My Love Note to The Irish

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 25th, 2013

A couple of years ago, I had a twenty-four hour layover in Dublin. I crammed in as much sightseeing as I could and, though I got to see the sights, I never got to know the city. I vowed to come back.

The Emerald Isle has always held a certain allure: Guinness, friendly locals (never met an Irishman (or woman) I didn’t like), rolling verdant green hills, leprechauns, pots of gold, lucky charms, hearty food, and ancient castles.

Last month, I went back to Ireland for a travel conference.

But, sadly, I didn’t get to stay as long as I wanted. My trip had to be cut short due to a commitment in the US, and many of the things I tried to do were rained out  (but what’s Ireland without the rain?).

I guess that long road trip around Ireland will just have to wait.

But while I didn’t get to see much of the country, I did get to meet a lot of locals — and I have to tell you while Ireland itself is beautiful, the Irish make Ireland the wonderful country it is.

The Irish are some of the most amazing, friendliest, warmest, outgoing people I’ve ever met. I’ve met Irish travelers before and one of my close friends is Irish (probably the only vegetarian, non-drinking Irishman in the world!), but that’s nothing compared to experiencing the Irish in their own country.

 

First, there are the Dublin cab drivers. When I arrived in Dublin a few years ago, the cab driver chatted my ear off as we drove to town from the airport, telling me all about how his daughter was now thirty-three (spoken in an Irish accent, which sounds more like “tertee tree”), every neighborhood we passed through, and which Irish food I needed to eat during my visit.

His warm, friendly nature made that taxi ride one of my favorites.

Because of that experience, I took cabs wherever I could during my recent visit. I generally avoid cabs (they are expensive compared to the local bus) but every cab ride was like learning about a slice of life in Ireland. Each ride was a new chapter of a very long story.  I had one driver make fun of me for being American (“here’s your change, DUDE”), one gave me the lowdown on Irish politics and an upcoming election, another talked about how Ireland has developed since he was a kid, and others just chatted my ear off about life in Dublin.

Taxi drivers in Dublin are a league apart. I highly recommend taking at least a couple of cab rides during your visit.

Next, there was my Airbnb host in Galway (probably the best host I’ve ever had). He helped out by getting me a free tour, showed me some pubs, and overall made my time in the city spectacular. He went out of his way to accommodate me during my stay.

 

During dinner one night in Galway, two Irish men sat beside me and my friend, looked over, and after a simple “Where are you from?,” chatted our ears off all night, even asking us to take their picture to show their wives they were having a great time. We enjoyed wine and some laughs, and I enjoyed a thick Irish accent I couldn’t always understand.

I loved the abundant friendliness and hospitality I was constantly shown. Whether it was asking questions on the street, interactions in stores, or banter in the bars, the Irish were always happy, helpful, and energetic. They have an infectious charisma that just makes you happy.

 

Their demeanor, their attitude, and their willingness to share a pint and tell jokes with you – the Irish are incredibly hospitable hosts and left a lasting impression on me.

Ireland is a beautiful country, with verdant hills and castle ruins around every corner, but what will bring me back to Ireland is the people and a desire to learn more about their history and culture.

Visit Ireland for the beauty, stay for the people.

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Help Me Improve This Website

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 31st, 2013

Now that I am home and settling down, I am making some long awaited improvements to this website. Over the next month, I’ll be making some design and navigation changes and I want your feedback on what I can do to make your experience better.

I often run surveys to get your input and gauge how I’m doing in helping you travel.

It’s time for more feedback.

What articles are missing? What stories and tips would you like to see? Is the site easy to navigate? What would you change?

You can tell me the good, bad, and ugly — I want to hear it all.

Please take this 9 question, 3 minute, anonymous survey and let me know how to improve this website:

Take the survey here.

Your opinion matters. I read every answer and take all constructive criticism seriously.

Please take three minutes to help me know how to better help you!

Notes on things coming down the pipeline

I know navigation is a problem and I’ve included a “start here” button in the navigation bar to make it easier to find content. Additionally, I lightened the search feature to make it more noticeable.I am currently working on a F.A.Q. section as a resource.I’m writing a few posts on how families and older travelers can use these tips offered on my site as well as working a few articles that are more geared towards those in the non-hostel set. If you have article ideas or want specific topics addressed, please let me know in the survey.All the country and city guides are going to get a massive update (and major edit) and will soon include more links, descriptions, photos, and video. (It’s this winter’s major project.)

Okay, with that, fire away! Tell me what changes you’d like to see. I’ll post a follow-up addressing your feedback in a few weeks.

Take the survey here.

P.S. – If you are in New York City, I’ll be hosting a meet-up on November 14th. I’ll announce details on Monday, but mark the day in your calendar!

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Home: The Death of a Nomad

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 29th, 2013

When I decided to move to New York City, I had this vision of what would happen: I would move to NYC, settle down into my own amazing apartment, decorate it with lots of cool stuff, join a gym, take cooking classes, and, in between all that, take numerous trips to JFK airport and jet set around the world. I’d come back, stay for a few weeks, and do it all over again.

I’d be able to balance my twin desires – settling down and my love of travel.

I was naive.

Since moving here in January, I never managed to spend more than a couple weeks in New York City before having to leave again. When I moved into my own apartment in July, I left the next day. I came back for a week before leaving again for two months.

I never got to settle down.

I never took those cooking classes.

I never joined that gym.

My apartment is still bare with curtainless windows, books longing for a bookcase, and walls longing for art and paintings.

The famed — and much desired — end to my travels never really materialized as I’ve spent much of the last year on the road.

“I thought you were slowing down,” people would say to me.

“I’m trying. I’m trying,” I’d reply.

No matter how hard I tried, slowing down never seemed to happen.

There were many false starts.

But last month while in Europe, I began to feel really homesick. I was tired of traveling and just wanted to be home in my comfy bed.

I realized I was tired of delaying my roots.

Roots, after all, can only take hold if they are in the ground. I’ve been trying to develop habits and routines without giving my roots time to grow. I keep uprooting them, and then trying to replant them in hopes they would grow.

But it doesn’t work that way.

You need to till the earth, plant the seed, and let the roots take hold.

You can’t uproot them.

It’s time I give my roots a chance.

I’m tired of saying “Ok, I’ll do it next time.” Each time I’m about to hit my stride in New York City, it’s time to get on a plane again.

Except this time.

I’m not traveling until the end of December when I go to the Philippines.

There’s a lot to do in NYC and it’s finally time to do it.

I’ve purposely filled my schedule with things that will keep me in the city. This week I joined a gym, got a trainer, and paid for a desk at a co-working space.

I’m having friends visit.

I’m here.

I’m home.

It’s time to grow some roots.

Nothing will stop me now.

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How to Travel Anywhere For Free

How to Travel Anywhere For FreeBy Nomadic Matt | Published October 21st, 2013

Imagine being able to fly anywhere in the world as often as you want — for free. Imagine staying in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives for free. Wouldn’t that be great? Wouldn’t never paying flights and accommodation allow you to travel more?

Well, it’s possible — and I know because I do it all the time.

What’s kept me traveling for so many years is not great riches, but lots of frequent flier miles and hotel points.

Every year I collect hundreds of thousands of miles that keep me in first class flights and W hotel suites……without ever stepping foot on an airplane or in a hotel.

Hello! My name is Matt and I’m a travel hacker.

A travel hacker is a person who uses loyalty rewards systems to gain hundreds of thousands of miles per year without traveling.

That number of points is enough to take you and your family anywhere in the world multiple times a year.

This year alone I have already collected over 400,000 frequent flier and hotel points (it’s been a slow year). That’s enough to keep even this nomad traveling for years.

The biggest reason people say they can’t travel more is money. They don’t have enough of it, they say. Well, I don’t either so I remove money from the equation by using the system to collect points to travel for free.

Because when travel is free, the world is truly your oyster.

I know travel hacking can be a confusing topic – all those reward programs, redemptions, flight alliances, credit card bonuses, and offers. There’s a lot of moving parts.

My friend Dave is trying to travel to South Korea with his girlfriend and was recently complaining about the cost of airline tickets.

“Why don’t you travel hack?” I said.

“That stuff is too complicated.” he said. “And I don’t want to ruin my credit.”

“It’s not, and it won’t,” I said. I quickly laid it out for him how, with minimal effort, he and his girlfriend could earn enough points to get to South Korea in six months.

I want to help you like I helped my friend so you can travel cheaper and more often.

I will remove the biggest roadblock to your travels.

