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36 Travel Magazines and Websites That Pay Freelance Writers

by Farrah Daniel | Aug 25, 2020

When you dream about your writing career, do you picture yourself scribbling in notebooks about your world travels, hoping to combine your wanderlust with your creative flair to earn money for your adventures? 

If you have travel stories to tell, it’s time to stop dreaming!

Lots of markets are willing to pay for your stories about destinations, tips and your experiences on the road.   

Table of Contents

Get paid to write about travel.

Don’t think travel writing is limited to travel-specific magazines or travel websites. Plenty of local and regional publications are actively looking for travel stories, even for destinations right in your own backyard.

Some writers envision travel writing jobs as sharing tales of globetrotting and exploring the ancient artifacts of Greece, or wandering Machu Picchu. But that’s only a small part of travel writing.

Publications are often even more eager to snap up stories about the mountain trails an hour away that make for easy weekend adventures or the nearby metropolitan city that has a new art exhibit and great restaurant scene.

Publications that offer freelance travel writing jobs

While full-time travel writer jobs can be hard to come by, it’s more common for freelancers to sell travel writing to magazines and other outlets. To get you started, we compiled 36 paying international and domestic travel markets. Click on each title to access submission guidelines or editorial contacts.

So let’s get to it! Here are dozens of publications that provide opportunities for travel writing jobs:

1. Matador Network

Matador Travel seeks original writing, photo and video contributions “that speak to the adventures, cultures, and identities of people around the world.” It encourages  creators to join their Matador Creators Community to find the latest journalist opportunities. 

While the website does not list a specific payment, Who Pays Writers reports payments ranging from $0.03 to $0.20 per word.

2. ROVA 

Want to share your thrilling stories of life on the open road? The site often looks for stories featuring road trips, RVs and adventure. Most of their readers travel the roads of North America and want insightful stories about the continent.  

Submit an article or photo essay and earn $200 upon acceptance at the ROVA Magazine website. 

3. Outpost Magazine

Outpost Magazine looks for submissions about travel, adventure and culture. It is looking for longform travel stories, travel guides, and stunning photography from writers anywhere in the world. The publication is Canadian and it has a “Canadian slant.”

Online stories typically range from 800 to 1,500 words, 2,000 to 4,000 for print and features can be up to about 5,000 words; pay varies.

4. Wanderlust

This British travel magazine publishes destination features up to 2,200 words, along with shorter dispatches, travel guides, round-up features and more.  Pay is typically £220 (about $275) per 1,000 words, but rates vary.

Write travel articles about destinations, activities and experiences for GoNOMAD, but take note that this website seeks pieces that meet its style and focus.

If you want to write for GoNOMAD, its guidelines say, “No glossy magazine fluff, no standard guidebook descriptions, no promotional hype.” Articles are typically 1,200 to 2,000 words, and a detailed list of locations and topics the publication is seeking is available in its guidelines .

Pay is $25 per article.

6. Travel + Leisure Magazine

While this magazine doesn’t have specific submission guidelines online, Freedom with Writing says this magazine is written 95 percent by freelancers on assignment and pays up to $1 a word. Submit your pitches to [email protected] .

7. Arizona Highways Magazine

Arizona travelers rely on this magazine for destination-based ideas, and the publication also encourages travelers to come to Arizona.

Check its guidelines to see when queries (typically on specific locations) are accepted. This period is often in March. Pay varies.

8. Canadian Geographic Magazine

Write about Canada’s people, frontiers, places and issues in this magazine that comes out six times a year. There are no formal guidelines to follow, but you might want to familiarize yourself with their content and tone to get an idea of what they’re looking for.

It buys about 30 features a year and pay varies.

9. DesertUSA Magazine

Desert lovers can write all about the North American desert in this publication targeting those who love the natural and cultural history of the region. Wildlife, adventure, history, desert lore, and travel stories are in demand.

Articles with photos receive payment of $50.

10. Escapees Magazine

RV travelers with stories to tell and wisdom to share might consider submitting to Escapees Magazine, which specializes in RV lifestyle.The publication only accepts fully written articles on spec.

They pay $100 to $200 for feature submissions and $50 to $100 for short fillers.

11. The Penny Hoarder

Penny Hoarder seeks stories about traveling on a budget from Disneyworld to Hawaiian cruises. Most of their readers are “relaxed and excited about earning — and saving — money,” so focus on how your post will help readers save, earn or grow their money.

They pay $75 for a 700 to 900-word article.

12. KANSAS! Magazine

Celebrate the wonders of Kansas with this publication offered by Kansas Tourism and partner organizations. Pitch a 400- to 800-word nonfiction story that has the potential for interesting photography and reflects the state positively. 

Most readers are locals over the age of 50. Payment varies.

13. Los Angeles Times Travel

The travel section of the Los Angeles Times looks for pieces with a strong visual component. Trips must be taken in the previous two years and writers must follow specific ethical guidelines, including not receiving comped travel.

Print stories vary from $200 to $750; online-only stories generally pay $500; Weekend Escapes pay $200, plus additional money for original photos.

14. MotorHome Magazine

This publication for RV enthusiasts wants travel stories covering all aspects of the RV lifestyle, including travel destinations, activities and events and more.

It pays up to $900 for technical manuscripts with photos, and less for shorter pieces.

15. Oregon Coast Magazine

Write about Oregon’s stunning coastal region and tell stories about everything from day-long driving tours to restaurant features and historical sites.

Payment ranges from $100 to $650 depending on story type and word count.

16. Pathfinders Travel

A travel magazine for people for color, Pathfinders Travel looks for fresh ideas and stories about travel and the travel industry. 

Stories typically pay $150.

17. Road and Travel

Road and Travel specializes in automotive, travel and personal safety articles, including articles that appeal to female business travelers. Travel articles should relate to hotels and resorts, spas, airlines and airline rules, bed & breakfasts, destination reviews, places to go and things to do and much more.

The magazine pays up to $100 per article.

18. Sunset Magazine

This magazine focuses on 13 Western states and wants “take action” travel ideas as well as destinations that offer a variety of experiences and “soft adventures.”

Pay varies.

19. Trailer Life Magazine

This publication accepts stories about the RV lifestyle, from travel destinations to outdoor recreation. Payment ranges from $100 for a small piece to $700 for a technical feature with photos.

20. Transitions Abroad Magazine

This publication for people who live abroad is looking for a variety of pieces about working, living and studying abroad, as well as cultural and culinary travel. Heads up: They’re currently primarily seeking stories about online learning to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).

Pay is typically $75 to $150 for a 1,250-word article for the web.

21. World Nomads

World Nomads looks for travel articles that fall under these categories: love, fear, discovery, connection and transformation. Pitch a personal, authentic story about a life-changing journey or experience.

They pay 50 cents per word for stories between 600 to 800 words. Payment is made after publication.

22. Alaska Airlines Magazine

This monthly in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines seeks business, travel, technology and personality articles, among other topics.

Rates range from $150 to $700 depending on the topic, length and treatment of an article.

23. WestJet Magazine

This airline’s Canadian lifestyle-travel publication wants stories ranging from insider tips and service-oriented advice to local cuisine and features.

Payment varies.

24. Via Magazine

The American Automobile Association publishes Via Magazine, which focuses on auto travel out West.

Payment varies and you can request guidelines by emailing [email protected] .

25. Backpacker

This magazine covers North American destinations. Pitches must cover foot-based travel, wilderness or backcountry experiences and advice.

A feature story’s word count varies from 1,500 to 5,000 words, although there are shorter assignments available from 100 to 1,200 words. They accept pitches via email and require a signed contract which specifies the payment amount and payment terms. 

Pay varies, but Who Pays Writers reports rates up to 50 cents per word.

26. New Mexico Magazine

Showcase New Mexico’s rich environment and culture through this publication of the New Mexico Tourism Department. One-third of readers live in the state and the out-of-state readers typically visit twice a year or so. The magazine looks for a lively editorial mix, with articles that show readers things they can do in New Mexico.

Pay is typically 35 to 40 cents per word.

27. Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is an award-winning website that gives travelers the tools they need to plan their next trip such as in-depth information on destinations, things to do and travel advice. They are looking for freelance contributors who want to write digital content, travel news and guidebooks.

Rates vary, but Who Pays Writers reports a rate of 30 cents per word.

28. Texas Highways

Texas’ official travel magazine reaches 500,000 readers in 54 countries each month. It is looking for pieces featuring “scenery, history, small towns, and out-of-the-way places.”

Pays 50 cents per word.

29. Common Ground Magazine 

Common Ground Magazine’s readers are from Western Canada. They accept articles about the environment, health, wellness, transformational travel and personal growth.

Submissions usually range from 600 to 1,500 words are accepted, but they can accept articles up to 2,500 words. Rates are 10 cents per word.  

30. International Living Magazine

This website and monthly magazine is a comprehensive resource that helps readers find their dream retirement overseas. It wants stories from expats and anyone who can inform their readers about ways to stretch their dollars and simplify their lives.

Pay is up to $150 for website stories; print stories pay $225 for 900 words and $350 for 1,600 words, plus $50 per photo; 600-word daily postcards pay $100.

31. Journey

Journey is AAA Washington’s award-winning magazine featuring “inspiring stories on travel, technology, traffic safety, insurance and member benefits.” 

Who Pays Writers reports a rate of 30 cents per word, but this pub welcomes you to pitch your own pay rate along with your submission. 

32. New Worlder 

This magazine isn’t interested in a taco that has the most buzz — but it definitely wants to know why it has the most buzz. Pitch stories with strong angles about travel, food, culture and people for an American and Latin American audience.

While pay is confirmed, no specific rates are provided in the guidelines .

33. Odyssa Magazine

Freelance submissions are accepted each quarterly issue, though editors are particularly looking for travel pieces in the form of a guide, personal travel experience or reflection of how travel affects our thoughts and who we are.

Pay is $30 per article up to 1,500 words.

Note: Odyssa Magazine is taking a publishing hiatus through Summer 2020 due to COVD-19 and will return in the fall with fresh, new content. 

