My name is Matt Karsten and I grew up in the small New England state of New Hampshire, in the good ol’ USA. I’m of Irish, Polish, and German decent. I went to college in the ski town of Bozeman, Montana and graduated with a degree in Business.

I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where I worked the front desk at an international backpacker’s hostel by night and surfed away my days. This is when I first contracted the Travel Bug after living, working, and philosophizing with travelers from all over the world. I discovered how big our planet really is, how much there was to learn, and got infected with the Vagabonding Virus. I made up my mind that life is too short to spend it tucked away in our own little comfort zones, there’s way too much to see and do.

After spending a few years working “normal” jobs in Miami & Ft. Lauderdale, I couldn’t stand it anymore. The virus had finally matured, and I was diagnosed with full blown RTWS (Round The World Syndrome). The prognosis didn’t look good…

So I saved some money, quit my job, and started a journey for the cure.

While others get married, have kids, and buy homes, I have a different type of American Dream. See the world while I’m young, fit, and before it get’s completely screwed-up.

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My itinerary? Your guess is as good as mine! My plan is to plan as little as possible, and let fate take me where it may. I will try to spend at least a month in each country, to get a better understanding of it.

My mission? To explore the Earth with an open mind and learn about modern life in other countries, while also learning about myself. Then sharing those experiences with you!

So, enjoy!  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: How Can You Afford to Do This?

A: People who find my site often assume I’m rich, but I’m not. I just choose to spend my average income on travel rather than new cars, a mortgage, fancy clothes or getting drunk in nightclubs. It’s all about what your priorities are in life. If you make travel a priority, it’s really pretty affordable. I spend about $1000-$2000 a month on travel. But I also don’t own a house, a car, or much “stuff”. My lifestyle isn’t for everyone (but I highly recommend it!). Check out my Travel Tips for more information on how to travel on a budget.

 

Q: Who Made Your Website?

A: I did. Are you working on building your own travel blog? Rather than me trying to answer a ton of emails asking similar questions about how to create a blog, check out this fantastic guide on travel blogging that will describe it to you step-by-step, much better than I could…

Travel Blog Success

I sometimes make myself difficult to contact. I’d much rather be traveling than responding to the same emails over and over again! Check out the guide, you’ll be glad you did.