Today I’m releasing my newest book, The Ultimate Guide to Travel Hacking, so that you can be like Dave and countless others who have the ability to go anywhere without spending added money.

This book will unlock the secrets to using the system to gain free flights or accommodation using your everyday spending.

The more points you have, the more free travel you can enjoy.

By not doing what is in this book, you are saying no to free money.

Why would you do that? I’ve been a travel hacker for many years and by devoting a couple of hours a week to it, I’ve accumulated a plethora of points without leaving my couch.

How this book will help you become a travel ninja:

Learn how loyalty programs work – Get the ins and outs of hotel and airline loyalty programs and how to use them.Obtain detailed information on using credit cards – Learn how to navigate the complex world of credit card sign up bonuses, minimum spending requirements, annual fees and much more. (All without ever denting your credit score).Earn points without cards – There is more to travel hacking than signing up for lots of credit cards. Get a list of all the ways and places to earn points without signing up for credit cards!Fake minimum spending requirements – Can’t meet the minimum spending requirements for those credit card bonuses? Don’t worry! There are a few (legitimate and legal) ways to fake it!Break down mileage and mattress runs – Get extra miles to pad your account and increase your elite status by taking of advantage of unpublicized, extremely low fare deals. I’ll tell you where to find those fares.Find promotions and other resources – Get a complete list of resources on where to find deals. Let others do the work so you don’t have to.Redeem points for the most value – Learn how to make the most of all those points you just earned.And a ton more – this book is jam-packed with information!

By investing a couple of hours per week in this, you’ll be able to collect enough points to travel as often as you want.

And you don’t need to be a frequent traveler either – you can use the tips in this book even if you only travel once or twice a year.

BUY NOW

This book also includes interviews with some of the world’s biggest travel hackers:

Brian Kelly, author of The Points Guy, and considered one of the foremost experts on this subject, sits down in this audio (and video) interview and talks about finding, using, and maximizing credit cards. He regularly appears on television discussing the subject.

Daraius Dubash, author of Million Miles Secret, explains how to get started with travel hacking and the importance of setting goals in a written interview. Daraius’s advice has also been featured on CNN, Flyer Talk, New Media Expo, and more.

Scott MacKenzie from Hack My Trip, an expert in redemptions and manufacturing spending, contributed his knowledge to this book and explains just how to to redeem all those great points you’ve earned in the book!

When you purchase this book, you’ll also be signed up for regular updates for deals and promotions so you can keep earning vast amounts of points. I find the deals, you save money! (Opt out any time you want!)
 

This book is $49 USD and available as an instant download.

LIMITED TIME LAUNCH OFFER: PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS, GET IT FOR ONLY $37 USD!!

180 Day No-Risk Refund Policy
If you don’t earn enough miles for at least one free flight by following the advice in this book in the first six months, I’ll refund your money. That’s a 180 day guarantee.

Travel hacking may seem complicated, it may seem perplexing, and it may seem too good to be true, but it’s not. This system may change and it may not last forever, but while it exists, saying no to it and avoiding earning even one point is saying no to free travel. It’s turning down that family vacation or first class honeymoon you’ve always wanted.

This book will get you there and teach you how to keep getting anywhere.

A lot of people say they don’t have the money for travel. With the tricks you’ll learn in this book, you’ll never need to say that again.

How will I get this book?
You’ll be e-mailed a download link and you’ll be able to open the file on your computer, Kindle, Nook, iPad, or phone.

I don’t fly a lot. Should I buy this book?
Whether you fly once or ten times per year, this book will help you get free flights and hotel rooms. There are no restrictions. Use the advice in this book as much or as little as possible.

The book is expensive. I don’t want to spend $49!
This book is full of information and bonuses that make it worth the price. You’ll be traveling for free for years to come. Spending $49 is a lot better than spending $2,000 to fly your family to Disney World for a week.

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Thoughts on Becoming a Tour Guide (And Highlights From Europe)

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 17th, 2013

I knew it was going to be hard. I knew it was going to be a lot of work. I just didn’t realize how much work or how stressful it would turn out to be. Earlier this year, I decided to start organizing tours. In May I put together a tour through Europe and planned to take ten readers on an epic two week journey through Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.

I organized day tours, meals, hostel accommodations, train tickets, walking tours, and nights out on the town.

And when the tour began in Paris last month, all my assumptions about being a tour guide were thrown out the window.

I now have a new appreciation for every tour guide I’ve ever met in the world. You don’t realize it when you’re part of a group, but, after being on the other side, I see just how much work goes into being a guide.

You’re constantly checking on everyone, keeping an eye out so no one gets lost, and having to keep everyone together and on task. It’s not easy.

Throw in having to deal with messed up reservations, closed attractions, and lost phones, and you end up dealing with endless stress and fatigue. You are “on” from morning to night and it’s incredibly draining. I never imagined I’d be so ready for bed by 9 at night. (To every tour guide who runs trips for months on end, I salute you!)

And it was because of all of that stuff that I loved leading the tour.

I loved every minute of it.

Planning a tour for ten strangers is a lot different than planning a trip with your friends, but in both situations I’m getting people excited about travel and sharing something I’m passionate about with others.

And I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people.

We had a great group of diverse ages (from 19 to 69) that got along fabulously. I suppose we had an advantage – everyone reads this blog so we all had the same views on traveling.

We hit it off right away and I believe that everyone on my tour will stay in touch with each other for a long time to come. Some highlights from our trip include:

Karaoke in Denmark! (We rocked out hard that night!)Our boat cruise in Amsterdam:

Cooking dinner in our hostel in Stockholm:

Our crazy night out in Amsterdam (Too hot to write about online!)Our Stockholm Archipelago tour (even if it was freezing cold!):
Our food tour in Paris.All our group dinners (especially the never-ending cheese plate in Paris!).And, of course, getting to know all these amazing and beautiful people:

(I’ve already met up with one of the tour participants in Chicago. He took me to a great Japanese market (Tensuke) for sushi.)

But this was my first tour, and like anything done the first time, you learn how to make things better. Mistakes were made and notes were taken. At the end of the tour I asked everyone to fill out a survey and their comments echoed my thoughts. I’ll be making many changes to my future tours including:

Creating print-outs of local attractions each day along with their cost.Streamline ticket buying (there’s only so much you can get in advance, though).Printing  maps with highlighted attractions ahead of time for each destination.

Even though this was my first time leading a tour, my group and I were both very happy about how the tour ended. It wasn’t perfect, but I learned how to improve it and make operations smoother in the future.

That’s probably to be expected, and maybe I’m being overly harsh on myself (many people on my tour told me to relax and that things were fine), but I’m a perfectionist and it’s important that your holiday with me is flawless.

Guiding a tour group is exhausting — but fun – work. There’s a lot of pressure – you’re in charge of these people and their holiday; if you mess up, you mess up their holiday. They put their faith into your hands and while you can only do your best with some things being out of your control, it’s still stressful.

I had imagined a lot more down time. But that never happened (you might have noticed the blog and newsletter were non-existent for a while). The time I’d planned for writing on trains? Nope. Working after everyone went to bed? Way too tired. Being a tour guide is a 24/7 job.

But I enjoyed sharing my love of travel with others (one person on the tour had never traveled as an adult and is now planning adventures all over the world!). It’s challenging but fulfilling work.

My tour guiding days are only just beginning and I look forward to leading more trips in the future.

****************

Want to come on tour with me? In February, I’m taking twelve people around Thailand for 18 days of amazing fun through my favorite places in the country (I’ve been visiting Thailand since 2004 and lived there for over a year). There are five spots left!

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Five Ways to Find a Cheap Flight

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 16th, 2013

The cost of airfare is rising. It has been for a number of years. As planes fly fuller and airlines cut routes, they have less incentive to offer cheap fares. I remember when it used to be about $500-600 for a roundtrip ticket to Europe. Now, a fare that low is considered a deal with the norm around $900 (especially if you’re going to a major city)!

This week’s video features five tips on how to find a cheap flight:

(Want more travel videos? I now update my YouTube channel each week with a new video. Subscribe here and get free videos!)

More information on saving money on airplane tickets:

Great sites for finding deals and cheap flights:

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Announcing: My February 2014 Thailand Tour

Announcing: My February 2014 Thailand TourBy Nomadic Matt | Published October 9th, 2013

Thailand has always been one of my favorite countries in the world and the years I spent living there are some of my most memorable. I long for Thailand on a constant basis and I love showing people around a country I still call home and opening them up to the magic that is Thailand.