34. HitTheRoad

To get the green light, write and pitch a story about the adventures, cultures and amazing experiences of road trips in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Emphasis is put on experiences in rented campervans and motorhomes, but a journey on the open road is what matters most. 

Standard payment is a link to your site and $50 depending on article type and length.

35. Cruising World

Cruising World welcomes author inquiries and unsolicited manuscripts at all times, but make sure to include photos with your submission. Feature-length articles shouldn’t exceed 2,000 words, and non-features (technical articles and general interest) are capped at 1,200 words.

Payment varies depending on the type of article: $25 to $200 for short, newsworthy items and $300 to $1,000 for technical and feature articles.

Write your own travel book

An alternative to finding travel writing jobs is to simply go ahead and publish your own travel book . If you have written over 10,000 words for a certain travel journey or advice, you could easily turn that into a whole book to sell.

Curious to learn how? Check out this program: “ How to write a book “.

The original version of this story was written by Kristen Pope . We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers.

Photo via natalia_maroz/ Shutterstock  

Travel Writing Blogs & Wesbites to Follow in 2023

The last few years haven’t been the best for the travel writing industry. The pandemic shut down travel and turned off the tap of income for many travel writers and bloggers.

At the same time, books about travel continued to sell (albeit in smaller numbers) as people daydreamed about taking trips and lived vicariously through the works of great travel writers.

Travel blogs, on the other hand, the type that focuses on the “best 10 x in y” articles, saw website visitor numbers nosedive. These are purely utilitarian websites and have limited appeal when people can’t travel.

Now, off course, travel is back with a vengeance. The type of blog that focuses on basic question and answer content is also back on the top of Google. I never read these websites unless it’s to find out where not to go in order to avoid crowds.

ChatGPT and Google’s imminent AI chatbot have their sights on this kind of commoditized, same-same, derivative content, and the future looks grim for content without personality.

My hope is that travel writers who share their unique voice on the internet will rise above the click-bait SEO content that plagues every Google search. Once artificial intelligence algorithms eat ‘listicle’ travel blogs for lunch, there should be more room for authentic travel journalism and writing.

But let’s get back to my own listicle – yes, sometimes to beat ’em, you’ve gotta join ’em.

I look for travel blogs that have strong writing, design, and content. These are the ones I visit even when I’m not able to travel myself. These sites offer an authentic connection to their country or subject matter. The following is a list of the best travel blogs based on these qualities.

A note on “the best travel blogs”

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: the best travel blogs are recommended because they appear on the first page of Google. And by linking to these blogs and sharing the content, this idea of “best” is reinforced. Google rewards them by placing them higher in the results. Best for Google usually just means the one that conforms to the norm.

People don’t type “the best travel blogs with interesting topics that nobody else knows about” in Google. And even if they did, it probably won’t really deliver the desired result.

With that rant over, here’s the list.

I used the following criteria.

Blogs (or Substacks) on this list must:

• Be original and refreshing – yes, in contrast to what Google seems to think, being different is good.
• offer more than just listicle posts – top 10 of this, best 5 of that, same of this, same of that. Stories that resonate with readers on an emotional level are way more interesting.
• have a unique voice – does the blogger shun SEO in favor of a unique angle? Does the writer offer a fresh perspective on topics not widely covered by mainstream sources? Does the blogger have an unconvential style or are they interested in inspiring readers beyond clicks or views?
• provide engaging content and a strong connection with the reader. The content should be good enough to make you subscribe to their email list.

Roads & Kingdoms

Travel, Food, and Politics are the topics discussed on Roads & Kingdoms. It’s all about storytelling about the good things in life. Local journalists and subject matter experts discuss food and drink, as well as music and whatever else they find interesting (and you will, too).

This is longform travel writing at its finest. In a world where people are sick of the unstoppable flood of content, Roads & Kingdoms is one of the best slow travel blogs to use as a tonic.

Articles with titles like “Lebanon’s rave revolution” will not surface on any listicle about the best things to do in Lebanon, but if you’re interested in culture, there’s plenty of insights here. Enjoy guides to cities that offer practical advice without being spammy. And check out “In Transit: getting around Lisbon” or “Walking Tour: Hunting Art and Food in Chapinero, Bogotá”.

While the site also touches on politics and food, everything seems connected to travel and world culture. And that’s fine with me. After all, what’s travel without food and a bit of politics?

Listen to The Trip podcast that accompanies the blog. Ex-foreign correspondent for TIME magazine Nathan Thornburgh steers the boat while a crew of talented writers creates thoughtful content for readers that want more than checklists of things to do in faraway places.

Culinary Backstreets

They say (or at least I say) that you can’t understand a culture until you know the language and have tasted the food. Learning a language might not be the most practical way to know a culture if you’re only visiting briefly. But there’s no excuse for not tasting the local cuisine.

Culinary Backstreets is one of my favorite blogs on any topic. The focus is food, but you will also learn about regions, cities, the people that live and work in the places profiled. A truly remarkable travel writing blog that foodies and non-foodie travelers will find delicious.

CulinaryBackstreets.com

The Calvert Journal

The Calvert Journal is a digital magazine with a wonderful travel section featuring the countries and cultures of the New East (Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia).

The magazine also examines art, film, architecture, design, fashion, and avant-garde culture in 29 countries in the New East region. The Calvert Journal stands apart for its wealth of original content, deep research, incredible photography, and sharp focus on the most interesting places in the post-communist world.

It is an area that is ignored by the mainstream media and travel blogging communities, but it is rich in stories and ancient cultures. Read stories about traveling the Silk Roads, walking in the Caucasus, taking 7500km train rides in Kazakhstan, and how the residents of a Georgian Ski Field are fighting to keep their traditional village life intact.

Enjoy stunning photography from Tirana, the historical location of the Russian Gulags, and of Soviet Monumentalism in Chechnya.

calvertjournal.com

The author of the seminal Vagabonding book, writer for National Geographic, adventurer, and creative writing teacher, is one of the best travel writers in the internet age.

Couchfish / Travelfish

The Couchfish travel blog focuses on high-quality travel writing that captures a sense of place beyond the usual travel blogger or influencer stereotypes that exist in the travel blogging world. It’s a sharp and witty look at travel in Southeast Asia.

Issues of Couchfish come out on an almost daily schedule and, according to Stuart, should be around 400 words in length. In reality, posts are longer than that; Stuart’s writing is engaging and captivating, so I’ve no complaints about reading longform. This blog is generally formatted like a diary of a specific place, town, or region in Southeast Asia. Stuart also includes comments on other blogs and links to interesting material from around the web.

The newsletter/blog has no ads or sponsored content, something that I think we can all appreciate.

Couchfish is penned by Stuart McDonald, who also writes Travelfish , a weekly newsletter that is closely associated with a travel advice website of the same name. A typical issue of Travelfish might include a featured story on why bucket lists are ruining vacations, recommendations for books to read, and news from all of Southeast Asia.

Where does he find time?

Perceptive Travel

Just one of the blogs by prolific travel writer Tim Leffel . This is his narrative-focused writing, which naturally gets a lot less traffic than his other sites. But the content is about unique experiences and culture-related topics.

Meet Me Here Tbilisi

Writer Paul Rimple has contributed to Roads & Kingdoms, The Daily Beast, The Moscow Times, Foreign Policy, the BBC, and Culinary Backstreets, among others. As the founder of his own culinary travel venture, Meet Me Here Tbilisi , he has become an authority on Georgia’s dynamic food and wine scene. Rimple’s multifaceted journey exemplifies the power of curiosity, the magic of a well-crafted sentence, and the joy of a simple but well-seasoned dish.

Rimple’s writings cover everything from Georgian wine and the breakaway territory of Abkhazia, to the intricate relationship between Georgia and Russia. He offers historical and social contexts to help readers grasp the complexities of the Georgian people and their relationships with their neighbors.

In between gigs with Tbilisi’s only blues band, and leading guiding tours of his adopted city, Rimple pens articles for various magazines and publications. His blog, part of the Meet Me Here Tbilisi website, blends travelogue and cultural exploration. As a Tbilisi resident for two decades, Rimple’s intimate knowledge of the city and its inhabitants is evident.

Never skimping on details, Paul describes the people, food, and atmosphere in vivid detail; you can imagine the sights, sounds, and tastes of his adopted city. For those intrigued by Georgian culture and gastronomy, and weary of generic “top ten” lists, Meet Me Here Tbilisi serves as a good first destination.

Meetmeheretbilisi.com

Financial Times Travel Section

If you’re tired of cookie-cutter travel blogs filled with boring top ten lists, FT.com/travel is one of the first places you should look. Lovers of good travel writing will find it a haven in the modern age. It’s one of my go-to corners of the internet for meticulously crafted and carefully researched travel narratives.

Writers at the Financial Times are, in my opinion, among the most talented in the business (and, I’m sure, among the best paid).

Listicles take a backseat here, as the stories dive deep into the landscapes, cultures, and histories of both the exotic and familiar. Stories such as “Tigers, turtles, and tea: a boat trip down the Brahmaputra” and “Northern Ireland: from the Troubles to a Tourism Hotspot” introduce you to the people and stories that make each region unique. These stories are accompanied by stunning photos and videos that capture the essence of destinations we’d all love to visit.

The FT never disappoints, serving a fascinating read without resorting to fluffy content-for-clicks filler. The topics are wide-ranging: from the resurgence of night trains as eco-friendly and romantic alternatives to air travel, to the architectural wonders of the world’s great train stations. Alongside these narratives, FT articles offers practical travel advice and tips, curating valuable insights into exceptional accommodations (albeit often beyond my budget) and unique dining experiences.

Channeling the spirit of Bourdain, the FT’s travel section embraces the spirit of exploration, prioritizing thoughtful storytelling and journalistic excellence.

