Life. Never in a million years did I think I would have the experience I’m having today. I think most people dream about doing something like this, and here I am doing it! They say that losing your job is sometimes the best thing that can happen to you – I’m not prepared to disagree.
In January of this year, I started the paperwork process for my own company. Bought a domain, designed a logo, filed for an LLC, registered my trade name, obtained an EIN, registered with DC for taxes, obtained my basic business license, built and designed my entire website, ordered business and note cards, designed marketing material, and finally got my IATA travel agency registration in March – which was the most exciting part and when things finally felt ‘official’. I’ve identified a lawyer should I need any legal advice, and started booking some business. We’re doing this thing!
At the beginning stages of each new company, I think, things start slow. I don’t have a storefront where I’m selling products to help get immediate recognition. So yes, right now, business is a bit slower. But, it allows me some freedom to travel without being too tied to my devices. Given this, there have been some projects where I have been quite busy. It can be hard to balance work and pleasure but I’m figuring it out! When I meet people they ask if I’m here for work or holiday. I call this a ‘working holiday’, it’s definitely a mix of both.
In many of the cities I visit, I reach out to hotels and arrange for site visits of the properties. I try to select 2-4 brand name hotels that many people would chose and recognize, and 1-2 boutique hotels that I can try to push as well. In this business, it’s all about relationships! I can decide pretty early on after meeting someone if I think they would be someone I’d like to partner with. There have been days where I’ve had meetings from 8 AM – 8 PM, but it’s what I love! Even before I held this type of role, I always loved visiting hotels in the cities I would visit.
So here I am, currently writing from the bus en route to Vienna from Zagreb. I realize it’s been over 100 days since I left home (closer to 4 months at this point), and thought I should check in. It’s such a bizarre reality, really. At random moments it hits me, what I’m doing, and I can’t help but laugh out loud. Just yesterday I was walking down the street in Zagreb and realized, ‘I don’t have a home, I’ve been in Europe for almost 4 months now, and my life is completely changed’. I chuckled to myself. There is not one single regret I have with my decision. Am I making loads of money? Absolutely not. In fact, I’m running quite low on funds (help me I’m poor). Really I need to start getting creative! However, I’ve explored some amazing places, met some incredible people, and have been forever changed by this entire experience.
I hear people on the road talking about being home sick or it comes up in conversation. Some people say ‘definitely not’ and have no plan to return home. Others say they miss their beds. Personally, I don’t feel home sick. I think I’ve found a new home, on the road. ‘Home is where the heart is’. Well, travel has always been a passion of mine and here I am. Obviously I miss my friends and family back home, but I don’t miss the daily monotonous routine of office life and the 9-5, the same restaurants and bars, the desire to travel but not finding the time or money to make it happen.
So much has happened since I’ve left home. I’ve traveled by planes, trains, and automobiles. I’ve stayed in hostels, I’ve couch surfed, stayed in really nice hotels and some not so nice hotels. I’ve stayed in some Airbnb apartments and slept outside an airport on a bench. I’ve driven a car in Paris and an ATV in Mykonos. I was sick for over a month, and spent €300+ at a hospital in Barcelona to try to figure out if it was anything serious. I’ve made new friends and reconnected with old friends. I’ve made some incredible hotel connections. I celebrated my birthday in Paris. I went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I had pizza in Naples. I went to the Cannes Film Festival! I saw Taylor Swift in concert in London. My grandmother passed away. I was in Croatia for the World Cup! Each and every one of these experiences has changed and shaped me in some way, and it hasn’t always been easy.
If you ask me when I’ll return, my answer is still ‘I’m not sure’. I definitely plan to return for my cousin’s wedding in December, but thinking I’d like to be home before Thanksgiving. Realistically, I’ll probably come home ‘when the money runs out’ which is probably going to happen in October. Want to help me out? Send business my way! Or if you do your own bookings online, throw my IATA number onto the reservation. Your rate doesn’t change and I’ll get a commission. Just send me your confirmation so I know to follow up if necessary. I’ve got a couple of really incredible opportunities in the works and if they go through will support me for a while. Anyway, this post isn’t intended to be a solicitation (although there will always be some shameless plugs thrown in).
So, here we are. 100+ days in. My experience thus far has been incredible, and I wake up every day looking forward to something new. Travel opens up your mind, your heart, and you become more aware of the possibilities of life. It’s a feeling I cannot fully describe. I don’t always ‘check-in’ or post where I am, so sharing a recap of my travel itinerary below. Take a look, and share any thoughts in the comments!
Follow me on Instagram @mkontheroad and my business page @mkluxlife. Additionally, you can read more blog posts and stories on my personal website (michaelkamens.com) and my business page (mkluxlife.com). Connect with me via email at michael@mkluxlife.com or WhatsApp at +1-202-480-1664 when you’re ready to start planning your next trip…wherever that may be. I can help with a custom proposal and itinerary, complete with accommodations, transport, and everything in between!
PAST TRAVEL ITINERARY
Initial flight: Baltimore to London via stopover in Iceland. 22 April 2018
UNITED KINGDOM
London 23 April 2018 – 30 April 2018
FRANCE
Paris 30 April 2018 – 05 May 2018
Fonteney-le-Pesnel / Etretat 05 May 2018 – 06 May 2018
Le Mans / Mont Saint-Michel / Saint Malo 06 May 2018 – 07 May 2018
Nantes / Chateau de Chenonceau / Notre-Dame-de-Monts 07 May 2018 – 09 May 2018
Sarlat/Domme 11 May 2018 – 12 May 2018
Baleyssagues 12 May 2018 – 13 May 2018
Sainte-Maxine/Sainte-Tropez 13 May 2018 – 15 May 2018
Nice 15 May 2018 – 19 May 2018
Paris 19 May 2018 – 20 May 2018
ITALY
Milan 20 May 2018 – 23 May 2018
Lake Como / Menaggio 23 May 2018 – 26 May 2018
Venice 26 May 2018 – 30 May 2018
Florence 30 May 2018 – 03 June 2018
Cinque Terre 03 June 2018 – 06 June 2018
Rome 06 June 2018 – 10 June 2018
Naples 10 June 2018 – 12 June 2018
Sorrento 12 June 2018 – 14 June 2018
Positano 14 June 2018 – 16 June 2018
Rome 16 June 2018 – 19 June 2018
UNITED KINGDOM
London 19 June 2018 – 27 June 2018
SPAIN
Barcelona 27 June 2018 – 01 July 2018
Madrid 01 July 2018 – 04 July 2018
GREECE
Mykonos 05 July 2018 – 08 July 2018
Santorini 08 July 2018 – 11 July 2018
Nafpaktos 11 July 2018 – 13 July 2018
Athens 13 July 2018 – 14 July 2018
CROATIA
Zadar 14 July 2018 – 19 July 2018
Vrhovine 19 July 2018 – 03 August 2018
Split 03 August 2018 – 05 August 2018
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Mostar 05 August 2018 – 09 August 2018
CROATIA
Dubrovnik 09 August 2018 – 10 August 2018
Zagreb 11 August 2018 – 13 August 2018