Working in the travel industry, it’s not uncommon to encounter people who have racked up some serious frequent flier points (heck, I’m one of them). But the truth is, no matter how much time you spend on the road, you probably still won’t come close to catching up with Matt Kepnes. Nomadic Matt, as his blog title infers, is a full-time global explorer who’s made a career out of something most of us dream about. I’ve taken his online-advice on everything from
buying travel insurance and
finding cheap plane tickets, but still was left wondering about a few things NOT on the blog. The inside scoop from Matt:
Q: You travel a LOT. How do you stay disciplined enough to write about all of your experiences? A: I don't. I go through fits and starts. Sometimes I write a lot, sometimes I go weeks without writing. I try to do as much writing on planes as possible since it's the one time I can sit around without Facebook or the internet distracting me. I also try to get out of my comfort zone and go to a cafe to write. It does help me focus.
Q: You also meet a massive amount of new people. Like, every week, all over the world. How good are you at keeping everyone straight, and staying in touch? Any tips? A:
Facebook is the best companion for staying in touch with people. It allows me to stay in touch with people I haven't seen or heard from in years as well as figure out where all my friends are. When it randomly pops up that they are near me, it's great because it gives a chance for us to reconnect. After all, I might not be heading to Australia anytime soon to see my Sydney friends!
Q: How do you strike a balance between established destinations (Venice) and emerging ones (Myanmar Cuba)? A: I go where I want. I don't really have a set way to travel. I'm a firm believer that there is
no such thing as must see and you should
travel for yourself. I simply pick the destinations I want to experience and then I'm off! If some of them are emerging, some of them are emerging. If they are established, they are established.
Q: What’s your biggest travel prediction for 2012? A: Technology will play an ever increasing role in how people plan and book their travels. They will use more travel apps for booking as well as use travel apps as mini-guides while they are on the road. As more apps become useable without wifi, people will begin to use them more.
Q: Not that you would ever do this, but if you had a friend who had to travel with a hangover, what advice would you give? A: Drink water, drink orange juice, and tough it out.