That’s why I was so excited in August to announce that one of the four tours I’ll be leading in 2014 will be in Thailand. The country has so much to offer: delicious food, outstanding beaches, lush jungles, and some of the happiest, friendliest people on earth.

And now it’s time to announce the full details and open sign-ups for the tour!

When: Feb, 7th 2014 – Feb 24th, 2014 (18 days)
How many people? Maximum of 12

Day 1 (Feb 7th, 2014): Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok.Group introductions and dinner.

Day 2 (Feb 8th, 2014): Bangkok

Visit to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Jim Thompson House, and more.Optional group dinner and night out.

Day 3 (Feb 9th, 2014): Bangkok

Visit to the weekend market.Optional group dinner and night out.

Day 4 (Feb 10th, 2014): Bangkok – Khao Yai

Travel to Khao Yai National Park for hiking in a jungle.Half-day jungle trek.

Day 5 (Feb 11th, 2014): Khao Yai

Full day guided hiking trek to learn about the landscape and find some elephants. This is one of my favorite parks in all of Thailand.

Day 6 (Feb 12th, 2014): Khao Yai – Chaing Mai

Travel day with a slight stop over in Lopburi and then overnight on train to Chiang Mai.

Day 7 (Feb 13th, 2014): Chiang Mai

Temple tour of Chiang Mai, including a visit to Wat Doi Suthep.Included group dinner.

Day 8 (Feb 14th, 2014): Chiang Mai

Full day visit to an Elephant Sanctuary.Visit to the city’s famous night market.Optional group dinner.

Day 9 (Feb 15th, 2014): Chiang Mai

Full day jungle trek.Optional group dinner.

Day 10 (Feb 16th, 2014): Chiang Mai

Day on your own: relax, explore, and enjoy.Optional group dinner.

Day 11 (Feb 17th, 2014): Chaing Mai to Koh Lanta

Fly to Krabi, transfer to Ko Lanta to enjoy some of Thailand’s famous beaches!Group seafood dinner (non-seafood options available).

Day 12 (Feb 18th, 2014): Koh Lanta

Day snorkel trip.Optional group dinner.

Day 13 (Feb 19th, 2014): Koh Lanta

Beach day!Optional group dinner.

Day 14 (Feb 20th, 2014): Koh Lanta

Beach day (or snorkel, dive, hike, whatever!).Optional group dinner.

Day 15 (Feb 21st, 2014): Ko Lanta – Krabi

Back to Krabi to relax before going back to Bangkok.Optional group dinner.

Day 16 (Feb 22nd, 2014): Krabi – Bangkok

Back to Bangkok.Optional group dinner.

Day 17 (Feb 23rd, 2014): Bangkok

Day trip to Ayutthaya, one of the old capitals of Thailand.Good bye dinner.

Day 18 (Feb 24th, 2014): Bangkok

While we are there, I’ll be planning many optional activities, food tours, and more. We’ll be visiting my favorite restaurants, bars, food stalls, and sights in the country!

What’s included?

All accommodationsLocal tour guideListed activitiesInter-city transportationLocal city transportation when traveling as a groupOne group meal in each city

What’s not included?

International airfareApplicable visa feesFood outside that listed aboveAlcoholSouvenirsAnything not listed

How much?
This 18 day tour is $2,500 USD.

What kind of rooms are we staying in?
We will be staying in guesthouses that will have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. If you are traveling alone, you will be paired with another traveler of the same gender.

Why does this tour cost so much?
Thailand is a very cheap country, but what makes this tour a bit more expensive than doing it on your own is that we are traveling above “backpacker style” so there are more comforts as well as the internal flights. Additionally, in order to run a tour in Thailand I have to have a Thai guide with us at all times. I’m working with a company to help set up the tour and, due to the adventure activities on the tour, have insurance for the trip in case something happens.

Is international airfare provided?
No, you’ll be responsible for your own airfare to and from the tour.

Will I need travel insurance?
Yes, all guests will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. I’ll be asking for proof before departure. If you don’t have it, you won’t be able to come.

Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 years or older.

Will I need to fill out any release forms?
Yes, you’ll also be required to fill out and sign a liability waiver releasing me and Nomadic Matt Tours from any and all liability related to the tour.

What if I change my mind? What is your refund policy?
I’ll cry but understand. Plans change. The refund policy is as follows: if you cancel 90 days before departure, you’ll get 100% of your money back, minus $500 for a non-refundable flight. If you cancel between 90-60 days before departure, a 50% refund. If you cancel within 60-30 days of departure, a 25% refund. Cancelation within 30 days results in a 0% refund.

Will I have any time to myself?
Of course! I hate the tours that book every minute of your day. While we will be busy, there will also be plenty of time for you to explore on your own!

What about visas?
If you require a visa to enter Thailand, you’ll need to get that in advance at your own cost.

How many spots can I buy at once?
Reservations on the tour are limited to a maximum of 2 per person to ensure everyone gets a chance to go!

If you try to get in and there’s no more room, e-mail me at [email protected] with the subject “waitlist” and I’ll put your name on the waitlist!

P.S. – Not able to make this tour? I’ll be offering more in the future! You can stay informed by signing up to this list.

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27 Golden Rules For Not Ruining Your Trip and Becoming a Master Traveler

By Nomadic Matt | Published October 7th, 2013

Every industry has their own “best practices” — proven rules and standards that guide the industry. Travel is no different. There are many rules to live by that help us navigate the unknown world with fewer costly mistakes and help quicken the pace in which we melt into the local culture. They make travel easier, better, and less stressful.

I have my own rules.

Below are my 27 golden rules for travel. If you follow them, you’ll be a master traveler, able to travel the world with swashbuckling zeal and expert ninja-like knowledge…all without breaking the bank so you can keep cutting a path forward through the world for longer:

Get a no-fee ATM card – Why give your money to the banks? Get an ATM card that doesn’t charge any fees and use that extra money for more traveling. Over the long term those $2-5 charges really add up. I use Charles Schwab as my bank but you can also find many others that offer no-fee accounts — or use a one that is part of the Global ATM alliance, and pay no fees within that network. There is never a reason to pay a bank fee.

Be adventurous – You only live once. You’re going to get chances to do wild things you’ve never dreamed of doing when you travel. Don’t hold back. Count to 3, say “screw it”, and take the leap. You didn’t come this far for nothing. Say yes when someone asks you to go rock climbing, salsa dancing, spelunking, or try the world’s hottest pepper despite not liking spicy food.

Get a rewards credit card – Why pay for travel when you can get it for free? Use a travel rewards credit card to earn points and miles that can be redeemed for free travel. Additionally, sign up for a no-fee card like Capital One’s No Hassle Card, Chase Ink, or United’s MileagePlus to avoid overseas transaction fees. Through travel hacking and using these cards, I’ve gained hundreds of thousands of miles every year – that’s enough for even a family of four!

Always carry a back up – Always carry a back up bank and credit card in case one is lost, stolen, or hacked. That way while you are fixing the issue, you still have access to your money. Instead of the problem crippling your trip, it merely is an annoyance.

Travel alone – Travel alone at least once. It will teach you to be self-sufficient, encourage independence, allow you to get to know yourself, and make you more outgoing by forcing you to talk to strangers. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to find yourself on the road.

Join a frequent flier program – Get rewarded for all of those flights you’ll be taking by joining a frequent flier program. Then you’ll earn miles, perks for flying, and free flights. Don’t miss out. Miles are like money – and you wouldn’t waste money, would you?

Learn basic phrases – Locals don’t expect you to be an expert, but learning a few basic phrases in the local language will go a long way to endearing you in their hearts and making them go the extra mile for you. It will bring a smile to their face that you tried and might even lead to some friendships and invitations out to events. “Hello”, “how are you”, and “thank you” go a long, long way no matter where you are in the world.

Stay in hostels – Get to know other travelers and experience the communal spirit of traveling by staying in hostels a few times. They aren’t all the dirty party places you see in movies. Most hostels are very clean, offer breakfast, have wi-fi, organize events, have comfy beds, and know the local area very well. They also aren’t just for young backpackers; you’ll find people of all ages (and even some families) staying there. Try them out. You may like it.

Use tourist boards – Local tourist offices are a wealth of knowledge. When you get to a new destination, visit the tourist office and ask the staff an insane number of questions about the place. They know exactly where to do what and when. Visiting one is often one of the first things I do in a new city.

Couchsurf – Get a free place to stay and get to know locals with a hospitality network. Using these networks allows you to stay with a local for FREE and get the inside scoop on an area. I’ve met some amazing people through hospitality networks who have shown me a side of life I never would have known otherwise.

