Phil Sylvester

Phil Sylvesterhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/about/contributors/phil-sylvesterPhil Sylvesterhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/voting-for-extraordinary-hoscars-beginsWorld Nomads has teamed up with Hostelworld for the EXTRAORDINARY HOSCARs Awards 2021, which honors the world's top hostels.2021-04-07T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/voting-for-extraordinary-hoscars-beginshttps://www.worldnomads.comWorld Nomads has teamed up with Hostelworld for the EXTRAORDINARY HOSCARs Awards 2021, which recognizes the incredible work that hostel owners have done to rise to the challenges of the past year. World Nomads’ Brand Programs and Community Manager, Parinaz Bilimoria, served on the judging panel that chose five finalists for each awards category, alongside experienced travel insiders Will Hatton, Marta Stybaniewicz (Google), Aaron Murphy (Murph’s Life), and travel vlogger and TV producer, Reis Armstrong. Extraordinary things can happen in extraordinary times. Management at these hostels has gone above and beyond to adapt, evolve, and ensure that travelers stay safe and social (even from a distance). They’ve also been working to help build a better world by supporting their local communities and establishing new sustainable practices. Voters will choose the winners amongst the finalists for the following categories: <ul> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Sociable Experience</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Community & Social Impact</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Sustainable Hostel</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Inclusive Hostel</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY New Hostel</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Innovation</li> <li>EXTRAORDINARY Hostel Hero</li> </ul> Now it’s down to the travel community to <a href="https://hwrld.co/3rcpL0I">cast a vote</a> to recognize these #HostelHeroes. Voting not only helps spread the love, but it also enters participants in a drawing to win some fantastic travel prizes. Media Contact Lisa Cheng Communications Manager Email: <a href="mailto:media@worldnomads.com">media@worldnomads.com </a>Phone:  (510) 806-9466 About World Nomads <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips, and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying almost anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling.Hostelworld 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/northern-europe/estonia/estonia-weatherFind out how to stay safe in Estonia's summer or winter with these tips on weather before you go.2020-01-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/northern-europe/estonia/estonia-weatherhttps://www.worldnomads.comEstonia is a tiny Baltic State that gained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991 and it's easy to bypass it on the world map. But it is certainly worth a visit for its general cleanliness, lack of crime in most areas (the capital, Tallinn, may be a different story) and impressive track record of having no natural disasters in 100 years. <h2>Compulsory reflectors</h2> Still, you won't necessarily like the climate in Estonia. Because it sits so far north in Europe, it gets cold and very dark between October and April, with only about six hours of sunlight per day, and there are special laws to cope with that. For instance, pedestrians must wear reflectors, similar to what a cyclist would wear, when out after dark. You can find these at supermarkets and smaller retailers around Estonia. Wearing the reflectors, usually by attached to your coat, is crucial in country areas where street lighting is poor and it's difficult for drivers to see you. You can be fined for not wearing a reflector, but if you are drunk, the fine could be 10 times as much. Animals, big animals like moose, are other moving targets to watch out for while driving, but the government has no laws on the books requiring them to wear reflectors! <h2>Snow business</h2> It snows about 100 days out of the year here, so you'll need some endurance if you're from a country with a warmer climate. Even though the road system is quite satisfactory throughout the country, wintry conditions can turn them into a mess. Often the snow starts falling with little warning catching road crews unaware, so it's a while before the snow plows get out onto the streets. Snow, ice and winter darkness - it's not a great combination for safe driving. If the roads are passable, taking a drive can be quite pleasant, as it showcases the beautiful snow-lined landscape, but it's not uncommon for drivers to get stranded in snowdrifts throughout the country. Unsurprisingly, skiing is popular here; you may want to keep a pair of skis in your rental car, they might get you back to your hotel quicker if you get stranded. <h2>Zero tolerance</h2> Other local laws, there are strict rules against drunk driving. Anyone with a blood alcohol level above zero will face strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines. Even those driving their cars via ferry can be subjected to breath checks. <h2>Summer season</h2> If your plans blessedly take you to Estonia in the brighter, warmer summer months, your main danger if gallivanting outdoors will be tick bites. Tick-borne encephalitis is a risk, especially in the forests. Flooding is possible in low-lying areas when the ice starts thawing in the spring, but occurs infrequently. Note also that outdated electrical and structural codes in buildings increase the risk of fire throughout Estonia, so always check the evacuation plan and know where the fire exits are.Getty Images/Richard Hylerstedt / EyeEm 1608992101 Getty Images Snow covered city in Estonia

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/shorty-social-good-award-nomination-to-world-nomadsWorld Nomads' Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica video is shortlisted in the Animal and Wildlife category of the Shorty Social Good Awards.2019-10-21T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/shorty-social-good-award-nomination-to-world-nomadshttps://www.worldnomads.comThe Shorty Social Good Awards honor the social good initiatives brands, agencies & nonprofits are taking to make our world a better place. While the <a href="https://shortyawards.com/">Shorty Awards</a> have long-honored the best of social media, this competition includes efforts made by organizations to improve sustainability and diversity internally, foster globally-minded business partnerships and increase employee community and civic engagement. The <a href="https://shortyawards.com/4th-socialgood/turtle-conservation-in-costa-rica">World Nomads entry is a video</a> which was created to highlight the work done by The Footprints Network in funding community based projects that have a positive impact on the world. "We believe that as travelers we have a responsibility to give back. This is why we founded the Footprints program. When you buy travel insurance with us, you can choose to add a small donation to your policy price to help fund a community development project." said General Manager Chris Noble. World Nomads works with reputable charities and NGOs and absorbs the administration costs, so that 100% of the donations goes directly to the project. All projects funded align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which strive to help end poverty, protect the planet and shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. Through the project highlighted in this video, the Sea Turtle Conservancy will train aspiring conservation biologists from developing nations in the proper techniques for monitoring and protecting nesting sites in order to build capacity for sea turtle conservation in Latin America. It also aims to promote sea turtle eco-tourism as a way to build sustainable conservation programs that provide revenue for local communities. Shorty Social Good Award finalists were selected by members of the Real Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences, comprised of luminaries from advertising, media, entertainment and technology. The group includes Ogilvy Vice President of Social Change Kate Hull Fliflet, Matchfire Founder and CEO Chris Noble, Former White House Creative Director and Digital Strategist Ashleigh Axios, ATTN: Partner Brad Haugen, and more. Social Good Award winners will be announced and honored at the ceremony on Thursday, November 14th, in New York City. <img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/shortysocialgoodawards/shorty 1 (1).jpg" />supplied 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/world-nomads-wins-award-for-travel-safetyThe youth and student travel industry presents the 2019 Global Youth Travel Award for Best Travel Safety Initiative to World Nomads2019-10-16T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/world-nomads-wins-award-for-travel-safetyhttps://www.worldnomads.comThe peak body for the global youth and student travel industry - WYSTC - has rewarded a decade long commitment to keeping travellers safe by awarding the 2019 Global Youth Travel Award for Best Travel Safety Initiative to World Nomads. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/gyta2019/Winners (4).JPEG" figure="" /> World Nomads Head of Partnerships Nick Pound (centre) with colleagues Charles Parent-Moreau (l) and Dave O'Malley (r) receiving the award. The award was one of 14 announced at the WYSTC final night gala dinner in Lisbon, Portugal on October 12th. "We're absolutely thrilled to win this award." said World Nomads General Manager Chris Noble. "We've always believed that being informed and staying safe is an essential part of travel." The GYTA Best Travel Safety Initiative Award looks to recognise organisations that proactively seek to keep their customers safe, whether it be through implementation of best practices, toolkits or risk management plans or the creation of preparatory educating tools (such as seminars, workshops or online platforms). World Nomads has content detailing safety issues and how to avoid them for all 196 countries of the world. "No other travel-related website has such an extensive library of tips, advice and warnings." said the vertical's founding editor Phil Sylvester. "I'm sure we've helped many travellers avoid falling victim to a scam by being forewarned." The Travel safety section of the World Nomads website has over 1000 articles detailing scams, health issues, unusual laws and other warnings. <img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/gyta2019/Screen Shot 2019-10-16 at 9.09.13 pm.png" /> Users will also find regular travel safety alerts published when events occur. "We were quite busy letting our travellers in Japan for the Rugby World Cup know that typhoon Hagibis was on the way, and how that might impact them." Said current travel safety editor Amelia Brady. The Global Youth Travel Awards are part of the World Youth and Student Travel Confederation (WYSTC) which met in Lisbon, Portugal in October 2019. <img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/gyta2019/IMG_4679.JPEG" /> At the conference World Nomads launched its new buisness lounge as part of a major sponsorship deal. </figure>Supplied/GYTA 1 WYSE Best Travel Safety Initiative award

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/leaf-peeping-and-travelWhy not do some travel this fall. Here are our top picks for where to go leaf-peeping around the world.2019-09-10T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/leaf-peeping-and-travelhttps://www.worldnomads.comHay rides, pumpkin patches, apple picking. It’s autumn, and you know what that means: It’s leaf-peeping season. That’s why we’ve rounded up this roster of lesser known foliage destinations to open your eyes to varied landscapes and unique cultural experiences. What better way to celebrate the season than with some inspiration? <h2>Where and when to go leaf-peeping</h2> Lapland, Finland In the northernmost reaches of Finland, the ever-so-brief ruska — what locals call the changing of the leaves — arrives in a furious spurt of splendor. Riots of orange and reds sweep out across the moors, and reindeer make appearances between the low-lying Arctic shrubs. Added bonus: ruska coincides with the season of the Northern Lights, and the remote-but-accessible Lapland can be reached by a one-hour flight from Helsinki. Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/northern-europe/finland/how-to-deal-with-bears-and-bugs-in-finland">safety tips for Finland</a> before delving into the wilderness. Mid- to late-September. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/leafpeeping/GettyImages-500643473_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>DeAgostini/Getty Images</figcaption></figure> Acadian Coast, New Brunswick, Canada Ahh…leaf-peeping by the sea! Parts of the Acadian Coast, on the eastern shore of Canada’s New Brunswick province, are very New England-esque (maple trees, anyone?). But a drive along Chaleur Bay turns up a distinct maritime flavor. Sea grasses and coastal flora turn golden at the outset of September, opposite a mélange of broadleaf trees and the evergreens of the Appalachians. The breathtaking scenery culminates at Miscou Island, where you can see a carpet of peat bogs ablaze in shades of scarlet, and once you’ve finished your tour, you can find other <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/north-america/canada/top-things-to-see-and-do-in-new-brunswick">ways to explore Canada’s “drive-by” province</a>. Mid-September to mid-October. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/leafpeeping/miscou_bogs (1)_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>Courtesy of Tourism New Brunswick</figcaption></figure> Nikko, Tochigi, Japan. After you’ve done these <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/eastern-asia/japan/tokyo-things-to-do">4 must-see things in Tokyo,</a> head two hours north to the sacred mountains of Nikko. A harmonious blend of nature, architecture, and spirituality, the pilgrimage site is where Buddhism and Shintoism have been practiced since the 8th century. The shrines, gardens, and temples — scattered between plateaus, waterfalls, and forests — serve as a backdrop for some spectacular seasonal leaf-peeping (koyo or mimiji in Japanese). October to early November. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/leafpeeping/GettyImages-498158548_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>Image: John S Lander </figcaption></figure> Sedona, Arizona The southwestern state of Arizona is more famous for saguaros and deserts—which is why it’s surprising to see swathes of rusts and golds straddling Sedona’s Oak Creek starting October. The autumnal colors come from aspens, oak, sycamore, cottonwood and ash trees that flourish because of Sedona’s higher elevation, moderate temperatures, and abundant water source. A cool factor: You can be down by Oak Creek amongst the multi-colored leaves and for an arid contrast, look up to view the famous red-rock formations—an adventure that’s just as American as <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/north-america/united-states/the-best-american-adventures-youve-never-heard-of">these off-the-beaten-track outdoor activities</a>. Mid-October to November. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/leafpeeping/Arizona_fall_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>Courtesy of the Arizona tourism office</figcaption></figure> Vaud, Switzerland Some people forget about the in-between seasons of Lake Geneva but believe us, autumn is prime time for the sights to see. When you arrive at the northern shores to the canton of Vaud — preferably by steam-powered paddleboat — you can instantly soak up the rust-speckled vistas of the UNESCO-designated Lavaux Vineyards. These terraces — a patchwork of ancient vines that crisscross the slopes — are a great place to celebrate the harvest. Meander or bicycle through the rows of leafage (don’t forget to purchase <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/travel-insurance/activities/">travel insurance</a> for these activities) and afterwards toast to the taste of the terroir, here represented by a mineral-inflected, floral white. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/leafpeeping/Vignoble 26_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>Courtesy Lausanne Tourism/Urs Achermann</figcaption></figure> <h2>For more ideas on where to go, visit worldnomads.com or contact us:</h2> phil.sylvester@worldnomads.com lisa.cheng@worldnomads.com About World Nomads <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling.Tourism New Brunswick 0 Tourism New Brunswick Sainte Anne du Bocage, New Brunswick in fall

