Life in immigration

Updated: 10/10/19 | October 10th, 2019 NOTE: Capital One’s Venture Card has improved a lot since this post was originally published in 2015. You can read about it here. Capital One’s Venture Card — that “no hassles” credit card advertised on TV — will save you big on the road, right? Many people — even me — recommend this card but it is actually the WORST travel rewards credit card you can use. I get a lot of emails asking about this card, and I recently chastised two friends for using it as their primary credit card for gaining points and miles. Wait, you just said you recommend it. How can it be that be bad, then? Capital One gets a few things right: the simple rewards structure of their no-fee Venture Card is perfect for people who don’t spend much money or who don’t want to worry about points. They are selling simplicity and they do it well. I think if you’re a low-spending, low-traveling person, this card could be worth your time (see comments below where I tell people not to...

Posted: 12/10/17 | October 12th, 2017 We have such a large community and I love sharing everyone’s story. I think highlighting a variety of perspectives and experiences helps inspire so many of us! This month we’re featuring Donella and her husband. After her husband had a health scare a few years ago, they decided to stop waiting, finally sell their stuff, and head on the road. As more and more adults consider a “nomadic” retirement (especially here in the U.S. where it wasn’t always so common), I wanted to interview them and have them share their advice. Nomadic Matt: Hi Donella! Thanks for doing this. Tell everyone about yourself! Donella: We have been raising children and grandkids for the past 30 years in South Florida. Now at 58 years of age, and with my husband retiring at 65, we decided to sell our home and take off to see the world. I was a divorced single mother of two when I first met my husband, who was working in the construction of the hospita...

Posted: 1/16/2018 | January 16th, 2018 Last month, my mom told me she thought this blog was boring. “Where’s all the fun stuff? I want to see more photos of you traveling. I don’t care about these other updates.” “Mom, I live in Austin now. You know I’m not on the road that much,” I replied. “I know but still….I want to see more stuff. It’s just much more interesting, honey.” “Ok, Mom,” I say and move the conversation on. But you know what? She’s right (shhhhh, don’t tell her I said that). This website has gotten a little boring. There aren’t many new adventures, photos of exotic destinations, and exciting stories from the road being posted, because, well, I’m pretty non-nomadic these days. I spent more time in the US last year than I did abroad. I feel this way every few years, though. “It’s OK,” I think to myself, “I’ll be on the road again, and there will be new content, stories, and tips for my website.” But lately, as I’ve come to terms with my move from nomadic to more stati...

Posted: 11/9/2020 | November 9th, 2020 These days, due to COVID-19, the subject of travel elicits very strong reactions from people — and rightly so. Whenever I post travel tips on social media and forget to include the words “at a later date” or “when it’s safe,” a chorus of commenters tell me it’s irresponsible to promote travel during a pandemic, that everyone just needs to stay home, and I should be ashamed of myself (yes, some people really say that). Many people were being “travel shamed” for traveling over the summer – even if that trip was somewhere remote. But, as I wrote in my article on flight shaming, shaming doesn’t solve anything. It doesn’t make someone change their behavior; it only makes them dig in deeper, since shaming comes off as an attack on their character. And no one wants to think they’re the bad guy. And what about those who rely on tourism to live? How do you tell 10% of the world, “I’m sorry, you have to go hungry and become homeless. We can only travel agai...

Updated: 07/8/20 | July 8th, 2020 Back in 2011, I wrote this post featuring some personal facts about my life. It was a window into non-travel me. Well, that was a loooooong time ago. Life changes. People change. Since a lot has happened in the last nine years (professionally and personally), I wanted to update this website so you can learn a little more about me and my interests. There’s more than just a writer and travel fanatic here. So, to kick off the second half of the year, here’s a little bit about me: 1. I hate flying. I love airports, lounges, and elite status, but the act of flying makes me sick. I don’t like heights and any turbulence makes me think the plane is about to crash. I’m not a good flier. (Ironic considering how often I fly!) 2. When I was younger, I was obsessed with Pinky and the Brain. I even had a T-shirt collection. I also had one of those bowl haircuts, but I prefer to forget about that fact. 3. I never traveled independently until I went t...

