by Trav | Jun 18, 2013 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
In this episode, Benny Lewis from Fluent In 3 Months sits down and reveals all the best ways to learn a foreign language.
And wow, does he know what he’s talking about!
In the past 10 years, Benny has gone from only speaking English to now being conversational or better in 12 different languages, and his website has also helped tens of thousands of people do what their high school selves once thought was impossible.
In those 10 years, Benny has traveled all over the world, and he’ll share some of the best tips he picked up for saving money while traveling.
He’ll even tell you how he was able to get the “native price” for an apartment in Turkey without speaking the language and his secret haggling method that scored him a $3 waterfront villa in Goa.
Benny is THE definitive internet expert on how to learn a language in a unique, fun, and highly effective manner.
So if you’re someone who has always wanted to learn a language but never succeeded, you’ve got to give this a listen.
Note: The audio is a little choppy at points between 8 minutes and 23 minutes but still listenable and the message is well worth it!
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In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How Benny reaches a conversational level of a new language in only 3 months.
- Why “I’m not talented at languages” is a weak (and not viable) excuse.
- Why children learn languages better (and no, it’s not because their brain is better equipped).
- What is Esperanto and why you should learn it first.
- Why expressing yourself like Tarzan is a good thing.
- How to apply the 80/20 rule to language learning.
- An amazing trick to find the cheapest accommodation prices even if you don’t speak the language.
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Benny is amazing, so show him some love by clicking “tweet this” below:
“@IrishPolyglot your advice on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts was incredible. Thanks for helping me tackle language learning!”
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Cheers!
Trav
by Trav | Jun 13, 2013 | Frequent Flyer Miles for Beginners
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have miles stored up.
You have feet in your shoes.
free travel awaits you
any direction you choose.
And while every day is a great day to have frequent flyer miles, there are certain times when I’m reminded by just how much they’ve changed my life.
Today is one of those days.
And so, I want to take a moment to simply list the amazing places that my family and I have been able to fly to.
This isn’t mean to brag.
Instead, it’s meant to INSPIRE you to keep earning using your miles.
I don’t think I’m special because I’ve been able to do these things.
In fact, anyone, especially Americans, can do exactly the same thing.
If you want to know how, sign up below for my newsletter and get a free copy of the Become a Frequent Flyer Millionaire series.
Here goes:
Trip #1: Homeward Bound
August 2011: Japan-America-Japan
My first trip with frequent flyer miles was in August 2011 and it was for Heather and I to come home for a visit to America after we’d been living in Japan for a year.
We attended a few Phillies games, hung out with friends and family, and enjoyed being able to speak the same language as everyone.
I even flew back to Japan in business class and felt like a king.
Trip #2: Christmas Down Under
Dec 2011/Jan 2012: Japan-Australia-Japan
That Christmas, we were able to fly from Japan to Australia for a 17 day vacation through the Land Down Under.
Christmas in Melbourne, New Year’s in Sydney, and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. As you can imagine, it was awesome.
Trip #3: The Parents Come to Japan
July 2012: America-Japan-America
In July 2012, my family got to benefit from frequent flyer miles for the first time when my parents flew to Japan to visit us for two wonderful weeks. And every parent needs spoiling, so they even flew home first class.
Trip #4: My Sister Moves to Spain…but First Goes Around the World!
June 2012/July 2012: America-New Zealand-Japan-Spain
My twin sister also joined them in Japan, but going straight there and back was much too easy (she is my twin, after all).
Instead, she spent two weeks prior to Japan in New Zealand visiting friends and taking in beautiful vistas,
then came to Japan and spent 2 immersing herself in the local culture,
before finally heading to Spain, where she currently lives.
Moving from Philadelphia to Spain by going the long route and first visiting New Zealand and Japan…who does that?
Someone with frequent flyer miles!
Trip #5: One Last Asian Escapade (3 vacations in 1)
August 2012: Japan-Singapore-Bali-India-Japan
In August 2012, Heather and I decided to take one last adventure in Asia before going back Stateside. So what’d we do?
Three vacations in one!
We spent a wonderful two days in Singapore visiting friends and sipping on Singapore Slings.
We explored the beautiful beaches and amazing rice terraces of Bali for a week.
And then, we headed off to India for three weeks, riding camels, seeing amazing palaces, and having our senses completely overloaded with sights, smells and tastes that we’d never imagined.
Three destinations for less than $100?
Only possible with frequent flyer miles!
