96: Roatan, Honduras Live Podcast from the Island

January 12, 2021

Watch the episode filmed in Roatan, Honduras - https://youtu.be/jzJ8mCMQ7ks

Roatan is a Caribbean island off the northern coast of Honduras as part of the Bay Islands. It is home to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest reef system in the world which makes for great scuba, snorkeling, boat trips, and calm sandy beaches.

Our trip was full of adventure as we made sure to take advantage of everything that was offered. The amazing people of Roatan make sure you feel welcome and loved. With their great hospitality and eagerness to show you all aspects of the island, it is easy to fall in love with the island life.

Getting to Roatan from Northern America is a breeze with easy connecting flights, simple to book Airbnbs, and use of the US dollar. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and ATMs are easy to find.

Enjoy the many towns of Roatan that make it unique: Sandy Bay, West End, West Bay, French Harbour, Coxen Hole, Dixon's Cove, Flower's Bay, The East End.

Pack light, enjoy the sun, go deep-sea fishing, and party on a yacht!

Roatan has it all.

 

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Find Airbnb Stays in Roatan:

https://bit.ly/3buhhxK

Outstanding Local Guide and Driver:

Channin Bodden + wife Kimberly

http://www.channinboddentours.com/

Whatsapp: +50498845340

Deep-Sea Fishing:

Lonny Miller + his son Anthony

www.roatanfishinganglers.com

https://www.facebook.com/roatanfishinganglers/

Scuba Diving:

Ernesto - Banana Hut Burgers Dive Shop

https://www.banananutburgers.com/home

Epic Yacht Party:

Rob and Natasha - Amavi Charters

https://www.amavicharters.com/ 

Best Bar and Sportsbar in West End:

Sundowners Beach Bar

95: Live from Miami Beach, Florida

December 23, 2020

We just had a great week in Miami Beach, Florida soaking up the sun, going out to restaurants and bars, and enjoying the freedoms of travel. We felt like everything was extremely safe and people were taking the right precautions. I had the chance to connect with my buddy Chris Gayle, met heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, and connected with an old friend of Nikki. The cars and yachts are out of control on South Beach and it was so much fun to them check out. I also got a great haircut in Little Havana. Listen in to this podcast to hear all of the highlights of what it is like to vacation in Miami during these odd times.

Main Topic Covered:

Traveling in Florida

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Book List for 2021 - https://passportjoy.com/2021books

The complete list of solutions and partners from Passport Joy. https://passportjoy.com/partners/

COINBASE link to get $10 free in bitcoin - https://www.coinbase.com/join/javit_l

BLOCK FI is a strong company that allows you to make interest on your bitcoin, then take out an interest-only loan without touching your crypto while you travel. https://blockfi.mxuy67.net/c/1209671/907782/10568

World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

The Best Time to Book Travel

November 25, 2020

Is this the best time ever to book your travel? Based on my experience, I will tell you why now is the time to make the most of these amazing deals and prices. Also, why and how you should negotiate your pricing for your accommodations. I will share some amazing people that are still traveling the world full-time. Plus, the 2021 book recommendations from several high achieving bookworms.  

Main Topic Covered:

Why Now is the Time to Discover the Best Deals on Travel Ever

 Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Book List for 2021 - https://passportjoy.com/2021books

The complete list of solutions and partners from Passport Joy. https://passportjoy.com/partners/

COINBASE link to get $10 free in bitcoin - https://www.coinbase.com/join/javit_l

BLOCK FI is a strong company that allows you to make interest on your bitcoin, then take out an interest-only loan without touching your crypto while you travel. https://blockfi.mxuy67.net/c/1209671/907782/10568

Isa and David - https://www.instagram.com/hoponthemap/ 

Jen and Shane - https://www.instagram.com/shanifer_july28_2017/

World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

93: Finance Set Up Now for World Travel Later

October 15, 2020

This podcast is all about how to get your finances lined up before taking that big trip around the world. We used this system to travel stress-free for 27 months to 35 countries. Safe, secure, efficient. Multiple checking accounts, credit cards, bitcoin storage, account freezing, and more.

 Links Mentioned in the Episode:

The complete list of solutions and partners from Passport Joy. https://passportjoy.com/partners/

We set up our Living Trust through Legal Zoom. https://www.legalzoom.com/personal/estate-planning/living-trust-overview.html

Charles SCHWAB gives unlimited ATM fee rebates and they are now partnered with TD AMERITRADE. Plus they have amazing customer service.

https://www.schwab.com/

Find a local bank and build a relationship.

Set up the internal and external transfers BEFORE you leave on your trip. Test run this stuff!

BLOCK FI is a strong company that allows you to make interest on your bitcoin, then take out an interest-only loan without touching your crypto while you travel. https://blockfi.mxuy67.net/c/1209671/907782/10568

Citi Prestige is a great card that gives you access to outstanding travel points. https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/credit-card-details/citi.action?ID=citi-prestige-card

Chase Shappire is another excellent card for travel benefits - https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/reserve

If you are looking to do US-based travel only, I would suggest the Southwest Chase card. https://creditcards.chase.com/southwest/home

Priority Pass is a must if you are traveling in and out of airports around the country or world. https://www.prioritypass.com/

Freeze your credit once you have what you want to set up; Transunion, Experian, Equifax

Cash App is great for sharing money back home or with other travelers - Try it using my code and you’ll get $5. TBZRJKD - https://cash.app/app/TBZRJKD

Use Express VPN when accessing the internet from cafes, Airbnbs, or hotels when traveling. http://bit.ly/MattExpress

Listen how to take advantage of WorkAway or TrustedHousesitters in Podcast 25: Free Travel with Pet and House Sits https://passportjoy.com/petsit-podcast/

 

World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

92: Where You Can Travel Now (+ What I Would Do)

September 14, 2020

With the travel restrictions continuing, many are wondering where they can go now. As this is an everchanging list, I am creating my WHAT I WOULD DO NOW list (dreamingly) based on what is currently open to Americans as our visas and money are not currently wanted around the world. There are plenty of amazing places to visit, and a few very unique opportunities, if you are comfortable flying to these unforgettable spots. Listen to this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk to discover an idea of where you should go during the Fall of this wacky 2020.

Main Topics Covered:

Where You Can Travel Now

What We Would Do

Unique Travel Opportunities

Ideas for Long-Term Travelers

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

We loved our time in Dhermi, Albania (Incredible Beaches) and would love to go back - https://passportjoy.com/dhermi-albania/

Croatia Island Travel (Yacht Week & 2 More Weeks Exploring) - https://passportjoy.com/croatia-island-travel/

Jamaica is open. I had a blast hanging out with Cricket Star Chris Gayle in Kingston, Jamaica - https://passportjoy.com/chris-gayle/

You can visit Guayaquil, Ecuador now too - https://passportjoy.com/guayaquil/

And while you are there you need to see if you can go to the Galapagos Islands (One of Earth’s Most Unique Locations) - https://passportjoy.com/podcast-galapagos-islands/

If you don't mind the 14 days in isolation, you could do an Ireland Road Trip - https://passportjoy.com/ireland-road-trip/

World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

Die with Zero (Spend that Travel Money Now)

August 17, 2020

This week’s podcast is a review of the best selling book, Die with Zero by Bill Perkins. Yes, it aligns with everything I believe in maximizing life experiences over buying needless things, but it is a new take on how to live your best life. Bill dives into many different points of view behind making the most of your time buckets, leveraging your health, and understanding how much you really need to save before you can retire comfortably. I touch on what moved me the most in this book that will change the way you look at your retirement and what you need to do now! 

Main Topics Covered:

Die with Zero Book Review

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Get the book Die with Zero by Bill Perkins - https://amzn.to/2PXYUFp

2 apps he offers - Spend Curve App and Time Buckets Toolkit App - https://www.diewithzerobook.com/apps

The family that is about to begin their tour - https://thatnomadfamily.com/

World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

90: Dave Chappelle Live in a Cornfield in Ohio

July 28, 2020

Title: Dave Chappelle Live in a Cornfield in Ohio

Having the chance to watch Dave Chappelle live in Ohio was a no brainer. It is a unique event to see someone at the top of their game in such an intimate setting. Our event included Matthew Broussard, Michelle Wolf, Violinist Minyoung Baik, Mo Amer, Donnell Rawlings, and Talib Kweli. Tons of laughs and plenty of entertainment.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Dave Chappelle’s 8:46 is thought-provoking and will show you the Yellow Springs venue.

https://youtu.be/3tR6mKcBbT4

Dave’s DJ crushed it, DJ Trauma - https://www.instagram.com/djtrauma/

Matthew Broussard opened up. http://mondaypunday.com/matthewbroussard

Michelle Wolf was second. https://www.michelleisawolf.com/

Violinist Minyoung Baik was unbelievable! https://www.instagram.com/minyoungbaik/

Mo Amer, from the special Vagabond, crushed it. http://www.moamer.com/

Donnell Rawlings, famous for Ashy Larry, was hysterical - https://www.donnellrawlings.com/

Show ended with a live performance from Talib Kweli - https://www.instagram.com/talibkweli/

Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/2v0WY88

Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world - http://bit.ly/SignUpPJ

89: Las Vegas Reopening Trip and I’m COVID Free

June 18, 2020

Las Vegas opened on June 4th and I was there to find out what it was like as the Strip came to life. I also spent time on Fremont Street, ate some delicious food in Chinatown, and enjoyed time in the sun. Main Topics Covered: Summary of the Vegas Trip Links Mentioned in the Episode: Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

88: Cathleen Merkel Interview (Legendary Leaders)

April 17, 2020

Cathleen Merkel aims to inspire her audience to take charge and create a fulfilling career and personal life without sacrificing their hard-earned success. I was recently interviewed on her podcast and it was a fun and energizing conversation so I wanted to share it with my audience. Main Topics Covered: Interview with Cathleen Merkel Links Mentioned in the Episode: Cathleen Merkel Legendary Leaders Podcast A full list of other interviews I have had. Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Looking for a Father’s Day gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

87: Convos (Panama, Philippines) during the Crisis

April 15, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their hometowns. In this episode, I catch up with Expat Financial Strategist Mikkel Thorup who is currently in Panama and a podcast engineer expert, Dave, in the Philippines.  Main Topics Covered: Mikkel Thorup in Panama David in the Philippines Links Mentioned in the Episode: Mikkel discusses global strategies to protect your wealth at Expat Money Show  He talks about Second Passports, Offshore Banking, International Trusts, Flag Theory, Tax Strategies And Global Investment at the EscapeArtist.com  Get Mikkel’s book today! Expat Secrets: How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas & Make Giant Piles of Money  Are you ready to get your podcast going or need critical advice? Check out Dave on PodcastEngineers.com Panama City, Casco Viejo, and San Blas (Sailing Adventure in Panama) Cebu + Moalboal Philippines (Scuba and Scooters) Philippines (2 Weeks of Adventure Travel) Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime   Looking for a Father’s Day gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.   Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

86: Convos (Dublin, Italy, Tokyo) during the Crisis

April 11, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their hometowns. In this episode, I catch up with a travel buddy that lives in Dublin, Ireland, a professor in Central Italy, and an inspiring traveler in Tokyo, Japan. Main Topics Covered: Talia from Dublin, Ireland Silvia from Ancona, Italy Hiro from Tokyo, Japan Links Mentioned in the Episode: Japan Travel (Sumo Wrestling, Geisha, and the Countryside) Japan Travel (Our First 3 Weeks) Ireland Road Trip – Lush and Luxury (And how we do laundry) Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary (9 Cities to See) Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Looking for a Father’s Day gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

85: Convos (Kolkata, Athens, South Africa) during the Crisis

April 08, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their hometowns. In this episode, I catch up with a law student in Kolkata, India, a good family friend in Athens, Greece, and an angel of a host from our month in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Main Topics Covered: Kolkata, India with Pratik Athens, Greece with Christos Mossel Bay, South Africa with Sheila Links Mentioned in the Episode: Kolkata (Calcutta) India {23 Hours in the City of Joy} Five Greek Islands We Love (with Tips and Tricks)  South Africa: A Guys’ Trip Heaven (Couples Welcome too)  South Africa Guys’ Trip [Ultimate Adventure Travel]  Looking for a Mother's Day gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime   Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

84: Convos during COVID (Ecuador, Singapore, Romania)

April 06, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their hometowns. In this episode, I catch up with one of the stars from Narcos Season 3, Andres Crespo, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, a friend I met at a business networking event in Singapore, and the host of The Gratitude Podcast, Georgian Benta from Romania. Main Topics Covered: Guayaquil, Ecuador with Andres Singapore with Scott Romania with Georgian Links Mentioned in the Episode: Andres Crespo was a star in Seasons 3 of Narcos on Netflix  Scott just founded a new company called Travel Horse in Singapore where they will watch your luggage as you enjoy the city.  Georgian Benta hosts an uplifting and powerful podcast called The Gratitude Podcast  Find out why we loved our visit to Singapore in Podcast 36: Singapore and Kuala Lumpur Travel (2 Kinds of Awesome) -  The Galapagos Islands (One of Earth’s Most Unique Locations) was an unbelievable trip for us.  Get a glimpse of the beauty of Bucharest, Romania on World Barber Shop Adventures.  Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

83: Wet Markets + Virus Thoughts (Where to Get Stuck)

March 23, 2020

With all of the uncertainty in the travel world, I wanted to discuss wet markets, the impact on prices, and my top places to be stuck in a pandemic. In an attempt to educate and find a lighter side in these troubling times, I hope you enjoy this episode while you continue to make those travel plans in the future. Main Topics Covered: Virus Thoughts (Where Would I Go) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Video of a Market (Con Market in Da Nang, Vietnam) -  Our time in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Why we loved Queenstown, New Zealand so much. The sleepy but growing Dhermi, Albania. The isolation in Tasmania, Australia Our time on an oyster farm in Kyotango, Japan  Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime. Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

82: Cebu + Moalboal Philippines (Scuba and Scooters)

March 05, 2020

We loved our time in Cebu, Philippines so much that we canceled a trip to the exotic island of Boracay to spend more time. Having the chance to really get to know Moalboal over our ten days was special. From the families we met to the Scuba certification we achieved - our trip was a fun adventure. The beautiful beaches, the great nightlife, tasty food, fun locals, and cultural experiences like cockfighting, all added up to a vacation of a lifetime. Main Topics Covered: Cebu + Moalboal Philippines Travel Links Mentioned in the Episode: The ad for the Philippines that I saw in an airport and loved.  The awesome bar in IT Park Cebu - The Park Social - where we watched the Super Bowl.  The Airbnb that we stayed at in Moalboal. My big brother Chuck in a photo with our barber in Manila. Military Grade flashlight is an important part of my traveling bag. Cebu Diving Centre is absolutely awesome place to get certified or do local dives.  A few of our favorites included the Mayim for breakfast, The Pleasure Principle for dinner, and Chili Bar for nightlife Oslob Wild Monkey Viewing was a fun way to visit locals that help keep monkeys in their back ‘yard’. The Tumlog Falls and Kawasan Falls are gorgeous and worth the long trip into the forest. The Moalboal Cockpit on Sundays is a ton of fun. Check back soon for my video discussing the matter. A great local guide, Dax, showed us a great time traveling around the island.  My brother got the bug to travel more based on our journey to Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime). Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime.  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

81: Philippines (2 Weeks of Adventure Travel)

February 28, 2020

We spent two full weeks getting to know the Filipino way of life visiting Manila, Cebu, and Moalboal. We scootered around the islands having a blast diving off waterfalls, getting scuba certified, hanging out with monkeys, and soaking up the sun. We visited Manny Pacquiao’s training facility in Manila, watched the Super Bowl in a huge bar, and bet the games at one of their awesome casinos. I had no idea I would love the Philippines as much as I did and you will too. The people are amazingly kind, speak great English, and love basketball. If you want to know what we did during our two weeks, tune in to this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk. Main Topics Covered: Philippines Travel Links Mentioned in the Episode: My brother got the bug to travel more based on our journey to Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime). Manny Pacquiao’s training facility in Manila is at Elorde Boxing Gym in Pasay City. We watched the Super Bowl at The Social at IT Park. Where we stayed in Moalboal on the beach that we booked through Airbnb. Cebu Diving Centre was outstanding and a wonderful place to get our scuba certification. Solaire Resort and Casino was a gorgeous casino. There was a big poker tournament going on at Okada Casino. Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

80: Coronavirus (Back from Asia Travel with COVID-19 Scare)

February 20, 2020

There are a lot of fears about traveling to Asia with the Coronavirus spreading. I discuss my 2-weeks of travel after returning from Asia during the COVID-19 scare. Obviously, this is a moving target but this discussion is a time-stamp of our trip and what we saw and what I am gathering as I returned home to the US. If you have upcoming travel or if you are thinking about heading to Asia, you might want to listen to this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk. Main Topics Covered: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Full description from the CDC on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) The mask that I purchase from Amazon based on Nikki’s advice The alarming article that I read on how the numbers being portrayed in China.  Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.  Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

79: Young Traveler Advice (Hot List to Start Now)

January 29, 2020

I am asked often by the younger travelers that hope to accomplish big travel goals, where they should begin in their quest to see the world. How to save, what jobs to seek, websites to utilize. I break down a top 5 list on where I would begin if I was a younger traveler and what things can really make an impact in the upcoming years. Main Topics Covered: Young Traveler Advice (Hot List to Start Now)  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Have a travel fund to begin your saving process. I highly recommend a Schwab account to limit fees while using ATMs around the world.  Have an abundance mentality and find a job that you can do from your laptop using websites like Upwork.  Teach English to kids around the world in person or online. There are plenty of websites that allow this. Vipkid.com is one that we know many of our traveler friends used to make money as they saw the world. Build your profile early on sites like WorkAway and TrustedHousesitters.com so you have a great online presence when you reach out to strangers. Looking for a gift for a police officer? Check out my book that showcases officers around the world.   Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime -  Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