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/summer-vacation-surveyHow special is the summer vacation to Americans? Our survey reveals how far vacationers went, and what they learned.2019-09-02T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/summer-vacation-surveyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/summer-vacation-survey"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/summer_info_540wHI.jpg" alt="Summer vacation survey" 540px="" border="0" /></a> <h3>Share this Image On Your Site</h3> <textarea onclick="this.focus();this.select()" style="width: 540px; height: 120px;">Please include attribution to worldnomads.com with this graphic. <a href='https://www.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/summer-vacation-survey'><img src='https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/summer_info_540wHI.jpg' alt='Summer vacation survey' 540px border='0' /></a> </textarea> <div> <div> 66% of Americans say the summer vacation is special, and different from other breaks. </div> <div> It’s also an opportunity to try a new activity and 55% come back with the inspiration and energy to try something new. Because travel is about what you see, taste, and feel, mostly people want to take up photography.  </div> </div> <div> Recreating the flavors we’ve discovered through cooking is a common new hobby, as are languages, and learning to retell your travel stories through writing.  </div> <div> <h2>How long did we take? </h2> </div> <div> With many of us having access to limited vacation days we can feel justly jealous of the 20% who took a summer vacation longer than 2 weeks, especially the 2% who took just a day or two.   </div> <div> In the end 50% took a break of a week or more, evenly split with the 50% who took less than a week.  </div> <div> Maybe that’s because we use our precious vacation days like a special treat with two-thirds of respondents opting to take more smaller breaks throughout the year. But bravo to the 35% of adventurous souls who take it all in one lump! </div> <div> <h2>Where did we go? </h2> </div> <div> Summer is the time we shun the staycation with 77% traveling more than 100 miles from home.  Most of those (50%) took the opportunity to explore this great land. But 25% of those who took a vacation boarded a plane and went abroad.  </div> <div> <h2>Vacation disasters? </h2> </div> <div> Only a handful had a disaster of a trip, and for a lucky 15% it went without a hitch, but the reality of travel is there is always something that goes a little wrong, as almost 80% of our respondents reported (which is why WorldNomads.com provides travel insurance).  </div> <div> A third of vacationers admit they now have the travel bug. This vacation has made them hungry for more travel.  </div> <div> <h2>Post-summertime blues </h2> </div> <div> We love to go hard, 25% said they need a vacation to get over their vacation. But pity the 10% of Americans who have jumped back in the deep end and even though the vacation was recent, they say it feels like ancient history. They should head over to our Explore section to find some inspiration for their next trip.  </div>Getty/miodrag ignjatovic 1928854680 Getty Summer vacation survey

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/cannabis-in-canada-and-travel-insuranceIf you get high in Canada on legal cannabis, are you covered if you have to make a travel insurance claim?2019-08-05T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/cannabis-in-canada-and-travel-insurancehttps://www.worldnomads.comCanada is only the second country in the world to legalize the recreational possession and use of cannabis. FYI the other one is Uruguay. While some US state laws allow recreational use, it is still illegal under federal law. It is also technically illegal in Netherlands – who knew! So, the next time you visit Canada, legally you’re feel free to light up, but be aware - being intoxicated by anything, legal or otherwise, is not covered by travel insurance. More on that in a moment, but for now... <h2>The rules about cannabis in Canada</h2> You can have 30 grams of dried pot in your possession, that’s about an ounce. This is what 30 grams looks like. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/canada/RCMP_tweet_750x490.jpg" /><figcaption>It’s also not how you spell marijuana</figcaption></figure> You can also have the equivalent in non-dried marijuana – that’s about half of a mature well-fed plant. That’s not small, that sucker is going to be poking out of your pockets! You can’t sell to, or use it with, minors, or ask them to obtain it for you. You can use it with other adults, but you can only buy through the official retail outlets (some are physical shops, some are online). The cost will vary depending on, among other things, state taxes and the variety of weed they are selling. <h2>Is smoking and driving OK?</h2> The law in Canada says you must not drive while impaired by cannabis use. Impaired is defined as having between 2 and 5 nanograms of THC in your blood. If police find you behind the wheel with this level of high you could be fined up to $1000CAD. More than 5 nanograms, or you have been drinking alcohol AND using cannabis, the fine could be higher. How much will get you over the 2 nanogram limit? Hard to say because it depends on the THC content of the pot you smoked, and how you smoked it - or ate it.  Consequently, the Canadian government says: If you are using cannabis do not drive. <h2>Cannabis and travel insurance</h2> Are you covered by your World Nomads travel insurance policy if you have been smoking pot? The short answer is “no”, your insurance won’t cover you if you’re under the influence and something goes wrong (see the don’t smoke and drive advice above). That would mean you are responsible for the cost of the medical treatment to patch you up. <h2>Going home after a Canada bender</h2> It is legal (and permissible) to carry cannabis on board an aircraft that is flying within Canada’s borders, but the usual no-smoking rules apply onboard an aircraft. Cannabis is most likely not legal in the next country you visit and prior cannabis use may be a reason to refuse you admission, or worse, get you into trouble under their laws. Illegal behaviour is NOT covered by travel insurance. What’s “illegal” is determined not by us, but by the authorities where you are at that moment, so stepping across a border could change your status and therefore your eligibility for cover. It’s something to think about before you finish off that last doobie at the Canadian departure terminal. <h2>Important note</h2> The information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only.  It does not take into account your personal needs and does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Please carefully read the policy wording available at worldnomads.com for a full description of coverage.Getty/Stephanie Nantel 01061429178 Getty Legal cannabis plant

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/usa-homesick-hotlineMissing home? World Nomads’ Homesick Hotline can bring you right back to the good ol’ USA with a collection of iconic American sounds.2017-02-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/usa-homesick-hotlinehttps://www.worldnomads.comWe’ve collected some iconic sounds of the USA as chosen by Hillary Rodham Clinton*, a noted road warrior with plenty of free time on her hands. Have a listen to remind yourself of all those quintessentially American things waiting for you back home. We know you World Nomads are an adventurous bunch - in fact, almost 80 percent of you who have coverage with us are traveling solo. But even the most hardcore traveler can get lonely on the road and long for a bit of home. So we asked a very seasoned traveler, Hillary Rodham Clinton - who as Secretary of State logged more than 950,000 miles to 112 countries - for her most inspirational American sounds. It’s the auditory equivalent of a postcard from home. Just click on the play buttons below to be instantly reminded of the American sounds that you love, or maybe don’t love so much. (*OK, we tried to get her but her email server was down. It’s actually voiceover artist <a target="_blank" href="http://rosemarywatson.com/">Rosemary Watson</a>.) <h2>Sounds of the USA</h2> <h4>Intro</h4> Listen to Hillary Clinton's Homesick Hotline introduction. <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Hotline-Intro.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Hotline-Intro.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="homesick_hotline_usa_intro.mp3">Download</a> <h4>College Football Game</h4> “Let’s just say Wellesley versus Yale.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/College-Football-Game.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/College-Football-Game.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="college_football_game.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Fifth Avenue Traffic</h4> “The sound of gridlock, just like Congress.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/traffic-jam.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/traffic-jam.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="traffic_jam.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Sizzling Burger</h4> “A hormone-free, grass-fed beef burger on the grill.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Hamburgers.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Hamburgers.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="sizzling_burger.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Baseball Game</h4> “Well, at least the Cubs won.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Baseball-Game.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Baseball-Game.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="baseball_game.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Patriotic Bird</h4> “The sound of an eagle flying into Canada. Lucky duck.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Eagle-Sound.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Eagle-Sound.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="homesick_eagle.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Country Night</h4> “The sound of a summer night in the country.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Summer-Night.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Summer-Night.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="summer_night.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Kabletown Operator</h4> “A hold message from a cable company.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Cable-Company.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Cable-Company.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="cable_company.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Rockets’ Red Glare</h4> “The sound of Fourth of July fireworks.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Fireworks.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Fireworks.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="fireworks.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Suburban Weekend Morning</h4> “The sound of your neighbor waking you up on a Saturday morning with his lawnmower.” <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Lawnmower.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Lawnmower.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="lawnmower.mp3">Download</a> <h2>Bonus Tracks</h2> <h4>National Anthem a la Hendrix</h4> "He set his guitars on fire, not the flag." <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/star-spangled-banner.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/star-spangled-banner.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="star_spangled_banner.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Moon-Landing Quote</h4> "Wish I'd made a giant leap for womankind." <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Moonlanding.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Moonlanding.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="moonlanding.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Obama Mic Drop</h4> "Never thought I'd say this: Do you have to go?" <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Obama.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Obama.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="obama_mic_drop.mp3">Download</a> <h4>Power Suit</h4> "The sound of a pantsuit walking into the sunset." <audio src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Pants.mp3" controls="controls"></audio> <a href="https://media.worldnomads.com/Audio/Pants.mp3" rel="nofollow" download="power_suit.mp3">Download</a>iStock/shevtsovy 1501616434 iStock

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/brexit-and-travel-insurance-coverHere’s what you will need to do to stay covered by your World Nomads travel insurance post Brexit2019-03-15T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/brexit-and-travel-insurance-coverhttps://www.worldnomads.comHere’s what you will need to do to make sure you stay covered by your World Nomads travel insurance. WILL MY POLICY BE VALID? In all the turmoil and uncertainty around Brexit there is one thing you can be sure of - your World Nomads insurance cover will not be interrupted, so you can take that off your Brexit “to do” list. Read more about the arrangements in <a href="https://helpdesk.worldnomads.com/customer/en_ca/portal/articles/2969187-how-will-brexit-impact-me-)">this policyholder advice.</a> AM I COVERED IF I’M AN EU CITIZEN GOING TO THE UK OR A UK CITIZEN GOING TO THE EU? While you have a travel insurance policy whether you’re “covered” is subject to the usual terms and conditions of your policy which includes the requirement that you abide by all relevant laws while travelling. Here are a few to check: VISAS & PASSPORTS UK to EU Brits are going to need a passport to enter Europe. Not having one means you won’t be allowed to enter Europe, and the costs of missed flights, cancelled tours and lost deposits ARE NOT covered by travel insurance. Make sure your passport has the required validity – 6 months beyond the date you intend to leave the EU otherwise you will be refused entry. UK travellers entering the Schengen Zone need to comply with the visa rules for non-EU citizens. As a tourist you have visa-free entry for stays of up to 90 days in a 180 period. Stays in excess of that will require you to apply for a visa. Once again if you’re refused entry the consequences are on you. Getting the right visa, and complying with visa rules are your responsibility (it says so in your policy wording). From 2021, non-EU nationals who are eligible for visa-free entry into the Schengen area will need prior authorisation under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). It's like the USA's ESTA system - you don't need a visa, but you need a visa-like clearance to say you don't need a visa. EU to UK EU citizens wishing to enter the UK will be subject to British visa and entry conditions (that’s the whole point of Brexit, right?) Once again, failure to comply with visa requirements is on you, and costs incurred as a result of not having the right visa are not covered. The “blue channel” for travellers arriving from the EU will cease to exist, with limits reimposed on goods that can be taken across borders without paying duty. HEALTH CARE The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers pre-existing medical conditions as well as emergency care for citizens of EU countries. Individuals with chronic illnesses can travel and still receive treatment on the same terms as the citizens of the country they are visiting. If there’s a hard Brexit, also known as a no-deal Brexit, the card will cease to exist for UK travellers in Europe or for European travellers in the UK. Travel insurance does NOT cover pre-existing medical conditions, nor does it provide cover for ongoing treatments such as dialysis, regular check-ups, or some stages and types of pregnancy. DRIVING LICENSES, REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE While the UK remains within the EU there is no requirement for motorists to have a Green Card for their vehicles. A Green Card is a document printed on green paper which provides proof of the minimum compulsory motor insurance cover required by the country you are visiting. If you’re taking your EU registered vehicle to the UK, or a UK registered vehicle to Europe after a hard Brexit, you may need one. Failure to have the proper driving license might affect your travel insurance if you make a driving-related claim. Motorists driving in the other jurisdiction will be required to have an International Driving Permit in addition to their home license. Different EU countries are signed up to different treaties, so for example a trip embracing Spain and France would require you to get two types of IDP. Failure to comply with this may mean you are driving illegally – and if you are injured as a result of driving illegally your travel insurance claim may be denied. THE BREXIT CLAUSE Some travel companies are adding a “Brexit clause” to bookings which in essence say if something happens to your holiday because of Brexit (flights cancelled, providers go broke, services are curtailed etc.) it’s not their fault and they can’t be held financially responsible. If Brexit sends your travel provider broke it may be hard to get any compensation. The European legislation known as the Package Travel Regulations has been enshrined in British law, and it will remain after Brexit. If you book a package holiday (flights and accommodation together) and the worst happens you'll get a full refund, but no holiday. DEAL OR NO DEAL All the above remains true if there’s a no-deal exit, but if there are last minute negotiations, changes are possible, so stay abreast of the news and check with your travel provider before you make any bookings.iStock/nicolamargaret 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/so-you-think-you-know-mexico8 travel writers share their first-hand accounts of the extraordinary things they discovered in Mexico.2019-02-14T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/so-you-think-you-know-mexicohttps://www.worldnomads.comMexican culture doesn’t stop at margaritas and mariachi. With more than 60 different indigenous groups, global influences from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and civilizations that date back thousands of years, it’s a colorful and diverse place that can’t be easily defined. From rowdy, weeks-long fiestas to elegant colonial churches, ancient Maya temples and craft-brewing hipsters, Mexico offers endless variety. In World Nomads’ latest guide, Mexico: Where Nomads Go, 8 travel writers share their first-hand accounts of the extraordinary things they discovered in Mexico. <ul> <li> “Mexican food is infinitely more complex than the familiar export version of beans and cheese. In Oaxaca alone, there are eight regions differentiated by climate, customs, and ingredients. And Oaxaca is just one of the 31 United Mexican States, each with its own distinctive culture and food.” - Kendall Hill</li> <li> “The crunch of my footsteps on the loose, alabaster gravel of el Sacbe, the ancient “white road,” is the only sound I can hear against the constant buzz of insects. I ask myself for the 10th time, “How