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Wanderers Compass 2025 Travel Recap Video: A Year to Remember

2025 recap video, Wanderers Compass 2025 Travel Recap Video: A Year to Remember

Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

John Lennon

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re excited to share our travel recap video below right here on the blog. Since many of our readers aren’t on social media, we wanted to bring the highlights directly to you and relive this incredible year together.

This year, our adventures took us to eight amazing countries: Greece, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Ireland, and the UAE, and 22 unique destinations across the United States. We immersed ourselves in vibrant cultures, indulged in delicious cuisine, and created memories that will last a lifetime. The recap video barely captures all we did, but it’s a fun reminder of just how crazy, fulfilling, and inspiring 2025 truly was.

Beyond the incredible travel, 2025 was full of milestones. We launched our own podcast and were honored to be included on the Forttuna Power List 2025, which celebrates visionary leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future with purpose and impact. The announcement came in New York City, and we each appeared separately on a Times Square billboard—what a moment! Joelle was also recognized at the Forttuna Global Excellence Awards in Dubai, winning Travel Content Creator of the Year and Travel Influencer of the Year, and she spoke at a United Nations side event on sustainable tourism. Our work was featured in multiple magazines as our brand presence continues to grow.

Our 2025 recap video captures much of this excitement, alongside the adventures and moments that made the year unforgettable.

You Are Why We Are Here

2025 recap video, Wanderers Compass 2025 Travel Recap Video: A Year to Remember
Thank you to our readers, 2025 Recap Video

Most importantly, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks. It has been such a pleasure having you along for the ride. Your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm make all of this possible.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re thrilled to reveal new destinations and adventures. Some big news is coming soon, and we cannot wait to share what is ahead for Wanderers Compass. Here’s to another year of world exploration, discovery, responsible travel, and making memories that will last a lifetime. 2025 exceeded all our expectations, and we can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

Let us know what you think of our 2025 recap video in the comments below.

© 2026 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

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Travel Insurance

Squaremouth.com
Our Favorite Travel Insurance Site!

We strongly advocate comprehensive travel insurance, not only for minor inconveniences but also for major, unexpected events such as medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to resource is Squaremouth.com. which offers a user-friendly platform that connects you with top-rated, reputable insurance carriers. Plus, they’ll mediate on your behalf if you run into any issues.

To empower you as a consumer, we recommend you read our blog post on why travel insurance is essential and how to secure the best coverage from leading companies at an affordable price.

MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

Medjet is a leading provider of global air medical transport. Unlike traditional travel insurance, which typically covers medical evacuation to the nearest facility, Medjet goes further by ensuring you’re transported back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you’re stable enough to fly. Medjet offers membership plans that focus on medical transport, while Medjet Horizon provides expanded coverage for broader protection. Individual trip policies start at just $99, and annual policies are available for around $300. Most policies have an age limit of 74.

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

Accommodations and Airfare

Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to unforgettable experiences, a wide range of transportation options, and incredible places to stay—from homes to hotels and beyond. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces, it supports well-known brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. For its convenience, variety, and reliability, it’s our preferred booking platform.

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

Expedia is a U.S.-based company with a mission to make global travel accessible to everyone, everywhere. At Wanderers Compass, we embrace independent travel, and platforms like Expedia are essential to making that a reality. Expedia allows you to book every aspect of your trip—from flights and accommodations to rental cars, cruises, and activities—making it a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

Transportation

Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service

Daytrip provides an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers worldwide, and we absolutely love their service. It’s a cost-effective alternative to renting a car, offering comfortable, stress-free travel with the added benefit of scenic stops along the way. For example, we used Daytrip for travel between Budapest and Vienna, enjoying some fantastic detours to local attractions. With professional drivers and customizable routes, Daytrip ensures a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and unique sights along your journey.

To learn more about Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Travel Experiences

Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences

Viator believes that travel is all about creating unforgettable memories. With over 300,000 experiences to choose from—ranging from simple tours to extreme adventures, plus a wide array of unique, niche activities—it’s never been easier to make lasting memories. We frequently use Viator during our travels and especially appreciate its flexible cancellation policy, which provides peace of mind with every booking.

Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas

GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.

GigSky eSIM effortlessly connects travelers worldwide, eliminating the need to swap physical SIM cards or face unexpected roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making your travel experience more convenient than ever. Plus, they offer a fantastic deal: a free 100 MB data plan with no credit card required. They are so confident that you will love their service!

Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10.

To learn more about how GigSky works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

Shopping

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides that we have vetted ourselves

Amazon is one of the world’s most comprehensive online shopping platforms, offering lower prices, a wide selection, and fast delivery through its global fulfillment network.

This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!

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Authors

  • 2025 recap video, Wanderers Compass 2025 Travel Recap Video: A Year to Remember

    Joelle Machia is an award-winning travel writer, content creator, photographer, and podcaster, and the co-founder of Wanderers Compass, an online travel website dedicated to immersive, experience-driven travel storytelling. With decades of international travel experience, Joelle brings a global perspective shaped by sustained time on the road and a deep curiosity for how culture, history, and place intersect.

    Her work focuses on destinations best understood beyond the surface, often weaving together historical context, local voices, and personal experience. Through writing, photography, and multimedia storytelling, Joelle documents travel as a tool for connection—one that encourages curiosity, empathy, and respect for the communities being visited.

    Joelle also serves as a United Nations ECOSOC representative, where her focus is on sustainable and responsible travel practices. This role informs her approach to storytelling, emphasizing ethical tourism, cultural sensitivity, and long-term impact rather than trends or checklists.

    As co-host of the Wanderers Compass Podcast, Joelle explores destinations alongside business partner Ryan Slough through conversation and lived experience, highlighting how travel can shape perspective and deepen understanding. Her work aims to inspire travelers to slow down, travel thoughtfully, and engage more meaningfully with the world around them.

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  • 2025 recap video, Wanderers Compass 2025 Travel Recap Video: A Year to Remember

    Ryan Slough is an award-winning travel writer, content creator, photographer, and podcaster, and the co-founder of Wanderers Compass, an online travel website dedicated to immersive, experience-driven travel storytelling. With more than a decade of extensive international travel, Ryan brings a global perspective shaped by time spent across Europe, the Mediterranean, and beyond, often returning to places to understand them more deeply.

    Ryan’s path to travel was shaped by more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, where exposure to different cultures, landscapes, and histories sparked a curiosity that would later become transformative. Travel became a way for him to reconnect with purpose, perspective, and a sense of possibility beyond uniformed life. That personal transformation became the inspiration behind the creation of Wanderers Compass.

    As co-host of the Wanderers Compass Podcast, Ryan shares stories that explore how travel can be a powerful tool for growth, reflection, and connection.

    His work frequently highlights castles, fortifications, heritage sites, and destinations shaped by resilience and conflict, blending historical context with modern travel experiences. Through writing, photography, and conversation, Ryan hopes to show how meaningful travel can help others navigate their own journeys—both across the world and through life.

    View all posts

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