Try new foods – Culture is often best experienced through food. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and experiment. You might actually like it (those fried caterpillars in Zambia were delicious!).

Be flexible with your plans – Travel is a series of happy accidents with way leading to way. Don’t skip going to that random city with the friends you just met because your itinerary says something different. You’ll regret it. Go with the flow and be open to new things — that’s when the magic happens.

Pack light – Take it from a former (and sometimes current) overpacker: you never need half the stuff you take. Put all you need in a pile and then remove half of it. The lighter you travel, the easier you travel.

Take extra money – Something always happens. I never thought I would fly last minute to go to Fiji, need to replace my camera in Italy, or buy an extra iPhone cable in Australia. Always take extra money just in case. You may not need it but you don’t want to be without a little extra when something bad happens.

Say yes a lot – Don’t limit yourself. Say yes to new experiences. Adventure and exploring the unknown are what travel is all about.

Get lost – Meander through a new city without a map. Get lost — because in the end, you aren’t really getting lost, you’re just discovering new experiences. So put down the map and wander. Eventually, you’ll find your way.

Call home – Your parents miss you. Don’t forget to call and say hello.

Get a phone – It will be easier to stay in touch with friends (and call home), meet up with other travelers, and contact hostels with a phone. SIM cards and pre-paid phones are cheap, so there’s no excuse not to stay connected.

Travel slow – This isn’t a race or a competition. I know you want to get a lot in with your limited time, but you see a lot more when you see a lot less. Travel slow and experience each place. Don’t race from train station to station; that will set you up for a stressful, unenjoyable time. With travel, less is more.

Live somewhere once – Stop at least once. Get to know a place. Learn the language. Make local friends. Explore. Become the local. Living in a foreign place gives you a different perspective on life and a real sense of what it’s like to be an outsider.

Avoid taxis – They just cost a lot. Don’t use them unless you don’t have any other option.

Bring a water bottle – Not only are all those plastic water bottles bad for the environment, but the cost of each one adds up over time. A water bottle here, a water bottle there and you’ve spent $50 this month on water. Get a metal bottle and drink the tap water.

Buy travel insurance – You never know what could happen on the road. Get travel insurance so that if something happens to you or you break your camera, you’re covered. It’s only a few dollars a day. Don’t be an idiot.

Bring basic first-aid – Cuts and scraps happen and you can get what you need anywhere in the world, but it’s still good to carry bandages, antibacterial cream, and some hydrocortisone cream just in case. Also carry duct tape — you’ll never know when it’ll come in handy.

Get off the beaten path – London, Paris, and the temples of Kyoto are all amazing for a reason, but get off the beaten path, go away from the crowds, and explore on your own. Find something new, stick out, meet the locals, and discover. The road less traveled is usually a good one.

Take photos of your friends – Years from now, you’ll want to look back at your younger self and see all the people who changed your life. Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing. Make sure you take photos of your friends. You’ll want them later.

And finally, the most important tip of them all….

Ignore all my tips and do whatever you want – It’s your trip. Go where you want, when you want, and for how long you want. Don’t worry about this or that. Make mistakes. Learn. Make more mistakes. Have fun and become a better traveler. At the end of the day, you won’t look back and think “if only I had more miles” but instead “Damn, that was a lot of fun.”

So get out there and have some fun.

You deserve it.

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17 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next Trip

17 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next TripBy Nomadic Matt | Published September 30th, 2013

I remember when I started planning my first trip. I had no idea what I was doing. When I decided to quit my job and travel the world, I walked into a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on Shoestring. It made the trip seem more real, but it didn’t prepare me for planning a long world trip. Back then, there weren’t really blogs, guides, and apps like there are today. I was lost. I figured it out as I went, just hoping I didn’t miss anything.

Planning a long trip can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? What’s step three? It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the beginning, especially when you haven’t done something like this before.

I’ve planned countless trips for myself (and even some for friends), and over the years, I’ve developed an efficient little checklist that ensures I don’t miss anything important (I like lists). I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something.

There is a lot of information on this website (and even more information packed into my book), but one question that comes up frequently is “Matt, how do I put this all together? Tell me where to start.”

In a continuing effort to get out the door and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide to planning a trip that breaks the process down so planning becomes easier and less overwhelming:

Defining where you want to go sets a goal to work towards. A lot of people talk vaguely about travel. They never say where they are going, just that they are going. Picking a destination is immensely important as it gives you a definite goal. It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Paris” than “I’m going to Europe.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well.

Resources for picking your destination:

How much does it cost to travel? I have no idea without knowing for how long you’re going away. You can’t figure out how much you need to save if you haven’t decided on how long you’ll be in your destination. After you say “I’m going to Paris,” add “for 10 days.”

So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want. Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels? How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and attractions? Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. You can begin with my travel guide section or simply buy a guidebook (which are really good for things like this).

If you are going to Paris for 10 days and need $75 a day (not including your flight), you know you need to save $750 (though round up to $800 since it’s good to have extra) for your trip.

Now you have a concrete goal to work towards.

Time to start saving! Write down all your current expenses so you can determine where you are spending money and how you can cut back. People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases – that bottle of water, the dollar for that snack, that extra coffee. All of that adds up and creating this breakdown can let you know where you need to cut and save.

For example, if you need $2,000 USD for the trip you’re taking in 8 months, that means you only have to save $8.33 per day. Couldn’t you find a way to save $8 per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of that! Here are three easy tips that produce big wins:

Cut the coffee – That daily coffee costs you $120 per month ($4 per coffee). An extra $1,440 per year pays for two months in Southeast Asia! What’s more important – your daily cup of Joe or getting to spend two more months enjoying the beaches of Thailand or exploring the jungles of Borneo?Learn to cook – I learned to cook while in college (a skill that has helped me ever since) and before I left on my big trip, I cut down on eating out to two times per week. I cooked a large dinner and then enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the next day, thus saving more money. Cook more, eat out less, and travel sooner.Get rid of cable – In the age of Hulu and free (and legal) streaming TV, there’s no reason for you to be spending $50 USD per month on cable television.

You can read this post for more in-depth and creative ways to cut your day-to-day expenses: 20 ways to Cut Your Expenses and Save for Travel

While you’re working to save money, get a travel credit card so you can earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Most cards have bonuses of up to 50,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement (often $1,000 within a 3 month period). That’s a lot of miles — enough for a free flight almost anywhere in the world.

If you want a free flight, use the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. You don’t need to sign up for very many cards; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait – waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.

I am always doing this so I can travel for as cheap as possible. This post will give you more information as well as a list of the latest deals: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-tips/picking-a-travel-credit-card/.

Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money. Save every extra dollar you can by using a no-fee ATM card. I use Charles Schwab, but there are lots of other banks (don’t forget to check your local banks) that don’t charge ATM fees. Additionally, you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance.

Keep feeding your desire to travel. Here are some inspiring stories:

Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Maybe you can get a 7 day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Hawaii for the price of your flight to Paris, or 50% off sailing trips around Greece.

It’s a big world, and there are lots of places I want to see so if I end up choosing B over A, I’m happy! If you’re flexible too, make sure you look for any money-saving deals.

After you’ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus, use your miles to book your flight. It is harder to use miles these days due to less availability, so make sure to book early to insure you get your desired flight.

There are still many ways to avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most. For more tips that can reduce ticket prices even more, read this blog post.

My favorite sites for finding cheap fares:

For the best deals, book your flight about two months in advance.

If you have a set schedule, feel free to book accommodation for the duration of your trip, but if you are going to be traveling long-term, book just the first few days. Once you know the dates you’ll be in your destination, there is no real reason not to find a place to stay. My view is that waiting will just lead to you losing your top picks.

Love hotels? They won’t save you money, but you can sign up for some hotel credit cards and get free rooms, too. Marriott has a great rewards card whose sign-up bonus is equal to one week’s free stay. Starwood’s AMEX card is wonderful too, but the spending threshold in order to get the points bonus is higher.

The following booking sites offer the best rates for accommodation:

Alternative: Contact people on hospitality websites like Couchsurfing or Be Welcome and ask if they would be willing to host you. You want to do this in advance so people have time to rearrange their schedule and plan for your visit. Moreover, you can also consider apartment rental sites like Airbnb or Wimdu.

Sketch out the major activities you want to enjoy and how much they cost. Make any last-minute adjustments to your savings so you can ensure you have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need any reservations for your chosen tours or activities.