78: Travel Photos – 3 Types of Books to Capture Your Vacation

January 24, 2020

Taking memorable photos is a fun part of traveling. What do you do when you return from your trip or vacation with the photos? In this episode, we are going to look at three options to turn your photos into books that you can look at over and over to remember the amazing trips. I go into detail about Groovebook, Google Photo Books, and self-publishing with a professional printing company. Main Topics Covered: 3 Types of Books to Capture Your Vacation Links Mentioned in the Episode: Groovebook - A cost-effective way to keep all of those great photos around.  Google Photo Books - High-end but cost-friendly books to have as good coffee table books around your home or office.  Check out all of the details of POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Season 3 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime. Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

77: Big Goals – Our Framework for Accomplishing (Travel + More)

January 02, 2020

Since returning home from the 27-month trip around the world, many people ask us how we went about accomplishing such a big feat. It all started with having big goals and dreams, writing them down then setting out to accomplish them. In this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk, we will discuss the process of setting goals as the new year begins, looking out and envisioning an unbelievable year, and making your ‘Best Me’ list. If you have some huge travel and life goals for 2020 but don’t have a system set for accomplishing them, this might be a good episode to check out. Main Topics Covered: Setting Huge Goals Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the details of POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World Season 2 of World Barber Shop Adventures is on Amazon Prime. Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

76: 2020 Hot List for Travel (What’s Matt’s Favorite)

December 13, 2019

We get asked the question all of the time ‘what was our favorite place we visited?’ In this episode, I talk through my top list and where I would go in 2020 if I was starting all over. Hear about why I love Vietnam, New Zealand, India, Bali, Portugal, Poland, Japan, and Chile. I get into the details about how each is different and why you should consider them in 2020. Main Topics Covered: Top 2020 List Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World Season 2 of World Barber Shop Adventures on Amazon Prime Check out the list of recommended books for 2020 from my high-performing peers.  Check out the two-part series on New Zealand (South Island)  And New Zealand’s North Island (Road Trip Tips)  Understand our point of view on Vietnam Travel  Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime) is one of our favorite locations in the world  India is Incredible (2 Months Traveling 7+ Cities) We saw many parts of Vietnam with a Friend (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quy Nhon) The beauty of Phu Quoc (Fantasy Island of Vietnam) Hard to top the Beautiful Bali, Indonesia (4 Weeks in Travel Paradise) We loved our time in Japan Travel Part 1 (Our First 3 Weeks) Japan Travel Part 2 (Sumo Wrestling, Geisha, and the Countryside) A great option is Chile Travel – Santiago, Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama (& Other Beauty) Historical Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz) is a great trip  One of the favorites and a planned trip to go back - Lisbon, Portugal Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

75: Bus Ride + Pittsburgh + Season 2

November 27, 2019

Have you used Mega Bus or one of the other big bussing companies in America? I did recently and I tell you all about it. I also discuss our trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where we hung out in a barber shop and met JuJu Smith-Schuster and a few other Steelers. With the release of Season 2 on Amazon Prime for World Barber Shop Adventures, it’s pretty exciting around here. Main Topics Covered: Bus Travel Pittsburgh Trip Links Mentioned in the Episode: We will miss our grandmother dearly. RIP.  Season 2 of World Barber Shop Adventures on Amazon Prime -  Check out the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania episode.  My trip from Chicago to Indianapolis was only $5 on Megabus. Check out their site to see if they have similar deals. Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

74: Real ID – Important for Your Travel Plans

November 14, 2019

You may have heard about the October 2020 deadline for the Real ID transition but are you aware of the importance of how it may affect your travels? In today’s podcast episode, we are going to listen in on an interview between TheNewsWorthy’s Erica Mandy and Jamie Garza, Information Officer in the Office of Public Affairs with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. They discuss the change in travel requirements in the coming year and the need to get your Real ID in the coming months. Main Topics Covered: Real ID Interview with Erica Mandy and Jamie Garza Links Mentioned in the Episode: TheNewsWorthy is an excellent podcast to get all of the daily news updates in a Fast, Fair, and Fun way.  Here is the episode on Thing to Know Thursday from October 24, 2019 with Jamie Garza Erica Mandy on Instagram  Erica Mandy on Twitter  Erica Mandy on Facebook  Erica Mandy on Spotify  Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

73: Flying Private (Taking Advantage of Empty Leg Charter Flights)

November 07, 2019

We are talking about flying private with my buddy, Eddie, who recently flew from Phoenix to Las Vegas for cheaper than flying commercial. ‘Empty legs’ are flights that are due to operate without any passengers as the aircraft repositions back to its base, or is going elsewhere to be ready for its next assignment. If you can move quickly or have a flexible schedule, an empty leg can help you save significantly on the cost of a conventional private jet charter. We get into the details of his trip and how he was treated like a VIP throughout. Main Topics Covered: Conversation with Eddie Robinson on his trip on a private plane Links Mentioned in the Episode: Excellent article comparing the top charter flight services. Eddie described using JetSuiteX from Phoenix to Las Vegas.  Find empty leg charter flights - they have to go to a location to drop off or pick up people anyway, they are looking for ways to fill their flight Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

72: Back Pain Exercises + Back Tips for Vacation (After Major Surgery)

October 23, 2019

After a major back surgery six years ago from chronic back pain, I am now able to travel the world. In this podcast episode, I discuss how I went from spending six days in the hospital after getting three discs replaced from degenerative disc disease which included all kinds of new ‘equipment’ in my back to traveling to 35 countries in 27 months. I struggled with my back pain since my late teen years, played through the pain in my D1 basketball days, struggled in my 20’s to stay active, and then finally had enough in my early 30’s. I will discuss not only the exercise that changed my life but also the other factors that play a part in the pain on vacations like hydration, food, and even beer. If you have ever struggled with back issues during vacation, listen in as I give tips to help you get your life back. This is an important episode for me as I know how many people have asked me about my recovery process and I want to continue to share how I made it through. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Watch the video of my daily exercises to relieve back pain: https://youtu.be/sHO5y4WvLSs The book that changed my life by Dr. Eric Goodman.  Eating is also a major factor in back pain. Read Eat to Live to understand more about inflammation.  The Foundation Training Instagram post of my back equipment - An awesome overview of Foundation Training. Be sure to subscribe to the channel as well. Watch the World Barber Shop Adventures on Amazon Prime now. Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

71: Cricket Star Chris Gayle’s Birthday in Kingston, Jamaica

October 07, 2019

Americans don’t grow up knowing about Cricket (2nd most popular sport in the world), so when I befriended Chris Gayle through social media about a year ago, I had no idea of his fanbase within the sport. All I knew was that we shared a common interest in cigars, having fun, and appreciated barbers (he enjoys World Barber Shop Adventures *now available on Amazon). Fast forward to his epic party celebrating his 40th birthday in Kingston, Jamaica, where I had the unique opportunity to stay in his home with his family for 5 nights. Not only did I get the chance to realize how super-famous he is around the world (there were people from every part attending his party), I got to see how extremely kind and giving he is. The Universe Boss (his nickname) is truly that. He has zero judgment of those he encounters, is considerate of his massive fanbase that is always asking for a photo, and is extremely humble for his global status. With our travels, I often talk about how amazing poor people are around the world that live on minimal incomes. The fact that they are happy even though they don’t have much. It was uplifting to see the other side of that spectrum. Someone that has it all and is comfortable with himself and makes those around him happy. Chris has abundance through his hard work, but he embraces it and shares it, always with his huge smile. Travel opens many doors. The Jamaican people were warm, welcoming, and a ton of fun. Not only did I have time sharing great conversations with Chris’ partner, brothers, and sister, but his circle of friends that traveled in from around the world were all amazing people. The chance to meet such upbeat, positive thinking, motivated people was an added bonus of the trip. Always stay open to random encounters. Engage with people you don’t know. You never know where it might lead. Main Topics Covered: Weekend at Chris Gayle’s 40th Birthday Celebration Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World Check out Chris Gayle’s House tour Video from the birthday celebration for Chris Gayle’s 40th birthday Check out Chris’ restaurant and nightclub the Triple Century Sports Bar We went to Fiction Nightclub on Saturday night. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

70: National News Coverage (Update Podcast + Small World Stories)

September 12, 2019

It was quite a week with the launch of the photography book POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Getting featured on Fox & Friends nationally, as well as two local stations, was a blast in front of the camera. With orders being shipped and kind notes coming in, it was an exciting few days. With a trip to Jamaica soon to hang out with world-famous Cricket player Chris Gayle, it is sure to be another crazy week ahead. We reflect on all of that as well as tell stories of how small the world is in this week’s Passport Joy Travel Talk Podcast. Main Topics Covered: Update on the Crazy Week of News Interviews Jamaica Trip Ahead The World is Small Stories Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World Hanging out with world-famous Cricket player Chris Gayle in Jamaica.  Fox & Friends First interviewed me about the photography book.  We volunteered at an amazing surf lodge while in South Africa.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

69: Planning for Weather During Vacations with World Traveling Meteorologist Todd Klaassen

September 05, 2019

The weather can play a huge part in how well your vacation goes. The weather is not predictable, but some have more skills than others. Today we talk with one of those professionals that truly understand the weather, Todd Klaassen. Todd is a meteorologist with over 15 years of experience and has earned the CBM (certified broadcast meteorologist) seal from the American Meteorological. Beyond his profession, Todd is also an avid traveler, most recently visiting Iceland, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. We get into details about his experiences on the road, advice for planning your trips around travel, his favorite weather app, and a crazy story when his lips touched an amputated toe. This was a fun and entertaining interview on this week’s Passport Joy Travel Talk Podcast. Main Topics Covered: Todd Klaassen Interview Links Mentioned in the Episode: News bio for Todd Klaassen on RTV6 Todd’s Public Profile on Facebook where he shares tips and advice on the weather.  Todd’s Twitter account sharing all of the days' hot topics in weather and beyond.  The Sourtoe Cocktail in Dawson City with the amputated toe We talked about Hanoi and the scooter chaos. Check out the podcast Vietnam with a Friend (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quy Nhon).  We met up in Melbourne and shared stories of our experiences in Australia. Check the podcast Melbourne, Australia (Travel to the Great Ocean Road) for more details.  For more advice on Travel Insurance be sure to read the complete guide with details.  Todd Klaassen’s main smartphone app for the weather - RadarScope - that he checks in on.  Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

68: POLICE Around the World (Travel Photography Book)

August 27, 2019

This podcast is dedicated to describing the new self-published 180-page photography book POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World which showcases police officers encountered during our 800-day journey around the world. 89 large-format color photographs from 60+ cities celebrate police who, while performing daily duties, paused to show off their uniforms proudly.  Main Topics Covered: POLICE Photography Book   Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the details at POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

67: Long Term Travel Prep Part 3 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

August 08, 2019

Helping others achieve their travel dreams is a big part of what I plan to accomplish now that we have returned home. In this three-part series, I talk with a future world traveler as he has plans to set out with his wife for at least a year. In this episode, we talk to Shane about his trip and dreams, understand overtourism and how they might plan to avoid certain areas, and how to maximize their experiences in other cultures. If you are a potential long-term traveler with big dreams, you will find this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk interesting as I answer questions from a listener who wants to see the world. Main Topics Covered: Shane's travel plans, how they plan to achieve their dream Overtourism Understanding the cultures on the road. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Podcast 35: Overtourism (What!?!) Travel Backpack Carry On TSA (20 Tips to Pack Your Life) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Financial Travel Tips (and Always Wearing the Same Clothes) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

66: Long Term Travel Prep Part 2 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

August 01, 2019

Discussing travel with other jetsetters is one of our favorite things to do. In this three-part series, I talk with a future world traveler as he has plans to set out with his wife for at least a year. In this episode, we discuss safety concerns while traveling, packing tips to make the most out of a single backpack, and using tour guides to your advantage. If you are a potential long-term traveler with big dreams, you will find this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk interesting as I answer questions from a listener who wants to see the world. Main Topics Covered: Security on the road Handling safety concerns Packing tips Using tour guides to your advantage Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Podcast 5: Staying Safe on the Road (Matt Gets Left at Sea) Lisbon, Portugal Podcast (Our Second Trip to the Romantic & Festive City) Travel Backpack Carry On TSA (20 Tips to Pack Your Life) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Financial Travel Tips (and Always Wearing the Same Clothes) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

65: Long Term Travel Prep Part 1 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

July 25, 2019

We love to be able to share our advice with other travel lovers around the world. In this three-part series, I talk with a future world traveler as he has plans to set out with his wife for at least a year. In this episode, we get to know Shane, talk about buying that first one-way tickets, understand the logistics of traveling full time, discuss saving money and the effective use of your travel time, and how we handled our finances from the road. If you are a potential long-term traveler with big dreams, you will find this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk interesting as I answer questions from a listener who wants to see the world. Main Topics Covered: Introduction of Shane Where to Go and Why? Buying the first one-way ticket Logistics of the full journey Spending time on the road planning the next leg of the trip Saving money, going to the places that are on the bucket list Effective use of your travel time What did we do with our home? Financial and Banking hacks Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Why I decided to Quit My Job  Lisbon, Portugal Podcast (Our Second Trip to the Romantic & Festive City) Saving Money on Travel Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Financial Travel Tips (and Always Wearing the Same Clothes) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

64: Kindness from Strangers (Amazing Humans during our Travels)

July 11, 2019

It is hard to have a clear perspective of the world if you only hear negative stories perpetuated by the mainstream media. Travel does have some dangers, but at the core of it, there is a kindness that coats every corner of the world. In almost every city, we have found kindhearted people that have either opened their hearts or their homes. Many offered a meal, shared a story, helped us in a time of need, and shared a part of their culture with us. In this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk, we open up about a few of the stories that touched our hearts as we travel this beautiful world. Main Topics Covered: Stories of Kindness Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  A great way to give back and travel the world with Global GameChangers Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Day Trips from Cusco are a must when visiting Machu Picchu.  If you are considering a trip to Africa, check out the post South Africa Guys’ Trip [Ultimate Adventure Travel].  Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat) Hong Kong: 96 Hour Travel Guide (Macau Included)  Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake]  Why We Love Southeast Asia Saving Money on Travel Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

63: A Few Lessons Learned (from Long Term Travel)

June 27, 2019

Being able to see the world as we did for 27 months gave us much to ponder as we returned home. In this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk, we reflect on a few lessons learned from traveling, including our new ‘real world,’ patience, our fresh perspective, and building a global travel network. As we transition back to our normal life in Indianapolis, our views will likely adjust over time, but we wanted to share what we are thinking within the first few weeks. Main Topics Covered: A Few Lessons Learned Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

62: Live Q&A After 800 Day Journey (Part 2)

June 06, 2019

In Part 2 of the Q&A with Matt’s longtime friend, Mike Polder, in Youngstown, Ohio, we talk about what we would do first if we started the journey over, cannabis laws around the world, a time when we partied too hard, could we do this trip without smartphones, and several other creative questions. Enjoy this special edition of Passport Joy Travel Talk while we enjoy a few drinks while catching up with friends after seeing 35 countries in the past two years. Main Topics Covered: Live Q&A by Mike Polder (Part 2) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Thank you Sam’s Wedge Inn for the great hospitality.  Special thanks to Mike Polder for the interview and awesome style of questioning.  Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Fiji Islands (Tips for an Unforgettable Trip) POLICE Photo Book (Around the World) South Africa Guys’ Trip [Ultimate Adventure Travel] Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] Why We Love Southeast Asia Saving Money on Travel Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

61: Live Q&A After 800 Day Journey (Part 1)

May 31, 2019

After traveling the world for 27 months, we are back in the United States visiting friends and family. As we make the rounds to a few cities in the midwest, we stopped by Youngstown, Ohio, where Matt spent part of his youth and still has many longtime friendships. His buddy, Mike Polder, does an outstanding job interviewing with some very different questions. In this episode broadcasted from Sam’s Wedge Inn, find out the most critical item in the backpack, the overall attitude towards Westerners, views on Donald Trump from around the world, and several other fun answers. Enjoy Part 1 of this special Q&A edition of Passport Joy Travel Talk while Matt & Nikki enjoy a few drinks catching up with friends. Main Topics Covered: Live Q&A by Mike Polder Links Mentioned in the Episode: Thank you Sam’s Wedge Inn for the great hospitality.  Special thanks to Mike Polder for the interview and awesome style of questioning.  Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Kolkata (Calcutta) India {23 Hours in the City of Joy}  Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat) Why We Love Southeast Asia Saving Money on Travel Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations) Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

60: New Zealand Part 2 (South Island)

May 28, 2019

We heard about the natural beauty of the South Island of New Zealand from travelers around the world. They told us many times about the mountains, hills, lakes, and countless sheep. We began our trip in Christchurch, where we started our adventures around the South Island. We stayed in Lake Tekapo, Lake Wanaka, Queenstown, Ranfurly, and Dunedin. With our rental car fueled up, we took our time discovering the ins and outs of this wonderful country. We stopped many times to take photos along the way. Listen to this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk to understand why ending our journey in New Zealand was the perfect way to wrap up our trip of a lifetime. Main Topics Covered: South Island New Zealand Travel Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Our stay in Christchurch was fantastic with our host Ali. Very kind and inviting.  Church of Good Shepherd is a beautiful spot for photos of the surrounding mountains and lake.  The backpackers spot in Lake Tekapo was perfect.  This tree in the lake in Wanaka is a unique photo opportunity.  The Queenstown Hill is a great hiking trail and has the most beautiful views of the town.  The Aspen Lodge Backpackers was an ideal accommodation in Queenstown for the price.  Between Queenstown and Dunedin we stopped off at Hawkdun Lodge in Ranfurly.  Be sure to check out the World Barber Shop Adventures episode from the chair in Queenstown.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