FT.com/travel

Uncornered Market

Continuing the theme of sustainable travel, Uncornered Market is more of a marketing channel for the husband and wife team that runs the site for helping travel brands and tourism organizations develop sustainable tourism products and services. The blog, however, is full of good content like “How Social Media Influencers Can Use Their Power to Combat Overtourism” and ”Kyrgyzstan: An Experiential Travel Guide”.

Uncorneredmarket.com

Dan Flying Solo

With stunning photography and a focus on experiences and off-beat destinations, Dan’s blog is a breath of fresh air. The professional videos that accompany many of the blog posts help complement the writing. Check out the production level on some videos on Dan Flying Solo’s YouTube channel .

Dan describes his travel style as “a bit of everything”. It’s not backpacker style, and it’s not luxury. But something in between. 

DanyFlyingSolo.com

Brent And Michael Are Going Places

Winning the award for the longest domain name, Brent And Michael Are Going Places is a blog about the travels of a gay couple from the United States, who sold everything and began a new life as digital nomads 

Their blog post “How Two Gay Guys Sold Everything, Left Home to Travel the World … and Lived Happily Ever After” is a great read for anyone that thinks it’s too late or too difficult to start a nomadic life.

Both Brent and Michael are authors, so the writing quality hits the top side of the scale. With great insights into the world of LGBT travel, this is a blog for anyone that feels like they don’t fit the profile of a digital nomad or travel blogger. 

brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com

Notes from the Road

If you’re looking for a travel blog with a focus on photography and design, this might be just what you’re looking for. Notes From The Road not only has a great name, it has beautiful photography, incredible illustrations, and killer writing on quirky topics that interest owner Eric Gauger.

Blog posts with names like, “Notes on traveling to the Coyote Buttes during surreal winter weather”, and “Puffin Rally to the Látrabjarg Cliffs” give you an idea of the content on this blog. You won’t find many “10 best pubs in Prague” but you will find super long-form content with stunning supporting photographs. 

Notesfromtheroad.com

Expert Vagabond

It’s been mentioned on hundreds of other blogs, but there are a few reasons why Matthew Karsten’s blog is popular. Expert Vagabond is one of the longest-running and most consistently helpful travel blogs on the internet. Matt’s also a great guy with a cool story. He hasn’t been to that many countries, relatively speaking, but he makes the most of his time in each of the places he visits. Preferring slow travel over faster-paced tourism, Matt started his travels at the tender age of 29 and is in no rush to see everywhere. As he says, “I often hang out in a country for as long as it feels right and I move on to the next when I’m ready”. He also doesn’t consider himself an expert, but we think he is. Check out the awesome photography on the website too. Matt has one of the better travel photography portfolios on the list.

Hike & Dine

A newish blog from a Swiss couple who focus on hiking and eating (two of my favorite things) in their home country of Switzerland, probably the greatest place in the world to combine these passions.

This blog is all about details. Great photography combined with detailed guides on hiking trails and the places to dine nearby. It’s a bilingual blog (bravo) in English and Swiss German that doesn’t skimp on quality imagery or research. All I can say is that it must have been hard work eating their way around Switzerland.

Travel Lemming

A blog about emerging destinations should satisfy the demand for sustainable tourism in 2020. People are no longer happy to visit overcrowded cities and add to the massive pollution of some of the world’s most beautiful spaces. Travel Lemming aims to promote the less-visited locations of the world and creator Nate Hake’s love of emerging and off-track travel destinations means he has plenty to write about. So many of the world’s great cities and places are ignored because the tourism industry has not matured or the location is not on the Instagram trail. This blog helps educate people about places that are relatively free from the ills of over-tourism and places that would benefit greatly from your tourism dollar.

TravelLemming.com

I just had to add my blog to the list. Why not? With an eclectic mix of posts about solo travel, digital nomadism, wine, food, and culture, Nomad Flag is a personal journey through the world. The aim of the blog is to help people learn more about places and cultures, especially with long-term or slow travel in mind. Check out this guide to living in Argentina , for example.

Other topics include a Guide to Georgian wine , a listicle of Inspiring Non-fiction Travel Writing , a rant about Begpackers , or this sharp take on Travel Writing, SEO & Boring Blogs .

This post is a work-in-progress. I intend to update it regularly. If you have any suggestions, please send them to me.

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About The Author

6 thoughts on “Travel Writing Blogs & Wesbites to Follow in 2023”

So glad to see my friends, Brent and Michael, on here and to see some blogs and vlogs I have not stumbled upon. Thanks a gazil for not only the list, but for the commentary.

I humbly suggest my Substack newsletter Common Sense & Whiskey, which publishes a travel column every Tuesday: https://csandw.substack.com/

Thanks, Bill Murray Common Sense & Whiskey

Great list Keith, and so thrilled you included Meet Me Here Tbilisi—Paul Rimple is one of the best travel writers working today, you fall into his stories as soon as you open them. And also I don’t blame you for giving yourself a shout-out on this list too, no law against drinking your own champagne, as they say! Next time you’re in the mood for an update, I wonder if you’d consider Intrepid Times – We publish one travel story a week from passionate travel writers experienced and otherwise, and have been plugging away since 2014. Keep up the awesome work!

I can attest to this! One of my favorite travel blogs in the list. National geographic worthy articles.

I’m all in for travel bloggers who paint pictures with their words, transport me to faraway lands, and make me feel like I’m sipping chai in Mumbai or exploring hidden alleys in Prague, even when I’m just on my couch with a cup of joe.

Being into the travel niche myself, I’m familiar with a few of these websites, like Expert Vagabond, Travel Lemming, and of course, Nomad Flag. And hey, you might want to check out A Little Adrift, Man Vs Globe, and The Professional Hobo. Oh, and don’t miss Travelccessories.com – it’s got some really useful articles that address practical questions travelers often have, moving beyond the usual listicles.

While Google might crown its favorites, it’s readers like us who crown the real travel gems. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Femi.

Storytelling is still the best way to inspire travel but a listicle here and there is fun if it’s unique, right? I hope you have a moment to look at my travel writing website. One of my favorite recent stories involves a trip to Antarctica with my 78 year old stepdad and a humpback whale.

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Best Websites for Travel Writers

By Roy Stevenson

You can find numerous websites on travel writing.  But finding the best websites  can be a daunting and time consuming task. First, you want websites that will advance your knowledge of freelance travel writing.  You want to discover fresh ideas and master new skills.  And you want travel writing websites that offer sound advice to freelancers around the world. You also want websites that help you find magazine leads for paid travel assignments. And finally, you’re looking for websites that tell you where press trips are happening.  Here are seven hand-picked, highly recommended travel writer’s websites.  Our selection criteria included:  fresh and interesting information to help you get more writing assignments, earn more money, improve your writing, and connect with DMOs and other people in the travel writing community. I’ve implemented advice from a couple of these websites and made thousands of dollars, almost immediately! You’ll find a brief introduction of each and a link to the websites below:

Pitch Travel Write

I’m obviously biased about this website because I’m the author!

PitchTravelWrite is all about marketing and selling your travel stories to print publications. You’ll find plenty of travel writer’s websites that show you how to improve your travel writing. 

PitchTravelWrite shows you how to sell your stories, because if you can’t sell your articles, you don’t get to write them. When you’re starting out in travel writing you’ll spend most of your time marketing your ideas to editors. This happens to be what I’m really good at.  So I share my ideas with you so you can be successful, too. This is the essence of PitchTravelWrite.


You’ll learn about the sales pitch - also known as your query letter. But marketing your ideas to publications is about more than just query letters - and you’ll learn about my process that will help you get published more easily and more often. PitchTravelWrite has plenty of information about increasing your bylines on travel websites.  And you’ll find advice on how to use your travel writing assignments to land press trips and complimentary travel perks.

Travel Writers Exchange

Curated by Trish Miller, Travel-Writers-Exchange is a community of travel writers, bloggers, and journalists.  “We exchange tools, tips, and resources, and provide a forum to help our community expand their online reach and find new opportunities.”

It makes the best websites list because it “serves as a resource for all travel writers – a place to find information, inspiration, education, encouragement, advice, networking, and possibly even travel writing opportunities.”

“We offer a Forum for increased interaction with other travel writers, and we’ll regularly invite guest bloggers to share their experiences in this exciting and growing field.”

TravMedia is a social media site for travel writers and is one of the best websites because its as close to one-stop shopping for connections you’ll find.  Here’s how it can help you ...

• Travel writers can list their upcoming trips and destinations for potential match-ups with magazine editors.
• You can list your biography
• You can list places you’ve traveled to
• You can place links to your latest travel stories to show them off
• You can follow other travel writers, and have them follow you
• You can correspond with other writers and TravMedia.com members
• You can access a calendar of events around the world
• You can receive Editor Alerts for article assignments
• You can receive listings and updates about all aspects of tourism from hotels & resorts to international tourism boards
• Plus a few other things!

I’ve landed several on-board assignments with numerous cruise line magazines through TravMedia.com and scored a few press trips from TravMedia.com announcements.

The Writers Workshop

Want to improve your travel writing?  Take some courses through travel writing instructor, Nick O’Connell’s, private online school. Seattle travel writer and instructor, Nick O’Connell’s list of bylines is enough to make even the pros drool.  He is the author a five books, and his magazine bylines include: Newsweek, Gourmet, Condé Nast Traveler, Saveur, Food and Wine, The Wine Spectator, Outside, GO, National Geographic Adventure, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Commonweal, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Westways, Sierra , and others.  These are top shelf glossies, and you’ve got to be an outstanding writer to get published in them.  So you’ll be learning from the best. Nick also does a one-day workshop on the essential elements of travel writing alongside our Travel Writing & Marketing Master Class .  I sat through Nick’s workshop last April, and it was excellent!  Even though I’ve got a long list of bylines and have been published in more than 1000 magazines, I learned some things in Nick’s class.  And his advice has rubbed off  - I’ve made some fundamental changes to my writing style. Here’s what Nick says about travel writing on his website, TheWritersWorkshop : “Travel writing, Food writing and Wine writing are some of the most appealing genres of nonfiction, calling on all of an author’s skills - dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, scene by scene construction - to compose compelling, engaging travel narratives.”  It makes the best websites list because it links to high quality writing courses.