If you are going on a long-term trip (6 months or more), sell your stuff in order to earn extra money for your trip. Start doing this about 60 days before you leave. Sites to use:

If you aren’t going to be gone that long, skip this step. If you are going away long-term but want to keep your stuff, move it to a friend’s house or keep it in storage. A good storage company in the U.S. is Public Storage, which starts at $50 per month.

Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)

No matter how long you’ll be gone, it’s a good idea to let your credit card companies know you will be overseas, that way any transactions that you make aren’t flagged as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There’s nothing worse than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company instead of enjoying your vacation.

Time to pack for your trip! Here’s a suggested packing list.

While a lot of people think “I’m healthy, I don’t need travel insurance. I won’t get sick,” travel insurance is much more than just medical protection. It covers you when your camera breaks, your flight is cancelled, a family member dies and you have to come home, or if something is stolen.

Travel insurance is something you will need on the road. You never know what might happen, and most health plans won’t cover you overseas. I never thought I would pop my eardrum while I was scuba diving or break my camera in Italy. My friend never thought he would break his leg hiking or that another friend’s father would die and she would have to fly back home.

Travel insurance is only a few dollars a day and only a fool doesn’t buy it. Here’s my ultimate guide to picking a good insurance company. (I use World Nomads for all my trips.)

Go on your trip and have fun! Head to the airport, board your plane (don’t forget your passport!), and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

By using this post as a guideline, you can better organize and prepare for your trip (and if you are looking for more in-depth information about planning a trip, check out my book for next steps). You’ll check all the boxes, not miss anything, and have plenty of money for your vacation. It can be as simple as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearranging your entire life to go backpack the world forever.

But no matter your trip length, this list will help you stay organized as you prepare to step onto that plane and out into the world.

(P.S. – Yes, I did leave out visas and vaccinations because needing those isn’t as universal as the other stuff on this list, but don’t forget to check if you need those, too!)

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I Didn’t Like Curacao (But I Didn’t Hate it Either)

By Nomadic Matt | Published September 19th, 2013

Seeing the oil refinery as I drove to my apartment rental in Curacao was a harbinger of things to come.

The Caribbean conjures up images of white sand beaches, palm trees, coral reefs, and tropical drinks. This summer I planned to travel much of the Caribbean (spoiler alert: I didn’t) and at the top of my list of places to visit was Curacao, located in the Dutch Antilles, a part of Holland, and famous for its casino, nightlife, and similarly named blue liqueur.

As I flew into Curacao, I dreamed of all the Caribbean offered and imagined myself relaxing on long white sand beaches with a Pina Colada in hand. The largest and most rugged of the ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) islands, Curacao also held the promise of good hiking and non-beach activities.

But almost immediately after arriving I was disappointed.

What they don’t show in the brochures is the oil refinery on the edge of town. You know this beautiful, multi-colored, waterfront photo that shows off the view Curacao is famous for:

Well, right near there is a not-so-wonderful oil refinery blowing black smoke into the air — and it’s very visible from town.

That refinery set the tone for the week.

Curacao was, as we say, “meh.” It wasn’t a bad place, but it didn’t blow my mind. I left the country indifferent. Let’s just begin with the beaches, which were nice but not that great. Those near the main town are all resort beaches, meaning you have to pay to enjoy them if you aren’t already staying in one of the resorts. They are cluttered with people, lounge chairs, and artificial breakers to protect against the waves and create a calm swimming area. (Not that a calm swimming area is bad, but the breakers reduce the flow of water and since most resorts have docks, due to the boats, I didn’t feel the water was the cleanest.)

The beaches up north are public, wider, and more natural, but even still, they aren’t the long, white sand beaches we often imagine. Moreover, the shoreline is filled with dead coral and rocks. Were they pretty? Yes. Were they amazing? No, not really.

I was also disappointed in the lack of affordable and accessible public transportation. Buses only run every two hours and taxis are incredibly expensive ($50 USD for a fifteen minute cab ride). If you want to see the island, you really have to rent a car during your stay. Not having one really limits what you can see.

To top it off, even the towns aren’t that pretty. Outside Willemstad’s famous waterfront, I wasn’t too impressed by the scenery, buildings, or homes. Even the resorts looked outdated. There’s nothing like a little grime and wear and tear on a city to give it some charm. But here in Curacao, the grit only added a feeling of woeful neglect.

One thing that did make my trip, though, were the locals. I stayed in an Airbnb rental and the woman who ran it was super friendly and helpful. She even drove me some places so I wouldn’t have to take a taxi.

I frequently ate at one local eatery where the family who ran it and I got to know each other over the course of my stay (I was probably the only non-local to eat there).

Jack from the restaurant in the central market kindly gave me his phone number if I needed anything and always remembered me when I walked by.

And then there were the bus drivers who helped guide me around town, as well as the locals who let me hitch a ride with them when the bus didn’t come.

If I choose to go back, it would be for the people, not the place.

Curacao wasn’t awful, but I’ve experienced better destinations. Maybe I didn’t like it because I had high expectations — when you think of nearby Aruba and Bonaire you think Caribbean paradise, and I just lumped Curacao in with them. Expectations can often lead to disappointment when we build up locations in our head.

I walked away from Curacao with no burning desire to go back. I’m happy I went because I love going everywhere, but there was nothing in Curacao that you can’t find elsewhere better and cheaper.

You can’t love every destination. It’s impossible. I can usually find the good in every place (even Vietnam!) but humans have opinions, emotions, and preferences — and mine don’t favor Curacao.

You should go and explore the island for yourself; you just won’t find me there.

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6 Ways to Avoid Staying in a Bad Hostel

By Nomadic Matt | Published September 18th, 2013

What makes a good hostel? How do you avoid the bad ones? After staying in hundreds of hostels since I first started traveling the world, I’ve become quite adept at figuring out very quickly if the hostel owners know what they are doing or just randomly woke up one day and said “Let’s open a hostel. It sounds like fun.”

While hostels are all about the people, management can do a few things to make their hostel a lot less crappy and a lot more awesome. Certain features make a hostel memorable (common rooms, group activities, and kitchens) while others can make them suck (push button showers, general filth, and unknowledgeable staff).

All of my favorite hostels share common traits that make them some of the best in the world, which leads me into this week’s video.

In it, I talk about the six main things that I look for when I’m picking a hostel to stay in, features that every good hostel should have.

(Want more travel videos? I now update my YouTube channel each week with a new video. Subscribe here and get free videos!)

Additionally, here are some smaller things to look out for:

Breakfast – Look for a place with a decent breakfast (i.e., more than bread and cheese) or at least one that begins and ends when people are actually awake (breakfasts that start around 8:30 usually go late). Breakfast is also a great way to load up on snacks for the day, cutting down your food budget.Check-out time – Never stay at a hostel with a check-out time before 10 A.M.; the best ones have won’t make you check out until 11 A.M. or later. Sleep is valuable on the road because you’ll rarely get enough of it. Hostels with late check-out times understand this.Lockers – It’s surprising, but I’ve actually been in hostels that don’t provide lockers or will charge you for them. In this day and age, lockers should be standard, and you should never pay for security. This is a deal breaker for me (especially since I travel with electronics).Kitchen – Try to look for hostels with kitchens since you can then prepare your own food, lower your food budget, and share a meal with your new friends. Nothing binds people closer together than a shared meal (and a few glasses of wine).

What makes hostels great are the people. A top-rated hostel can be home to an unpleasant experience if the people are bad, while you can fondly remember the dirtiest, grossest, and most disgusting hostel in the world if you enjoy good company while you’re staying there.

But removing people from the equation, I look for hostels that have many of these qualities I’ve mentioned. Great, memorable hostels know what you want as a traveler and will enhance your travel experience.

What do you look for in a good hostel?

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And then, it was time for my first trip...

By Matt hayt | Posted on September 12, 2013

Today is the day. Today I will fly to Paris, but this time, it is not to relax by the Seine as it drank wine (well, have some of that), this time is to lead my first tour for ten of the readers and make them even more passionate about travel.

In may, I announced that it was leading a tour of Europe and the response was overwhelming. Now, after months of planning, I'm going to meet the ten participants on Sunday until we enjoyed a two-week trip through Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

I can't believe how quickly it has come. It seems that yesterday said a friend "I am organizing a trip to Europe. Perhaps some people come".

Well, now the d day is here, and is time to go.

I'm used to playing Guide to my friends, but now I'm doing it by ten people who I don't know. So many thoughts running through my head, the largest is "I hope that you do not broke."

