About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
GET YOUR LANDLOPERS UPDATES
Most Popular
-
Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 15 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 45 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
As Seen In:
Top Travel Tips Archive
-
Thankful Travel 2012 – Five Favorite Moments From the Year
Posted on November 20, 2012 | 1 CommentThanksgiving is tomorrow here in the United States and with it a forced gluttony of turkey, stuffing and pie. It’s also a time when many of us feel a little nostalgic and thankful for our lives, regardless of any great burdens we have had to... -
Bits and Atoms: Talking about the Maker Revolution with Wired Editor-In-Chief Chris Anderson
Posted on November 18, 2012 | 2 CommentsLast week I attended the latest event in the cutting edge WIRED + Marriott Culturazzi series that has been taking place around the country. The goal of the series is to inspire, inform and entertain the next generation of travelers and inspiration was the theme... -
Five More Things You Don’t Know About Me
Posted on November 15, 2012 | 8 CommentsA few months ago I wrote a post entitled Ten Things You Don’t Know About Me and My Travel Blog. It was an effort for you all to get to know me a little bit which, after all, is sort of the purpose of a... -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
Posted on November 12, 2012 | 23 CommentsOne of the best aspects of traveling in Europe is the food. From the best pastries in the world to savory dishes created with care and perfection. There are a lot of great foods from which to choose, but these are my favorite go-to foods... -
One Year Later – A Look Back at My Travel Wish List and New Additions
Posted on November 5, 2012 | 13 CommentsA year ago I wrote this post about places I want to visit. I’m asked all the time what my favorite destinations are and where I most want to go next. While I don’t really believe in travel bucket lists, I do of course have... -
Five of the Least Scary Places in the World
Posted on October 30, 2012 | 8 CommentsThe leaves have turned, there’s a chill in the air and smells of apple pie and fresh cider have filled the kitchens of millions. Fall is here and with it the favorite holiday of many, Halloween. In the past I’ve written about fun places to... -
How To Fly On a Plane: A Slightly Sarcastic Checklist
Posted on October 29, 2012 | 17 CommentsI’ve started writing this post a hundred times on a hundred flights after being annoyed by fellow passengers. Sometimes the post was sarcastic, other times downright mean but never have I actually completed or published this tutorial. Today is different. Today I think it’s finally... -
Hotels, Podcasts and Being Gay in Hollywood: An Interview with Comedian James Adomian
Posted on October 25, 2012 | 14 CommentsEarlier this week I was invited to the latest event in the WIRED Insider Culturazzi Series hosted by Marriott Hotels & Resorts. The events are a way to showcase some of the awesome innovations at Marriott Hotels and Resorts around the world, including new common... -
Five Must Have Apps for Instagram and Mobile Photography
Posted on October 17, 2012 | 12 CommentsWith each new generation of iPhone, the quality of mobile photography only gets better. Today’s smart phones can now take photos that rival even the best DSLR cameras on the market – in the right hands of course. Just because you own a smart phone... -
Five Cities That Deserve a Second Chance
Posted on October 8, 2012 | 32 CommentsTravel isn’t always rainbows and baby camels. Sometimes bad things happen and sometimes we visit places that we don’t like. I know, I know, there’s something good to be found everywhere; except when you don’t want to find it. Usually when I don’t like a... -
Expedia and a New Era for LGBT Travel Marketing?
Posted on October 3, 2012 | 5 CommentsI have long lamented the fact that the travel industry does not understand the gay and lesbian community and while they would love our travel dollars, they very rarely do anything to deserve that treasure. In recent years studies have shown that the LGBT community... -
How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality – Meet, Plan, Go! 2012
Posted on September 28, 2012 | 2 CommentsToday I am republishing a guest blog post written for LandLopers two years ago by fellow Washingtonian and travel blogger, Sonia of Pulpology. She wrote about an exciting annual event that teaches people how to make their travel dreams a reality, so with her permission... -
Five Cities Where I Could Be An Expat
Posted on September 25, 2012 | 35 CommentsI love living in Washington, DC and I definitely love being an American and that’s why I never thought other countries would appeal to be on a more long-term basis. I’m not moving anytime soon, but if I had too these are the places... -
Finding Value Instead of Getting Screwed When Booking Award Travel
Posted on September 4, 2012 | 3 CommentsI personally believe that being loyal to one airline is very important, and I’ve expounded on this in previous posts. Hopefully you will fly enough to earn status, get perks and of course earn lots of frequent flier miles. But the sticking point for many... -
Five Worst Travel Apps
Posted on August 28, 2012 | 8 CommentsI love apps, especially ones that help in my travel experience. However, although I’ve found a lot of great apps I have also found some complete duds. Here are some of the worst travel apps I’ve discovered – what are some of yours? 1. iWasHere... -
Alone in the Rain – Personal Journey Through a Maui Rainforest
Posted on August 22, 2012 | 3 CommentsAt home I wouldn’t necessarily call myself an outdoorsy person. I’m not awful, I don’t drive to my mailbox or anything, but I also don’t seek out nature per se when in the confines of my comfy, suburban bubble. When I travel though I turn... -
Five Favorite Adventure Travel Experiences
