Shanny Matterson wants to live in a world where airplane tickets are cheap, visas never expire, hangovers don’t exist, and the next adventure is always just around the corner.
As an Australian freelance travel writer with a strict policy for no bullshit, Shanny’s words have been featured by Huffington Post, Mamamia, Bassculture Islands Magazine, Summersite, Niue Tourism, TopDeck Travel, PaperPlanes Connect and Dive New Zealand/Pacific Magazine. She is also a founding contributor of Cheapflights Australia and New Zealand.
A digital nomad, Shanny runs her own online creative copywriting biz, REBEL+ROAM, where she creates kick-ass content for travel and tourism clients looking to attract the right traveller to their brand.
When she’s not sleeping in airports or navigating the expat life on a remote tropical island, you can find her diving with sharks; nurturing her Instagram addiction; experimenting with new Mexican recipes; or trying to set a world record for the amount of f-bombs sneakily woven into a single blog post. All in the name of her art, of course.
- Home City: Gold Coast, Australia
- Travelling since: 2011
- Countries traveled to: 24
- Countries lived in: 3
When were you first bit by the travel bug?
Ever since I was a little girl doing a school project on France, I‘d dreamed of travelling the world.
Looking at pictures of exotic foreign lands bursting with history and culture filled me with an insatiable curiosity and longing to explore. It was like a doorway to another life had been reveled to me. I had big dreams to travel when I turned 18, but as so often happens, life had other plans for me. It wasn’t until my husband left me when I was 27 that I finally had enough of dreaming and decided to make shit happen myself. Heartbroken and deeply craving adventure, I used the small amount of money from our settlement to buy myself a backpack and a ticket to Europe. I spent 5 weeks in the summer travelling solo and for the first time in my whole life, I finally felt complete. It was the greatest experience of my life, and from those first tentative steps abroad, my love of travelling blossomed.
What’s your travel style? Why do you prefer this style of travel?
Backpacker-slash-adventurer-slash-foodie all the way!
As an advanced scuba diver with over 100 dives under my belt, the lure of adventure – especially under the ocean – always plays a big role in my travel plans. Likewise with food – I love trying new cuisines and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone! And for me, backpacking just feels more honest, authentic and adventurous than staying in hotels – you never know what’s waiting for you! I love the sense of camaraderie – that spirit of friendship and community you share with fellow travellers – that you usually only find in a hostel or amongst backpackers. Plus, I’m a big fan of the adage ‘less is more’ – especially when travelling!
How do you fund your travels?
A combination of hard work + income from clients + occasional sponsored opportunities + good ol’ fashioned hustle
What first inspired you to start REBEL+ROAM?
I’ve been writing semi-professionally for 3 years now and have been featured in publications all over the globe, as well as creating travel content for businesses, tourism boards and media outlets.
My blog/biz – REBEL + ROAM – is all about keepin’ it real when it comes to travel and life. My vibe? Crafting hilarious, kick-ass content infused with straight up raw honesty – all served with a strict, no-bullshit policy. And a few f-bombs. Okay, more than a few. I’ve got one helluva’ potty mouth on me.
Before REBEL + ROAM, I had another blog that chronicled my life as a newly-divorced young woman in her twenties. But after writing about that experience for so long, I just kinda felt like I was over the subject. Although it was a big chapter in my life, I didn’t want it to be the whole damn story.
After my first solo trip – backpacking Europe for a summer – I found I was more addicted to travelling than a strung-out crack addict. I knew with all my heart that I had found my niche. THIS was what I wanted to write about. From humble beginnings documenting my shenanigans through Europe, followed by my experience of living in Canada as a student on a scholarship, I shifted my focus away from writing about my old life and more towards writing for my ideal tribe of travellers: sassy, cheeky, intrepid rebels who break the rules.
Soon I found myself being approached by content/social media executives from an internationally renowned travel service provider based in London, asking if I would be interested in contributing content for their upcoming Australian and New Zealand sites.
They asked for 3 ideas. I pitched them 12 articles.
Three days later I was offered my first paid freelance writing gig.
What’s been your most popular blog post? Why do you think this blog post resonated with your audience?
I do an annual post about ‘Things Travellers Shouldn’t Give A Shit About’ at the beginning of each new year that always has people pissing themselves and emailing me about it. I think my tribe just like reading raw, in-your-face, unapologetically honest funny shit.