But all joking aside, I'm very excited about this. They have never been to some of the people accompanying me to Europe before and not can't wait to show them my Europe. It will be bringing my favorite rides (both inside and outside the beaten path), restaurants, bars and all intermediate.

It may also be highlighting some of my favorite travel companies (including Rail Europe and context of travel), and hostels (St. Christopher, generator and City Backpackers) so that is exciting, as I love spreading the word of the good travel companies.

This is gonna be fun.

I have spent the last few weeks reading in more detail about each destination, planning my rides, restaurants reservations and much more.

Even after all of the trips I've ever taken and helped with, never tell me realize that hard work could go on a tour of planning. There are plenty of t Cross and is about to.

Then, as I boarded my flight to Paris, I'm double and triple check that I have all the itineraries copies, railroad, train booking and reservation numbers. I am - in part - a bundle of nerves.

But I know that this is going to be a good time because the people who read this site are incredible, and for two weeks I will talk about what I like: travel.

I'll be updating as we go and you will most likely have a long post after the fact about what I learned being a tour guide. You can follow all our antics on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

So the flow of food, wine, and good times.

See you in Europe!

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Bermuda: The Impossible Budget Destination

Bermuda: The Impossible Budget DestinationBy Nomadic Matt | Published August 15th, 2013

Is it possible to travel Bermuda cheaply? It’s a good question, one that deserves an answer. When I was 12, my father took my sister and me to Bermuda to surprise my mom, who was there on a cruise with my grandmother. We spent four days sweltering in the heat, swimming at the beach, and eating at Henry the 8th’s (where my dad swears I told a girl she had nice hooters. I still don’t believe him).

Lately, Bermuda has been on my mind again. I’d been thinking about going there for a few months since it’s a close flight from New York City.

And now, older and not that much wiser, I wondered: could the land of rich people, celebrities, bankers, and tax-avoiding corporations really be enjoyed on a budget? Bermuda is not known as a cheap destination. Being the frugal traveler I am, I didn’t want to spend much money, but what is the absolute minimum one needs while there?

As it turns out, a lot.

Way more than $50 a day.

After my four day visit there, I can tell you that it’s nearly impossible to go to Bermuda on a budget. Realistically, you need about $175 a day.

Why? There are two main reasons:

First, accommodation is stupidly expensive (there are no hostels on the island). The cheapest accommodation costs around $100 a night for apartment rentals found via Airbnb, HomeAway, or Bermuda Rentals. If you book at least a month in advance or know someone, you might be able to find a room for as little as $75 a night. (I booked last-minute so ended up paying $125 per night.)

Secondly, transportation around the island is difficult. The bus system here, while cheap, is infrequent and many routes stop around 7 pm. If you aren’t staying in a central location, this can be problematic. Additionally, taxis are expensive and a short 10-minute ride can cost $20 USD. Additionally, if you are visiting far-off beaches and attractions, or coming back late at night, you’ll definitely need a taxi. You’re guaranteed to take at least one taxi ride a day.

There are, in fact, ways to spend less money on this island but it will take a little bit more planning and creativity. Here’s what you do:

Book early – If you want cheap accommodation, you’ll need to book rooms at least a month in advance. Avoid hotels and resorts and instead stay at a bed and breakfast or home rental property. If you are staying with a group, definitely rent a large apartment as it is far less per person than a hotel room.

Couchsurf – There are only 15 Couchsurfing hosts in Bermuda. Many of them have private rooms available but if you want to succeed in reserving one, make sure you inquire really early in order to maximize your chances of success.

Rent a motorbike – Motorbikes are the most convenient and economical transportation on the island. Since buses are infrequent and taxis expensive, having a motorcycle will give you more freedom to travel at a lower cost. Motorbike rentals begin at around $50 a day but get cheaper the longer you rent them; 4 days will cost an average of $35 per day. Two popular rental companies are:

http://www.elbowbeachcycles.com/
http://www.oleandercycles.bm/

Stay central – While Hamilton is not set on a beautiful, pink sand beach, it’s the center for all the buses and ferries leaving the city. If you rent an apartment and aren’t careful, you can end up somewhere far from a bus stop (which means more taxis). Staying in or near Hamilton will ensure you’re near all the bus lines so you can avoid spending too much money on taxis.

Skip the fancy food – There’s good food on Bermuda, but it’s expensive. Avoid all the big, fancy restaurants (ok, enjoy one nice meal) and go for smaller stalls and local restaurants where prices, though still high, are more economical. My two favorite places were Specialty Inn and North Rock Brewing Co. Additionally, the cafe at Cambridge Resorts is reasonably priced despite being at a resort. Most meals will cost between $10-20 USD.

Cook – If you skipped the hotel and rented an apartment, you’ll have a kitchen. There’s an ever-growing local and organic foodie scene on the island. You can find a lot of cheap fruits, vegetables, and meats at markets and shops that will help lower your costs dramatically.

Overall, if you find a Couchsurfing host, you can probably do Bermuda for around $70-80 per day. Otherwise, you’re looking at around $175 per day.

But, despite the drain on my wallet, my trip to Bermuda was amazing. As you can tell from the photos, everything you’ve ever heard about Bermuda is true. This is truly island paradise, with warm, clear water lapping on pink sand beaches.

But what makes Bermuda truly paradise are the locals. The Bermudians were always helpful, friendly, and welcoming. Everywhere I went people were talkative and sincere. The woman in charge of our rented room was very hospitable and fed us dinner and breakfast while her family described life in Bermuda (apparently, it’s not just for the newly rich or nearly dead anymore!). We met a nice guy at the bus stop who randomly ended up giving us a ride into Hamilton, and then there was the waiter who kept telling us to have a “Bermudaful day.” (Plus, countless other little things that made me fall in love with Bermuda.)

So go to Bermuda.

It won’t be cheap — but it will be beautiful.

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19 Travel Goals to Accomplish Before 35

By Nomadic Matt | Published August 20th, 2013

Back in June, as I was reflecting on another birthday, I looked at a very, very old version of my website and spotted a list of travel goals I’d written. I’d forgotten about that list. As I made changes to the site, I moved the list around, eventually removed it, put it back, and then put it aside for later use. But like so many lists I write, I had forgotten it in the dust bin of my mind.

But seeing that list again made me think about how five years ago I had all these lofty travel goals — and they sort of sputtered out. To be fair, I’ve done some amazing things in the last five years (Galapagos Islands? Check! La Tomatina? Check! Learn to scuba dive? Check! Oktoberfest? Double steins of beer? Double check!) but seeing all those uncompleted goals made me a little sad.

Now, I hate bucket lists – as if there’s some set number of activities to enjoy in the world in order to die happy. I think that’s crap. Life changes and so do your goals and desires. The bucket list you write when you’re 20 is not the same one you write at 40. If I wrote a bucket list 10 years ago, it wouldn’t include 90% of the things I’ve done with my life.

But as I reflect on that long lost list, I think after five years, it’s time for a new list. Mostly because I love lists (I make at least one a day) but also because it would be good to collect and refocus my thoughts.

As a nomad, there’s nowhere in the world I don’t want to see at some point, but there are definite things I want to do and places I want to see sooner rather than later.

So instead of writing a bucket list, I’m writing my travel priorities for the next three years in order to better focus and have some goals to strive for.

Safari in East Africa

This is one of the things I want most in the world, but I’m only going to make this trek with someone else. As I discovered in Africa, such beauty is best not seen alone and a long safari around the region will be on hold until I find someone to go with.

Hike the Inca Trail

I can barely hike up my stairs without getting winded (I need to follow more of Steve’s advice!) but the thought of hiking this ancient path, setting sight on Machu Picchu, and wondering how the hell they managed to build a city on a mountain top (and maybe even getting photobombed by a llama) is too appealing to pass up.

See the World Cup

I’m a huge soccer fan and the World Cup just seems like a crazy party you can’t miss. I got into the sport when I began traveling around the world and knowing Latin America’s love obsession with the sport, I can only imagine how great it will be next year. Brazil 2014, here I come!

Spend 4 -5 months backpacking South America – I’ll be tying my World Cup goal into what will be my next major trip. I don’t like piecemeal travel and I’d rather explore this entire region in one go, so despite my attempts at slowing down and becoming more settled, New York City will take a brief backseat to South America next spring while I roam the continent.

See Antarctica

Penguins, glaciers, and whales, oh my!

Spend a month living in the Seychelles

These islands are what my version of heaven would look like, so why not spend a cold winter month there soaking in the sun? Sounds perfectly fine to me.