59: New Zealand’s North Island (Road Trip Tips)

April 25, 2019

Road tripping through the North Island of New Zealand was more fun than we could have imagined. Taking in all of the beauty with the endless hills, wildlife on the farms, and scenic landscapes was a treat as we stopped for photos several times. Auckland offers a ton of great restaurants and nightlife for the city lovers while the rest of the trip was mostly town-sized communities surrounded by nature with jaw-dropping beauty. We visited Rotorua, Lake Taupo, and Wellington as we headed south with a few stops along the way. No matter how you decide to discover the North Island, you will have a blast driving in the gorgeous landscapes of New Zealand where every angle is a screen saver. Listen to the episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk as we give a few tips on how we made our road trip memorable. Main Topics Covered: New Zealand North Island Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  We really enjoyed staying in the Ponsonby district of Auckland for the wide variety of restaurants.  Steven Adams is a famous NBA basketball player from Rotorua, New Zealand.  The Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest are a must-visit location with several walks offered.  Aorangi Peak Chinese Restaurant overlooks the city of Rotorua with a great view. Grab a coffee or dinner.  Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon are a couple of great places to visit just outside of Lake Taupo. On the drive to Wellington we stopped at the Southward Car Museum and checked out the many rare vehicles on display.  There are many walks and trails in and near Wellington including seeing the Red Rocks, going to the top of Mt Victoria for the view, or hugging the coast line in Oriental Bay. You can’t go wrong when visiting Cuba Street in Wellington and we found a favorite in the Hanging Ditch Pub.  If you love tapas like we do, you will love Havana Bar in Wellington just off of Cuba Street.  We had a blast hanging out with our host, Peter, and many of the people that attend the regular Tuesday Night Dinners in Wellington.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

58: Fiji Islands (Tips for an Unforgettable Trip)

April 18, 2019

The Fiji Islands are high on everyone’s bucket list for good reasons. With unforgettable snorkeling, world-class hospitality, and gorgeous beaches, you will have the time of your life no matter accommodations you plan. In this episode, we will give travel tips on what we experienced with our friends and how it might help you in your adventure to the islands. Not only did we take advantage of having shark at our feet, swim in the best snorkel areas of our lives, and lay near the most beautiful water you can imagine, we also met local families, explored a waterfall, and watched a local rugby match. With my birthday celebration came a kava ceremony, dancers to traditional Fijian music, and a beach bonfire. We had a blast spending 10 days in Fiji and living it up. Please listen in as we share a few tips you might consider before having the trip of our life. Main Topics Covered: Fiji Islands Travel Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  If you plan on drinking alcohol while in Fiji you will want to take advantage of the prices at the airport. The public bus is available to take you where you need to go from Nadi Airport. It is much cheaper than a taxi but it is a tight squeeze. We stayed at the De Vos Private Residence in Maui Bay, Sigatoka, Fiji. We visited Biausevu Village where we enjoyed a private village tour and waterfall experience with Veronica’s Authentic Tours.  We stayed at a great house near the Nadi Airport that had tons of space, a pool, and BBQ area. It was a great stay.  I am addicted to the Rugby Sevens now and Fiji dominated when we watched in the HK7’s in April.  We went to Lawaqa Park and watched local rugby. These guys are extremely tough.  We had the time of our lives with the best snorkeling ever, unbelievable food, and amazing skippers with Coral Cats Sailing.  We visited a great barber shop in Fiji called Nomu Barbershop and had an awesome time.  The Fiji Airport is fantastic and the lounge access you have with Priority Pass gives you the chance to visit one of the best lounges in the world.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

57: Brisbane + Sydney (Living the Australian Life)

April 11, 2019

Spending almost three weeks in Brisbane and Sydney helped us truly understand the ins and outs of Australian life. We enjoyed our time with our two friends, Nick and Kathryn, and their kind family. BBQs, rugby, and laughter dominated our time in Brisbane. We had a chance to walk the coast in Redcliffe, get some ink like an Aussie, and cheer on the Lions. The wide range of bars and restaurants provided many chances to discover what the Brisbane nightlife is all about. Transitioning to Sydney and the beautiful Bondi Beach provided long walks along the coast, a surfer’s vibe, and many options for coffee or drinks. The Opera House is a world-renowned symbol of Australia, and it did not disappoint with its beauty. Walking around the downtown area gave us a chance to feel the diversity and big-city atmosphere that comes with the charm and kindness of the Australian people. We really enjoyed our time in these two major Australian cities, come along as we share a few tips and tricks we learned along the way. Main Topics Covered: Brisbane, Australia Travel Sydney, Australia Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  We enjoyed our time hanging out with our friends in several parts of Brisbane. Be sure to take your ID if you plan on going out after 10pm. We went to Michelton to visit a classic Brisbane barber shop at Aldo’s Barbershop.  The TAB outlets around town make it easy to gamble on basically anything in the sports realm.  Eat Street Northshore is a great way to discover a wide range of food options and listen to local live talent.  The Treasury Casino is a classic casino with all of the typical game options, great party vibe, and live music on occasion.  The Waterloo Hotel was a favorite bar hangout when we visited the Newstead area.  Rugby is an important part of the Australian culture. We went to a Brisbane Lions game where they won 102-58.  We ended up having our own wing challenge at Lord of the Wings.  Getting an Opal Card is very important when you land in Sydney to save money on transportation.  One of the best walks in the world can be found along the coastline in Sydney.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

56: Passion Project Updates (Final Weeks of Travel)

March 28, 2019

With only a few weeks left on the 27-month journey around the world, we wanted to take some time to give updates on what the future of our trip looks like as well as the passion projects we have been working. We cover the Kickstarter campaign for the photo book POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World, Nikki’s recently released travel memoir Passport Joy: Reflections on Life, Love, & Other Stuff While Traveling the World, World Barber Shop Adventures, the Passport Joy Travel Talk Podcast, my screenplay, and the weekly newsletter. We hope to give some insight into each of these passion projects, the significant time spent, and what we see the future of each becoming. We also talk about our next few weeks on the road, our summer plans, and how we might communicate during our transition phase back to the US. Main Topics Covered: Police Photo Book on Kickstarter Nikki’s Book, Passport Joy WBSA Update Podcast Future Screenplay Complete Newsletters Links Mentioned in the Episode: If you want to hear about our story in better detail check out Podcast 45: Who We Are, Why We Did It, and Where We’ve Been.  You can also look at the Journey So Far tab to get the month-by-month details.  Read all about the Kickstarter campaign for the Police Photo Book on this latest post.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Find all of the episodes of World Barber Shop Adventures and watch Matt in barber chairs around the world.  Look through all of the episodes of Passport Joy Travel Talk to discover a city you hope to travel to.  If anyone has any advice on how to get my screenplay to the right people, feel free to email me. Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

55: Tasmania Travel (Peaceful Australian Island)

March 21, 2019

Tasmania is a gorgeous island state of Australia off the southern coast of the mainland. We wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness, the peaceful town with plenty to do, and fun day tours to visit exotic animals. We loved walking around Hobart to visit boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and galleries. You can find plenty of shops in Salamanca Place, Battery Point, and all of the quaint neighborhoods of Hobart. Tasmania has a large port area with huge yachts, quiet beaches, and the Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) just a short private ferry away. Drinking a cold beer at the Cascade Brewery was a deliciously good choice. Our day trip out to Mt. Field National Park, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mt. Wellington was our highlight as we had a chance to experience the wilderness and interact with kangaroos, wombats, and the iconic Tasmanian devil. Main Topics Covered: Tasmania Travel Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  We had a fun night of live music at the Republic Bar in Hobart Relax and enjoy St. David’s Park where you might spot a few acrobats I got an awesome haircut at Bob’s Your Uncle Barber Shop Taste great local beer and a chance to tour the brewery at Cascade Brewery A great full-day experience with a talented professional guide at Tasmanian Wilderness Tour on Airbnb We interacted with a ton of animals (kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils, wombats, koalas) at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary We had a relaxing lunch, cold beer, and felt like a local at The Richmond Arms Hotel We failed to visit the Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) but you should definitely go. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

54: Melbourne, Australia (Travel to the Great Ocean Road)

March 14, 2019

Arriving in Melbourne was exciting as we began our month traveling to a few cities in Australia. The large, beautiful city has a multicultural vibe with a ton of great restaurants, strong artist attitude, and a beautiful coastline. We walked for miles around the town taking in all of the beauty of St. Kilda, eating at a Japanese restaurant on Chapel Street, and enjoying the street art within every pocket of the city. The trip was topped off with the ride down Great Ocean Road to take endless photos of the gorgeous beaches and unforgettable landscape. Spotting bouncing kangaroos and sleeping koalas were a bonus that made the week in the city a great start to our adventures in the Land Down Under. Main Topics Covered: Melbourne, Australia Travel Tips Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Getting sick is sometimes part of your travel experience. Protect your investment with Travel Insurance.  St. Kilda is a great area to stay when visiting Melbourne if you enjoy beaches, bars, and nightlife.  Acland Street is vibrant with many shops and great restaurants.  Blank Coworking is a great place to get your work done while on the road. A fun and inviting cowork space in St Kilda.  The Myki Pass is the easiest way to get around Melbourne if you don’t want the hassle of renting a car.  The Chapel Street precinct has fashion, fun, and a bunch of places to be seen in. A highlight in Melbourne.  Crown Casino is a world-class casino. Believe me, I’ve been in all of them.  The Great Ocean Road Tour is a MUST. With the wildlife sightings, driving along the gorgeous coastline, and the unforgettable photos at the 12 Apostles, you have to build it into your itinerary when visiting Melbourne.  We went with Go West Tours for our visit and had a 5-star trip. Our guide Joel was fantastic.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

53: Kolkata (Calcutta) India {23 Hours in the City of Joy}

March 07, 2019

We had the chance to spend 23 hours in Kolkata on a long layover from Hyderabad, India to Bangkok, Thailand, so we jumped on it. Based on a relationship that I had in the city, we set up a local guide who took us to a few authentic places that left us with a sense of how the people of Kolkata really live. We tested many of the excellent street food options including the chicken egg roll, puchkas, and bhapa doi. We road on the crowded train from the extremely busy Howrah Station. Visiting the College Street Coffee House is a must in Calcutta, so we made sure we sipped coffee in the busy upstairs hall. In and out of rickshaws, uber, and taxis, we saw the vibrant city and even had the chance to slow down for a shave with a street barber. We had a great time on our short visit in the former capital of India, please listen along on this fun episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk. Main Topics Covered: Kolkata (Calcutta) India Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Laying over in a city can be a great way to see it. We did the same in Doha, Qatar as well as Copenhagen, Denmark.  Our personal guide in Kolkata was Pratik Jio - reach out to him if you visit the city as well.  Being able to visit the Ganges was a big deal to both of us.  Puchkas or Pani puri, are very tasty street food that you will find everywhere around the city.  Carrom is a game we found walking the streets. It’s basically hitting checkers with your hand into four corners like the game pool.  Bhapa Doi is made by blending yogurt and condensed milk. It becomes more tasteful with the garnishing of almonds and pistachios.  College Street Coffee House is the most famous of Indian Coffee House branches in Kolkata.  The Chicken Egg Roll was one of the best street foods I have ever eaten. I love paratha so to have a burrito style snack with that tasty combination was heaven in my mouth.  The Howrah Station is the busiest railway station in India. It can be intense at times. The streets of Kolkata were chaotic and energizing. Many forms of transportation were fighting for space on the tight roads.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

52: Hyderabad, India (Indian Wedding + Much More)

February 28, 2019

Having the chance to go back to Hyderabad, India for a wedding of our two friends, Preetham and Spandana, was an unforgettable experience. Not only did we have the opportunity to partake in the many ceremonies of the marriage including Sangeeth, Haldi, Groom’s Day, Bride’s Day, Mehndi, and the huge wedding event, we also visited Hitec City, Nalgonda, and Gandipet. The incredible visit included a trip out delivering invitations on a motorbike, dancing choreographed steps to Indian music, and making a trip for Toddy palm wine. The people were all incredibly kind from the families to our amazing hosts. We stayed with four different families, met kids on the streets playing cricket, and enjoyed late nights understanding the culture. This India trip will not be forgotten, and we hope you enjoy us telling our unique story of discovering more reasons why we love to travel so much in this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk. Main Topics Covered: Hyderabad Nagole Hitec City Nalgonda Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Nikki’s first published book - Passport Joy - can be found on the Kindle store on Amazon.  Listen to our previous journey to India on Podcast 48: India is Incredible (2 Months Traveling 7+ Cities).  Utilize the Pre-Paid Taxis ran by the government to give you peace of mind when you land at the airport in Hyderabad. Our outfits during the wedding festivities were outstanding.  HITEC city is an area in Hyderabad focused on technology, engineering, and other sectors of economic growth.  The Westin in HITEC was unbelievable with its great service and huge rooms.  Toddy palm wine is what we went searching for on Sunday and it was a great trip.  Our hosts, Jaya and Anthony, were amazingly kind. I compared tattoos with their mother one day.  Sangeeth is the dance portion of the wedding festivities. Nalgonda was smaller version of Hyderabad and a fun town. We celebrated the bride’s day and Haldi at her home.  Nikki got mehndi on her hands and forearms.  The wedding was a bit early in the morning but a gorgeous ceremony.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

51: Why We Love Southeast Asia

February 21, 2019

We have spent plenty of time during our journey in Southeast Asia. We love everything these countries have to offer travelers. The people, food, scooter lifestyle, gorgeous beaches, and affordability are all part of the reasons why we have stayed 7 months in this region that includes Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. We have still yet to see the beauty of Laos and the Philippines, but that will happen someday soon. In this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk, we hope to give you a reason to visit these countries and discover why we have enjoyed it so much. Main Topics Covered: Why We Love Southeast Asia People, Food, Scooter, Cost Tech-friendly, Beaches, Belief System Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Part of our love for Southeast Asia was because of our amazing time in Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime).  If you are looking for a great island trip head to Phu Quoc (Fantasy Island of Vietnam).  World-class treatment can be found in the barber shop in Bali, Indonesia – World Barber Shop Adventures.  The historic ruins and the vibrant cities are waiting to be discovered in Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat).  There are endless great restaurants and cafes in Beautiful Bali, Indonesia (4 Weeks in Travel Paradise).  Several of our favorite Southeast Asian locations made our Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know).  Two places that are close together but worlds apart are Singapore and Kuala Lumpur Travel (2 Kinds of Awesome).  If you are looking for a great time with your older friends, take a Thailand Adult Trip (Bars, Night Markets, & an Island).  Traveling with friends is a lot of fun like when we did Vietnam with a Friend (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quy Nhon).  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

50: Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime)

February 14, 2019

Da Nang is a fantastic city in Central Vietnam with a vibrant culture and gorgeous coastline. We have had the privilege of spending 50 days in this city over the last two years. We have gotten to know all of the great places to visit, fabulous restaurants, fun bars, and must-see sights around the city. Hoi An is only 30 minutes away and on everyone’s travel destination list. When my brother and his wife decided to visit us during our journey, we were excited to suggest Da Nang as the location to meet for their first international travel vacation. With the exciting scooter culture, extremely kind people, and tons of stuff to do, it is a great place to visit for any world adventurer. The cost-friendly prices are an added bonus. Join us for the fun podcast where we discuss why we love Da Nang, Vietnam so much and hope to come back again someday. Main Topics Covered: Da Nang, Vietnam Hoi An, Vietnam Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  My brother and his wife stayed at the Balcona Hotel and really enjoyed it.  We have stayed at the Infinity Residencies several times and love the location, comfort, and owners.  One of our favorite places to get a wide selection of Vietnamese food in My An is Kenta A great bar to enjoy drinks with ex-pats, travelers, and locals in My An is the Filling Station The beauty of My Khe Beach is endless.  Our favorite spot to grab an authentic Bahn Xeo is at Miss Nhi’s.  The Dragon Bridge is a great photo opportunity in Da Nang and a gorgeous landmark.  Marble Mountain is an important part of the Da Nang travel experience. Amazing historic importance.  Lady Buddha looks over the city and is a wonderful place to walk in peace and observe the beauty of the city.  Monkey Mountain near InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is a great place to get out scooter around.  Apocalypse Now is a beautiful bar on the beach with great music and fantastic service.  We visited one of the places that I have played poker in Vietnam.  Con Market is an outdoor market selling goods (clothing, shoes, spices, anything you can think of) and a great place to understand the culture.  We found a spot for the epic Scooter Mafia photo with the big buildings in the back.  Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market is an authentic market that will give you deep insight into how business is done in Da Nang.  One of my favorite barber shops in the world is Ky Lee Barber Shop in Da Nang.  Hoi An a beautiful historic city of streams and lanterns.  We picked up a few suits at Kimmy Tailor and were very pleased with the quality and exceptional service.  Phi Banh Mi is my favorite banh mi spot in Hoi An and ended up getting three on my last visit.  We attended the Super Bowl party at Dirty Fingers, an awesome sports bar in Da Nang near the coast.  Taking the motorbikes to the Hai Van Pass was one of the most memorable times of our journey in Da Nang.  Ho Dong Xanh Dong Nghe is a huge lake near mountains that was about an hour outside of Da Nang. We came across a dice game that had about 25 people betting on different animal faces on the dice.  Chua Hung Quang Buddhist Temple was an unforgettable experience when the head monk brought us in for a Buddhist meal.  Fire-Fly Mobile Bar is on the curbside near the front of Balcona Hotel and run by two young hustlers. A great bar to visit near the beach in Da Nang.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

49: Fast vs Slow Travel (Which is Better?)

