Matt Kepnes, aka, Nomadic Matt, is one of the original bloggers, who I remember fondly from the early days of blogging. He started his travel blog, Nomadic Matt, in 2008 and has since turned it into a website with comprehensive information about all things travel. I’ve followed him around the globe—online, not in person. (Unfortunately!) I was happy to cross paths with him in Paris on his recent visit here and invited him into my kitchen to talk about travel in this day and age on my podcast.

Matt has a great expression. To keep travel costs down, he says: Travel like you live, which I think is a wonderful way of looking at things. (Although I don’t mind staying in a hotel where someone makes the bed, and I’m not big on renting apartments. Who wants to do dishes while on vacation?) But we all have our own ways we like to travel, and it’s nice that Matt keeps things “real,” whether you’re a budget traveler (he still stays at youth hostels) or you’re flying business class. He’s very astute about gaining and using miles to get those coveted spots on the plane.

Matt is one of those people who’s mastered the art of traveling for weeks with just a carry-on, and we talked about many topics in this podcast, including why you should always get travel insurance, whether or not a headlamp is a good idea to pack in your suitcase (who’d have thought of that?), as well as how travel influencers are changing travel, for better or worse. He also shared nearly a dozen of his favorite dining spots in Paris.

Matt has also published several budget travel guides to various destinations such as Thailand, Europe, New York City, and Nomadic Matt’s Guide to Paris…

…as well as his latest book, a brand-new edition of How to Travel the World on $75 a Day. It was great to catch up with Matt here in Paris, and I hope you enjoy our chat.

-David

Where to Find Matt Kepnes

-Get Matt’s Travel Guides and Books

-Follow Matt on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-Visit his website, NomadicMatt.com

-Sign up for Matt’s travel newsletter

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