Posted: 7/21/16 | July 21st, 2016 In this guest post, Adam from Travels of Adam shares his thoughts on the challenges of being a gay solo backpacker — and how to overcome them so you can stay safe and have fun during your travels! Backpacking is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that opens you up to the world and allows you to experience new things no matter who or where you are. It can be challenging for every type of traveler, but for LGBT travelers, there are a handful of added, unique challenges. I share not this as a way to scare off gay travelers from backpacking — because it’s truly a rewarding experience — but as a helpful guide for how to best enjoy (gay) backpacking in a safe and fun way. Here are 6 challeges gay travelers face as well as how to overcome them so you can enjoy your time abroad.   1. Knowing where to go First off, there’s the challenge of choosing where to travel. Sure, if you only travel to the most conspicuous gay-friendly destinations, you migh...

Posted: 01/21/19 | January 21st, 2019 I’ve wanted to own a hostel since I first started traveling. During my month on Ko Lipe in 2006, I spent my lazy days on the beach dreaming of opening one in New Zealand with some friends. It was going to be eco-friendly and called “The Greenhouse.” A few years ago, I actually ended up owning a hostel in Austin. During that time, a lot of new hostels were opening in the city. Competition for guests heated up. Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country after all. As my friend and I were thinking of ways to draw in guests, we stumbled onto the Hostelworld Elevate program. (OK, he did. Then texted me all about it!) What does this program do? It gouges hostels owners — and lines Hostelworld’s pockets. As a consumer, I’m well aware that booking websites charge a commission for properties to be listed in their results. That’s how they make money. And also that “featured” properties pay more for special placement on top of regular results....

Last Updated: 06/24/19 | Originally Posted: 08/29/2011 As a native English speaker, I hit the traveling jackpot. Wherever I go in the world, English is the lingua franca, and if anything’s ever in a second language, it’s always English. In hostels, people usually converse with each other in English, which means I can always find a conversation to join. I’m never limited by language. While there have been times where I’ve had to get creative with nonverbal communication, for the most part, communication is much easier for me as an English speaker than it is for my friends from Germany or Portugal. At least, until I went and visited Ukraine this month. Out of all the countries I’ve been to, Ukraine ranks number one on the list of places where no one seems to speak English. It may sound like hyperbole to say that. Surely some people must speak some English, right? A few do. Those who interact with tourists or work in international restaurants can understand a few words. B...

Posted: 02/02/15 | February 2nd, 2015 There’s nothing more inspirational than a well-written travel book. It can fill you with awe, wonder, and wanderlust. Books make those 10-hour bus rides through Laos more bearable. They get us excited for new destinations and can change our world view. I’ve always been a voracious reader, but I go through fits and starts. I’ll read a book or two a week and then won’t pick up another for months. This year I want to be more consistent. My goal this year is to read one book a week (if not more). As we make our way through the new year (where did January go?), I wanted to share some of my favorite recent reads. These books will inspire, teach, and maybe change your habits. So without further ado, the books:   Marching Powder, by Rusty Young & Thomas McFadden This book tells the true story of Thomas McFadden and his time in Bolivia’s San Pedro prison. McFadden was an English drug trafficker who ended up in jail after an official he ...

Updated: 04/09/19 | April 9th, 2019 This is a guest post by Laura, our former resident expert on female travel. Contrary to what you may have heard, solo travel doesn’t have to be scary; in fact, you might end up loving it. Now, that doesn’t mean solo travel is always easy. It tests my courage, as well as my patience and willingness to adapt to situations outside of my comfort zone. But despite the challenges, because of solo travel, I’ve met people and had adventures I don’t think would have had otherwise. Traveling alone has taught me many things and opened up many great doors. Some of my favorite memories are below: “Come Stay with Me” While laying by a pool in Aqaba, Jordan, I was approached by two women who were teaching in Amman. One of them had seen me running that morning and informed me that she was also running in the Dead Sea races. She graciously invited me to stay with her in Amman. Although we had less than a five-minute conversation, I contac...

Updated: 1/7/21 | January 7th, 2021 With Australia being over seven million square kilometers, it takes a long time to get around the country. Considering the distances, it’s no wonder few people end up traveling the whole country — there’s just too much ground to cover on a short trip. Most people fly around the country or stick to a small area to explore. These large distances lead to high transportation costs that can make it hard to travel around Australia cheaply, especially if you have a limited amount of time. It takes a good 14 Days to drive the 15,823km circumference of Australia on main Highway 1 (the road that rings the continent/country). That would be with minimal stops and breaks. However, if you want to see things along the way, you should plan at least a month (at the quickest). More realistically is 3 to 6 months. Many “grey nomads” (i.e. retirees in campervans) and backpackers do. To drive straight across the middle from Sydney to Perth, it takes abou...