I’m often asked about my travels. Everyone always has the same two questions- How do I travel so much and what’s my secret?
I’ll share my big secret with you. The reason I get to travel so much is:
DESIRE
That’s it. No secret trust fund. No illegal activity. No pimping myself out for Eliot Spitzer. I just focus on doing it. After my first trip to Costa Rica in 2004, I got bit by the travel bug and have been traveling ever since. I live to travel. I make the time, I budget for it, I revolve my life around it.
Everyone seems to suspect I have some big secret….that I must have found something out to life that they didn’t. Sorry for the let down but there is no secret to travel. Anyone who tells you so is a liar. All you need is the desire and passion to go.
So often I hear from people that traveling is out of their reach, that they don’t have the money or the time. They have just too much responsibility. I don’t believe that. People do what they want. When you truly want something, you go after it. If you truly wanted travel, you would do it. You wouldn’t make excuses. Excuses are a convenient way for people to ignore their own fears. The news media paints the world as dangerous and chaotic, in turmoil and trouble. But the real news is that it’s no more dangerous than places in America.
There is a lot of unknown in long term traveling and a lot people aren’t ready to deal with that. However, even if you’ll never do a year around the world or dedicate your life to vagabonding, that doesn’t mean travel can be out of your reach.
Travel is a wonderful thing. Life is short and I don’t think we were ever meant to spend it in cubicles droning away. Travel can show you all the beauty in the world- from chaotic markets in Asia, to majestic cities in Europe, to dense jungles and exotic wildlife in Central America. Everywhere you go, everyday something new happens. New people, new places, and new experiences.
People like to think that travel costs a lot of money or that you just can’t make it happen. My only hope is that by reading this blog, you realize that you can. I’m not rich but I budget well and find good travel deals. I work hard so I can play hard. A little flexibility, a little price scouting and you can get anywhere on any budget. People are always amazed when they see how cheap it can be and how little effort it really takes.
Once you have the desire and motivation to go, nothing can stop you.
I definitely fell like I’ve been bitten by the travel bug lately, maybe it’s because I’m still not used to the routine that my job has me in — I have more of an urge to get out and about now that I can’t just up and leave. But! the job will hopefully allow me to do more traveling in the future, and now that I have a partner-in-crime, I look forward to it a lot more. Keep the tips coming, and hopefully I’ll be able to use them soon.
Hey Mr. Matt! It’s Rachel Allen (Drama_Angel) here leaving a comment on your new blog!! You are such an inspiration! After I went to California for a week for Spring Break I have wanted to go go go! My next plan is to make it out to New York to see Eqqus when it hits Broadway. Eventually we will get over seas at some point … hopefully soon!
Can’t wait to hear more about cheap ways to travel! Any little bit will help! Going to California was great because I had a friend out there to stay with … I don’t know anyone in New York so it’s going to be a little harder to go cheap
Talk to you soon!!
Hey! Just came across your website and loved this post.
I went to London when I was 16 and knew from that trip forth that I wanted to travel. Since then I’ve backpacked through Europe for 2 months, studied abroad in West Africa for 5 months and lived in Indonesia for 3 months.
Going to Indonesia was the hardest for friends and family to understand. After I graduated from college I wanted to get out of NYC, disappear for a bit, so I chose a country that was far away and one that I knew relatively little about. I had an awesome time volunteering at a birthing clinic, playing music with people from all over the world….but my stay was cut short when I was in a motorcycle accident and had to fly back to the US for medical treatment.
I’m fine now, all recovered…and I’m saving up to travel again next year. I just made a down payment on a trip to Antarctica then plan to spend as many months as possible in South America. People question my living situation and my plans all the time as I live in a shoe box and work 3 jobs…but I love it! I wouldn’t have it any other way as I can’t see spending money on an apartment when I could use it to travel. My family’s support of my vagabonding dreams is waining and I get the “Why don’t you go to law school already?” speech all the time…
Ah, you know the deal. That was rather long but I really just wanted to say thanks for the post and I wish you the best (and the worst because that often turns out to be the best)in your travels!
Jackie
This is an encouraging post for those who desire to travel but do not do so.
These days when I do not find anyone to accompany me on my travels, I do my travelling alone. Solo travels are as much fun!
great posting!! there’s a quote from the documentary “a map for saturday” where a backpacker captures this idea too. she states that she’s not lucky that she’s able to travel but has made a conscious effort to do it. And it couldn’t be more true what she and you are saying! It’s about finding a way and making it happen. You can tell people’s passion by where they put their time, energy and money…if the passion is travel, anyone can make it happen!
thanks for sharing!
Hey Matt, it’s amazing but i feel the same way that you do about travelling!!! I am another one that has been bitten by the travel bug as well, and it was last year in Fernando de Noronha island, in Brasil, my home country. By the way, you all should pay a visit to this wonderfull island, specially the ones who loves to dive, like me! I will be posting an article about the island soon on my blog.
Anyway, my go is to live to travel, just like you do, and i think your blog is going to be really helpfull !!! I am just begginig to follow it but through this post i can see i am going to like it.
Congratulations and keep on the road!
Ok Matt,
Help a sistah out…. she needs traveling 101private lessons
I spend most of my time in the Philippines so I guess I get to travel every day – it’s a beautiful place and the people are nothing short of amazing! I agree whole heartedly Matt – you’ve just got to do it
By the way, anyone interested in heading off to Madagascar should join us on twitter.com/acaciaafrica as we’ll be holding a tweet up on the destination this Friday 21 August between 10am and noon (bst). If you’re looking to get those itchy feet in motion – drop by and ask away…
Matt, you are amazing! What a great site. I was born with the travel bug and traveled around the globe, solo, for years. Then I had kids -Yikes! I still have the travel bug, but I now have to do things a little different. I have to plan things out more (I’m kind of like a tour guide now I guess). And I have to fork up funds for the 5 of us now (ouch). But you are completely right, don’t let those things keep you from traveling. Just get out and go. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for the encouraging comment!
Hi Matt – You don’t really say how you pay for travel though. Do you work from place to place? Odd jobs? How do you budget for your trips? I too am tired of living the cubicle life and would love to see the world.
Mika
Nowadays, this blog pays for all my travel.
Forgive me if the answer to this question is obvious, but you keep alluding to your income coming from this blog. Are you referring just to the advertising? Or, is there some other way you are bringing in the funds that allow you to live the way you do? Also, could you address those of us who, though we are single and young and healthy, etc, etc, owed tens of thousands in student loans? Thanks. Awesome site, by the way.
not sure on ur nationality mate but i owe $30k AUD, I’m irish and went to uni in england and i dealth with my loans like all true vagabonds
that is, i left the country on graduation never to return! a full proof plan… sort of :S
Advertising and ebook sales fund my whole life.