Posted: 03/18/20 | March 18th, 2020
Since mid-February, Coronavirus has spread uncontrollably around the world. Many countries are on complete lockdown. People are quarantined in their homes. We have an unprecedented shutdown of human movement around the world.
This is a “Black Swan” event, an unpredictable turn of events that will undoubtedly change the world. It’s going to leave a mark on society and reshape how we interact, work, and conduct ourselves (maybe people will finally start washing their hands more).
One of the (many) direct consequences of this rapid spread to Pandemic levels is that it has shut down the entire travel industry, an industry that relies specifically on the movement of people to exist.
Right now, no one should travel. We need to flatten the curve, reduce the transmission of this disease, and ensure we do not overwhelm our healthcare systems.
No country can afford to repeat Italy’s experience. We must all do our part, no matter how hard it is.
The world will be waiting for us when this is all over.
But, like everyone else in travel, we have been hit really bad. The team and I become increasingly worried as the days go by and our traffic and revenue fall to zero.
These are dark times.
And we have you.
And want to turn to you, our beloved community, especially as a number of you have asked how you can support the site during this time of uncertainty.
Today, we have a way:
We are launching a Patreon!
A Patreon is a members-only subscription service where you’ll get exclusive perks like Q&As, signed books, access to all our events, calls with me, postcards, calls with the team, and even private Instagram postings and blog posts. You’ll get behind the scenes access and content exclusive to you.
We have a variety of monthly subscriptions at varying price points ranging from $1 to $100 USD per month that will get you behind the scene’s access, all our guides, exclusive Q&A’s, one-on-one planning calls, free tickets to events, all our guides, signed books, postcards from my trips, and a lot more stuff!
Just go to our new Patreon page, pick your subscription level, and you’re in!
We’ll start sending messages and arranging everything this week. (And, yes, we’ll keep this going even after the crisis has subsided.)
Situations like this make you look at things differently. We were already moving towards a more community-centric model with our events. The Coronavirus is just expediting that process and this new membership program is the next phase of that.
These are really hard times in the travel industry. This are really hard times for us.
But we have you – and that’s what matters. The team and I really appreciate anything you can do to help us ride out the storm. We’re going keep trucking on and creating content that you can use for when we can travel again.
Thank you so much for everything and for helping us get through this weird period of time!
– Nomadic Matt
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use — and they’ll save you time and money too!
The post Our New Patreon!!! appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
Filed under: Riding Tips
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!