on earth I am the only person at these ruins?” It’s 3 pm on a Saturday and, aside from the group of children leaving as I arrived, I have not seen another visitor.” - Chelsea Gregory</li> <li> “In the southwestern corner of Mexico, a third gender (<g class="gr_ gr_76 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="76" data-gr-id="76">muxe</g>) has been a fact of Zapotec life since pre-Colonial times. The following week, I drove with Elena to Juchitán to see the fabled town for myself. I found it in high spirits. Preparations were underway for four-day vela, a celebration of all things <g class="gr_ gr_78 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="78" data-gr-id="78">muxe</g>, which is equal parts jamboree, pageant, and Mass.” – Joseph Furey</li> <li> “I wasn’t sure what to expect when we pulled into Huamantla, Tlaxcala. It looked, after all, like pretty much every other small, unassuming Mexican village I’d visited. But in mid-August each year, Huamantla comes alive after dark in a way I’ve yet to see elsewhere. We were there for The Night Nobody Sleeps, an annual celebration during which locals pour onto the streets, decorating Huamantla with intricate, vibrant sawdust ‘carpets’ (or <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="77" data-gr-id="77">tapetes</g>).” – Lauren Cocking</li> <li> “While traveling in Mexico City, I heard about a woman named Ruth Lechuga who was the world’s authority on Mexican folk art and had an astonishing collection of 10,000 objects in her apartment. I knew I had to see her.” -Maxine Rose Schur</li> <li>“If you’re considering travel to Central Mexico, you’ve almost certainly added San Miguel de Allende to your itinerary. It’s a great little town – but allow me to make the case for Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hidden gem tucked away in San Miguel’s shadow. It’s largely devoid of the crowds of international tourists you’ll find in other, more popular Mexican cities, yet still packed with a full slate of interesting opportunities ripe for exploration.” – Dan Pierson</li> <li>“Xcalak (pronounced ish-ca-lack) is so underrated, it’s hardly even fair to say it’s rated at all. A town of 400 permanent residents, Xcalak is located on the southern border with Belize. This is a completely off-the-grid kind of place that forces visitors to disconnect for a while (no cell service!). I truly feel like I’m at the end of the world. And I am, at least, at the end of the highway.” – Sara Walton</li> <li>“The gray whale swims slowly toward our boat, her baby following closely the 50ft-long (15m-long) mother floats over to our boat and stops, her nose partially underneath us. Leaning over the gunwale, I reach out and pet her head. Soon the baby noses his way over, wanting some love too. Usually, petting or otherwise touching wild animals are to be strictly avoided, but here the whales themselves seek it out.” - Johanna Read</li> </ul> These encounters in full and many more are available through <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/guides">WorldNomads</a>. World Nomads has <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/guides">22 travel guides</a> covering Iceland to Thailand, Australia to Argentina, but Mexico – Where Nomads Go is a departure from the usual format. Travel writers all over the world share their first-hand experiences of visiting Mexico, bringing to life the things they’ve seen, heard, tasted and felt. <h2>Download <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/guides/mexico-nomads-guide">“Mexico: Where Nomads Go”</a> now.</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/Las Coloradas - credit Lydia Jones.jpg" /><figcaption>Los Colorados. Image: Lydia Jones</figcaption></figure> <h2>Travel insurance</h2> Travel to Mexico does not come without risk and we encourage you to take precautions to ensure your safety. The US State Department lists Mexico as a Level 2 risk for the country overall advising “exercise increased caution” (the same as the UK and South Africa). Some parts of the country have Level 3 “reconsider your need to travel” and even Level 4 “Do not travel” advisories. <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html">Read the advice here</a>. Be aware that travel contrary to official advice is likely to impact your travel insurance coverage. All of the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not take into account your personal needs and does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read the policy wording available at worldnomads.com for a full description of coverage.Getty/Orbon Alija 1841321454 Getty

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/these-australian-names-are-the-most-likely-to-make-a-claimWorld Nomads sifted through 5 years' worth of data to see what Australian names are most likely to make an insurance claim. Is your name here?2018-12-19T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/these-australian-names-are-the-most-likely-to-make-a-claimhttps://www.worldnomads.comIf your name is Michael or Sarah, and you’re traveling abroad, “please take care” says WorldNomads.com after the travel lifestyle brand and insurance provider found 10% of all insurance claims to WorldNomads.com came from people with the same 10 names: <ol> <li>Michael</li> <li>David</li> <li>Matthew</li> <li>Andrew</li> <li>James</li> <li>Daniel</li> <li>Peter</li> <li>Sarah</li> <li>Thomas</li> <li>Jessica</li> </ol> “Are Michaels and Sarahs inherently more adventurous, who knows?” says World Nomads travel safety expert Phil Sylvester. “Although Michael Palin of Pole-to-Pole fame is one who springs to mind,” he added. Among the Dirk’s, Ernest’s and Vasco’s of world exploration, there are a few Michaels. <ul> <li>Miguel Lopez de Legazpi navigated his way across the Pacific in the 16tth century to establish the first Spanish colony in the East Indies</li> <li>Russian Mikhail Gvozdev led expeditions to discover and map large parts of Siberia and Northern America in the 18th century</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Michael Asher is a British author, historian, ecologist, and desert explorer who spent three years living with a traditional nomadic tribe in Sudan in the early 1980s.</li> </ul> But not a single Sarah out of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_explorers">a list of 600 names</a>. “If you’re thinking of starting a family, and want them to be safe when they venture out into the world, you should consider giving them a different name,” said Sylvester. The names with the fewest number of claims are: <ol> <li>Yael</li> <li>Kazia</li> <li>Sylvie</li> <li>Sunny</li> <li>Saxon</li> <li>Wilfried</li> <li>Yolanda</li> <li>Dakota</li> <li>Zara</li> <li>Tobi</li> </ol> Sylvester pointed out a person’s name has no bearing on the premium they’ll pay for travel insurance, but age, length of the trip and destination (for example the American healthcare system is really expensive) are the major factors. “We want Michael and Sarah to know that if they do get into trouble while they’re away, our Emergency Assistance team is always on hand.” World Nomads also publishes an extensive list of <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety">travel safety articles</a> with practical information for independent-minded travelers and first-person stories about travel, such as <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/south-america/chile/atacama-desert-experience">“How a panty liner saved me in the Atacama desert.”</a> “We also cover more than <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com.au/travel-insurance/activities/">150 adventure activities</a>,” added Sylvester.iStock/VM 0954782408 iStock

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/world-nomads-campaign-recognisedWorld Nomads social media video campaign has been recognised with a silver award at the British Youth Travel Awards.2018-12-17T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/world-nomads-campaign-recognisedhttps://www.worldnomads.com<g class="gr_ gr_27 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="27" data-gr-id="27">Main</g> picture shows World Nomads Partnerships Director, Nick Pound (second from right in the fetching striped shirt) at the British Youth Travel Awards <h2>World Nomads Wins Silver</h2> World Nomads is pleased to have received a silver award in the category of Best Use of Social/Mobile Media for our campaign "Cover Your Ass(<g class="gr_ gr_29 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling" id="29" data-gr-id="29">ets</g>)". <iframe width="280" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oKnsAflyb0A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"> </iframe>      <iframe width="280" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jpbla295_w8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Watch the other campaign <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpXPo3FsodmUlskisd7AqKj5x5Cl3MZue">videos on Youtube here</a>. <h2>About the campaign</h2> In comparison to other regions, North Americans know little about travel insurance and have misconceptions about what it is used for. The goal of Cover Your Assets was to leverage our brand’s fun, young and travel insider-based image to enforce the message that our travel insurance is made to work for the way you travel. Roberta Korcz, World Nomads Campaign Producer in North America said: "This was the first time we had relied on video advertising as the sole basis for an advertising campaign. As such, the added challenge was to develop baseline testing for this form of advertising to both determine effectiveness and determine our future video advertising strategy. While this campaign was largely considered a brand awareness initiative and test for use of video advertising, it proved successful from a revenue perspective." <h2>About the British Youth Travel Awards</h2> The awards are coordinated by the British Educational Travel Association (BETA) and recognize high achievers in the industry and promote the work and individual successes of organizations engaged in youth, student and educational travel in the U.K. From creating new and innovative products and programmes for young travelers to outstanding examples of customer service and responding to the needs of these important individuals – individuals that collectively are worth over £22.3 billion to the UK economy each year. Having grown from a single category back in 2007, these awards have matured in stature and importance. World Nomads would like to congratulate the Gold award winner, Topdeck Travel <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/BYTA-silver.jpg" /></figure> World Nomads/Nick Pound 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/europe/spain/staying-safe-on-spains-islandsFrom Tenerife to Ibiza, here's how to survive the sun, surf and superclubs of the Spanish islands with World Nomads.2018-11-22T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/spain/staying-safe-on-spains-islandshttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#be-sun-smart">Be sun smart</a></li> <li><a href="#beach-safety-in-spain">Beach safety in Spain</a></li> <li><a href="#beachside-petty-crime-in-spain">Beachside petty crime in Spain</a></li> <li><a href="#tips-for-clubbing-in-spain">Tips for clubbing in Spain</a></li> <li><a href="#clubbing-safely-in-spain">Clubbing safely in Spain</a></li> <li><a href="#staying-safe-at-night-in-spain">Staying safe at night in Spain</a></li> <li><a href="#driving-safely-in-the-canary-islands">Driving safely in the Canary Islands</a></li> <li><a href="#potential-wildfire-danger-in-the-spanish-islands">Potential wildfire danger in the Spanish Islands</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="be-sun-smart">Be sun smart</h2> The biggest factor here is heat. Both the Balearics and the Canaries can get baking hot in the height of summer. Sunscreen, a hat and some common sense can save you a lot of pain down the track. Bad sunburn can be uncomfortable and inconvenien,t but sunstroke will leave you laid out for days. Prolonged exposure to the sun can overwhelm your body's cooling mechanisms, resulting in headache, dizziness, weakness or fainting. In severe cases, sunstroke can cause organ failures, brain damage or even death. Dehydration is one of the biggest contributing factors in sunstroke or heatstroke cases. It's important to keep up your fluid intake but sucking down cold cocktails isn't the way to go about it. Alcohol is a diuretic, so you'll end up actually losing water through excessive urination. So, if you are enjoying the beachside bars, make sure you have plenty of water between drinks. If you're recovering from a big night out, you may already be dehydrated, so energy drinks and coffee are a bad idea, even if they make you feel better in the short term. A sports drink or some ice cold water is your best bet. Young children are particularly susceptible to sunstroke so if you're travelling with kids, be vigilant and make sure they drink plenty of water. Sugar and sodium are actually effective in preventing or treating sunstroke, so you can fill them up with juice or soft drinks without feeling guilty. Strenuous activity can contribute to sunstroke so make sure children are kept out of the sun in the hottests times of the day – do what the Spanish do and take a siesta (afternoon sleep). Symptoms of heatstroke to watch for are: <ul> <li>headache</li> <li>flushed then pale skin</li> <li>shallow, rapid breathing</li> <li>slurred or incoherent speech.</li> </ul> Treatment for sunstroke relies on rapidly dropping body temperature, and can include anything from drinking cold drinks to ice baths, depending on the severity of symptoms. In all cases. get the sufferer into a cool shady spot, remove any restrictive clothing and seek medical attention. <h2 id="beach-safety-in-spain">Beach safety in Spain</h2> Be careful when swimming at the beach – the surf at Balearic beaches might be flat but there are dangerous currents. The Canary Islands' are the Atlantic Ocean and can get some very powerful surf. Many of the bigger beaches will have blue flags, to indicate the safe areas to swim, or red flags, which mean you mustn't enter the water. If you're swimming at one of the smaller unguarded beaches either don't venture out too far and stay out of the water if conditions seem dangerous. <h2 id="beachside-petty-crime-in-spain">Beachside petty crime in Spain</h2> The resorts centred around the most popular beaches are also the focus of pickpockets and petty thieves. Unattended items at the beach will quickly disappear, so even while you're relaxing kepp an eye on your belongings. Stuffing your wallet down the bottom of your shoe isn't as clever as you might think, with thieves often making footwear their first priority. The best bet is to take only the basics to the beach and leave valuables, especially your passport, under lock and key in your accommodation. If you have a camera, phone or an iPod with you, makre sure someone watches it for you when you go for a dip.  Loose fitting summer clothing and huge beach bags are a blessing for pickpockets. With plenty of room for error, even fumbling thieves can get their fingers on your stuff. For this reason it's especially important to be on your guard when visiting sightseeing hotspots, crowded beaches or busy markets. Any strangers who approach you out of the blue should be treated with suspicion. They could be trying to distract you while they delve into your pockets. Women offering flowers or rosemary sprigs "for luck" are prime examples of this tactic and should be avoided, ignored or firmly dismissed. <h2 id="tips-for-clubbing-in-spain">Tips for clubbing in Spain</h2> Ibiza is known for its giant clubs, which boast some of the world's top DJs as residents. However, all this prestige comes with a price tag, and tickets to some of the bigger parties can hit your pocket pretty hard. Don't be tempted by scalpers offering cheap tickets on the street, they'll often turn out to be fake. You can get tickets from almost any shop or bar on the island but it's safest to source them from the bigger venues. You can sometimes avoid long queues by purchasing tickets online, which means you're added to a guest list and can slip through a special entrance. During the giant opening parties in May and June or the closing parties in September, these guest lists are likely to be just as full as the main entrances. There's no real dress code at most of the clubs, although after forking out for a ticket you don't want to push your luck too far. For those of you with friends in high places, you won't be able to get into VIP areas while wearing shorts. If you dress snappily enough and hang onto someone with a record bag you may be able to slip in for free, although you shouldn't count on it. <h2 id="clubbing-safely-in-spain">Clubbing safely in Spain</h2> The Balearic Islands are alternatively known for their intense nightlife or chilled-out recovery culture. Either way, indulgence and hedonism are the orders of the day. Unfortunately, some people take it too far and burn themselves out or get burned. Bartenders here tend to be very generous when pouring drinks, so it can be difficult to keep track of your alcohol intake. The exorbitant drinks prices in the superclubs of Ibiza and Mallorca are probably enough to make you think twice about that next cocktail, but in bars and restaurants, it's a different story. Promoters will offer you full trays of drinks for almost nothing in order to entice you into their establishment.  