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You are here: Home / About Us

About Us

Welcome to Roaming Around the World

Welcome to Roaming Around the World, a space on the web where unforgettable journeys begin!

We are John and Heather, passionate travelers, storytellers, and your dedicated travel advisors.

With over a decade of nonstop travel, exploring 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states, we bring firsthand experience and expertise to help you plan your perfect adventure.

 

From Dreamers to Bloggers to Advisors

What started as a simple travel blog documenting our global adventures, Roaming Around the World has grown into something much more. We are now a full-fledged travel agency, helping clients travel deeper, more affordably, and worry-free.

Over the years, we’ve built a reputation for creating thoughtful, practical, and inspiring travel content. Since this site’s inception, we’re humbled it has surpassed more than 6 million page views and we’re proud to have been featured in many fine publications such as:

Media featured in

We’re now channeling that same passion and knowledge of crafting travel content into crafting personalized travel experiences for you!

Whether it’s a cruise through the Mediterranean, a rail journey through Europe, an all-inclusive beach retreat, or a safari in Africa, we’re here to make it happen. And for those seeking unique or complicated itineraries, you’ve come to the right place.

 

Why Work With Us?

Firsthand Expertise

Unlike many travel advisors, we’ve personally been to most of the destinations we recommend. Whether it’s the cobblestone streets of Italy, the lush jungles of Costa Rica, or the sparkling waters of a Caribbean cruise, we’ve been there, done that, and now ready to use those insights to create your perfect trip.

Affordable, Stress-Free Planning

Thanks to our connections with our host agency, we have exclusive access to some of the best travel deals and perks you won’t find on your own. From discounts on luxury cruises to free upgrades at boutique hotels, we’re here to help save while simultaneous enhancing your travel quality. Our blog has always maintained a focus on travel value and that’s exactly what we strive to deliver to our clients.

For most trips (cruises, travel packages, all-inclusives) we offer our services at no additional cost to you and regularly save our clients with access to rates that aren’t available to the general public. For more customized itineraries, we provide the value of expert planning services tailored to your needs.

using laptops from apartment overlooking the ocean

Personalized Service

Every traveler is unique, and your trip should reflect that.

We take the time to understand your interests, preferences, and budget to create a tailor-made itinerary. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, romantic getaways, or high-adventure experiences, we’ll design a journey that’s just right for you.

When working with us to plan your trip, you’re not just getting the services of a travel advisor. You’re getting a trusted friend and a travel coach who’s there to help you every step of the journey.

And while we’ve always been avid world travelers, we’ve recently slowed down to ensure we can give each of our clients the attention they deserve, focusing on providing you with the best possible service. And as parents who now travel with our three young children, we know how to make trips enjoyable for everyone, from toddlers to adults.

Meet John and Heather

John is the mastermind behind the planning. As your dedicated travel advisor, he combines years of travel experience with a meticulous attention to detail to bring your dream trip to life. From navigating the complexities of multi-stop itineraries to recommending hidden gems, John’s expertise ensures every aspect of your journey is seamless.

Heather has long been the face of Roaming Around the World, featured in our blogs, videos, and social media. She now plays a key supporting role in our travel advisory services, contributing her creative insights and wealth of travel knowledge. Together, we make a dynamic duo, leveraging our combined experiences to create exceptional vacations for our clients.

Where in the World?

We’ve literally been all over the map, having visited 83 of the world’s 193 UN-recognized nations. When including independent territories (e.g., Bermuda, Hong Kong, Virgin Islands) we can tally exactly 100 countries visited, many of which we spent months exploring in depth.

Where can we help send you, using our firsthand travel knowledge, tips, and tricks? Here’s a map of the countries we’ve visited as of 2025.

Cruises and Beyond

Having spent more than nine months as passengers on 13 different cruise lines, we know cruising like the back of our hand. From family-friendly mega-ships to more intimate luxury cruises, we can help you choose the perfect voyage, whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or trying it out for the first time.

But cruising is just the beginning. We specialize in many international destinations, all-inclusive resorts, rail journeys, guided tours, safaris, and more. If you’ve been dreaming of a bucket-list trip or need help with a complex itinerary, we’ve got you covered.

John & Heather at agave fields

Let’s Start Planning

We believe travel should be more than just a getaway. It should be an enriching experience filled with meaningful moments and cherished memories. With our firsthand experience, personalized service, and commitment to affordability, we’re here to help you travel better.

Ready to start planning your next adventure? Let’s make it happen. Contact us today and let’s turn your travel dreams into reality!

How to Reach Us

Schedule a quick one-on-one phone consultation so we can better understand your travel desires. Book a convenient time using our up-to-date online scheduler:
📞 Schedule a Phone Appointment

Prefer to connect via email? Send us a message, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
 📧 Email Us

Looking for more information on our the services we offer? When it comes to travel, we can do it all!

Yet read through our Travel Planning and Booking Services page to get some ideas of the types of trips we specialize in.

