Your bags are perpetually at hand, waiting for their next chance to be packed. Whether on a city weekend trip, beach bum holiday or temporary expatriation, you are at your best when you are on the road. New sights, smells, sounds, tastes and people are your inspiration for life.

You travel independently in search of authentic destinations and try to keep clear from tour buses. Skipping the boisterous youth hostels (your backpacking days are over) and the bland hotel chains, you seek out the hidden gems that provide a local experience with the comforts from home. Ideally your accommodation is stylish but cognizant of its environmental footprint and impact on the community.  Food is a major highlight of the day, albeit sampling snacks at the local market or dining at the newest place to be.

Bound by professional responsibilities, your travels are no longer carefree (though you pretend they still are), but researched and planned in advance. Full of anticipation you buy the usual guides, only to find that you have outgrown their no-frills listings and are left unsatisfied with their lack of visuals. After all, nothing beats dreaming away over a white sandy beach when it’s raining cats and dogs.

So, here are some insider travel tips and pics from one contemporary nomad to another. I hope they keep you inspired while at home or on the road and dreaming of your next unknown destination.  Please feel free to add your own!