Posted on August 21, 2012 | 17 CommentsWhile I may not be the most adventurous person at home, when I travel I become a veritable daredevil. I’m lucky, I’ve had some incredible adventure travel experiences around the world; from scaling a volcano in St. Kitts to rolling around in a human... -
Five Personality Traits Every Good Traveler Should Have
Posted on August 13, 2012 | 26 CommentsEveryone travels differently; we all visit different places in different ways and no two people or travel experiences are the same. Even with all these differences though, there are a lot of unexpected commonalities, including the hallmarks of what constitutes a good traveler. This is... -
Top 10 French Swear Words
Posted on August 7, 2012 | 1 CommentI’ve been studying French for more than twenty years, but the one thing that none of my teachers ever shared were great French swear words. Like it or not, bad or swear words are an important part of every day conversation and so with that... -
Five Things That Are Always in My Suitcase
Posted on July 24, 2012 | 36 CommentsI kind of hate the “how to pack a bag” type of travel articles, which begs the question why I wrote this post today. Well, I think this is a little different – it’s more about my travel style than it is a prescription on... -
Some Thoughts About Old Jobs and My New Life
Posted on July 18, 2012 | 18 CommentsThis is a personal post versus a travel related one, but this is a blog after all and I want to share with you all a little more about what makes me tick. If you’d prefer to read about exciting travel experiences, please check... -
I Steal Hotel Pens and Other Confessions by Travel Writers
Posted on July 9, 2012 | 26 CommentsWe all have our own little quirks and secrets that we don’t normally share with other people and this is especially true when it comes to travel. These confessions usually aren’t anything major, little acts of rebellion or misbehavior that are just part of the... -
Five Apps I Always Use When I Travel
Posted on July 5, 2012 | 8 CommentsLike millions of other travelers, I am absolutely addicted to my mobile devices. Not only are they always firmly attached to my hand, but they’ve also transformed my travel experience. A lot of people ask about my favorite apps so I put together this... -
Five Ways I’ve Improved My Travel Experience
Posted on July 2, 2012 | 15 CommentsAs I get older and travel more I keep finding new ways to fine-tune the experience to make it more efficient and ultimately fun. Being a good traveler is an evolution and absolutely no one does it perfectly, but here are some ways I’ve improved... -
One Month After Losing My Job – Lessons Learned
Posted on June 26, 2012 | 20 CommentsEven as I write the title for this post it’s hard to believe that it’s already been a month. I was in France, admiring a transporter bridge in Rochefort (I still don’t know what a transporter bridge is) when I got The Call. Cuts had... -
Better Angels of Our Nature
Posted on June 20, 2012 | 7 CommentsThe flight was twenty minutes late leaving the gate, an annoying but common reality of modern travel. The doors shut and a friendly flight attendant kindly asked me to turn off my electronic tether. I pulled out a magazine, travel of course, and began scanning... -
Free Isn’t Always Good – Why You Should Pay for a Tour Guide
Posted on June 17, 2012 | 17 CommentsLast year I wrote about my belief that a good tour guide can transform a travel experience into something remarkable. I’m not talking about full-week, coach tours from hell. I’m referring to tour guides you can hire for a day or half a day to... -
A Few Things That Make Me Smile When I Travel
Posted on June 13, 2012 | 8 CommentsTake away the museums, monuments and famous sites and the travel experience can have certain similarities no matter where you go in the world. It is these constants that give those of us who travel a certain level of comfort and predictability, all too important... -
No, You Will Never Be Anthony Bourdain (He Isn’t Even Real)
Posted on June 10, 2012 | 9 CommentsI was reading Slate.com the other day when I ran across a sharp piece on ‘Mad Men,’ Don Draper and popular culture’s seemingly obtuse insistence to treat them as if they were real, or at least a historical documentary of some sort. The author was... -
Power of Travel: How Spain Changed Everything
Posted on June 4, 2012 | 15 CommentsThe last couple of weeks have been an odd combination of incredible shock after losing my job and simultaneous joy as I explored parts of France and Spain. My time in France was solitary, journeying through the southwest part of the country on a personal... -
Five Tips for Traveling in Europe
Posted on June 3, 2012 | 17 CommentsI’ve been traveling to Europe for twenty years, but with each trip I learn something new not only about the continent of course, but how best to travel there as well. Here are some tips for anyone traveling to Europe, be it for the first... -
Ten Things You Don’t Know About Me and My Travel Blog
Posted on May 30, 2012 | 48 CommentsI’ve been doing this site for a while now and I realized that even after nearly 1,000 posts, there are a lot of things you all don’t know about me and LandLopers. So in an effort to try to share more and allow you to... -
So I Lost My Job
Posted on May 22, 2012 | 37 CommentsI didn’t think either my partner or I could ever lose our jobs. We’re both very well educated, motivated and talented (and modest) individuals who always strive to succeed. Yet, just the other day, I fell victim to the swinging axe of the economy and... -
To The Aquariums of the World – I Am Done With You
Posted on May 15, 2012 | 24 CommentsI love animals and wildlife experiences are amongst my most favorite whenever I travel. Of course I always make sure that the experiences are done in as a sustainable way as possible and more than anything else that the animals aren’t hurt. Besides zoos, another... -
Question: Is Poverty Tourism OK?