- 15 Things Travellers Shouldn’t Give A Shit About In 2015
- 16 Things Travellers Shouldn’t Give A Shit About In 2016
My most popular post though would have to be the first one I wrote after moving to Niue, the small, remote island in the Polynesian South Pacific that I’ve called home for almost 2 years. This post went VIRAL around here because it was one of the first articles written about Niue from the perspective of someone who lives here. Niueans from all of the globe shared it and it was featured amongst other media sites. I think the Niuean people were just so damn happy to finally see a true representation of their beloved island out there in the public – it felt like they were finally being ‘seen’.
What’s been your favorite destination and why?
Paris, Budapest and New York City all rank in my top cities to visit, but I guess the place that truly stole my heart and left me begging for more was Rome.
The Eternal City is everything I’ve ever wanted in a destination: stunning sights, rich history, incredible food, buzzing atmosphere, and an endearing culture that is proudly and unapologetically unique, whilst perfectly complemented by the most beautiful language to ever grace my ears. Every step through Rome was a delight; every moment a dream come true. I was intoxicated by the city’s charm, it’s balls-out confidence and unrelenting beauty. And the gelato #drool
I think the reason why Rome is so special to me is because it reminds me of myself: an entity that has been through some rough times and was painfully torn down, only to use its natural tenacity and stubbornness to rebuild and once more flourish. Rome is the city that says, ‘I don’t give a shit what you think about me. I know I’m pretty damn rad, and if you don’t like it, you can suck it, ’.
Rome is shamelessly good humoured, self-assured and audacious, with just a hint of sass. Just like me.
What picture have you taken during your travels that you’d consider to be your favorite and why?
I can’t show you that one because it’s too private (a girl’s gotta have her secrets #amiright?) but I can say that all my pictures are special to me because they all remind me of how I felt in that very moment – joyfully FREE.
Have you eaten anything during your travels that absolutely blew your mind? What was it and where?
Escargot in Paris. It’s like a mushroom and calamari had a baby and then they drenched that delicious little fella in butter, garlic and parsley. Freaking AH-mazing.
Tell us about one of your greatest experiences during your travels.
Forgiving my cheating ex-husband as I sobbed tears of heart-wrenching joy on my knees in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Tell us about one of your worst experiences during your travels.
I got a kidney infection in Florence and had to cop two injections of unknown drugs in my butt cheeks by an Italian doctor who spoke little English. To this day, I still have no idea what she shot me up with; all I know is that I wandered the streets of Florence as high as a crack whore for a few hours – but at least I was cured. This may be part of the reason why I love Italians so much…
Oh, and there was this one time a cute bartender I was hooking up with in Vienna accidentally set my face on fire…that kinda sucked and hurt like a mofo. But it was pretty funny too, in hindsight.
Moral of the story? Don’t try an Ultimate Flaming Shot when you’re drunk and trying to impress a dude. Better yet, just don’t try them at all. That shit *never* ends happily…
What has surprised you the most about traveling?
How addictive it is.
What’s one thing you seek out in every destination you visit no matter what?
The best coffee. The most authentic food. Free wi-fi.
Do you have a favorite travel hack or best piece of travel advice?
Always pack dark sunnies, extra underwear, a damn good camera, birth control and a solid alibi.
Any future travel plans?
My partner and I are about to leave Niue after 2 years to move to Melbourne. I’m also planning a trip to Bali in the New Year, and we will be returning to Niue for a dive trip and visit mid-2017. I’ll also be heading to TBEX Asia in 2017, wherever that may be held.
Favorite travel quote?
‘Oh, the places you’ll go…’ – Dr. Suess (I have this tattooed along my left arm)
What has travel taught you?
To be prepared for never-ending waves of exquisite personal transformation and discovery.
Travelling is freedom, adventure and education all spun into one life-changing bundle. It is the love that will never fail me; the boyfriend that will never break my heart; the investment that always gives me far more return than what I put in. To travel is to dare greatly, love immensely, and live voraciously. My life has changed forever because of my choice to be a digital nomad and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Special thanks to Shanny of RebelandRoam.com for taking part in our Good Travel Interview series. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the interview.
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