ivan,
Greetings from NYC! It's been a hectic week as I get ready for a month of travel so this newsletter will be a little short.
I've started boxing up my life here in NYC and purging my possessions as I prepare to move to Paris. I don't have to be out of my apartment until November but I'll be gone most of October so there's no time to waste! Next week, I head back to Paris before heading to China, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Since I'll have a bit of time between leaving NYC and moving to Paris, I'm going back to being a nomad for a little bit. I have (very tentative) plans to explore Mexico, visit some Christmas markets in Europe, and spend New Year's and most of January in Southeast Asia.
My therapist asked me how I felt going nomadic again, given that for the past couple of years, I've worked hard to put down roots in one place. And, honestly, I'm stoked. I haven't done the nomadic thing in a long, long time. While backpacking looks different at 44 than it does at 24, I'm excited to dip into my old life a little bit.
I think that we all need "mini-long term trips." Periods of extended travel where we realign ourselves. I think we would all be better people if we did. Travel resets the soul and connects you to the larger world in so, so, so many ways. Sure, I'm biased because I just love travel but, as I've said a few months back, travel makes you appreciate home and what you have so much more. No one comes back from a long-term trip worse off and I think these trips can really (re)inspire you.
So I'm excited to get back out there, discover new people and places, and head into Paris newly inspired!
*NEW* UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinars are back!!! I'll be doing a lot of them over the next few months! Here's the current four I have scheduled (with more to come):
Points & Miles 101 (October 2nd) - Looking to get into the points and miles game but not sure where to start? In this webinar, I'll be going over everything you need to know to get started collecting and redeeming points for free travel.
Demystifying Travel Insurance (October 21st) - Travel insurance is a must for any trip but finding the right policy for your trip can be confusing. In this webinar, I'll be discussing how to pick the right plan with Medjet, one of the best providers out there.
Let Me Help You Plan Your Trip (October 29th) - I'm doing something a little different with this one. While I'll give a short overview of money-saving travel tips, this webinar is me putting my travel planner hat on and helping you plan your trip! Come with as many questions as you want and get 1-on-1 help!
Japan Travel (November 4th) - Japan remains one of the most desired destinations to visit and, in this webinar, I will be going over everything you need to know to plan a trip there from rail passes to money-saving tips to suggest itineraries to my favorite spots and everything in between!
All webinars are recorded. If you miss the live session, you'll be sent a recording to watch the next day.
RECENTLY UPDATED RESOURCES
Despite it being such a hectic week, I managed to update some guides recently:
NEWS & STORIES FROM AROUND THE WEB
1. Rakuten is offering $50 - Rakuten is one of my favorite cashback services as it can get you up to 15% off online purchases. Right now, you can get $50 when you spend $50. If you don't use the service yet, consider signing up! This offer ends on 9/30.
(Sorry, I don't have more stories and such to share this week! I promise to have more next week.)
BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Lost City of Z by David Grann - I think David Grann is one of the best modern authors out there and this is my absolute favorite book by him. This book seeks to find out what happened to Percy Fawcett, an adventurer and explorer who trekked through the Amazon jungle in search of the fabled lost City of Z. Blending history, biography, and travelogue, Grann intermingles information about Percy’s life and expeditions with the science behind the myth of Z and the possibility that there could have been vast advanced civilizations in the Amazon that we have yet to discover. I learned a lot about the region and history of the cultures that inhabited the land long before Westerners arrived. Buy on Amazon | Buy from Bookshop
For past book suggestions, check out all my recommendations here.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home." - Trenton Lee Stewart
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As always, if you have any questions, send me an email. I'll be happy to help as best I can!
Sincerely,
Nomadic Matt
