And the winners are....

= = {NAME}, ​ Greetings from New York City, where the weather is beautiful and summer is in full swing! Last week, I turned in the first draft of my next book. It was a lot of work getting it in by my deadline. It was all long hours, no gym, and lots of delivery food but I made it! ​ And until I get edits back, I'm just relaxing and spending as much time outside as possible. I'll be heading to Europe in less than a month, so I want to take in as much of the city as possible. ​ As you know, last month we ran a giveaway with over $5,000 USD in travel prizes (you can see the details [here](). And, as promised, today is when we announce the winners: ​ Our first-place winner is Holly S. Our second-place winner is Jarvis W. And the three winners of our third-place prize are Steven H, Trenton K., and Cobey S. ​ All the winners have been contacted but if you didn't win, don't fret. I'm going to do another giveaway in September. And this one is going to be BIG. I'm going to be giving away a trip to a destination that is on everyone's bucket list! (So be sure to stay on this newsletter so you get a chance to win.) ​ Finally, the elevated welcome offer for one of my favorite travel credit cards is ending really soon. If you haven't picked it up yet, [check out my review of the card](. It's one of the best. Don't miss this offer!! ​ TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES The summer travel season (for those in the northern hemisphere) is upon us!! And, as you plan your trip, I want to share some helpful resources: ​ If you're staying in a hostel this summer, [here's my complete list of favorite hostels](=). (I just added a few more destinations to the list.) ​ If you're looking for a hotel, [here's my complete list of favorite hotels](. ​ If you still need a cheap flight, [this post has all my best tips and tricks](. ​ If you need a rental car this summer, [this post shows you how to save money on rentals](). ​ Since you should never travel without insurance, [here's my A to Z guide on picking policies!]( ​ And, finally, for detailed travel guides to 250+ destinations around the world, [go to this page](). I list everything from things to do to ways to save to typical costs to safety and everything in between! ​ NEWS & STORIES FROM AROUND THE WEB ​ 1. [The World's Best Airline in 2024 Has Been Announced]( - Unsurprisingly, the worst airlines in the world are all U.S. airlines. (They always are!) ​ 2. [Iceland Experiences Another Volcano Eruption](=) - Here's an update on Iceland's latest eruption. ​ 3. [The Top LGBTQ+ Destinations Around the World]() - With Pride month in full swing, here is a list from Thrillist of the best LGBTQ+ destinations from around the world. ​ BOOK OF THE WEEK ​[Dark Matter by Blake Crouch]() - This sci-fi book revolves around the idea of an infinite multiverse. Apple just made it into a TV show so I recently re-read it. The book made me think a lot about the concept of regret and the decisions we make in a way I never thought about before. Highly recommend. [Get it on Amazon]() | [Get it on Bookshop]()​ ​ For all past book recommendations, [check out this list](). ​ NEW BLOG POSTS ​[A Better Way to Book Hotels? A Review of Plannin](=)​ = Plannin is a new accommodation booking platform that's free to join and offers users discounts on their bookings. But is it worth joining? ​ ​[Freely Travel Insurance Review]()​ ​ In this review of Freely travel insurance, I share everything you need to know to decide if Freely is the best insurance company for your next trip. ​ QUOTE OF THE WEEK "You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place." - Miriam Adeney ​ *** ​ As always, if you have any questions, reply to this email. I'll be happy to help. ​ Sincerely, ​ Nomadic Matt ​ ​ P.S. - Booking a trip soon? Here are some resources to use: - Book your flight with [Skyscanner](=). - Book your hostel with [Hostelworld](). - Book your hotel with [Booking.com](). - Book your travel insurance with [SafetyWing](. - Book your day tours with [Get Your Guide](). - Book your car rental with [Discover Cars](=). - Check out the [best travel credit cards](). By using our links when you book, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. This allows us to produce free articles that help you travel cheaper and better. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​[Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 2318 Santa Rosa Street, Austin, Texas 78702 | [Opt-out of preference-based advertising](​