Travel Writing 2

Produced by Terri Marshall and Tim Leffel, “This travel writing blog site aims to be the most definitive, detailed guide to success in the digital age.  It achieves that through the stories and advice from working writers, authors, and bloggers who travel.”

It's on my best websites list because you can learn a lot browsing through TravelWriting2 .

Travel Write Earn

Former CNN Travel Editor and freelancer, James Durston, has a pithy blog for travel writers & bloggers trying to make their way in the travel writing arena.  The articles on TravelWriteEarn are excellent.

Articles related to best websites for travel writers that will interest you:

Getting Published Why Travel Writers Need a Professional Website Finding Travel Magazine Leads on Vendor Websites Where to Find Magazine Leads

Roy Stevenson is a professional travel writer and the author of www.PitchTravelWrite.com.  Over the past ten years, he’s had more than 1000 articles published in 200 magazines, trade and specialty journals, in-flights, on-boards, blogs and websites and has traveled on assignment around the U.S. and to dozens of international destinations.

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The 15 Best Websites and Publications for Freelance Travel Writer Jobs

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Table of Contents

• Best Websites For Freelance Travel Writer Jobs (Overview)
• How to Become a Freelance Travel Writer
• 1. Lonely Planet
• 3. Wanderlust
• 4. Travel + Leisure
• 5. Condé Nast Traveler
• 6. Listverse
• 7. Verge Magazine
• 8. The Travel Magazine
• 9. Backpacker
• 10. National Geographic
• 12. International Living
• 14. AAA Washington
• 15. Culture Trip
• Get Paid to Write and Travel

Would you like to get paid while traveling?

Travel writing jobs have become popular and in demand as more people look for well-written travel itineraries, local guides, personal travel stories, and new destinations.

If you’re a freelance writer who’s also a serial traveler or a natural explorer, why not try writing feature articles on your travel experiences or encounters?

Feel free to specialize in your preferred niche or accept general travel writing assignments for variety.

To help you find a suitable role, we’ve listed some of the best websites and publications to apply for freelance travel writer jobs.

We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down .

• Lonely Planet
• Travel + Leisure
• Condé Nast Traveler
• Verge Magazine
• The Travel Magazine
• National Geographic
• International Living
• AAA Washington
• Culture Trip

Fortunately, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to become a travel writer as long as you have excellent writing skills.

However, if you want to make travel writing a career, you should have extensive knowledge in the industry.

Also, here are some quick tips for finding freelance travel writer jobs.

• Know the specific travel niche you want and look for clients that publish them.
• Read the guidelines carefully to ensure you send a suitable and correctly-formatted pitch.
• Learn and improve your photography skills since great content should also come with well-taken photos.
• Start a travel blog to demonstrate your skills and let new clients and companies find you. Also, becoming a travel blogger allows you to monetize your content via ads and affiliates.

The Best Travel Websites for Freelance Travel Writers

Check out our list of companies, travel publications, and platforms that hire freelance writers and secure your ideal travel writing jobs.

Lonely Planet is one of the most popular and credible websites for travel guides, blogs , tips, and information.

The wealth of content on their platform is thanks to their countless global contributors.

They’re accepting pitches for digital and print, specifically feature articles on in-depth narratives, the latest travel trends, and first-person travel guides, among many others.

The rates and word counts depend on the type of travel content you’ll submit.

If you’re a freelance writer who wants to pitch for Lonely Planet, check their full guidelines for more details.

As of writing, they don’t accept submissions, so make sure to check their website occasionally to know when you can pitch.

GoNOMAD is a travel website featuring informative, intriguing, and well-written travel articles.

Specifically, they pride themselves in providing honest and well-researched features that cater to seasoned travelers.

If your writing style fits their standard, you can write about your firsthand account of a unique trip, a detailed guide on a specific destination, or an alternative travel opportunity to engage with local culture, among others.

Before submitting, read their writer guidelines carefully and check their previous content to avoid covering previously published topics.

The stories range from 1,700 to 2,200 words, and the company pays per article with good photos and captions.

GoNOMAD accepts travel writers all year round, so don’t hesitate to send them your pitch anytime.

Note that they don’t receive guest posts.

Wanderlust is an award-winning travel website and magazine for readers passionate about traveling.

They primarily commission articles for their travel publication rather than their website.

However, they consider publishing inspirational round-ups on the site.

Note that having your article featured in the magazine is cutthroat, as they only produce six issues per year.

If you want a freelance travel writing job for Wanderlust, you can send your proposed topic via email.

They usually look for unusual angles from unknown destinations and insights into local cultures.

If that’s your kind of feature article, read more about their guidelines to know their required formats.

Regarding rates, they pay per 1,000 words or page, depending on your content type.

As of writing, they’re currently not accepting submissions, but you can always check back to the site to see when they’re commissioning.

Travel + Leisure is one of the top travel media brands, covering many travel niches, from road trips and cruises to secret food shops and fine dining experiences.

If you’re looking for travel writing jobs that allow you to travel, this publication prefers their freelance writers to travel on assignment when necessary.

You can pitch for their print or digital platform.

We like that they also accept social media pitches consisting of vlogs, photos, and destination round-ups on Instagram and TikTok.

As for their rate and word count, it depends on the type and topic of your articles.

We recommend reading through their detailed guideline to know what they like.

If you prefer a travel writing job that celebrates minority groups, Condé Nast Traveler publishes travel articles that cover disabled communities, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities.

They also write about family travel, responsible traveling, and other travel niches, but we think their stories about identity make Condé Nast Traveler a unique publication.

So, if you’re a freelance travel writer who cares more for people and culture rather than the destination, try pitching for the people-centered sections in their guidelines .

Regarding pay, they offer a reasonable rate per 500 to 600 words.

Freelance writers who prefer writing short listicles rather than longer articles will suit Listverse’s article format.

Listverse features listicles with a minimum of 10 items about various topics, from popular culture to science.

The platform also includes a massive travel writing section covering famous destinations, hidden gems, travel tips, and unusual travels, among many others.

Regarding the rate, they offer a lower pay per article than others on this list.

However, if you can regularly write good listicles about the travel industry and have them published consistently, it can be a stable source of income.

See their guidelines for more details.

Verge is a travel magazine focused on traveling via volunteering, studying, and working overseas.

Their readers include active, independent, or seasoned travelers who want to explore the world more meaningfully.

They’re seeking freelance writers who can produce unique profiles or travel experiences with anecdotes, quotations, and relevance.

This opportunity also suits students or adults with full-time work who want to write about their travel experiences.

If you prefer travel writing jobs that inspire and inform, check out how to contribute to Verge.

They’ll only discuss payment details with you if you’re up for publication.

Also, note that they don’t have a print publication and are entirely digital.

The Travel Magazine is a portal for various travel articles, reviews, festivals, events, and news.

Given its wide range of topics, it’s one of the travel writing jobs that’ll allow you to explore the niche.

As a freelance travel writer, you can submit a list of unique destinations, review hotels, report the latest travel news, and produce first-person articles.

Specifically, the magazine looks for compelling content that fits their categories, doesn’t promote or criticize companies and websites, and has yet to be published elsewhere.

Unfortunately, their budget for freelancers isn’t available online.

However, if you’re willing to join their team, you may contact their managing editor via their website.

We recommend reading through their author’s guide to learn about what they publish in more specific terms.

Backpacker delivers content focused on the best backpacking locations, gear reviews, and outdoor skills for avid campers and backpackers.

Despite having a full-time staff and regular writers, it’s one of the travel writing platforms that encourage freelance writers to submit pitches for features, departments, and the web.

Some of the articles they publish include firsthand outdoor experiences, survival tips, short life list essays, and advice for food preparation and nutrition outdoors.

However, note that they only cover North American destinations.

If you want to apply, read their  contributor guidelines  carefully and send your submissions via email.

If they like your pitch, you’ll sign a contract to join the team.

The rates depend on your travel writing experience and the article’s complexity.

Nonetheless, if you’re into camping or traveling by foot, this is one of the travel writing jobs you should try.

National Geographic is known for its wildlife coverage, but its travel section has the largest digital reach among media brands.

They publish content focused on sustainable travel, UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks, and culturally-relevant places.

Specifically, they prefer pitches that are insightful, timely, and relevant.

We recommend reading their guidelines and checking their current categories and past publications to know what topics they cover.

If you have a passion for journalism and travel, this opportunity is one of the best travel writing jobs you can find.

However, given National Geographic’s reputation and standards, we can only recommend this opportunity to seasoned freelance writers.

AFAR publishes via print and digital, and each medium caters to different articles and topics.

The bi-monthly AFAR magazine prints stories of local places and people via essays, editorials, and other forms.

Meanwhile, the website, AFAR.com , features stories and articles about air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drink, outdoor adventure, and sustainability.

Feature stories for their magazine range from 400 to 2,500 words, depending on your topic.

Conversely, digital features run from 2,500 to 3,000 words.

Here are their complete pitch guidelines .

Regarding the rate, they’re one of the travel writing jobs that offer a decent rate per word.

However, note that they send payments within 30-45 days of an invoice, which may be long for some.

Nonetheless, we highly recommended AFAR for travel writers looking for a diverse range of topics to cover and a good-paying client.

International Living provides readers with reliable information on the best places to travel, live, and retire across the world.

Most of their stories come from expats who share advice, travel tips, local trips, how-to’s, and more.

They’re looking for original, timely, and relevant articles based on an expat’s account.

So, we recommend this gig for freelance writers living in a foreign country.

It’s one of the travel writing jobs that pay based on word count, and their rates are pretty decent.

If you want to join their team of contributors, read their guidelines and send your pitch via email.

We suggest checking their website, writing style, and past works to see if this opportunity suits you.

If you’re into road trips or the RV lifestyle, ROVA, which stands for road vacations and recreational vehicles, publishes stories about life on the road in North America.

It’s released bi-monthly in a print and digital magazine.

