I'm Chandler.
This is my journal.
Canadian by origin. European by obsession. Probably in a cafe somewhere.I'm Chandler Toombs — a Canadian solo traveler building a minimalist life between European cities. CityboundNomad is where I document the cities, the stays, the style, and the philosophy behind it all.
I grew up in Canada's Maritime provinces — New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Halifax. The kind of place where winter lasts six months and the ocean is always close. I loved it, but I always felt pulled toward something else. When I finally booked a solo trip to Iceland in 2022, everything shifted. Standing on Reynisfjara's black sand beach, watching waves crash against basalt columns, I realized I wanted a life built around this feeling — the feeling of being somewhere unfamiliar and paying attention.
Since then, I've traveled through Iceland, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Hungary. I've walked behind waterfalls in Seljalandsfoss, watched the Northern Lights outside Reykjavik, explored Tallinn's medieval Old Town, cycled through Copenhagen's Nørrebro, and sat in more cafes than I can count across Helsinki, Riga, and Chania.
I'm drawn to Northern Europe specifically — the Nordic and Baltic countries. There's something about the design sensibility, the quietness, the way cities are built for people rather than cars. But I also love the Mediterranean — Crete changed my relationship with the sun entirely. I travel slowly, usually spending weeks in a single city rather than rushing through a checklist.
I started CityboundNomad because I couldn't find the travel content I was looking for. Most travel blogs are either overly optimistic ("best 10 things to do in...") or focused on luxury experiences I couldn't relate to. I wanted something honest — the real cost of a hostel in Copenhagen, what it actually feels like to travel solo for months, and the small details that make a city worth returning to. Not a highlight reel. A journal.
A personal journal of cities explored, places stayed, and lessons learned from building a life around travel — not a vacation blog.
Honest reviews of hostels, Airbnbs, and hotels — with a structured rating system covering location, work-friendliness, design, and price.
Style notes rooted in Scandinavian minimalism — capsule wardrobes, one-bag packing, and the brands I actually wear.
Essays on solo travel, the reality of location independence, and the systems that make this kind of life sustainable.
Not a travel guide. I don't write "top 10" lists or pretend to be an authority on places I've visited once.
Not sponsored content. When I mention a brand or place, it's because I genuinely use or recommend it — not because someone paid me.
Not a lifestyle brand selling a fantasy. This is real, sometimes messy, and always honest. I've panicked waiting for tours, made mistakes packing, and spent nights in places I wouldn't recommend.
Follow the journey on Instagram or reach out via email. I read everything and respond to most.
Some posts that capture the spirit of what CityboundNomad is about — the honest side of solo travel, the airplane hacks, and trying to look European in Estonia.
Weekly notes on cities, stays, and the minimalist travel life. No spam, no fluff.