Be aware that it's easy to get caught up in this excitement and overdo it. No matter how careful and sensible you normally are, it's difficult to make good decisions with a jug of sangria under your belt. The popularity of these islands as party hotspots means there will be plenty of other rowdy travelers around, some of them looking for trouble after a long night. Try and avoid big, noisy groups of revellers, especially outside bars or clubs, and don't get sucked in by provocative or aggressive behaviour. Big drug cultures on both Ibiza and Mallorca mean you can't always predict how someone is going to react. The riskiest time is when the clubs close and everybody's flooding into the streets. Don't linger for too long. <h2 id="staying-safe-at-night-in-spain">Staying safe at night in Spain</h2> By the time you head for home, you probably won't be too concerned about how you get there, as long as there's a bed waiting for you. Often the sun will be coming up by the time the clubs close, so walking might seem like a safe option. If you're close to your accommodation this should be fine, although as usual you should stick to well-lit main streets and avoid dark alleys. There are a lot of prostitutes on the streets of San Antonio who can be very insistent. Make sure they don't get their hands on your wallet while they grab at you, but don't be too aggressive when getting rid of them. They often have large friends watching from the shadows. For long trips home, make sure you get a cab or a bus. Ibiza's superclubs are scattered all over the island and while there are "disco bus" services running between them and all the major resorts, you could find yourself fighting the crowds as thousands of your fellow clubbers pour onto the street. Taxis are quite cheap and reliable on all of the islands, especially if you're in a group. There are often set prices between certain points on the islands so it's a good idea to get a price, or at least an estimate before setting off. Girls should be wary if heading home by themselves, and should avoid the unlicensed, illegal cabs that scour the islands. <h2 id="driving-safely-in-the-canary-islands">Driving safely in the Canary Islands</h2> Despite the high-season crowds, there are plenty of unspoilt beaches and coves to be found on all of Spain's islands. Hire a car or scooter to head out on your own. Aside from the main highways, the islands' roads are often narrow, windy and unlit, so drive carefully. If you're on a scooter, helmets are mandatory and should be provided by the hire company. Make sure you are insured and licenced to ride a scooter. Police are vigilant and there are heavy, on-the-spot fines for offenders. Spanish law is very strict on drink driving, and the unpredictable pouring in Spanish bars means it's easy to accidentally find yourself over the 0.05 per cent BAC limit. Don't drink if you're driving. If you're parking your car in a populated area, don't leave valuables inside to tempt thieves. On Tenerife especially, thieves are known to stake out isolated miradors or lookouts and wai<a name="_GoBack"></a>t for careless tourists. Anything left in the car you're likely to lose, and there are also reports of entire cars being boosted to be quickly shipped over to Africa. <h2 id="potential-wildfire-danger-in-the-spanish-islands">Potential wildfire danger in the Spanish Islands</h2> The hot, dry climate of the Canary Islands means there is a danger of forest fires. Devastating blazes swept across the Islands in 2007 and 2009, forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate. La Palma, the least developed and most wooded of the islands, is particularly susceptible. Ibiza also has a history of wildfires, with big blazes in 2010 and 2011 leading to the precautionary evacuation of hundreds of tourists. The fires are more common in the sparsely populated north of the island, so if you plan on exploring, make sure to look at weather reports and take note of any warnings. Even if the flames don't directly threaten tourist areas, smoke plumes can cause flight delays and greatly disrupt your holiday.Getty Images 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/the-worlds-worst-honeymoonIs this the world's worst honeymoon? A couple tells The World Nomads Podcast about their disastrous start to married life.2018-11-27T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/the-worlds-worst-honeymoonhttps://www.worldnomads.comA honeymoon is supposed to be a joyous time as a young couple embarks on a life together. But as Lia and Jeremy Garcia revealed on The World Nomads Podcast their year-long honeymoon was troubled by disaster after disaster. “We had this idea that on this honeymoon, we would transform into those people that you see on Instagram, those travel couples who are blonde, have 25 abs and do yoga every morning,” Lia told the podcast hosts. But she revealed, “I'm incredibly accident prone and my husband is just as clumsy as I am.” Which resulted in the honeymoon from hell which included: <ul> <li>Being rescued off a waterfall in Colombia.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Crawling up an Andean mountain on their hands and knees.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Failing to get more than 2 days into the trek to Machu Picchu.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>And crashing a BMW into a French medieval castle.</li> </ul> Lia writes the travel blog <a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/">Practical Wanderlust</a> which specializes in off-beat, couple’s travel. “Our goal is to make our readers laugh and show that travel doesn’t have to be perfect.” She said. They certainly did that. Throughout these ordeals, they made just 2 travel insurance claims. But the hosts of the podcast, which is published by Lia’s travel insurance company World Nomads, cheekily suggested they might like to use another company in the future. “You guys took care of us, and we appreciate you allowing us to continue our trip.” Despite all the disasters the Garcia’s say it hasn’t affected their love of travel. “After we got back from our trip, I couldn't give it up. I tried to go back to work and I sat down at a desk for five minutes and I was like, No, I can't do this. I just want to go travel." Said Lia. Listen to the full interview with Lia and Jeremy Garcia here.Practical Wanderlust 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/world-nomads-and-lonely-planet-best-in-travelNamed as Lonely Planet's Best Destination for 2019, Sri Lanka is amazing - check out the World Nomads Discoveries series here.2018-10-23T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/world-nomads-and-lonely-planet-best-in-travelhttps://www.worldnomads.comLonely Planet, the world’s leading guidebook brand, has named Sri Lanka as the place to visit in 2019. The Indian Ocean island won the approval of Lonely Planet’s editors, researchers, influencers and a panel of judges in their annual “Best in Travel 2019” list. But what is Sri Lanka like?  Travel lifestyle brand WorldNomads.com visited the country to film the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpXPo3FsodmXlPGnVbQ7MK8H9StcdUIDk">Discoveries: Sri Lanka series</a>. “What people can see in the films certainly justifies the Lonely Planet accolade,” said Emily Willis, Head of Content and Licensing at WorldNomads.com “From the hills region in the north to the coastal areas of the west and the bustling capital Colombo, Sri Lanka is a visual feast,” she added. The Discoveries: Sri Lanka series focuses on feasts of a culinary kind, telling the story of the nation’s rich culture and <g class="gr_ gr_53 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="53" data-gr-id="53">diverse</g> environment through food. World Nomads sent three travelers to Sri Lanka to discover the essence of the country and to learn recipes such as fish head soup, milk rice, and the ubiquitous curries. “I feel like I’m being told the secrets to life!“ said Canadian traveler Lindsay Anderson as she foraged for ingredients in the lush forests. Suresh Doss, another of the travelers sent by World Nomads, went in search of the flavors he remembered as a child living in Sri Lanka. “Why would you live anywhere else, everything I want is here.” “We’ve been big fans of Sri Lanka for a while and we’re so pleased Lonely Planet has also recognized this unique corner of the world as one of the up-and-coming destinations that adventure travelers should put on their list,” said Willis. Travelers can see the films and <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/southern-asia/sri-lanka">Explore Sri Lanka</a> in more depth on the World Nomads website. Go to <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel">Lonely Planet to see the Best in Travel 2019</a>. Image/Lonely Planet 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-transportFind out how to get around on the cheap with our tips on transport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.2018-09-18T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-transporthttps://www.worldnomads.comIt's easy to get around Puerto Vallarta using public transport, taxis or by hiring a car, although the latter can be expensive. <ul> <li><a href="#bus">Puerto Vallarta buses </a></li> <li><a href="#taxi"> Puerto Vallarta taxis </a></li> <li><a href="#airport"> Puerto Vallarta airport taxis</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="bus">Puerto Vallarta buses</h2> Buses <a href="/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-travel-guide">i</a>n <a href="/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-travel-guide">Puerto Vallarta</a> are frequently used by locals and travelers. Bus fleets here are eclectic, and many feature unique personal touches ranging from religious iconography to blaring cumbia or norteño music. They are a safe and cheap way to get around. No matter where you’re waiting, a bus servicing any given route should come by at least every 15 minutes, and at less than US 0.50 for a ride, the price can’t be beaten. Don’t be surprised if a musical performer boards your bus and begins serenading passengers down the aisle. Tip a few pesos if you feel inclined. To identify the right bus for you, study the words on its windshield as it approaches your stop. The system is pretty self-explanatory: “CENTRO” will take you to the center of town, “AEROPUERTO” will take you to the airport. Avoid any bus labeled “TUNEL” – these take a back route around the center of town, skipping safe areas to drop locals off at their homes on the outskirts of the city. Here are a few extra tips: <ul> <li>Always enter through the front door and exit through the back door. This is a non-negotiable setup, even when the bus is crowded.</li> <li>Pay in small bills or exact change when possible. Don’t expect change for anything larger than 100 pesos.</li> <li>Be ready for the bus to start moving before the driver has paid your change. They tend to take off pretty quickly – so hold on tight before you end up on a stranger’s lap.</li> <li>Buses will only stop if there are passengers to pick up, or if someone on the bus presses a timbre (small buzzers located near the back door and throughout the bus). If you’re far away from a timbre as you approach your destination, strategically move towards one.</li> <li>Most bus services wind down around 10pm. After this time, rely on taxis.</li> </ul> <h2 id="taxi">Puerto Vallarta taxis</h2> Though significantly more expensive than buses, taxis in Puerto Vallarta are faster, more convenient, and still relatively cheap. But, taxis here aren't metered.  Always agree on a fare before hopping in. To avoid getting ripped off, ask hostel staff about a fair price to your next destination. In Mexico, tipping taxi drivers is not expected. Drivers will of course appreciate tips, but this is not the norm in Puerto Vallarta. Almost all taxi drivers speak basic English, but don’t assume this will always be the case. Avoid taking a taxi drivers' recommendations. Many local businesses offer kickbacks to taxi drivers for bringing customers to their establishments. A driver may try to convince you that the place you want to go is closed, but he’ll take you to a better place. If you know this isn't true, hop out and find another driver. <h2 id="airport">Puerto Vallarta airport taxis</h2> When it comes to finding a taxi at the airport, you have two options: buy a ticket from one of the taxi stands located near the final exit. One of these tickets will get you a ride in a specially-licensed airport taxi, immediately available directly outside. Though these taxis cost double the standard <a href="/travel-safety/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-safety-guide">Puerto Vallarta</a> taxi rates, they are the only taxis allowed to pick riders up directly from the airport. The other option for visitors traveling light is to exit the airport and cross the pedestrian bridge over the highway in front of you. On the other side of the street you’ll be able to take a standard yellow Puerto Vallarta taxi, earning you a significantly lower fare.Getty Images/Elenathewise 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-travel-guideTake a day trip to see the most picturesque beach on the planet, secluded in a crater on an uninhabited tropical island.2018-09-19T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-travel-guidehttps://www.worldnomads.comPuerto Vallarta, the small resort town on the west coast of Mexico, is flanked by incredible beaches and has a <a href="/explore/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-festivals-guide">unique culture</a>, so there are no surprises this is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico. But, how can you see and do things a little differently? <ul> <li><a href="#old-town">Old Town Puerto Vallarta</a></li> <li><a href="#new-town">New Town Puerto Vallarta</a></li> <li><a href="#art-walk">Puerto Vallarta Art Walk</a></li> <li><a href="#ziplining"> Puerto Vallarta Ziplining </a></li> <li><a href="#whales"> Whale Watching </a></li> <li><a href="#seaturtles"> Sea Turtles </a></li> <li><a href="#islas-marietas"> Islas Marietas </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="old-town">Old Town Puerto Vallarta</h2> The original settlement, Old Town is locally known as Viejo Vallarta or Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone). On the south side, New Town is referred to as Nuevo Vallarta or the Hotel Zone and is home to large hotels and resort towers. Explore Old Town for a more authentic local vibe, classic Mexican architecture, and some of the best local food. There are a number of interesting sites to see in a small area and that can easily be walked to. Quirky boutique hostels are all over the place, offering cheap social accommodation for backpackers. Beach access here is limited, and the beaches that are nearby are unfortunately crowded. Busier parts of Old Town are noisy at night, and you can expect it to stay that way until early hours of the morning. The area is by no means dangerous, but there's more reported crime here due to travelers staying out later into the night, often under the influence. <h2 id="new-town">New Town Puerto Vallarta</h2> Modern hotels offer larger rooms, swimming pools, and direct access to relatively less-crowded beaches. Hostels in the area will have a better safety rating, often with onsite security and large gates out the front. High-rise hotels strip Puerto Vallarta of the old-world charm that makes this place a special destination. Beyond the beach itself, there's not much to see and do in New Town, unless you like looking inside expensive hotel lobbies. The money spent on taxis and time spent on buses getting to and from points of interest in Old Town will add up. If you’re looking for a place to relax by the pool or on the beach, New Town is for you. If an action-packed itinerary of restaurants, bars, Mexican culture and history sound good to you, pick a hostel in Old Town. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/central-america/colorful-streets-puerto-vallarta-mexico-gettyimges-poly-isepan.jpg" /> <figcaption>Colorful buildings on the streets of Old Town Puerto Vallarta. Photo credit: Getty Images/Poly Isepan</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="art-walk">Puerto Vallarta Art Walk</h2> Fun fact: Puerto Vallarta is one of the best places in Mexico to see <a href="/explore/north-america/mexico/meeting-world-authority-folk-art">traditional art</a>. If you're lucky enough to arrive sometime between Día de los Muertos (early November) and mid-Spring (April-May), you’ll be visiting in time to experience its world-famous weekly Art Walk events held Wednesdays between six and 10pm. The exact dates change each year, but stay up to date <a href="http://www.puertovallartaartwalk.com/">by checking the website</a>.  During this time, Puerto Vallarta’s most prominent Old Town art galleries are open to visitors, and the artists are there, too. Wine, cocktails, and light appetizers will keep your bellies full as you learn about the displays. Artworks are not for sale during the event – it’s just an opportunity to get out and meet like-minded creatives. Galleries featured during the Art Walk display an incredibly wide range of mediums and styles. Many are featured annually, but the participating galleries changes from year to year. You can <a href="http://www.puertovallartaartwalk.com/">print a map from their website</a>, or pick one up at any participating gallery. <h2 id="ziplining">Puerto Vallarta ziplining</h2> Hop into a harness and attach yourself to a zipline cable. When the instructor says 'go', leap off the platform to start zooming through the tree tops. If you're looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure, there are a number of zipline tour operators competing for customers in the Puerto Vallarta area, <a href="/travel-safety/north-america/mexico/puerto-vallarta-safety-guide#zipline">and all of these are high quality</a>. To find the ziplining course that's right for you, consider the following questions: <ul> <li>What is the size of your group? If you’re flying solo or if it’s you and a few friends, there will be others in your ziplining group. If you're traveling in a large group, consider calling ahead to book a private afternoon for just you and your friends. </li> <li>Want to do more than ziplining? Some ziplining courses feature nothing but the cables themselves, while others are part of a larger set of activities. <a href="http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/tours/extreme-zip-line-canopy-adventure#_=_">Extreme Zip Line Adventure by Vallarta Adventures</a> offers extra activities including off-roading, waterslides, and swinging bridges. All activities are optional.