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Castle Hunters

Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog

A Travel Blog for the Independent Traveler

Within all of us lies a Wanderer. There is a beautiful, fascinating world out there awaiting our exploration. The wonder it brings is limitless. Wanderers Compass Travel Blog will awaken the wanderer within you through storytelling, photography, destination info, and travel tips from our decades of experience. Whether your first trip or your 100th, no matter your budget. Wanderers Compass will provide the inspiration and tools you need to create your own independent, authentic, life-changing travel adventures.

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”

Mary Anne Radmacher
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Joelle and Ryan in Tulum, Mexico
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
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About our travel style and blog

We are two ordinary people with families and jobs. As a result, we need to make every moment count when traveling. Once off that plane, we hit the ground running. We plan every detail of our trips and often do all the driving. That allows us to go off the beaten path, which is a great way to gain authentic cultural experiences. We encourage you to turn down that single-lane dirt road, wander the tiniest villages, grab a brew at the local pub, sample the local cuisine, and walk down that ancient alley. When we explore beyond our comfort zone, extraordinary adventures occur. As a result, we make memories that are cherished for a lifetime.

As you get to know us, you will discover our passion for castles. We have visited 414 castles, and the list keeps growing. Our Castle Hunters page is dedicated to our castle adventures. It is a place to learn more about these magnificent structures.

Launching Wanderers Compass Travel Blog is a dream come true, and we are happy to have you join us on this journey. Our priority is to make the blog the best experience it can be for our readers. As our content grows, please check back often and subscribe to our travel community. Subscribers receive newsletters to update you on our new articles, where we are off to next, and other activities at Wanderers Compass.

Resources for all

Though we emphasize independent travel, we want this site to be a resource for all travelers. Our Country Travels Guides and Blog Posts provide a wealth of information to assist in your travel planning.

Above all, we will encourage you to be a respectful and responsible global citizen who travels with confidence, determination, a kind heart, and open eyes. Join us on our adventures as we explore this beautiful world.

Feedback is always welcome. Please click here to go to the Contact Us page to share your thoughts and suggestions for the blog.

May you Wander in Wonder and Live the Extraordinary.

Our Travel Stats

CountriesFlight Miles FlownContinentsStates/U.S. Territories
541,913,111652
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog

A Proud Verified Veteran Owned Business

Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog

We are honored to be members of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA), the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), and the International Travel Writers Alliance (ITWA) and welcome opportunities to explore and collaborate.

Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, Welcome to Wanderers Compass Travel Blog

Passionate about travel? Subscribe to our Wanderers Compass Community

Our quarterly newsletters will inspire your wanderlust

Successful trip planning is often about finding the best websites to help with all your travel needs. We have learned, at times the hard way. which websites and travel gear to rely on. If you are looking for the best sites for booking hotels, experiences, travel insurance, shopping for travel gear, and more, check out the link below.

Check out our Resource page for Top Travel Planning & Shopping Websites

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Squaremouth.com

Our favorite travel insurance site!

If you book a trip, don’t forget to get travel insurance within 14 days of your first booking. We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured. Not just for the little stuff but the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Over the years, we have used many sites but have now found our go-to place. Squaremouth.com does a fantastic job; it has a user-friendly interface, uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers, and most policies cover COVID-19 medical issues and cancellations. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems with your policy.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

MedjetAssist

Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. They cover COVID-related transport as well.

Medjet carries its own policies. The policy is only for transport and no other aspects of travel insurance. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74 and younger. Prices are not based on age below that.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Expedia.com 

Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Whether planning a family vacation, booking for business, or organizing the trip of a lifetime, they are a fantastic resource. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.  

Booking.com

Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

We always check Expedia and Booking.com to verify prices. At times, one is sold out of rooms while another at the same place has rooms. As well we often find some European hotels, especially smaller ones, on Booking.com but not on Expedia. It could be they are a Europe-based company. Try both before booking accommodations.

Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)

Are you traveling with a family or having an extended stay at your destination?

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, VRBO connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The VRBO community offers families or groups various rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, etc.

VRBO is under the Expedia group ownership now, which many were worried about, but it hasn’t panned out to be a concern. It is a massive network with access to all lodging forms should issues arise. Joelle has used VRBO for many years with her family with no problems.

Viator

As the leading marketplace for travel experiences, Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier.

With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. This one site has it all and has experiences throughout the world. We use them often during our travels, especially for food tours. We especially take the time to read the reviews provided.

Amazon.com

An excellent source for travel essentials and guides

We now have our own Amazon Storefront with all our favorite travel accessories and gear in one place. Check out our travel store at the link below.

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. On behalf of their customers, teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

We buy most of our travel books, accessories, and luggage from Amazon. We have ordered up to two days before travel and get what we need.

HYDAWAY

This is not your ordinary drinkware company. The HYDAWAY difference is what their products do when you’re not using them. Practical and portable, HYDAWAY doesn’t take up unnecessary space in your already-packed life or pile up in landfills. We all know that trying to pack light while being environmentally conscious can be difficult. Having the right items can make a world of difference. HYDAWAY provides that.

We have used their collapsible water bottle, carrying case for the water bottle, and collapsible insulated drink tumbler. They are all lightweight and durable. A conservation-focused product you can be proud to buy.

Use our Promo Code. WANCOM15, at checkout for 15% off your Hydaway order

Welcome Pick-ups
(Airport and sightseeing service)

A global leader in ground transportation for travelers. They help hundreds of companies worldwide enhance their services and boost their revenue with our 5-star ride experiences and hassle-free automation.

Founded in 2015 in Athens, Greece, Welcome Pick-ups goes above and beyond the standard transfer service as the first company to deliver a holistic, in-destination travel experience. From the moment a traveler arrives at a new destination until they return home, Welcome accommodates all their travel needs (transfers, travel products, things to do, information) as the easiest, friendliest, and most personalized solution.

PhotoAiD

Do you feel like you are wasting time visiting an on-site photographer only to be embarrassed by the photo? Would you like control of the final product? Get the perfect VISA or passport photo online with PhotoAID.

When traveling, you often need to apply for official documents such as a passport, ID, and different kinds of licenses or cards. Those applications require a picture that must meet specific conditions to be accepted, depending on the country. Now, it is possible to take this picture at home without the help of a professional photographer. PhotoAiD allows you to take the perfect biometric photo that will be approved by you without leaving your home.

This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

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