“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
jimmy Neil smith
Below is a list of all the publications and television media appearances in which Wanderers Compass has been featured.
The year 2024 has been an exciting and transformative year for Wanderers Compass Travel Blog. As we continue to expand our freelance work, we’re thrilled to share the milestones we’ve achieved and the progress we’ve made. Looking back to 2023, we had the honor of being named one of the Top 10 Most Incredible Travel Experts by LA Weekly, which was a total surprise! At the time, we were still growing in the world of travel blogging, so to receive such recognition was both unexpected and incredibly humbling. Being featured on that list opened up so many new opportunities, including media coverage that extended far beyond our expectations.
Since then, we’ve been actively involved in freelance writing, a new avenue for us to explore alongside our regular travel content. It’s a thrilling challenge that allows us to dive deeper into sharing our experiences, and we’re excited to continue this alongside our growing online presence. As we publish new articles, we’ll make sure to share them here for you to enjoy.
Throughout it all, our mission has remained the same: to create engaging content, inspire readers to embrace the joys of travel, and share our passion for exploring the world. We’re lucky to have had the opportunity to travel when life allows, and we can’t wait to share more stories and adventures with you in the future.
How did we get here? How did we turn our dreams into reality? It’s all thanks to you, our amazing readers. Your support and interest in our stories, travels, photography, guides, tips, and resources have made all the difference. We’re so grateful to have you with us on this incredible journey. Your encouragement and feedback keep us motivated to deliver the best travel content we can.
And to our family and friends who have supported us from the very beginning – thank you. Your patience, your edits, and your unwavering belief in us have been invaluable. We wouldn’t have made it this far without you.
Here’s to the next chapter of our travels and the adventures ahead!
It does take a village, and we have an awesome one! To learn more about our story, check out About Us.
Publications/Podcasts/Press Releases/Television Coverage where Wanderers Compass has been featured
Freelance Work
1. Joelle Machia Best Overall Theme Park Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine March 27, 2025
2. Joelle Machia Best Amusement Park Live Show Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine March 27, 2025
3. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough The Thrill of Castle Hunting Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine March 21, 2025
4. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough 8 Things to Love About Easter Island (Beyond the Moai) FWT Magazine March 21, 2025
5. Our First Podcast Castle Hunting Around The World Big Blend Radio & TV March 14, 2025
6. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Exploring Montepulciano: A Guide to Tuscany’s Historic Hilltop Town and Its Famous Wines on Wanderlog.com March 12, 2025
5. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Dubrovnik Old Town Walls: A Must-See Croatian Landmark Hero Traveler March 10, 2025
7. Joelle Machia Best Tour Operator Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine February 13, 2025
8. Joelle Machia Best Free Museum Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine January 30, 2025
9. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Tokyo Adventures: 4 Unique and Fun Things to Do FWT Magazine January 25, 2025
10. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Iceland Glacier Lagoons: The Ultimate Guide to Jokulsarlon, Fjallsarlon & Diamond Beach Guide to Iceland Website February 3, 2025
11. Joelle Machia contributing to How Business Leaders Can Evaluate Their Effectiveness Over Time Forbes December 3, 2024
12. Joelle Machia How Business Travel Builds Better Leaders Forbes November 22, 2024
13. Ryan Slough Best Whiskey – Readers Choice Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine October 10, 2024
14. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough A Journey on the Cumberland Valley Family Adventure Trail FWT Magazine October 18, 2024
15. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Kinderijk Windmills Ultimate Guide to Visiting The UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Netherlands Guest Post on herotraveler.com November 2024
16. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Cologne Cathedral History, Architecture and Things To Do Guest Post on herotraveler.com January 2025
17. Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough Mas Olivier Winery: Authenticity Amidst Mass-Produced Traditions FWT Magazine August 30, 2024
18. Joelle Machia contributing to 20 Steps Entrepreneurs Can Take To Level Up Their Businesses Panel Expert Forbes June 28, 2024
19. Joelle Machia Cultural Intelligence: Navigating Cross-Cultural Business Interactions Forbes July 26, 2024
20. Joelle Machia Dear Business Traveler: Step Off Your Balcony To Enjoy The Real Perks Of Business Travel Forbes September 17, 2024
21. Joelle Machia Travel Writers Taste Yakima Valley Wines from Two of its 120 Wineries FWT Magazine. June 25, 2024
22. Joelle Machia Best Aquarium – Readers Choice Panel Expert Newsweek Magazine March 14, 2024
Contributor Spots
1. Joelle Machia Roaming the Globe: The Quest to Uncover the Best Pubs, Bars, and Breweries Around the World (2024) Article Ritz
2. Joelle Machia Staying Safe and Healthy: A Guide to Navigating Health Emergencies While Traveling (2024) Posting Tree
3. Joelle Machia How Traveling Can Transform Your Life? (2024) The Enterprise World
4. Ryan Slough First Time Traveling Abroad? Here is Everything You Need to Know (2024) California Business Journal
Podcasts
Our First Podcast Castle Hunting Around The World Big Blend Radio & TV March 21, 2025
Media Pieces Written About Wanderers Compass
1. Meet the 15 Leading Travel Experts (2024) at MSN
Check out #2
2. Top 10 Most Incredible Travel Experts for Adventure Lovers Worldwide (2023)
LA Weekly
We are listed at #9
3. Wanderers Compass Travelers Joelle and Ryan Named Top Ten Most Incredible Travel Experts by LA Weekly (2023)
Yahoo Finance
4. Meet Joelle Machia (2025) Canvas Rebel Interview
5. Globetrotters Ryan & Joelle Share Essential Traveling Tips On Wanderers Compass (2023)
INSC Digitial Magazine
6. The Wanderers Compass: Travels of Bloggers Ryan & Joelle Shared Through Breathtaking Photos (2023)
The Hustlers Digest
7. Castle Hunters: Travel Bloggers Ryan & Joelle Share The Tales of Exploring Over 350 Casltes on Wanderers Compass (2023)
Bulletin Feed
