Racism on the Road: An Interview with Alex

This month’s interview comes from Alex, a 29 year old black guy from Northern California. When he approached me earlier this year to do an interview, told his his story and the barriers – racial and non-racial – he faced before and on the road, I knew he had to be featured here. As a white Western guy, my experience is vastly different than most others. I don’t face many of the prejudices others might and, while this site is called “Nomadic Matt”, I view it as a resource for all travelers – and that the only way to do that is to bring in added voices like Alex. So, today, without further ado, here is Alex:

Nomadic Matt: Hi Alex! Welcome! Tell everyone about yourself.
Alex: I am a 29 year old from Northern California. I grew up in a city in the San Francisco Bay Area called Alameda. After finishing college in Arizona, I moved back to the Bay Area and worked in SF before quitting my job to travel the world.  I know the decision shocked my mom and many of my friends, but I know it was a necessary experience for me to embrace at this time in my life.

What inspired your trip?
The short answer is that I wanted to see the world.  The more nuanced answer is that I wanted to see it through my own lens.  With the wonders of the world wide web, we are inundated with information and imagery of people and places from around the world.  I needed to see what the world was like through my eyes, through my own conversations with people in such places, and through my personal experience of growth and change in traveling to these places.

After reading so many backpacking blogs, I got inspired and knew I needed to do this. My original intention was to travel for six months but 11 months later, I’m still going!

How are you funding this trip?
I worked in finance for five years. I had been saving for travel since I started working. Once I made the decision to do this trip, I started making the appropriate sacrifices to increase my travel fund (like skipping smaller trips with friends and cutting out expensive dinners and large bar tabs).

After reading different travel blogs and your book How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, I was able to save $25,000 USD for a year of travel. To make that happen, I began automatically depositing money from my paycheck every two weeks. I reduced my spending on the non-essentials, for example eating out less, canceling services I rarely used and skipping smaller vacations. As time came closer to leave, I made money selling furniture and other items from my apartment. Also the last bonus check from work helped a bit as well. In all, it took a little over a year to save up enough money for this trip.

I had friends telling me they could never afford to do what I am doing but would spend $400/month on organized cycling classes and $500/weekend on drinks.  Saving the money needed for a trip like this wasn’t easy and required many sacrifices. However, I knew traveling was the ultimate goal and this was a part of the process to accomplish that goal.

Do you have any specific advice for people saving for their trip?
My advice and something that helped greatly was to look at a breakdown of my spending over a 3 month period. Your bank or credit card company usually provides this information free or you can do it yourself. Identify what is consuming the largest portion of your income and figure out ways you can reduce it.

Why don’t you think more minorities travel? You said in your original email your friends and family said you were being “too white” by doing this. 
The “you’re acting white” comment is one I’ve heard all my life. When I showed an interest in my education and a career in finance, I was acting “white.” When I went against the norm by quitting my job to travel I was acting “white.” Honestly, it’s all quite confusing and makes trying to be yourself that much more difficult. In regards to traveling abroad, perhaps people view it as representing a certain amount of privilege that is not generally associated with minorities. But again, this is about priorities and if traveling is a priority you can find a way to do it without being a member of the upper-class elite.

I think another reason why minorities don’t travel as much is a lack of exposure.  Without close friends and family who have or do travel, how might someone know that this is something to do? Or that it is even worth doing?

Now, I don’t mean to suggest that minorities do not travel at all. That’s certainly not the case as I traveled quite frequently as a child with my family. However, I’d label this type of traveling as vacationing – and it was always to familiar places. Where I see a lack of minority travelers is to those unfamiliar places like Southeast Asia.  In my opinion, Southeast Asia is a perfect place for people of any color and any budget. Yet I mostly see white travelers here – why is that?

Many minorities my age in the U.S. come from families where their parents and grandparents did not have an opportunity to go explore the world. Instead, they were likely fighting for their civil rights and equality (which was a more pressing priority). Many were also recent immigrants to the U.S. and focused on creating a new life in an unfamiliar country. So I think, due to a lack of exposure in minority communities, this idea of traveling the world isn’t as prevalent. The idea of traveling abroad became associated with white people and privilege. Although, at times it doesn’t seem like it, the opportunity for minorities to travel and explore is now much greater. We should take advantage of the sacrifices made by the generations before us.

