Nomadic Matt on “How to Travel the World on $75 a Day,” Budget Travel, and Finding Your Balance While Traveling

Zero To Travel Podcast

What if you could travel the world without breaking the bank? What does it mean to be a traveler after nearly two decades on the road?

Travel-blogging legend and best-selling author Matt Kepnes has been traveling the world on a near-continual basis since 2006. In 2008, he launched his site NomadicMatt.com to catalog his travel experiences and share his insights. Over the years, the site evolved into a valuable trip-planning tool for budding and savvy travelers alike. His writing has been featured by New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Time, BBC, Huffington Post, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, Forbes, The Daily Beast, NPR, Associated Press, FOX, Sydney Morning Herald, The Independent, Daily Mail, Irish Times, and National Geographic.

With the latest edition of his book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, we discuss whether budget travel is still as accessible as it once was and how Matt’s approach to travel, blogging, and business has evolved over time.

You’ll hear some of his favorite money-saving tips for things like accommodation and activities, but also a deeper conversation about how budget travel has changed, how to keep the magic alive after years on the road, and what it really means to build a life around exploration. We also get into the impact of social media on travel, why Matt is embracing shorter trips, and how he balances content creation with being present in the experience.

Do you consider yourself a budget traveler? How has traveling evolved for you over the years? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

• Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

• Matt’s experience in Peru and what made him fall in love with the country
• His mindset around keeping travel exciting after years on the road
• Matt’s decision-making process for business and why he’s no longer chasing an empire
• Advice for putting yourself out there as a new creator or business owner
• Why we should put down our phones and unplug when traveling
• What it’s been like transitioning from a nomadic lifestyle to “settling down”
• Why taking shorter trips can be just as fulfilling as long-term travel as a nomad
• Why hostels can be a great option for any traveler, no matter their age
• Three destinations he would revisit in a heartbeat (besides Paris and Japan!)
• And so much more

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Visit Nomadic Matt
• Grab his book How to Travel the World on $75 a Day

Want More?

• Ten Years A Nomad With “Nomadic” Matt Kepnes
• How to Grow Your Location Independent Solopreneur Business in 2025 + Advice from 8 Years of Slow, Nomadic Travel with Jeremy Enns
• Evolution of a Travel “Influencer” + How to Travel to Antarctica (From Affordable to Expensive) with Alyssa Ramos

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• Defender - Explore the full lineup at landroverusa.com.
• Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order.
• Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com