Press Room & Media releases from WorldNomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel offer a once in a lifetime photography opportunity!

SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 14, 2012

WorldNomads.com, in partnership with National Geographic Channel are offering a budding photographer a once in a lifetime chance to go on assignment with renowned National Geographic on-assignment wildlife photographer Jason Edwards, to Oman, as part of the 2012 Travel Photography Scholarship to Oman.

The winner will experience an 8-day trip courtesy of Peregrine Adventures and Oman Tourism. They’ll explore the stunning landscapes of Oman from the historic mosques of Muscat, to remote canyon villages and rugged desert terrain by 4WD. On assignment, they will have the opportunity to learn the ropes from a globally renowned Nat Geo photographer and find out why Oman is both the Arabia of Aladdin’s dreams and a modern society.

“We’re extremely proud to be working with National Geographic Channel, Peregrine Adventures, Oman Tourism, Etihad Airways and Canon to allow a budding photographer to gain invaluable experience alongside award-winning photographer Jason Edwards. This is truly a once in a lifetime chance to help them turn their travel passion, into a profession,” says WorldNomads.com General Manager, Chris Noble.

Online applications will be received through to January 14, 2013. For application details please visit the WorldNomads.com website.

The successful candidate will be flown from the country of residence to Muscat where they will meet their mentor, Jason Edwards and begin their assignment in Oman with Peregrine Adventures. They will also receive an advanced photographer’s kit courtesy of Canon Australia (which includes a Canon EOS 6D, 2 lenses, Pixma Pro100 printer and enrolment into the Canon Academy).

“As the leader in small group travel, Peregrine understands that a picture is worth a thousand words”, said Managing Director, Glenyce Johnson. “So the winner will get to hone their craft by visiting the historic city of Muscat to the fishing village of Seeb, the forts of Nakhal and Al Hazm, the Shams Mountains, desert camps in Wadi Bani Khaled and the beautiful Wahiba Sands.”

The scholarship recipient will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition to insights into Edwards’ many years of diverse experience as an award-winning photographer. This is a rare experience into what it's like to be a photographer on assignment with National Geographic.

About WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com is a travel services company that’s in the business of helping independent travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road. It provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides, Travel Q&A and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep members travelling safely. All members can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information please visit WorldNomads.com.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chris Noble
WorldNomads.com
chris[at]worldnomads.com
+61282630400

Fact Sheet

Learn more about us

Press Coverage

Mainstreet.com - April 29, 2011 - 9 Tips to Help Travelers Beat Bedbugs

Travelchannel.com - April 28, 2011 - Tips for Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness

Adventuretravelnews.com - April 26, 2011 - 2011 Travel Documentary Scholarship Contest Takes Winner to Arnhem Land in Northern Australia

Gadling.com - April 11, 2011 - Top 10 types of travel theft (and how to be safe)

Travel.USAtoday.com - Mar 23, 2011 - Face-off: Websites that help travelers tap locals for tips

Away.com - Feb 23, 2011 - Safeguard Your Cash: Personal Safety Tips for Traveling Abroad

Chicagotribune.com - Dec 5, 2010 - News to use

Todayonline.com - Aug 16, 2010 - Go places with your iPad

Away.com - Aug 4, 2010 - Travel to Bhutan with a National Geographic Photographer

Ellenbarone.com - Aug 4, 2010 - Travel to Bhutan on Assignment with National Geographic and WorldNomads.com

Travelpulse.com - Aug 4, 2010 - WorldNomads Sets Photo Scholarship Competition

Canada.com - Aug 4, 2010 - Photo contest leads to Bhutan

Bing.com - May 8, 2010 - Four Travel Scams to Avoid

usatoday.com - Apr 8, 2010 - Great travel apps for smartphones

SmarterTravel.com- Mar 31, 2010 - Top 10 Travel Safety Mishaps ... and How to Avoid Them

Away.com- Mar 19, 2010 - Water While Traveling: What You Need to Know to Stay Healthy

Gadling.com- Feb 23, 2010 - UK Travel Claims in Asia

Traveling greener - Jan 14, 2010 - Finding Greener Travel Insurance

ETN Global Travel Industry News - Jan 7, 2010 - Travel insurance company sets the bar for corporate social responsibility

LA Times - Dec 21, 2009 - Petty cash brings positive change through Footprint Network

Chicago Tribune - Dec 13, 2009 - Travel News to Use

Jaunted.com - Nov 19, 2009 - Here's Your Chance To Become A Travel Writer!

MiamiHerald.com - Nov 7, 2009 - South Floridians win leg of Van-Tastic

Gadling.com - Nov 2, 2009 - Two Floridians win Tasmania leg of Travel Contest

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Aspiring Indian filmmakers win 2012 WorldNomads.com Travel Film Scholarship to Brazil

SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 12, 2012

Shriya Pilgaonkar and Eeshit Narain, aspiring young filmmakers from Mumbai, India are declared the winners of the 2012 WorldNomads.com Travel Film Scholarship to Brazil.

The World Nomads Travel Scholarship program offers aspiring travel content producers an opportunity to turn their passion into a profession by creating annual money-can't-buy mentorship opportunities in the fields of filmmaking, photography and travel writing.

Unlike film festivals and competitions, the Travel Film Scholarship aims to find the entrant(s) who would benefit most from a mentorship experience with award winning filmmaker and TV director, Trent O'Donnell.

With hundreds of entries submitted from around the world, Shriya and Eeshit impressed the judges with their film featuring Parsi culture in India, told through a visit to one of the few remaining Iranian restaurants in Mumbai.

Mentor Trent O'Donnell commented, "What makes a great travel film is not just the ability to present what's in front of you, but to question it. To explore a subject or theme and to be able to articulate how this impacts upon you. Shriya and Eeshit have shown exceptional potential through their film, their ability to explore their subject and effortless and engaging presentation skills made them stand out as an obvious choice for the mentorship. I look forward to working with them in Brazil"

As the winning team, Shriya and Eeshit will work with Trent in Rio de Janeiro on a 10-day assignment to get under the skin of Brazil's most vibrant festival and film the stories of Carnival. On assignment, the duo will meet up with some locals (Triptrotters) to explore their favorite activities - from learning to play beach footvolley to joining in a samba session before the big parade. They will also join the throngs of revelers at the Sambadrome to film the Carnival parade rounds its final bend with tickets from Be a Local. Then, they will explore a Rio beyond the Carnival mayhem and visit an International Volunteer HQ building project in the favela community Barriera do Vasco and experience life at a WWOOF homestay just north of the city. After all of the day's excitement, they will be resting up each night in an awesome local AirBnB pad at Copacabana Beach.

Their brief will be to produce travel themed videos that will be considered for broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure.

To watch Shriya and Eeshit's winning entry visit scholarships.worldnomads.com and find out more about WorldNomads.com's upcoming Photography Scholarship.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chris Noble
WorldNomads.com
chris[at]worldnomads.com
+61282630400

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Has Safety Advice For International Visitors To South Africa’s World Cup

SYDNEY, Australia, June 7, 2010

WorldNomads.com, a global travel services company, suggests easy-to-implement pre-departure and in-country health and safety guidelines if traveling to Soccer’s World Cup in South Africa this June and July.

Pre-Departure - Top 10 Medical Tips for travelling to the World Cup

Discuss health concerns with a medical doctor; update appropriate immunizations including rabies if plans call for hiking / camping; consider anti-malarial medications and updating seasonal flu and H1N1 immunizations.

Pack anti-bacterial hand rubs, DEET insect repellant, long-sleeved shirts / pants and first-aid kit with sterile dressings, gloves and over-the-counter medication for diarrhea.

In hand-luggage pack two-week supply of prescription medicines (in original packaging) with letter from doctor outlining what has been prescribed. Contact the South African consulate or embassy for information on some medications that are prohibited in some countries.

Carry extra copies of passport and travel insurance documents; leave one set with friend / family.

