With May fast approaching it is almost time for my crazy, life-changing, and extremely exciting journey to Southeast Asia. I've been dreaming about going to this region of the world since I was in high school so the fact that it is so quickly approaching is mind-blowing to me!
In preparation for my trip as well as my own personal curiousity and exploration I have stumbled on some really great travel blogs. Now, I love blogs. I think that much is obvious by this point seeing as you are currently reading MY blog. And I'm always in search of new content to read to fill my inner wanderluster.
Travel blogs are a great way to get recommendations of cool sites or unknown local spots, learn about "travel hacking" and how to get the most bang for your precious buck, and reassurance that it has been done and therefore CAN be done (the most important for me!). These are just a few of the folks that have inspired and educated me in all things travel related.
Whether you're planning your own next adventure or just love being in a constant state of wanderlust each of the following people has their own distinct voice and specialty that I know you will benefit from in one way or another. So here we go!
1. Be My Travel Muse:
Kristin Addis is quite the inspiring young woman and travel muse! I relate to her on so many levels and reading her "About Me" section was like looking in a mirror.
Her passion for travel stems way way back but she suppressed her creative side and inside committed her time to what she deemed a "more stable" career in investment banking. Over time though she got incredibly weary of her relentless work hours and realized that something was missing. So, she took a bold move and sold all her belongings, packed up a carry-on sized bag and set forth on a journey across the world that she is still involved in today.
This girl is amazingly fearless and I love following her adventures on Facebook and Instagram (@bemytravelmuse). She is also a huge source of wisdom for packing tips and traveling authentically, both things I am trying to embody in my own journey. And her years as an investment banker means she is great at helping you create and maintain a budget while on the road, something that is often hard for long-term travelers!
Some of my favorite posts include:
-How to Pack Light Video: I've watched this one over and over and over again because I am notorious for over-packing and will be doing the unthinkable for my upcoming Southeast Asia trip: Carry-on ONLY! Gasp! But she breaks it down in such a simple way and makes even ME believe that I can totally do this!
-How I Afford My Nomadic Lifestyle: Like I said this girl is a pro when it comes to money management and really lays everything out on the table in this post. A lot of people tend to think of traveling as "too expensive" and she sets the record straight that it really doesn't have to be. As a frugal person who hates to spend money I rejoiced when I found this post and hopefully you will as well!
-Everything I Travel With: Another really great post about Kristin's favorite travel gear that I have definitely benefited from. I love reading product reviews to help me determine what gear to purchase so her recommendations were really useful to help me narrow down what exactly I would need for my upcoming trip.
2. Alex in Wanderland
Alex has really established herself in the world of travel writing with articles featured in some top-name magazines and publications! One of my favorite things about her is that she started her blog much in the same way I did: in preparation and anticipation of her 2 month solo backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. I am currently in the midst of much of the same nervousness that gripped her before her grand adventure but knowing how much she loved and enjoyed each country she visited only reinstills my sense of purpose and excitement.
Alex's blog has a great layout with separated categories of posts into: Destinations, Obsessions, Confessions, Departures, and Arrivals. Her "Photo of the Week" posts always make me swoon with travel envy at all the spectacular places she visits. Her Facebook page and Instagram (@alexinwanderland) will light up your newsfeeds and make you wish you too were along for the journey through Wanderland.
Some of my favorite posts:
-Walking With Giants:
In preparation for my trip as well as my own personal curiousity and exploration I have stumbled on some really great travel blogs. Now, I love blogs. I think that much is obvious by this point seeing as you are currently reading MY blog. And I'm always in search of new content to read to fill my inner wanderluster.
Travel blogs are a great way to get recommendations of cool sites or unknown local spots, learn about "travel hacking" and how to get the most bang for your precious buck, and reassurance that it has been done and therefore CAN be done (the most important for me!). These are just a few of the folks that have inspired and educated me in all things travel related.
Whether you're planning your own next adventure or just love being in a constant state of wanderlust each of the following people has their own distinct voice and specialty that I know you will benefit from in one way or another. So here we go!