Climb to Everest base camp – Given my general out of shapeness, this is going to be a real challenge, but one I will prepare for and embrace.

Sail along the Amazon and explore the heart of the rainforest – Because ever since I saw photos of this river, I’ve felt the need to satiate my inner Indiana Jones and explore this vast, wild, sometimes uncharted, out of the way region.

See the Northern Lights

Because it’s too beautiful to pass up!

Take the Trans-Siberian Railway – I’ve always dreamed of this long train journey and my desire has only increased since Katie wrote about her trip. This long, rustic train ride also appeals to me because in the age of the Internet, travel has gotten too easy and there’s no Internet here to rely on. It’s just you and your travel skills.

Cruise around the Pacific Islands – Because Torre made me jealous and I think it would be pretty fun to pretend I’m Robinson Crusoe. Sailing the islands is difficult to accomplish, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Spend a week in Borobudur trying to figure out the meaning of life

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple in Indonesia whose winding walkway is lined with reliefs of Buddhist teachings. The higher up you get, the harder the reliefs become. Monks were supposed to figure out the meaning of each relief before moving on. When you’ve made it to the top, you’ve unlocked all the Buddha’s teachings. That’s a challenge I accept.

Walk the Camino de Santiago – Can I walk across Spain? I don’t know, but it will be fun to try. I’ve heard so many good stories about this trip that even if I only make it halfway, I think I’ll enjoy it.

See Petra, Jordan

Ever since I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as a kid, I’ve always wanted to visit this historic site. Many of my friends have visited and come back with wonderful stories of not only Petra but of Jordan, too. I just have to remember that the cup can’t cross the seal or we’re all doomed (Indiana Jones reference).

Travel to the Arctic and see polar bears – I can’t see one pole without seeing the other. It’s only fair, right? Plus, I want to see these amazing animals before they go extinct.

Spend three months in India

Because it’s too big and interesting to spend any less time here. I just don’t feel a short trip would do the country justice.

Learn about wine in France

I’m a wino and it would be fascinating to learn about the complexities of what I’m drinking. Is that a hint of raspberry in there? Why yes, it is!

Sail around the Caribbean – Just call me Captain Nomadic Jack Sparrow.

Visit Morocco – This country has been on my must-see list for far too long. I love Moroccan food, the kasbahs seem amazing, and a camel ride in the desert is just what the doctor ordered.

Will I get to all of these by the time I’m 35? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. But I plan to refer to this often as a way to check-in and keep myself on track. If I only accomplish these 19 things in the next three years, I will have done a lot, expanded the places I’ve seen in the world, and be one very, very happy nomad.

So here is to goals and making them happen!

P.S. – My September blogging class is now open if you want me to teach you how to blog. There is a beginner and advanced course. If you’re looking to take blogging seriously, come sign up today. The course is only open to 10 people.

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Announcing My 2014 Group Tours

Announcing My 2014 Group ToursBy Nomadic Matt | Published August 14th, 2013

My first tour takes place less than a month from now in Europe. I’m super excited to lead ten readers across the continent and visit my favorite cities for two weeks.

I’m excited and nervous all at once but I know it is going to be a blast.

Lately, I’ve had a lot of requests for more information about the tours I’m going to run next year.

As you may know, I’m currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new travel app called TripSaver. This app will help you manage, track, and budget your expenses on the road and will be available for iOS and Android phones.

One of the backing levels for this campaign is first access to the FOUR tours I’m running in 2014. I’ve spent the last week putting together itineraries for each tour to further expand on the information already in the Kickstarter.

So here are the general details for next year’s Nomadic Matt’s group tours:

Length: 18 days

Day 1 – 3 (Bangkok) – We’ll explore my favorite city in the world (and former home), taking in temples, eating at the best street food stalls, visiting my top restaurants and bars, and proving that Bangkok is more than traffic and pollution.Day 4 (Ayutthaya) – A short distance from Bangkok, we will spend the day exploring the ruins of one of Thailand’s ancient capitals.Day 5 – 6 (Khao Yai National Park) – One of the lesser known national parks in Thailand, we’ll try to find some wild elephants as well as learn about the flora and fauna of the area.Day 7 – 10 (Chiang Mai) – Heading up north, we’ll spend a few days in this vibrant city, exploring the nearby jungles and an elephant sanctuary, as well as eat our way through the markets and do some shopping at the famous night bazaar.Day 11 – 14 (Ko Lanta) – It’s time to head to my favorite island in Thailand, where we will sit by the beach, soak up some sun, eat seafood, swim, dive, snorkel, and watch some intense pink and purple sunsets (see above).Day 15 – 16 (Krabi) – An overnight pit stop at this other beach destination before we head back to Bangkok.Day 17 – 18 (Bangkok) – We return to Bangkok for some final street food (and shopping) before we all say good-bye!

Length: 14 days

Day 1 – 4 (Paris) – We’ll explore the city of lights, visit the famed palace of Versailles, gorge on French food and wine, and learn about the history of this mesmerizing city. I can never get enough of Paris. After I take you there, neither will you.Day 5 – 6 (Brussels) – The capital of the E.U. is also home to chocolate, beer, and frites. A delicious couple of days.Day 7 – 9 (Amsterdam) – Another former home of mine, where I’ll prove to you that Amsterdam is more than red lights and coffee shops. We’ll head out to the main tourist areas, exploring lesser known local neighborhoods, eating at great cafes and restaurants, visiting museums, and much more.Day 10 – 14 (Berlin) – Sprawling Berlin took me a while to love, but this city is filled with cheap and delicious ethnic food, a lot of history, some of the best museums in Europe, wild nightlife, and wonderful parks.

Length: 14 days

Day 1 – 4 (Prague) – We will spend a few days in one of the most historic cities in Europe as well as take a day trip to the famous Kutna Hora Bone Church.Day 5 – 7 (Vienna) – After a scenic train ride through the countryside, we’ll visit the city of Freud, drink coffee, marvel at art, and learn about the history of the former capital of Austro-Hungarian empire.Day 8 – 10 (Bratislava) – Not the city depicted in the movie Hostel, this historic medieval city features a beautiful castle, tasty and strong beer, and one of my favorite restaurants in Europe.Day 11 – 14 (Budapest) – I love Budapest. I can’t get enough of it. We’ll explore this historic city, try some traditional folk dancing, take in the culture, relax in the famous bath houses, and enjoy the Ruin bars, one of the most unique bar scenes in the world.

Length: 14 days

Day 1 – 4 (Sydney) – We will spend four days in Sydney learning to surf, enjoying the beaches, hiking the famous Blue Mountains, and visiting the Hunter Valley for wine.Day 5 – 10 (Cairns) –  We’ll fly up to Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef and the famous Atherton tablelands before escaping up to Cape Tribulation for a little quiet away from the crowds.Day 11 – 14 (Melbourne) – Our last stop on the tour, we’ll spend a few days in Melbourne, visit the penguins on Phillip’s Island and drive the Great Ocean Road.

On these tours, I’ll be taking you to all the hidden, off-the-beaten-track sights, restaurants, and bars that made me fall in love with each destination over and over again.  I’ll show you the known and unknown of each location all while giving you budget travel tips that can be used on any future trips you take!

All tours include ground transportation (bus, intracity flights, and trains), accommodation (a mix of guesthouses, private rooms, and dorms), walking tours, group meals, and activities.

What’s not included: international flights, travel insurance, visa fees, and meals not specified.

Cost: Each tour will cost $2,000 USD.

If you are interested in signing up now, I have opened two spots for each tour on my Kickstarter campaign. All tours are limited to ten people on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to explore the world with me, this your chance to join the tours now.

You can head over to the Kickstarter page and sign up there.

If you want to take a chance and wait, I’ll be opening all the other spots in the coming months.

Additionally, as part of the Kickstarter campaign, I am also offering two other cool backing gifts:

I’ll fly you and a guest out to New York City and give you a personal guided tour of my new home, showing you my favorite tourist sites, restaurants, and bars. You are responsible for your own accommodations but I will be happy to make affordable suggestions. The personal tour is only one day but stay in the city as long as you want!I will come to your city, hand deliver my book, take you to your favorite restaurant, and talk with you about travel, life, and answer any questions you want.

We’re halfway through the Kickstarter and these three options are a great way to join 1,000 other people in supporting this important project while getting great deals and trips at a great price.

Thank you again for all your support – not only during this project but throughout the years.

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About a dozen of facts will do want to travel more

By Matt hayt | Posted on September 05, 2013

Today, a community member sent me a link to this video. It is achieved by Buzzfeed, and while you link not normal for them, I think that this video trip was full of good information that only reinforces the fact that travel makes you awesome.

