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For many of us, the idea of ditching our job and traveling the world for years at a time seems like a pipe dream reserved for the rich. But if you have the right mindset—and budget wisely—pretty much anyone can quit the cube life, grab a pack and hit the road.
My guest today has spent the last 10 years traveling the world as a 21st century nomad. In that time, he not only survived but also built up a budget travel empire that continues to grow.
In this episode we talk about the biggest misconceptions about long-term travel, unorthodox tips for how you can save money while traveling, how to make friends as a solo traveler, and much more.
…for me the sense of what a traveler is, is looking for the culture and getting a sense of place….You travel like you live: you take public transportation, you go grocery shopping, you look for free activities to do, you don’t eat in touristy areas….”
Matt Kepnes
Matthew Kepnes runs the award winning budget travel site, Nomadic Matt. He’s also the author of the New York Times best-seller How to Travel the World on $50 a Day as well as the upcoming travel memoir, Ten Years a Nomad. His writings and advice have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian UK, Lifehacker, Budget Travel, BBC, Time, and Yahoo! He also regularly speaks at travel trade and consumer shows, owns a hostel in Texas, and launched a non-profit called FLYTE, which empowers students from underserved communities through transformative travel experiences.
Episode Highlights
- How new and exotic experiences can create the perception of extending time
- Breaking out of cube life and exploring extended travel
- Tips for saving money prior to a trip
- Why you shouldn’t stress about finding the cheapest airline ticket
- Unorthodox ways to save money on accommodations
- What to look for in a hostel
- Leveraging house-sitting as a way to travel cheaply
- Helpful tips for making friends abroad
- How solo travel can improve your social skills
- Finding the right pace of travel
