knowing that merely sand & wind are the culprits of the din, on her first visit to Skeleton Coast an amazed journalist from CNN remained "convinced there [were] low-flying jets overhead."
Now that sounds like an adventure.
-RW-

For centuries, a stretch of Africa's shore has lived up to its sinister name. From whales to ships to unlucky explorers, the Skeleton Coast has become the graveyard of many.

17/08/2014

Here's a great resource I just stumbled upon.
It's called "Groupize" and it's goal is to end the hassle and time-consuming planning that group vacations often require. It is the ideal tool for planning multi-family vacations, weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc.
Groupize.com describes their simple planning approach -- "Just enter your dates, destination, and number of rooms, and Groupize will return real-time pricing and group deals from a wide selection of group-friendly hotels." After that, additional customizations can also be made for your group. So in the end, it all but guarantees you the smoothest experience you've ever had on a group trip. Thank you Groupize. -RW-

Enter your dates, destination and number of rooms, and Groupize will return real-time pricing and group deals from a wide selection of group-friendly hotels. Compare the results by price, amenities and location and select up to 3 favorites from which to request an offer.

12/08/2014

No matter who you ask, there's one thing everyone knows about traveling. It's expensive. Airfare, lodging, restaurants at least twice a day, buying souvenirs for ungrateful friends and family, and maybe even paying for house/pet-sitting while you're gone. It's no wonder so many people treat travel like a 'bucket list' item instead of a yearly (or more) goal.
So leave Paris, London, and Stockholm on that bucket list. Because, I've got some other great vacation spots that cut back big-time on that cost of living. Just click and follow the link below to this great article that ranks the "10 Best Budget Destinations for 2014". Enjoy.
-RW-

With amazing food, glorious public spaces, and unparalleled museums, theme parks, and beaches, the only thing “budget” about these world-class vacation spots is the price tag!

12/08/2014

Traveled to South Korea last fall and one of my favorite sights/experience while there was a dog cafe called Bau Haus in Hongdae. You can sit, drink, and play with the dogs! You can also bring your own. They have info sheets so that you can read about the dogs and find out their names, breeds etc. The dogs are allowed everywhere (yes everywhere, including on top of the tables)! Admission is free but you are required to order a beverage. It is very sanitary, the staff are constantly cleaning up any messes. I highly recommend a visit if you find yourself in Korea and are a dog lover like myself! -JW-

12/08/2014

OK, my latest thing (obsession?) is tear drop trailers. This happened due to a car show I went to a few years ago, small houses, and some other strange draw I have for these things. Though I love the idea of traveling all over the country in a motorhome, another part of me rebels at the thought of 4 mpg, big american lifestyles, and wanting to commune more with nature (that could be a stretch). Regardless, as I explore these wonderful things I'll share what I learn along the way. This one just makes me happy. -PW-

11/08/2014

Chris Guillebeau is an entrepreneur, visitor of every country in the world, and an author. He authored a book called "The Art of Non-Conformity". That book was the main inspiration for me to begin my journey of...let's say, unconventional employment. It absolutely changed my life when I read it during the first few days of my month-long trip across Spain.
In just 10 years, Chris traveled to ALL 193 countries! He continues to fly around 200,000 miles per year. Want to pick the brain of a man with a travel resume like that? I thought so. Just head on over to his website and check out his amazing page of "Travel Hacking Resources". It really has EVERYTHING you need to know for your future adventures. Enjoy!
-RW-

Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel

11/08/2014

First of all, getting to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi is an adventure all by itself. The drive will take you nearly 3 hours, but for american travelers this trip could be a nail biting one to say the least. If you've traveled to other parts of Asia, then you've likely seen the pure chaos of motorbikes intertwined with "funny little cars" already. But once you leave the city, the truck traffic takes over, and that's when things get scary! The series of pictures below, take you from the city to Ha Long Bay, and the final overnight destination at Tuan Chau. -PW-

10/08/2014

Hạ Long Bay is a spectacular site in Vietnam, in the Quảng Ninh Province, about 2 1/2 hours from Hanoi. October begins the best season to visit. It is a World Heritage Site, and is one of the great reasons to visit northern Vietnam. Flying into Hanoi reminds visitors of its history and heritage, now mixed with increasing numbers of modern high rise buildings. Spend a day shopping in the old silk and art districts, and enjoy the wonderful fresh food. Most people will join a tour to see Ha Long Bay, but consider hiring a car and staying somewhere like Tuan Chau Resort, and hire a boat once there. However accomplished, it is something you'll never forget. The bay features a dense cluster of over a thousand limestone karsts and monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, and rising majestically from the ocean. For those of you that have seen Haystack Rock on the Oregon coast, just add tropical vegetation and multiple by hundreds and you start to understand what it's like to see Ha Long Bay. Some of the islands are hollow, with caves, some of which have been used as shrines. Stay tuned to hear more about the floating villages, the scariest ride of your life, shrines, and more amazing sights... -PW-

09/08/2014

Since I gushed about it below, I thought I should feature them http://www.islandhoppinbrewery.com

We brew great quality beers using only the best ingredients. We love what we do and want to share with you a little bit of our passion for beer. Our brewery is located on beautiful Orcas Island, which serves not only as our home; but as an inspiration to our brewing mentality. Join us at the brewery…

09/08/2014

I was planning to travel to Orcas Island next week, but some things came up and we cancelled that trip. Still having some regrets because August is absolutely the best time to visit the San Juan Islands. Here's a great article for those of you that haven't been there, or want to reminisce about a prior visit. It includes a great updated list of food places - if you haven't been to Orcas Island (and love food) then you need to plan your trip around visiting several of these fine establishments. We are particularly supportive of Island Hoppin' Brewery, which serves no food at all, but makes great brews (and you can BYOF). http://www.seattlemag.com/article/exploring-orcas-island

Life on the island is all about cross-pollination. On Orcas Island in the San Juans, especially, farmers and chefs, ranchers and brewers are friends, partners and cohorts in the category of “living the dream.” More and more a foodie destination, Orcas Island is doing a few things very well.

09/08/2014

There are three of us that will be writing for Nomad Travel Company, all with a similar philosophy about travel and the world, but each with our own perspective and biases. We are based on the west coast of the US, representing southern California from Santa Monica, Portland, Oregon (doing our best to support the excellent food and alcohol industries), and Orcas Island in Washington state's San Juan Islands. We all love to travel, want to travel more, and have learned that the best thing about traveling is sharing it with others. -PW-

08/08/2014

Plan to visit San Pancho, Mexico and stay at Roberto's Bungalows, you won't regret it. The hosts (Earl and Jane) are world class! http://robertosbungalows.com/

Come to San Pancho/Francisco on Riviera Nayarit for an eco-vacation tour. Stay at Roberto's Bungalows and relax by the pool in between tours and trips to the beach.

08/08/2014

This is one of the coolest things to sleep with when you travel. Also, this store in Ashland, Oregon is great - visit it when you are in Ashland. http://www.travelessentials.com/DreamSack-34-Inch-Wide-Silk-Sleep-Sack.aspx

The Dreamsack Silk Sleep Sack is a versatile sleep sheet for traveling, camping and use at home. The Dreamsack 34 Inch Silk Sleep Sack has a velcro side opening, measures 34 inches wide, 7 feet 9 inches long, weighs 6 ounces and packs to 1