</li> <li>How will you get to the course? Most reputable zipline operators offer transport to and from their courses as part of the tour package. If the tour operator you've spopke to doesn't offer this feature, try searching elsewhere.</li> <li>What time will you be ziplining? The time of day can potentially affect your ziplining experience. For example, during rainy season (June–October), booking a zipline tour in the late morning or early afternoon isn't the best idea.</li> </ul> Start your search for reputable tour operators by checking these out <a href="http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/">Vallarta Adventures</a>, <a href="http://www.canopytours-vallarta.com/">Los Veranos Canopy Tour</a>, and <a href="http://canopyriver.com/en/">Canopy River</a>. Read your <a href="/travel-insurance/">travel insurance</a> policy carefully to be sure you're covered for these activities. <h2 id="whales">Whale watching</h2> From mid-December–March, whale watching off the coast of Puerto Vallarta offers some of the best opportunities in the world to see these incredible creatures. Recognizing the importance of whale watching for the local economy and the responsibility to protect these marine mammals, the Mexican government has imposed some of the world's strictest laws around protecting whales. These laws are strictly enforced in Puerto Vallarta, and from December 8 to March 23 each year, whales cannot be approached without proper training and licenses. This protects mother whales and their young, helping to ensure their return to the Bahía de Banderas in the process. If you’re planning to book a whale-watching tour, here are two considerations: <ul> <li>Does your whale-watching tour offer a guarantee? Puerto Vallarta is one of the world’s best places to go whale watching, so many tour operators offer a full money-back guarantee for tours where no whales are spotted.</li> <li>Is your whale-watching tour company involved in conservation efforts? Many local whale-watching companies donate a portion of their profits to whale conservation efforts, or are involved in protecting the environment in some way.</li> </ul> <h2 id="seaturtles">Sea turtles</h2> The sea turtle – or more specifically, the olive ridley sea turtle – is another creature that has historically relied on the Bahía de Banderas as an important breeding ground. Each year (June–December), the turtles flock to the beaches of Puerto Vallarta to lay their eggs. Two specific attributes help to make this phenomenon so phenomenal. Firstly, olive ridley sea turtles participate in synchronized nesting in mass numbers. Mass arrivals occur between two and seven times each breeding season, but there’s no foolproof way to predict exactly when. Secondly, mother turtles return to their own birthplaces to lay their eggs. As sea turtle numbers continue to drop around the world, the government, people, and businesses in Puerto Vallarta have come together to do what they can to support the continued success of the local sea turtle population. Unfortunately, when humans relocate eggs to hatcheries, human error and a lack of knowledge imposes on nature's course. Hatching success rates are often lower whenever eggs are relocated, and the incentive for a community to address the problems are eliminated when everyone starts to feel like the problem is solved by a hatchery. When hotels offer opportunities for travelers to “help”, it’s more often than not a money-making venture. Tourists pay to release the turtles or the resorts simply use the activity to draw people to their hotels. The turtles’ wellbeing is often ignored. <a href="/make-a-difference/responsible-travel/planet/wildlife-experiences-to-avoid-on-your-next-adventure">World Nomads is against any activity where the wellbeing of animals doesn’t come first</a>. So <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/planet/turtle-conservation-tips">consider these things</a> before you book in for a tour that offers these activities. <h2 id="islas-marietas">Puerto Vallarta's hidden beach on Islas Marietas</h2> It’s one of the most picturesque beaches on earth, secluded in a crater at the center of an uninhabited tropical island. Playa del Amor is 20 nautical miles west-northwest of Puerto Vallarta in the small Islas Marietas group of islands. While we all hope this was some of nature's best work, some say the beach was created in the 1990s by a Mexican military bomb test. Others claim it’s the result of natural processes. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/central-america/la-playa-escondida-in-islas-marietas-puerto-vallarta-gettyimges-ferrantraite.jpg" /> <figcaption>This hidden beach is located on Islas Marietas. Photo credit: Getty Images/ferrantraite</figcaption></figure> There are only two ways to access Playa del Amor; one is by privately-chartered helicopter, which has been granted special permission from the Mexican government. The second (far cheaper) option is to travel by boat, and then swim 250ft (75m) through a cave tunnel – which is only accessible at low tide. It’s not a particularly difficult swim, but the tunnel can leave some feeling a tad claustrophobic. If you're not up for the swim through the cave, you'll still see colonies of blue-footed boobies (birds, in case you aren't aware) and tropical fish while snorkeling around the islands. As this is a protected natural area, always choose an official tour operator. Only licensed boats are allowed to visit the islands, but this unfortunately doesn’t stop some enterprising locals from offering dodgy tours. Saving a few pesos certainly isn't worth it if you get caught and sent back to shore. Plus, licensed operators abide by environmental regulations, some of which rogue operators will ignore.Getty Images/Daisuke Kishi 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/guide-to-letting-go-for-parents-of-young-travellersWe encourage young people to take a gap year, and share our advice for parents on how to accept it and let them go.2018-09-10T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/guide-to-letting-go-for-parents-of-young-travellershttps://www.worldnomads.comYou’ve known this was coming since the day the nurse cut the umbilical cord, but did it have to come so fast! Your baby is leaving the nest for the first time, going overseas – what could possibly go wrong! Remember the separation issues they suffered when you first took them to kindy? Guess what, now you’re the one having the issues. <h2>What to do</h2> Communicate – talk about your fears. It’s natural to worry and be protective, but if you talk to your child about those fears you may discover how well prepared they are, how they’ve thought rationally about the pros and cons. If they haven’t, you can help them by doing some research together. Read, and share with your child, the <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/guides/ultimate-gap-year">World Nomads Gap Year Guide</a> - everything they need to know to plan a safe and rewarding experience. Check out the tour for yourself. Go online and read about the trip they’re taking. Imagine yourself in their position and what you’d do. Get excited about what they’re going to discover. Be realistic about the potential danger. It might be a while since you did any travel, so your idea of what to expect may be dramatically out of date. You need to investigate, but there’s no need to call Interpol, others have done the work for you. World Nomads’ <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety">Travel Safety</a> section has close to 1,000 articles detailing the potential risks to health, and giving realistic assessments of crime in over 100 destinations. Ask them to stay in touch, but be reasonable. Don’t set yourself up for failure. If you insist on being emailed every day, there will come a day when no email arrives. You’ll assume your baby has been kidnapped or has been hospitalized in a bungy jumping adventure that went horribly wrong! When, in fact, they stayed to have one more beer with new friends, or there was no WiFi, or they simply forgot (this trip is about them, not you!). They will come back. Because you pulled on a tie-dye t-shirt and a backpack and went to discover the Silk Road for half a decade, it doesn’t mean they will. The falling cost of travel relative to income has fuelled a trend for people to take shorter duration trips, more often. There will always be some who decide to travel for a year or more, but they are definitely in the minority. Let go! You’ve raised your child to be strong, independent, and resilient. This is what you’ve been readying them to do. It’s a “happy-sad”, but time to give yourself a pat on the back, too. Psychologists recognize this is the hardest phase of parenting, where you have to transition from “managing” to “mentoring” your offspring. This is your first test of that new relationship. There are also good reasons why you ought to agree. <ol> <li> Travel improves the chances of getting a good job. </li> </ol> It teaches real-life skills and shows an employer you are resourceful, adventurous and worldly. In the modern workforce, employers are often looking for more than educational qualifications, they’re looking for someone adaptable and resourceful – skills you learn from travel. <ol start="2"> <li> Travel puts an old head on young shoulders. </li> </ol> It’s a physiological fact that adolescent brains don’t fully develop until age 25 unless some extraordinary circumstances force the brain to develop faster. We’ve all seen those westerns where before the cowboy rides off tells the 12-year-old “you’re the man of the house now, boy”. Studies show travel has the same effect, thankfully without the cheesiness. <ol start="3"> <li> Young adults need risk in order to develop. </li> </ol> We’re talking about acceptable risk, not recklessness, but how do you learn from your mistakes if you’re never allowed to make any? Some psychologists are going so far as to suggest over protection is equal to depriving your child of the chance to grow and is a form of abuse. Renovate your home! You’ve got some time to get stuck into that refurbishment you’ve been promising to do. Paint their room. Throw out the junk. Fumigate your son’s bed! It will give you something else to focus on instead of where your child might be every minute of the day. They’ll be back before the paint’s had a chance to dry.Getty Images/Hero Images 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/in-the-news/does-my-medical-insurance-cover-me-when-i-travelMedical insurance or travel insurance, what's the difference and which do I need when I travel?2018-08-30T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/in-the-news/does-my-medical-insurance-cover-me-when-i-travelhttps://www.worldnomads.comYou pay a heck of a lot for medical insurance, so shouldn't it cover you when you travel? And why do you need travel medical insurance on top? And what if I'm sick or injured, how do I get home for treatment? These pressing questions and more are about to be answered. <ul> <li><a href="medical">Does medical insurance cover travel?</a></li> <li><a href="what">What does travel medical insurance cover?</a></li> <li><a href="else">What else does travel insurance cover?</a></li> <li><a href="rescue">Who will come and rescue me?</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="medical">Does Medical Insurance Cover Travel?</h2> Here's the bottom line: Your personal medical insurance may not cover costs while traveling out of the country or might exclude certain activities. The State Department advises contacting your insurance company prior to your trip and inquiring about the specific medical services overseas that are included in your coverage. <h2 id="what">What Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover?</h2> Which is where travel insurance, also known as travel medical insurance, can be vital. Travel insurance is designed to help cover your expenses if something goes wrong on your trip, and fill any gaps that wouldn't be covered by your primary medical insurance.  In general, our medical coverage includes: <ul> <li>Emergency medical and dental expenses (including accidents that happen while participating in one of our many covered <a href="https://helpdesk.worldnomads.com/customer/en_us/portal/articles/2402086-travel-insurance-activities-sports-adventures-covered-by-world-nomads">sports and activities</a>)</li> <li>Emergency evacuation (medical and non-medical)</li> </ul> Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Terms, conditions, and exclusions do apply, so be sure to read the full Travel Protection Plan to avoid surprises. Here are the main things that aren’t covered: <ul> <li>Expenses related to a pre-existing medical condition (see below)</li> <li>Non-emergency medical expenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, routine physical exams, or cosmetic procedure</li> </ul> Keep in mind, World Nomads travel insurance is secondary to any health coverage you have at home, which means it does not cover the care or treatment that is payable under your other policy. Our coverage will pay additional expenses (up to the policy limit) after your primary insurer has paid whatever it is obligated to pay. <h2 id="else">What Else Does Travel Insurance Cover?</h2> The medical insurance is, without a doubt, the most important part of your travel insurance, but the WorldNomds.com plans <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="102" data-gr-id="102">do</g> cover other eventualities… common things that occur on vacation such as delay, cancellation, and loss of belongings. These are benefits not covered by a domestic medical insurance plan. In general, our coverage includes: <ul> <li>Out of pocket costs if your flight is delayed for more than 12/6? hours.</li> <li>Lost deposits and un-refunded pre-paid travel bookings if, for example, a hurricane causes the cancellation of your trip.</li> <li>A close family member becomes suddenly ill and you have to stay to look after them.</li> </ul> There’s much more, but of course, there are terms and conditions to the cover so make sure you read the plan documents or get in contact with us at WorldNomads.com, to make sure you understand the limitations. With travel insurance, you can explore your boundaries (within reason, of course) and still be covered. Finally, some bad news if you think you may have found a way to avoid the fines and penalties under Obamacare for not having health insurance. Travel insurance is NOT health insurance as defined by the Affordable Care Act. However, if you are a long-term traveler and out of the country for more than 330 days per year, you are not required to get health insurance (and not subject to the penalties). <h2 id="rescue">Who Will Come and Rescue Me?</h2> Will my travel insurance provider come and rescue me? <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/in-the-news/rescue_GettyImages-868086072.jpg" /><figcaption>Getty Images/<g class="gr_ gr_101 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="101" data-gr-id="101">paul</g> Biris</figcaption></figure> If you want to be able to pull the “get me out of here now!” trigger, for whatever reason motivates you (hangnail?), travel insurance has its limits. If you’re really sick and there’s no good quality medical care where you are, travel insurance could arrange and cover the cost of getting you to the nearest best place. That may be in the next town or on the other side of the world. Your overall well-being is the primary concern of your insurer (well, it is at World Nomads). Decisions about where you will be treated, and if you will be repatriated home are made by our emergency assistance staff (including our medical advisors) in consultation with the physician treating you at the time. If we think you’re not getting the care and treatment necessary, we will arrange to move you IF it is medically advisable to do so. Your mental well-being is a part of that process, and we are aware that being close to family and loved <g class="gr_ gr_100 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="100" data-gr-id="100">ones</g> aids in recovery, so where it is practicable and medically advisable, we will return you home (or bring one of them to you). If you’re stuck halfway up a mountain will we send a helicopter with a World Nomads logo on the fuselage to come and rescue you? No. We can help in the coordination but we rely on local emergency services to do the rescuing. So, if you’re the type of person who will insist on being repatriated home for treatment, or you’re an extreme adventurer who is going to a remote location, you are well advised to make use of emergency evacuation service providers. Many of them are member-based services, so “we come when you call”. They are not insurers so they won’t pay for any medical bills you’ve already incurred in a country, but they will get you home. Insisting on being repatriated home may not be the best thing medically for you, so heed the advice of treating physicians before invoking this service. Lately, many of them have transitioned to including insurance and partnered with licensed providers to offer a more “comprehensive” service. Think of the difference between an emergency evacuation service and the emergency assistance of a travel insurer this way: the evacuation service operates on a member deciding when and to where they want to be taken. The insurer provides coordinated assistance where the emergency assistance team and attending physician decide what evacuation is needed. The evacuation services are handy if you’re going to a very remote place with limited medical facilities… aka an adventure… but limited benefit if you’re just on a vacation.Getty Images/PBNJ Productions 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/the-world-nomads-podcast-moroccoListen to this episode of the World Nomads Podcast on Morocco for tips on capturing great photos, surf culture and travel on a budget.2018-08-28T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/the-world-nomads-podcast-moroccohttps://www.worldnomads.com<div> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2V9BgOBKU7Mu64Jii8i9DY?si=ucNEpy2dQ_GZeHkenEK_UQ"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/spotify%20logo%20green.png" style="width: 46px; height: 46px;" alt="“Listen" on="" spotify="" /></a>   <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=154934&refid=stpr"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/stitcher-logo-120x46.