How do you think that opinion can change? Do you think it ever will? 
I think the opinion will change with time and an effort to educate minority youth about traveling and it’s accessibility. It is encouraging to see organizations and individuals trying to help push this effort along. Wth the emergence of social media, everyone can now share their travel experiences with a wider group of individuals. Maybe an Instagram picture of the beautiful beaches in Thailand inspires a young person of color to work towards one day visiting, no matter the hurdles in their way. I know for myself it has opened my eyes and mind to hundreds of places I want to visit.

Have you faced any racism while traveling? How do you deal with it?
I thought I would encounter racism on a greater level traveling through Europe and Asia than what I’ve experienced at home. But in my 9 months of traveling to big cities, small cities, urban and rural areas I can not think of one time I’ve experienced any deliberate racism. There were a couple of incidents of ignorance but not what I would consider racism.

I do have one interesting story I’ll share from when I was in this small town on the border of Montenegro. Based on the looks of curiosity I received, I’m fairly certain I was the first black person to travel through this town in a long time. As I made my way to the bus stop, I had a brief encounter with what I would guess were late-teenaged boys. As I was standing at the crosswalk they slowly drove by with their rap music turned up and yelled out the window “What’s up my nigga?” accompanied by a peace sign gesture. Having heard the word “nigger” shouted from a car before, my guard went up immediately. But then I saw the look on the young boys’ faces. They were smiling as if they had an encountered someone famous. At that moment I realized they must have assumed this was an appropriate way of greeting a black male. I simply laughed while shaking my head. These kids were repeating what they were being fed through music and movies as being cool, likely not knowing the origin or meaning of the word they used. I only wish I could have used this as an opportunity to teach them the reality of that word and its connotations, but this was not a hate crime.

If anyone was treating me differently for being black, I was oblivious to it. At times I feel like I’m more likely to be treated differently for being American versus anything else. I’ve come to learn that most travelers are extremely open-minded and interested in learning about the places they travel as well the people they meet along the way. You would be surprised how many other travelers express their curiosity and concerns with me about the lack of minority travelers.

What advice do you have for other minority travelers worried about racism/prejudice when they travel?
Racism is ubiquitous.  If you are going to put yourself in a setting of “others” you will experience “othering” – this is what humans have done for our entire existence.  But I think one important piece of advice is that you can’t confuse racism and ignorance.  It is likely you will travel to places which are incredibly homogenous so meeting or seeing a minority like yourself may be a first for them. Take this as an opportunity to teach someone about you and your culture. A smile and quick chat can go a long way in learning about our differences but even more so our similarities as humans. If you do find yourself in a situation where you feel that you’re being treated differently due to the color of your skin, I’d suggest politely walking away. Don’t allow racism or discrimination to “win” by provoking a negative reaction from you and possibly ruining your adventure. The world is full of amazing and accepting people and I have faith that if you get out there on the road you’ll find them!

What was the moment you were like “Wow! I’m really doing this! This trip is real life!”?
Those moments happen so frequently. From the first train ride in Europe staring out the window as I traveled from Stockholm to Copenhagen envisioning the journey ahead of me, all the way to sitting on top of a pagoda in Myanmar watching as the sun rose, casting light onto an amazing moment. This trip has been the best experience of my life so far and I make sure to reflect on and be grateful for all the amazing moments often.

OK, let’s switch gears and talk about the practical side of travel.How do you make your money last on the road? What are some of your best tips?
My most important tip to the backpacker crowd is to control your spending on alcohol because those beers add up fast. Ask around where the best happy hour and drink specials are located. If you are with a large group, try to negotiate your own deal on drinks. Better yet, go buy alcohol from the store, grab a speaker to play music and drink outside somewhere. Those tend to be some of the best and cheapest nights out!

If you could give three pieces of advice to a new traveler, what would it be?
I’m one of those people who enjoys planning and researching before heading out to somewhere new. However, don’t over-plan your trip. Leave a little room for spontaneity. You’ll definitely meet some cool people or that special someone and want to continue traveling with them. That’s hard to do if you have your entire trip pre-booked. Put down your phone, smile and say hello to someone new. I promise that interaction will be more interesting than whatever you’re reading on Facebook. Find an activity to participate in that helps you overcome a fear. The open water scares me and in order to face that fear head on I went scuba diving.  Also, pick an activity that challenges you mentally and physically. I climbed up the 5000+ steps to the top of Adams Peak in Sri Lanka. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my trip. Lastly, find a way to give back while you’re traveling. Volunteering, donating and responsible tourism are some of the ways to help support the local communities you are traveling through and impacting.

