Matthew Kepnes

New York

Travel Expert and Blogger at Freelance

NYT best-selling writer giving you practical travel tips that get you off-the-beaten-path and save you money. No longer posting here. Find me on other channels!

Articles

The Platinum Card® from American Express Review

1 week ago | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

Advertiser DisclosureTerms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. The Platinum Card® from American Express is the OG of premium travel cards. Since its launch in the 1980s, it’s always been known for its exclusivity, suite of perks, and stellar customer service. While it does have the highest fee in the game ($695, See Rates and Fees), it offers a ton of bang for your buck.
The Platinum Card® from American Express Review

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Matthew Kepnes

2 hours agoI am a frequent flyer, and this backpack is the most versatile carry-on I have ever tried. Grab it at 23% off before this deal flies away. My job as a full-time food and travel writer requires me to fly to different places all over the world. I am talking about at least 50 flights a year. Regardless …
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Review

2 weeks ago | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

Advertiser DisclosureTerms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Over the past nineteen years as a business owner, I’ve used countless business cards. Some have been amazing and elevated both my travel and my business. Others have been…well, lackluster. One of the best? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
My Daily Drop Pro Review

1 month ago | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

I’m a big fan of Daily Drop. It’s a points, miles, travel, and credit card newsletter created by my friends, Kara and Nate (they run a big YouTube channel of the same name). Daily Drop keeps you informed about the latest news and information around points & miles, as well as updates across the airline and hotel industries.
My New Book on Budget Travel is Now Available!

2 months ago | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

Today is the day! My new book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, is out NOW! (Woo! Hoo!) This newly updated edition of my New York Times best-selling book will help you travel on a budget. The last edition of the book came out in 2017 and, since then, a lot has changed. COVID changed the travel industry forever.
Come See Me on Book Tour!

Feb 25, 2025 | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

I’m going on a book tour! My next book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, is coming out on March 25th and I’m going on a book tour to talk about it and the current state of travel! This is my first book tour in six years and I’m very excited to get out there and talk about how travel has changed as well as hang out with readers of this site!The last edition of my book came out in 2017 and, since then, a lot has changed. COVID forever changed the travel industry.
Hiking Off the Beaten Path to Huchuy Qosqo

Feb 13, 2025 | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

“How high is this hike again?” I asked as I panted up the mountain trail, the top seeming so far off in the distance. “12,0000 feet,” our guide Efrain said cheerily as he and the others from the Amazonas Explorers office glided up the trail. “But it flattens out soon!” he added as a bit of encouragement. I was skeptical. When I first reached out to Amazonas regarding my Machu Picchu hike, I asked them to pick a route that was a little off the beaten path and could be done in a day.
Hiking in the Footsteps of the Incas

Feb 7, 2025 | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

When I finally decided to visit Peru, I knew one thing: I wanted to hike with the company that Mark Adams, my friend and fellow travel writer, used for his book Turn Right at Machu Picchu. The stories he shared about his treks and what he learned on them convinced me that those were the people I wanted to show me around the Sacred Valley, so I might have my own pretend Indiana Jones moment: me, the wilderness, and my local guide.
My Machu Picchu Hike

Jan 27, 2025 | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

When I finally decided to visit Peru, I knew one thing: I wanted to hike with the company that Mark Adams, my friend and fellow travel writer, used for his book Turn Right at Machu Picchu. The stories he shared about his treks and what he learned on them convinced me that those were the people I wanted to show me around the Sacred Valley, so I might have my own pretend Indiana Jones moment: me, the wilderness, and my local guide.
The 5 Best Tour Companies in Peru

Jan 20, 2025 | nomadicmatt.com | Matthew Kepnes

Peru is one of the most popular destinations in South America, owing to the fact that it’s home to the bucket-list favorite and Wonder of the World Machu Picchu. Around 500,000 people visit the ancient Incan citadel each year — a number that would be much higher if it wasn’t for the mandates put in place to prevent overcrowding. But there’s more to Peru than just Machu Picchu. And there’s more to the Andes than the Inca Trail.