In South Africa - How to Stay Safe at the Games

Drink only bottled water; eat only cooked and peeled foods. Avoid outdoors at dusk / dawn when most flying insects are out and about and wear long sleeves / pants at these times. If fever or diarrhea occurs, see a health care professional as soon as possible and call the World Nomads Emergency Assistance Phone number (do you have that number?) for advice. Always observe safe sex practices.

Spectators can receive free primary healthcare at official venues, including a script or referral to a health facility if necessary. Any investigations, procedures or admissions will be paid by the patient. Dispensing machines will be situated throughout the stadiums for basic drug purchases. 24-hour pharmacies will be in place for the duration of the event. World Nomads Travel Insurance medical assistance companies accept calls 24 hours a day.

Conceal money pouch; place wallet in front trouser pocket, ensure that all bags, including for cameras, are zipped with clasp closed. Avoid carrying large sums of cash. Try not to walk alone; take special precautions at lonely lookout points, especially at dusk or after dark. Don’t accept assistance from strangers at ATMs. Give food, not money, to street children / beggars. Park in well-lit areas. Keep document photocopies in a safe place. Don’t walk and talk/text; keep phone out of sight when not in use; use security lock code and insure it.

"Don't get drunk with people you don't know," says Graham Kingaby, director/underwriter and WorldNomads.com travel safety guru. “Be wary of accepting alcoholic drinks from strangers, as their intentions may not always be noble.”

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep you travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads’ iPad App, “Ask a Nomad” - Opens Doors to New Experiences

SYDNEY, Australia, July 1, 2011

WorldNomads.com a global travel services company, announces an ingenious iPad app, Ask a Nomad , that allows you to tap into a global knowledge network to provide travel answers, inspiration and local assistance from other like-minded travellers around the world.

Powered by the Travel Knowledge Network, a group of travel websites harnessing their communities knowledge, the iPad application affords the anytime/anywhere ability to ask and get answers on travel and other destination questions; plus it makes use of geo location to find content nearby. By creating an account, you can store your questions and their answers and use these offline, a necessary requirement for anyone travelling off the beaten path without internet access.

"The best advice you can get on a destination generally comes from those that either live there, or have extensively travelled through the region,” says Christina Tunnah of WorldNomads.com. “When you ask, your question actively gets routed to the travellers in the network most likely able to answer it for you based on their travel profile and answer history."

Tunnah says, “ Once you download the app, you can browse travel questions and answers from travellers all around the the world, a simple sign-up then allows you to ask your own questions and share you answers to support other like-minded travellers. "

According to Frommer’s Unlimited 3rd annual 2011 Travel Content and User Experience Survey released in May 2011, there is a growth in the consumption of travel content from mobile devices including the iPad. 52% of all respondents use their mobile devices to get travel content while they are traveling (72% for 18-34 age bracket) and 38% use their devices for planning (60% of 18-34 year old respondents).

In addition to convenience, answers through this app are up to date and more accurate than guidebooks. " We're yet to see an app that taps into a global travel network, harnessing the knowledge of travellers across multiple communities. The social connectivity of 'Ask a Nomad' coupled with the speed of response makes this truly a valuable travel companion" says Tunnah.

Download screen shots zip file (1.8Mb)

If you're a travel company interested in joining the Travel Knowledge Network, contact christina.tunnah@worldnomads.com

About WorldNomads.com World Nomads is a travel services company that’s in the business of helping independent travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road. It provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information please visit WorldNomads.com.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads and Rough Guides to give a budding travel writer the chance to be mentored throughout Southeast Asia!

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb 20, 2012

WorldNomads.com is excited to announce that one lucky aspiring travel writer will be given the chance to be mentored in Singapore by Rough Guides author, Richard Lim.

Not only will they learn the craft of travel writing from a seasoned professional, they'll also directly contribute to the new edition of 'The Rough Guide to Singapore', instantly turning them into a published travel writer!

But that's just the first leg of their three country travel writing sojourn. Next they'll jet off to Bali and meet up with Stuart McDonald, travel writer and founder of Travelfish.org, the online travel guide to Southeast Asia. Their 6-day cultural immersion will see them experience village life, climb a volcano, learn to surf and delve into Balinese "black magic" (need a hex on your ex? you're in the right place!).

The final leg of the scholarship will have them whisked off to Malaysia for a food odyssey through Kuala Lumpur and Penang with award winning hsa*ba Burmese cookbook author, Tin Cho Chaw. They'll explore night markets, learn traditional cooking techniques, experience fine dining cuisine and visit a Durian plantation!

"This is a chance to turn a travel passion into a profession", says Chris Noble, General Manager of WorldNomads.com. "We have been privileged to have Rough Guides partner on our travel writing scholarship for the past 3 years and so far, all scholarship recipients have gone on to secure writing jobs with them".

Candidates, 18 and older, can be journalism students, emerging and non-professional writers or even lovers of travel looking for a career change. Applications will be accepted until the April 23, 2012 deadline.

Travel will take place from June 18th to July 6th, 2012. Entrants must have a high degree of proficiency in written English, be comfortable doing some travel on their own and have a current passport.

Most importantly, they must a lust for adventure travel and a burning desire to be mentored and become a professional travel writer.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, a foot in the door of a highly competitive profession and an chance to truly get under the skin of three amazing countries, with three very unique and accomplished travel writers.

What are you waiting for?

For complete details and easy online entry please visit WorldNomads.com.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chris Noble
WorldNomads.com
chris[at]worldnomads.com
+6182630400

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Tripping.com joins WorldNomads.com in the Travel Knowledge Network!

SYDNEY, Australia, Oct 11, 2011

WorldNomads.com is excited to announce that social travel site Tripping.com has come on board as a new partner within the Travel Knowledge Network. The Travel Knowledge Network is a group of like-minded travel sites leveraging a global travel question and answers platform.

Driven by the Travellr Q&A engine (acquired by WorldNomads.com in 2009), Tripping Answers joins other partners Ask A Nomad (WorldNomads.com) and Local Gossip (GlobalGossip.com) to support travellers looking to gain insight and knowledge from a global community in excess of 1 million travellers and locals.

Unlike a traditional forum, the Travellr Q&A engine matches and routes questions in real-time to locals and experienced travelers in the Network who are most likely to have the right answer based on local experience or having frequently travelled there.

The aim is simple: give the best, most relevant, and insightful answers to travel questions from locals and other travellers who know. Because a network of travel knowledge is also more likely to get better answers than from a single community silo, the Travel Knowledge Network sources more content and delivers more specific answers from a wider global audience.

"The best and most-trusted travel advice on a destination generally comes from locals or those who have extensively traveled through the region,” says Christina Tunnah of WorldNomads.com. “With Tripping.com joining the Travel Knowledge Network, the global pool of like-minded travelers who can ask and answer travel questions is vastly expanded and enhanced. "

“We’re thrilled that our members will be able to tap into such high quality, user generated travel advice,” says Jen O’Neal, CEO of Tripping.com. “Given that the Tripping community is filled with travelers, expats and locals, the Travel Knowledge Network provides an ideal platform for them to engage with each other on a global scale.”

A smart tool for travelers, The Travel Knowledge Network is also a smart move for business.

By joining the Network, travel brands get in front of a wider global audience and thereby grow their online reputation beyond their own communities and membership. Questions and answers from a Network partner’s website, get posted and branded with their linked logo providing access to customers across the network.

WorldNomads.com has already expanded its involvement in the network through the launch of the iPad app Ask A Nomad. With over 50,000 downloads in its first six weeks, this easy to use mobile tool is further driving travellers through the network, expanding reach and driving Q&A to network partner sites.

For more information on the network and how to become a member site, email Christina Tunnah at christina.tunnah[at]worldnomads.com.

