Maximizing Efficiency as a Nomad
Nomad Profile
Janice is from one of my favorite places in Australia—Perth! She writes the Substack Travelling Lens Insider, which reflects her twin passions: using photography to tell the story of a place and maximizing points to get there. Give it a read and get the inside scoop on how to maximize both your money and your travel memories.
9 Fun Facts
First Name: Janice
Age Range: 30s
Nationality: Australian
Nomadic Stance: I’ve been living and travelling as an expat for two years out of the US, and have recently returned to Australia. But if I had to put myself in a category, it’d have to be an aspirational nomad!
Last Corporate Job: Pharmacist
Current Job: Pharmacist
Favorite Country: Japan, there is so much here for everyone—great food, culture, nature and unique experiences
Next Stop: Queensland, Australia or Bali, Indonesia
What do you like best about the nomad life? Discovery through photography
2 Questions
1. You focus a lot on maximizing travel miles and points. If, as a nomad, I only had the bandwidth to do one thing in this area, what would you recommend?
Simple answer: sign up for a credit card with a big welcome offer. That’s hands down the fastest way to rack up a ton of points and miles. If you only do one thing, do that!
But here’s my bonus tip — make sure it’s a card that earns flexible points, like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards (if you’re US-based). Why does that matter? Because hotel and airline-specific cards lock you into one loyalty program.
And as a nomad, you don’t always know where you’ll be heading next. Flexibility is everything. You want points you can use anywhere — not ones that are useless because your next destination doesn’t have that airline or hotel chain.
2. How do you use photography to enhance your writing?
I’ve been snapping photos since my teens, but it wasn’t until my 20s — when I had the money to travel more and invest in better camera gear — that I started taking it seriously.
The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” might be a cliché, but I believe it wholeheartedly. A great photo does something words sometimes can’t: it lets the reader feel like they’re right there with you. Whether it’s the chaos of a busy street market or the quiet beauty of hiking through nature, photos bring my travel stories to life in an instant. I love pairing my images with my writing — it breaks up long posts and gives readers a visual moment to breathe before diving back into the story.
But honestly, the biggest gift photography has given me isn’t even on the page.
Travelling with a camera in hand makes me slow down. It pushes me to really look — at the light, the people, the small details I might otherwise rush past. That intention makes me a better observer, and in turn, a better writer.
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson has traveled to 135 countries & all 7 continents. She is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of curated trips and travel guides, including the #1-ranked Explore the World with Nomads.
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