A 35-year-old guy who has spent 10 years traveling the world reveals the 5 things you should do before taking a big trip

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Research — a lot.

Research — a lot.

"Once you pick a destination, start researching where you want to go," he said. "The more knowledge you have, the more confident you'll be!"

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Take local trips to nearby cities or states on your own.

Take local trips to nearby cities or states on your own.

Work your way up to bigger, longer trips by starting small, and visiting places that aren't a long haul flight away.

"Stay overnight and explore it in a way a traveler does," Kepnes said.

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Take a short weekend trip out of the country.

Take a short weekend trip out of the country.

Once you've mastered local areas, aim for somewhere a little further away.

"Small trips can be a good gateway to bigger ones," he said.

Read travel blogs by people that are similar to you.

Read travel blogs by people that are similar to you.

There are blogs for virtually every kind of traveler, and they are great inspiration. Kepnes highlights a few special interest groups on Nomadic Matt, including women, families, and LGBT individuals.

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Meet other people who travel.

Meet other people who travel.

"A big problem people seem to have is that they don't know other people traveling the world, especially if they themselves haven't traveled yet," Kepnes said. "By meeting other people who have done it, it gives newbies the confidence to take that first trip."