Matador Blog

  Ready to get out in the wild and feel refreshed and inspired?  Backpacking, or overnight camping with just the gear in your backpack, is a great way to truly experience the outdoors.  Get ready to take in epic views that can only be earned. Read ahead for a packing list for your first trip off the grid. Our packing list...

  Looking for warm weather, stunning beaches, and incredible waterfalls?  We have just the place- Costa Rica.  Read ahead for our one week road trip itinerary for the very best of Costa Rica. If the beaches aren't enough to reason to pay Costa Rica a visit, here is a list of reasons why you should forgo more crowded equator hugging destinations...

Northern Italy is famous for the sophistication of Milan, the ancient and unique beauty of Venice, and the romance of Verona. We’re not saying you shouldn’t go to those places. But this summer, consider following the locals and going for a slow tour of the countryside of Northern Italy, lounging on the beach, and trekking up into the Dolomites. Agriturismo...

If you’re an LGBTQ traveler, there are three occasions when your priority is creating a socially progressive, welcoming vacation itinerary. When you’re planning a romantic trip, whether it’s a getaway with your partner or a destination wedding Family travel, when you want your kids to feel relaxed because they fit in, and no one is asking awkward questions about their...

Traveling with a full camera kit is tricky business. You’ve got a lot of expensive, fragile gear that you’re lugging through airports and around cities. It’s no simple task. That being said, there are a handful of tricks you can employ to make sure your gear stays safe during your travels. My team and I just brainstormed many of these...

A safari doesn’t have to be a credit card-scorching bucket-list trip. Your African safari hack? Visit South Africa, where you can explore like a local on a DIY safari. With 21 public reserves run by South African National Parks (SANParks), an English-speaking population and the wide popularity of safari vacations for residents, South Africa is the easiest and safest destination...

Attention gluten-free travelers: don’t let gluten limit your adventures. There is a big world out there, and a lot of it is gluten free. First, choose your degree of difficulty. Most traditional ethnic cuisines are centered around every imaginable root and grain besides wheat, and who doesn’t love Thai food? Next, use online preparation to progress to more challenging cultures....

Commit to Wild There is a different life you could be living: close to the earth and the stars, dunking your head in the blue of the Pacific. Try it for a week on the Big Island of Hawai’i, where mountain biking, cliff diving, volcano hikes, and swimming with rays are an everyday experience. And then take that feeling home...