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Editor’s Note: This interview is not some end all discussion on racism and travel. It’s one guy’s perspective. Since this is a topic I’m often asked about, I wanted to share Alex’s story and perspective on the matter. I know this can be a passionate subject but please keep all comments civil and respectful.

P.S. – If you would like to help underprivileged students – of all races – travel more, we’re currently fundraising for an inner city school in D.C. to go to Cuba. We’ve reached 50% of our goal. Help us get over the finish line, change someone’s life by exposing them to the world of travel, and get some travel swag in the process. You can learn more and help here.

The post Racism on the Road: An Interview with Alex appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

May 31, 2016 at 05:30PM

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How Am I Doing? Help Me Make This Place Better!

Hi all,

Just a short post today. Every six months I like to survey the community to get a sense of what’s working and what’s not. After all, I work for you and, as the site has grown from being just a personal blog, checking in lets me prioritize improvements and understand what you like and how you feel.

Over the years, your feedback has led to many useful improvements:

• the introduction of the forums
• the introduction of destination guides
• the site’s current design
• better navigation
• a “start here” page
• the addition of regular columnists
• and much, much more.

I would appreciate it if you filled out this 10-question survey. It will take only five minutes of your time and I take these responses very seriously! Your feedback makes this website and community better!

Click here to take this five-minute survey!

These surveys are incredibly important to me, as I greatly value your feedback.

So please take five minutes and tell me what you like or what changes you would like to see! Be brutally honest. I won’t be hurt.

Thank you!

– Matt

The post How Am I Doing? Help Me Make This Place Better! appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

May 23, 2016 at 03:00PM

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13 Amazing Things to Do in India

As crazy as it sounds, I’ve never been to India. I know, right? It’s high up on my list of places to visit but, with so much to see, I’m just saving it for a time when I can have a long visit. But, until that time, my friend Wandering Earl is picking up the slack. Wandering Earl is my other half – a hard core budget traveler who loves exploring the world. We’re two peas in a pod. As he gears up for his nineteenth trip to India (leading yet another sold out tour), I asked him to share some of his favorite locations in the country to give you (and me) some ideas on what to do in a country so vast! Enter Earl:

Everywhere you turn in India, there is something to do or to see that you probably have never done or seen before. There are experiences to be had — whether fascinating or shocking or rewarding or confusing or educational or frustrating — all day long, no matter where you happen to be.

When I traveled to India for the first time back in 2001, just my first two weeks in the country involved camping at a pristine lake in a remote tribal region, hiking in the Himalayas, visiting Tibetan villages and monasteries, drinking mango lassis for the first time from a market stall in Kolkata, playing cricket with a group of Indians I met at a Hindu temple, and spending an evening with the family of a taxi driver who invited me to his home for dinner.

That’s what happens when you visit India.

The result of such an incredible variety and frequency of memorable experiences is exactly what has happened to me and countless other travelers: we simply can’t get enough and constantly feel the need to return over and over again for more.

And though one post on India could never do the country justice, today I want to share 13 of my favorite things to do in India after 18 visits there, both as a traveler and a tour guide:

Gali Paranthe Wali (Delhi)

A famous food lane in the heart of Old Delhi in the middle of the Chandni Chowk market. On this lane are a handful of well-known eateries, all serving up the same dish: unique Delhi-style stuffed parathas, a type of flatbread made from wheat dough and lightly fried in oil on both sides. While the usual filling is potatoes, on this street you can get them stuffed with anything, from cheese to squash to raisins to mint to mixed vegetables to cashews and more. Some of the places have been around for over 100 years, and it doesn’t take long to see why these hole-in-the-wall eateries are almost always full of Indians enjoying this tasty meal.

Akshardham (Delhi)

This cultural complex located near the Yamuna River is, to me, one of the most impressive structures in all of India, with its massive temple constructed from the carvings of several thousand Indian artisans. When you see it for the first time, it will blow you away with its unique appearance and seemingly otherworldly architecture — and that’s before you go inside. Inside, you’ll find yourself amidst a scene of absurdly detailed design, from the pillars to the walls to the domed ceilings high above, all helping to tell the story of Hinduism. Arrive an hour or so before sunset and you’ll also be treated to the beautiful temple all lit up, helping to further etch itself in your memory.

