My charming second home of Molfetta, Italy located in the southeastern region of Italy.
Bryce Conway: Owner of 10XTravel
By Halie Taylor
Bryce Conway: Travel and Personal Finance Guru
On a consistent basis Bryce Conway found himself giving travel advice to friends, family or anyone who asked. Becoming quite the expert on topics like points and miles he felt compelled to help more people with his insider knowledge so with this in mind Bryce created 10XTravel.
"[10XTravel is] a community focused on travels, personal finance, and the lifestyle that is afforded by being able to travel the world for next to nothing."
Sounds awesome, right!?
Bryce hopes his site will help those yearning to travel, but who are afraid of the financial commitment, learn that they can travel without a lot of financial strain. This is such an important mission to Bryce because he knows first hand how life changing travel can be.
His exposure to so many different cultures has given him a brand new outlook on people and how differently each person experiences the world. Travel has also given him the opportunity to really look inside himself, to figure out all his likes and dislikes and to really learn who he is.
The need to depend on yourself and make decisions in tough situations is a character builder like no other and Bryce loves that he has cultivated himself into person he is today because of this.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE CONWAY (PRAGUE)
For Bryce, travel is a chance to break out of your normal routine and become aware of the world around you which is why he urges people to take the leap and begin traveling.
Travel forces you to escape your comfort zone and thrusts you into situation where you learn all sorts of new things whether that be about a particular culture, a certain tradition or more about yourself.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE CONWAY (THAILAND)
With so many amazing trips under his belt, Bryce struggles to nail down just one destination that is better than the rest because each destination has something unique and special about it.
However, Thailand is a destination that always sticks out in his mind because it has so much to offer: incredible people, amazing food, low cost of living and a range of beautiful sites/areas.
Another "traveler's utopia" that sticks out in Bryce's mind is Italy. Having spent time in such places as Rome, Venice, Florence and Tuscany, Bryce was blown away by the landscape of the area while food and wine were just as amazing as the people.
All of these things, added to the laid back culture and inspiring history, make Italy a must visit destination.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE CONWAY (VENICE, ITALY)
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE CONWAY (VENICE, ITALY)
We agree with Bryce and love his mission! Here in the travel industry we love working together to help create amazing experiences for you!
"Travel opens the doors for a new way of thinking and a deeper understanding of yourself. It’s an opportunity to learn and grow."
To learn more about Bryce and to grab a FREE copy of his EBook "How to Travel the World in Luxury for Next To Nothing" visit his site 10X Travel.
Halie is the Travel Marketing Trends Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is currently a senior at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC where she is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Living in Charleston, Halie developed a love for beautiful scenery and unique culture. This love led her to her passion for travel which allows her to discover beautiful scenery and unique cultures in places all over the world. When she is not daydreaming about her next traveling adventure she can be found redoing warn out furniture found on the side of the road, writing fiction and attempting Pinterest crafts.
Travelers Giving Back: The Story of Nomadic Matt & FLYTE
An Interview with Matt Kepnes
Written by Halie Taylor / Interview by Giorgio Nardini
NY Times Best Selling Author, Matt Kepnes, known to you as Nomadic Matt wasn't always a intrepid globetrotter. In fact, as a child Matt wasn't afforded the opportunity to travel. It actually was not until he was into his adult years did he have the chance to explore outside his home town of Boston.
It was his first trip to Costa Rica in 2003 that opened his eyes to all the world had to offer. Matt immediately fell in love with travel and the freedom it granted him. In a drastic change of events following this trip, he came home, quit his job and began a year long adventure around the world that eventually changed into a seven year adventure exploring destinations all over the globe. At this point in his life, Matt never looked back.
"Travel has shaped my life and given me purpose. Opening yourself up to new experiences can have a powerful impact on you, and help you figure out who you are and what you want to be."
Now 13 years later Matt has become an icon in the travel industry. Starting with his award winning travel blog: Nomadic Matt, his NY Times Best Selling book: How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, the creator behind an online media school for aspiring bloggers and even the owner of a hostel in Texas.
Now Matt's newest venture is the one that will inspire and impact the lives of so many others. This is the mission of FLYTE.
FLYTE, the Foundation for Learning and Youth Travel Education, is a non-profit that helps with the logistical support and funding for teachers looking to provide cultural context for what they teach. It was created to assist students from underprivileged areas on dream trips to explore the world.
In 2015 Matt co-founded the organization with Courtney Dalton, also a traveler and a former financial and budgetary manager for study abroad programs. Being in this business, Courtney understood the struggle and costs involved with international education. She believed in the purpose of studying abroad but also knew it was not financially possible for all. Together they knew they could make a difference.
"Travel changes people’s lives. This is especially true for young people who are at a time in their life where they are still figuring out who they are and where they fit into the world. It is an age where exposure to a variety of ideas and cultures can create a huge impact, and can inspire them to do something or be someone they never would have considered before."
When starting this venture Courtney & Matt quickly learned many of the students that they met with this program had never even left their local community in which they live, much less the state and the country. They wanted to inspire them to venture outside of the familiar environments and comfort zones and view the world from a different perspective allowing them to see that the world is so much bigger and expanding upon their own experience.
"We want to bring the power of travel to kids who might not otherwise get the chance to see the world. We want to see our students follow aspirations to continue with their education beyond high school, and to become active and engaged citizens in the world."
In just under a year, FLYTE raised $20,000 to send their first group of students to Mexico!
Matt's future of FLYTE is to reach into more geographical areas around the world and provide students with even more destinations to explore.
While spreading the word of this organization, Matt will continue to travel the world and inspire other's with his writings. Follow along on the FLYTE Facebook page or on the TIS donor page to see updates, future trips and upcoming missions for the organization.
Travel Italian Style Partners with FLYTE!
Here at Travel Italian Style, we truly believe in Nomadic Matt's mission. We support the notion that travel changes lives. It promotes new outlooks, helps you build character and gives you incredible experiences that will remain with you forever.
Erica, Matt & Courtney of FLYTE with Travel italian Style Founder, Cassandra Santoro
In fact, Travel Italian Style was created because our founder had the wonderful opportunity and the means to step on a plane to Italy for the very first time in 2006. It was an amazing experience that changed her life but she knows it was a privilege to have this adventure.
Therefore, Travel Italian Style has become a proud partner of FLYTE. For every tour we sell 2% of the profits will go directly to the organization. The money donated will go directly towards paying for a students’ airfare, meals, school books, ground transportation, and accommodations when they abroad.
"This partnership not only offers the monetary support to pay for our programs. It is an example of the travel industry giving back, making travel a catalyst for social good."
-Matt Kepnes
Remember: "Giving is not about a donation, it's about making a difference."
Join one of the 2016 Travel Italian Style tours and you will automatically be donating directly to FLYTE! Check out more information here
To see more on FLYTE or to donate today visit their website at http://www.takeflyte.org/.
Giorgio Velardita Nardini was born and raised outside of Rome. He is joining the TIS team as International Public Relations and Branding Advisor. As a passionate amateur photographer, traveling is the thing he loves the most and can’t live a day without thinking about his next destination. Giorgio shares his photos and advice on his very own blog wanderlustdaily.com/en which is written in both in Italian and in English.
Halie Taylor is the Travel Marketing Trends Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is currently a senior at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC where she is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Living in Charleston, Halie developed a love for beautiful scenery and unique culture.