1. Be My Travel Muse:
Kristin Addis is quite the inspiring young woman and travel muse! I relate to her on so many levels and reading her "About Me" section was like looking in a mirror.
Her passion for travel stems way way back but she suppressed her creative side and inside committed her time to what she deemed a "more stable" career in investment banking. Over time though she got incredibly weary of her relentless work hours and realized that something was missing. So, she took a bold move and sold all her belongings, packed up a carry-on sized bag and set forth on a journey across the world that she is still involved in today.
This girl is amazingly fearless and I love following her adventures on Facebook and Instagram (@bemytravelmuse). She is also a huge source of wisdom for packing tips and traveling authentically, both things I am trying to embody in my own journey. And her years as an investment banker means she is great at helping you create and maintain a budget while on the road, something that is often hard for long-term travelers!
Some of my favorite posts include:
-How to Pack Light Video: I've watched this one over and over and over again because I am notorious for over-packing and will be doing the unthinkable for my upcoming Southeast Asia trip: Carry-on ONLY! Gasp! But she breaks it down in such a simple way and makes even ME believe that I can totally do this!
-How I Afford My Nomadic Lifestyle: Like I said this girl is a pro when it comes to money management and really lays everything out on the table in this post. A lot of people tend to think of traveling as "too expensive" and she sets the record straight that it really doesn't have to be. As a frugal person who hates to spend money I rejoiced when I found this post and hopefully you will as well!
-Everything I Travel With: Another really great post about Kristin's favorite travel gear that I have definitely benefited from. I love reading product reviews to help me determine what gear to purchase so her recommendations were really useful to help me narrow down what exactly I would need for my upcoming trip.
2. Alex in Wanderland
Alex has really established herself in the world of travel writing with articles featured in some top-name magazines and publications! One of my favorite things about her is that she started her blog much in the same way I did: in preparation and anticipation of her 2 month solo backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. I am currently in the midst of much of the same nervousness that gripped her before her grand adventure but knowing how much she loved and enjoyed each country she visited only reinstills my sense of purpose and excitement.
Alex's blog has a great layout with separated categories of posts into: Destinations, Obsessions, Confessions, Departures, and Arrivals. Her "Photo of the Week" posts always make me swoon with travel envy at all the spectacular places she visits. Her Facebook page and Instagram (@alexinwanderland) will light up your newsfeeds and make you wish you too were along for the journey through Wanderland.
Some of my favorite posts:
-Walking With Giants:
Ok so I LOVE LOVE LOVE elephants and one of my major "to-dos" while I am in Thailand is to at least see an elephant. But what a lot of people don't know is that elephants are badly exploited in the tourism industry- elephant riding, performing, circuses, you name it. I think Alex does a great job of not only covering her amazing experience in the Elephant Nature Park outside of Chiang Mai (where I am planning on going!!!) but she also educates about eco and animal-friendly travel. Two things I am in full support of!
-Diving in Greece: Submerged in Santorini: So we all know I have a little obsession with Santorini... so when I saw that Alex had dived in Santorini I was ALL over that! And the photographs....ohhhh my goodness. It'll make you think you're looking at a dive on the set of Titanic (where oh where is Leo though...). Alex is a frequent diver and it makes me wish so so badly that I could do what she does!
3. Nomadic Matt
Matt is another big name in the travel blogging world, specifically in the sector of budget travel. His book, "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" is a bestseller and has helped countless people achieve their dreams of traveling without breaking the bank.
But Matt didn't grow up traveling, it wasn't even until he was 23 that he took his first international trip. And that's what I love about travel: it doesn't matter when or where you catch the travel bug but once you do it has the power to change people and turn them into lifelong wanderlusters.