Raj Mandir Cinema (Jaipur)

It’s one of the best-known cinemas in India. Opened in 1976, this large art-deco structure is my favorite place in the country to catch a Bollywood film. The pastel-colored interior design, the efficient suit-clad staff, the spacious theater with its comfortable seats, and the lively atmosphere deriving from hundreds of excited Indian moviegoers all make you feel as if you’re attending a major movie premiere. As a bonus, once the movie is over, you’re only a two-minute walk away from MI Road, where you’ll find several Jaipuri lassi shops. Join the lines, order a large sweet lassi, and sit back and enjoy its pure deliciousness!

Chand Baori Stepwell (Abhaneri)

The first time I visited the tiny, dusty village of Abhaneri, some 10 kilometers off of the main Agra-to-Jaipur road. I thought I was going to see a small well in the midst of a ruined ancient city, take a photo, and then continue my journey. An hour and a half later, though, I was still staring at this spectacularly striking, 1,200-year-old “water tank,” one of the largest in India. Constructed by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty in AD 8000, the massive rectangular well is approximately 30 meters deep and consists of over 3,500 steps intertwined in a precise maze-like pattern on three sides, playing with the sunlight reflecting off of its angles. When you are inside, be sure to have a look at the dozens of statues of Hindu gods and religious scenes that line the outer walkway of the well, some dating back a thousand years. There is no entrance fee, but the local caretaker, who keeps the place immaculate, will ask for a “tip” as you leave.

Ranakpur Jain Temple (Ranakpur)

The village of Ranakpur sits a bit off the main route from Jodhpur to Udaipur, and is a remarkably quiet place. Apart from a few hotels and a couple of restaurants, the only other structure is the Ranakapur Jain Temple, one of the most important Jain temples in the world, dating back to the 15th century. Set in the forest, this temple is supported by over 1,400 intricately carved pillars, of which no two are the same, creating an almost eerie atmosphere as you wander through the courtyard, as if in a never-ending ancient maze. I highly recommend the audio guide that comes with your ticket, as regular guides are not allowed inside. The narration offers a thorough look at how this temple was created, its period of abandonment, and its resurrection as a major place of worship. Not too many people visit Ranakpur compared to other destinations, and even fewer spend the night in the village.

Animal Aid Unlimited (Udaipur)

With plenty to do, Udaipur is a popular place for visitors, but one activity that is not as well known is spending a day or two volunteering at Animal Aid Unlimited. This organization acts as a “rescue center, hospital, and sanctuary for injured and ill street animals,” something that you don’t find too often in India despite the ubiquitous animals. If you visit, you’ll find cows, donkeys, dogs, pigs, goats, and other animals receiving wonderful care from a dedicated team of volunteers, veterinarians, and paid staff from the local community. I’ve visited Animal Aid four times now, and I always head to the enclosure for dogs that have been partially paralyzed.I could sit in that enclosure for hours, hanging out with these energetic dogs that seem truly excited to be in this special place. Animal Aid is a great spot to visit, either for a tour by one of the staff (which they are happy to do) or even to volunteer. Short-term and long-term volunteers are always welcome with open arms.

Natraj Dining Hall (Udaipur)

Well-known among locals in Udaipur, this is a chance to have a traditional Indian thali experience in a place that seldom sees any foreigners. A thali is a meal that consists of a variety of foods, usually all served on a large, round metal plate. Natraj is located in the Bapu Bazaar area, about a 30-minute walk from the City Palace. If you’re lucky, there won’t be a line, but once you get a table, things happen quickly. There is no menu — you simply eat what they cook: a variety of vegetable dishes, rice, fresh chapati, chutneys, and plenty of other good stuff. Some dishes might be spicy, so be sure to ask before you take a bite! It’s all-you-can-eat and they’ll keep dishing out the food until you give a forceful “no more!” It costs about 120 rupees ($1.85) per person.

Kukki’s Cave Paintings (Bundi)

Sign up for a trip with the local named Kukki on the outskirts of Bundi, a beautiful little town in Rajasthan. You’ll hear Kukki’s story on the tour, but here’s a short version: he was a man with little education and no background in archaeology who ended up discovering some of India’s most impressive cave paintings and ancient artifacts simply by wandering around ruined monuments and structures on his own. Some of the paintings you’ll see are of hunting scenes and daily life and are believed to be 15,000 years old. But even apart from the paintings, joining Kukki is absolutely wonderful, as he takes you to seldom-visited areas of Rajasthan, tells you endless stories about his fascinating life and work, and teaches you about the general history of the region. His personality alone is enough reason to go on this tour, and if you’re in Bundi, there is no better way to spend half a day.

