Hi Reader,Boarding used to be the hardest part of flying for me. The crowding, the announcements, the general chaos of 200 strangers finding their seats. These days I slip on my noise-canceling headphones, start a podcast or a calm playlist, and it all fades to a hum. For a formerly anxious flyer, that quiet has changed everything. Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days runs October 6 and 7, and it's one of the few times the bigger travel gear actually goes on sale. So before the noise starts, here's...
9 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader,Every time one of you hits reply to say a UNESCO site finally clicked, or that one of my itinerary posts or PDFs pulled you out of a planning spiral, I save the note. Those messages are the whole reason this exists. So this week I'm doing something I don't do often enough: saying thank you, and properly introducing you to the two history obsessions I've turned into a real business. 🤓Here's the honest part. For years I have worked here in Austin. And I never once imagined the work...
16 days ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader,Portugal has been keeping me busy around here. After a lot of traveling, researching, writing, and nerding out over Portuguese history, I have finally brought all of my Portugal content together in one place: my new Portugal Travel Guide. If Portugal has been somewhere on your travel wish list, this is your new starting point: Explore my Portugal Travel Guide The guide brings my Portugal content together so you can explore the destination, dig into the history, and start figuring...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, This email contains sponsored content and affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my nerdiness. ✨ Recently I told you how Pillars of the Earth and a college visit to Notre Dame lit the fuse for The Nerd Traveler. This is the part where the fuse found its target. Because loving history is one thing. Loving history in a way that sends you to a bayou in northeast Louisiana to stand on a 3,400-year-old...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Travel should make you curious about what is around the next corner, not worried about whether your phone, purse, or personal safety is at risk. I am a big believer in being prepared enough that I can then get on with the fun part: wandering through a historic neighborhood, examining every tiny detail of a centuries-old church, or staying out a little later because there is one more street I want to explore. Over time, a few simple travel safety items have become part of how I...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, I have always thought that part of the fun of traveling happens long before you arrive. It starts when a place shifts from somewhere I would love to go someday to I am actually going there. And apparently, there is some science behind that feeling. GetYourGuide recently surveyed 4,000 travelers in the U.K. about what happens when we book a trip. Nearly half said they felt an immediate burst of excitement after booking, and 42% said it improved their mood. This newsletter contains...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, If you are new here, hello! I am The Nerd Traveler. Nerdy affiliate note: Some links in this email are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. It helps support The Nerd Traveler and, quite possibly, my historical-fiction habit. I love history, travel, and especially UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But I did not study history in college. In fact, I was much more focused on my social life than my academic...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader,Last week, I shared why shoulder season can make a trip feel calmer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. But once you choose when to travel, there is another important question: Where are you getting your travel information? AI can build an itinerary, suggest attractions, or summarize a destination in seconds. I understand why that is appealing. Personally, I do not use AI to research my own trips because I genuinely enjoy the research process. Give me an official attraction...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader!Shoulder season might be one of the best-kept secrets in travel planning. Some of my most enjoyable trips with my mom took place in September, after the busiest summer travel period had started to wind down. We still had plenty to see and do, but the experience felt calmer, less rushed, and far more enjoyable than many summer trips. There were smaller crowds, fewer lines, and often lower prices. We could spend more time appreciating a destination instead of navigating packed...
2 months ago • 2 min read