Described by CNN as living a ‘nomad lifestyle with non-stop goodbyes,’ Tom Grond, a Dutch blogger, has been continuously traveling the world for over 11 years, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. Tom recently visited Oman for the second time, asserting it is one of the safest travel destinations. His passion for travel has led him to develop a way to earn money through his website, traveltomtom.net, and his social media channels on TikTok and Instagram (@traveltomtom), which have a combined following of over two million.
To date, Tom has visited 159 countries and aims to visit all 197 countries in the world. However, he emphasises, “There is no rush in visiting the remaining countries on his bucket list. Visiting every country in the world would be amazing, but it is not my main goal.”
Tom emphasises that the power of Traveltomtom lies in the blog, The Traveltomtom, which provides essential travel tips for over 100 destinations worldwide and attracts 500,000 visitors monthly. Recently, Tom traveled to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Europe, Pakistan, and Oman. He visited Oman in mid-May, staying at the Shangri-La Al Husn in Muscat.
“It was the perfect place to kick back and relax, and this is exactly what Oman is all about. You can already sense this when you arrive at Muscat Airport because it is so relaxed and easy-going on arrival. But that is what I love about Oman — it’s so tranquil and peaceful.”
Tom also praises Oman’s hospitality, noting that the people greet foreigners and tourists with a smile, proud to showcase their country’s beauty and culture. One of his favourite experiences was a city tour around Muscat. Despite enjoying the pool and beach at the Shangri-La, it provided a serene escape with its adults-only resort and private beach next to beautiful rock formations.
Tom finds the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque to be one of the most beautiful mosques he has visited worldwide. “It is also not too crowded, showcasing what Oman is like: beautiful and peaceful.” Other highlights included a tour of the Royal Opera House Muscat and a visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, where he gained insights into Omani traditions, customs, and history.
He was particularly amazed by the natural beauty of Oman, enjoying activities like snorkeling, dolphin-watching, and a dhow sunset cruise. Towards the end of his trip, Tom rented a car and drove to Nizwa to see the spectacular Nizwa Fort, where he found the local dance performances captivating.
Tom believes Oman has untapped potential in promoting its beauty to the world. “Oman has so many amazing places to visit and cool things to do for tourists, but it seems like the world doesn’t know about Oman. Not many people are aware of its beauty,” he adds. His advice for aspiring travelers is to choose destinations wisely, recommending Southeast Asia for its affordability.
“My main goal is to live a life where I wake up with a smile. So far, I still enjoy every day of my travel life and don’t see myself settling down soon. My travels and the way I travel are evolving with the industry and social media. I love traveling to places where I can create engaging TikTok videos. Our industry constantly changes, and I change my travel style with it. I don’t even know where I’ll be next week, aside from planned trips and projects. I always decide at the last minute where I’ll go.”
When asked if he will ever stop traveling, Tom replies, “Traveling is my passion, lifestyle, and job. It’s a full-time job with many responsibilities. When people ask when I’ll quit, I ask them the same about their jobs.”
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