Trip #6: Homeward Bound for Good
Sept 2012: Japan-America
While my company then paid for my one-way ticket back to the US from Japan, Heather’s didn’t. No biggie.
We simply used our miles to get her on the same flight home, an awesome direct flight from Tokyo to New York.
But before leaving, we snuck in one last photo op!
After a few months of getting reacclimated to life back in Philadelphia, seeing friends and family, and eating as many cheesesteaks as possible, we got antsy again.
And after so much international travel, it was time to start seeing our home country.
Enter Southwest and their amazing Companion Pass!
Trip #7: Greetings, San Fran!
January 2013: Philadelphia-San Francisco-Philadelphia
In January, we were able to fly for free to San Francisco for the first time and spend a week enjoying the city and driving the Pacific Coast Highway, almost a year to the day that we had driven on the Australia’s equivalent, the Great Ocean Road.
Trip #8: Rocky Mountain High
May 2013: Philadelphia-Denver-Philadelphia
Just as the spring began and we were getting restless again, we were able to head out to Denver for 5 days, seeing Colorado Springs, enjoying unseasonably hot temperatures in Denver, and checking out Rocky Mountain National Park.
Upcoming Trips
Trip #9: Back out West
July 2013: Philadelphia-Portland-Philadelphia
In three weeks, we’ll be heading back to the west coast to see Portland for the first time, enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and drinking as much craft beer as we can.
Trip #10: Canadian Rockies, Here We Come
August 2013: Philadelphia-Edmonton, Seattle-Philadelphia
Shortly after that, we’ll be welcoming our British friends to Philadelphia and flying out to Edmonton.
Then, we’ll all pile in a van to drive across the Canadian Rockies, stopping in Vancouver for a week before heading down to Seattle and flying back to Philadelphia.
Of course, all our flights will be free.
Trip #11: Did Someone Say New Orleans?
September 2013: Philadelphia-New Orleans-Philadelphia
Then, I’ll be switching over my Southwest Companion Pass to my best friend since 2nd grade, so I can fly him down to New Orleans for free with me for his bachelor party in September.
I’m looking forward to gaining 10 pounds in 4 days.
Trip #12: The Emerald Isle
October 2013: America-Ireland-???-America
And finally, in October, Heather and I will be heading to Ireland for a bit, courtesy of our British Airway Avios points.
Lots of green pastures, old castles, funny accents, and sheep will fill our days.
Family Matters
But the main reason I’m reminded about how amazing frequent flyer miles are today is because I just booked my twin sister a flight home for this coming Christmas and New Year’s.
Since I was in Japan for two years and she’s been in Spain now for a year, we haven’t had a Christmas together for four years, which feels pretty strange considering we grew up doing everything together.
For some reason, having Christmas over Skype just doesn’t really cut it.
The Total Costs
The total cost for all those trips, taking in to account my parents’ first class tickets, my business class ticket, and my sister’s around the world business class ticket, would have been well over $70,000.
The amount that we paid out of pocket for all the above trips?
Less than $1,000.
INSANE!
So thank you, frequent flyer miles, for allowing me the wonderful opportunities to travel that I’ve had in the last 2 years, and for the many wonderful opportunities I’ll have in the future.
None of this would have been possible without you!
Chime In!
What have frequent flyer miles allowed you to do in your life? What great trips have you booked that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise?
If you’re new to frequent flyer miles and would like to learn how to earn and use them to travel around the world for free, make sure to sign up for my newsletter and check out the Ultimate Guide to Frequent Flyer Miles.
(photos courtesy of fbpa.wayne-Lake Louise, Jeff Gunn-Portland, HarshLight– New Orleans gumbo, Kellinahandbasket-Ireland)
by Trav | Jun 11, 2013 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
In this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast, Sean Ogle of Location 180 sits down to discuss how to start a business that can be run from anywhere in the world, why travel has changed his life, and how to create a killer bucket list…and then actually cross stuff off it!
Sean also opens up about how he personally went from a “life that sucked” in 2009 to now becoming a wildly successful entrepreneur who is not only living his dream, but is spending his time helping others do the same.
You’ll even learn what his least favorite place in the world is…and which happens to be mine as well!
If you’re looking for some motivation to start doing something that matters, or you just want to hear some great travel stories, you’ve got to give this a listen!
Right click to download this episode directly
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In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- The three major steps to starting a business and becoming location independent.
- The one thing in the world that people are afraid of.
- How to create a killer bucket list, and why it’s important.
- The keys to finding a mentor that is “higher on the food chain” than you.
