Why did you start your travel blog?

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Permalink Reply by Daniel M. Perez on January 21, 2009 at 10:35pm

I have kept travel journals since my first Europe trip in 2001 and have built websites for some of those trips as well, emulating the blog format before I knew it existed. However, I started with a podcast. There were a lot of Hobby Gaming podcasts popping up around 2006 and I wanted to do it as well but with my own twist. I came up with The Gamer Traveler because it allowed me to meld my two hobby passions, travel and gaming, and also assured me a niche that would never face competition. It started out as a segment in a popular gaming podcast, and on 2007 I took it solo, expanding the show with extra segments. It struck a chord in the gaming population, and even with my horrible lags between episodes, the show garnered a cult following.

As of January of this year, I decided to expand it into a blog as well as a podcast in order to give myself the freedom to cover smaller topics/ideas without having to wait to record. The new format also gives me the ability to explore more in-depth the connection between travel and gaming (a connection that, I have come to find out, is far more ubiquitous than I originally thought). Plus it allows me the chance to indulge in this love of mine in some shape while I am not on the road.

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Permalink Reply by David Whitley on January 24, 2009 at 4:15am

I started 1001 Travel Writer Tips because I was getting fed up of people asking me how to get into travel writing. I figured it was easier to write everything down and point them to it...

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Permalink Reply by Peace on January 24, 2009 at 5:22am

I'm new to blogging but really enjoying it, I launched my static site in Aug 2008 and was planning to just have an e-newsletter but a blog seems like such a better way to go and can be used with my e-newsletter too. I'm still figuring out my own style but like the idea of short posts with high qualtiy pics - I'm excited about what the future holds.
Peace, Australia CairnsFamilyHolidays

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Permalink Reply by TBEX Admin on January 24, 2009 at 2:33pm

Wow, your stories are all so different and interesting. I am glad to know I am not the only one new to travel blogging. I love having my marketing blog and I also write for a group blog on the subject of recruiting and social media but just with those two it's exhausting to keep up! Keep the awesome comments coming!

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Permalink Reply by OneGiantStep on January 25, 2009 at 10:37am

I started OneGiantStep to journal our upcoming travels. Once the seed of the travel idea got into my head and I discovered other travel blogs I was so inspired by all the stories! I was/am addicted to reading about other peoples accounts of their preparation, anxiety and ultimately their travels and decided that a blog would be a great way to stay connected with family and friends and let them know where we're at in the process. I was nervous at first, not knowing if I could write, what I would write about etc but now I really enjoy it and am looking forward to seeing how it evolves during our trip. I have found the travel blog community to be extremely supportive and informative - thanks to all who have connected with me!!

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Permalink Reply by Heather Poole on January 26, 2009 at 5:46pm

I started a travel blog because I had readers. Actually I started a blog for my son, and soon found myself writing about juggling my life as a flight attendant and family life. After analyzing my statcounter, I realized most of the people were visiting my blog by typing in keywords related to my job. That's when I knew I was on to something... Eventually I started a new blog for my son, and only wrote about travel on my original blog. The rest is history. www.shouldbewriting.blogspot.com. And then I got hired to write for Gadling. www.gadling.com/galley-gossip Of course I'm also currently working on two books and blog to market myself

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Permalink Reply by Jen Randall on January 27, 2009 at 4:31pm

I have only recently started to blog and my main reason was future travel. In 2009 I plan to start a round the world trip (or maybe just one way) and the blog was going to be my way of keeping in touch with people but also, if I manage to capture anyone elses attention, the plan was, in fact the plan still is, to detail my journey (as a first time backpacker) in the hope it might help at least one other person or inspire them to do the same. More recently though, whilst reminiscing with friends, I've realised that forgetfulness can hit anyone and it seems to be hitting me a litte - therefore I'm also writing for me - so I can remember all the important and not so important, things I did in my youth!! xx

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Permalink Reply by Dominique King on January 29, 2009 at 7:49pm

I spent nearly 15 years writing things like business stories for local newspapers, advertorials for the papers and a Detroit glossy, the occasional press release for a local organization...unfortunately, the state of print is so dismal around here that most of my clients' freelance work dried up.