Given its niche, they only accept articles and photo essays about exciting trends or experiences to vanlifers and RVers.

If you’re submitting a photo essay, you may need good photography skills to illustrate your story.

Regarding the rate, they offer a flat rate per article if it gets accepted for publication.

Overall, it’s one of the travel writing jobs we recommend for writers who are always on the road and know their way around North America.

Read their guidelines and submit your articles here .

Among the travel companies on this list, AAA Washington is the only one that offers travel services, insurance, safety, and more.

They publish a members-only publication and post travel articles, tips, and experiences on their website.

According to their guidelines, AAA Washington looks for objective experiences that anyone can have.

So, they strictly forbid contributors from getting special treatment, comped food, lodging, or anything else that can’t apply to its readers.

If you want to be a travel writer for their team, read their guidelines carefully, and send your pitches via the indicated email.

Note that they ask new writers to submit samples and write on spec.

Culture Trip is a travel booking site that also produces written and video content.

They cover travel guides, food and drink spots, insider tips, and other lifestyle articles.

They offer full-time and freelance travel writer positions for their website.

According to their data, they currently work with over 600 creators worldwide.

Aside from writers, they also accept photographers, editors, and filmmakers.

Unfortunately, there’s no information about their rates, and they’re currently not accepting pitches.

However, if you want to explore this opportunity, you may check their content to learn more about their topics and writing style.

Meanwhile, you can check their latest freelance opportunities here .

Travel writing is a promising and stable career for freelance writers who are also digital nomads.

It can be rough initially, but continue improving your skills and pitching until you find your dream travel writing job .

So we hope this helped you find opportunities to kickstart your travel writing career!

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The 12 best magazines and websites for great travel writing.

• June 22, 2023
• Writing resources

Reading and studying the travel writing in the articles and posts of top-quality magazines and online outlets may make you want to create your own high-quality travel writing. And give you ideas of where to sell your work. 

Some sites have pay-walls, yet they are worth the money.

NatGeoTravel.com

Travel + Leisure

The Atlantic

Smithsonian

The New Yorker

New York Times Travel

Longreads.com

HiddenCompass.net

WorldHum.com

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27 Places to Submit Your Travel Writing

Diana Spechler, author of the New York Times Opinion series Going Off, teaches a very popular class called Writing Essays About Travel and Food .

While we're waiting for Diana's next class to start, we wanted to compile a list of places where you can submit your travel writing. Even better: if you're writing about travel and food, two topics that go exceedingly well together, you'll appreciate the list below.

When submitting your travel writing we recommend setting your sights high. There are a lot of magazines and literary journals out there eager to read your work and possibly give it a home. With so many markets out there, we put together a list of our 27 favorite places to read great travel writing stories. Take a look at the list below, and get your submissions in the queue:

• Travel + Leisure
• Creative Nonfiction
• Conde Nast Traveler
• National Geographic Traveler
• National Geographic
• New York Times Magazine
• The Atlantic
• Harper’s Magazine
• Virginia Quarterly Review 
• Smithsonian
• New York Times
• Oxford American
• Washington Post Magazine
• Food and Wine
• Paris Review
• Roads and Kingdoms
• Men’s Journal 

And, if you're looking for a class in fiction , poetry , nonfiction , or screenwriting , we've got you covered.

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How To Get Travel Writing Jobs + 17 Websites To Find Them

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Are you an avid traveler who always can tell a fascinating vacation story? Is your inbox filled with emails from hotels and airlines offering promotions?

Do your friends know who they can ask for advice on which places in France they should visit this summer? If you are a travel geek willing to share your personal experience with a wider audience, it’s time to bag your dream job as a travel writer.

We’ve combed many travel resources and websites to find travel writing jobs so you don’t have to

What are travel writing jobs?

Before diving into travel writing jobs, lets start with what travel writing is. Travel writing is the creation of content about traveling, cities and countries, cuisines, hotels, attractions, etc.

Living in a modern world challenges people to read, analyze and consume content faster thus the demand for travel writers who can provide readers with actionable tips is growing. People want to get valuable information in a shorter time, and your advice helps them do so.

There are also travel writing jobs whose target audience is people who just love to read about journeys and different experiences. In this sense, travel writing is close to journalism revealing the topic through the prism of geography, culture, history, and religion.

Travel journalism is not a new format. Road journals have been a long-established genre that flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whether you are an ardent culinary nomad, travel guide author or just looking to find a place to publish your long-form adventure story, check out these websites offering travel writing jobs.

Best places who offer travel writing jobs

Trip101 is a network of travel experts around the world. The website publishes guides, to-do lists, and articles about specific destinations.

They cover not only popular cities but also off-the-beaten-track destinations like Mongolia and Tibet. If you specialize in one-stop travel guides and have a soft spot for non-standard accommodation booking platforms, drop them a line.

2. Infatuation & Zagat

Infatuation & Zagat is a restaurant recommendation website where you can find reviews about the best food and drink spots.

They are always looking for talented writers who would bring a fresh perspective to the industry by demonstrating a good knowledge of restaurants around the globe. Freelance positions are open in top destinations in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

3. Growth Machine

Growth Machine is a team of content marketers that help businesses drive more traffic to their websites. They are on the lookout for freelance writers in any niche, from health and wellness to travel topics.

4. Gaijinpot Travel

Gaijinpot Travel provides English-speaking foreigners with info about relocation, staying and living in Japan. Their guides help expats seamlessly immerse themselves in the local culture along with the tips on job searching, accommodation and shopping.

If you lived in Japan for over a year, you can submit short destination reports and listicles and get paid upon publication.

5. Wanderful

Wanderful is dedicated to supporting women in their travel experiences. Do you want to positively transform the way women travel?

They are interested in stories from women of different identities and value unique insights into local history through the lives of women who shaped it. Payments range between $50 and $150 per article. Read the guidelines here.

6. World Nomads

World Nomads connects locals and travelers who are eager for new fascinating places and cross-cultural encounters.

The publication accepts personal stories about adventures that taught you something meaningful or changed your perspective on life. They offer .50 USD per word for written stories.

7. Hostelgeeks

Hostelgeeks specializes in hostels guides and travel tips provided by locals and expats. If you can tell captivating stories about local fun things to do in these destinations, submit your article!

8. To Do Canada

To Do Canada features the best things to do, places to go and events in Canada. Are you an expert on local tourist attractions? Feel free to send them your resume and a topic summary.

9. Tropikaia

Tropikaiais a gateway to the world’s beautiful islands and tropical beaches. Have you ever spent a week on Maui? Share your experience with a new audience and get paid.

10. AngelList

AngelList is a platform for tech startups, angel investors and job seekers. You can find job listings from travel startups as well.

11. Online Writing Jobs

Online Writing Jobsis a content agency helping brands create content in various fields, including the travel industry. They offer staff freelance positions for US residents.

12. Big 7 Travel

Big 7 Travel is a global travel website that provides its audience of 2.5 million users with inspiring ideas on what to see and do in every city. Join their content team and create guides to your city.

13.  Destination360

Are you geographically savvy but lack travel experience? Don’t fret, since Destination360 are looking for people to work with the website team. Knowledge of Search Engines, Keywords, and an understanding of search engine marketing is preferred.

14. Scripted

Scripted connects freelance writers with brands of all shapes and sizes. Freelance writers’ profiles are sorted and listed in such categories as software and technology, cars, health, business, travel and lifestyle.

15. Tripoto

Tripoto is a social travel platform where travelers share their stories, itineraries and other helpful information. Work as a freelance travel expert and earn some money by answering their travel-related questions!

16. Thrifty Nomads

Thrifty Nomads’ mission is to inspire affordable travel. They are interested in practical articles and travel hacks and pay for good content.

17. TravMedia

TravMedia is a global media network that connects travel journalists with PR professionals. Once you register, you get access to the industry’s press releases, trends, PR events etc.

On TravMedia, writers can land assignments from editors or announce their travel plans to get more assignments from media outlets. Having a polished profile allows you to pitch yourself to travel industry organizations and develop connections with long-term clients.

How to get travel writing jobs

For many aspiring writers, working in the travel industry may seem like a dream job. However, to succeed as a travel writer, having the sole ability to travel is not enough.

Travel writers should be able to craft interesting stories, take good photographs and edit them, write engaging social media posts, and market themselves as authors and publishers.

This is a competitive field as there are many travel bloggers, influencers and crowdsourced websites allowing everyone to contribute images and reviews.

If you run a personal travel blog and look for a way to turn it into full-time travel writing jobs , check out these tips.

1. Learn from industry experts

First of all before landing travel writing jobs, you need to study the industry thoroughly.

It’s crucial to identify what major publications exist in this area, the difference between them, what topics editors are interested in. Study other writers’ work and analyze what their readers like in those stories.

2. Define your niche

What do you want to write about? There are countless categories of travel writing jobs and content, e.g. blogs, itineraries, essays, travelogues, guidebooks, round-ups. Since the market is crowded, differentiating one’s style has become extremely hard.

The key to success has always been the same – you need to become a source of useful information that would inspire your readers and motivate them to go and see new places themselves. Readers love comprehensive content due to a lack of time to study all available resources.

Secondly, a professional approach is always highly estimated. Write your guides as if you were working for National Geographic. That doesn’t mean adhering to a specific style but maintaining a professional attitude to what you are doing.

Doing research, collecting historical facts, increasing your knowledge of geography and anthropology will lend authority to any article. If you have a degree not related to media, your education can give you an edge in bringing a fresh perspective to the field.

3. Pitch publications

As soon as you return from your next trip, make sure you have several travel story ideas. The common mistake among beginners is pitching destinations, not stories.

While there are millions of tourists visiting India annually, your article should highlight specific angles of your journey. What did your journey teach you? What’s so special about your experience that you need to share it?

After you have been featured as a guest writer on popular niche websites (the more leading publications you score, the more chances you get to land well-paid travel writing jobs) you can move up to press trips.