About WorldNomads.com

About Tripping

Tripping is a social travel site that connects travelers with local people for tips, shared cups of coffee and homestays in over 150 countries. By providing a safe and easy way for travelers to engage in cultural exchange, Tripping can transform a simple vacation into a meaningful, life-changing experience. Tripping is also partnered with Ivy League universities, study abroad programs, international volunteer organizations and even touring rock bands. Founded in 2009 by Jen O'Neal and Nate Weisiger, Tripping’s mission is to make the world a better place through cultural exchange. To learn more, please visit Tripping.com.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chris Noble
WorldNomads.com
chris[at]worldnomads.com
+6182630400

Disturbing trends for UK Travellers to Asia

SYDNEY, Feb 19, 2010

WorldNomads.com, leading global travel insurance provider, has released claims data showing an alarming trend in injuries happening to their UK customers.

Over 65% of all major claims submitted by UK travelers are for injuries occurring in Asia. North America was the next hotspot for claims at 25%.

The primary incidents occurring in Asia were related to road travel accidents, 19% of claims, followed by an alarming increase in mosquito borne illnesses such as Dengue Fever and Malaria, 14% of claims.

“ The rising increase in incidents relating to road traffic accidents and mosquito borne diseases is of great concern and traveller education needs to play a large role assisting to reduce this “ says Nick Pound of WorldNomads.com. “Travellers also need to understand that the rules of the road that apply at home in the UK are thrown out the window when travelling by road through Asia. Extra precaution when crossing roads, driving scooters and hire cars needs to be taken”.

Dengue is a viral illness that is spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. This illness, once confined to SE Asia has now become more common in Latin America, Asia, Africa, North America and even Australia. Dengue, nicknamed “breakbone fever” due to the wracking muscle cramping it causes, has no specific treatment and carries a case fatality rate of 40-50% if left untreated and progresses to the dreaded Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

“Travelers headed to areas with Dengue activity should travel prepared to do what they can to prevent mosquito bites. Caution should also be used when looking at the time of year traveling occurs, especially during rainy seasons,” comments Dr. Erik McLaughlin, WorldNomads.com’s roving medical expert.

“Dengue is a serious and persistent health risk and savvy travelers need to be aware of it and start getting used to taking proper precautions.”

To learn more about travel safety and Dengue Fever visit the WorldNomads.com Travel Safety Hub.

WorldNomads.com products and services include global travel insurance protecting residents from over 150 countries with high value medical and evacuation coverage, 24-hour emergency assistance and coverage for a large range of adventure activities; language guides and travel blogs plus a stream of travel safety information to ensure all World Nomads stay informed, educated and safe when traveling.

WorldNomads.com clients may also donate to a range of community development projects when purchasing travel insurance through the company’s Footprints Charity program http://footprints.worldnomads.com/.

Collectively, The Footprints Network has raised over $800,000, from over 310,000 donations, which has funded 53 projects across the globe through partner organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children and Water Aid.

WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep members travelling safely throughout the world. For more information visit http://WorldNomads.com

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

Fact Sheet

Learn more about us

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Footprints Network hits $1 Million Mark

SYDNEY, Australia, Oct. 6, 2010

The Footprints Network, an online philanthropy program for eBusinesses, has just hit the one million dollar mark in micro donations to help fund select worldwide charity projects.

The Footprints Network is comprised of an alliance of online e-commerce companies collaborating to help bridge the gap between individual donors and various charity projects. Using web technologies, Footprints aggregates thousands of micro donations made through online transactions to fund community development projects that help end poverty.

During checkout with participating businesses, online customers are given a simple “opt-in” option to add a small donation (as low as $1) to their total purchase amount. That micro donation is passed on to the particular charity project chosen by that business. It’s a simple concept that’s making a huge impact.

Footprints is excited to announce that to-date 386,391 people have helped to raise over $1,000,327 for 61 projects.

And while $1 million is an impressive number, Footprints founder Simon Monk, feels that it is only an indication of how powerful micro donations can be, with a proven track record of delivering value and service to donors, charities and businesses alike, Footprints is issuing a call to action for other online businesses to join in and help achieve even greater results for those in need.

"For most people, a donation is less than a cup of coffee and our real-time reporting lets everyone see the difference they're making. For online businesses, it's a simple and engaging mechanism for your customers. They are about the ethics and values of the companies from which they purchase, so we invite you to get involved."

Simon has now placed even loftier targets on the network, "When you consider the number of transactions made daily online, Footprints has the potential to build an extensive global business network, capable of raising in excess of 1 billion dollars. This is just the beginning and truly shows the power of the internet to support sustainable fund raising".

The Footprints Network also proudly supports the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a global action plan to achieve eight anti-poverty goals by 2015. The recognition of MDGs and their global importance has been given a recent boost by the MDG summit in NYC and the Clinton Global Initiative, which representatives at Footprints feel will serve to further increase awareness and support for the underlying charities.

The Footprints Network was founded by online travel insurance provider WorldNomads.com in 2005 and now includes a collective of like-minded eBusinesses who would like to make a tangible difference in the lives of people living in impoverished communities. Utilising their expertise in technology and e-commerce, Footprints helps to facilitate people’s desire to make a difference while assuring that donations are distributed only to partners who uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability and transparency.

Businesses, charities and individuals who would like to get involved can visit The Footprints Network" for more information.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

If Travelers Are Where Disaster Strikes: Survival Tips from WorldNomads.com

SYDNEY, January 22, 2010

Immediately following the tragedy in Haiti, WorldNomads.com, the travel services company that’s helping travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road, posted information on their Travel Safety Hub on how travelers can safeguard their own health and safety in an earthquake / disaster affected area.

If you have access to a working phone or the internet:

- Make contact with family, friends & your local embassy and let them know that you’re safe.

If you are injured or become ill

- Contact your travel insurance 24-hour medical assistance service as soon as possible, they’ll guide you through what to do next. Follow their advice to the letter.

- If you’re not covered under a travel insurance policy, seek attention at the nearest medical clinic or ask for directions to your nearest embassy.

Beware of the environment:

- Avoid downed power lines and disaster-caused hazards. Use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns or torches. Following a disaster there may be rapidly moving water that can also carry infections. Disasters resulting in massive structural damage can also result in exposure to chemical or biologic contaminants (i.e asbestos).

- Do not return to your hotel / accommodations, or any building, if they are in any way damaged as aftershocks could cause a collapse.

- Move to the nearest open area (oval, park) away from damaged buildings, trees or roads where powerlines may have fallen.

Keeping Safe:

- Disease can spread very quickly post disaster, so ensure you protect against injuries and infections by wearing sturdy footwear. Tetanus is a potential health threat for cuts and grazes.

- Frequent hand washing helps keep germs at bay. (If a traveler becomes unwell within six weeks of returning home and has fever, rash, respiratory illness or any other unusual symptoms, advise a physician of having just returned from a disaster-affected region.)

- Drink only bottled, boiled or disinfected water. For more information refer to the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/).

- In the event of diarrhea, replace lost fluids with clean drinking water or oral rehydration solutions.

- Keep close tabs on personal belongings, passport and money.

Getting out:

- Follow all advice from either your medical assistance service and/or local emergency service team and authorities to move to safe zones or transport to take you to the airport for evacuation.

Chris Noble, General Manager of WorldNomads.com says “Being caught in the middle of a natural disaster is both terrifying and confronting, but it’s also the one situation where you need to remain as calm as possible. Help those around you if able, take every pre-caution to avoid placing yourself at further risk and follow all directions from emergency services”.

WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep members travelling safely throughout the world. For more information visit http://WorldNomads.com

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Tips on Charitable Giving and Avoiding Travel Scams from WorldNomads.com

SYDNEY, January 22, 2010

WorldNomads.com, the travel services company that’s helping travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road, offers suggestions on how compassionate and generous individuals can avoid being scammed by those taking advantage of the tragedies of others, such as the recent devastation in Haiti.

