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

If you’re visiting Peru, you should go to Machu Picchu, but there are hundreds more fascinating archeological sites in the Cusco region. Here are 10 amazing Inca archeological sites in the city of Cusco – and best yet, they’re all free! Each one is accessible by foot, so you don’t even need to pay for transportation. While this list will give you a good start, there are also many archeological sites in Cusco that aren’t free. One way to see several of these sites is the City Tour, offered by dozens of agencies in Cusco. Some of the paid sites on the City Tour like Sacsayhuaman, can also be vie ..read more

We didn’t publish a list of top destinations for 2021, and indeed, it was a pretty lousy year for travel! But as the world gets jabbed and people yearn for freedom, it’s not unreasonable to be cautiously optimistic about what the new year will hold. We chose these 7 destinations not just because they are beautiful and fascinating, but also because traveling to them is a realistic possibility this coming year. So blow the dust off your passport and retrieve your backpack from the attic—it’s time to hit the road! Note: if you're wary about travelling amidst covid, check our tips here. Peru Why ..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

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

Almost 1000 years ago, William the Conqueror wanted to construct an imposing stone tower that would remind the people of London who was now in charge. The resulting building would become known as the Tower of London, a name that conjures images of tourture racks, executions, royal feuds and ghostly mysteries. In the millennium that followed its construction, the Tower would have many lives and be put to multiple uses. It served as the residence of kings and queens, a Mint for producing coins, an armory, a zoo, and, infamously, as a notorious prison, house of torture and place of execution. Fro ..read more

When Jen and I first began on our backpacking ventures 7 years ago, friends, family, and many a stranger questioned just how we got the funds to do so. Were we rich? Lucky lottery winners? Exploring on Mommy and Daddy's money? In short: nope. One of the main reasons we were able to see the world on such a tight budget was from something I like to call a thrifty mentality. Simply put, we were mindful of each and every dollar we saved for what it would buy us on the road. That $20 coupon we just found for our hotel? That's another 4 meals in Vietnam! The $100 we saved taking the train instead of ..read more

The following phrase is beyond cliché, but rings true regardless: we're living in strange times. Airlines have slashed flight routes by as much as 80-90%. Travel companies the world over are closing their doors. And of course, people around the globe are being told to stay put, and simply not travel. To say the future of travel will be different is an understatement. Vacations, weekend getaways, and bucket list trips are on pause for the indefinite future. That pill is a tough one to swallow, even for once-a-year wanderluster. One thing is for sure though, the will to travel won't be shaken.&n ..read more