Jolly Music House (Varanasi)

Not every traveler loves the intensity and roughness of Varanasi, but regardless, it’s difficult not to find this 3,800-year-old city fascinating. Religious ceremonies, endless temples, open cremations, narrow lanes winding through ancient markets, crumbling palaces, people praying and bathing in the holy Ganges River, animals roaming the streets — it’s all in this one destination. Apart from the usual sights and experiences, however, there is one tiny room located down a lane in the Bengali Tola area of the Old City that I always get excited to enter. This is the Jolly Music House, run by the always-friendly Jolly, a middle-aged man and talented musician who offers courses and lessons on all types of traditional Indian instruments. But if you ask him, he’ll also organize a concert in the evening. The experience will leave you mesmerized and wanting to return every night you’re in this city. Tell him Earl sent you!

Medieval city of Orchha (Orchha)

Bus groups often come to Orchha for a few hours, see a few temples, and then take off to their next destination. However, if you spend a couple of nights here, with its seemingly infinite number of stunning temples and palaces dotting the landscape everywhere you turn, you’ll get an opportunity to have this medieval city all to yourself. Wake up early, before the buses arrive, and rent a bicycle. Bike along the paths connecting the temples, palaces, and fort, and you’ll be the only one out there. Once evening comes around and the bus tours are gone, wander into the courtyard of the Ram Raja Temple, a major pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Ram. Climb onto a rooftop and observe life below, as there are often festivals and ceremonies taking place by the temple. Given the small size of Orchha (just a couple of streets), accommodations aren’t abundant, but an excellent option is to book a homestay in a local family home through the NGO Friends of Orchha.

Golden Temple (Amritsar)

With its shimmering golden temple and an endless stream of local pilgrims to talk to, each visit will lead to a new and rewarding experience. Be sure to head over to the Langar Hall, the community dining hall where all visitors — Indian and foreigners — are welcome to enter for a simple but tasty free meal, available at almost any time. It typically feeds up to 100,000 people per day. You sit on the floor, they dish out the food, you eat, and you leave, so that another group of several hundred people can do the same shortly after. While there isn’t much time for conversation, you’ll probably end up waving and smiling to a lot of Indians sitting near you, all curious as to why you are there. Once back outside, you’ll then often find yourself shaking hands with those you were eating with and chatting up a storm.

Palolem Beach (Goa)

If you want the Indian beach experience, this is my favorite spot for that. Located in the well-known state of Goa, Palolem is very low-key, offering an affordable mix of beach huts located in a fully walkable and welcoming village setting. The whitish sands are clean and backed by towering palm trees, the bluish water is calm and perfect for swimming, and the sunset is consistently stunning as the sun dips behind jungle-filled Monkey Island at the far end of the beach each evening. The main reason I like this area is that it has a little bit of everything: independent travelers, couples, a party crowd, vacationers, all kinds of food, some simple nightlife, water activities, and plenty of day trip options to waterfalls, secluded beaches, snorkeling locations, canyons, and more — all while keeping its laid-back atmosphere. Here’s where I like to stay when I’m there: A quick guide to Palolem, Goa

Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh)

I call it the “loop,” and if you want a true Himalayan adventure, this route that goes through the Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti Valleys (starting in Shimla and ending in Manali) is one of the most spectacular options. You’ll visit the villages of Kalpa, Nako, Tabo, Dhankar, Kaza, Ki, and Kibber along the way, as well as one of the oldest Tibetan temples. With the breathtaking snow-covered mountains surrounding you at all times, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a hidden world of such extreme beauty that nothing could possibly top the experience. Give yourself 10-14 days to complete the loop — it just might be the most memorable period of your travels.

That’s India. Actually, that’s only a tiny slice of this country, a tiny, tiny glimpse into what awaits those who visit. The possibilities are literally endless.

And since my travels here always involve a long list of educational, rewarding, and eye-opening activities, interactions, and experiences that I could never have imagined or predicted, every time another India trip comes to an end, I already know it won’t be long before I return again.