It’s quite rare that freelance writers get invitations to press trips from travel agencies or tourism boards unless they’ve got an assignment from an editor. An assignment is proof that a magazine included the article in the editorial calendar.

Are you a travel blogger? Contact local hotels, restaurants, tourist bureaus before going on a trip and offer to write about their services. If you have a solid portfolio and run a popular travel blog, you may end up with profitable collaboration and cover some expenses.

Search for conferences, PR events, travel exhibitions in your city to get acquainted with PR reps and get in front of new brands. You can send follow-up emails after the events to remind of the service you offer. This will increase your chance of getting dream travel writing jobs.

Ready to get started?

Even though travel writing jobs may not be lucrative, it takes a lot of time and effort before you start making a living as a writer. Travel bloggers and journalists are given the rare opportunity to navigate their life in the way they want and create their own adventure story.

Most who earn a full-time income from freelancing are generating it from various streams, writing and selling books, digital products, podcasts, working on paid campaigns. Along with that, they formed long-term relationships with editors and businesses hence get steady assignments.

Another key challenge many professionals are likely to face in the field is that travel writing jobs can be physically demanding. Sometimes you have to write and send a travel report after rushing through a bunch of locations in one day if you are on a press trip.

To create interesting texts, you also need to read travel articles as much as possible and follow the latest trends. Consider exercising a journalist approach with its principles of truthfulness and public accountability.

Since modern travel content is mostly a business activity, its subject gravitates either to advertising or entertainment. Being a good travel writer implies understanding what your readers need, without trying to make an instant profit but minding readers’ cultural enrichment.

Stay true to yourself and keep up the good work!

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Written by Lydia Zhigmitova

Contributor at millo.co.

Lydia Zhigmitova is a marketing strategist at Wordnetic . She helps individuals explore and embrace healthy remote work culture. Lydia takes an interest in everything concerning AI-powered marketing, educational psychology and baroque music.

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35 Travel Magazines That Pay Writers up to $3 per Word

by Yassir Sahnoun | Mar 15, 2018 | Become a Successful Freelance Writer , Freelance Writing , Freelance Writing Clients | 21 comments

Disclaimer: all prices below are subject to change. If you know of any rate changes, do not hesitate to reach out to me via email: [email protected]

This list was originally published on the 5th of August 2017. I have updated it to include more information & details.

What is more enjoyable than going on an infinite, all-expenses-paid adventure all over the world?

Just a few decades ago that wasn’t possible except for a select few people.

But with the recent dominance of travel magazines and their continuous demand for remote travel writers, more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon.

If you’re into backpacking, tourism, or any other type of travel, writing for well-paying travel magazines could help you cover all of your travel costs!

Without further ado, here are 35 great travel magazines that work with freelance writers.

1. National Geographic – Intelligent Travel Blog

Intelligent Travel Blog is an online section of the well-known magazine National Geographic. They’re looking for writers who can write content within the following categories: travel photography, adventure, digital nomad, travel with heart, and more.

For categories other than travel photography, the word count is usually 500 to 1,000 words. The pay, according to WhoPaysWriters.com, is $0.5 per word.

2. Matador Network

Matador Network is a famous online travel publication among world travellers. Unlike many websites, Matador Network relies totally on freelance work to nurture its blog and keep their content pipeline full with travel, food, outdoor, lifestyle, and other travel-related articles.

To make it easy to work with freelancers, Matador Network has created a forum called, “Matador Creators Community.” This allows new writers to pitch ideas based on editor suggestions in the marketplace.

In order to assign articles, Matador Network editors usually require 3+ samples of previous travel writing. After approving your pitch, the editors will offer you $20 to $60 for your post.

3. Elsewhere

Elsewhere is a widely-read travel magazine and one of Australia’s leading content creators. They seek freelancers to pitch them ideas within topics like food, travel news, destinations, cruises, and tours.

Elsewhere usually publishes short articles that do not exceed 1,500 words. They pay writers $0.65 (AUD$0.80) per word. They also prefer that writers reach out to them via email.

4. Pathfinders Travel Magazine

Pathfinders Travel Magazine publishes content dedicated to minorities – specifically African Americans. It showcases destinations, restaurants, and hotels all around the world, along with travel stories featuring minorities.

You can submit content that ranges from 500 to 1,000 words and expect to get paid a flat rate of $150.

5. Backpacker

Backpacker is an online and in-print magazine interested in outdoor, backpacking, hiking, travel skills, etc. The magazine focuses more on the practical aspect of backpacking and how to overcome its challenges.

They advise first-time magazine writers to get familiar with querying magazines before pitching editors. To reduce the risk of your pitch being rejected, they also suggest pitching a department or a short online-only piece.

For every approved post that ranges from 1,500 to 5,000 words, freelancers can expect to earn $0.4 to $1 per word.

6. AOL Travel

AOL Travel shares enticing content (i.e. lists of top travel spots, open competitions for readers to visit several destinations around the world) along with travel news and tips.

AOL Travel hires freelance writers to produce both long-form and short-form content for their blog. According to a report at WhoPaysWriters.com, they pay freelancers $0.20 per word.

7. The Culture Trip

The Culture Trip is a media start-up specialising in travel. To create high-quality content that will stand out, they’re hiring city-based freelance writers who can write about travel in their hometown/country in English.

The Culture Trip requires writers to have at least 1 year of online writing experience and various samples of previous work – preferably travel and arts & culture.

They expect you to “write a large number of snappy, shareable stories” and respect deadlines.

WriteWorldwide team member Ciaran McEneaney writes for Culture Trip and had this to say about his experience –

“Although the starting pay per article isn’t amazing, writing travel and culture related pieces about your home city or country is pretty easy. There’s a bit of a learning curve as you need to upload your articles with copyright-free images, add tags, internal links, addresses, etc., but once you get the hang of it, it’s an easy way to give your monthly income a nice boost.

They expect you to write a minimum of 20 articles per month, so if you do one per day Mon-Fri, you can easily manage it along with other clients. Commissioning editors usually come up with topics though you’re also free to suggest your own.

And most importantly, they always pay on time.”

The Culture Trip only accepts writers from the following locations:

London – Paris -Belgium – England – Scotland – Wales – Ireland – Germany – France – Italy – Croatia – Montenegro – Slovenia – Austria – Switzerland – Poland – Spain – Portugal – Turkey – Greece – Hungary – Bulgaria – Romania – Czech Republic – Slovakia – Russia – Sweden – Norway – Finland – Iceland – Denmark – Baltic states – New York – Washington, DC – Miami – Boston – Chicago – Orlando – Texas (Austin) – Nashville – New Orleans – California – West Coast, USA – Canada – Mexico – Hong Kong – China – India – Sri Lanka – Japan – Korea – Taiwan – Malaysia – Singapore – Indonesia – Cambodia – Maldives – Philippines – Vietnam – Burma – Thailand – Australia – New Zealand – Pacific Islands (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti) – UAE – Jordan – Oman – Iran – Lebanon – South Africa – Morocco – Egypt – Tunisia – Ghana – Nigeria – Kenya – African Islands – Puerto Rico – Cuba – Brazil – Colombia – Bolivia – Uruguay / Paraguay – Peru – Chile – Argentina – Ecuador – Costa Rica

8. LA Times

LA Times is one of the most prestigious magazines in the world with millions of monthly readers; therefore, they expect writers to provide unique content that will hook readers.

Los Angeles Times accepts different types of articles such as Weekend Escape, Travel Destinations, and Features.

Editors require that freelancers send a manuscript with their pitch. They will then review your submission. If your article is approved, you’ll get paid $700 for your writing and extra for photos.

9. Transitions Abroad

Transitions Abroad is a magazine that specialises in volunteering, studying and working abroad.

Freelance writers can contribute to all sections (i.e. Working Abroad, Culture Travel, Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Education Travel.) Travel Abroad has written a very detailed guide for each type of blog post, this makes it easy for writers to pitch their ideas and write articles that best fit the magazine.

Payment is upon approval, ranging from $50 to $150 for 1,500 to 2,000 words articles.

10.  Wanderlust

Wanderlust is an English publication providing travellers with information about tons of international destinations. They hire freelancers to write magazine features.

Wanderlust requires writers to send one-paragraph proposals instead of completed manuscripts. If an editor decides to run your piece, they’ll send you an invoice request and complimentary copy of the magazine upon publication. Then, you can expect to get paid no less than £220 30 days later.

11.  HAWAII Magazine

Hawaii Magazine is a Honolulu-based publication publishing articles and photography of Hawaiian travel attractions.They’re looking for writers to contribute to the Hotels, Food & Drink, Islands, Lifestyle, Things to do, and Guides sections.

New writers should send samples of their published work along with a pitch to the editor of the magazine.

Hawaii Magazine offers freelance writers up to $600 for every published article.

13. Budget Travel

Budget Travel is one of the top travel magazines for low-budget travellers. They ask freelance writers to send a copy of their published work as a sample, a proposal (pitch), and a cover letter to their  email address .

Budget Travel publishes long and short articles about a variety of topics such as Culture, Family, Get Inspired, Destinations, Food & Drink, Wildlife & Nature, Travel Tips, and Adventure.

They pay writers $0.50 to $1 per word.

14. Fox News – Travel

Fox News travel section publishes content for travellers and tourists. They assign articles related to Cruises, Theme Parks, Disney, Beaches, Budget Travel, Family Travel, Travel News and Travel Home.

Blog posts are usually 1,000 words long. According to a report at WhoPaysWriters.com, Fox News – Travel pays $0.17 per word.

15. BBC Travel

$0.20-$1 per word

BBC Travel is a high-profile magazine that creates video and written content for travellers. Writers are expected to pitch ideas that will fit into their blog sections (Culture & Identity, Food & Hospitality, Destinations, and Adventure & Experience.)

For “unexpected or surprising stories” that are accepted, BBC Travel pays $0.20 to $1 per word.

16. Adventure Cyclist Magazine

Adventure Cyclist Magazine is the go-to publication for bicycling routes & maps, stories, etc. They accept submissions for publication between June 1 and October 31 of each year.