February 07, 2019

Is it best to stay in one city for a few days and then hop to the next city or is it better to stay longer to really understand the culture when traveling? How can you build your country-visited list if you are only in one country for a long time? Is it easier to save money by staying put in one place? Is slow travel more relaxing? Is fast travel more fun? We dive into all of the details and differences between fast and slow traveling and let you know what we find the most rewarding in this latest episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk. Main Topics Covered: Fast vs Slow Travel Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  We mixed slow and fast travel in Paracas, Peru (Plus an Ultimate Ica, Nazca Guide). While spending 10 days in Cusco we found The Best View of Machu Picchu- Climbing Huayna Picchu (An Epic Journey) We think you should definitely have slow travel in Cusco Peru (Ultimate Guide 2018 ) Our Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary (9 Cities to See) is a journey we will always remember. I loved Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] in different cities around the country If you have time to visit, be sure to discover South Africa Guys’ Trip [Ultimate Adventure Travel] Finding barber chairs and culture in World Barber Shop Adventures We did a little of slow travel and fast travel when we found that India is Incredible (2 Months Traveling 7+ Cities) If you want to hear a list of our favorites, check out Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

48: India is Incredible (2 Months Traveling 7+ Cities)

January 31, 2019

Having the chance to spend two months traveling to a few different cities in India is something we will always remember about our journey around the world. Seeing the Taj Mahal outside of Delhi, celebrating two weddings, and exploring the wonder of Kerala are all experiences that will stay with us forever. Our time in Indore, Nagpur, and Bhopal were filled with excitement as they are non-traditional tourist location, but the families that took us in were kind, welcoming, and fantastic cooks. We enjoyed the bright colors and loud fireworks of Diwali and loved the amazing food from both north and south India. We took airplanes, buses, tuk-tuks, and trains, and spent time on longboats to canoe around the backwaters. From the Golden Temple to tea plantations, we enjoyed every minute of our journey through Incredible India! Main Topics Covered: Delhi and Agra Hyderabad - Traditional Wedding Nagpur, Indore, Bhopal Kerala Amritsar and Jammu Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  This was Matt’s third trip back to India and Nikki’s second. Agra and the Taj Mahal are as gorgeous as you see in all of the travel photos. The traveling India couple we met (Sidhika & Ritesh) can be found on Instagram at @sidritwanders.  Being in Hyderabad for the wedding is something we will never forget. If you want to read the detail account on an Indian Wedding (Through Our American Eyes) dive into that post.  Being in Indore for the Rajwada celebration for preparation of Diwali, the action was vibrant.  I was interviewed by the Regional News Station which brought more attention, selfies, and photos.  Nagpur, Indore, and Bhopal were outside of the typical tourist regions but still a great experience. The Kerala region is gorgeous, memorable, and exciting for many reasons. Here is a thorough list of the Kerala India Travel Guide (11 Epic Things To Do).  This stay on Marari Beach was one of our most favorite in all our travels.  Spending time with the children at Don Bosco will always be something we cherish about our journey.  Be sure to check the holiday calendar for India before you go to make sure there are no major celebrations that will impact your trip.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

47: Saving Money Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations)

January 24, 2019

Traveling for almost two years straight now on a budget has made us very smart about how we spend our money. In this podcast episode, we discuss all of the ways that we have saved on the road from creative accommodations, transportation, technology, and more. We have found ways to maximize our time in lounges and eliminate ATM fees. Wearing the same clothes for two years sucks but not if it is high quality. And what about a few things that we have learned about that we don’t do but still might be right for you? We share. Let’s save together and continue to discover the world. Main Topics Covered: How We Saved Money in 2 Years of Travel Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Google Fi - the best phone plan for international travelers Priority Pass Global Lounge Access - the best way to travel the world and get airport lounge access  Schwab is the best bank to use if you travel internationally as there are zero ATM fees Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today.  Mizzen and Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible.  Google Flights - the best way to understand what flights are available to make your journey easy and cheap.  Skyscanner is the another great technology tool that will help you have the cheapest flights.  Look at Credit Card offers that give you maximum benefits and points. Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire, and Southwest Chase are a few of our favorites. Travel insurance can help you save a ton of money if the wrong thing hits you.  WorkAway.info is a great website to find ways to volunteer your services to get free accomodations.  Teach English to Chinese children for great rates.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

46: Travel Myths to Ignore (Early 2019 Travel Plans)

January 17, 2019

People have all kinds of fears about traveling. We attempt to tell the truth on a few of the travel myths that are keeping people from engaging in the experiences of a lifetime. From street food to duty-free costs to transportation. You cannot believe all that you read and we hope to shed some light on the topics that might be holding you back. Don’t know the language? Worried about your age? Scared to take a bus? We discuss it in this episode of busting Travel Myths. We also give details on where we plan to travel to through May of this year. Main Topics Covered: Early 2019 Travel Plans Travel Myths to Ignore Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out all of the PARTNERS that have made our lives easy while traveling the world.  Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John We breakdown our travel plans for 2019 but you can always find out where we are NOW here.  The world is safer than ever and there is actually data to support it.  There are all types of people in the world and we experienced that in Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat).  Travel does not have to be expensive like we experienced in the Galapagos Islands on a Budget.  Paracas, Peru was an incredible trip that helped us meet travelers of all ages.  Transportation is not scary. We have taken busses, trains, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles. Even the bus ride hugging mountains on our way to Dhermi Albania (Incredible Beaches) was easy.  The train while in Vietnam Travel to see the beauty of the countryside was awesome.  The alcohol in Singapore can be crazy expensive. Grab a bottle at the airport when you land.  American sports are not important around the world. Soccer is king. This blew my mind. Most notably the amazing time we had in Lisbon, Portugal.  The Vietnam War by Ken Burns is an eye-opening documentary that helped us understand what the Vietnamese went through to help us interact better.  First They Killed My Father about a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge in Cambodia is a moving documentary.  Please remember, when you travel you are a GUEST in their country. Be courteous. Be kind. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

45: Who We Are, Why We Did It, and Where We’ve Been

January 10, 2019

Matt and Nikki Javit are currently traveling the world full time with just a single backpack each after leaving the US in February 2017. They have been to places like Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, and The Taj Mahal, and amazing cities like Hong Kong, Venice, Cape Town. During their travels, they find creative ways to keep down their costs, get involved in the communities, and network with locals while having a great time. Before they left to travel full time, they loved their careers in Indianapolis Indiana where Nikki was a clinical pharmacist, and Matt was a Technology Services Sales Professional. They enjoyed hanging out with friends, spending quality time with family, and volunteering in the community but they loved to travel. So after dreaming about it for a while, they decided to take the leap of faith. This episode revisits how they began the journey, the history before it took off, and why they love to travel so much. Main Topics Covered: Basic Backgrounds of Who we are Why We Love Travel Why We Did It How We Do It Recap of the Journey so Far Links Mentioned in the Episode: Be Sure to Check out the Partners Page of ALL the Companies we Love and Support Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link - http://bit.ly/FreeSitPJ Find All of the places that we have been on the Journey So Far Page.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

44: Vietnam with a Friend (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quy Nhon)

December 20, 2018

Back in Da Nang where we have fallen in love with the Vietnamese culture and this time to meet a friend from the US. We spent almost two full weeks seeing Da Nang, Hoi An, Quy Nhon, Hanoi, and Ninh Binh. With such a wide variety of locations, it was a truly authentic experience. We sat through the crazy rains that would last for days, partied with locals late into the night, ate local food like goat and eel, and went CRAZY as the Vietnam Football team won the AFF Cup. It was a wild, wet, and exciting time to be in Vietnam and we enjoyed every minute of it. Listen along as we describe our time on our first train trip, a private concert with talented musicians, and climbing way above the rice fields of Ninh Binh for epic photos. Main Topics Covered: Da Nang Quy Nhon Hanoi Ninh Binh Links Mentioned in the Episode: If you want to hear our other podcast on our time in Vietnam please listen to Podcast 11: Vietnam Travel.  We had a blast hanging out with our friend, Darice, from the US for two weeks.  Walking through the Con Market in Da Nang can be pretty eye-opening and wild.  Be sure to download GRAB before heading to Vietnam to cover all of your transportation needs.  We booked our train travel from Da Nang to Quy Nhon through 12Go.Asia - it was easy to navigate and the ride was awesome.  Quy Nhon has a gorgeous beach line and plenty of sand to lay out and enjoy the sun.  Nguyen Nga Center has handmade goods made by local Vietnamese with disabilities (silk scarves, bookmarks, clothing, etc.). We had a private concert where the locals played the seether, moon guitar, drums, and guitar for us while we sipped on tea.  In Hanoi, we loved our stay in the Old Quarter at Hanoi Elite Hotel. It’s an 11-room boutique hotel located on a side street right off of the famous BEER street.  Staying in or near the Old Quarter is a must. You will get the most out of your experience if you stay near this part of the city. The Vietnam Football excitement was electric. We were in the heart of the Old Quarter for the final game of the AFF Suzuki Cup and walked around to capture the celebration afterward. It was nuts!  Schedule a tour to see Ninh Binh and all it has to offer. Epic views, great hikes, canoe trips, and bicycle rides. It was all wonderful to experience.  An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Foundation Training - The most important exercises for your back while you travel!  ExpressVPN - protect your information when you travel and connect to see your content that you are paying for Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

43: Phu Quoc (Fantasy Island of Vietnam)

December 13, 2018

Phu Quoc, Vietnam is an island south of Cambodia and Vietnam. We had the chance to spend 8 fun days there in the heart of the action and on a resort that will be a hot spot for the casino lovers. Both locations provided beautiful beach lines, amazing eats, and different entertainment options. In this podcast episode, we will discuss why we decided to visit this island in Vietnam and why we hope to go back someday. We talk about getting lost on the scooter that ended up viewing a gorgeous sunset, walking through the night market, and strolling along the endless sandy beaches. If you enjoy fun in the sun, this location is for you. Main Topics Covered: Phu Quoc, Vietnam Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today.  Mizzen + Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible.  Phu Quoc Villa that we stayed at with Airbnb while on the island. We really loved the value of this place.  Phu Quoc has two of the best coastlines in Vietnam.  Our favorite Vegan spot in Phu Quoc was in the heart of Duong Dong and near the Night Market - Khanh Ly Vegetarian Street Food.  You have to check out the Phu Quoc Night Market while you are there. It is fun to see all of the different kinds of food offered. Our luxury stay at the Radisson Blu Phu Quoc was unbelievable. Once everything is finalized with the casino, this place will be majestic.  Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] is something I am looking forward to again.  Here is a video of our scooter ride through Duong Dong on a Sunday evening. It shows you how the people really live. Thinking about taking a South Africa Guys’ Trip [Ultimate Adventure Travel]. Make sure to get all of the insight.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

42: Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat)

December 06, 2018

Our adventure to Cambodia included celebrating the Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) while in Phnom Penh, discovering the beauty of Siem Reap, and taking in the mystery of Angkor Wat. The massive celebration in the country’s capital city brought in over a million visitors and we had the chance to take in the festivities alongside them. Eating insects, watching the boat races, and hearing the fireworks were all part of the 3-day massive party. Our time in Siem Reap helped us understand why it is a backpackers heaven with many pubs, cheap dining options, and the bucket list mystery of Angkor Wat. The magnificent Temple from the 12th century will leave you asking questions of what was built. Our journey to Cambodia was amazing. Listen as we share what we learned along the way. Main Topics Covered: Cambodia High Level Phnom Penh Siem Reap Angkor Wat Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website to find a great way to travel for free and get your discount by using our link Our condo in Phnom Penh through Airbnb was exceptional and we really enjoyed our stay there.  When we were in Phnom Penh, we celebrated Bon Om Touk with the people around the country.  I ate crickets and roaches because it was available ;) It wasn’t too bad either.  The Tokyo Barber Shop is an awesome shop in Phnom Penh that really knows how to give a great treatment.  Our stay at the Rose Apple Boutique Bed and Breakfast was great while in Siem Reap. It had all of the comforts that you could wish for.  We really enjoyed working out at the Angkor Interfitness. It had awesome equipment, a yoga room, and a sauna.  Angkor Wat has been high on my bucket list for a while based on all of the history.  It is crazy how it lines up with other mystical sites around the world mathematically described in this short video.  Be sure to have your complete legal names on all of your travel documents so you can leave the airport properly. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

41: Beautiful Bali, Indonesia (4 Weeks in Travel Paradise)

November 29, 2018

We had the luxury of spending four fantastic weeks in Bali, Indonesia. It was a location that was highly anticipated on our journey as we heard stories from other travelers and had seen its beauty in the movies several times. To be in Bali long enough that we found our favorite places to eat, where to work out, and get used to the daily scooter lifestyle was great. We took a couple of fun day trips, met several kind locals, and found out why people consider Bali ‘Heaven on Earth’. In this podcast episode, we cover why we hope to go back, our top places to visit on the island, and why you will want to add it near the top of your travel bucket list. Main Topics Covered: Bali, Indonesia Travel Tips Overview Whitewater Rafting and Enjoying Ubud Day Trip to Nusa Penida Links Mentioned in the Episode: Check out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Birch Boys Coffee - This is the coffee and tea that we love so much we had it shipped to us for our travels.  MooseJaw - A great website to get all of your adventure gear to have an excellent trip.  Our amazing loft on Airbnb that we stayed in while in Bali (Seminyak) for 4 weeks.  Be sure to use our Airbnb discount if you have never used Airbnb (our preferred way to travel) before.  Our favorite restaurants during our time in Bali include: Zula - delicious vegan options with a ton of flavor. Hard to beat the service and food options.  Tasty Vegan - an easy option with great pricing and delicious food. Off the busy road, in a hidden paradise.  Warung Bunana - a great local place for amazing roti and curry.  Batik Restaurant - great date night restaurant with a ton of amazing Thai food options.  Chai'Ba Street Kitchen & Bar - Amazing, top-notch India cuisine.  Local Flea Market with a lot of good deals in a very clean, welcoming atmosphere.  Potato Head Beach Club - World class beach club with night options.  La Favela - a great Brazilian-themed night spot for dancing, having a great time and hanging out with friends.  Louis and Friends Fitness - our gym for the 4 weeks where we loved working out, sauna time, and great people.  Our whitewater rafting trip in Ubud was hosted by the amazing adventure travel company Mason Adventures.  Ubud Monkey Forest is a great way to enjoy time with Monkeys and see them in their ‘natural’ habitat.  Tegalalang Rice Terraces - a chance to see how the farmers live in their beautiful surroundings. Also taste some coffee while you are there.  While in Angel’s Billabong I found this fisherman attempting to catch over the side of a huge cliff.  The views over Kelingking viewpoint on Nusa Penida are some of the most epic in the world.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

40: Thankful for Travel (Crazy Stories & Gratitude)

November 22, 2018

We have much to be grateful for this year, so we take some time to run through a few stories and situations that we are thankful for. We talk about some close calls that we got out of, friends that have made the journey even better, and experiences that have profoundly impacted our views. What a year! Enjoy this episode of gratitude and thanksgiving. Main Topics Covered: Thankfulness for the Year Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

39: Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know)

November 15, 2018

In this podcast episode, we share ideas for your 2019 travel wish list. We are not going to talk about the top 20 travel destinations around the world but focus on the locations that sometimes get overlooked. We look at 10 of our favorite spots for doing all the things we love to do - food, scooters, beaches, culture, history, festivals, music, meeting new friends and socializing. Our list includes Lisbon, Krakow, Greek Islands, Panama City, Da Nang, Sicily, San Pedro de Atacama, Koyasan, Alicante, and the Isle of Man. This may be the first time you are hearing about some of these locations. Tune in to find out why you need to consider each for 2019. Main Topics Covered: Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know) Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index recently came out. We have been to over half of the top 20 list including the TOP destination Bangkok, Thailand. Other cities include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Tokyo, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Bali, Osaka, Pattaya. This is our list of top cities to visit in 2019 beyond that top 20. Matt freaking loves Lisbon, Portugal for so many reasons. We get into a bunch of them on Podcast 18: Lisbon, Portugal (Our Second Trip to the Romantic & Festive City).  We also described Lisbon Portugal – 14 Top Things to Do in that detailed post.  The history and culture to be found in Krakow, Poland is endless. We discuss it in great detail in Podcast 22: Poland – Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz.  Greek Islands! You gotta love it! We highlight our favorites in Podcast 21: Five Greek Islands We Love (with Tips and Tricks).  Panama City, Panama is a treasure in the same time zone. In Podcast 24: Panama City, Casco Viejo, and San Blas (Sailing Adventure in Panama) we talk all about our love for this Central American location.  You all know that Da Nang, Vietnam is one of our favorite places on Earth. Check out Podcast 11: Vietnam Travel to hear more about why you should go.  If you like poker check out Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] to learn about how it goes down there.  Would you want to see motorcycles flying by at 180+MPH? Listen to Podcast 16: Sicily and Isle of Man (2 Very Different Island Experiences) for those details.  Nikki is in love with San Pedro de Atacama. After you listen to her passion on this episode check out San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (The Best Itinerary with Videos).  If that is not enough, also check out San Pedro de Atacama Travel Tips (Top 7) and then book your trip.  Koyasan, Japan is one of the most unique places on the planet. So spiritual. Listen to Podcast 32: Japan Travel Part 2 (Sumo Wrestling, Geisha, and the Countryside).  Oh, Sicily! We loved you for so many reasons. Castellammare del Golfo stood out for many reasons. Read Sicily Restaurants (Top 5) That We Can’t Get Out of Our Minds to get inspired.  The beaches of Alicante, Spain are some of the best in the world. Listen to Podcast 19: Alicante (Spain) to hear why we fell in love with this beautiful destination.  If that is not enough, read Alicante Spain (The Best Beach City in Spain) and you will want to pack your bathing suit immediately.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