“Fortunately in times of such unimaginable disaster there are generous individuals worldwide who want to contribute money and/or personal time in relief,” explains Chris Noble, general manager of World Nomads. “However not everyone is honourable and we just want everyone to be on the lookout for possible and documented charity and travel scams.”.

WorldNomads.com warns of a number of possible travel scams online in their Travel Safety Hub and offers these tips when deciding to contribute to disaster relief via phone, email or text message:

1. Check credentials of unrecognized organizations and /or individuals purporting to be collecting for even well-known charities. This is common sense both at home and in a disaster region. A trustworthy “text to donate” source can be used. Texting HAITI to 90999 will donate $10 to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. The $10 will be charged to your cell phone bill.

2. If someone claims to be calling from a medical center at a disaster site and purports to have news about a loved one and asks that money be sent for treatment, listen carefully, ask for details on the medical center, hang up and try to reach the medical center in question through proper channels (i.e. verify the number through a phone book or operator assistance). Do not use the potential scammer’s contact details to call back.

"It's a relatively new and disturbing scam. If you can't get through to your friend or relative then go directly through their travel insurance emergency assistance number and they'll contact the medical center directly to verify" said Noble.

3. Only travel to a Disaster region as part of an official, organised relief mission. They'll give proper training and support to stop you becoming part of the problem, rather than a solution to it.

4. Always check that the seals on bottled waters haven’t been broken. Scammers have been known to sell recycled bottles that have merely been filled up with tap water.

The Worldnomads.com website lists these other popular travel scams to always be on the lookout for:

5. Petty thievery is more common than you might think. Keep your wallet or purse with you at all times, and distribute your money and cards around your body. It’s a good idea for men not to keep their wallet in the usual back pants pocket, as that is another easy target.

6. If someone buys you a drink, watch them get it from the bar and deliver it to you, or better yet, go to the bar with them. It’s not unknown for travelers to be drugged unwittingly and end up lost and alone with all their gear gone.

7. There have also been reports of scams targeting people travelling to the USA. Beware of scam websites that charge for an approved travel authorization for the US Visa waiver program, which is actually free. While the websites appear genuine, the personal details provided via these websites may involve identity fraud.

WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep members travelling safely throughout the world. For more information visit http://WorldNomads.com

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

National Geographic Channel & WorldNomads.com offer a once in a lifetime opportunity!

SYDNEY, Australia, Sept 3, 2011

WorldNomads.com, in partnership with National Geographic Channel are offering a budding photographer a once in a lifetime chance to go on assignment with renowned National Geographic on-assignment wildlife photographer Jason Edwards, to South Africa, as part of the 2011 Travel Photography Scholarship.

The winner will experience an 8-day trip courtesy of the worlds leading adventure travel company, Gap Adventures. They’ll explore the stunning Kruger National Park and step into the heart of Big 5 game country with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as zebra, giraffe, kudo and monkey...to name a few. They’ll also have the chance to photograph Cape Town in all its vibrant colour and visit a pre-school community project on the outskirts of Cape Town, offering them a well rounded view of modern South Africa.

“ We’re extremely proud to be working with National Geographic Channel, G Adventures and South African Tourism to allow a budding photographer to gain invaluable experience alongside award-wining photographer Jason Edwards. This is truly a once in a lifetime chance to help them turn their travel passion, into a profession.” says WorldNomads.com General Manager, Chris Noble.

Online applications will be received through to Nov 18, 2011. For application details please visit the WorldNomads.com website.

The successful candidate will be flown from the country of residence to Johannesburg where they will meet their mentor, Jason Edwards and begin their South African adventure with Gap Adventures.

The assignment is to work alongside Jason Edwards photographing diverse wildlife and landscapes in the Kruger National Park and Timbavati Game Reserve at various times of the day and night. You’ll then get the urban South African experience visiting the Red Hill community project and other great sites around Cape Town.

“South Africa is a phenomenal place for all travellers, but it’s also a photographer’s dream” said Pete Rawley, Head Honcho for Gap Adventures Australia and New Zealand. “The winner will experience amazing wildlife, dramatic landscapes and will meet incredible local people on this adventure. We are very proud to be part of this life-changing experience”

About WorldNomads.com

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chris Noble
WorldNomads.com
chris[at]worldnomads.com
+6182630400

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomad’s 2011 Travel Writing Scholarship Contest Takes Winner On a 22-Day Work and Play Assignment in Turkey !

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan 25, 2011

Rough Guides and active travel company BikeHike Adventures is accepting applications from aspiring travel writers to enter an essay contest themed around travel. The winning entrant can kick start their travel writing career by going on an assignment with a Rough Guides author to Istanbul, Turkey.

One person will be selected to travel, all-expenses paid, to Istanbul to work with Terry Richardson, author of The Rough Guide to Istanbul, as he researches a new edition of his book.

Prior to meeting and working with Terry, the winner will enjoy total immersion into Turkish culture. BikeHike Adventures will provide a delicious buffet of multi-sport activities on their 12-Day Turkish Delight tour highlighting most of Turkey's iconic gems. The trip includes exploring the fairytale landscape of Cappadocia by mountain bike, foot and horseback, strolling through Istanbul visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and Palace and sea kayaking on the Mediterranean past ancient ruins.

For complete details and easy online entry please visit WorldNomads.com. Travel will take place from June 7 to June 28, 2011.

Entrants must have a high degree of proficiency in written English, be comfortable doing some travel on their own, be at least 18 years old, have a current passport and be an exceptional writer with a lust for adventure travel and a burning desire to be a professional travel writer.

To apply entrants will be asked to write a maximum 500 word travel-focused essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes: Responsible Travel, Journey in an Unknown Culture or My Big Adventure.

The winner of the scholarship contest, along with the best entries received will be published on the WorldNomads.com website on April 28th, 2011.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Fact Sheet

Learn more about us

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Savvy Safety Tips for Less Stressful Holiday Travel From WorldNomads.com

SYDNEY, December 18, 2009

Wrapped presents, home addresses on luggage tags and tipsy travelers can rack up negative travel points and stress, especially during the holidays that count as some of the busiest travel days of the year.

WorldNomads.com, the travel services company that’s in the business of helping independent travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road, offers a web page full of products and tips offering advice, breaking destination news and relevant recommendations about what to do in a pickle. Please see http://safety.worldnomads.com.

In preparation for the upcoming year-end holidays, the company recently issued some savvy travel trips to help ease stress before and during travel that include securing your home while you’re gone by canceling newspapers, installing an automatic light timer programmed to go on and off at various times and asking a neighbor to collect mail.

WorldNomads.com also recommends reducing airport stress by allowing ample time to get to your gate, but if you find yourself in long lines, they also offer a free language guides podcast or App that you can download into your iPhone so you can learn a few handy travel phrases. See: http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides/

They suggest traveling light, with hand luggage that fits in the overhead compartments (photograph its contents before leaving home and put contact details inside the case); identify ownership on luggage tags but only with name, cell numbers and email – no home address please. In the event of delays, pack snacks such as dried fruits and nuts. And, wear shoes that are easy to slide off for security check.

Bring essential medicines with prescriptions, sanitized wipes and if you want to be super-cautious, a face mask for airports and flights.

Presents, either those being given or received, should be unwrapped. Make absolutely sure you know and trust what's in those presents; don’t unwittingly carry illegal goods through customs.

Drink responsibly; while under the influence of alcohol a traveler is a bigger target for pickpockets and thieves, especially solo and women travelers.

“We are committed to being an integral part of every adventurous traveler’s journey. Since launching in 2002, our focus has been on providing a range of services to keep adventurous and independent travelers safe on the road,” said Chris Noble, General Manager of WorldNomads.com and the producer of the 'Positive Footprints' documentary series.

Collectively, The Footprints Network has raised over $770,000, from over 295,000 donations, which has funded 53 projects across the globe through partner organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children and Water Aid.

WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep clients travelling safely throughout the world. For more information visit http://WorldNomads.com

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Offer Safety Tips for Winter Travel

SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 28, 2010

With the abundance of heavy snowfalls and severe winter weather WorldNomads.com advises travelers to take extreme care while visiting those areas to avoid possible injury.

Edinburgh, Scotland and London, England are among the many European cities that are facing severe winter weather. World Nomads cautions that although it may look like a peaceful winter wonderland, this type of weather can be more dangerous than it appears. One person was killed in St. Petersburg, Russia after being struck by a large chunk of falling ice. Several others throughout Europe have been injured and there’s more danger ahead with the big chill expected to resume at Christmas.

The US is also in the midst of major blizzards, with many areas in the Northeast and Midwest regions buried under several feet of snow, and more expected over the coming weeks. Recent storms have been blamed in the deaths of over a dozen people across five states.

Experts at World Nomads advise that snow, ice, frigid temperatures and strong winds all have the potential to wreak havoc on travel plans, so plan accordingly for delays. They suggest several safety precautions to consider when traveling during this time of year:

- Avoid walking along the periphery of buildings and keep an eye out for overhanging icicles
- Dress in layers to avoid hypothermia
- Wear good shoes or boots with plenty of grip
- Avoid driving on the roads if possible. If you must drive, drive slowly, clear your car of all snow to increase visibility. Stop regularly to remove accumulated snow and fit snow tires or chains,where appropriate
- When renting a vehicle, consider choosing one that has a GPS system that includes a “panic” or emergency button

Travel during winter months can be a wonderful experience, be it a holiday visit with family or an adventure vacation packed full of winter sports and cold-weather activities. WorldNomads.com wants to ensure that whatever your winter travel plans, that you remain safe.

For information on traveling safely, visit the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Computer Clicks Can Be Music to Ears Of World's Poor and Less Fortunate

SYDNEY, Dec. 16, 2009 – A program called The Footprints Network aggregates thousands of consumer micro donations made while conducting online transactions in order to help fund community development projects that fight poverty worldwide.

The global initiative was organized in 2004 by WorldNomads.com a company that is setting the travel services industry bar for corporate social responsibility. As of this writing, 302,278 people have helped raise more than $785,383 for 53 projects around the world.

The aggregate contributions, which individually range from $1 to $5, assist in alleviating crushing poverty and the health, social and environmental ills that accompany it which today affects over two billion of the world’s population that live on less than $2 a day.

Projects include sight restoration, farming, education, clean water, sanitation and other essentials. Most projects The Footprints Network supports are in developing countries, which yield the greatest social return on investment.

In evaluating the merit of each project, the Footprints Networks uses the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals as guide and compass: - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger - Achieve universal primary education - Promote gender equality and empowering women - Reduce child mortality - Improve maternal health - Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases - Ensure environmental sustainability - Develop a global partnership for development

“Alleviating the extreme cycle of poverty and the ills that accompany it is everyone's moral responsibility. Yet the extent of world poverty can seem so overwhelming that many of us are left feeling helpless and that the problems are just too big for any one person to make a difference,” said Christy McCarthy, Community Manager for WorldNomads.com and co-producer of the Positive Footprints documentary series.

A commitment to overcome this feeling of powerlessness motivated the WorldNomads.com team to found The Footprints Network after the 2004 Asian tsunami. In five years it has grown into an independent network of e-commerce businesses that share the same ethics and values and, through technology, seek to change the world by asking customers spending money online to make a small donation to charity at the same time.

WorldNomads.com supports all administrative costs of the program so 100 percent of donations go directly to the projects. The Footprints Network is an alliance of e-commerce companies and their customers plus project partners. The business partners include WorldNomads.com, Travel Insurance Direct, JetAbroad.com, SurfStitch.com and REMO General Store. Charity partners include Oxfam, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Save the Children, Water Aid and many more.

"We're looking for more online e-commerce business partners to integrate the Footprints mechanism into their shopping carts and transaction by transaction, help make a difference" said McCarthy.

WorldNomads.com, the travel services company that's in the business of helping independent travelers stay safe and stress-free on the road, offers a website full of products and tips offering advice, breaking destination news and relevant traveler recommendations. Please see WorldNomads.com's Travel Safety Hub.

"We are committed to being an integral part of every adventurous traveler's journey. Since launching in 2002, our focus has been on providing a range of services to keep adventurous and independent travelers safe on the road," said McCarthy.

WorldNomads.com clients may also donate to a range of community development projects when purchasing travel insurance through the company's Footprints Charity program.

For travel services, charitable contributions and more information please visit WorldNomads.com.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

FOOTPRINTS NETWORK PARTNER ENQUIRIES:

Christy McCarthy
WorldNomads.com
Christy[at]WorldNomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com recognized for innovation by the youth travel industry at annual awards.

London December 9, 2009 – WorldNomads.com is happy to announce it's recent win for 'Best Website' at the British Educational Travel Association (BETA). The awards acknowledge the crème-de-la-crème in student, youth and educational travel, recognizing and celebrating the achievements of outstanding companies and individuals operating within the youth travel market.

Tourism Minister, Margaret Hodge MP praised those working in the youth and educational travel industry for rising to the challenges facing the sector, when she addressed the annual British Youth Travel Awards in London last week.

“Travel and tourism is one of the biggest industries in the UK economy, employing 1 in 8, and so the government must keep thinking of tourism so that we emerge well from the recession,” the Tourism Minister said. “There are many challenges facing the travel sector – including visa controls, airport taxes and a general shortage of money amongst consumers - but if we pull together, we can keep travel as a really important ingredient in young people’s lives.”

WorldNomads.com took home the trophy for Best Website, and Director of Partnerships Nick Pound said the industry’s endorsement meant a great deal to his entire team. “It’s a great achievement for World Nomads to have had the quality and content of our website recognized with this prestigious award."

WorldNomads.com is a leading provider of global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world.

From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, free online travel journals, scholarship programs and iPhone language guides, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep their members travelling safely. They can also donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. This program has raised over $780,000 and funded 53 community projects around the world.

The company's commitment to providing innovative products and services online, is matched only by the desire to ensure all WorldNomads.com members travel safely and get the most from their travel experience.

Learn more about WorldNomads.com

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Turn Terrifying Travel Tales Into Enticing Travel Prizes In Latest WorldNomads.com Competition

SYDNEY, Australia, Sep. 9, 2010

When things go wrong on the road, the experience can be terrifying. WorldNomads.com invites people to submit their stories, from disaster to triumph in a new, on-line contest called Terrifying Travel Tales. The winner will receive a prize of a choice of one of four trip options that will help build confidence on the road.

Submissions will be accepted from Sept. 8 to Nov. 30 with the winner being announced on Dec. 20, 2010. See Terrifying Travel Tales !

“We’re looking for terrifying tales, but we also want to know how things might have gone differently, how that person reacted and what advice they would give to other travelers about how to avoid or survive a similar situation” said Christopher Noble, WorldNomads.com General Manager. “Our aim is to find the one story that inspires with travel triumph over adversity and give that person a chance to experience a new and amazing travel experience… on us.”

Noble said experiences might include, among others, being scammed out of cash, falling from a tuk-tuk or eating an adventurous path right to the hospital.

“We want to give the best storyteller the chance to overcome their terrifying travel tale by making a fresh start - on a new adventure,” he said.

To enter, travelers are asked to log on to the WorldNomads.com Facebook fan page and hit the "Like" button. From there, click on the contests tab at the top of the page and enter commentary. Each month WorldNomads.com will chose the top three stories for a finalist shortlist and from Dec. 3-17 its travel community on Facebook will vote for their favorite tale from the shortlist.