Through facts and images, I was hooked and wanted to share this video with you here. No much more to say here. Enjoy!

My own experience has taught me that everything in this video is true. Travel has made me a better person, has made me more confident, social, happy, well informed and content.

What do you think of this video? Do travel makes you a better person? How has made him a better person?

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How This 70 Year Old Couple Bucked Convention to Travel the World

By Nomadic Matt | Published August 26th, 2013

When I saw him in the hostel, I couldn’t help but smile. There he was, a man who could have been my grandfather, hanging out with college-aged backpackers and having the time of his life. The younger travelers were enamored with his stories of past travels and his ability to drink them under the table. No one cared he was in his 70s. Age mattered not one bit.

I believe that most of my advice on this website is universal. Maybe as an older couple or family you’ll skip hostels or avoid Couchsurfing, but when we land in Paris, we all face the same costs and list of potential activities, regardless of age. I think, especially here in the United States, there is a belief that you just can’t travel when you’re 70 or have medical problems. And while there are a few things to be more mindful of as you get older, I disagree that there is a special category called “senior travel.” The differences between how I travel and how a 70-year-old travels are really minimal.

So when Don and Alison approached me about their story, I had to share it. Because here is a “senior” couple, limited by some medical issues, engaging in adventures I only dream about. I think their story can teach and inspire a lot of us.

Nomadic Matt: Hi guys! Tell everyone about yourselves.
Don: I’m a 70-year-old retired neuropsychologist. Two years ago, I made a decision to retire because I’d developed a number of medical problems due to stress from work. I was working myself into sickness. Alison (my wife, who is 63) and I didn’t have enough savings to be able to keep our home and do the kind of world travel we wanted to do. We agonized over what to do for a long time until it became clear that it came down to the question of “Do we want to have a home or do we want to have a life?” So we made the decision to sell our home. We’ve now been on the road, with occasional trips back to our hometown to restock our basic supplies and see our friends, for two years, and plan to continue living a nomadic life for the foreseeable future.

What inspired you to become nomadic?
Don: Initially it was the desire to see the places that were at the top of our bucket list, and after that to see as much of the world as we could before we got too old to travel.

Alison: Inspiration came first from Don writing daily “morning pages” (from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way) in search of some answers to the retirement/income dilemma. One day out of the blue, he suggested to me that we could sell the condo and go traveling. I didn’t immediately say yes to this but it was a seed that grew of its own accord until one day, we realized this is what we’d do. I had a nice life at home, but Don was done with work and struggling to keep going. Something had to give.

Where have your travels taken you so far?
Don: After selling our home, we went to Europe. Following that we went to Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, India, where we stayed for 10 weeks in order to spend time meditating at the ashram of Ramana Maharshi. From there we went to Bali, then to Australia to spend time with some of Alison’s family and friends. We’ve also been back to India, all over Southeast Asia, and, most recently, Mexico.

Did your friends and family think you were crazy for doing this?
Don: Probably, although no one said that to our faces. Everyone was surprised, some of them seemed perhaps a bit shocked, and many of them told us that we had a lot of courage for taking this step and encouraged us to go for it.

Do you feel that your age was in any way a problem or limiting?
Don: When we first began traveling, I was concerned about my health and whether I’d be able to stay healthy, particularly when traveling in Third World countries. However, as we’ve traveled, I realized I can get sick overseas, take appropriate medications, and get well again. It’s not as hard as I thought to get the necessary care when you travel.

Alison: It never occurred to me that age has anything to do with anything. I’m young, fit and healthy and mostly do what I need to do to stay that way. At the same time, I’m aware that Don has some manageable health issues that we need to pay attention to, but nothing that really prevents us from doing what we want to do. He’s so much healthier and happier than when he was working.

Having said that, we’re not cavalier about our bodies. We know that things sometimes take longer to heal than when we were younger. For this reason, we draw the line at things like white-water rafting. Apart from the fact that neither of us are experienced at it, we know that one good jolt could result in whiplash that could take weeks to heal. Still, we’ve hiked in fairly difficult terrain, been swimming with elephants, gone kayaking, ridden camels at dawn in the desert, and climbed volcanoes in the dark.

How did you save money for your travels?
Don: I had been putting money into a Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan for many years. These savings and any interest earned on them are tax-free until such time as I begin to withdraw them. We sold our home at what appears now to have been the peak of the Vancouver housing market in August 2011 and put the money to work in investments. We also receive a monthly pension from a Canadian Federal government plan that I contributed to from the time I was in my early 20’s until I retired.

How do you manage your money on the road?
Don: We budget about $50 per day for our accommodation, plus another $50 for meals and entertainment. Recently, we’ve started staying in places for longer periods of time and have begun renting apartments instead of staying in hotels. The price per night is often about the same as a hotel room, but we save money by making our own meals. We regularly splurge on guided tours or treks, or big events like the Guelaguetza Festival in Oaxaca.

A lot of older couples and individuals feel that round the world trips are for young people. What would you say to them?
Don: Do it anyway while you still have the health and strength to do it. We’re more flashpackers than backpackers: we usually stay in three-star hotels because we can do that on our budget, and the rooms we rent must have wi-fi and an en-suite bathroom. We book hotel rooms or apartments online using Agoda.com, Booking.com, Wimdu.com or Homeaway.com.

Alison: I think there are a lot of myths about “old age” that people live into. I don’t understand the idea that adventure and a love of life are only for the “young”. We’ve met a full-of-life ninety-two-year-old who learnt to play the fiddle in his seventies and regularly jams with a group of buddies, a seventy-eight-year-old woman who says when she’s eighty she’ll be ready to sell her house and go traveling, and an eighty-something woman who was traveling alone in Myanmar. We love role models like this. Life’s what you make it, and you only get one chance to live this life.

Do you stay in hostels? When you meet young backpackers on your trip, how do they react? I usually find that they tend to get excited about senior travelers. It’s a “cool” thing.
Don: We haven’t stayed in hostels for two main reasons: the first being because of my concerns about the security of our belongings, and the second being that we like the luxury of a private bathroom. That being said, the young backpackers we’ve met on the road have been very positive about us doing what we’re doing at our age.

Did you have any fears about traveling before you started?
Don: Alison has always been much more adventurous than me, so when we first began traveling I had a lot of fears about getting sick in Third World countries. Now that we’ve been traveling for almost two years a lot of those fears are gone because we’ve been sick and recovered without having to be sent back to Canada.

Alison: I don’t like flying. It’s one of my biggest fears. As long as things are going smoothly and I can immerse myself in a movie I’m fine. But any turbulence and I’m a white-knuckle mess. [Matt says: me too!] Apart from that I don’t think I was ever really afraid because I’d done so much traveling when I was younger.

What was the biggest thing you’ve learned from your travels so far?
Don: That traveling really does broaden the mind. We’ve discovered that people are people wherever we go and that the great majority of them are friendly and helpful. If you approach people in a friendly and openhearted way that is what you are most likely to get back. We do our best to come with a sense of respect for the people we meet on our travels, regardless of their circumstances. We’ve also found that making the effort to learn a few basic words and phrases of the local language does wonders for connecting with the people of a country!

I’m much happier and healthier than I was two years ago. I now know from personal experience why people love to travel. The world and its peoples are much more friendly and much less scary than various government websites would have us believe.

Alison: Everything Don said, and always learn how to say “I’m sorry” in the local language. And presence. There’s no past, no future. Only now. The longer we travel the more this truth is actually lived. Whenever I feel vulnerable I return to the present because it is here that life is lived.

What advice would you give to people looking to do something similar?
Alison: Don’t go blind. Do your research. The more information you gather before you go, the better you’ll be prepared, and the less vulnerable you’ll feel. At the same time, don’t organize yourself into a tight schedule. Leave room for spontaneity. Trust yourself, and go for it. Until you do it you cannot even begin to imagine the rewards that come from such a life. The world is an astonishing place, and people are more openhearted than you’d ever believe from watching the nightly news. Oh, that’s another thing – stop watching the news: it gives you a very negative view of the word!

Don and Alison are a real inspiration. They found a way to make travel work for them and it even made Don a healthier and happier person! I really do love their story as well as what they had to say about their experience. The couple have set up a blog about their travels that you can read here.

P.S. – Want your story featured on this site? I’m currently looking for non-Americans (bonus points for Indians and Filipinos), families, or broke college students to feature on this site. E-mail a brief summary of your story at [email protected]

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