Wandering Earl has been on the road for close to 15 years, having got the travel bug when he worked on a cruise ship. He’s lived in Romania, traveled Iraq, got detained by customs, and has been to more than 40 countries. He helps people travel on a budget and visit off the beaten path destinations around the world. One of my all time favorite travel blogs, Earl can be found on his website, Wandering Earl, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

P.S. – With offline and online donations, we’ve raised over $15,000 to send a group of inner city kids from D.C. on a school trip to Cuba this August. Thank you! There’s still more ways to go and I really, really need your help. You and I know how amazing travel can be. Let’s bring that gift to people who could never experience it on their own. If you want to be the traveler that gives back, this is your chance to do that. For just $10, we can change someone’s life. If you’ve been inspired by this website or save money with the advice here, please help me in getting these kids to Cuba. Click here to learn more about the school, the program, and how you can donate. Let’s change the world!

Photo Credits: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

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May 19, 2016 at 03:00PM

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How These 5 People Found the Path to Their Dream Trip

Last year I announced a case study program in which I would work with a cross-section of readers and help them plan and organize their trips, walking them through all the stages of travel planning and creating a roadmap to getting them on the road. And, I said in the beginning, I’d share their stories along the way to help inspire your own trip.

It’s been a few months since I last updated their progress, and, with the project winding, down I want to share one final update for each student – and how they accomplished their goals:

Jianne

Jianne is a 27-year-old office worker from Manila striving to take a two-week vacation this year. Living in the Philippines, she has no access to travel hacking resources, a plethora of visa restrictions, and a weak currency.

When we started last year, Jianne was a spender. She liked to shop, eat out, and always had “something that just came up!” She was constantly spending more than she earned, so we needed to get her to only spend on her needs and reinforce the idea that any extra spending delayed her trip. I don’t believe in going into debt for travel so we needed a path toward getting her finances in order.

Since you can’t know what to cut if you don’t know where the money is going, I had Jianne track all her expenses so we could see where the low-hanging fruit was. Jianne had never tracked her expenses before and right away we saw there were a lot of little things she could trim back without changing her lifestyle too much. We cut down her eating out, taxis, shopping, drinking, and had her create a change jar where she would put all her coins and small notes into.

Shifting spending habits is a hard process. Half-way through working together, Jianne stopped tracking her expenses, went out a bit more, and overall, fell off the wagon. She was still spending more than her salary each more.

But perfection is not the goal, and she realized her mistakes.

Working together Jianne never got to go on a trip. We were simply starting too far behind to get her on a trip during the program. However, by the end of our program, Jianne was no longer spending more than she earned and she’s been able to pay off a lot of her debt and start to develop a savings account. She is still far from taking that vacation, but the first step in taking your dream trip is starting down the monetary path toward financial freedom.

I’m super excited and pleased that she did that. No matter what less debt and more careful spending is always something that improves your life.

Here’s what Jianne has to say, in her own words:

Matt and I started tracking expenses and identifying areas where I should cut down my expenses. It was very difficult at first, and there were times I felt disappointed at myself for not being consistent. I was a shopaholic a year ago — it’s not easy to switch it off.

After a while, Matt taught me another approach: to have a daily cap of expenses instead. This was more effective for me. If there’s something I need to spend on, I would compensate by cutting the budget on other days. It was easier if I had a separate wallet for “my money“ for the day. I didn’t feel deprived or disappointed, but more responsible and in control.

With the help of Matt, I learned that there are different ways that may work for each individual effectively. You just have to try as much as you can until you find what works for you. Now, I feel that I have achieved a huge thing and that I’m halfway done on my journey to that special trip.

Diane

Diane, a 59-year-old from Canada, has always dreamed about going to Australia and New Zealand. She and her husband live in the countryside on their fixed income pension. There’s no way for her to increase her income or take lots of advantage of the sharing economy, like Airbnb.

Her income might have been fixed but her expenses weren’t – and, as a Canadian, she has access to rewards cards that could help her get free flights.

Diane has dreamed of traveling for years but never really thought it was within her grasp. Travel was for the rich she though! I set out to prove her wrong. Like Jianne, Diane had to find a way to reduce expenses so she could save most of her limited income. While she and her husband has a small retirement account, we want to avoid tapping into that as much as possible, since that has to last many years to come!

As with Jianne, we started tracking her expenses and we found lots of ways to cut her spending. She switched to a cheaper phone plan, stopped eating out, began planning her meals to avoid buying unneeded food, and stopped making unnecessary purchases from the dollar store (sh was an addict). Diane went from saving $20-50 CAD a month to saving over $500 CAD! She has learned to reframe her spending and think of objects as “things that take. away from my trip.”

