Nomadic Matt's Travel Tuesday

= = {NAME}, ​ Greetings from Barcelona! I'm here for a friend's birthday before heading to Provence tomorrow. I spent the last week in Ibiza. This massive island in Spain has a lot of different types of “vacation options.” Want to relax at a fancy spa? Find yourself at a retreat? Need a calm family holiday? Or just want to hike and explore nature? Check, check, check, check! ​ But it is famous for its party scene and that is why my friends and I went. (Sorry Mom!) My NYC friend group does an annual "no budget, let's get wild" trip (last year was St. Tropez). ​ I always wanted to experience “Club Ibiza” and now that I've done it I can say with certainty that clubs are not for me. Like not even remotely. They are too expensive, too crowded, and too loud (though shout out to my friend for getting me Loop earplugs for my birthday. Those earplugs saved the day). Give me a chill wine bar any day of the week. ​ I’m glad I went, I had a great time with my friends, and I’d go back to Ibiza to see the island but I’m done with packed clubs for the rest of my life. ​ I count tomorrow as the [official start of my European summer](=)as that's when I'll be on my own, traveling to new areas, and exploring as much as possible. If you've ever been to Provence or Germany's Black Forest region, send tips! And if you're around those areas in the next couple of weeks, let me know! ​ ​ NEXT UPCOMING WEBINAR ​[House Sitting 101: How to Get Started](=) - Want to travel the world without paying for accommodation? Love animals and taking care of them? Join us for a webinar where you’ll learn about the world of house sitting! We'll talk about how to get started, tips on finding sits, red flags to look out for, and so much more! The event is on July 18th at 7pm ET. [You can sign up here if you want to attend](=). ​ (Everyone who signs up will get a recording of the event, so feel free to sign up even if you can't make it in person!) ​ ​ TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES The summer travel season (for those in the northern hemisphere) is upon us!! As I did last week, I want to share some resources for you: ​ If you need a travel guide, I have over [250 FREE destination guides]() on my site that can help you plan your trip. (I update them regularly!) ​ If you're staying in a hostel this summer, [here's my complete list of favorite hostels](=). ​ 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're renting a car, [this post shows you how to save money on rentals](). ​ And, since you should never travel without insurance, [here's my A to Z guide on picking policies!]( ​ ​ NEWS & STORIES FROM AROUND THE WEB ​ 1. [Amsterdam Plans to Ban Cruise Ships]( - To combat overtourism, Amsterdam is taking more measures to limit cruise ships. ​ 2. [Oslo's Must-Watch New Tourism Ad]( - This is the best tourism ad I've seen in a while! (Oslo is a great city too!) ​ 3. [The Last Glacier in Venezuela Has Melted](=) - In some depressing news, the last glacier in Venezuela has melted. ​ 4. [Barcelona Anti-Tourism Protestors Fire Water Pistols at Visitors](=) - This story was a big deal over the last few days and I have a lot of thoughts about this. I sympathize with the locals here and I'll write more about this specific incident this week on IG but here are [my general thoughts on overtourism and how we can be better tourists](). ​ BOOK OF THE WEEK ​[The Vagabond's Way by Rolf Potts]() - This book is all about cultivating an adventurous, curious, and open-minded travel mindset. With insightful quotes and reflections, the book showcases just how much travel is a way of life and not just the act of “going somewhere.” It's been a helpful reminder now that I'm back on the road! [Get it on Amazon]() | [Get it on Bookshop]()​ ​ For all past book recommendations, [check out this list](). ​ NEW BLOG POSTS ​[Life Update: On the Road in 2024](=)​ = I'm back on the road! And I finally have a blog update! Here's what's new, where I'm heading, and what's next for the blog! ​ ​[Credit Card Portals vs Transferring Points: What You Need to Know](​ �€‹ I get a lot of questions about this topic so I decided to write an in-depth overview that breaks down when to use portals and when to transfer points. ​ QUOTE OF THE WEEK "The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." - Socrates ​ *** ​ As always, if you have any questions, reply to this email. I'll be happy to help. ​ Sincerely, ​ Nomadic Matt ​ Sponsored By: [The Flyover](​ �€‹ The [Flyover]( offers a refreshing alternative. Delivering quick-to-read, informative content across sports, business, tech, science, and more that cuts through the noise of mainstream media. Join over 600,000 savvy readers and leaders who trust The Flyover to provide unbiased insights, sourced from hundreds of outlets. The Flyover's talented team of editors meticulously curates the day's most important news, ensuring you stay informed on top stories and equipped to win your day. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to sign up today for The Flyover's FREE newsletter with just one click! ​[Click Here!](​ ​ ​ ​ ​[Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 2318 Santa Rosa Street, Austin, Texas 78702 | [Opt-out of preference-based advertising](​