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 46px;" alt="Listen on Stitcher" /></a></div> <h2>The World Nomads Podcast: Morocco</h2> In this episode, tips on capturing great photos in Morocco, the surf culture and why traveling there doesn't need to break the bank. <h2>What's in the Show</h2> 00:14 Welcome 00:43 Quiz Question 01:31 Marek Bron from Indie Traveler 05:50 Morocco on a budget 07:07 What was Claudia doing in Morocco and why was she in tears? 16:25 Peter chats to the locals in Morocco and finds out why a carpet salesman has given up mint tea. 19:40 Meet the women traveling to every country in the world 23:00 #twinbedsbydefault 28:11 Is Morocco safe? 28:45 Tips for taking great photos in Morocco 35:27 Travel News 39:00 Surfing Morocco 45:24 Answer to the quiz question 46:07 Where to next? <h2> Who is on the Show</h2> Oli Russell-Cowan is the Founder & CEO of <a href="https://radseason.com/about/">Rad Season</a>, an innovative, all-in-one website for finding and booking accommodation <g class="gr_ gr_1164 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1164" data-gr-id="1164">to</g> the best action sports and adventure events in the world. Whether it is a snowboarding music festival in the Austrian Alps, a Marathon in Hawaii or one of Red Bull’s never-ending series of truly epic events, there’s always something going on in the world of action sports and adventure.  <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Morocco/oli-surfing-morocco.jpg" alt="" width="790" height="450" p="" /> <figcaption> Oli surfing in Morocco</figcaption></figure> Marek Bron runs the blog <a href="https://www.indietraveller.co/about/">Indie Traveler</a> encouraging others to travel more and to travel independently and on a budget by sharing real stories and offering honest advice.   Rach & Marty are <a href="http://www.veryhungrynomads.com/">The Very Hungry Nomads</a>. You can follow their journey as they aim to be the first Australian and the youngest European woman to visit every country in the world – all 195!    <a href="https://photoenrichment.com/about-the-company/">PhotoEnrichment Adventures</a> is run by travel photographer, author, and international guide Ralph Velasco. You can join Ralph on his 2019 Mystical Morocco tour, click <a href="https://photoenrichment.com/tours/mystical-morocco-2/">here</a> for details.   <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Morocco/copyrightralphvelesco.jpg" alt="" width="790" height="450" /> <figcaption>Camel and Touareg Desert Nomad <g class="gr_ gr_1182 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1182" data-gr-id="1182">taken</g> by Ralph Velasco with an iPhone</figcaption></figure> Ralph can also teach you how to organize and lead your own special interest tours through an online course called <a href="https://tourorganizertraining.com/course/">Get Paid to Travel: How to Organize and Lead your Own Tours for Profit</a>.   Claudia Crook was a World Nomads 2018 Writing Scholarship winner. You can see her work from Argentina under the Resources & Links heading. In this <g class="gr_ gr_1171 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1171" data-gr-id="1171">episode</g> Claudia tells the story of her time in Morocco staying with a local family and sharing Thanksgiving. You can read more <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/stories/connection/the-first-tahksnahky">here</a>.   <h2>Resources & Links  </h2> <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2018/claudia-crook">Read</a> Writing Scholarship winner Claudia Crook's first assignment as a travel writer. Scholarships Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. <h2>Want to Re-publish This Episode?</h2> Copy this code onto your web page or blog: <iframe width="100%" height="200" src="https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/episode/id/268347?visual=true&sharing=true" frameborder="0" style="width: 100%; height: 200px"></iframe> <h2>Want to Talk to us?</h2> We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">Ask Phil</a>, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a> <h2>Sign up for Podcast News</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. Next episode: Amazing Nomad Mike Dawson <h2>About World Nomads & The Podcast</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"></div> Speaker 1: Welcome to the World Nomads Podcast, delivered by World Nomads, the travel lifestyle and insurance brand. It's not your usual travel podcast. It's everything for the adventurous, independent travel. Kim: Thank you for tuning in. My name is Kim and alongside me is Phil, and on this episode, we are traveling to Morocco. Phil: Very exotic, indeed. <g class="gr_ gr_1124 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1124" data-gr-id="1124">North</g> African country bordering the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Did you know it is the fifth largest Arab country by population? There are over 33 1/2 million people in the country. Of course, it's known, predictably, for sand dunes, but also beaches and markets, and mountains. Kim: And it also forms a backdrop to many foreign films that have been entirely, or at least partially shot in Morocco, which brings us to your quiz question. Phil: Name three Hollywood movies that have been filmed in Morocco, and if you say Casablanca, you are wrong. That was filmed in Burbank, California. Kim: It was entirely on-site, yeah. On-site. Phil: Pick three others. Kim: We will have the answer the end of the episode, but we don't have any Hollywood stars in this episode, Phil. Our guest's a star in their own right, including yourself. Ali runs a business called Red Season. It's an all-in-one website for finding and booking accommodation to the best action, sports, venture, and music festivals in the world. He's going to check surfing in Morocco. We will find out about capturing the best picks with Ralph, and Claudia will share <g class="gr_ gr_1133 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1133" data-gr-id="1133">her story</g> of her time in a family, and it was around Thanksgiving, which is a really important time to Americans, isn't it? Plus, meet the girls who are traveling to every country in the <g class="gr_ gr_1137 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation multiReplace" id="1137" data-gr-id="1137">world;</g> but our first guest is Merrick Braun. He was a gaming designer. I know, right? He quit his job to travel. He runs the traveler blog called Indie Travel, and it's sharing budget travel guides alongside tips on packing in gear, and Morocco is one of the destinations that feature on the site, and Merrick has broken down a visit there into three key areas. Merrick B: Yeah, I think what I did was probably ... So, I spent a month in Morocco, and it struck me that there are some itineraries or routes that people usually might want to consider. I think the standard trip seems to be Marrakesh, the city of Marrakesh, and the Sahara. Those usually go together in a one-week experience where you are in the old city for a while exploring the markets, maybe staying in a riad, one of those sort of traditional, almost palatial little hotels with a courtyard. You go to the Sahara. That's a one-week, sort of classic, Morocco experience, I would say, and there <g class="gr_ gr_1165 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1165" data-gr-id="1165">are</g> two other <g class="gr_ gr_1162 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1162" data-gr-id="1162">sort</g> of clusters of popular destinations, one in the north closer to Spain. You can even get there from Spain with the ferry, and one further to the south which you can reach quite easily if you fly to Agadir, for instance, which is kind of a resort, a seaside resort place. Not usually my kind of thing. I like to explore and discover in a country, but <g class="gr_ gr_1166 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1166" data-gr-id="1166">actually</g> Agadir is really well-connected. So from there, you can do a trip around the south very easily. Kim: <g class="gr_ gr_1100 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1100" data-gr-id="1100">There's</g> not many places we can put sand dunes, beaches, mountains, and desert into the kind of top five things that has going for it. It's pretty unique. Merrick B: Yeah, it is. I think Morocco is great, actually. It is very unique as you mentioned, and it <g class="gr_ gr_1148 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1148" data-gr-id="1148">is so use</g> to Europe, as well. I'm from Europe, so it's easy for me to get there, but other listeners who might be from Australia or the United States, it's a really great add-on if you're visiting Europe, anyway, because it's just so different. You go there and just culturally, it's very different, and just visually, as well. All these desert towns and these markets and everything <g class="gr_ gr_1147 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1147" data-gr-id="1147">is</g> a whole different little <g class="gr_ gr_1143 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1143" data-gr-id="1143">worlds</g>. I like to have these sort of immersive experiences when I travel, and that's really definitely possible in Morocco, <g class="gr_ gr_1118 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1118" data-gr-id="1118">weather</g> in the Sahara where it's just sand stretching as far as you can see, or you are going through a little town's marketplace and there's just so many smells and spices and different things going on there, so much activity. So, that's just one of the most appealing things about Morocco. It's just a very unique and different place. Kim: One of the things we try to uncover at World Nomads and on the podcast is those places that are off the beaten track, and when you Google Indietraveller.co, and we will have the links in our [inaudible 00:04:46]. You go to Morocco, and there is a link there to the seven best places for wild swimming. So, what are some of those secret spots? Merrick B: That's an interesting question because I think the resource I linked was another site, and I did use that to find one swimming hole near I believe it was Tafraout. It's a small town in the South, and I just went up there and you get to a place where there's really no sign or anything. You have to know where it is or ask people around, and you get to a sort of oasis-like place underneath the rocks where you can take a little dive. It's quite deep. You can jump right in, and there was not any tour itinerary that I know of. Kim: Okay, so how much does it cost to travel to ... Not travel to Morocco because, as you say, you can get budget airline flights to Morocco; but once you are there on the ground, how do you do it without breaking the pocket? Merrick B: I would say don't take tours. There are very many tours on offer when you get to Morocco that <g class="gr_ gr_1109 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1109" data-gr-id="1109">take</g> you to the desert and so on and so on, but these do cost a little bit more. Another great tip is to not let yourself be seduced by all the salespeople that are everywhere. They will try to sell you an expensive rug, and if you don't have the budget for that, you should resist, of course; but in general, if you stay in a budget accommodation and you eat in non-touristy places, this can be a huge difference between having some food in <g class="gr_ gr_1108 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1108" data-gr-id="1108">a main</g> square or walking a block or two away from there and going to a local place. It doesn't have to be too expensive. I think it's a country that you can do on a backpacker budget <g class="gr_ gr_1103 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1103" data-gr-id="1103">of</g> <g class="gr_ gr_1105 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1105" data-gr-id="1105">may be</g>, 30 or 40 US dollars a day. It doesn't have to be too expensive if you try to travel independently and take local buses and eat local food. Kim: Still to come, surfing in Morocco, but right now, let's here Claudia's story about her time with a local family in Morocco. Claudia: I had already bought my tickets to Morocco. I was going. I didn't know anybody, and then I happen to connect with <g class="gr_ gr_1087 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="1087" data-gr-id="1087">family</g> member who somebody who worked for him was Moroccan<g class="gr_ gr_1095 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation multiReplace" id="1095" data-gr-id="1095">; and</g> I met him, and he was like, "Oh, you should call my sister when you get there." So, I was like, "Cool." So, I did that, and I without having set up a length of stay or any formalities at all, she was just like, "Yeah, call me when you get to the bus station. You can <g class="gr_ gr_1094 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1094" data-gr-id="1094">come</g> stay with us", and I ended up staying for a whole month. Kim: Wow. Claudia: Yeah, and that was the month of November, and I was personally going through a lot at that time, which I don't know if we necessarily want to get into, but the whole trip was an Eat, Pray, Love kind of thing for me. I had just gone through this whole big breakup, I had just left my job, I had just left Los Angeles, I had left everything. I was assaulted the first week of my trip when I was in <g class="gr_ gr_1081 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1081" data-gr-id="1081">France,</g> and then came to Morocco, which was funny because it was the place that I was in the most danger was actually the place was actually the place where I was the most comfortable. So anyway, it was a lot that I was going through when I arrived at their doorstep, but they were so welcoming and, "Who was this girl who doesn't speak any Arabic? She doesn't know how to milk a cow and all this kind of stuff", but they were so willing to teach me and we very quickly started making jokes about how I wasn't going to go back to America and I was just going to stay in Morocco, and all that kind of stuff, and how it was going to bring my mother over, and all that; and again, early on, it was like the first week or two that the American elections happened; and the people I was staying with, they were four sisters, and one of their sister's sons; and the youngest of the four sisters was actually really cool. She spoke English and French as well as Arabic and Berber, but she was one of only four women who was elected a council member of their local community council, and so she was very much a representative for women's rights in the community. So, she was politically savvy and <g class="gr_ gr_1174 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1174" data-gr-id="1174">aware,</g> and had been paying attention to the American elections as everybody <g class="gr_ gr_1175 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1175" data-gr-id="1175">was,</g> because it was all over the news everywhere. So, we had all been sort of joking around about Hillary, Hillary, like we are so excited; and then that, obviously, isn't how it turned out. So, my sense of disembodiment and not really knowing where I was or what was going on and having this really bizarre ... I was in this very different place with people that I didn't know but was becoming more comfortable with, and all these crazy things were happening in my life and in the world, and blah blah; and it was coming onto the holidays which are about home and family, and things that are supposed to be comfortable and familiar, and all that kind of stuff; and that's something I latched onto a lot no matter what, and I think that I knew that because Thanksgiving was at the end of my time with them, I was planning to leave because I had to get back for my flight, because that's when I had to leave; I just wanted to offer something because they been cooking with me for a month, and I was like, "Well, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can cook this for them." So, that was sort of the idea was that it was like, I wanted to make this dinner for them as a parting gesture of giving of thanks, actually, for the hospitality that <g class="gr_ gr_1071 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_hide gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar" id="1071" data-gr-id="1071">they it</g> <g class="gr_ gr_1072 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1072" data-gr-id="1072">shown</g> me. So, that's sort of where it came from. Kim: And you talk in your story about actually crying after that election result, and then realizing that the soon to follow <g class="gr_ gr_1063 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1063" data-gr-id="1063">travel</g> ban would affect people like your hosts. Claudia: Oh my gosh. It was crazy. First off, all this was going down in the wee hours of the morning in Morocco. It was very late at night in the US that the counts were coming in and this was happening, and I remember setting up an alarm and getting up at five in the morning and checking the news and seeing what was going on, and that was the first thing that I saw when I woke up that morning was like, "Oh my God, this did not happen the way I wanted to", and for a couple of hours, I was just glued to my computer screen in my room alone; and once it was finally settled, I was weeping in my bed alone for a little while, and then I finally was like, "I've to collect myself and go downstairs because they're going to be confused and they're not going to know where I am, so I have to go down for breakfast", and then as soon as I would try to start to talk about it, I would start to cry again; and I remember I kept saying, "She laws, she lost. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry" That's what I kept saying over and over again. It was like, "I'm so sorry." Yeah, I'm getting emotional about it now. So, that sort of started the month, and I just had to leave it. I had to leave and focus on being where I was, which was really difficult, and I had stopped journaling for a little bit, I stopped checking my emails, I stop doing whatever, just really focused on getting the most out of being where I was. Going out and picking carrots, going in milking the cow. I became really good friends with the sons. Both of the <g class="gr_ gr_1117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1117" data-gr-id="1117">sisters</g> sons spoke English, and one of them really taught me quite a decent amount of Arabic, at the time. So, that was a relationship that I had, and again, I was extremely emotional when I left. The night before I left them after we had had our Thanksgiving dinner or whatever, there was some sort of miscommunication. [Shadiza 00:13:37], actually, who I wrote about, was going to henna my hands, and there was some kind of miscommunication about when it was going to happen, and so, she didn't know that I was leaving the next day and it was late at night and so we weren't going to do it, and some of the stress of whether or not I would get the henna on my hands, I just started crying. It was one of those things where it wasn't a big deal, but it was a big deal. That's was where I was when I left, And we were all super said. One thing I loved about everyone that I met in Morocco was that they were so immediately passionate or so open with their love for each other, for strangers, whatever. They were immediately very effusive like, "Oh, you're one of the family. You're one of us now. We love you." They were so quick to that, and that was really affecting, 'cause I felt that way about them, too. So, of <g class="gr_ gr_1080 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1080" data-gr-id="1080">course</g> to get back and so soon after that have such a smack in the face as this blatantly ethnic travel ban happening in my home country, which I also cared deeply about, it was just adding insult to injury in a way that was motivating at the time. I was very involved with local politics for a little while when I got back. I drove from Nashville to DC by myself in one go to go to the Women's March, and I drove a poster with all of the words of hatred that I had pulled from Donald Trump's speeches on one side and then all the words of love and friendship and community that I had been taught in Arabic by these women and men in Morocco, and marched all day with it. Kim: Well, I could listen to you all day. Claudia: Thanks. I could talk about it all day. Kim: You could. I bet you could. Claudia: I try not to talk about it so much because I don't want to be that girl that's like, "Oh yeah, that one time that I was in Morocco." I would talk about it all day every day. Kim: So, big thumbs up for Morocco from you, Claudia. Claudia: Yeah, big thumbs up. Big thumbs up. Kim: And look, listen. I know that times passed. Have you stopped crying? Have you been through your Eat, Pray, Love? Claudia: I mean, I've stopped crying about that. PART 1 OF 3 ENDS [00:16:04] Speaker 2: Have you been through Europe [inaudible 00:16:01]? Kim: I mean, I've stopped crying about that, but <g class="gr_ gr_1042 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1042" data-gr-id="1042">who ever</g> really stops crying? Speaker 2: Phil, Claudia was one of our 2018 writing scholarships winners. Phil: Yeah. There's always some quality stuff that comes out of there, that's right. Speaker 2: Yeah, she spent some time in Argentina. She's got a few stories coming out from her time there, but she has also put that story into print, so we'll share that and shine that as well. Now, Peter Murphy's an Aussie guy. He's just visited Morocco, and he pulled his phone out to capture some of the locals for the world nomads podcast. Peter M: Welcome to the Medina affairs, and I have with me Khalid who has been here for all his life. He's a descendant of the original Berber inhabitants of the land, and hello, Khalid. Why is Morocco different <g class="gr_ gr_878 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="878" data-gr-id="878">to</g> all the other Islamic states? You don't see a lot of the burkas, and you seem to have a freer life. Khalid: Yes, because that's mainly imported or introduced by different ideologies or TV channels or other people who went to the Middle East. We are proud to be a native people of Morocco, but <g class="gr_ gr_1048 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1048" data-gr-id="1048">also</g> North Africa. We have our own Islamic version practice in Morocco, very soft and very modern, believing <g class="gr_ gr_1044 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1044" data-gr-id="1044">on</g> everyone's freedom and respect, exactly. Peter M: So, it's not as strict as an Islamic [crosstalk 00:17:21]. Khalid: No, definitely. Peter M: People don't actually pray five times a day. Khalid: Exactly. People confuse us with the Middle East, and a good example is [inaudible 00:17:27], which is more of a tribal Islam. So, it's in Islam, what was there we know it, a religion that is a religion of coexistence and living in peace, but they introduced a <g class="gr_ gr_1064 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling" id="1064" data-gr-id="1064">tribe</g> ritual that is very strict and preservative, and it is not the case in Morocco where the native people have always lived in peace and harmony, and with it, a different civilization on our land that we would come through sometimes with fight or sometimes with hospitality; but diversity is our highlights. We are all different but <g class="gr_ gr_1062 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1062" data-gr-id="1062">in</g> the same time, one nation. Peter M: And here is Aziz who grew up in the Medina affairs. Aziz, why do people come to Morocco? What's the best thing? Aziz: Well, Morocco, of course, we have the sun. We have the beautiful weather, the landscape, and of course, history. Lots of history in Morocco. Nice food, nice people, very friendly, and this is something exotic. Peter M: Now, that's not what you told me before. You said people come to Morocco to see you. Aziz: Yeah, of course. Aziz famous in all Morocco. I'm getting famous in the whole world, so they come to see me, to see, to learn, I tell them jokes, I tell them about everything. Peter M: Are your family man? Aziz: Yes, very much. Peter M: Thanks <g class="gr_ gr_1025 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1025" data-gr-id="1025">Aziz</g>. Aziz: Thank you. Peter M: And here we have Mohammed. Mohammed, why do people come to Morocco? Mohammed: Please. They come to Morocco for buying carpet and drinking mint tea. A lot of mint tea, because the mint tea is aphrodisiac, and my wife told me, "Stop Mohammed. No more mint tea. I have five kids. No more mint tea." Peter M: You've got beautiful carpets here. Beautiful carpets, Mohammed. Mohammed: Yeah, thank you <g class="gr_ gr_1022 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1022" data-gr-id="1022">sir</g>. Thank you very much. Kim: Thanks, Murph. [inaudible 00:19:16] and men, anyone can do that. If you're overseas, Phil: Yeah, we'd love to <g class="gr_ gr_1023 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1023" data-gr-id="1023">hear</g> you. Kim: Just take some on your iPhone. Send it through on Podcastworldnomads.com Phil: Yep, very easy to do. We love to hear from you. Kim: Rach and Marty. They are two women, also known as the very hungry nomads. They bid on food, and they're taking this adventure to visit every single country in the world very seriously. 195 of them. Let's check in and see what inspired them. Rach: So, yeah. Obviously, traveling is in our lives. We've both been traveling for long, long time, and we love it. However, <g class="gr_ gr_1052 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1052" data-gr-id="1052">couple</g> of years ago, we took off together and did a year and a half travel. So, we did travels through <g class="gr_ gr_1053 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1053" data-gr-id="1053">Iran,</g> and Central Asia, and Mexico for a couple of months. It was awesome. So, it's a year and a half, and we got back, and we went back to work and thought, "Okay, let's go back to the 9-to-5. Let's get jobs. We work and travel anyway", and returned for a couple of years; and when people would ask us about our travels through those countries, which were incredible and beautiful, pretty much the number one question they would say is, "Oh, was it safe to travel? Was it safe to travel as females? Did you feel safe? Also, how many countries are there?" So, I think those were the two questions that we got asked so much, and then from that, they did ask us about our trip, but it was more about, "Is it safe?" And "How many countries other?" So, we were talking and thought, "Well, how many countries, actually, are there? Because it does go up and down a little bit [inaudible 00:20:52]. Marty: Yeah, and I guess the question was, "Has anyone seen them all?" And when we sort of looked it up, it was not that many people, and it was really dominated by males, and we were just like, "Well, wait a minute. How come there <g class="gr_ gr_1017 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1017" data-gr-id="1017">is</g> no women?" We do meet so many female travelers traveling out there, I guess from that moment, somehow, I think I turned around to Rach, and the [inaudible 00:21:15] said, "Hey, you want to see them all?" Rach: And it really was. We were literally in the café, and Marty said, "Do you want to go and see them all", and I straight away am like, "Yes. Let's do this." Marty: So, the plan was born. Rach: The plan was definitely hatched. So, we started planning how we actually make it all work in the most logical way that we'd be able to do it, and mostly it's to inspire. Marty: Yeah. Rach: You always use common sense, and we always say do your research so you know where you're going and where you shouldn't be or should be, but overall, we think that the world is much safer place than we make it <g class="gr_ gr_1021 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="1021" data-gr-id="1021">to</g> be through media and we generally actually agreed that hospitality and friendliness in most of the countries. Kim: You guys happen to be same-sex couples. Are you married? Rach: No. Marty: No. Kim: Traveling the world, and release, sadly, same-sex couples who choose to travel overseas are at risk of even criminal charges, in fact. Hard to believe in 2018. So, I'd love to get your insight into what it's like to travel as a same-sex couple knowing that as I'm asking this question, I don't think this should be an issue. So, please spill the beans. Rach: You know, Kim, it's definitely a different world when you're a same-sex couple. In fact, if you look at our blog or our social media, you won't see any reference to the fact that we are. I think for an Australian's and people in certain countries, it's an obvious thing, although we don't promote it and that's really due to the fact that there are different countries that still have capital punishment for homosexuality. I think <g class="gr_ gr_1005 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1005" data-gr-id="1005">there's</g> nine countries. So, you do <g class="gr_ gr_1061 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1061" data-gr-id="1061">had</g> to be about your wits about it. The majority of places we actually are going are not really friendly when it comes to same-sex couples. In fact, just getting a double bed, which is such a noble thing for another couple the challenge. We tend to go in between, "Oh, can we have a double bed because the mattress is better, or we watch movies at a computer, so can we have a double as we can more easily watch them?" Marty: We don't really show any affection that goes beyond being best friends, and that's also what we say. We are best friends. I think that's common as in a lot of countries, they don't show a lot of affection, so it's not a biggie; but look, it's wonderful when you go to a place somewhere, and you can do the extra hold a hand or maybe just have a dinner, or not be questioned. When we do book a double bed through online reservations, almost always we get to the room and it's a twin room, so then we have to go downstairs and ask if we booked it a double or a queen, and they sort of look it up and then they give you the twins and I'm like, "Who's going to go down this time?" Rach: What do they call it? Marty: Twin beds by default. Kim: Hashtag twin bed by default. I love that. Marty: Should we, and I think the other thing we missed is that what is so obvious to most of us, we seek out couples all the time, obviously, but in countries where homosexuality is not really illegal, or they just believe that they have no gay people, they don't look for it. They don't see yes as a couple. They just see us as two friends because I guess the expectations, maybe, are different. Kim: From this perspective, then, if you are two women who want to travel together, what's your advice? Rach: I <g class="gr_ gr_880 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="880" data-gr-id="880">think</g> connect with other women, other travelers. Instagram's a great one for that. We use a lot of Instagram and it's always social media, Instagram's great because to other women who have travel somewhere and if they've seen female travelers, or if they are traveling together they can give us some really good tips and hints. Marty: Tips and hints, and instant. It's really good, and there are women and people from all over the world, obviously. Kim: Did you guys win the $21 million Saturday lotto draw, or something? How are you funding this? Marty: Having no kids is one. Kim: That helps. Marty: Actually, originally we said, "Okay, let's just do this trip. Everyone tells us that we can't get in [inaudible 00:25:21] because we spent too much money on the avocado smash." So, we were just like, "Okay, will just cut it down. We have lots of money, right?" That's what the baby boomers said. That didn't work, but ultimately we put all of our life savings into this trip. It means we might not have a house or probably a tiny apartment, and the costs of dwellings. So, we are putting all of our savings in. We are traveling on a strict budget of 50 US dollars a day, which can be challenging at times. Rach: But I think at the end of the day, we both worked really, really hard, the same as anybody else to get enough money, and the bottom line is, we are pretty minimalist. We always have been. We are super happy that we have just a couple of black T-shirts and brown shorts. Marty: We travel with a carry-on backpack, also, so we keep it super light. Is the way forward, especially if you doing <g class="gr_ gr_1009 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1009" data-gr-id="1009">this many countries</g>. We might do couch surfing a little bit again. We've done in Iran a couple of years ago and that was just the most amazing experience. Kim: What was amazing about couch surfing? Just that you got to live in the lives of locals? Rach: Yeah absolutely, and I guess because Iran has [inaudible 00:26:36] you visit, and everything happens behind the closed doors because you cannot go out. There <g class="gr_ gr_1015 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1015" data-gr-id="1015">is</g> no bars, there's no drinking. So, the young and old people tend to meet all in their homes, and they have little parties, Marty: Elaborate lounge rooms. Rach: Yeah, elaborate lounge rooms, [inaudible 00:26:56] using them, so we started dancing because <g class="gr_ gr_976 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="976" data-gr-id="976">there's</g> no places you can dance. Marty: Yeah, it was incredible because we got to know people and learn more about it. We played spin the bottle. We didn't even know what to ask because I don't want to insult anyone. I really don't know [inaudible 00:27:11]. You have the guidebook like, what you should not ask and spin the bottle. I remember when it was Rach's turn, I was like, "Oh my God. I don't mind answering any questions", but I'm like, "I don't know what to ask", and then I remember you asked the other girl on our team, "Oh, did you ever kiss a girl?" And then they all giggled. They are like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. We were all practicing." So phenomenal, and then one of the guys, and I'm not kidding. There was like what, 15 of us? He asked his friend, "If you had to be with a guy, which one would you choose here?" And he says, "So-and-so", whatever his name was. And I said, "Oh my God. That is so open-minded." Rach: And it took us all those places that they even the food was phenomenal. Kim: Rach, Marty, amazing nomads. Incredibly inspiring. You are on an incredible adventure and you guys are on a journey of a lifetime. Rach: Love it. Marty: Thanks. Kim: And at the time of recording, Rach and Marty are in Cyprus. We will have a link to the blog on show night can follow their journey. Phil: By the way, Morocco, it's a relatively safe place for women to travel, and it's had its bad reputation but it's not too bad now; and while aim sex relationships are illegal for locals, if you are traveling as a same-sex couple or LGBT couple in Morocco, you can't be punished by law, but take it easy. Don't offend anybody too much. Don't be too over the top. Kim: Yeah, be discreet. Phil: Indeed. Kim: Now, Photo Enrichment Adventures was founded by travel photographer, author, and international guide, Ralph Velasco. He runs cultural tours focusing on photography, is that right, Ralph? Ralph: Right. I teach travel photography and I call them cultural tours with a focus on photography. So, photography is part of the trip. These aren't photos workshops which, by my definition, is pretty much 12 hours a day photography all the time. So, my trips are half-day scheduled, half-day free time, and photography is a part of it. Kim: Now, just before we started chatting, I did say that anybody that goes to Morocco and takes a photo seems to get it right. Is it visually stunning, or are we looking at photos with a few tricks? Ralph: No. It's a gorgeous place. It's hard to take a bad shot there, but <g class="gr_ gr_991 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="991" data-gr-id="991">obviously</g> everyone does, even myself; but to me, in any destination, it's about being out at the right time of day. So, getting that better light, and Morocco has wonderful light. I say my number one tip <g class="gr_ gr_978 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="978" data-gr-id="978">is just get</g> out early, and Patrick Saenz, who is a photographer says, "If you don't like getting out early, then be a writer." Kim: I like that. Ralph: Yeah, I love that one. I use that often and I think it's very true. Kim: Yeah and look, so many backdrops in Morocco, too. You are really spoiled for choice. Ralph: Yeah, it's <g class="gr_ gr_970 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="970" data-gr-id="970">a wonderful</g> for variety, and what I look for in a country or destination when I'm putting together my trips is variety, and Morocco has <g class="gr_ gr_965 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="965" data-gr-id="965">a in</g> spades. So, everything you said, beautiful, old cities, and whitewashed walls and the blue city of Chefchaouen, and the capital of Rabat, Casablanca, which gets a little bit of a bad rap, kind of a place to just fly in and out of. I think it's got one of the best Medina's, or old towns, that I've seen in Morocco. The old <g class="gr_ gr_973 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="973" data-gr-id="973">center,</g> and I love the market there, and so I get my people out and we go and shoot those places. It's great. Kim: So, you mentioned a few of your favorite spots. Are there any that you won't find in a guidebook that you've stumbled across and just thought, "Wow". Ralph: Well, I'm sure it's probably in a guidebook, but there is a small town called Skoura. S-K-O-U-R-A, and we use it as a midpoint between the deserts of Erfoud, which is the main city around Erfoud. For the Sahara desert, it's the stepping point off to the really iconic sand dunes that you see, and camel rides, things like that. These great hotels right out in the desert; but Skoura's on the way to Marrakech; and so, we use it as a stop off point, and one of my favorite things that we do on the whole trip is we actually do a hike through an oasis, and when I was a kid, I don't know about you, but I used to watch those old cartoons, and to me, <g class="gr_ gr_954 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="954" data-gr-id="954">and</g> <g class="gr_ gr_943 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="943" data-gr-id="943">oasis</g> was just a little clump of sand with one palm tree. PART 2 OF 3 ENDS [00:32:04] Ralph: ... was just a little clump of sand with one palm tree. But, in Morocco, and I'm sure other parts of the world, they can be 40 miles long and five miles wide, and just in this very stark dry desert, you've got this very lush ... Obviously, there's a river there. There's got to be water. So, there are these communities that have developed. We walk through the oasis and see what's actually there, because as you're driving ... and there's a lot of driving in Morocco. You see these oases. You're driving by them typically, but to actually get in them and see how they really work is, to me, really fascinating. Kim: What's the most photogenic country? Ralph: That's a tough question. They're all photogenic in their own ways and for different reasons. I say as a travel photographer, you have to be a jack of all genres, master of some. A genre photographer. You've got architectural photographers. You've got landscape photographers, portrait photographers. But, as a travel photographer, if you want to tell the story of the place, you have to come back with a variety of images. That's why I look for variety in the places I go to. Morocco is certainly high on that list, but also Romania's wonderful, Cambodia, Cuba of course. It doesn't matter what kind of camera you have or what your experience is, if the light is good, that's going to take your photography to another level. Kim: Well, you've also captured images on your iPhone haven't you? Ralph: Yeah. I've got some really nice stuff on my iPhone. Actually, one of my shots from Morocco was a finalist in the smartphone category for the Travel Photographer of the Year just two, three years ago. It's a shot of, I'm sitting on the camel, and I've got the camel and his head and the camel driver, and in the distance, you see our hotel. It's just a really nice shot, but what you can get with these smartphones is just incredible. I'm doing a lot more video these days as well and using the smartphone almost exclusively for that. Kim: Wow. Well, that's exciting. So, anyone that's listening, you don't have to, if you're going to Morocco, pack a digital SLR. You'll capture some good stuff on your iPhone. Ralph: Yeah. You sure can. I don't even use a DSLR anymore. They're big. They're heavy. They're very obtrusive to the subject. I like to use what's called a mirrorless system or Micro Four Thirds. It's sort of between a DSLR and a smartphone, this fairly new category, but they're lightweight, they're small. They're not obtrusive to your subject. I don't want to look like a professional photographer. I just want to look like a regular Joe, and that's going to help me get a lot better photographs than if I've just got this huge camera that can be intimidating to the subject. Phil: We'll have a link to Mystical Morocco tour for 2019 in show notes, but right now ... I've given myself a theme song. Kim: Here is the news. Phil: Travel news. How cheesy is that? Kim: That is very cheesy. Are you seriously going to keep that? Phil: We'll see. I don't know. Kim: We might vote on that. Phil: Yeah, okay, you can vote on it. Kim: It gets the attention though. You set out to grab our attention. I think you've achieved it, Phil. Phil: Thank you very much. I've got another thing for you. Are you ready? Kim: Yep. Phil: The inception horn. Kim: What? What's that? Phil: For when something dangerous is happening. Kim: I like it. I can see this is going somewhere. This is going somewhere. Phil: Yeah, we're going to have some fun. All right, but slightly serious start to the news. As we speak, Hawaii is bracing itself for a battering from a hurricane, as is Western Japan, although it's a typhoon once you switch hemispheres, and earthquakes continue to ripple across Indonesia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. Kerala in Southern India is dealing with a flood crisis, as are parts of Laos and Thailand, so stay safe everybody. If you're thinking of traveling to any of these spots in the coming weeks, check with us here at worldnomads.com about your insurance coverage. Maybe even read the policy summary, so you know what is and what is not covered in terms of cancellation, delay and rescheduling, and whatever. But chat to us if you're going to head off to any of those places. All right, here we go. Here's something definitely not covered let me tell you. Italian police are hunting a couple of tourists who stripped down to their underwear in the summer's heat and took a dip in the fountain at the monument to the unknown soldier. Kim: No, not respectful, mate. Phil: They both face fines of several hundred dollars each if caught, and probably a kick up the bum as well from the local constabulary. Kim, I've got to tell you, Iceland, it seems, is so yesterday with another Nordic country set to take the mantle as the hottest spot for travelers. It's riding on a wave of popularity as a foodie destination and because of those quirky Nordic noir TV mystery shows. Did I tell you that? Kim: Yeah, yeah. Phil: Yeah. Where I'm talking about <g class="gr_ gr_930 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="930" data-gr-id="930">is</g> Denmark. Denmark is booming. Kim: And the books too. There are lots of great authors or books- Phil: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and all that stuff- Kim: Isn't that Sweden, that one? Phil: Possibly. Sorry. Kim: Oops. No, I'm not going to say it's sort of the same. Phil: The Danish Tourism Authority says they expect to top 10 million visitors by 2021. Hotel occupancy already runs at 80%, so expect to see a lot of building work over the next five years. Copenhagen is going to be chockers. Kim: Gee, that's exciting. Phil: Vogue has named a list of underrated countries you should visit now before everyone else does. The irony of the headline seems to be lost on them, but anyway. On the list: Zagreb in Croatia, as a capital. Palawan Island in the Philippines. Marrakesh, in Morocco, of course. Danang in Vietnam; we've spoken about in an earlier episode, and Tasmania. Kim: Yes. Phil: No, I'm only kidding. It's not on the list. Kim: Oh, why would you do that to me? Phil: Why would you do that to a good Launceston girl? Kim: Tasmania being my home state, and it is ... But, seriously, it is one that's on the lips of most travelers, even from ... Don't look at me like that. Don't look at me. I'm going to take you there. Phil: No, it's great. Kim: I'm going to take you on a tour of Tassie. Phil: Absolutely. Kim: Let's move on. Phil: All right, let's move on. Kim: We have a guest in the World Nomads studio here in Sydney, that you met at a travel expo. Phil: Yeah, yeah. Ollie, welcome to the studio, mate. It was great to meet up with you down at the Travel Massive meetup in Sydney. Fantastic. Ollie: Yeah, thanks, Phil. It was good to meet you there. Kim: Well, we were pretty excited about your business, Rad Season. Can you just take us through what it is? Ollie: Yeah, sure. So, Rad Season is a one-stop shop for action sports, and adventure events, and festivals, where we showcase festivals worldwide. It's everything from surfing events in Australia, the U.S., to snowboarding festivals, music festivals, in Europe. We've got a whole variety of festivals which we cover. Kim: Anything that's rad. Ollie: Anything that's rad. Phil: Did you get into that because you're a bit of an adventure traveler yourself? Is that how you got into it? Ollie: Yes. I guess my main, probably for the past 15 years, my main sort of goal with traveling was to do something predominantly around surfing and action sports related. So, surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking. The site's now been up for two years. Kim: Well, there's plenty on it. Obviously, this podcast is about Morocco, so I had a bit of a search on what is happening in Morocco. Outside of the markets and outside of the Sahara desert, there are actually music festivals, and there's a big surfing culture. Phil: Surfing? My jaw dropped right then. Surfing in Morocco. Kim: You just don't put the two together, do you? Ollie: It's amazing. I'm originally from London and we would always ... Friends and I, or I would go off on solo trips, and we'd plan surfing locations that were not just in Europe, but that would be close to London, and Morocco, the capital of surfing Taghazout and Agadir, is about a four-hour flight from London. They do daily flights there, and it's a completely different world. The first time I went there, that was probably about 10 years ago, and then, since then, sort of been back numerous times, predominately just to go surfing because it's such an incredible place. Phil: Is it <g class="gr_ gr_905 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="905" data-gr-id="905">Mediterranean</g> Sea? Ollie: It's on the Atlantic Ocean. It sort of cuts in on the North, right near [Djavorcian 00:41:17], in the north of Morocco, sort of breaks into the Mediterranean. But the main surfing is based around the central part of Morocco near Agadir, and then south. So, <g class="gr_ gr_909 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="909" data-gr-id="909">the Western</g> Sahara. All the way up <g class="gr_ gr_910 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="910" data-gr-id="910">there's</g> amazing waves, and it's just- Phil: And nobody on them? Ollie: Some of the areas are getting a bit more popular, but yeah, if you take a drive you can definitely find empty amazing waves to yourself. Kim: So, for those people that understand surfing terms, what kind of breaks are they? Ollie: Breaks. I'd say it was the Disneyland of right-hand point breaks in anywhere in the world that I've been. I've surfed probably about 35, 40 countries, and Morocco is something special for surfing. Kim: Give us a few more countries then. As Phil said, his jaw dropped when we put Morocco and surfing in the one sentence. When we did the podcast on Peru, that's got a massive surfing culture. Ollie: It does, yeah. Kim: Give me three other countries that you don't expect there to be a surfing culture. Ollie: Israel is one. I couldn't believe it when I was out there, and there was probably about a hundred people in the water. It was like being on Manly Beach. Kim: Really? Ollie: Yeah, it was pretty incredible. Kim: Okay, that's one. Ollie: Where else? I'd say the U.K., and Scotland has got a pretty big scene. It's cold, but- Kim: No. You'd have to have a fairly thick wetsuit, I would think. Ollie: ... but yeah, all around the U.K. Cornwall and Devon in the south. Yes, Scotland's amazing. Norway has got some incredible waves. Now, I guess there's all these locations which are sort of cold water surfing destinations that people are looking to do once they've done all the ones around the equator and all the tropical locations. Kim: Back to Morocco. When you're there, what's it like in terms of safety? Ollie: I mean, there's one or two that are patrolled but the majority of the surfing spots, yeah, you're left to your own devices, so there isn't much water safety. But if you're, it's sort of ... There's plenty of spots for beginners, intermediate surfers, advanced, so there's a variety of breaks, <g class="gr_ gr_899 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="899" data-gr-id="899">there's</g> beach breaks. There's a big infrastructure around the surfing there now. People can go <g class="gr_ gr_898 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="898" data-gr-id="898">on</g> surf camps. <g class="gr_ gr_900 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="900" data-gr-id="900">There's</g> people all over the world, all over Europe, coming to Morocco to do a week's surfing experience. Some of them incorporate it with yoga, and you stay in these amazing camps and places, and normally go out every day doing surfing classes with local guys and local instructors. Phil: Apart from the Disneyland of right-hand point breaks, what is it that you like about Morocco? Ollie: I guess the main thing, it was so different. Surfing in Europe, and surfing in different countries in Europe, they've all got their own ... Like, whether you're in France, or Portugal, or Spain, it's still ... You still, obviously you are in Europe, but you feel that way. Whereas for maybe like a half hour longer flight to get to Africa and get to Morocco, you feel like you're in a completely different world. I think the first time I ever got there, traveling from London in December, getting off the tube it was freezing. Get to the airport, arrive in Agadir, and then jump in a minivan. 20 minutes away, suit up, get in the wetsuit, and it's 25 degrees, all the locals are standing on the cliff side wearing djellabas, which are these robes which look like something out of Star Wars, <g class="gr_ gr_891 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="891" data-gr-id="891">there's</g> camels. It's just <g class="gr_ gr_890 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="890" data-gr-id="890">a completely</g> ... Like, all these senses. All these smells that you're getting from the market; everything from saffron to all these different spices. That's something that you don't really get anywhere else. Kim: I'm off, Phil. Phil: Yeah, see you later, Kim. Kim: See you. Phil: She's gone. Kim: I'll say goodbye though before I head off to Morocco. Thanks so much for coming in. We'll share Rad Season in show notes, and if you've got a pic of you surfing in Morocco that would be great too. Phil: Yeah, love to see that too. Ollie: Yeah, no worries. Kim: Cheers. Ollie: Thanks, guys. Kim: That brings us to the end of our episode on Morocco. Fairly action-packed that episode, so time to find out the answer to the quiz question. Phil: Name three Hollywood blockbusters that were wholly or partly filmed in Morocco? Lawrence of Arabia. Kim: Obviously, yeah. Phil: Obviously. The Jewel of the Nile. Kim: Yes. Phil: We've also got The Mummy. Kim: Yes. Phil: Alexander. The one with Angelina Jolie, in the early 2000s. Sex in the City 2. Although, are we calling that a movie? I don't know. Ah, and this one. Inception. Kim: Also, the James Bond movie, Spectre. Phil: Is that right? Kim: Yeah. Phil: American Sniper, and Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation. Kim: Find us on iTunes or the Google podcast app. Get in touch by emailing, podcast@worldnomads.com. Our next destination episode, Phil, where are we heading? Uruguay. Phil: That's right. Kim: We'll see you there. Phil: Bye. Kim: That might just be me. Speaker 3: The World Nomads podcast. Explore your boundaries. PART 3 OF 3 ENDS [00:46:23] </div> </div>Ralph Velasco 2015 0