Over the years, I did a few regional travel stories for the local papers and knew that was the type of writing I really enjoyed.
Soooo...looking around, I saw more and more people getting their information online and heard more stories about the traditional media outlets wanting their writers to be familiar with blogging and any number of skills related to producing and promoting online content. It seemed like the time to make the jump towards the type of writing I really wanted to do and learn the skills to get it out there so perhaps I could spin it into other opportunities for myself.

Besides, when you get right down to it, I'd done more than my fair share of stories about muffler shops, diners and insurance agents, as well as anonymous advertorials about plastic surgeons and cosmetic dentists. The local business stories were usually all right (and at least decent bylined work), but the advertorial stuff was really beginning to get old. Local newspapers cut back drastically on freelance assignments. Advertorial pay became increasingly worse and sporadic...and it became increasingly difficult to justify taking the jobs with such a sorry ROI.
I decided I was done looking at before and after photos of tummy tucks so I could write about the plastic surgeon's work or being treated to 90-minute lectures about subluxation by chiropractor advertorial clients. And with the economy getting so difficult, I became increasingly uncomfortable with the increasingly desperate (and sometimes seemingly shady) sales pitches I was expected to articulate for the paying clients.

Add all this in to the fact that I'm getting closer to a certain age when I'll hopefully be able to retire from my "day job" and concentrate on the work I love.

So...here I am :)

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Permalink Reply by Travels with Sandy on February 1, 2009 at 3:09pm

I started my travel blog as a creative outlet / stress relief from my corporate job. I wanted to find a way to express myself and my love of travel. In addition, I tend to go to not so normal travel destinations so I wanted to share my tips/experience and help other people have better travel experiences. My travel companions (husband, family, friends) always love the way I planned my trips. I like to do a lot of research before I go and tailor my travel for my and my companion's interests. I also try to find the best or most unique experiences for the particular place we are visiting. Whenever possible, I like to live like a local while we are there. My travel tends to reflect my companion, though. If they are not as well traveled, we will do more conventional touristy stuff.

I feel that I am the best version of myself while I am traveling because it makes me try new things, see and feel new places, and really just experience life. Also I was entering a phase in my life that allowed me to travel a lot and I wanted to record it somehow. My friend had a blog and encouraged me to use that format. I also loved reading other people's travel blogs.

I am now in the stage of learning to do some more serious photography to accompany my blog. Up until this point I have just been using a point and shoot camera to illustrate my travels. I am very excited to learn on my new SLR camera!

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Permalink Reply by Lori on February 8, 2009 at 7:14am

Just joined and love this site already! I started my blog in late 2007 shortly after our move abroad to Brazil. First, I wanted be able to document my experiences to look back on when this journey is over. Overtime I realized that I was helping people with the information I was sharing about being an ex-pat in a small town of Brazil. Then I found I had Brazilian readers who were answering my questions and helping me. I found other US ex-pats in South America as well. I also use the blog to document my travel outside Brazil. I really enjoy the community I have now. It's nice to feel you are a part of something at a time when you feel a bit distant and isolated.

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Permalink Reply by Andre Costa on March 31, 2009 at 2:41pm

Just came across this community and, so far, it's been quite a nice discovery.

I started a Ning community called Going to Brazil, which basically says it all - I hope!
The community/blog focus on Brazil only, from traveling to, to cuisine, doing business, etc.
I started the community 2 days ago, so for now I am the only one writing and reading! Feels lonely! But I know people will come.

I hope to learn from you guys. And maybe discover a new place to visit in the future.

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Permalink Reply by Crissy on April 6, 2009 at 6:43pm

When I took my first trip to europe I treid to blog, but when I came home I found it was easier to write a travelogue about my trip, I did that with the rest of my trip. At first it was to tell all my friends and family about my trip, but i started to get some other travelers who were touring with the same company reading it. I started to feel like i was providing a service to others based on my own experience. I decided to start a blog because it's the way the internet is going. It also allows me to not only write about travel while I'm traveling, but to write about it when I'm between trips and itching to travel again.

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