Round-trip airfare to the trip destination of choice will be provided by Airtreks.com . Grand prize travel options include: joining a tribe in Vorovoro, Fiji with TribeWanted.com; discovering Asia Minor on Turkey Trails with TucanTravel.com; exploring remote regions by bike on Cycle the Mekong: Laos and Cambodia with PepyTours.com and studying Spanish and Argentinean Tango with GoLearnTo.com in Buenos Aires. The winner will also receive travel insurance for their trip from WorldNomads.com .

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Mohamed Soliman wins WorldNomads.com Travel Documentary Scholarship

SYDNEY, Australia, Aug. 16, 2010

With over 178 quality entries submitted this year, Mohamed Soliman of Cairo emerged victorious as the winner of the 2010 WorldNomads.com Travel Documentary Scholarship.

Documentaries were submitted from places like Africa, India, Alaska, South America, South East Asia and Papua New Guinea but Soliman's piece on Northern Uganda touched the judges more than the others. Mohamed's video documented the strife in Northern Uganda through the eyes of a teenager - poignantly showing the loss he suffered and the way in which this extraordinary young man is learning to embrace life again.

Judge Trent O'Donnell commented, "One of the hardest aspects of making a documentary is to get your subjects to open up to you and drop the facade that people often put on in front of camera. Mohamed did this wonderfully. His subject David seems honest and sincere as he recalls his tragic story. The visuals gave a great sense of place and enhanced the tone of the piece without being overly complicated and detracting from the rawness of the story being conveyed. A great doco that conveys an amazing amount of story and emotion in such a short space of time."

As the winner, Mohamed will work alongside Trent in the Amazon as he films a documentary on sustainable tourism, taking part in a special project with Gap Adventures, exploring the Amazonian jungle and homestaying with the indigenous Quichua community. They will be joining Bruce Poon Tip (Gap's founder) as he revisits Ecuador's spectacular Andean Interior and Amazon lowlands. It's been 20 years since the first Gap Adventures trip was run in the Amazon and alongside Bruce they will gain unique access and insight into the lives of the Quichua community understanding how sustainable tourism has positively impacted their community.

Mohamed will also see first hand how the Footprints Network can make a difference to communities in need as Simon Monk (founder of WorldNomads.com and the Footprints Network) visits a project providing schooling equipment to the local Quichua primary school.

To watch Mohamed's winning entry visit WorldNomads.com and find out more about WorldNomads.com's upcoming Photography Scholarship to Bhutan

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

New Contest for Wannabe Travel Writers Includes Assignment in Japan
Travel Writing Scholarship 2010 from WorldNomads.com offers chance to explore and cover Tokyo for Rough Guides.

SYDNEY, Nov. 9, 2009 – Write your way around Tokyo, all-expenses paid, and get published to boot.

WorldNomads.com in conjunction with Rough Guides, Intrepid Travel and Hotels.comannounces a contest for aspiring travel writers ages 18 and up. Candidates can be students, emerging and non-professional writers and lovers of travel looking for a career change. The prize is the chance to travel for a week, all-expenses paid, to Tokyo and learn tricks of the trade from Rough Guides travel writer, Simon Richmond.

Contest entries begin on Nov 9, 2009 with the deadline for applications Dec. 21, 2009. For details and online entry please visit the WorldNomads.com travel writing scholarship page.

The assignment will be to research, review and update essential travel info for the Tokyo section of The Rough Guide Japan, including accommodation, bars and restaurants, entertainment, shopping, tours, activities and transport, as well as searching out those local secrets that travelers want to read about.

The contest winner will fly to Tokyo from his/her country of residence and then, after touching base with travel writing mentor Simon Richmond, hit the road for 7 days reviewing and writing for 'The Rough Guide to Japan' travel guide. Afterwards there will be a chance to relax and enjoy a 4 day "Flavours of Tokyo" independent tour with Intrepid Travel offering a cuisine-focused insight into the Japanese Culture.

Applicants need to be available between Feb. 15 - 26, 2010 to participate in 'The Rough Guide to Japan' writing assignment and "Flavours of Tokyo" independent tour with Intrepid Travel.

Entrants must have a high degree of proficiency in written English, be comfortable doing some travel on their own, be at least 18 years old, have a current passport and be an excellent writer with a lust for adventure travel and a burning desire to be a travel writer.

To apply entrants will be asked to write a maximum 500 word travel-focused essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes: -A Journey that Changed Lives -Responsible Travel -Adventure in an Unknown Culture -A Memorable Experience Involving Food in a Foreign Country

The winner of the scholarship contest, along with the best entries received will be published on the WorldNomads.com website on January 8th, 2010.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads Group invests in Travellr.com

Sydney Sep 17, 2009 – World Nomads Group (WNG) has invested in the Australian travel web start-up Travellr.com

Travellr.com is designed to help people find the best and most relevant travel knowledge about anywhere in the world. It provides an innovative way to allow people to share their travel knowledge with other like-minded travelers in the form of user generated questions and answers..

"Our investment in Travellr.com represents an ongoing commitment to innovative technologies and presents a great opportunity to work more closely with our partners by enabling them to deeply connect with the travel community." - Stewart Hindmarsh, CEO, World Nomads Group

Since launching in May this year, Travellr.com has won a number of awards, including the CeBIT Webciety Wildcard, and has been featured in the Google Geo Developers blog.

"We are very excited that WNG understands the value in this unique service. Their investment allows us to focus on improving the service and growing the knowledge pool, particularly with WNG customers and partners." - Ian Cumming, Travellr.com

Travellr will relocate it's office and development team to Sydney, Australia.

About Travellr.com
Travellr was founded by Australian entrepreneurs Ian Cumming and Scott Woodhouse. Inspired by a love of travel and web technology, the two co-founders developed the concept of 'crowd-sourcing' travel answers from locals and past visitors using a unique recommendation engine. After pitching the idea in Silicon Valley in 2008 they developed Travellr.com, which launched publicly in May 2009. Travellr was funded by an early-stage AusIndustry COMET grant, and is an ANZA Technology Network 'Gateway to the US' company. For a closer look, please visit travellr.com

About World Nomads Group
The World Nomads Group provides customers with travel services and insurance designed to keep them travelling, safely. More than one million travellers annually use a World Nomads Group service, be it travel insurance, safety advice or language guides. World Nomads Group is a proud supporter of the Footprints Network, an initiative to give back to those living in impoverished communities.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Simon Monk
World Nomads Group
simon.monk[at]worldnomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Winning Photographer Gets One Week in Bhutan Plus Photography Equipment In WorldNomads.com Scholarship Competition Open through Oct. 17, 2010

SYDNEY, Australia, Aug. 3, 2010

WorldNomads.com, National Geographic Channel and JoJo's Adventures Bhutan are offering a budding photographer the chance to go on assignment with renowned National Geographic on-assignment wildlife photographer, Jason Edwards, to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

In addition to an all-expenses-paid assignment for a week in Bhutan, the qualifying candidate (minimum age 18 and fit for trekking) will receive AU$2,000 worth of Pentax photographic equipment of his/her choice. The best photos will be published on the National Geographic Channel's website offering a unique chance to get a foot in the door of one of the most revered exploration organizations in the world.

Online applications will be received through Oct. 17, 2010. For details please visit the WorldNomads.com website

The deeply spiritual and mystical Bhutan is slowly lowering its veil to the modern world while maintaining a careful balance with its ancient traditions. Nestled in the Himalayas, bordering India and China, 65% of Bhutan is under forest cover, making its pristine ecology home to rare and endangered flora and fauna.

The successful candidate will be flown from the country of residence to Paro, Bhutan, to meet up with JoJo's Adventure guide for a seven-day trip from Dec. 5-12. The assignment is to work alongside Jason Edwards photographing rare and endangered wildlife in the Phobjikha Valley including the White Bellied Heron (there are only 200 left in the world, and 30 live in this valley) and Black Necked Cranes. The trip will also include historical architecture and traditional Bhutanese culture.

