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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