Travel Smarter, Cheaper and Longer with Nomadic Matt

#110: Travel expert and author Nomadic Matt (Matt Kepnes), joins Chris to reflect on their most unforgettable travel experiences and discuss the importance of staying flexible, embracing a slow travel philosophy, and living in the moment. Matt also offers insights on travel insurance, and shares his top picks for off-the-beaten-path travel destinations, must-have travel gear, and effective strategies for planning a budget-friendly trip.

Matthew Kepnes (@nomadicmatt) is a bestselling author and and travel blogger. He is the founder and CEO of Nomadic Matt, a website dedicated to budget travel, and the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day."

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Selected Links From The Episode

Matthew Kepnes: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin

Books: How to Travel the World on $50 a Day | Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler's Journey Home

ATH Podcast Episode: #108 Living a Happier Life, Saying No, and Prioritizing Goals with Derek Sivers

Connection Recommendations: Couchsurfing | Bumble BFF | Meetup.com

Cards/Points: Charles Schwab Bank Visa® Platinum Debit Card | American Express® Gold Card | Bilt Mastercard® | Point.me (First month for $1 with code HACKS) | Seat Spy

Travel Insurance: Safety Wing | World Nomads | Insured Nomads | InsureMyTrip

Matt’s Destination Recommendations: Taiwan | Romania | Bulgaria | South Korea | Malaysia | Sri Lanka | Napal | Mexico: San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, Chiapa, Yucatan, Merida, Monterrey, Mexico City

Paris Recommendation: Le dit vin 

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction to Matthew Kepnes

(01:19) Biggest travel misconception

(03:35) How the travel industry has evolved

(07:15) Traveling economically

(09:17) Strategies for planning a trip on a budget

(11:18) Travel as a professional career

(12:32) Making connections and finding experiences 

(13:52) Travel resources 

(17:51) Memorable travel experiences

(19:19) Dealing with travel burnout

(21:34) Getting a sense of cultures, customs, and languages

(23:10) Overcoming communication barriers

(25:30) Finding quality tours

(27:01) Matt’s must-have travel gear

(28:26) Carrying credit/ATM cards and identification

(35:36) Travel insurance

(37:57) Dangerous/bad experiences

(40:43) Credit card and point resources

(42:40) Off-the-beaten-path recommendations

(44:42) Travel mindset

(47:22) Paris recommendations

(47:55) Where to find Matthew Kepnes online

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