About

Here, you’ll get to know a bit more about me, my travel journey, and what Matt’s Next Steps is all about.
HINT: If you’re looking for travel inspiration, honest stories or practical advice (without the influencer rubbish), you’re in the right place!

About Me

Hey, I’m Matt – the adventure-seeker, budget backpacker, and lost Londoner behind Matt’s Next Steps.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been driven by a curiosity to explore the world and seek new experiences. So like many before me, after graduating from uni (Zoology); I worked, saved, and booked a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia! Turns out the stereotype is very real and I caught the travel bug… however, it was the pandemic that cut my adventure short. ? On my return to the UK, the blog was born – a space to share my love of travel and inspire others to embrace their own adventures.

Since then, I’ve been juggling a corporate 9-5 with my passion for travel, making the most of weekends, holidays, and any chance to escape the ordinary. From sleeping on active volcanoes in Guatemala to (badly) riding mopeds around Vietnam, I’ve made it my personal mission to chase the extraordinary moments that make life feel larger.

I’m not here to sell you the idea of quitting everything to travel full-time (although, let’s be honest, I’m working toward it). This blog is about finding adventure wherever you can and whatever your lifestyle. So if you’re looking for honest guides, practical advice, and a sprinkle of inspiration to step outside your comfort zone, you’re in the right place.

Factfile

Favourite food: Ice cream
Favourite song: Lakota by Technimatic
Hobbies: Hiking, photography, gym
Pets: Cat (Charlie)

Factfile

Started: 2019
Posts Published: 100+
Monthly Readers: 10k+
Blog Motto: Explore the world one step at a time.

About the Blog

My little corner of the internet! Matt’s Next Steps is for anyone who wants to explore the world, find adventure, and have a laugh along the way – even if (or especially if) you don’t have it all figured out yet.

Here you’ll find:

Inspiring Guides: From epic nature to vibrant cities, I share everything you’ll need to plan your next unforgettable trip.
Practical Travel Advice: Travel doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. I’ll show you how to explore smarter, save money, and maximise your time (fitting travel around your lifestyle) so you can make the most of every adventure.
Real Stories & Lessons: Not every trip goes according to plan (trust me), but those are the stories worth telling. I share my highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way.
Sustainable Travel: I’m passionate about protecting our planet, so tips on travelling responsibly also feature throughout.

My mission: to help you experience the world, challenge yourself, and embrace the beautiful chaos of travel. Whether you’re taking your first backpacking trip, planning a weekend escape, or dreaming of your next big adventure, I hope this blog gives you the tools (and the confidence) to make it happen.

So together, let’s explore the world one step at a time!

FAQs

I have lived in London pretty much my whole life (besides when I’m travelling).

I was born in February 1997, so you can figure that one out!

That’s such a difficult question as every country is unique! Myanmar deserves a special mention because of its welcoming people, Madagascar because of its rawness abundance of wildlife, and Guatemala as home to my all-time favourite experience. However Vietnam (currently) takes the title as it has a bit of everything! ?

I’ve used a variety of gear over the years, of which you’ll see a variety in my blog posts. But here is my current (and past) setup:

Camera: Sony A7iii (previously Canon EOS 1300D)
Lenses: 24-70m, 70-200m
Phone: iPhone 15 Pro (previously Huawei Nova 5t)

Before you go spending your hard-earned cash on new equipment – remember it’s not the camera that makes the shot, it’s the person behind it!

This depends on the trip. I love both travelling solo and sharing experiences with others. Most of my long-term travel experiences have been solo (though you’re rarely truly alone), whilst holidays and short trips vary.

In the times that I’m not solo, I travel with friends (primarily those that share similar travel styles). I rarely travel with family, but hope to in the future.

It won’t surprise you to know that I wasn’t always a blogger! I’ve done a variety of things, all of which have helped lead me to this point.

I studied Zoology at university; coached squash; volunteered for charities; worked in a school (not teaching); qualified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL); worked in a supermarket, and worked a corporate 9-5!

None of these involved marketing, SEO, analytics, coding or social media, so all the skills used in this blog were learnt online.

I initially made my blog due to the recommendation of an old work colleague to keep track of my travels whilst I was abroad. However, I never bothered posting as I was pre-occupied with my travels through Southeast Asia. It wasn’t until the pandemic struck that I realised what a fun idea it was. I still keep at it as I love a long-term project which develops as I do!

I don’t currently make money from my blog. I started it as a hobby and want to keep my site ad-free for as long as possible. Long-term I would like to make an income from the site.

Whilst I knew I wanted to create a travel blog, I wasn’t sure exactly where the blog would end up. I thought ‘next steps’ was vague enough to cover all bases! Also, one of my all-time favourite quotes is: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” by Lao Tzu which was very fitting.

I don’t come from a background of web-development or web-design. I still can’t even code (ahhh)!

I spent (and still do spend) hours watching Youtube guides or reading blogs, trying to learn as much as possible about blogging.

I set up my WordPress Blog in 2019, tried the free version, switched to the paid version, switched themes multiple times, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way! One thing I’ve realised is that a blog is never done, it’s always growing, changing and building new aspects.

It will always be a work in progress, but it probably took me at least a year or two to get Matt’s Next Steps into a place that I was vaguely happy with (at the time).