Interview Nomad Matt

When it comes to long-term travelers and seasoned bloggers on the subject, our friend Matt Kipnis of The Bedouin died She is an undisputed authority. He’s a travel media expert, and we’re honored that he invited us to speak at his conferences, present webinars for the Nomadic Network community, and write articles for his website. We share a belief in the transformative power of slow travel and that this life-changing experience is not just for the wealthy. In fact, traveling affordably is an in-house strategy that not only saves money, but often leads to more local and immersive experiences…and that, my friends, is where the magic happens! (More on this in the Nomadic Matt interview below!)

To learn how to have a lifetime of epic travel experiences without spending a lot of money, Matt’s latest book, How to Travel the World on $75 a DayA must read. Second edition of this New York Times The bestselling book does an excellent job of addressing the tremendous changes that have occurred in the travel industry in recent years and offers an inspiring way forward. Filled with relevant, highly specific advice, this book is divided into three sections: Trip Planning, On-the-Road Expenses, and Traveling the World by Region. As we read through it, we were nodding in complete agreement and equally impressed by the clever advice and new resources that had surfaced.

Bedouin interview Matt

There is a lot to learn from this book and the author himself! That’s why we’re excited to share our Q&A with Matt Kipnis, what led him to a life of travel, his inspiration for How to Travel the World on $75 a DayHere’s what you can learn from this essential travel guide.

Before we get started on your new book, tell us a little about yourself…

On a trip to Thailand in 2005, some backpackers inspired me to quit my job and travel for one year. I left in 2006, but instead of being gone for a year, I ended up being gone for 18 months. When I came back in 2008, I started my blog, nomadicmatt.comAs a way to get freelance writing jobs so I can keep traveling. Partly because there weren’t a lot of people blogging about how to travel long term on a budget and there was a need for this hard to find information, the website took off, and one day I woke up and realized I had a career! I’ve been doing this now for 17 years.

What prompted you to update and create your old book How to Travel the World on $75 a Day?

The last edition was published in 2017, and since then, a lot has changed in the world due to the Coronavirus. The pandemic has changed the travel industry forever. Many businesses closed, old methods of saving money became obsolete, new methods emerged, new companies were created, destinations changed, and of course prices went up a lot.

Since travel has changed so much, I wanted my book to reflect the current circumstances people face when it comes to planning a trip, saving money, and navigating areas around the world. How to be a smart traveler on a budget is very different than it was in 2017, so I wanted to make sure everyone has up-to-date information on how to be a smart traveler!

What are some exciting updates for the new version?

in How to Travel the World on $75 a DayYou will find a lot of new information. I ended up rewriting about 80% of this book because so much of the travel had changed. I thought it was going to be a simple update, but it turned out to be a major rewrite! Some major changes:

• A new section for collecting and redeeming points and miles
• A fully updated resource section full of businesses and places to stay I love
• More information about overtourism and how to be a responsible traveler
• Completely revised, updated and expanded destination sections including new fares, ways to save, and tips on where to eat, stay, transportation and activities
• New tips and tricks on how to save money before you go
• New ways to afford accommodation, including ways to get free stays
• New ways to save transportation costs, with new information about transit cards

I bet a lot of people are stuck on the $75 number...

They are, and they are both at the extreme ends of the spectrum! There are people who think that this number is too much because they are a “real traveler” and can do it for less (there are always people who want to prove that they are better travelers than everyone else) or people who think that the number does not seem enough because they have been told that travel is expensive.

In reality, your mileage on a round-the-world trip will vary. Some people will do it for more, others will do it for less. Destinations also vary, so it depends a lot on where you go. But the number is based on my experience traveling around the world several times, doing the standard “budget/backpacker” route.

What about people who aren’t looking to take a trip around the world? How can this book be useful to them?

Don’t get caught up in the title. No matter whether you’re planning a long-term trip or going on a week-long vacation, we all fly on the same planes, so we have to know how to find a cheap flight…how to save money on attractions in New Zealand…how to find local food in Paris…the same situations and strategies apply to all of us. The only difference is that a shorter flight can’t spread out costs as well as a longer flight, so you may not be able to get it for less than $75 per day.

This book is about helping people find deals and showing readers the strategies and tactics they need to travel like a pro and save money, no matter how long they’ll be abroad.

What are your top three tips for travelers? (Without revealing all the secrets in the book!)

Three things people can do to achieve the greatest gains with the least amount of effort are:

1. Be flexible with your travel dates. A day’s difference can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars. Go where flights are cheaper. Check out the “Explore” option on Google Flights to see where the cheapest flights are and start there.

2. Travel as you live. You don’t eat out or spend a lot of money every day at home, so why do it on the road? Head to local markets, take public transportation, stop at a bookstore, do some Airbnb experiences, and cook your own food. Don’t go to all the big name attractions or touristy restaurants.

3. Collect points and miles. Credit card points can go a long way to lowering the cost of travel. If you can pay your bill each month, there’s no reason not to have a credit card that earns points. I cover this in detail in the book and on my website.

Since so much information is freely available on the Internet, why is it worth getting this book?

If anything, the fact that there is a wealth of information available online makes this book even more important. How do you know what information is correct? What’s been updated recently? Where do you start your research or start the process? With this book, you know that everything has been verified by a team of people, is up to date, and contains everything you need to get started. There’s no need to endlessly search blogs, TikTok, Instagram and open a million browser tabs. All you need is just one book, and you’re good to go!

What travel plans do you have this year?

Good, I’m about to start a three-week book tour (hope you can join me)! I’ve also taken business trips to Oaxaca, summers in Scandinavia, then Oman, China, and the Caribbean! This year, I want to take shorter trips so I can keep some of my roots at home, while still exploring the world!

Thanks for the interview, Nomadic Matt! Make sure you pick up a copy How to Travel the World on $75 a Day And leave a comment. It means the world to us authors!