Not to jinx it, but 2023 is already shaping up to be the most opened up for travel yet since pre-Covid. With over 30 countries having ditched vaccine and testing entry requirements last year, things are only getting better for those yearning to explore. Whether you've been saving up your post-quarantine bucks or are still slowly emerging from your lockdown hibernation (I see you!), now is a great time to embark on that dream trip and inadvertently provide yourself with some self-care and feel good neurotransmitters. Because even the act of planning a trip improves mental health; no to mention ..read more

The adage, “you gotta spend money, to make money” isn't one you'd usually apply to trip planning. Forking out dollars to curb holiday costs seems completely counterintuitive. But when it comes to the priciest part of any vacation – flights – this way of thinking can pay off hugely. This is where the concept of flight deal subscriptions comes in. You probably already pay for subscription services like Netflix or Spotify for entertainment. But there's a lesser known subscription service that focuses solely on scraping up cheap flights. It's arguably the only subscription service that puts money ..read more

As we approach 2022, it's hard to believe that this pandemic is entering its third year. But for the first time in awhile, the travel industry is slowly – albeit cautiously – breathing back to life. While the pandemic has changed the face of travel, don't let this keep you in permanent lockdown. Travel can be done safely, if you know what to check for, how to protect yourself, and when/how to make alternate plans. Here are nine important tips for travelling globally amidst COVID. Note: while this article is intended to be as accurate as possible at its time of publication, it is not comprehens ..read more

You know you’re in Montreal when you can see your breath as you exhale. It’s that cold! Shovelling snow, having your eyelashes turn to icicles, and whiteout blizzards are just a few seasonal norms for Montrealers. As a proud Canadian, let me reassure you that it’s not all bad! There's so much to love about this city, even in the colder months. Whilst Covid saw much of the city in lockdown last year, thankfully the situation has improved. Most activities including restaurants and bars are open and require a vaccine passport for entry, so be sure to have that on you at all times. If you are ..read more

Until recently, “sober” wasn't a label I envisioned wearing for prolonged periods of time. Everything in moderation has always been my approach to life. Although if I was brutally honest about my drinking, it has often been a far cry from moderate. I've now been alcohol-free for 6 months, though I'd be lying if I said it was entirely self-motivated. I made the decision to freeze my eggs this year, and it's recommended to quit alcohol 3 months beforehand, as well as during the process. It took putting a lot of money on the line and the motivation of working towards something bigger than myself ..read more

Ted: In 2013, Jen and I quit our jobs, sold all of our possessions, and began a 6-month backpacking adventure around the world that would lead us to our new home in Sydney, Australia. Before we left, we started a blog so we could share photos and stories with our friends back home, so they too might be inspired to go on an adventure of their own. The blog was very different to what Thrifty Nomads is today, and it also had a very different name: Roadmaps to Happiness. Our inspiration was that you only have one life on this earth, so you should do whatever you can to take that leap of faith and ..read more

It's no big secret: the hours we kill on Facebook, YouTube and the general Internet wasteland could be swapped for something better. In fact, that time could be put towards cutting costs on something you pay for each month: groceries. Long ago, some thrifty folk caught onto this. They began scoping out coupons from every crevice, congruently using them with other discounts, hauling grocery deals by the cartload. That hobby, now known as extreme couponing, can save you thousands. I don't know about you, but that's serious savings for a flight somewhe ..read more

No matter where you go or how long you travel, using a credit or debit card with no foreign transaction fees is one of the easiest ways to save money while travelling, period. Currency exchange booths at airports and banks can be convenient, but a lot of your money goes towards exchange fees (e.g. $10 per exchange) and hidden commissions padded into poor exchange rates (especially the booths advertising “no commissions”). With a bit of research and planning, you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees over the long-term! Credit and debit cards with no foreign tran ..read more

Updated with new tips for 2021! We've all experienced the tiresome, repeated searching when trying to book the cheapest possible flights to any given destination. With endless search engines and continually fluctuating prices, the approach to frugal flight booking is overwhelming. Here's some key tips that will save you time, frustration and most importantly money when booking your next flight. Don't miss our other guides on How to Find Airline Mistake Fares, How to Get Free Extended Layovers to Hack One Trip Into Two, and Round the World Tickets: The Ultimate Guide! 1. Kee ..read more

A trip to Machu Picchu is something nearly every person dreams of in their lifetime. And why shouldn't it be? Perched high amongst the mist-soaked mountains of Peru, these centuries-old ruins are steeped in mystery. How were such massive boulders placed on the mountain tops? How were the structures carved to such perfection? And what was the true purpose of this eerie place? Though one could stumble down the Google rabbit hole for hours over such questions, nothing is as invigorating as exploring it in person. Whether you wa ..read more