Adventure Cyclist Magazine runs two types of articles: Feature-length stories (2,000 to 3,500 words with photos) and The Final Mile (1,200 to 1,500 words without accompanying photos.)

According to a report at WhoPaysWriters.com, they pay $1.35 per word.

17. Adventure Kayak Magazine

Kayaking is an enjoyable sport that Alaska is well-known for. Adventure Kayak Magazine covers topics such as kayaking destinations, gear guides, and kayaking tips.

If you’ve ever put a paddle in the water, Adventure Kayak Magazine will offer you $0.2 per word in exchange for sharing your kayaking tips and stories.

Freelancers are required to submit articles that are no longer than 2,000 words with professional-quality photos.

18. Canoeroots Magazine

Rapid Media, the company that publishes Adventure Kayak Magazine, also owns Canoeroots Magazine – a publication dedicated to articles about canoeing.

With the same rules and payment as Adventure Kayak Magazine, Canoeroots Magazine prefers reading queries rather than completed manuscripts to decide whether to accept an article or not.

Brides.com is a sister site of Conde Nast Traveler that specialises in romance.

The travel section of Brides is dedicated to couples and includes two main categories: Honeymoons and Destination Weddings.

For accepted manuscripts, Brides pays $2 to $3 per word.

20. The New York Times Style Magazine – Travel

The New York Times Style Magazine publishes travel articles continuously on international destinations. Articles can cover recipes, cities, arts, culture, beaches, etc.

The New York Times Style Magazine pays $2 to $3 per word.

AFAR is an in-print and digital travel magazine dedicated to tourists in particular. They publish 10-style activity and/or destination-focused articles, how-to’s, travel guides, etc.

Travel writers are required to write articles that will fit into their three main departments (WANDER, RESIDENT, and FEAST.)

Reports at WhoPaysWriters.com show that AFAR Magazine pays $0.5 to $1.5 per word.

22. Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure is a famous travel magazine that publishes compelling articles, aiming to attract readers with a fresh angle.

According to Freedom With Writing , 95% of Travel + Leisure’s writing is done by freelance writers.

After publishing your article, you can expect to get paid up to $2 per word.

23. Outpost Magazine

Outpost Magazine is a publication covering travel, adventure, and culture. They’re particularly interested in long-form travel journalism that covers the in’s and out’s of your travel journey.

Online features are expected to be 800 to 1,500 words while in-print features should be between 2,000 to 4,000 words. Pay is negotiated with the editor.

24. Escapees Magazine

Experienced travel writers with RV knowledge and experience to share should consider pitching Escapees Magazine that specialises in RV lifestyle.

They require stories to be no longer than 1,500 words and pay up to $150 per article upon publication.

25. Luxury Travel Magazine (Australia)

Luxury Travel Magazine is an Australian publication dedicated to luxurious travellers. They cover international travel spots and write articles within the topics: Destinations, Experiences, Stay Here, Itineraries, and Get There.

Luxury Travel Magazine (Australia) prefer pitches to be sent via email and pay up to $0.5 per word for accepted articles.

26. Departures

Departures is a versatile magazine for people with interest in travel, fashion, art, culture, design, etc.

To access their guidelines and learn more about how to pitch ideas to Departures, you need to contact them here .

Editors work with freelancers on both the digital and in-print platforms of the magazine.

As for payments, writers have reported a payment of $0.29 to $0.62.

27. Food & Wine – Travel

Food & Wine is an American magazine that publishes content on the topics: recipes, drinks, travel, holidays, kitchen & home, etc.

For details about contributing, get in touch via their “Contact Us” page.

Payment is unspecified.

28. Outside Online

Outside Online is a monthly magazine that covers art, literature, politics, sports, activities, etc.

Although they have a stable of writers who work with them, Outside Online is also interested in working with new authors who write about outdoor events, activities and regions, along with sports and adventure travel pieces.

Payment is usually between $500 to $1000 depending on publication platform and word count.

29. Saveur 

Saveur is an entertainment magazine sharing articles that fit into the categories: travel, food, drink, recipes, etc.

Saveur is looking for freelancers to write feature stories and informative articles. They pay them $0.30 per word.

Sunset is a travel magazine specialised in gardening, food, wine, and travel. Writers are expected to get in touch with the magazine to learn more about the requirements and guidelines.

Payment is usually $1 to $1.5 per word and paid 30 days upon publication.

31. High Times

High Times is a magazine specialised in weed culture. They accept article idea submissions related to travel, health, culture, women and business.

Writers should stick to a word count of 1,200 words or less, and are required to message the editor about their article ideas before working on the draft.

Pay is up to $1k per article.

32. Little India

Little India is an international publication targeting Indians living abroad.

They pay freelance writers up to $700 per article, and they’re interested in topics that fall under the categories: politics, entertainment, life, expats, travel, crime and business.

33. World Nomads Mojos (for new opportunities)

World Nomads Mojos is more of a job board where you can find advertisements of new travel writing opportunities World Nomads has to offer.

The pay usually ranges from $0.20 to $0.50 per word.

If you’re an avid traveller, there is no doubt that you’re already familiar with this publication.

According to WhoPayWriters.com, VICE pays freelancers from $0.14 to $0.29 per word, and payments are usually initiated within two months.

We recommend using LinkedIn to connect with the publication’s editors.

35. Hemispheres

Hemispheres is one of the top in-flight travel magazines in the United States. They accept up to 12 freelance contributions for every issue.

According to The Freelancer’s Year , Hemispheres pays $1 per word.

Do you know or work with any well-paying travel magazine? Share in the comments below.

Land Well-Paying Freelance Writing Gigs

Download your FREE Pitching Template Cheat Sheet and get 8 pitching templates.

21 Comments

Wow! Inspiring.

Certainly going to pitch here.

Thanks for commenting.

Good luck with your pitches!

Great list, thanks!

Hi Lorraine!

Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you liked the list.

Cheers! Yassir

Thanks for this well-researched post, Yassir! Really inspiring.

Thanks for your comment. I’m happy you liked it, and I hope you’ll get a few wins out of it.

Inspiring….Kudos to you.

Hi Good Folks

Just a heads up your aweber.com emails are going to Span. Please check your settings. Maybe it is a https vs http issue ?

Hi Jasmine,

Thanks for letting us know. We will check it out.

P.S. Are you using Gmail?

Cheers, Nick

Dude, this list is inspiring. I have a couple articles dancing around in my head and would love to be published. Cheers, thanks for the list!

You’re welcome.

Put together a pitch and let us know how it goes.

Thank you for sharing it, I was looking to start up new expat articles living in USA as an Indian and this time wanted to feature them in websites rather than my own blogs. Your list helped me found little India website that should help me in right direction.

Hi Dheeraj,

Glad this list helped you take a step further in your writing career.

Wishing you all the best.

Cheers, Yassir

This is perfect and so helpful thank you I contacted a few of these and already got a few replies wohoo 😀

Wow! Can you share with us which publications replied to your emails, Yasmin? That might be very helpful to other writers aiming to get published at a few travel magazines.

A very late reply but both wanderlust and Hawaii magazine got back to me they really liked my articles! I am planning on going to Hawaii this year to hopefully write more articles for them 🙂

Thank you,Yassir Very well sellected collection of reliable sources.Could you recommend magazines for bloggers and marketers where paid guest publications are accepted.I have published on HubPages but to start earning there it takes a while.

I am glad this post helped, Natalie. I recommend you get some social proof then start cold pitching clients using LinkedIn and email. You might as well find this page useful: https://writeworldwide.com/#starthere Good luck!

This is so nice. I want to be a part of a travel magazines. Please offer me some help Mr Yassir. Thank you

Hey Moses, the only help we can offer is to suggest that you start pitching the magazines with ideas as soon as possible.

Just make sure that your ideas are unique and they should be at least willing to listen to your suggestions.

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53 Best Travel Blogs and Bloggers To Follow (in 2023)

Written by Ankit Singla

3K Followers

Last Updated on:

If you’re searching for the best travel blogs today, look no further.

As always, I created this list to help aspiring travel bloggers learn a thing or two from these established sites.

However, people who are only looking for travel ideas and tips will also enjoy this post.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top travel blogs to follow in 2023.

Best Travel Blogs

• Nomadic Matt
• Backpacking Matt
• Adventurous Kate
• The Blonde Abroad
• California Through My Lens
• Dan Flying Solo
• Travel With Lakshmi
• Fluent in 3 Months
• Cheapest Destinations Blog
• Alex in Wanderland
• I Am Aileen
• Wandering Earl
• Be My Travel Muse
• Followtheboat
• Matthew Woodward
• The Opposite Travellers
• No Particular Place to Go
• Bucket List Journey
• Migrationology
• The Cranky Flier
• Never Ending Footsteps
• A Dangerous Business
• Against The Compass
• Everything Everywhere
• The Longest Way Home
• Global Grasshopper
• Girl Gone Travel
• Oneika The Traveller
• The Adventurists
• Time Travel Turtle
• Hand Luggage Only
• Travel4Wildlife
• The Insatiable Traveler
• View From The Wing
• Uncornered Market
• Jessie On a Journey
• Legal Nomads
• TravelFreak
• The Everywhereist
• Keep Calm and Travel
• Practical Wanderlust
• Expert Vagabond
• The Voyageur
• Amateur Traveler
• Girl Eat World
• The Adventure Junkies
• A Broken Backpack
• The World Travel Guy
• Life Part 2

1. Nomadic Matt

By:  Matthew Kepnes

I have to be honest with you — I love everything about  Nomadic Matt .  

Everything from his website’s design to his personal writing voice makes for an engaging reading experience. Not to mention that the name “Nomadic Matt” really sticks with me. 

Matthew Kepnes, AKA Nomadic Matt, was once a cubicle worker who admittedly wasn’t always a big traveler. On his first trip back in 2004, he went to Costa Rica where his perspective in life transformed forever. 

A single trip — that’s how easy it is to fall in love with travel. 