Additionally, she got her husband to cut back on smoking – which not only added years to his life but also money to her travel fun.

Since she is on a fixed income, she’s been able to save the same amount of money each month and now has over $6,500 CAD saved toward her trip!

The biggest thing we’ve done is to get her on the travel hacking train. She signed up for the American Express and TD Bank Aeroplan credit cards, met the low minimum spending, and — combined with her old points balance — has a total of 90,000 Aeroplan points as well as 17,00 Air Miles (an account that she can use for flights too). This will cover her entire flight to Australia and give her some extra points for any regional flights she might take. With discipline, the support of her family, and travel hacking, she’s made this long-term dream a reality, all while on a fixed income. It took time but she did it.

Now, she is going to Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands with her sister in August for six weeks. She’s excited to finally visit some friends she hasn’t seen in decades because she never could afford to it before!!!

As Diane says:

I am so excited to be so far along in my planning. I had been wanting to travel to Australia to visit friends for over ten years but never seemed able to overcome many obstacles. Some of them were that I couldn’t seem to save money for this trip, decide when to go, and I didn’t know how to utilize air miles.

Fortunately for me, Matt was able to take me step-by-step through the planning process so I was no longer overwhelmed. He showed me how to get and maximize Aeroplan miles to fully cover the price of airfare, he showed me where I could cut some costs to save up for spending money, and most important to me, he showed me how to feel good when I was no longer wasting money on mindless shopping since I now had goal I wanted to achieve. The money in my separate “travel account” brings a smile to my face at the rate it is increasing.

But one of the most important things I learned from Matt was how to deal with anxiety. I suffer from claustrophobia and anxiety, so just getting on an airplane is stressful to me. But knowing that Matt also had issues but overcame them and keeps traveling makes me realize I too could travel and enjoy it. I am so ready to go!

Sander and Jolien

This couple from Holland has always been in great shape. They never really needed my help on the financial side, though I helped them get better at tracking their expenses (which they like doing), create a separate bank account for their savings, and work up an ideal budget for their trip. Toward the end of the year, they stumbled a bit in their savings but have now canceled a few bills and really see that every euro spent now is one not spent on the road. They even recently moved back in with their parents to reduce their rent. By the time the leave for Rio next month, they will have saved close to 30,000 Euros between the two of them!!!

Since they were financially in the clear (and planned to work along the way anyways), we spent the last of our time together going over their packing list, helping them get the gear they need, and going through our pre-trip checklist to make sure they didn’t forget anything. The packing list they sent to me was over 3 pages long!

After slashing their packing list, I had them put everything in their backpack so they can see how much it weighs in order to find more gear to cut, as well as show them that what we think is necessary is often not. They also did a camping dry run to see what they’ve included but won’t actually use. Most of my work with them was simply getting them used to monitoring their spending (so they keep it up on the road) and helping them with the logistics of getting read to sell it all and travel the world!

Here’s what they say:

We are right on track moneywise. We will start our trip with €5K more than first anticipated, so we are very proud about how everything went. We really cut down our expenses now. We do not go out to dinner or we don’t see a movie in the theater anymore. We even stopped buying clothes.

In December, it was hard to keep a keen eye on our expenses. We kind of failed it due to all the festivities and parties. We spent too much but Matt’s help put us right back on track.

Our biggest challenge in the last two months before we finally start our journey is probably trying to bring along only the bare necessities. Our first packing list was way too long. Together with Matt we discussed what is helpful along the way and what is just extra weight. In the next month we will buy our last goods and we are going to walk a two-day trail to get used to our backpack, shoes, and just the kilometers.

(Sander and Jolien have a blog and you can follow their adventures on the website No Sprinkles!)

The Brandon Family

The Brandons are a middle-American couple from Indiana with two young sons who are set to take off for a year-long trip starting in June. Husband Michael is retired and wife Jennifer is a teacher (as well as the one organizing the trip).

I started working with her in November and, like everyone else, our first task was to track her expenses. Her family was in good shape but it was surprising how much the family was spending on food — not only on groceries but on eating out when they had plenty of food at home! Everyone seemed to be buying food here, there, and everywhere! We got the family on a better food budget, cheap phone plans, and to cut out their expensive cable package for streaming over the internet. Over the last 6 months, they’ve been able to double their savings to close to $25,000 USD!

