Year: 2015

World Nomads Review – Travel Insurance Saved Our Trip

Before heading off on our 15-month long-term trip, I had traveled quite significantly with not even a blip on the trouble radar.   Where this may give some travelers a false since of protection, I follow enough blogging friends who travel full-time to know one simple truth: the more you travel, the odds of something bad happening go up.

This may happen to you on the very first day, six months down the road, or not even for several years. Regardless of the answer to “when,” odds are with you that at some point in time trouble is going to find you.

On this long-term trip we had trouble find us quite a few times, and I am incredibly grateful to have had the foresight to buy long stay travel insurance from World Nomads. Reviews said they were great in filing a claim, and we have to say, in the end they really saved the day.

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Hoi An, Vietnam with Kids

Rice Paddies in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An, Vietnam, is located around 25km east of Danang International Airport.  Rather than flying in, we travelled up to Hoi An from Nha Trang (where enjoyed a wonderful mud bath at the Thap Ba Spa), taking the overnight train leaving at 9:30pm and arriving at 8 am in the morning. Overall the train ride was fine and we all slept well which let us start or exploration of Hoi An on the right foot.

Our six nights were full of many amazing activities that we all enjoyed, from our youngest to oldest.  The following are a collection of the best.

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5 Rules for Climbing Sand Dune 45 in Namibia

On Top of Dune 45

Dune 45 in Namibia is one of the star attractions in the country.  Thanks in part to its proximity to the road through the desert, Dune 45 offers visitors an opportunity to climb a sand dune and take in the spectacular desert scenery.

It is all well and good that it is recommended to climb this sand dune, but there are a few special considerations to keep in mind before ascending.

Climbing Dune 45 is not for the faint of heart.

Thap Ba Spa – Go For the Mud Bath Spa

Morgans Go Travelling at the Mud Spa in Nha Trang

Before arriving in Nha Trang we had caught wind of a mud spa experience. We visited a travel expo located near the backpacker street in Ho Chi Minh and picked up a brochure and were happy with the prices of the packages. Upon arriving in Nha Trang we talked with our guesthouse owners about what activities we wanted to do while here and they kindly gave us an extra 5% discount card to use.

The Thap Ba Spa is the oldest mud and hot spring facility in Nha Trang. It is famous for it’s therapeutic healing powers of the mud and hot springs and we were excited to partake. We decided we would leave early in the morning and arrive at opening time hoping that it would be quieter at this time in the morning.

The taxi ride was about 15 minutes from our guesthouse out the back of town and through some local villages. We arrived just after opening time and decided we would take the communal mud spa and mineral bath option. It cost around $35 USD for all 6 of us which included a communal mud spa experience, mineral hot pools and entrance to the four other pools in the complex.

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