Once Matt took that first trip (as is the case with most of the travel bloggers I have stumbled across) he knew he couldn't live the default lifestyle of barely getting time to take a 2 week vacation at work. So he set out to make a life of travel for himself, having amazing experiences while also sticking to a budget. And he has never turned back. :)
Some of my favorite posts:
-How to Change the "I'm Too Poor To Travel" Mindset and Say Yes to Travel: I am definitely guilty of the mindset that it's "too expensive" to travel. But we can't let that mentality be a barrier anymore! And with the help of pros like Kristin, Alex, and Matt in particular traveling doesn't HAVE to be expensive anymore! Praise the budget gods!!!
-Diving in Greece: Submerged in Santorini: So we all know I have a little obsession with Santorini... so when I saw that Alex had dived in Santorini I was ALL over that! And the photographs....ohhhh my goodness. It'll make you think you're looking at a dive on the set of Titanic (where oh where is Leo though...). Alex is a frequent diver and it makes me wish so so badly that I could do what she does!
3. Nomadic Matt
Matt is another big name in the travel blogging world, specifically in the sector of budget travel. His book, "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" is a bestseller and has helped countless people achieve their dreams of traveling without breaking the bank.
But Matt didn't grow up traveling, it wasn't even until he was 23 that he took his first international trip. And that's what I love about travel: it doesn't matter when or where you catch the travel bug but once you do it has the power to change people and turn them into lifelong wanderlusters.
Once Matt took that first trip (as is the case with most of the travel bloggers I have stumbled across) he knew he couldn't live the default lifestyle of barely getting time to take a 2 week vacation at work. So he set out to make a life of travel for himself, having amazing experiences while also sticking to a budget. And he has never turned back. :)
Some of my favorite posts:
-How to Change the "I'm Too Poor To Travel" Mindset and Say Yes to Travel: I am definitely guilty of the mindset that it's "too expensive" to travel. But we can't let that mentality be a barrier anymore! And with the help of pros like Kristin, Alex, and Matt in particular traveling doesn't HAVE to be expensive anymore! Praise the budget gods!!!
-32 Travel Questions You Asked (With My Attempted Answers): I like list posts, you like list posts, we all like list posts!!! They're interesting, easy to read, and ultimately provide a lot of really useful information. And combine that with reader engagement you have some really awesome and helpful travel blog content! This is kind of a "catch-all" post for any and all travel queries with links to any relevant articles that Matt has written about in the past.
4. The Pin the Map Project:
I first learned of Nikki's blog through one of my favorite travel podcasts. She started her travel journey with a simple mission: to fill up a map that her mother had given her with pushpins, noting the countries she visited along the way.
Almost a year later she has grown her blog and brand and has been featured in numerous big name publications. She is another example of someone who refused to follow the status quo, something I love and experience on a daily basis!
Some of my favorite posts:
-Tips for the First Time Solo Female Traveler: There's something powerful that happens when you travel alone, especially as a woman. You quickly learn that you are more than capable and strong enough to handle everything you thought you couldn't do all by yourself, and that is such an awesome and empowering feeling!!!
What often happens, though, is that women are barraged by outside factors convincing them that solo female travel is "too dangerous" and a lot of would-be women wanderlusters never take those leaps to have what could have been a life-changing experience!
Enter Nikki. She is an accomplished solo female traveler who lays it all out there in a very practical and captivating way. Some of these may seem second nature but remind yourself of them anyways and get out there and travel!
4. The Pin the Map Project:
I first learned of Nikki's blog through one of my favorite travel podcasts. She started her travel journey with a simple mission: to fill up a map that her mother had given her with pushpins, noting the countries she visited along the way.
Almost a year later she has grown her blog and brand and has been featured in numerous big name publications. She is another example of someone who refused to follow the status quo, something I love and experience on a daily basis!
Some of my favorite posts:
-Tips for the First Time Solo Female Traveler: There's something powerful that happens when you travel alone, especially as a woman. You quickly learn that you are more than capable and strong enough to handle everything you thought you couldn't do all by yourself, and that is such an awesome and empowering feeling!!!
What often happens, though, is that women are barraged by outside factors convincing them that solo female travel is "too dangerous" and a lot of would-be women wanderlusters never take those leaps to have what could have been a life-changing experience!