I had Jennifer and her husband to open a second Chase Sapphire Preferred card and a Barclays in addition to the ones they had. They now have over 60,000 points each for their trip. While they didn’t get to completely cover their flights with points (Jennifer used a lot for a different trip), they’ll still have enough points when they travel to cover smaller costs, like accommodations and train tickets. (This is especially true since Jennifer also got a Capital One Venture Card.)

Though $25,000 is not enough for a family of four for one year, with most of their flights and smaller expenses taken care of in the first few months, they plan to rent out their home, which will provide extra income each month while they move on to cheaper countries in Southeast Asia!

Here’s what Jennifer has to say:

We have been dreaming about and saving for this year-long sabbatical for nearly two years, so it is a bit surreal to actually be taking concrete steps toward making it happen. Just recently I realized that our biggest challenge has been the emotional task involved in breaking away from our normal life and community of family and friends.

Practically speaking, our greatest challenge has been saving as much money as we would like. Matt has been great to hold us accountable and to guide us through his travel hacking tips. It is supremely helpful to be able to talk through logistics with someone who has so much experience. Happily, we are making progress on the things that will bring us to our goal, such as passport updates, global SIM cards for our phones, getting our house rented, and getting started on our packing lists.

Over a year in the making, our case study project is now over. Everyone is on their way and packing for their trip. I’m really happy with how this project turned out and hope you enjoyed following along with these four stories as they progressed. I hope seeing how four very different people could make their trip come true inspires you to realize you can make YOUR dream trip come true too!

The post How These 5 People Found the Path to Their Dream Trip appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

May 16, 2016 at 03:00PM

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Why I Left NYC and Moved to Austin

I’ve been a New Yorker for the last three and half years. At least, as much as one who travels as much as I do can be called a local anywhere.

I loved NYC — the hustle and bustle, the crowds, the variety of food, the cocktail bars, the culture, the theater, the people! I loved everything about it and, as the center of the travel media world, it was a good place to be professionally.

Yet, as my lease expired and my roommates moved to Boston, I knew I didn’t want to get my own place and stay longer. I needed to get out of New York. I needed a change. Running around the world makes it hard to create positive routines and habits in your life. They do not go to together.

Over the last year or so, I’ve really focused on being a better me: better sleep, eating healthier, exercising more, and a bunch of other things I won’t mention here. I realized living in NYC was making it hard for me to do that. Environment plays a big role in how we develop and change, and my environment in NYC just wasn’t good — it was too easy to always go out, attend events, drink, spend money.

And as someone who likes to take the easy way out, I need an environment that gives me that structure and forces me to change.

So when it came to decide to leave or stay, I knew I had to leave — and that Austin was the best choice. I own a hostel here, I have friends and business relations here, and I wanted a place that had more outdoor activities and a more relaxed, less workaholic culture.

Austin has all that.

I don’t believe you can run away from your problems — they follow you anywhere. But when you are looking to change the habits in your life, the environment you put yourself in is very important. You need a place where you can create a lasting foundation.

And people to help you do that. I love all my friends dearly, but my Austin friends are more the “eat healthy, go to bed early, workout” type, and I need that right now. It’s like when you are thinking about traveling — if you surround yourself with naysayers, you’re going to internalize what they say. A supportive and encouraging community is what you need.

And I need someone who is going to shut Netflix off and take me to the gym.

It’s easy to keep on the course you’re going, because it’s the path of least resistance. I could have easily stayed in NYC and tried to do everything I want to do there. I might have succeeded.

But I most likely wouldn’t. I know myself and my friends too well — our idea of a good time is not the gym; it’s the steakhouse and a bar.

I’m not done with New York City. I already miss it. My current plan is to be in Austin for a year and then move back to NYC.

Or maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll stay here — or end up in Paris.

Who knows!

The future is uncertain.

But I do know that I’m looking forward to this new city and new adventure. I have an entire new part of the country to explore and learn about.

And to me, that’s what being a nomad is all about!

Photo Credit: 1

P.S. — Austinites! I’m hosting a backyard BBQ at HK Austin on Saturday, May 14! It starts at 3pm and is a great way to meet other travelers! We’ll provide the hotdogs and burgers — BYOB and a snack or dessert to share! You can RSVP and get all the details here. 

The post Why I Left NYC and Moved to Austin appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

May 12, 2016 at 03:00PM

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