Posted on May 9, 2012 | 21 CommentsI touched on this issue briefly when I discussed my travel guilt after leaving Laos. Since then I’ve been thinking a lot about the issue and have read a couple of additional blog posts that have influenced my thinking. The first was a blog post... -
It’s a McDonald’s World – Why They Matter When You Travel
Posted on May 1, 2012 | 59 CommentsSome people get very fussy and pretentious when they travel, particularly when food is involved. I agree that discovering new and interesting experiences, including food, is a huge part of the adventure, but there’s also the very important pop culture element. I love exploring grocery... -
Dealing With My Traveler’s Guilt
Posted on April 26, 2012 | 10 CommentsAs our big, two-week vacation of the year comes to a close I’m faced with about twenty hours of flying and a lot of time to think. I’ll reflect on the great experiences we had while exploring new and familiar places in Asia, but I’ll... -
Myths And Misconceptions About Art That Detract From Fantastic Travel Experiences
Posted on April 25, 2012 | 3 CommentsI mostly like art and I love unusual architecture, but I am hardly an expert. That’s why I am thrilled that Erin Halvey, art expert and blogger extraordinaire, agreed to write this guest post for us today. I learned a lot and I know you... -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
Posted on April 16, 2012 | 45 CommentsPeople are really good at coming up with excuses NOT to do things and sadly travel is a frequent victim. I don’t have enough money, I don’t have enough time, I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m under indictment – these are all ways people... -
How To Keep Your Travel Photos Safe, Secure and Backed Up
Posted on April 15, 2012 | 16 CommentsTechnology plays an important role in modern travel, but sometimes it can be confusing. That’s why I am thrilled to introduce today’s guest travel writer, Michael Tieso of the popular travel site Art of Backpacking. Michael is a travel technology expert and he has agreed... -
The Last (and Best) Travel Secret You Will Ever Need
Posted on April 11, 2012 | 5 CommentsFriends, family and interested persons routinely ask me a lot of travel questions. I love travel, so answering them is easy, up until we get to the ‘secret’ part of the game. Invariably someone will ask me for my best-hidden bit of travel knowledge, which... -
Top Five Travel Apps For Jet-Setters
Posted on April 9, 2012 | 3 CommentsUnless you’re a die hard fan of avoiding planes, most of us have to board at least one plane (and usually many more) when we travel. Unfortunately, the modern flying experience isn’t usually convenient or all that fun, but there are several apps out there... -
Dear Travel Community – Where’s the Outrage?
Posted on April 3, 2012 | 25 CommentsIgnoring Threats to the LGBT Community Around the World I’m not normally one for getting high and mighty over things. I live the way I live and I don’t let what other people do impact my decisions. However, I’ve noticed a level of indifference lately... -
My Travel Inspiration
Posted on April 2, 2012 | 9 CommentsThere are many motivators that make people want to travel, and much of it is expressed through photography. There is something special about travel photography and its ability to move and inspire. We’ve all seen the National Geographic-style, amazing “I can’t believe it’s real” photos,... -
Travel Isn’t About the Places or Even the People
Posted on March 28, 2012 | 6 CommentsI started this blog two years ago because my true passion in life is travel, and more than anything I want to share that with others. Because it’s my favorite pastime, I also find myself reading countless travel web sites from people around the world,... -
Looking For Paradise and Pining For The Southern Cross
Posted on March 26, 2012 | 3 CommentsIt probably won’t come as a complete shock that I have always, for as long as I can remember, had a fierce sense of wanderlust. As a young child and well into adulthood, I absorbed anything and everything about foreign cultures and far-flung locales. Instead... -
Skip the Staycation, Go For the Nearcation
Posted on March 25, 2012 | 15 CommentsTwo years ago at a conference I had the great pleasure of meeting a well known travel editor and managed to separate him from one of his business cards. Later when I read through the business cards I had collected I noticed that on the... -
Ten Questions with Patricia Schultz, Author of “1,000 Places To See Before You Die”
Posted on March 22, 2012 | 6 CommentsAt the Washington, DC Travel and Adventure Show I had the great opportunity to spend a few minutes chatting with Patricia Schultz, author of the hugely popular book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die. I’ve long been a fan and it was great to... -
Five Ways To Be an Unhealthy Traveler
Posted on March 20, 2012 | 12 Comments1. Don’t Take Any Precautions – Travel is a big deal for most of us yet it always surprises me to see how few health precautions some people take before embarking on a fantastic adventure. Preparation starts well before your trip with a daily training... -
How To Get a Passport – Going Behind The Scenes At The National Passport Office
Posted on March 15, 2012 | 5 CommentsI’m not sure I ever thought a lot about how passports are processed. Actually, strike that, I know I’ve never thought a lot about how passports are made and other than through the mail, I never considered where to get a passport either. That’s why...