Or for some trip inspiration, peruse through our Destinations page.

Better yet, simply Contact Us today and let’s get the conversation started.

Happy travels!

Comments

  1. Usama Zia says

    November 18, 2019 at 6:56 AM

    Hi, I liked your bog because I also love to travel around the globe. For this I m saving money and try to find remote jobs so that I will quick my 9-5 grind and begin to continue our beautiful world. I m sure I will start it from 2020.
    Apart from it You should also visit Pakistan. You will be amazed the hospitality, beauty and nature of this land.
    Take care and love

    Reply
  2. Debra Joynes says

    September 30, 2019 at 2:06 AM

    I stumbled across your blog last December. I was looking for a way to see the east coast of Mexico. I flew into Cancun then went to Isla Majeures for 3 days. Then to Tulum for 3 days, then to Merida for four days. I then went to Playa de Carmen for 3 days, then to Cozumel for 2 days then back to Cancun for two days.. My husband and I were planning to travel to Mexico for our 20th Wedding anniversary and I spent 10 months finding the perfect hotel and least expensive flights. We were going to go to Cancun and use car rentals to see some of the country. Just when I was going to book the flights and hotel, then my husband said to me that he did not want to go to Mexico. I told him that he could stay home and babysit the dog as I was going to Mexico without him. I turned a two week vacation into a 18 day trip. You blog was very useful to me for things to see and do in Mexico. I was in Mexico in January of this year and want to go back very badly but have a bucket list of places that I want to travel to. I can not get enough of your blog and read it daily. Safe travels to the two of you. Love your pictures and all the things you say on you posts. Great information for future travels.

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      October 4, 2019 at 12:14 AM

      That’s so awesome! What an itinerary change and sounds like you we able to really make the most of a solo trip! 🙂 We’re so glad to hear you had such a great time in Mexico, surely enjoying all the many aspects that we likewise love about traveling the country and keeps us coming back. Thanks so much for stopping by with the kind comment. We still have so much we’re planning to post about our last trip through Mexico this year. But we got too busy traveling to write about it all, lol. We’ll get there though. Keep in touch and feel free to give a shout as you plan your next Mexico adventures. ¡Buen viaje!

      Reply
  3. Leslie Bailey says

    July 17, 2019 at 8:40 PM

    Howdy,
    Just found your blog and love it so much!
    It is so well done- love the writing and the pics and the links.
    What a generous thing to do,
    Much appreciated,
    Leslie + Jeff

    Reply
  4. Renay says

    November 6, 2018 at 1:39 PM

    I stumbled across your blog and I’ve been in love with it every since. I love how you guys travel although I’m not nearly as adventurous as you both are. Keep it up! You are an inspiration.

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      November 10, 2018 at 12:21 PM

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply
  5. John and Susan Pazera says

    November 1, 2018 at 4:22 PM

    Great travel blog. Nice layout, great writing, and photos.

    Cheers,
    John and Susan

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    August 15, 2018 at 11:32 AM

    John & Heather,

    Love your pictures! I see that you went on a Nile cruise in Egypt and my question is regarding what to wear? On the cruise is it any more relaxed on what to wear? I know the rule of thumb is to always have shoulders & knees covered around Egypt but is that the same on a cruise?

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      August 16, 2018 at 11:58 AM

      Yes, having knees and shoulders covered when on the ground in Egypt is a very important cultural courtesy to observe. On the ship, it’s a bit more of a grey area. As the crew on the ship is Egyptian, we still prefer to make an effort to conform to the local culture. But you can get away with not covering shoulders and knees while on the ship, as it’s usually a very international crowd. There are pools on the ship, so bathing suits are totally fine going for a swim and such on the deck. But I’d just use good judgment and common sense, as to not run over to the side of ship while in a bikini, waving to people onshore.

      Reply
  7. Hamza says

    May 10, 2018 at 11:33 AM

    Hey there,

    Just a quick question,

    Do you guys need a visa to roam around all of these countries?

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      May 10, 2018 at 12:22 PM

      It completely depends on the country. Some countries require visas while others do not. Often a we can get in with just our passport, which is always nice. For those countries that do require visas, some require a painstaking visa process to procure in advance, while others make it easier by offering visas on arrival or electronic visas.

      Reply
  8. Job Ramirez says

    May 1, 2018 at 1:17 PM

    Happy I stumbled into your blog and looks very interesting. Maybe someone asked already but how are you’ll making income to travel? I know you mentioned being on a budget but I assume that’s probable not enough to sustain traveling for 5+ years. Look forward to hearing from you and the blog. Happy and safe travels.

