When I first began backpacking almost three years ago, I very often explained my love of traveling and seeing the world by the following phrase: “I love experiencing the unknown.” I often find it’s the unknown – or certainly the unplanned – events in my travels that stand out the most. It’s these experiences and [...]

Many long term backpackers and budget travelers choose to document their journeys around the world through travel blogs. It’s an excellent decision for many reasons; you learn from fellow travel bloggers, meet others who are share your passions, and occasionally are offered free travel. One logical step for many who write travel blogs is monetization. [...]

It’s hard to believe that 2010 is coming to a close – yet what a year it’s been for travel. In 2010, I inadvertently circled the globe. While not your typical RTW trip, my year was a fantastic mix of backpacking, working, and of course blogging. I met like-minded 20-somethings, experienced new things, was challenged, [...]

Two weeks ago in my December Update, I announced the first contest ever run on Backpackingmatt.com. I teamed up with HotelClub.com and would be giving away a $200 hotel voucher as well as $50 of cold, hard cash. All that was required to enter was a comment on the post as well as a Tweet [...]

Planning a big RTW (Round The World) trip? Considering dabbling in long term travel? Spending a couple months backpacking around Thailand? Congratulations on making the decision to escape your comfort zone and travel the world. Chances are you have heaps of things on your mind: What kind of backpack to choose? How to get the [...]

Today’s Friday Travel Photo helps you escape the cold of winter and takes you to sunny Praia de Belixe, Portugal. It was submitted by Stephen Burgo of the GoMad Nomad Travel Mag. January is the ideal time for a backpacker to visit Southern Portugal; the temperatures aren’t quite as extreme, the tourists are few and far between, [...]

One of my Seven Tips for Maintaining Your Travel Blog on the Road is traveling with the assistance of an iPhone. There are heaps of benefits to this, but first and foremost it helps you keep on top of your emails and in touch with your Twitter followers; along with Google Maps and traveler friendly [...]

I have just lived a month of my life that I’ll remember forever. My experience backpacking in Thailand was absolutely fantastic – though drastically different than I expected. I left beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand, hoping to ‘get away from it all;’ I wanted a place to clear my head, focus on Backpackingmatt.com, and determine what [...]

Thailand & Backpacking. The two go together like Sang Som & Coke. Is backpacking in Thailand easy? For the most part. Should you expect challenges? Definitely. If you want order, normality, and don’t want to be placed outside of your comfort zone, you probably shouldn’t visit Thailand. Expect language barriers. Expect that someone will try [...]

During my recent trip backpacking in Bali, I spent much of my time exploring the island from behind the wheels of my very own rented motorbike. It was an excellent, albeit slightly terrifying way to see the island. From Kuta’s traffic-clogged streets to central Bali’s deserted, steep, and potholed filled tracks through the dense jungle, [...]