I’m not a full-time travel blogger so it’s difficult for me to come up with travel blog ideas during periods of ‘down time’. When I’m not out and about, I sit at my dining room table and write about my holidays, experiences abroad, weekend getaways and trips throughout Scotland. So in this post, I’ve outlined a few travel blog ideas to get your creative juices flowing and prompt you to write about your own experiences.
Everyone has their own story to tell, it’s what makes you unique. Not many people can say they have been abandoned in a Cambodian Crocodile Farm or stuck at the Malaysian Border but I have and that’s what makes me different from other bloggers out there.
I primarily read travel blogs and diaries just because I love seeing the world and learning about other cultures; so when I find a lifestyle blog that’s mixed in with say fashion, books, beauty tips or technology etc. the first thing I do is search for the ‘travel blog topics’. Most of the time this section is outdated and needing a little bit more love than the rest of their blog.
A lot of people think they can’t travel because they can’t afford it. But travel doesn’t mean you need to go visit the other side of the world. Exploring your local town or city is travel, too!
You might not even keep an online blog but if you keep a personal diary at home, these prompts can help you come up with some travel diary ideas and help you get the most out of your experiences.
Here’s a list of travel blog ideas that should hopefully prompt you to get writing more about your activities:
Travel Blog Idea #1: Look through old photos for inspiration
When I started this blog it was purely intended as a travel diary to write down and document my adventures at home and abroad. I have a full-time job (that isn’t blogging) as do many of you, so I don’t have the time or money to go to Africa for 3 months or New York for New Years. Thus, ideas run out very easily. And one tip I like to do is go through all my old memory cards and see if any collection of pictures gives me inspiration – a cool restaurant, a funny story, amazing cocktails, a bar with a view etc. Below is a photo I took during a visit to a local floating market in Thailand.
Travel Blog Idea #2: You don’t need lots of photos
You might be like me and had a lot of adventures abroad to amazing places a few years ago when you had the Motorola Razr flip phone and your mum had a winding disposable camera from Boots. But that is ok. I still want to hear all about your holiday, as do your readers. They love you and your blog, so why wouldn’t they love this post?
Travel Blog Idea #3: Create a photo diary
Right, say you went your annual holiday but you’ve already wrote about all your daily activities from start to finish, what else is there to write about? Don’t tell us, show us! If you’ve a collection of awesome photos just wasting away on your memory card, show us them in a photo diary post! These can even be titled in any way that suits your photos (1 week in Italy / The colours of Amsterdam / Exploring Cornwall). Minimal text, maximum photography.
Here’s my example of Ibiza’s Old Town.
Travel Blog Idea #4: Make the most of your trip
A travel diary idea is to use one experience and draw out as much helpful content as you can from it. When I go away, I want to squeeze as much content out of it as possible. Write about every meal you had and tag them as restaurant reviews, review your hotel and its facilities/location, write a Top 5 Things To Do post and include all the activities you did during your holiday, write about a funny/scary/ first time experience or even just a running commentary of your trip from start to finish over a couple of posts.
I wrote a massive in-depth post on my stay at the Barcelo Santiago Hotel in Tenerife. I was there for a week of relaxation so knew the hotel inside out after spending 7 days there.
Travel Blog Idea #5: Choose 1 photo and write
This is an easy one. Simply pick out a photo that you love from your collection of pics and tell your readers a story about that particular moment. Where were you? Smells? Food you ate? Why is that image particularly interesting?
Below is an image of me at the Titanic museum in Belfast. I was in the city for another reason other than sightseeing which makes for an interesting story in itself. I was down by the water, taking in the fresh air and salty smells. Something that isn’t so clear in this photo is the history of this nook of Belfast. The Titanic museum is in the forefront but if you look closely in the background you can see the rest of the shipbuilding industry. Belfast is known for the Titanic, however, shipbuilding in general but this city on the map – particularly Harland & Wolff which is located to the back right of this photo below.
Travel Blog Idea #6: Write about your City
Travelling to you might mean lying on a beach in Majorca, but to some it might mean visiting your city. This can be anything from transport review, things to do/see, favourite places to see; and the best part is it is right on your door step. You could even spend an afternoon taking relevant photographs, even with your iPhone. I live in Glasgow and can easily travel to Edinburgh via bus or train. I work in Glasgow City Centre, so it’s hard to imagine it as a travel destination for others, but it is! Don’t underestimate your little town or village!
Why not try and go beyond what to do in your city as well. Visitors to your city might want to read about the best places to eat, drink or sleep. Have a think about restaurants, bars and hotels that you recommend. If it’s your home city, you will know things that others don’t. Use a blog idea to capitalise on your insider knowledge.
I’ve written a huge post on what I recommend to see and do in Glasgow.
Travel Blog Idea #7: Look for Inspiration
Looking for inspiration for a travel blog ideas is a no brainer. Have a read through other travel and lifestyle blogs for inspiration and to jog your memory. No two travel tales will be the same, but please don’t copy other people’s work! Sometimes reading other people’s stories helps you remember a memory or prompts an opinion piece that you just can’t wait to write about. Start with other travel bloggers but don’t be afraid to look to journalism or fiction for inspiration.
I look to the Guardian sometimes: The Guardian’s Travel Section.
Travel Blog Idea #8: Packing Strategies & Luggage
There seems to be a huge jump in readers craving posts and videos centred around organisation. We’ve always been curious to see how other people lead their lives, but to get an insight into packing habits is a huge draw to some. Including myself! Therefore, a travel blog idea surrounding your packing strategies or luggage hacks would be very helpful to online readers.
I recently visited Florida for two weeks and it was great to be able to read what others (who had visited the destination before) recommended to take. One of the main things that came in handy that I wouldn’t have thought of was a cooling towel. When I travelled to Asia, someone recommended a pillow case to cover hostel pillows and I thought this was a genius idea! So, use your own experiences to help others pack for a certain destination.
Travel Blog Idea #9: Reflect on your travels
One of the main reasons I need prompts is during periods of time when I’ve not travelled recently. So one of the ways I look to come up with travel blog topics is to reflect on past experiences. So, not just telling the reader what I did, but also going into depth about lessons learned and how I’ve grown.
Having personal posts allows your readers to get close to you and feel like they know you on a more intimate level. It can also be quite relieving to hear that others have had the same opinion or experience as you in a certain place, especially when it hasn’t been particularly well.
We often feel pressure to always have an amazing time (because social media tells us everyone else is having a ball), but that’s never true. Everyone has negative experiences and blogs can be a way to either read or write about them. Think about it as a cathartic exercise.
I’ve written some very personal experiences, including my thoughts and feelings when visiting Auschwitz.
Travel Blog Idea #10: Tips, Tricks & Hacks
One of the most beneficial travel blog topics is to provide your readers with lots of different tried and tested tips and tricks. If you’ve experienced a destination in person, then you’re in a good position to give others advice on how to optimise their visit. This can be anything from how much money to take, how long to go for, what hotel to stay at, best restaurants and bars.
Click here to read about my 8 tips to travelling with your partner.
Do you have any other tips or tricks for writing travel blog topics?