8. The Inspiring Story of Travelers Ryan and Joelle: Creators of the Popular Blog, Wanderers Compass (2023)
RedX Magazine
9. Cash-strapped but Got Itchy Feet? Fuel Your Wanderlust with Travel Bloggers Joelle and Ryan (2023)
NetNews Ledger
10. Redefining Travel: Content Creators Joelle and Ryan Explain Why a Great Travel Itinerary Is Important (2023)
Buzz Sentinel
11. Stories of Exploration: Globetrotting Duo Ryan and Joelle on Pursuing Their Dreams Through Wanderers Compass (2023)
Miami Daily Post
12. Joelle and Ryan from Wanderers Compass Share Five Reasons Why Travelling is Necessary (2023)
The Ohio Daily
13. The Wanderers Compass: Here’s How Ryan and Joelle Inspire Others for Travel and Adventure through Breathtaking Photography (2023)
London Daily Post
14. Travel Bloggers Joelle and Ryan Highlight Five Experiences That Should Not Be Missed While Traveling (2023)
Influencer Daily
15. Raise a Glass to Global Flavors: Explore the Best Libations from Around the World with Wanderers Compass (2023)
Disrupt Magazine
16. Healthy Travels: Oncology Nurse Joelle from Wanderers Compass Shares Pro Tips to Stay Healthy during International Travels (2023)
LA Progressive
17. Press Release Wanderers Compass Travelers Joelle and Ryan Named’ Top 10 Most Incredible Travel Experts’ by LA Weekly (2023)
Markets Business Insider
18. Press Release Wanderers Compass Travelers Joelle and Ryan Named’ Top 10 Most Incredible Travel Experts’ by LA Weekly (2023)
Market Watch
19. Embark on an Adventure with Joelle and Ryan’s Wanderers Compass (2023)
Readers Digest UK
20. From Anxious to Wanderlust: Finding Freedom in Travel with Joelle and Ryan (2024) The Chicago Weekly
21. Veterans’ Restorative Journeys: Exploring with Wanderers Compass (2024) The Chicago Journal
22. Travel Light, Travel Far: Essential Packing Strategies from Wanderers Compass (2024) Women’s Journal
23. The Rise of Authentic Travel: Beyond Perfect Social Media (2024) World Reporter
24. Wanderers Compass Travelers Joelle and Ryan Named Top Ten Most Incredible Travel Experts by LA Weekly (2023)
Business Insider
Interested in how you can travel for free? Check out our article here.
Television Interviews
1. Great Day Colorado Interview with Ryan
2. Wanderer’s Compass blog: Helping others realize their travel dreams
Massachusets WWLP Mass Appeal Show
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Our Top Recommended Travel Products
Travel Insurance
Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!
We strongly advocate for comprehensive travel insurance, not only for minor inconveniences but also for major, unexpected events like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to resource is Squaremouth.com. which offers a user-friendly platform that connects you with top-rated, reputable insurance carriers. Plus, they’ll mediate on your behalf if you run into any issues.
To empower you as a consumer, we recommend you read our blog post on why travel insurance is essential and how to secure the best coverage from leading companies at an affordable price.
MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world
Medjet is a leading provider of global air medical transport. Unlike traditional travel insurance, which typically covers medical evacuation to the nearest facility, Medjet goes further by ensuring you’re transported back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you’re stable enough to fly. Medjet offers membership plans that focus on medical transport, while Medjet Horizon provides expanded coverage for broader protection. Individual trip policies start at just $99, and annual policies are available for around $300. Most policies have an age limit of 74.
To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Accommodations and Airfare
Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours
Booking.com connects millions of travelers to unforgettable experiences, a wide range of transportation options, and incredible places to stay—from homes to hotels and beyond. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces, it supports well-known brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. For its convenience, variety, and reliability, it’s our preferred booking platform.
Transportation
Expedia and VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours
Expedia is a U.S.-based company with a mission to make global travel accessible to everyone, everywhere. At Wanderers Compass, we embrace independent travel, and platforms like Expedia are essential to making that a reality. Expedia allows you to book every aspect of your trip—from flights and accommodations to rental cars, cruises, and activities—making it a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.
Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service
Daytrip provides an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers worldwide, and we absolutely love their service. It’s a cost-effective alternative to renting a car, providing comfortable, stress-free travel with the bonus of scenic stops along the way. For example, we used Daytrip for travel between Budapest and Vienna, enjoying some fantastic detours to local attractions. With professional drivers and customizable routes, Daytrip ensures a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and unique sights along your journey.
To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Travel Experiences
Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences
Viator believes that travel is all about creating unforgettable memories. With over 300,000 experiences to choose from—ranging from simple tours to extreme adventures, plus a wide array of unique, niche activities—it’s never been easier to make lasting memories. We frequently use Viator during our travels and especially appreciate their flexible cancellation policy, which adds peace of mind to every booking.
Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas
GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.
GigSky eSIM effortlessly connects travelers around the globe, eliminating the need to swap physical SIM cards or deal with surprise roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making your travel experience more convenient than ever. Plus, they offer a fantastic deal: a free 100 MB data plan with no credit card required. They are so confident that you will love their service!
Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10.
To learn more about how GigSky works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Shopping
Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides that we have vetted ourselves
Amazon is one of the world’s most comprehensive online shopping platforms, offering lower prices, a wide selection, and fast delivery through teams worldwide.
This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!