38: Back to Travel Basics (13 Tips to Think About)

November 08, 2018

We have been asked to talk about the idea of taking a few steps back as ‘expert travelers’ and how would we handle traveling if we started over based on our current knowledge. Essentially share tips to someone that has never left the US or is considering an adventure that is outside of their comfort zone. We love this topic! We sometimes take our years of travel of experience for granted and forget that we first had to walk before we could run. So here are a few of the TOP things we would consider if we were back to start over in our travel career. Main Topics Covered: Back to the Travel Basics Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  We love reading and have created a list of our favorite books with the description on why we love them so much.  Get your PASSPORT early (NOW)! Don’t wait until you NEED to get it and have to rush. Find someone you can relate to on social media and build a friendship. Ask questions, get advice. Start traveling LOCAL. You don’t need to make the big leap to travel internationally if you haven’t traveled local yet. Begin to build your social profile on sites like TrustestHouseSitters, Workaway, and Airbnb, now. By having a strong profile now, you will be able to save money in the future! Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link Take small travel steps. Get in shape! By getting in shape you will be able to enjoy your travel adventures more. Understand the technology BEFORE you leave. Skyscanner, Google Flights, Uber, Airbnb.  Eatigo is the app in Asia that is AWESOME for saving money at restaurants!  Use all of the technology but bring PAPER if you can. Having your plans printed could save a ton of time and effort. Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Don’t overcomplicate the journey with two many destinations or short layovers. Remember that you don’t have to do everything on your trip - Podcast 13: Traveler’s Guilt (Make Sure You Do You).  Don’t be afraid to act like a local and ask ‘dumb’ questions. Wear sunscreen and do other common sense things. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

37: When Traveling Sucks (Things We Hate About Our Journey)

November 01, 2018

We often get asked after telling someone about our journey ‘what is something bad that has happened?’ or ‘what do you miss the most’ or ‘have you been in danger or harms way?’ People LOVE negativity and hearing about bad stuff. It’s the reason that everyone slows down for a car accident or clicks on the horrible headlines that fill the news websites…..Yes, our lives are amazing and we don’t have anything to complain about BUT everyone wants to hear about the bad stuff that happens to others. It may be the reason you decided to listen to this podcast today...so...these are the things we HATE about traveling. We are not going to mention missing our family or friends. That’s a given and so cliche. We are going to discuss the stuff that annoys us during this adventure. Main Topics Covered: When Traveling Sucks Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Foundation Training - The most important exercises for your back while you travel!  ExpressVPN - protect your information when you travel and connect to see your content that you are paying for. Nikki mentioned our Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary (9 Cities to See).  We talked about the crazy showers while doing Cusco Peru Travel (Ultimate Guide 2018 ).  Even though it was gorgeous there the beds weren’t the best in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (The Best Itinerary with Videos).  We discuss the bad toilets that we found on our Thailand Adult Trip (Bars, Night Markets, & an Island).  Nikki talks about looking for a doctor after hurting her knee in Perdika Greece – Top 10 Best Travel tips (2018).  We always have to be on guard even when did my trek in Cinque Terre Hiking Tips (Updated Guide).  The best ATM card to have on the road is without a doubt Schwab. No international transaction fees!  No, I can’t watch sports on ‘time’ but if I wanted to I can screen them live with ExpressVPN, the best VPN in the world. Use our link for a discount.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world.

36: Singapore and Kuala Lumpur Travel (2 Kinds of Awesome)

October 25, 2018

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Singapore are both great travel destinations that have their own flavor. While staying in the Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur, we had the chance to take in Chinatown, several of the massive malls, and check out the Petronas Twin Towers. There are temples to visit, tons of street vendors with spicy food, and street entertainment every night of the week. Singapore is in a class of its own living as a city in the future. It is clean, safe, and luxurious. Beyond the beauty of the downtown area, you can visit the ethnic neighborhoods of Little India, Chinatown, and Arab Street. We give you the advice you need to make the most of your time in both of these beautiful destinations. Main Topics Covered: Kuala Lumpur Singapore Links Mentioned in the Episode: An easy way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Skyscanner - To find all of the latest flight deals and creative ways to travel, check out - https://PassportJoy.com/Scan Tony Robbins will help you get to your true potential - find all of his products at https://PassportJoy.com/Tony While in Kuala Lumpur we stayed on the outskirts of Bukit Bintang in a working class neighborhood. It is close to night markets, street entertainment, and plenty of bars.  It rained a lot while we were in Malaysia. You might want to check on the best times to travel before booking your trip.  Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur is a great place to find deals on knock-offs.  Sri Mahamariamman temple is a site to see. Extremely unique.  I attended the TPC Kuala Lumpur PGA event after my buddy Vince came through from the States with a VIP entry.  Singapore has the world’s best airport. It is gorgeous and something you should spend extra time visiting.  We attended ITB Asia which is a large Asia-focused travel convention. Definitely worth our time as we learned a great deal about the travel sector. We found that Singapore has a lot of similarities to Hong Kong: 96 Hour Travel Guide.  The Marina Bay Sands is an epic building with a mall, casino, and fun waterfront area.  Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle is a humble street-food stall and the world’s cheapest Michelin star restaurant.  Singapore is ranked as the Best Country for Expats to Work In.  Be sure to check out World Barber Shop Adventures to find out the differences of barber shops around the world.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

35: Overtourism (What!?!)

October 18, 2018

Overtourism is a term that is being thrown around a bunch recently as the travel industry has hit peaks in specific locations around the world. Based on our experience, conversations during our journey, and research on travel, we express our opinions on the subject. We give examples of how we have been affected and what the future might look like. Main Topics Covered: Overtourism (our thoughts on the subject) Links Mentioned in the Episode: The best way to support us is by checking out our Amazon Store. We list all of the items we love there.  Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John -  Seven Corners Insurance - The Travel Insurance that we use as we Travel Full time One of the ‘Overtourism’ articles that we are referring to in the podcast.  The definition of overtourism from Collins.  We enjoyed Venice on a Budget (9 Tips to Save Money) and think you should as well. Be sure to discover all of the Cusco Peru Day Trips (Top 8 Sites) when you go there.  When you see the chaos of Dubrovnik be sure to do the Croatia Islands Budget (Hopping Itinerary).  The Leaning Tower of Pisa was nuts when we did our Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary (9 Cities to See).  The unprecedented expansion of the global middle class from Brookings.  Da Nang built the Hands Bridge Vietnam [Gorgeous Gold of Da Nang] in order to drive additional traffic.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

34: Thailand Adult Trip (Bars, Night Markets, and an Island)

October 11, 2018

With our sixth trip back to Thailand, we had a chance to explore with our friends that were visiting from the US. It was a fun-filled ten days showing them all that we love about Bangkok, exploring the island of Koh Samet together, and taking in the craziness of Pattaya. In this episode, we discuss Muay Thai fighting, street food, the adult life options, and why Pattaya is built for the male western traveler. Beaches, beer, and scooters. Buckle up. Main Topics Covered: Bangkok Koh Samet Pattaya Why Thailand Rocks Links Mentioned in the Episode: Google Fi - the best phone plan for international travelers Nixplay - unbelievable digital frame to share all of your travel photos Our friends, Chris and Arlene, joined us for ten fun-filled days in Thailand.  If you want more details on Bangkok (this was our 6th trip) check out Podcast 8: In LOVE with Bangkok (and a Visit to the Hospital).  Sukhumvit is our favorite place to stay when in Bangkok.  The Patpong Night Market is wild as hell and a ton of fun. Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) is a must-visit location in Bangkok.  Scooters are part of the culture and a great way to see the city and get around.  Koh Samet has beautiful views, an authentic vibe, and plenty of beaches to chill on.  Ao Phrao Beach is the best beach on the island of Koh Samed and is clean, warm, and clear.   We have also visited Ko Phi Phi Islands, Thailand (Incredible Beaches) which are more active than the quiet Koh Samet vibe.  Pattaya is an adult playground with plenty of nightlife options.  Muay Thai Fighting is a must-see event if you love sports. The competition is fierce and the rituals are fantastic. We attended Max Muay Thai for 2,000 baht each. Yes, the price is steep but it was well worth it.  Pattaya is different in Patong with the range of bars and size. We discuss The Insane Nightlife of Patong, Thailand (What to do in Patong 2018). Both are crazy in their own way.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

33: World Barber Shop Adventures (Why, How, & What’s Next?)

October 04, 2018

In this podcast episode, we discuss the new docuseries World Barber Shop Adventures. We present how the idea came about, why there is so much passion behind the project and our plans for the future of the series. We also discuss fun stories from the barber chair before we started taping and how all of the production comes together. Main Topics Covered: World Barber Shop Adventures Links Mentioned in the Episode: TrustedHouseSitters - Join the pet care revolution - Pet Sit, House Sit, or have your pets watched while you are on vacation World Barber Shop Adventures promotion video My post on why I am so passionate about barber shops, the craft, and experience in the chair The full World Barber Shop Adventures Series Playlist on YouTube To Subscribe to the channel: http://bit.ly/YouTubeSubMJ The inspiration came when telling my story of traveling to different barbers around the world in Bucharest, Romania My production assistance comes from Austin in the US. He is an awesome young talent.  The neck shave in Jammu, India was a bit intense at times The old gentlemen in Hong Kong were a bunch of fun.  The crew in Male Ego in South Africa are top notch. Be careful with the nose wax treatment . Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

32: Japan Travel Part 2 (Sumo Wrestling, Geisha, and the Countryside)

September 27, 2018

Our six weeks in Japan were unforgettable. Getting the chance to see how cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto differ was quite an experience. Mixing in time along the countryside in Kyotango was a treat. The stillness and peacefulness of our lakeside guesthouse were fantastic as we listened to the water while falling asleep at night. Sumo Wrestling was a highlight and a sports bucket list event I have imagined for years. Spotting a Geisha in Kyoto was an incredible moment to capture the beauty on film in a rare opportunity. We discuss all of this and more as we present our final three weeks in the remarkable country and give our insights on why you should add it to your travel list soon. Main Topics Covered: Kyoto Kyotango Tokyo Links Mentioned in the Episode: Books We Love - Discover the books we have read and enjoyed during and before our travels Be sure to check out Podcast 29: Japan Travel Part 1 (Our First 3 Weeks) to listen to us arriving in Tokyo, and spending time in Kobe, Osaka, Koyasan, and Nara.  Near the Kamogawa River in Kyoto, Pontocho is a lively alley with restaurants lining each side.  The Nishiki Market is an interesting place to spend a day. Here, you can find delicious treats, handmade traditional crafts, ceramics, textiles, and more. Our time in Kyoto was during Typhoon Jebi which caused great destruction. Luckily our area that we were visiting was not harmed.  Great timing allowed us to witness a Geisha on here way to her Friday duties.  Kyotango is a beautiful country area of Japan on the west coast. We stayed at an amazing guesthouse with a wonderful family. Be sure to look up Atsushi and his family if you go.  The breakfasts were unbelievable. The fish were caught just feet away from where I ate it.  Having the chance to watch a Sumo Wrestling event was a treat and a sports bucket list item for me.  The Digital Art Museum in Tokyo has been getting a ton of press for it’s Instagram friendly displays. We enjoyed discovery the beauty on a rainy day.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

31: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires (Brazil & Argentina)

September 20, 2018

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Buenos Aires is one of the most romantic. And, the Iguazu Falls will have you in awe of the beauty, magnificence, and endless natural splendor. It has been unmatched in our travels around the world. 2.5 times the size of the Niagara falls, its the world’s largest waterfalls system, and rightly named to the New 7 Wonders of Nature List and should be on everyone’s bucket list. This two-week trip was memorable for many reasons. We break down what you should consider while making your way to this remarkable part of the world in this week’s Passport Joy Travel Talk with Nikki and Matt Javit. Main Topics Covered: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Iguazu Falls Buenos Aires, Argentina Links Mentioned in the Episode: Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today.  Mizzen and Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible.  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of the world’s largest cities and definitely one of the most beautiful. Having a private tour guide can really enhance your experience. Our guide took us to a neighborhood to watch a Street Soccer (Futbol) in Rio Brazil We discuss more about the benefits of our guide in Rio Brazil (Top 6 Things to Do) We loved the delicious food at Bar do Mineiro.  The Bip Bip Bar in Rio is one of my favorite bars in the world.  The Iguazu Falls, the world’s largest waterfalls system, are rightly named to the New 7 Wonders of Nature List and should be on everyone’s bucket list. This video of us going into the heart of the Iguazu Falls shows the beauty of this amazing location.  Our post on the Iguazu Falls Brazil & Argentina gives additional insight on the journey with photos.  Tomas was an extraordinary travel guide in Buenos Aires, Argentina and we highly recommend him if you are visiting the area.  Be sure to check the currency situation before arriving in Buenos Aires as it is often changing. Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

30: Machu Picchu and Cusco, Peru (Bucket List Journey)

September 13, 2018

Visiting Machu Picchu is a bucket list travel location for many travelers. It was absolutely a location that we had to see on our journey. While making your trip to see the historic Inca ruins, you will likely spend time in Cusco, Peru. We think you should visit for more than just a day or two discovering this historic city. With some much to uncover in the city and countless day trips to be had to see Inca ruins nearby, we stayed longer than a week in Cusco. In this episode, we give you the tips and insight that you need to have a good time, from transportation to safety to what foods to expect. Listen to our conversation on Cusco, Peru and discovering the unbelievable Machu Picchu ruins on this week’s Passport Joy Travel Talk with Nikki and Matt Javit. Main Topics Covered: Cusco, Peru Tips Discovery Cusco and the Things to See Top Day Trips around Cusco Machu Picchu (& Huayna Picchu) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Blink - the best way to monitor your home while you are away and to keep an eye on your travel stay Priority Pass - Take advantage of lounges while you travel. It pays for itself pretty quickly.  Cusco, Peru, the former capital of the Inca empire, is used by most, as a layover point for thousands of travelers on their way to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. Cusco Peru Guide (Simple tips to save you time, money and keep you safe) is a wonderful post with a great deal of information.  The post gives insight on transportation, food, safety, altitude sickness, accommodations, and markets. Cusco Peru Travel (Ultimate Guide 2018) gives you an idea of the locations within Cusco that we mentioned and the details of what they each offer.  Cusco Peru Day Trips (Top 8 Sites) has the list of epic day trips that we took while in Cusco highlighting our tip 4 locations of Moray, Tipón, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo.  The Best View of Machu Picchu - Climbing Huayna Picchu (An Epic Journey) details the journey up the epic mountain of Huayna Picchu with photos and videos.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

29: Japan Travel Part 1 (Our First 3 Weeks)

September 06, 2018

Our first three weeks traveling Japan have been unforgettable. Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi), Kobe, Osaka, Koyasan, Nara. There are so many positive things that we will share in this podcast episode. Railway system, umbrellas, 7-Eleven’s, vending machines, baseball games, Temples, and incredibly kind people. We love our time here. Halfway through our time in this gorgeous country and we have so much to share. Tune in to find all that we are enjoying, experiencing, and observing as we explore one of the unique cultures in the world. Main Topics Covered: Japan Travel Part 1 (Our First 3 Weeks) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Foundation Training - The most important exercises for your back while you travel!  ExpressVPN - protect your information when you travel and connect to see your content that you are paying for Our route so far in Japan - Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi), Kobe, Osaka, Koyasan, Nara.  Japan is a economic powerhouse globally.  The railway system in Japan is complex and systematic. It’s unbelievable.  7-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart - the convenient store culture is awesome. The women all love umbrellas no matter what the weather.  Vending machines in Japan are everywhere! I used Meetup.com to connect with eight local business people to discuss ideas and projects that we are working to build. Check out Instagram of the guy bending over backward to take Nikki’s photo.  On Saturday night, I ended up going to a bar to grab a drink (Nikki headed home) and, WOW, did I have a blast with a bunch of locals.  The baseball game was out of this world. Check this video where the fans all blew up balloons then let them off at the same time.  Okunoin Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Japan.  Koyasan is full of beautiful Buddhist temples The local relationship with the tiny deer in Nara are a bit controversial as you can tell with Nikki’s passion. Though they are beautiful.  We will update on the final 3 weeks in an upcoming podcast. Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

28: Chile Travel – Santiago, Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama (& Other Beauty)

