There's a lot to remember before heading out on your next adventure. That's why I always use a checklist to remind myself of all the things I need to pack before I embark on my next trip. Keep reading to discover the three must-have items you need while traveling!
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​Click here for a handy packing list to make sure you are prepared for all of your traveling needs!

After all the packing is done and just before I head to the airport, I double-check to make sure I have these three things on me. Without these items, I may not even make it to my destination, or at a minimum, my traveling experience will be considerably more difficult. If all I have are these three things, I'll be able to get by and can always purchase anything else I need. 
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#1. Don't forget your passport
If you're traveling internationally, you won't even make it on the plane without your passport. Even if you somehow manage to slip through all the check points and make it to your destination, they’ll put you on the next flight home as soon as you land. I've seen it happen a number of times. The traveler who forgets their passport has to go back home to get it, no exceptions. Their travel plans are delayed, plus, they incur stiff fees from the airline to re-book their airfare. 

Bonus Tip: Make sure your passport doesn't expire until six months after the date you return home, or they might not let you go abroad.

#2. Don't forget your money/credit card
I was pickpocketed while traveling once. They took my wallet with all my money and credit cards. They were so talented that I didn't even realize it until the next day! The worst part? I was only halfway through my month-long journey. I begged my parents to send money via Western Union at each new city I went to, so I didn't have to come home early. Thankfully, they agreed, but it was quite the process. The time difference between us was about 10 hours, which made communication while traveling extremely difficult. I wasn't sure how much money I needed for the rest of the trip and typos in my name made it difficult to collect the cash. All-in-all, lesson learned: do not forget your money or credit cards while traveling!

#3. Don't forget your phone
With the world’s shift from paper to digital almost complete, your most important travel information is now on your phone. Plus, your family and friends expect to hear from you frequently while you travel to make sure you're alive and well. We've grown so dependent on our smart phones, it's hard to travel without them. To top it off, many of us no longer use a physical camera; it's now just an app on our phone. Can you imagine traveling to all these beautiful sites and not being able to take pictures of any of your food? Lame!
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Before you leave for your next trip, double-check to make sure you didn't forget your three most important travel items: your passport, money and phone.

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.