Enter Nikki. She is an accomplished solo female traveler who lays it all out there in a very practical and captivating way. Some of these may seem second nature but remind yourself of them anyways and get out there and travel!
-How to Travel the World with a Full Time Job: If you're like me, you dream of a world in which you can have it all: a stable job AND the ability to travel the world. Well dream no longer because this can become your reality!
Nikki teaches you to maximize your vacation days and think outside when it comes to traveling with a full time job. Which is very reassuring after years of getting discouraged that I would never find a job that would allow me the freedom to take time off to go adventuring.
5. World of Wanderlust:
Brooke is one of those lifelong wanderlusters, introduced to travel at the young age of 13 and she hasn't stopped since! She is an acclaimed author and blogger that writes about a variety of different types of experiences to cater to any audience. From solo travel, study abroad, luxury travel, and adventure travel this girl has done it all!
What I love about Brooke is that she took what she was passionate about and carved out a career for herself. I really admire her drive and hard work ethic- it really shows in both the quality and quantity of her posts!
Some of my favorite posts:
-9 Reasons to Move to a New City and Become an Expat: The expat lifestyle really really appeals to me: moving to a new place every few years or so in order to see as much of the world as I possibly can! And as if I needed further reason to dream this dream Brooke gives us 9 more!!! I think my favorite from this post is how becoming an expat is a way of challenging yourself. Because we all know how much I appreciate the need for a good challenge...
-When You Can't Travel: How to Have a Staycation
Living on an island has made me appreciate the whole notion of a staycation! What I wouldn't give to be able to drive to a new place every so often! But alas...I run out of land.
Brooke realizes that a lot of people simply don't have the ability to travel for a variety of reasons. She recognizes this and instead of dwelling on how much it sucks to be stuck somewhere that you can flip that around into a fun staycation! I will definitely be turning to this one next time I'm feeling sorry for myself that I can't run to some new place on a whim.
Well there we have it! This is just a small sampling of the countless travel blogs I have used to fuel my inner wanderluster and I hope you have enjoyed the roundup! Who knows, maybe you'll use these bloggers to help you plan your next trip (or even your next staycation! :P ) As always thank you so much for reading, I appreciate it so much!
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
-Freckles
Nikki teaches you to maximize your vacation days and think outside when it comes to traveling with a full time job. Which is very reassuring after years of getting discouraged that I would never find a job that would allow me the freedom to take time off to go adventuring.
5. World of Wanderlust:
Brooke is one of those lifelong wanderlusters, introduced to travel at the young age of 13 and she hasn't stopped since! She is an acclaimed author and blogger that writes about a variety of different types of experiences to cater to any audience. From solo travel, study abroad, luxury travel, and adventure travel this girl has done it all!
What I love about Brooke is that she took what she was passionate about and carved out a career for herself. I really admire her drive and hard work ethic- it really shows in both the quality and quantity of her posts!
Some of my favorite posts:
-9 Reasons to Move to a New City and Become an Expat: The expat lifestyle really really appeals to me: moving to a new place every few years or so in order to see as much of the world as I possibly can! And as if I needed further reason to dream this dream Brooke gives us 9 more!!! I think my favorite from this post is how becoming an expat is a way of challenging yourself. Because we all know how much I appreciate the need for a good challenge...
-When You Can't Travel: How to Have a Staycation
Living on an island has made me appreciate the whole notion of a staycation! What I wouldn't give to be able to drive to a new place every so often! But alas...I run out of land.
Brooke realizes that a lot of people simply don't have the ability to travel for a variety of reasons. She recognizes this and instead of dwelling on how much it sucks to be stuck somewhere that you can flip that around into a fun staycation! I will definitely be turning to this one next time I'm feeling sorry for myself that I can't run to some new place on a whim.
Well there we have it! This is just a small sampling of the countless travel blogs I have used to fuel my inner wanderluster and I hope you have enjoyed the roundup! Who knows, maybe you'll use these bloggers to help you plan your next trip (or even your next staycation! :P ) As always thank you so much for reading, I appreciate it so much!
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
-Freckles