August 30, 2018

Chile has many destinations that you will want to add to your travel list. Santiago as a mega city but beautiful location, Vina del Mar, and Valparaiso as coastal paradises, Antofagasta as a growing hotbed on the coast, and San Pedro de Atacama for being one of the most gorgeous locations on the planet. We loved our time in Chile as we started off on this journey around the world. We still have many friends from our time in this beautiful country as well as fond memories of climbing steep mountains, walking along gorgeous coastlines, and dancing the night away in the bars. We will definitely be back again someday to take it all in again. Main Topics Covered: Chile Travel - Santiago, Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama Links Mentioned in the Episode: Books We Love - Discover the books we have read and enjoyed during and before our travels You can read the complete Chile Travel Tips (Tipping, transportation and wine 2018) guide on this page.  Propinas (tips) can be confusing for travelers. Spanish is the official language in Chile but it’s not your normal Spanish. Public Transportation is very good but can be confusing. Sundays are very quiet in Chile. Very few businesses are open. Find the Santiago, Chile [Top Things to Do in 2018] in this great guide.  Spicy Chile Walking Tour was a fantastic way to see the city!  Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are found along the Central Chilean Coast and have very different vibes.  Here is a video of the gorgeous beach near Vina del Mar.  The graffiti in Valparaiso is unbelievable and some of the best we have seen anywhere in the world. After traveling to Argentina, we spent time in Puerto Varas, Chile (Travel Guide 2018).  Antofagasta, Chile was a cultural treat as the people gave us insight into the ways of the Chilean people.  San Pedro de Atacama is a highlight in our Journey So Far. We enjoyed every minute of it.  Find the Ultimate Guide on San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (The Best Itinerary with Videos) in our updated post.  San Pedro de Atacama Travel Tips (Top 7) is also a great guide you should read that breaks down the places that we really loved.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

27: Galapagos Islands (One of Earth’s Most Unique Locations)

August 23, 2018

One of the most unique and untouched places on the planet, the Galapagos Islands, was a bucket list location for us as we set out on our journey. We loved taking in the gorgeous beaches, hidden diving opportunities, and exotic animals. Swimming with sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and stingrays made the trip unforgettable. We managed to make the trip on a budget and found creative ways to save money and make the most of our time. In this podcast episode, we share tips to help you have a fantastic trip to the islands off the coast of Ecuador that will leave you wishing for more chances to jump into the Pacific Ocean. Main Topics Covered: Galapagos Islands - Tips to Enjoy and Save Money Links Mentioned in the Episode: TrustedHouseSitters - Join the pet care revolution - Pet Sit, House Sit, or have your pets watched while you are on vacation The original post on traveling the Galapagos Islands on a Budget breaks down a lot of the details of the podcast.  The Galápagos Islands is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It's considered one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing. A province of Ecuador, it lies about 1,000km off its coast. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos' species later inspired his theory of evolution.  We flew in from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and stayed on the islands for 9 days.  Travel during “low season”- Many tour operators consider the months of April and May and September and October to be their “low season” or “slow season” months. Land Based Approach vs. Cruise (we decided on the land-based day trips). Check out our two Youtube videos of our amazing trip to the Galapagos Islands to see all of the beautiful animals and gorgeous landscapes- here - and - here. Relax and feel the beauty of Tortuga Bay Beach (on the best beaches in the world) from this video  Be sure to bring water shoes for this adventures. It will help you get in and out of the ocean with no feet issues.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

26: Estonia to Qatar Night Trip (Reflection of 18 Months)

August 16, 2018

We cannot believe how fast the last 18 months have gone on the road. In this episode, we reflect back on the journey and detail all of the places we have visited so far. The path has been fantastic. We then talk through the last week of traveling which took us to the beautiful city of Tallinn, Estonia for 5 days to enjoy the thriving technology hub of Europe. We enjoyed walking around the walled town and meeting other travelers. Then we discuss our flights from Tallinn to Copenhagen, Denmark to Doha, Qatar to Tokyo, Japan. We made the most of our visit to Qatar scheduling a night tour of the city which was amazing. Main Topics Covered: Overview - Reflection of the last 18 Months Traveling Tallinn, Estonia to Copenhagen to Doha, Qatar to Japan Links Mentioned in the Episode: Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John  Seven Corners Insurance - The Travel Insurance that we use as we Travel Full time  Find all of the updates from the last 18 months at the Our Journey So Far tab We just wrapped up our TrustedHouseSitters obligation and flew to Estonia We used a free walking tour in Tallinn to hear the deep history of the city and see the sites  We met some great travelers and locals using the Meetup app to find events to connect  We planned our long layovers in Copenhagen and Qatar in order to have a more relaxed travel experience. Be sure to be nice to all airline personnel because it will often pay off. I got emergency exit rows on both long flights for free. My buddy in Copenhagen told me to go to the ‘Top Shawarma spot in the world’ so I did. He was right, it was delicious.  We cannot stress enough how amazing the lounge access is with Priority Pass. We showered, ate meals, and had space while enjoying the lounges in the cities we flew through.  We scheduled a quick 4-hour night tour in Doha, Qatar during our layover and it was well worth it. The tour company did a wonderful job making sure we enjoyed the time in the city.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world   

25: Free Travel with Pet and House Sits (3 Weeks in Zurich)

August 09, 2018

Can you imagine having a free place to stay in amazing places like Paris, Tokyo, or Zurich? It is possible by taking care of pets and watching homes for vacationers in cities around the world. Do you need someone to watch your pets when you vacation but hate paying the fees of a kennel or pet sitter? This is a great way to have a responsible, verified person watch your home and take care of your pets for free. We break down all of the facts of pet sitting in this podcast episode. We also talk about our three weeks in Zurich, Switzerland and what we did to pass the time as we watched two sweet cats. Main Topics Covered: Pet Sitting and House Sitting Around the World Zurich Overview Links Mentioned in the Episode: Google Fi - the best phone plan for international travelers Nixplay - unbelievable digital frame to share all of your travel photos Look through the TrustedHouseSitters website and get your discount by using our link  For everyone’s safety and peace of mind, as well as their pet care credentials, all sitters have access to verification. Be sure to be creative when building your profile. Use Linkedin or Airbnb to show your good qualities. Try to build up your profile in your regional by doing house sits and pet sits near you and getting positive reviews. Wow! Zurich was expensive. Unbelievably so. I loved the small privately owned stores everywhere near Zurich like Eddie’s Whiskies Transportation in Switzerland is easy with the Train system. Find your easy routes on their website and Google Maps.  The view from above Zurich is beautiful on the tower at Uetliberg We loved visiting the small towns like Zug, Rapperswil, and Lucerne Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world 

24: Panama City, Casco Viejo, and San Blas (Sailing Adventure in Panama)

August 02, 2018

Have you ever wanted to discover the islands that look like the ones in the Corona commercials where there is a single palm tree with a small hut? Well, you can find about 360 of them just off the coast of Panama in the San Blas Islands. We had a wonderful time on a private yacht exploring the islands after spending time in Panama City and Casco Viejo. Panama is a beautiful place to visit to give yourself an international experience while not venturing too far away from the States. We highly recommend this destination for those that are looking to soak up the sun, enjoy an enjoyable cultural experience, and visit the most unique island colony in the world. Main Topics Covered: Panama City, Casco Viejo, and San Blas Links Mentioned in the Episode: Books We Love - Discover the books we have read and enjoyed during and before our travels Panama is in Central America bordering the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.  We stayed in an Airbnb but we enjoyed visiting the Hard Rock Hotel while in Panama City.  The Panama Papers are 11.5 million leaked documents that detail financial and attorney–client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities.  Casco Viejo, Panama is the beautiful, historic district of Panama City dating back to 1673.  Manolol Carocol is the restaurant we talk about that we enjoyed but is now permanently closed. Casa Sucre is my favorite cafe that is now much more than just a great place to get coffee.  San Blas Islands are a dream destination on the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.  The sailboat couple that we went with no longer operates in Panama. Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Discover all of the destinations that we have traveled to so far on our epic journey around the world.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

23: Croatia Island Travel (Yacht Week & 2 More Weeks Exploring)

July 26, 2018

There are many ways to see the beauty of the Croatia Islands whether it is with a fantastic company like The Yacht Week or on your own schedule using ferries to find the hidden treasures within each island. Hvar, Milna, Vis - they are all worth your time. Croatia is a country of fewer than 5 million people but in the top 20 in tourist destinations around the world because the Adriatic Sea gives a gorgeous setting whether on land or out on the sea. We discuss why we loved Croatia on our first visit using The Yacht Week to hang out with friends (new and old) and why we went back to island hop using the ferries for over two weeks. Main Topics Covered: Croatia Islands (The Yacht Week and Two More Weeks of Discovery) Links Mentioned in the Episode: Birch Boys Coffee - This is the coffee and tea that we love so much we had it shipped to us for our travels.  MooseJaw - A great website to get all of your adventure gear to have an excellent trip.  Croatia ranked among top 20 (18th) most popular tourist destinations in the world. The Yacht Week is the sailing yacht company that we used to see Croatia on a boat with friends  There are two main ferry companies (Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka) that operate between the islands at very affordable rates  Dubrovnik is a gorgeous fortress like city We used Airbnb during our Croatia Island visit  Zaton veliki is a quaint little town with 3 private beaches and several local restaurants, cafes, and bars overlooking the crystal clear, turquoise sea.  Fans from the Game of Thrones can be seen wearing costumes and taking tours in the streets of Dubrovnik.  We rode the ferry from Dubrovnik to Milna.  Milna is a quaint little town with a very peaceful vibe, located on the island of Brac. We opted to stay just outside of Hvar Town (15-minute walk) to keep our cost down on both food and accommodation. The tiny, quaint island of Vis is known for its vast landscapes of vineyards and wineries. It is the perfect place to get some rest and relaxation. Ferry from Vis to Split using Jadrolinija - purchase tickets online in advance.  Kaštela is located conveniently by the airport, and is quite charming!  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

22: Discovering Poland – Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz (And a Bit of Bucharest, Romania)

July 19, 2018

Visiting Poland for the first time was educational, entertaining, and a bit heartbreaking. Krakow, Warsaw, and Auschwitz have a history that has been told around the world. Many movies have attempted to depict Polish life in the times of war and uprising. Walking the streets of these cities gave us a better sense of what had been and the bright future that lies ahead. Now Krakow and Warsaw are growing multicultural business hubs that are gaining the investment of global corporations. The pubs, restaurants, and nightlife are at the level of the other top European cities. In this podcast episode, we discuss why we really enjoyed our three weeks visiting Poland as well as 8 days in Bucharest, Romania, and why we think you should consider visiting these Eastern European locations in the very near future. Main Topics Covered: Discovering Poland’s Pride in Warsaw, Krakow, and Auschwitz Links Mentioned in the Episode: Books We Love - Discover the books we have read and enjoyed during and before our travels A great way to learn the history of Poland in an animated video. Be sure to watch all 3 parts We experienced exciting horse races at Derby Day in Warsaw at Tor Sluzewiec Beyonce and Jay-Z performed in Warsaw and the crowd was electric I played a poker tournament in Warsaw, Poland at Hit Casino Quantum Fitness in Warsaw, Poland was probably the best gym I have to seen since traveling Met with my long lost ‘cousin’ Natasha Dziewit (that is how you spell Javit in Polish).  We stayed in the Jewish Quarters (Kazimierz) during our stay in Krakow, Poland. For the best walking tours in Warsaw, Krakow, and other cities in Poland be sure to use this company I would suggest (re)watching the award-winning movie Schindler's List before traveling to Krakow and Auschwitz The range of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Warsaw and Krakow were more than we found anywhere else in the world. The Pearl Jam concert in Krakow was unbelievable!  I attended a co-work space in Krakow for over a week, and it had everything I needed to be productive.  Smalec is the lard and bacon spread that I tried while in Poland. The best pierogies in Krakow visit Pirozki U Vicenta in the Jewish District For online booking for Auschwitz and Birkenau use https://visit.auschwitz.org/ Old Town Bucharest, Romania has a wide range of pubs, restaurants, and nightlife Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

21: Five Greek Islands We Love (with Tips and Tricks) and 4 Books Reviewed

July 12, 2018

We have been fortunate to spend time on five beautiful islands of Greece - Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Corfu, and Aegina. The beauty of these Greek Islands does not stop with the fabulous beaches or tasty food. In this podcast episode, we discuss why we enjoyed our time so much and why we highly recommend travelers visiting the islands as well. We share tips and tricks that you need to think about before your visit that can save you time and stress. We also discuss four books that have changed us recently that you might want to read as well. Enjoy! Main Topics Covered: 5 Islands of Greece We Love (with Tips and Tricks) Four Books that Have Changed us Lately Links Mentioned in the Episode: Skyscanner - To find all of the latest flight deals and creative ways to travel  Tony Robbins will help you get to your true potential - find all of his products at https://PassportJoy.com/Tony There are thousands of Greek Islands and many to discover that are inhabited and inviting to tourists On one trip a few years ago we visited Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros.  If you are comfortable be sure to rent a scooter or ATV to get around the islands and see the beauty. Be careful to have your meds and money. There may not be an ATM or pharmacy available. Drink plenty of Mythos Beer while on the island. Very tasty.  The Mykonos nightlife is INSANE - be sure to check out the DJ listing before your trip in order to get tickets to a show you want.  Santorini is a romantic, volcanic island full of colorful beaches everywhere. Paros, unlike Mykonos and Santorini, does NOT have an airport. It is a little harder to get to but well worth it. Built around two bays, charming interior village. The private sailing cruise company we used in Paros was M Zeppos - They are extremely professional and make it a great day out.  Be careful using Google Maps on the island of Corfu. It wasn’t always correct. Perdika Village is a small fishing village located on the island of Aegina, Greece.  Check out Matt’s hikes in this video from atop Perdika Be careful along the beaches and coastline with rocks and sea urchins. We suggest these water shoes to help you enjoy your time.  A video of the sea urchin as it moved in my hand before we ate them .  Check out the drunken mussels I made that we ate on the roof of our hotel with friends.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  Books we mentioned: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport Will Power Doesn't Work by Benjamin Hardy Something Like Happy by Eva Woods  What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey Be sure to check out all of the BOOKS WE LOVE and download the list Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

20: Volunteering During Travel (Voluntourism) & Using WorkAway for Free Stays

July 05, 2018

Have you been a part of volunteering efforts that helped you see different parts of the world? Have you thought about combining your passion for travel with your desire to help others in foreign lands? Is it even a good idea to go into foreign nations to help people that might not be asking for it? There are many difficult questions when it comes to voluntourism, the concept of volunteering during travel. We give our thoughts on the topic and the ways that we have given back on the road. We also discuss WorkAway (another form of volunteering) in more detail. We have completed four WorkAway’s on three different continents now. We give the good and bad on this fantastic way to see the world. Main Topics Covered: Volunteering During Travel Using WorkAway for Free Stays Links Mentioned in the Episode: Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today.  Mizzen and Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible.  The Most Efficient Non-For-Profit (Maybe in the WORLD) that we helped with in Ayacucho, Peru The kids we visited in the Ayacucho orphanage The boys in the orphanage in Kerala, India that had a ‘ball’ playing with the sporting equipment The Sports Academy in George, South Africa that I worked with to understand their needs and help with connections Books Mentioned: Toxic Charity – Robert D. Lupton When Helping Hurts – Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert Two Thought Provoking Articles on the Subject: TO STOP THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CHILDREN, STOP VOLUNTEERING IN ORPHANAGES HOW YOU CAN HELP CHILDREN WITHOUT VOLUNTEERING IN AN ORPHANAGE WorkAway.info is where you can find potential gigs and make your own profile  We spent on the island of Perdika, Greece - see our Top 10 Best Travel tips (2018) Best of Antofagasta Chile (Our first Workaway experience in a new city) A Quick Guide to Crazy Guayaquil Ecuador (Our 2 week experience) Hear more about South Africa in Podcast 4: South Africa: A Guys’ Trip Heaven (Couples Welcome too) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

19: Alicante (Spain) and Our Podcast Production Process

June 28, 2018

Alicante is a beautiful city along the southeastern coast of Spain. It has an international airport, excellent public transportation, beautiful public beaches, fun nightlife, and plenty of good restaurants. With just a little more than 300,000 people living here, Alicante has so much to do and might be the best coastal city in Spain! We talk about partying during the bonfires of San Juan and enjoying the flamenco dances in El Barrio Viejo. We then discuss our Podcast Production Process and how we put all of this magic together. Main Topics Covered: Alicante, Spain - Best Beaches in Europe Podcast Production Process Links Mentioned in the Episode: Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John Seven Corners Insurance - The Travel Insurance that we use as we Travel Full time Alicante Spain (The Best Beach City in Spain) Blog Post from our Travels We visited Alicante after spending time in Madrid with Friends After Alicante we were going to Venice on a Budget (9 Tips to save money); that’s why we decided on Alicante so we could fly direct.  Here is my video of Cliff Diving in Tabarca Island - I love this stuff!  A Video of Flamenco Dancing in Alicante, Spain - what an experience!  The video of the me in the Bonfires of San Juan - talk about an epic celebration!  Podcast Production Process: Our AMAZING team at PodcastEngineers.com completes the production of the podcast and were critical in the setup process.   We record using an Audio-technica ATR2100-USB that I packed with us before we left.  We use the free software Audacity to record our sessions.  Dropbox is our main storage software when sharing the audio files For all Podcast Publishing and Hosting, Libsyn is the gold standard.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

18: Lisbon, Portugal (Our Second Trip to the Romantic & Festive City)

