Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit a little resort area outside of Puerto Vallarta with long white sand beaches and away from the the city.

I sat down with Megan Chapa of Travel Radio to talk all about it. You'll find the video below or podcast if you prefer.

​Jason and I love corn tortillas so much we decided to share our recipe with you. Check out the fun video we created here.

The REAL ID deadline is looming and most Americans aren’t prepared. Here’s what you need to know: as of October 1, 2021, if your driver’s license or government-issued ID isn’t REAL ID-compliant, TSA cannot accept it as official identification. Of course, passports will always be considered an acceptable form of ID, and domestic travelers under the age of 18 aren’t required to present identification, but for those of us who are used to flying with just a driver’s license, as of October, those licenses must be REAL ID-compliant.

How do you know if your license is REAL ID-compliant? REAL ID cards have a special marking in the top right corner. The symbol varies by state, but most are a star. If your ID doesn’t have one of these markings, it will not be accepted as proof of identity by TSA.

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to apply. Millions of Americans still don’t have theirs, which means as the deadline approaches, wait times will soar. Requirements vary by state, but all involve an in-person visit to a DMV as well as the presentation of documents such as birth certificate, proof of address and social security card. For more information, visit https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.

2020 Has been a tough year for everyone. The pandemic has brought about many different hardships that many of us never thought would come about and it’s easy to sink into despair and feel helpless and even a little bit hopeless sometimes. 

Instead of focusing on the difficulties, we should focus on the things we can be grateful for. Be it family, your partner, a roof over your head or even your beloved pet, being grateful for what you have is a great way to deal with the difficulties we are all facing. Another way to overcome despair is to make plans for the future. While many of us must stay home and be far apart from friends and loved ones, making exciting plans for the time when the virus is no longer a threat can help ease the anxiety and loneliness.

This is why I decided to put together this Gratitude Giveaway. One major thing that has been taken away from us at the moment is traveling to wherever we dream. While we may not be able to fulfill all our wanderlust right now, it wouldn’t hurt to think of where you want to go and what you would do once we can go on adventures again. To help you with making those plans and dreaming-up your next vacation, I am giving away $200 in travel credits to one lucky winner!

Other prizes you'll have a chance to win include:

• HD Fitness is offering three free personal training sessions: 45 minute sessions or body workouts. All sessions must be with consecutive usage. Choose to schedule your sessions in person or via Zoom ($375 value). - 1 winner
• Fortunati Vineyards Gift Certificate for a private tasting for two at the Fortunati vineyard estate winery and for a bottle of 2018 Fortunati Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir ($150 value) - 1 winner
• $100 Gift Certificate to Good Spot, An up-and-coming gastrolounge concept in downtown San Jose​ (grand opening Winter 2020) - 2 winners
• Dream Site Designer gift certificate for 2 hours of website development service (worth $150). We are your advocate and guide on things related to the internet! We help you create your online presence, solve your website challenges, and stay up-to-date on technology and trends so that you don't have to. Learn how we can help your business take off at https://dreamsitedesigner.com. - 1 winner
• Redmon Wines $50 Gift Certificate to be applied toward any wine purchase from Redmon Wines - 1 winner​
• A wine tasting for two at Rarecat Wines - 1 winner
• Gratituders™  is giving away 20 gratitude tokens (10 wooden tokens and 10 metal tokens). Give them away to anyone who has done a big or small act of kindness. At Gratituders™, our mission is to spread joy and happiness one token at a time. Read and share your stories at https://gratitudetoken.org/. Gratituders™ is committed to donating 10% of net proceeds to Care.org. - 1 winner

Here’s how it works:

1. Post your Dream vacation photo to Instagram or Facebook (use gratuity free, owned, or creative commons licensed photos
2. Write a short caption using the prompt: “This year, I am grateful for…”
3. Tag anyone you'd like to travel with someday.
4. Tag @travelbymatt on Facebook  or Instagram. 
5. Use the hashtag #MattTravelGiveaway on your post.
6. Send a screenshot of your post along with your name, social media page, and the photo you posted to doit@matt.travel

This contest will run from November 9, 2020 to November 20, 2020.  The winner shall be picked randomly.

The travel credits are not applicable towards airfare and must be used in a single trip, they have no expiration. You can see the full official rules here. 

"Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." Eckhart Tolle
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Life can be tough when so many scary and sad things are going on in the world. But a little gratitude, a hopeful spirit can help us look forward to brighter days ahead.

My host agency, KHM Travel Group recently compiled some great information about the health benefits of traveling. It was too good not to share. 

Enter KHM....

Set your out of office reply and crank up Pharrell’s “Happy” – it’s time for vacation!

Ok, maybe not exactly. But chances are good that even reading that sentence, your brain experienced a tiny, momentary spike in happiness. In fact, recent studies emphasize that travel can change our brain’s chemistry and improve our mental health.

The mental health benefits of travel indicate that our vacations aren’t just something we could do, but something we should do to ward off anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.

1. It brings us joy
According to a Cornell University study, even planning and anticipating a trip can be a mood booster. 2020 might have temporarily interfered with our visions of poolside lounging or urban exploration, but having positive things to think about is key to our mental well-being. Once we arrive in our destination, even if it’s just a quick drive from home, those fluttery feelings of fulfillment of having reached our goal kick in. 

2. It relieves stress
91% of Americans say that they see a vacation as a chance to “hit the reset button” on their stress and anxiety. A separate study of 1,500 women found that those who traveled twice a year were less likely to suffer from chronic stress and depression. Why? Travel allows us to focus on ourselves and brings us back to the things we find most meaningful in our lives, which we tend to ignore when we are running on tight schedules and to-do lists.

3. It’s a workout for our brains
Not only are we more physically active when we travel, but our minds are more engaged. Much of what we do during the course of our daily routines we do without thinking, but on vacation, we’re constantly exposed to new surroundings and information. Immersing yourself in a new place enhances creativity, which in turn helps us develop new long-term neural connections, according to Psychology Today. In short, traveling lets us flex our brain power!

4. It gives us confidence.
Facing unfamiliar situations and stepping outside our comfort zones can be thrilling, but they can also test our patience. Learning how to adapt, even if it’s just to a new form of transport for a few days, makes us more emotionally flexible and resilient. When we go back to our normal lives and are confronted with a challenging situation, we can draw on the times we’ve successfully navigated a tricky travel situation and use these skills to quash our insecurities. 

For our brain, a vacation is like a room without a roof. It makes us happy. Even short trips, like a weekend getaway, sustain weeks of lowered stress and feel-good vibes.

Contact Matt Travel about the mental health remedy you need for your next vacation.