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      May 9, 2018 at 10:35 AM

      Yes, our budget travel ways definitely help to keep our costs quite low but we still need to have an income to support that. We relied on savings to get us going for the first year or so, but we now earn a modest income from this website and we also slow our travels, from time to time, to work online doing things like data analytics and social media consulting. We plan to write a detailed post later this year about how we’ve managed to afford traveling around the world full-time over the past 5 years, so stay tuned for that! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Janelle James says

    November 6, 2017 at 11:37 PM

    My husband Nathan and I traveled around North America for almost a year while we worked remotely. We had a blast! So glad I stumbled upon your site. It is fun to be a part of your travels vicariously. We now live on a ranch in Texas Hill Country on a river. If Texas is a part of circumnavigating the globe, you are welcome to stay in our lovely quest room. 🙂

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      November 8, 2017 at 2:59 AM

      Ah, very cool! Sounds like a great experience across N America for a year! Once we (hopefully) complete circumnavigating the globe, we’d like to try and spend more time exploring more of North America. So much to see and do! So, who knows, maybe we’ll be roaming through Texas Hill Country one of these days! 🙂 Happy to have some fellow nomadic spirits following along this adventure – cheers!

      Reply
  10. Marianela Carcione says

    June 10, 2017 at 9:51 PM

    Hi John and Heather,
    Love your website. I am following your post about Yucatán. I will arrived in Cancun July 4 and leave the next day to Merida. I am traveling alone with my 12 years old daughter. I appreciate your advice. Marianela

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      June 12, 2017 at 11:30 AM

      Great! We’re so glad you stumbled across our blog and that our Yucatan guides are proving helpful! Hope you have a wonderful trip to Merida! We miss it there. What a great, eye-opening cultural experience for a 12-year-old. Enjoy!

      Reply
  11. simon says

    November 2, 2016 at 6:23 AM

    Hi guys, I found your blog while reading one of John’s posts on trip advisor asking about internet speed in San Cristobal, Chiapas. I’m a software developer looking to find a remote (US based) job that will allow me to do some extended traveling /living in Central or South America.

    Any cities / areas would you recommend as a good base?
    I will need very reliable internet and prefer a cost of living quite lower than the average US cost of living.

    Enjoy your blog, thanks for the tips.

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      November 3, 2016 at 10:52 AM

      There are so many great places in Central/South America to use as a good working base. It really just depends on personal preference. We absolutely loved San Cristobal. Internet speed was consistently 3-5 mbps where we stayed without any outages at all. That worked well for us (we could Skype/stream, etc) but you may need higher speed which can definitely be found in larger cities. Oaxaca and Merida were nice, popular expat/nomad communities and our apartments there had 20+ mbps. There are many other great bases throughout Mexico too, in addition to Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and elsewhere. All with significantly lower costs of living than US, by far. Check out the website: nomadlist.com which breaks down some great overviews to help sort out some of the best cities to live and work remotely. Best of luck on your journey to becoming nomadic and happy travels! -John

      Reply
      • Typiquetours says

        January 16, 2017 at 9:07 PM

        Thank you so much for your article around the world!!

        Reply
  12. Dave Menz says

    March 16, 2016 at 6:36 PM

    Wow, what a great experience you are living! Safe travels!

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      March 18, 2016 at 1:07 PM

      It’s been quite the journey and we’ve been having a great experience each step of the way. Thanks for stopping by and happy travels to you!

      Reply
  13. Mustapha says

    January 23, 2016 at 4:49 AM

    Hi John & Heather,
    I really love your story & your passion of traveling around the world.
    Congratulations
    All the best
    Mustapha

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      March 18, 2016 at 1:58 PM

      Thanks Mustapha! All the best to you too – we loved exploring the Morocco!

      Reply
  14. Tristan Vogel says

    September 14, 2015 at 8:31 PM

    I am so glad I stumbled upon your website.

    Best Wishes,
    Tristan

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      September 28, 2015 at 9:07 AM

      Thanks Tristan! Glad to hear from you!

      Reply
  15. Karen and Marty Koss says

    January 11, 2015 at 1:05 PM

    Finally looked at your site. We were facilitators during the Great Race during the crossing on Celebrity. Maybe you remember us.
    Didn’t realize that you were from Detroit. We grew up there and now live nearby. What a coincidence.

    We are still roaming too, although not nonstop. Next up is a Country Western Cruise.

    Stay healthy!

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      November 13, 2015 at 9:58 AM

      Yes, of course we remember you! We always look back so fondly during the Amazing Race challenges as one of our favorite activities we’ve done while on cruise! Wish we would have realized we both were from Detroit! We hope you have a great time on any upcoming cruises you have planned!

      Reply
  16. HitchHikers Handbook says

    October 7, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    Greta blog, John and Heather! Glad to have connected with you on Twitter 🙂 Take care and travel safe!

    Reply
    • John Widmer says

      November 13, 2015 at 9:56 AM

      Great to have connected with you too! Am glad we can stay in touch on Twitter.

      Reply

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About Us

From travel bloggers to trusted travel advisors, we’ve spent years exploring 100 countries and now use that knowledge to help others travel better. Whether you're planning a cruise, a luxury escape, or a tailored adventure, we’ll create the perfect trip for you! Read More…

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