The scholarship recipient will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition to insights into Edwards’ many years of diverse experience as an award winning photographer. This is a rare experience into what it's like to be a photographer on assignment with National Geographic.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Travel Insurance Leader World Nomads Introduces New and Improved Language Guides

Spanish Language Guide

Sydney Sep 3, 2009 – WorldNomads.com, a premier global travel insurance company, today announces the launch of their first, paid Spanish language guide application, now available for download on iTunes.

“It all started when a man explained an unfortunate story on the World Nomads blog,” tells Chris Noble, General Manager of World Nomads. “He thought he was pretty savvy with the local language and proceeded to ask a question of a kind policeman, only to find out that he'd got the translation wrong and had inadvertently told him his 'mother was born of goat'. A few scary hours behind bars proceeded. This scary (but funny) story lead us to believe that even the most knowledgeable travelers can have their words lost in translation and we needed to step in and help.”

WorldNomads.com already has over 20 free language guides available on iTunes, giving travellers the basic 50 phrases needed to get by when travelling. The guides were recently voted ' Best Freebie Language App' by MSNBC.com!

The new Spanish language guide has over 500 phrases created specifically for travelers, covering everything from asking directions, ordering food, requesting help and even flirting !

"Although the basics will get you by in most countries, it's nice to learn more of the local lingo, so you feel less of a tourist," Says Chris Noble.

Priced at only $1.99, they are an easy to pack travel tool that no traveler should leave the country without.

After Spanish, WorldNomads.com plans to upgrade all their guides including Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Arabic & Hindi. Of course you can still download their free applications, including the highly popular Australian slang guide.

All guides can be downloaded via the iTunes Store or directly to your iPhone here.

For other useful travel tools visit http://www.WorldNomads.com.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers Invited To Apply for Scholarship With A Chance To Be Screened On Nat Geo Adventure

One Lucky Winner Can Kick Start Their Film Career By Going on Assignment Into the Ecuadorian Amazon with Documentary Producer Trent O'Donnell and Gap Adventures Founder Bruce Poon Tip

SYDNEY, May 11, 2010

Aspiring documentary filmmakers can apply for a World Nomads’ scholarship that will lead the recipient into the Ecuadorian jungle with documentary producer Trent O'Donnell (who filmed World Nomads’ Positive Footprints series screened on National Geographic Adventure Channel). The resulting documentary will be reviewed by the channel for possible inclusion in its upcoming show schedule.

Application deadline is August 1, 2010. For more details click here.

The Ecuadorian Amazon adventure will give the lucky scholarship recipient a first hand view of how tourism can impact on a local community, the issues around trying to achieve it sustainably and the challenges faced. They'll travel with G Adventures, exploring the Amazonian jungle and home staying with the indigenous Quichua community. Pre and post trip lodging will be accommodated by Hostelworld.com.

Among the trip leaders will be Bruce Poon Tip (G Adventures’ CEO and founder) as he revisits Ecuador's spectacular Andean Interior and Amazon lowlands. It's been 20 years since the first Gap Adventures trip was run in the Amazon and there’s a need and desire to share how sustainable tourism has positively impacted the Quichua people.

As part of an underlying storyline, the trip will also reveal how the Footprints Network can make a difference to communities in need as Simon Monk (founder of WorldNomads.com and the Footprints Network) visits a project providing schooling equipment to the local Quichua primary school.

The Footprints Network aggregates thousands of consumer micro donations made while conducting online transactions in order to help fund community development projects that fight poverty worldwide.

The global initiative was founded in 2004 by WorldNomads.com, a company that is setting the travel services industry bar for corporate social responsibility.

Scholarship applicants must be 18 and older and hold a valid passport. The package includes round trip air from the winner’s home airport and all land and travel expenses. Applicants must also commit to being available to travel during the last two weeks of September 2010. The final winner will be announced on or before Tuesday, August 17, 2010.

The video will be shot under O’Donnell’s mentorship and together a product will be edited and submitted to World Nomads within two months of return.

Applicants must submit a 3 minute documentary in English for judging based on the theme “Local Encounters.” For more details and to apply, click here.

# # #

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com
1.303.898.3376

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

North American Wins WorldNomads.com Video Documentary Scholarship to Vietnam

Language Guides

Sydney Aug 3, 2009 – WorldNomads.com has announced that for the first time a North American has won its video documentary scholarship. The winner hails from Grays Harbor, Washington and is a 24 year-old award-winning documentary filmmaker, short-story writer and grand-champion chicken exhibitionist named Maranatha Hay.

After attending Wishkah Valley High School, Maranatha graduated from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism. In an effort to combine her two loves (science and storytelling) she is now spending her time filming, editing, and directing short documentaries that specialize in sustainable humanitarian aid.

In April, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced Maranatha’s nomination for a 2009 Emmy Award for her documentary ‘Security Dogs.’ Dressed in a bite suit, the then 22-year-old helped security dogs train by allowing the K-9s to attack her while Lt. John Marshall casually explained the details of police dog training.

Maranatha will now have the opportunity to kick start her career by going on assignment to Vietnam with producer Trent O'Donnell. Trekking with a team of 20 volunteer doctors who will be providing vital medical services, she will create her own travel documentary and have it considered for broadcast on the Nat Geo Adventure channel. She will join a Buffalo Tours trek with a team of volunteer doctors deep into the picturesque Mai Chau Valley. The doctors’ mission is to set up temporary health clinics to provide vital medical services to remote hill tribes. Maranatha’s mission is to tell their story.

“I’m just so thrilled to have this opportunity,” comments Maranatha Hay. “I have been working on honing my skills but winning this scholarship will allow me to get my foot in the door to the industry and learn from one of its best.”

WorldNomads.com offers travel scholarships every quarter, its current scholarship is the opportunity to go with an on assignment National Geographic photographer to Antarctica. For further information or to apply for this opportunity read more here.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Language Apps Downloaded Half a Million Times!

Language Guides

Sydney, Australia (July 24, 2009) – WorldNomads.com today announced that in the last six months its iPhone language guides have been downloaded over half a million times. The language guides are essential phrasebooks that enable travelers to communicate the most popular terms needed while traveling. With travelers downloading the guides from all over the world, the huge amount of downloads might imply that travelers are looking to be better prepared when traveling abroad. Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese and Arabic were the most popular downloads for American travelers.

Launched on November 15, 2008, the WorldNomads.com guides serve as a pocket partner to travelers navigating different cultures and languages. The guides offer phrases that travelers can use on a daily basis such as ‘good morning’ and ‘how much does this cost?’ The iPhone app shows the translation and also verbalizes the phrase for those whose accents are forever hopeless. In addition to the practical ‘my name is’ translation a couple phrases have been included for the more adventurous traveler such as ‘those are not my drugs’ and ‘don’t shoot.’

“As travelers we felt there was a real need for a simple phrase guide, something that would help us get to and from the airport without listening to hours of DVDs,” comments Chris Noble, General Manager of WorldNomads.com. “The guides are free to download and cover approximately 40 key phrases that will help travelers stay safe and get around in a foreign country.”

Croatian, Korean and Swahili will be added in the next few months to the database of 22 languages currently on offer.

To download a WorldNomads.com language guide or view the list of languages currently offered head over here.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Launches Photography Scholarship - Join a National Geographic Photographer in Antarctica!

National Geographic Channel

Sydney, Australia (July 15, 2009). Today WorldNomads.com announces the launch of a once in a lifetime travel photography scholarship – the opportunity to join an on-assignment National Geographic photographer in Antarctica for two weeks.

The assignment is to photograph the world's most remote wilderness aboard Gap Adventure's Antarctica Classic M/S Expedition, exploring the Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. The scholarship recipient’s best photos will be published on the National Geographic Channel's website where they will be viewed by thousands of travelers worldwide, offering a chance to work with one of the most revered exploration organizations in the world.

