Nomadic Matt's Travel Tuesday

{NAME}, Greetings from Zakynthos, Greece! It's an island on the country's west coast famous for its shipwreck beach, blue caves, and beaches. I'm here doing something I normally don't do: staying in a nice hotel. I decided to "treat myself" this week. It's been a while since I've done that and, after a couple of weeks in dorms and bad beds, I decided I was going to live that luxury lifestyle for a bit. Other than a boat trip around the island, I don't have any real intention of leaving the hotel this week. My room has a super comfy bed, a desk to write at, and a balcony to read on. Plus, there's a huge pool and decent food options here. I'm a little out of my comfort zone as I'm not used to sitting still. I'm always on the move, even when I am at home. I like to be doing something. But, if I don't slow down, how will I catch up on my journal, write all these stories floating in my mind, and plot out my next book? Journaling has reminded me that not posting a blog or on social media isn't the end of the world and that we all need time to unwind, think, and relax. So I'm slowing down this week to just relax before I head up through the Balkans! If you need me, find me next week! :) One final note, many have asked for tips on Greece and, [while you can always find real-time updates on my Instagram]( if you scroll to the end of this email, you'll see two articles on the country. They are the first of many I'll be writing! UPCOMING FREE EVENTS We continue to host tons of virtual events to help you stay inspired and connect with other travelers. Here's what we have coming up: - [Backpacking Iceland Travel Tips & Virtual Meetup]( (TODAY) - [Pinterest: How to Use It to Grow Your Audience]( (TODAY) - [How to Take a Career Break and Travel the World]( (7/22) - [Travel Hacking: How to Maximize Everyday Expenses to Earn More Points]( (7/27) - [Epic Ways to Travel the World with The Planet D]( (7/28) (co-hosted by me!) - [Drones: How to Easily Start Using Them]( (7/29) - [What It's Like Traveling the World as a Black Person]( (8/3) - [How to Plan Travel in a Time of Uncertainty]( (8/12) For the full list of events (and travel happy hour discussions), [check out TNN's website](. LATEST COMMUNITY UPDATES 1. AUGUST BOOK CLUB: In two weeks, Scott from Scott's Cheap Flights will be joining us to talk about his new book Take More Vacations. He'll be sharing insider tips and tricks to help you find flight deals and save money on travel. This free event is on August 4th so [just click here to sign-up and join us!]( 2. NM+ UPDATE: Want to win 3 free nights in a private hostel room? We're giving away 3 nights in a private hostel room anywhere in the world to one lucky member of Nomadic Matt Plus. NM+ gets you bonus content, free books and guides, live Q&As, t-shirts, free entry to our events, regular prize giveaways, and more. [Click here to learn more and become a member today!]( 3. QUESTION: Have you had any issues with World Nomads insurance? We're currently talking to World Nomads about their customer service. If you've had an issue with them in the last six months, reply to this email with what happened. If it hasn't been resolved, I will help. COOL STUFF AROUND THE WEB 1. [How Taco Bell 'Stole' The Taco]( - A look at the origins of Taco Bell in America. The title says it all! 2. [Travels Creator Economy Resets for Next Boom]( - A deep-dive into the future of travel influencers and content creators as the world slowly reopens post-COVID. 3. [Backpackers Bring Unique Benefits to the Places They Visit]( - Are some travelers better for the economy than others? Well, turns out, yes! 4. [The Five-Day Workweek is Dead]( - New data shows that a four-day workweek is just as productive as a five-day workweek — but with tons of other benefits. NEW BLOG POSTS [How to Explore the Cyclades in Greece]( After touring the Cyclades (think Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, etc) again, I wanted to share my favorite islands, what you can expect when you're there, and how to get around! [The Great American Road Trip: A 4-Month Itinerary Around the USA]( The USA is made for road trips. Here's how to see the best the country has to offer on one epic trip! Even if you can't do the entire four months, you can still use this post to get some ideas! [Greece: Ten Years Later]( After ten years, I'm back in Greece. Here's a look at my thoughts on coming back, how the country has changed, and what it's like being here during COVID. QUOTE OF THE WEEK "A year from now, you will wish you had started today." - Karen Lamb *** As always, if you have any questions, just let me know and I'll be happy to help. Sincerely, Nomadic Matt P.S. - Are you on social media? Come join me there for whacky updates and pictures: - [Instagram]( for real-time pictures and stories! - [Twitter]( for travel news, insights, and bad dad jokes! - [Facebook]( for longer updates, news, and other cool stuff! [Unsubscribe]( Nomadic Matt Inc., 207 E. 9th St. , Georgetown, Texas 78626, United States