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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