The scholarship winner will be flown from their country of residence to Ushuaia, Argentina where they will board the M/S Expedition on an 11 day assignment in Antarctica from November 22 till December 2, 2009. On the Expedition, the winner will work alongside Jason Edwards photographing some of the planet's most impressive wildlife including Minke & Humpback Whales, Leopard Seals, Penguins, Albatross and dramatic iceberg landscapes. They will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition through to insights into Jason’s many years of experience as an award winning photographer.

“This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience life as a National Geographic photographer,” comments Amanda Byrne, Scholarship Coordinator for WorldNomads.com. “In addition to a wonderful trip, the scholarship recipient will receive AUD$2000 worth of Pentax photographic equipment of their choice to really help them take the best pictures possible.”

Entries are open to applicants from all over the globe but must be submitted by October 4, 2009; visit WorldNomads.com to apply.

Pentax Michaels

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Rough Guides announce new partnership with World Nomads

Sydney, Australia (June 3, 2009).

Rough Guides have chosen World Nomads as their recommended travel insurance provider, effective from today. World Nomads insurance will be integrated into Rough Guides and feature in the Rough Guide travel books. Rough Guides will be promoted as a key partner on WorldNomads.com.

Rough Guides Commercial Manager, Gino Magnotta, said: “World Nomads really impressed us with their quality, competitively priced travel insurance, as well as their enhanced offering to customers with add-ons such as travel safety advice and language guides. Most importantly they have a global reach meaning customers in all our key markets have access to reliable and respected travel insurance products”.

“Rough Guides and World Nomads are a great ‘fit’” said Rough Guides Marketing and Publicity Director Liz Statham, “Both brands are committed to enabling independently-minded travellers to make the most of their travels and we very much look forward to working together”.

Chris Noble, World Nomads General Manager said: “What’s exciting about working with Rough Guides is not only their shared goal of supporting independent and adventurous travellers, but their commitment to travel education, cultural exchange and the transformative power of travel. WorldNomads.com has a commitment to travel philanthropy and learning through our Footprints Network and scholarships programs, we look forward to sharing these as well as providing global travel safety services to Rough Guides readers.”

World Nomads replace Columbus Travel Insurance.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

NORTH AMERICA & REST OF WORLD
Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

AUSTRALASIA
Stephanie Childs
S2i Communications
stephanie[at]s2i.com.au

About Rough Guides: An award-winning CoolBrand®, passionate for telling it like it is, Rough Guides is a leading travel content provider with more than 500 travel guides, gift-books, maps, phrasebooks, bespoke custom publishing guides and digital products, including eBooks and Rough Guides Mobile: interactive city guides for mobile phones. From country guidebooks to pocket city guides and inspirational travel specials to Round The World planners, there’s a Rough Guide to suit everyone. With accurate, up-to-date information and informed, contemporary writing, Rough Guides also produces books on a range of subjects, from the bestselling Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth to zeitgeist books such as the Rough Guide to iPods, iTunes, and Music Online. For more information visit www.roughguides.com. Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth™

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Win a 'Van-Tastic' road trip across Australia

Sydney, Australia (June 3, 2009).

Applications are now open for ‘Van-Tastic Adventures’, a competition designed for enthusiastic and adventurous travelers who are willing to tackle – and capture on video - one leg of an Australia-wide road trip. Seven teams of Travelers can win a trip to Australia and spend 6 weeks driving across the country capturing their adventure on video to ultimately win $10,000 cash and flights from Virgin Blue.

Photo: Geoff - The Van-Tastic Campervan from Travellers Auto Barn

The ‘Van-Tastic Adventure’ begins in August 2009 and the van will be on the road for 11 months, with each team covering a different state or territory.

“We’ll fly each team, of up to 2 people to Australia, and give them the Van-Tastic Van to drive across the country for 6 weeks. They’ll share their adventure online, making videos, stories, and posting photos, and ultimately create a mini-video documentary of their trip.” comments WorldNomads.com Global Programs Manager, Amanda Byrne.

Each team will comprise one or two people, and they’ll have access to the Van-Tastic van fully kitted out with camping gear and a video camera, laptop, editing equipment, and wireless broadband access, as well as petrol money. At the end of each team’s adventure, they will have two weeks’ free access to the nearest Global Gossip internet cafe to create a three to five minute mini-documentary about their ‘Van-Tastic Adventure’.

“We’ve teamed with tourism authorities in every state who have donated great experiences for each team – and will help out by providing suggested itineraries, routes, and access to some camping and national parks along the way,” comments Amanda Byrne.

To apply, potential ‘Van-Tastic Adventurers’ should upload a two-minute or less video of themselves to the World Nomads group on YouTube, demonstrating their genuine lust for adventure, great personality, and ability to push way beyond run-of-the-mill holiday videos.

Applications for the first leg of the journey, which will take place in Queensland during August and September, are open from 11th May until 5th July 2009.

For more information on how to apply, and details about the seven legs of the journey :
Visit http://vantastic.worldnomads.com
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow Twitter: @Van_Tastic

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

NORTH AMERICA & REST OF WORLD
Alexia Nestora
Lasso Communications
alexia[at]lassocommunications.com

AUSTRALASIA
Stephanie Childs
S2i Communications
stephanie[at]s2i.com.au

PROGRAM ENQURIES:
Amanda.Byrne[at]worldnomads.com

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep our clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is also backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information or a free quote visit http://www.worldnomads.com.

Learn the Lingo on your iPod - Our free language guides

Find us on these social networks

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel offer a once in a lifetime photography opportunity!

Fact Sheet

Press Coverage

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Aspiring Indian filmmakers win 2012 WorldNomads.com Travel Film Scholarship to Brazil

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Has Safety Advice For International Visitors To South Africa’s World Cup

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads’ iPad App, “Ask a Nomad” - Opens Doors to New Experiences

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads and Rough Guides to give a budding travel writer the chance to be mentored throughout Southeast Asia!

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Tripping.com joins WorldNomads.com in the Travel Knowledge Network!

Disturbing trends for UK Travellers to Asia

Fact Sheet

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Footprints Network hits $1 Million Mark

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

If Travelers Are Where Disaster Strikes: Survival Tips from WorldNomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Tips on Charitable Giving and Avoiding Travel Scams from WorldNomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

National Geographic Channel & WorldNomads.com offer a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomad’s 2011 Travel Writing Scholarship Contest Takes Winner On a 22-Day Work and Play Assignment in Turkey !

Fact Sheet

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Savvy Safety Tips for Less Stressful Holiday Travel From WorldNomads.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Offer Safety Tips for Winter Travel

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Computer Clicks Can Be Music to Ears Of World's Poor and Less Fortunate

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com recognized for innovation by the youth travel industry at annual awards.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Turn Terrifying Travel Tales Into Enticing Travel Prizes In Latest WorldNomads.com Competition

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Mohamed Soliman wins WorldNomads.com Travel Documentary Scholarship

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

New Contest for Wannabe Travel Writers Includes Assignment in Japan Travel Writing Scholarship 2010 from WorldNomads.com offers chance to explore and cover Tokyo for Rough Guides.

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

World Nomads Group invests in Travellr.com

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Winning Photographer Gets One Week in Bhutan Plus Photography Equipment In WorldNomads.com Scholarship Competition Open through Oct. 17, 2010

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Travel Insurance Leader World Nomads Introduces New and Improved Language Guides

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers Invited To Apply for Scholarship With A Chance To Be Screened On Nat Geo Adventure

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

North American Wins WorldNomads.com Video Documentary Scholarship to Vietnam

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Language Apps Downloaded Half a Million Times!

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

WorldNomads.com Launches Photography Scholarship - Join a National Geographic Photographer in Antarctica!

Latest news from WorldNomads.com

Rough Guides announce new partnership with World Nomads

Win a 'Van-Tastic' road trip across Australia

New Contest for Wannabe Travel Writers Includes Assignment in Japan
Travel Writing Scholarship 2010 from WorldNomads.com offers chance to explore and cover Tokyo for Rough Guides.