- How to get free stuff when traveling, even if you don’t have an audience.
- His least favorite place in the world…and mine too!
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Sean is the MAN, so show him some love by clicking “tweet this” below:
“@SeanOgle Your advice on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts ROCKED! Thanks so much for sharing!”
Tweet This!
If you haven’t already done so, I would love if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It is vital to helping us move up the iTunes rankings!
Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast
Cheers!
Trav
by Trav | Jun 4, 2013 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
In this episode, world-famous travel blogger Gary Arndt of Everything-Everywhere sits down with me to talk about how he has become one of the world’s most recognized travel bloggers and how a 2-year trip has turned in to 6.5 years (and counting) of full-time travel.
He’ll dish out some of the best advice I’ve ever heard about how to become a successful blogger (hint: it’s not what you think), discuss how he taught himself to become an award-winning photographer despite no formal training, and we’ll tackle the difference between travel vs. vacation.
And of course, since this is a man who seeks to see everything and go everywhere, he’ll also share some of the most amazing places he’s been as well as some pretty big countries that he hasn’t yet gotten to.
Gary’s passion for travel, his incredible talent for storytelling and photography, and his drive to push the boundaries of travel blogging to new heights has catapulted him to the forefront of the travel industry.
He was one of the very first travel bloggers and now, rightfully so, is one of the biggest, so you definitely won’t want to miss the wisdom and advice that he shares in this revealing podcast.
Right-click to download the episode directly
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Rate the EPoP Podcast on iTunes!
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How Gary went from owning a computer company to becoming a full-time traveler.
- The difference between vacation and travel.
- How Gary turned himself into an award-winning photographer with no training.
- How someone with a normal life can see much more of the world than they think.
- Some amazing pieces of advice on how to become a world-famous blogger.
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Gary is always incredibly busy, so if you liked the interview, show him some love by clicking “tweet this” below:
“@EverywhereTrip Thanks for taking the time to share your awesome travel and blogging advice on the EPOP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts”
Tweet This!
If you haven’t already done so, I would love it if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It is vital to helping us move up the iTunes rankings!
Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast
Cheers!
Trav
by Trav | May 21, 2013 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
In this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast, travel podcasting legend Chris Christensen joins me to discuss how the average American can best maximize their two weeks of vacation time a year.
He’ll also share the best travel tips he’s gotten over the course of recording over 500+ travel podcasts, discuss the state of the podcasting industry and why it is undergoing such a resurgence, and tell you how you could possibly be a guest on his show, the Amateur Traveler.
Chris is the Godfather of the travel podcasting industry, and someone I’ve been following closely for a few years now. Not only does he know his stuff, but his silky smooth voice is one that you could listen to all day long, so go have a listen!
If you’ve got a question, feel free to post it in the comments or say thank you to Chris by shooting him a tweet!
Right Click Here to Download the Episode Directly
Click Here to Download from iTunes
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- The topics covered in Chris’s two travel podcasts
- How the mobile age is helping podcasting undergo a renaissance.
- How Chris is able to find experts to talk about each destination.
- How Amateur Travel gave it’s start to a few well-known travel bloggers.
- What makes a good destination show, and what doesn’t.
- Why Chris always checks out the postcard stands when traveling.
- Why Chris DOESN’T try to talk people into traveling.
- Three ways to save money when traveling.
- When the best time to start looking for airline tickets is.
- How to get a tour guide for the price of a beer.
- What your tourist radar is, and how to sharpen it.
Links Discussed in This Episode:
- The Amateur Traveler– Chris’s weekly podcast (and blog) highlighting travel destinations around the world.
- Ottsworld– The travel website of Sherry Ott, a frequent Amateur Traveler guest
- Nomadic Matt– An extremely popular travel website of Matt Kepnes, who got his big break on Amateur Traveler
- Born To Run– Trav’s favorite book, which details the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico’s Copper Canyon.
- Servas– A hospitality website that brings together locals and travelers to share experiences.
- Couchsurfing– A community that shares their homes (and couches) to travelers and organizes meetups.
I Need Your Help
Thanks for checking out this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel podcast.
I couldn’t have done it without Chris, so if you liked it, show Chris some love by clicking “tweet this” below:
“Thanks podcasting legend @Chris2x for sharing your awesome travel tips on the EPOP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts”
Tweet This!
If you haven’t already done so, I would love if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It is extremely important to helping the show grow!
Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast
Thanks for all your support, and if you’ve got any comments or suggestions, let me know in the comments below!
Cheers,
Trav