June 21, 2018

Visiting Lisbon, Portugal for the second year in a row brought us memories for a lifetime. Lisbon is a romantic city that comes alive in June with many festivities. From Bica to Alfama to Bairro Alto - we cover the neighborhoods that we love and the hottest spots in each. Matt talks about one of his favorite travel stories of selling Jello Shots during the St. Anthony’s Day party on the streets of Bica. We then discuss the epic viewpoints, fun local markets, listening to local Fado music, and getting around on foot. We also discuss short day trips from Lisbon that are exciting destinations. We wrap up this podcast episode by discussing the idea of sharing tables at restaurants when you are traveling. It can be a great way to meet new people. Main Topics Covered: Lisbon, Portugal - Two Junes in a Row Sharing Tables in Restaurants while Traveling Links Mentioned in the Episode: Blink - the best way to monitor your home while you are away and to keep an eye on your travel stay Priority Pass - Take advantage of lounges while you travel. It pays for itself pretty quickly.  Our first post on Lisbon - Lisbon Portugal – 14 Top Things to Do (Fully updated for 2018) Airbnb Search Tip (Save a ton with this unique tool) - great way to find a wonderful location at an affordable price The Lisbon Hustle [Unbelievable Fun in Portugal] - Matt’s post on his Jello Shot Business in Bica  Video of me at the Lisbon Street Party with the bucket in Bica during the festivities The video of the street coming together for the Crazy Party in Bica on the day of the festivities  Our three favorite neighborhoods to visit and explore: Bica, Bairro Alto, and Alfama - where they party late Definitely visit a Fado restaurant while in Lisbon to hear the wonderful singing  My favorite viewpoint, Mirador Santa Catarina, overlooking the water and city A few of our favorite bars in Lisbon: Bicanela bar (small neighborhood bar in Bica - I love this team of bartenders) Tabacaria - the owners, Nelson & Joao, are great guys. They have another bar around the corner that I also highly recommend Pavilhao Chines Lisboa - Very unique bar in that it has a ton of artifacts and antiques  Thinking about traveling to Portugal? Consider also visiting Fatima. We describe why in Fatima, Portugal (The Ultimate Day Trip) 2018  Take a day trip to the beach - Praia Fonte da Telha - to enjoy the beauty of the water near Lisbon Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world 

17: Ireland Road Trip – Lush and Luxury (And how we do laundry)

June 14, 2018

We had a wonderful time on our road trip adventure around Ireland. We had a chance to see many of the beautiful locations - Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery, Cliffs of Moher, Curragh Races, Dublin, and the magnificent Powerscourt Hotel. Thanks to our friends from Indianapolis we had a different type of travel experience, spending time in hotels and living luxuriously in some of the more elegant places in Ireland. It was quite a treat! In this podcast episode, we also discuss how we do our laundry while traveling the world full time. It’s not always as easy as you would think. Main Topics Covered: Ireland Road Trip - Lush and Luxury Q&A: How do we do Laundry as we Travel Links Mentioned in the Episode: Google Fi - the best phone plan for international travelers Nixplay - unbelievable digital frame to share all of your travel photos We are grateful for the generosity of our friends on the trip The Shelbourne Dublin was a magnificent stay with its rich history of foreign travelers and beautiful rooms Giant’s Causeway is a natural wonderful that provides epic photo opportunities The Old Bushmills Distillery is a great way to understand the process and rich history of Irish Whiskey Get excellent food and enjoy the atmosphere of the Bushmills Inn The Dark Hedges provide unique photos of the trees that are in the Game of Thrones Favorite Bar in Belfast was the Harp Bar - Live Music available on certain nights Bill Burr was the comedian that we saw in Dublin - hilarious!! Be sure to visit the Guinness Tour for an understanding of their history Sean’s Bar in Athlone - is claiming to be the oldest pub in the world The Cliffs of Moher are a site to see - endless beauty!!  A great website to find all that you should see if you are traveling by car along the coast The horse races at Curragh were awesome! What a great way to spend the day with locals!  The Powerscourt Estate is the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in - breathtaking beauty and tremendous amenities The Harbour Bar was a great way to end our adventure, in 2010 Lonely Planet’s #1 Bar in the World Things are always changing in Dublin so check out Lovin’ Dublin as they'll have advice on what is new and fun.   Be sure to download the MyTaxi app for getting around Dublin in the easiest way possible. A bit expensive but great service.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

16: Sicily and Isle of Man (2 Very Different Island Experiences)

June 07, 2018

We had the chance to visit two unforgettable island locations in Europe in a two-week span. Spending time in Sicily, Italy with friends gave us an opportunity to understand the deep culture and rich history of the southern island that has been the home to many references throughout our lives. The passion of the people and the fantastic food will be a lifelong memory. Isle of Man, Ireland is a lesser known ‘tax haven’ that sits between the Republic of Ireland and England. It is usually a pretty quiet island, but it comes alive at the end of May and early June with the running of the TT Motorcycle Races that will blow the mind of any spectator lucky enough to see it in person. We were that lucky! Main Topics Covered: Sicily Highlights Visiting with Friends from the States Our Amazing time on the Isle of Man during the TT Qualifiers Links Mentioned in the Episode: Foundation Training - The most important exercises for your back while you travel! ExpressVPN - protect your information when you travel and connect to see your content that you are paying for The train that we took around Sicily with ease Palermo: Capital of Sicily, and the largest city on the island. Amazing dinner experience we had in Palermo - Ferro di Cavallo  Cefalu: A beach town with typical medieval, cobbled streets. Very laid back. Noto: If you love baroque architecture, Noto is the city for you. Every year, the 3rd weekend in May, (Since 1980) the city of Noto holds the “Infiorata di Noto”= the Noto Flower Festival. Nikki’s photos on instagram of this year’s festival Catania: A true city vibe. Main street is called via Etna which is about 3 km. It is aligned with many beautiful churches, museums, and the university. Vermut restaurant - outside/inside dining. Took forever, tapas style, but enjoyed the local vibe of it. Castellammare del Golfo: A fishing port filled with colorful boats and sailboats. Houses are nestled alongside narrow, inclined cobbled roads. Video of the girls dancing in the streets with the locals Catamaran sailing tour. 25 euro for 4 hour (half day excursion) included light breakfast/ lunch and glass of prosecco. Stopped to see caves and toured along the coastline of Castellammare del Golfo. Was in Italian but did not take away from the experience.  Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack. You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out. Isle of Man TT Races - The craziest and most dangerous sporting event in the world. The HBO Real Sports Episode that I watched which inspired the trip  Local rider died - Dan Kneen - when we were there. Very sad - reality of the sport.  Subaru Video that sits behind the glass of a sportscar making the turns  Taxi Tours - the 37.7 miles of the TT races at Isle of Man in an Audi - +447624 220550 - Mustafu responded to my text and made it a great trip. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

15: Gap Year Travel (What’s the best age to travel the world – 20’s? 30’s? 40’s?)

May 31, 2018

Do you have a desire to travel long term? We did. The question comes up often if we wish we would have made our adventure in our 20’s or early 30’s. We have had the chance to meet several travelers that are on gap years after high school and college. We have met couples traveling in their late 20’s that decided to take a few months off from their seasonal work. In this episode, we talk through our thought process on the differences based on age and what-ifs. We also get into the details of the intimating Visa process and eliminating errors as we venture around the globe. Main Topics Covered: Gap Year Travel Question Visa Tips and Process of Making Sure You are Covered Links Mentioned in the Episode: Birch Boys Coffee - This is the coffee and tea that we love so much we had it shipped to us for our travels.  MooseJaw - A great website to get all of your adventure gear to have an excellent trip.  Free walking tours are always a great idea. Be sure to look into when you arrive to the city of your travels. Make sure you understand what to pack. Pack Less! Here is a great post on everything we packed in a single backpack.  Matt still gets adventurous. Here he is jumping off a cliff in Tabarca, Spain.  Meetup.com is a great way to find other travelers that have the same interest as you.  You can’t do everything when you travel. Be sure to listen to the Traveler’s Guilt podcast to understand that it’s okay to chill out.  We love the sun and traveling to warm destination like Alicante Spain.  With Technology today, it is the best time to travel and, yes, the safest.  We believe that this travel Mid-Career Gap Year will become more common and this is the reason I Left my career to pursue my love of travel.  US Department of State Website to check into current updates. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

14: Early European Travel Highlights (Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest…)

May 24, 2018

We are in the early stages of our time in Europe for the spring and summer. In this podcast episode, we talk about our time in Munich, Amsterdam, Jena, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. We will walk through the highlights and what made each trip special. Having the chance to visit several people that we already knew made the visits even more memorable. From Munich's Fruhlingfest to Amsterdam’s King’s Day to Prague’s historic Town Square. The season for festivals is here, and it is a beautiful time to visit these fantastic cities. Join us as we discuss our highlights so far. Main Topics Covered: Highlights of our Travel over the past Month in Europe Links Mentioned in the Episode: Skyscanner - To find all of the latest flight deals and creative ways to travel, check out Tony Robbins will help you get to your true potential - find all of his products at https://PassportJoy.com/Tony Munich's Fruhlingfest (Springfest in English) is a day full of partying and fun - Watch a video from our time here Botanical Gardens of Keukenhof are full of beautiful flowers De Krijtberg Church in Amsterdam - amazing singer with cello on Saturday Night English Mass - 5:00pm Jena Science City is the team of my former student/athlete that is still playing professional basketball, Immanuel McElroy Infant Jesus of Prague was a great experience as we were married in the church of the same name in Chicago. Seeing the original meant a lot. John Lennon Wall is filled with political graffiti and a great photo with many colors We visited the co-work space, Locus Workspace, while in Prague and had a productive day Meetup is a great way to meet new people while traveling the world. You can connect to like-minded locals or travelers Vienna - Cool bar with a great view - 25 hours hotel, rooftop - they might try to act like it is sold out but it’s not; wait a little.  Vienna - Extremely old bar with an ' authentic' atmosphere - Cafe Bendl - people throw coasters at each other, have a jukebox, cheap shots called 'koks', if you love dive bars.  In Budapest, Szimpla Kert is now one of our favorite pubs in the world. So much to be discovered inside this ruin bar.  Viewpoints of Budapest are some of the best in the world to capture great photos of the iconic city Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

13: Traveler’s Guilt (Making Sure You Do You)

May 17, 2018

You only get so much time to RELAX and enjoy yourself when on vacation or holiday. TRAVELER’S GUILT can creep in because you want to do EVERYTHING that you have read about your exciting destination in blogs or from your friend’s advice. We discuss how this can be a problem and understand that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have it all on your trip and you need to be comfortable doing what you enjoy. The most important part of your time off is accomplishing what YOU want to experience. We will also answer a question about how to find the best restaurants while traveling. This can be a complicated process when balancing reviews and opinions. Enjoy. Main Topics Covered: Dealing with Traveler’s Guilt Q&A - Finding the Right Restaurant Links Mentioned in the Episode: Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today. Mizzen and Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible. Where we are Now - taped from Budapest TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Facebook are Nikki’s Go to Locations for research Free Walking Tours. Our favorite happened to be in Venice, Italy - We highly recommend these types of tours Lady Buddha in Da Nang, Vietnam is part of our Vietnam Travel Guide Bip Bip Bar in Rio De Janeiro had amazing music from people that would show up with instruments from around the world. Check out the video from Bip Bip when we visited Rio. Flamenco Dancing in Alicante, Spain The entertaining article on how the guy tricked TripAdvisor into making his shed the #1 restaurant in London. Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

12: Hong Kong Travel Tips (and how we decide Where is Next)

May 10, 2018

HONG KONG took us by surprise! We really did not know what to expect and then it turned out being better than we could have imagined. In this Podcast Episode, we discuss a few ideas on how to make your trip memorable including Happy Wednesdays, a day trip to Macau, and Chinese Hot Pots! Then we discuss the SURPRISE locations that we have found since starting our travels and how we decide which location is NEXT. Listen along as we take you from ASIA to SOUTH AMERICA and back. Main Topics Covered: Hong Kong Travel Tips Q&A - Surprise Locations that we have Discovered Q&A - How we decide which location is Next Links Mentioned in the Episode: Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John Seven Corners Insurance - The Travel Insurance that we use as we Travel Full time Happy Valley Racecourse for Happy Wednesdays Macau - Gambling Mecca of the world Octopus Travel Card while in Hong Kong Amazing food options in Hong Kong including hard to find places like Jin Mei Ji Street Restaurant Lan Kwai Fong area is a happening area to visit many pubs and bars Kerala India – 11 Epic Things To Do (2018 Travel Guide) Vietnam Travel Guide (Top 11 Things to Do in Vietnam) Kerala India – 11 Epic Things To Do (2018 Travel Guide) Incredible Dhermi Albania (The Hidden Gem of the Mediterranean) Alicante Spain (The Best Beach City in Spain) Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] - Details on the locations in Vietnam with Poker 14 Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal The Lisbon Hustle and making money from our balcony 4 Days and 1 Night in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (Best itinerary for traveling to San Pedro de Atacama) 7 Useful Travel Tips for San Pedro de Atacama (2018) Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today. Vietnam Travel Guide (Top 11 Things to Do in Vietnam) Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

11: Vietnam Travel (and Location We Hated during our World Tour)

May 03, 2018

We have now visited Vietnam on two different trips totally over 6 weeks. We break down the reasons why we love visiting Da Nang, Saigon, Hanoi, and Nha Trang. We then discuss accommodations, whether we will write a book or not, and that one trip that we disliked the most. Listen in as we take you on a ride through several parts of the world in this entertaining episode. Main Topics Covered: Vietnam Travel Tips Q&A - Accommodation Q&A - Will we write a book Q&A - Bad Location Links Mentioned in the Episode: Blink - the best way to monitor your home while you are away and to keep an eye on your travel stay Priority Pass - Take advantage of lounges while you travel. It pays for itself pretty quickly. Vietnam Travel Guide (Top 11 Things to Do in Vietnam) Vietnam Trip of a Lifetime (Our Video from our travels) Playing Poker in Vietnam [Millions at Stake] - Details on the locations in Vietnam with Poker Marble Mountain in Da Nang, Vietnam A Walk (Video) through the Con Market in Da Nang, Vietnam Nha Trang, Vietnam (Video from over 40 floors above the city) Vietnam Tofu and Veggies Vietnam Vegan spread in Hanoi Our favorite way to stay when we travel is by far Airbnb Find good Hostels around the world Ushuaia, Argentina - that place we didn’t care for on our trip so far Sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest tips in Travel and hear about our weekly visits around the world

10: Financial Travel Tips, Same Outfits, Indian Food (and Annoying Photo Bombing)

April 26, 2018

This is a very informative episode full of great MONEY SAVING TIPS for all of you travelers out there!  We will talk about FINANCIAL tools we use during our travels; specifically how we manage our credit card and bank accounts, how we leverage hotel and mileage points for free stays and air travel, and much more!   We will also answer some questions from our followers about living out of one backpack each and our time spent in India. We wrap up with a SHAME ON THAT about travelers photo bombing and blocking prime photo opps. Main Topics Covered: Travel Tips - Finances Q&A - Wearing the same clothes Q&A - Shocking India Food Shame on That - Photo bombing and blocking Links Mentioned in the Episode: Google Fi - the best phone plan for international travelers Nixplay - unbelievable digital frame to share all of your travel photos Priority Pass Global Lounge Access - the best way to travel the world and get airport lounge access Schwab is the best bank to use if you travel internationally as there are zero ATM fees Be sure to leverage your Safety Deposit Box at your local bank Express VPN - the best way to keep your information secure as you travel and access the internet in cafes and restaurants TOR - the browser that keeps you totally protected Freeze your credit if you know you are not going to need any new credit. Mark Zuckerberg, Ray Dalio wear the same outfits or roughly the same everyday Kerala India – 11 Epic Things To Do (2018 Travel Guide) Vietnam Travel Guide (Top 11 Things to Do in Vietnam) Top 5 Things to Do in Bangkok, Thailand The Ultimate Guide to Island Hopping in Greece (Island hopping in Greece 2018; Mykonos, Santorini and Paros) Incredible Dhermi Albania (The Hidden Gem of the Mediterranean)    Amazing food photos from the road: South African Vegan Spot  Vietnam  Vietnam again India  The photo Nikki was waiting to take at Marble Mountain in Da Nang, Vietnam Be sure to write your REVIEW in order to be Eligible for the amazing Contest that has gifts from SpyEscape.com, Nixplay, Mizzen+Main, Eagle Creek, Foundation Training, Birch Boys Chaga Coffee, Tommy John Underwear, and Seven Corners Insurance.

9: Medical Travel Advice (and Watching Sports on the Road)

April 19, 2018

Nikki discusses the importance of TRAVEL INSURANCE, what it is and why you should get it.  We also talk about what great travel insurance policies should cover and certain limits travel insurance policies have. Have questions about PRESCRIPTIONS and refilling prescriptions while traveling?  Nikki provides tips to save time and money. She also covers the importance of travel VACCINES and much more! We also answer a couple of questions from our followers: How we stay in shape while traveling and how we watch American SPORTING events. Enjoy! Main Topics Covered: Travel Tips -Travel Insurance, Vaccines, Prescriptions Q&A - How do we Workout on the road? Q&A - Issues with ATMs Q&A - How does Matt watch American Sports while traveling Shame on that  - People in Crowds Links Mentioned in the Episode: Foundation Training - The most important exercises for your back while you travel!  ExpressVPN - protect your information when you travel and connect to see your content that you are paying for Nikki’s Professional (Medical) Background Travel Vaccines – A Simple Guide (2018) Reliable resources:  CDC and WHO Prescriptions Abroad (A Step-by-Step Guide for Travel) Travel Insurance – A Simple Guide for Choosing the Best (2018) The BEST way to watch sports while you travel  Best ATM Company is Schwab for international travel    Epic Hikes on the trip so far include: Cinque Terre Hiking (Updated Guide) Cerro Toco Hike Climbing in Perdika, Greece Resistance Bands for home training  Beautiful Peru; Beaches, vineyards and geoglyphs (Paracas, Ica, Nazca Guide)  Google Duo for the best face-to-face video while you are traveling  The Best View of Machu Picchu- Climbing Huayna Picchu (An Epic Journey) Venice on a Budget (9 Tips to save money)    This Week’s Prize comes from Seven Corners Insurance   Seven Corners offers customizable travel insurance plans to travelers all over the world.; the two main products being travel medical plans and trip protection plans. Travel medical plans protect travelers when they get sick or injured abroad by providing medical coverage such as medical evacuations, 24-hour assistance and medical maximums up to $5 million. Trip protection plans protect the costs and expenses of your trip in case you have to cancel, interrupt or delay your travels as well as provide coverage for delayed, lost or damaged luggage. Find more at https://PassportJoy.com/Insurance

8: In LOVE with Bangkok (and a Visit to the Hospital)

April 12, 2018

We talk about all of the reasons that we love spending time in BANGKOK, Thailand. This being our fourth trip to the always-active city, gave us a chance to live like locals and take in the fantastic food, night markets, and shopping malls. Matt had a full body exam at the BUMRUNGRAD International Hospital as well as a teeth cleaning in their Dental Center. We talk about medical tourism and our experience with healthcare outside of the U.S. We also answer a listener question about making the most out of a HORRIBLE string of events. Still can’t believe we ended that wild 24-hours with a smile on our face. Please join us in this latest episode of our adventures around the world. Main Topics Covered: Bangkok, Thailand (Why we Love it and the Bumrungrad Hospital Visit) Q&A - Turning Bad into Laughs Links Mentioned in the Episode: Birch Boys Coffee - This is the coffee and tea that we love so much we had it shipped to us for our travels.  MooseJaw - A great website to get all of your adventure gear to have an excellent trip.  Bangkok City Life through one of Matt’s photos:  Endless Bangkok Traffic Terminal 21 / boutique shops- retail area over 650 stores, and the food court is AMAZING Crazy Wild Night Market - Patpong Night Market Be aware of the Tuk tuks - they might try to take you to tailors With no social system, there are beggars in the streets  Bumrungrad International Hospital  Morgan Spurlock’s Inside Man: Club Med (Medical Tourism)  Dental Exam at Bumrungrad  Executive Health Exam at Bumrungrad Big Pat Thomas ‘Stay the Course’ Podcast Santiago, Chile - Top 7 Things to Do in Santiago, Chile (with photos)  4 Days and 1 Night in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (Best itinerary for traveling to San Pedro de Atacama)  7 Useful Travel Tips for San Pedro de Atacama (2018)    Contest Prize of the Week: Tommy John Underwear Underwear? Guys don’t like to talk about underwear unless they are complaining...that’s likely why I don’t mention mine….but since you asked,  I wear Tommy John! I wore them for about 2 years before we left so it was an easy decision for me to pack 7 pairs before we headed out for our big adventure. They have several different styles of underwear but I wear the trunks. Tommy John is the revolutionary men’s underwear brand that’s redefining comfort. It's the perfect underwear to keep you comfortable no matter where your travels take you. Tommy John uses proprietary fabrics and innovative designs to make sure that the legs never ride up, the waistband never rolls down, and you never get a wedgie. And, their horizontal quick-draw fly has been described as life-changing. Plus, all Tommy John underwear is backed by the “Best Pair You’ll Ever Wear or It’s Free” guarantee. So if you don’t love the fit and feel of Tommy John, it's free! Check out their latest deals and styles at PassportJoy.com/Tommy.

7: Travel Technology (Life Made Easy With These Hacks)

April 05, 2018

We go in a few directions in this episode. We start by covering many of the technologies and electronics we use to help us navigate the complexities of traveling full time. We then answer a reader question regarding the scary situations we have encountered on the road so far including a credit card hacker in Santiago, vicious dogs in South America, and a creepy follower in India. We round out the episode talking about driving fails and the tough spots that put us in. Main Topics Covered: Travel Tips - Technology and Electronics We Use Q&A - Scary Situations We Have Encountered Shame on That - Driving fails Links Mentioned in the Episode: Airbnb - The best way to travel anywhere in the world. Get your discount today.  Mizzen and Main - The best pants available for traveling. Versatile, fashionable, and comfortable. Use your coupon today to get the best pants possible.  Google Fi - The phone plan we use to say connected around the world - Get a discount Express VPN - Stay Secure while traveling and get the content you deserve (Netflix) Dropbox - Share your documents with friends and teams around the world  Evernote - I keep all of my daily notes here  Groovebook - a great way to share physical photos with friends and family - use the code - JAVIT63 for a discount Portable Chargers  High Powered Flashlight Travel Adapter Long cords for phones FlightStats - Track your current or upcoming flights TOR Web Browser for Absolute privacy  Google Flights Things to do in Cusco What we loved about Santiago Chile Use Travel Tips for San Pedro de Atacama Go With Your Gut Post Youtube link to the Indore Interview   Contest Prize of the Day is from Birch Boys Chaga Coffee and Tea. Chaga is a parasitic mushroom that draws the life out of birch trees. Over time, it stores the trees' beneficial minerals and compounds into a super-concentrated conk that bursts out of the tree trunk. Due to its life cycle, chaga contains more antioxidants than ANY substance on Earth! I love this coffee and tea and had it shipped to me while traveling. The team behind the product is wonderful as well and their vision to make Chaga a household name is a powerful one. Check out their products at https://PassportJoy.com/Coffee  

6: Skyping with a Billionaire and Wood-Fired Pizza (Ask to Receive)

March 29, 2018

JUST ASK!  Sometimes asking for a favor or reaching out to someone you don’t know is tough. Matt talks about how he SKYPED WITH A BILLIONAIRE after sending a cold email, met up with a CRYPTO INSIDER in Ho Chi Minh City, and learned how to make a true wood-fired Italian pizza from a professional. He even discusses how he helped a new friend in need while at Oktoberfest. All these things by simply asking. Nikki & Matt wrap up the episode by discussing how gross people can be on the road and what some people need to change to clean up their act. Main Topics Covered: Travel Tips - Don’t be afraid to ask people tough questions Shame on that  - Dirty People Links Mentioned in the Episode: Skyscanner - To find all of the latest flight deals and creative ways to travel, check out Tony Robbins will help you get to your true potential - find all of his products at https://PassportJoy.com/Tony The clothing line I mentioned was worn by Shaq during all-star weekend in 2003 after I met him a few days prior (big moment for me) Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins - Book that I mentioned had all of the top Investors’ advice Marc Faber’s Website Why we Loved Chiang Mai so much The Bar in that Marc Recommended - Linda’s Bar A recap of our time in Vietnam and Why we loved it so much  Great Guy in Ho Chi Minh that I met  Real Italian Pizza (Cooking like a Pro) WorkAway   Our prize for the launch contest comes from Dr. Eric Goodman and the team at Foundation Training. Foundation Training’s specifically designed movements and engaging postures help to effectively retrain the body to utilize the power of the posterior chain. This muscle chain is chronically neglected, yet when reactivated and strengthened can bring significant healing. As the body relearns how to move properly, the frame gets stronger and pain decreases. Foundation Training can be done anywhere, anytime. No gym or equipment needed. Foundation Training has changed my life and given me the ability to travel the way we are as well as to be able to be physically active on the road. PassportJoy.com/Back for more information on Foundation Training.

5: Staying Safe on the Road (Matt Gets Left at Sea)

March 22, 2018

Being safe and secure is the primary concern when traveling anywhere around the world. We discuss how safe it is to leave the US and what precautions you can take to stay out of harm's way. What happened when we were followed in India? We discuss the gadgets we use to feel secure and define what being on ‘yellow’ means. You think America is safe but how safe is it? We also answer a couple of follower questions on how we fill our time on the road without getting bored and the ideas we plan to bring back with us to the US once we go home. Finally, Matt was left at Sea in the Galapagos Islands! It’s true. We get into the details of how that happened and what he did.   Main Topics Covered: Travel Safety; Gadgets, Tips, and Tricks Q&A: How We Fill Our Time on the Road without Being Bored Q&A: The ideas/philosophies we hope to bring back from our Travels SOT: Matt is left at Sea in the Galapagos Islands   Links Mentioned in the Episode: Global Peace Index Post on Is it Safe to Travel to?  Tactical Pens, we always carry these High powered handheld flashlight- helps to make people back off or redirect Get our favorite Safety Travel book - Spy Secrets that can Save Your Life - by Former CIA officer Jason Hanson. The best Luggage locks RFID for cards and RFID money belts Trust your Gut post Use the Blink Monitoring System to watch your room while you are out Prevent someone from coming in with the Doorstopper 14 Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal Uber - the best way to catch a ride - get a discount on your first ride Matt loves Scooters Lady hustling in Peru out of a wheelbarrow - Best Sandwiches ever  Matt’s LinkedIn  Nikki’s LinkedIn That movie about wasting food - Just Eat it!  Easter in Ayacucho, Peru Exploring the Galapagos Islands on a Budget   Our prize of the day and the stylish way to keep your clothes organized and clean while traveling from Eagle Creek. You will hear us talk about these organizers often. They allow us to pack more and keep our clothes wrinkle free when traveling in airplanes, buses, or trains. Eagle Creek has gifted the Pack-It Specter Tech™ Starter Set and Cat Nap Rest Set so you can rest easy in those bright, noisy locations. Check out their wide range of travel products at EagleCreek.com or find our favorite Pack-It set at http://amzn.to/2oX6UI2   Be sure to REVIEW Passport Joy Travel Talk to enter the contest.

4: South Africa: A Guys’ Trip Heaven (Couples Welcome Too)

March 15, 2018

Traveling back to South Africa for the second time in only two years was Nikki’s idea but it became Matt’s playground as they hiked the mountains, went to a safari, enjoyed the braai feasts, swam in the ocean, and went to a rugby match. Deep sea fishing and being part of a shark catch was icing on the cake! Matt makes the case that this is a guys’ trip heaven in this episode that describes their three months in several cities along the coast. They also answer a listener question about what they have learned about themselves and each other during their travel. Enjoy as they continue to open up on their journey so far. Main Topics Covered: South Africa - What We Loved Q&A - What have we learned about ourselves and each other   Links Mentioned in the Episode: Tommy John Underwear - Matt brought seven pairs of underwear on his journey - ALL Tommy John Seven Corners Insurance - The Travel Insurance that we use as we Travel Full time We came to Cape Town in March of 2016: This is what we wrote. We also visited Jeffrey’s Bay during that trip Photo at the top of Lion’s Head Table Mountain - New Seven Wonders of Nature Durban - New Seven Wonders City  Braai - Photo from one we attended in Mossel Bay The Big Five of the Safari - Black Rhino, Elephant, Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Lion Cheetah Conservation My awesome guide - Shawn Mey - for Deep Sea Fishing and Rock & Surf Fishing  Durban Sharks Rugby Team Cricket match - Australia vs South Africa  Inca Ruins and Cusco Day Trips Venice, Italy on a budget  Our prize of this episode comes from Mizzen+Main. I only have two pairs of pants with me during our travels so I had to make sure they were comfortable, stylish, and versatile. My grey and blue Mizzen+Main pants have allowed we to trek up the mountains in Chile and walk through the halls of St. Peters in the Vatican. They are the only pants I need to for all of my traveling adventures. When you see me wearing pants in my photos, I am wearing Mizzen+Main. Check out https://PassportJoy.com/Pants to see their latest styles. Be sure to REVIEW Passport Joy Travel Talk to enter the contest.

3: Crying Babies, Guinea Pigs, and Narcos: How We Stay Around the World

March 08, 2018

Where do we stay as we travel around the world? How do we keep our costs to a minimum with our accommodations? In this episode, we discuss the differences between Airbnb, hostels, hotels, and WorkAways. You will hear about crying babies and squealing guinea pigs. We talk about the Lisbon Hustle and drinking with a star from Narcos. We then answer a couple of follower questions including how we stay in touch with family and what technologies we use to do so. Everyone gets homesick; we talk about how we cope with it on the road. We wrap up with our first ‘Shame on That’ session where we screw up and tell people that they are ugly. Oops! Main Topics Covered: Accommodation Tips to Save Time and Money Q&A - How we Stay in Touch with Friends and Family Q&A - How do we cope with Homesickness SOT - Famous People Look-Alikes; We Didn’t Mean to call you Ugly Links: Feel secure on the road by monitoring your room with Blink - https://PassportJoy.com/Blink Find out more about Priority Pass to save money during your travels and have access to 1000+ Lounges around the world - https://PassportJoy.com/Pass Sign up for a free credit on your first Airbnb stay at https://PassportJoy.com/Stay Great Airbnb Search Tip 14 Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal The Lisbon Hustle and making money from our balcony WorkAway information Get a discount at Booking.com A great way to discover good hostels A Quick Guide to Crazy Guayaquil Ecuador Matt with Andrés Crespo (Carlos Córdova of Narcos) Beautiful Albania Our favorite real-time face-to-face app, Google Duo  The best international calling plan with Google Fi More than a Billion people use WhatsApp around the world Share your amazing photos with - Groovebook - Use code – JAVIT63 for a discount Fred Armisen Jay Leno Our prize of the day and the most beautiful frame to share those amazing travel photos comes from Nixplay. You will hear us talk about this amazing frame often….it is a cloud-based frame that you can send photos from the easy-to-use mobile apps and then your photos appear where the frame is located. You can decide to have it at your office or in grandma’s living room...you call it. You can use your Instagram, Facebook, Dropbox photos and more. Check out their awesome frames at Nixplay.com or at https://PassportJoy.com/Frame for their latest discount. Be sure to REVIEW Passport Joy Travel Talk to enter the contest.

2: What’s in Our Bag, What We Miss, and Do We Get Sick of Each Other?

March 01, 2018

2: What’s in Our Bag, What We Miss, and Do We Get Sick of Each Other?   How can you possibly pack for over two years on the road with only a single backpack each? Impossible, right? Well, we were faced with that difficult task and did quite well. We will discuss all of the items that made the final cut; from clothing to organizers to toiletries. We also answer a couple of follower questions on the luxuries we miss the most while traveling and what it is like to spend 24/7 together as a couple. Yes, it can be a bit much at times, but in the end, we love it. Enjoy!   Main Topics Covered: What we packed for our two+ years of travel Q&A - Luxuries we miss the most Q&A - The difficulty of spending so much time together as a couple   Links: Help your back pain with Foundation Training  - https://PassportJoy.com/back Be protected on the internet with ExpressVPN - https://PassportJoy.com/VPN   The entire ‘What We Packed’ blog post: https://passportjoy.com/pack-life-carry/ Matt’s favorite pants while we travel - he has worn them from seeing the Best View of Machu Picchu to exploring the tea plantations of Kerala, India - Chuck’s Construction - The construction company Matt was bragging about. Bill Murray discussing love and travel video Matt Playing Poker in Vietnam post Hikes that Matt made in Perdika Greece and Cinque Terre Italy   *Note* Matt said “separate rooms’ when describing our accommodations. He meant it as two rooms. Yes, we sleep in the same bed when available.   Our prize of the day and the best tools to protect yourself on the road can be found at SpyEscape.com - https://spyescapeandevasion.com/ - Get our favorite Safety Travel book - Spy Secrets that can Save Your Life - by Former CIA officer Jason Hanson. He and his team are giving away an autographed version of this book, and their  '6 spy tools' which include a Tactical Pen, Mini SpyTac Flashlight, 11-in-1 Survival Tool, Credit Card Knife, Survival Keychain, and Universal Handcuff Key.   Please Subscribe (How to Subscribe and Why it is So Important to Us) on your favorite Podcast App Player: Apple / Itunes or Google Play or Stitcher or Spotify or 'watch' on Youtube *We appreciate your help! iTunes is the largest platform for podcast listening today so the reviews and ratings on that platform help THE MOST. Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a RATING and REVIEW HERE! It takes just 30 seconds (How to Rate and Review and Why it is Important to Us). Thank you! Want to get our Newsletter with added information about our travels around the world? Subscribe now by adding your email address. Find out where we are NOW and check out our Journey So Far to get an idea of all that we have seen along our adventures around the world! Thanks for listening and checking us out! Please leave comments, tips, and feedback on this episode below. Safe Travels!  

1 : How We Made this CRAZY Decision! (The Who-We-Are Episode)

February 21, 2018

How could we possibly leave our amazing careers and awesome lives to live out of a single backpack? In this episode, you will find out more about who we are and what brought us to this decision to travel the world full time. We both discuss our lives before we met each other and since. We talk about our career paths, things we love (and miss), obsessions, and our sincere desire to travel. We cover how we traveled as kids, making the tough decision to leave, that final moment that made it a reality, and, finally, how tough it was to get everything in order. Thanks for checking out this episode and learning more about who we are. Enjoy!   About Matt - https://passportjoy.com/matt/
 Matt’s Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjavit
 About Nikki - https://passportjoy.com/nikki/
 Nikki’s Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkijavit

0 : The Launch Episode (We did it!)

February 15, 2018

In this Launch Episode, we (Nikki and Matt Javit) give a high level of who we are and what we did. We discuss what we plan to cover in our podcast and how we hope to help our listeners. Not only the listeners that wish to travel long term someday but also the listener that wants advice for their weekend getaway or week-long holiday. We talk about our desire to keep it real and keep it fun. Though we are not pros on the mic, we will get better over time. Thanks for checking out our Launch Episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk with Matt and Nikki Javit!