Today, Matthew continues living the life he was born for. He primarily blogs about travel tips, encompassing topics like how to save for a trip and things to do in Singapore. 

Blog Topics 

• Travel insurance
• Travel planning
• Saving money on travel
• Travel gear
• Destinations

Monetization Strategies

• Display advertisements
• Superstar Blogging online course
• Affiliate marketing ( Check: Best Travel Affiliate Programs )

2. Backpacking Matt

By:  Matt Kyhnn

I think there’s something about the name “Matt” that raises a person’s affinity for traveling. 

Backpacking Matt , owned and run by Matt Kyhnn, is a travel blog that has similar vibes with Nomadic Matt. It has a simplistic design, a memorable content tone, and striking travel photos that bring the blog’s stories to life. 

Matt Kyhnn also leverages videos — providing his audience a more immersive way to enjoy his content. 

Fresh out of college, Matt simply decided that he won’t settle for a 9-5 job. Instead, he spent months working and traveling across Ireland, Scotland, and other regions in mainland Europe. 

He then booked a one-way ticket to New Zealand where he now resides. In addition to his blog, Matt also runs his own travel planning and booking website — Planit NZ. 

Blog Topics

• Affiliate marketing
• Planit NZ travel planning and booking services
• Brand collaborations

3. Adventurous Kate

By:  Kate McCulley

Kate McCulley, AKA  Adventurous Kate , is a travel blogger with lots of adventures to tell.

She’s been to 83 countries, seven continents, and plenty of experiences to help women appreciate the traveling life. 

Kate’s blog was built during her time in Southeast Asia along with her freelance portfolio, which helped fund her travels. Her target audience is women who want to travel, but required guidance on how to do it safely and easily. 

The “Solo Female Travel” category on her blog consists of posts about travel safety, travel planning, destination guides, and more. She also compiled a list of travel resources that help turn her audience’s travel ideas into action plans. 

• Travel safety for women
• Sponsored posts

4. The Blonde Abroad

By:  Kiersten “Kiki” Rich

I covered Kiersten “Kiki” Rich of  The Blonde Abroad   in my list of the top lifestyle bloggers to follow in 2023. 

As her blog’s name suggests, she’s mainly a travel blogger who also discusses two other lifestyle-related topics — blogging and photography. 

Kiersten spent three, eye-opening months in multiple countries to re-envision the idea of “ success .” She succeeded in her goal and is now one of the most accomplished travel bloggers on the web. 

The Blonde Abroad covers a range of topics from travel photography to foreign cuisine. All of which draws wisdom from Kiersten’s personal travel experiences.

• Photography
• Travel destinations
• The Travel Shop
• Social media and influencer marketing consulting

5. California Through My Lens

By:  Josh McNair

Josh McNair, owner of  California Through My Lens , has a distinct writing style that vividly describes details of travel destinations. 

Unlike bloggers who discovered the love for travel in their adulthood, Josh has always been a passionate traveler at heart. He created California Through My Lens to document his adventures with the online audience. 

California Through My Lens is run by both Josh and his wife, Amy. The pair also has an active YouTube channel called Through My Lens where they share their experiences in video form. 

As you may have guessed, Josh’s content focuses on the beaches, caves, hiking trails, waterfalls, and various landmarks in California. Intricate details of each location, from hike distances to specific travel tips, are often included in his posts. 

• National parks in California
• Driving around California
• California destinations
• Selling eBooks
• Advertisements through YouTube 

6. Dan Flying Solo

By:  Daniel “Dan” Clarke

Dan Flying Solo   is by Daniel Clarke — a travel blogger, photographer, and creative director at his own Portugal-based media company. 

Dan’s blogging life was ignited by his passion for photography. He was originally a frustrated restaurant manager who wanted more out of life.

Like me, Dan is a self-taught blogger. He worked day in and day out by doing free online courses, YouTube tutorials, and heaps of informative guides. 

What makes Dan Flying Solo an extra noteworthy blog is its library of video content. Daniel also makes it clear that the site has no particular theme — not unlike everything else in life.  

“ There’s not one particular theme to this blog because I don’t think that’s how life really is. We change and what we enjoy changes.”

7. Travel with Lakshmi

By:  Lakshmi Sharath

Lakshmi Sharath worked on a desk job for multiple media organizations for 15 years. She then started her personal travel blog in 2005 — traveling to over 25 countries and across every corner of India. 

Travel with Lakshmi has only grown steadily ever since. It won multiple awards, including “India’s best travel blog of the year” award from Indiebloggie.  

As an Indian herself, Lakshmi made sure to highlight the country’s top travel destinations on the blog. She also documented her travels to foreign countries — from Abu Dhabi to the United Kingdom. 

As a way to support aspiring travelers around the world, Lakshmi also covers important tips on starting a travel blog. This includes essential tips on photography, travel planning, and travel writing.

• Social media marketing campaigns
• Content marketing and writing services
• Digital media consulting services

8. foXnoMad

By:  Anil Polat

foXnoMad   is a unique travel blog run by digital nomad Anil Polat.

Anil was exposed to travel at a young age because his parents were journalists. Other than routine trips between Turkey and the United States, they also visited multiple destinations around the world. 

Even in his professional life as a computer security consultant, travel was a big part of Anil’s life. He eventually decided to quit his job and fixate on one goal: to visit every country in the world.

What makes foXnoMad unique is that Anil utilizes his knowledge in tech to provide insightful tips on traveling smartly. He also develops apps that can help travelers in situations like determining water drinkability and calculating tips.

You can check out his podcast where he talks about current events, new product tech releases, and all things travel-related. 

Blog Topics                                           

• foXnoMad Shop
• Paid mobile apps

9. Fluent in 3 Months

By:  Brendan “Benny” Lewis

Fluent in 3 Months   by Brendan Lewis is created for travelers with a purpose. 

Apart from regular posts about travel planning and destinations, Brendan also writes a lot of guides on foreign languages. 

Remember, language is a crucial part of every culture. Brendan makes sure you learn dozens of useful words and phrases that will enrich your visit to any country. 

Some of the most prominent content formats in his blog are “ways to say” posts and phrase listicles. There are also fun, bite-sized stories like “How I Learned French on the Toilet in 6 Months.”

For more serious language learners, Fluent in 3 Months offers “The Challenge.” It’s a full-fledged online course that will enable you to hold a 15-minute conversation in a new language.

• How to speak foreign languages
• Language hacking 
• Traveling jobs
• The Challenge online course
• Speaking engagements

10. Cheapest Destinations Blog

By:  Tim Leffel

Cheapest Destinations Blog   is one of the oldest travel blogs on this list. 

It is created and run by Tim Leffel — an award-winning travel writer and author.  

Tim has made it his life’s goal to help people make the most out of travel while spending less. His blog contains posts that teach how to spend your travel money wisely and how to make every cent count. 

Other than Cheapest Destinations Blog, Tim also runs a handful of other blogs on different, travel-related topics. This includes Perceptive Travel, Travel Writing 2.0 Blog, and Cheap Living Abroad.  

• Travel budgeting
• Influencer marketing through 360 Degree Travel Network

11. Alex in Wanderland 

By:  Alexandra Baackes

Alexandra Baackes created  Alex in Wanderland   for two reasons. 

First, she’s been dealing with a case of wanderlust all her life. And second, she’s a fan of a beloved, fictional character — Alice in Wonderland. 

Alexandra is originally from Brooklyn, New York where she purchased her one-way ticket into the traveling life. She now blogs about the best travel destinations, outdoor activities, and her personal, travel-related gear.

One of the things I like about Alex in Wanderland is the presentation and categorization of content. 

On the “Categories” page, Alex makes sure articles are well-organized based on topics like travel inspiration, activities, and planning. This makes it easy for her audience to find the information they need at any given time. 

• Outdoor activities

12. Hey Nadine

By:  Nadine Sykora

Nadine Sykora of  Hey Nadine   is a popular travel blogger, YouTuber, and social media influencer.

Over the past 10 years, she has traveled across 55 countries, spoken on expert panels, and became a keynote speaker. 

Nadine’s goal is simple: share her travel experiences with the world and help others do the same. 

Hey Nadine contains a host of content on travel advice, hacks, destinations, and inspiration. As a seasoned YouTuber, you can expect her blog content to contain a lot of embedded videos from her channel. 

• Video production
• Advertisements through YouTube
• Sponsored content

13. I Am Aileen

Just like Kiersten Rich, Aileen Adalid is another travel blogger whom I also featured in my top lifestyle blogs listicle.

Aileen runs  I Am Aileen   — an award-winning blog that discusses just about everything there is to discuss in travel. She writes about destinations, the best travel activities, foreign cuisine, and more. 

What interested me the most about Aileen is her blogging background. At age 21, she quit her corporate job, which only paid $300 a month, to become a professional traveler. 

Since then, she’s been on a streak of smashing goals and breaking barriers. Thanks to her commitment to quality content, she’s recognized as one of the top bloggers in Asia. 

• Online shop

14. Wandering Earl

By:  Derek Earl Baron

Here’s a fun trivia about  Wandering Earl . 

Unlike most bloggers who use their first names, the “Earl” in “Wandering Earl” is actually a middle name. Blog owner Derek Earl Baron only thought that “Wandering Derek” didn’t sound as catchy.

Derek is a one-of-a-kind, adventurous soul who discovered his purpose as a modern nomad relatively early into adulthood. After graduating in 1999, he planned a three-month vacation across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 

That three-month vacation continues to this very day. 

And that’s how Wandering Earl was created — documenting Derek’s adventures in over 100 countries. He also shares valuable pieces of wisdom on travel planning, food, budgeting, gear, and so on. 

Wandering Earl has that “old-school” look and feel to it. On the plus side, the site’s design only highlights 

• Working while traveling
• Selling “eGuides”

15. Be My Travel Muse

By:  Kristin Addis

Be My Travel Muse  is a solo female travel blog created by Kristin Addis. 

She studied in Taiwan and kept an investment banking job for four years. The only problem was, her daily routine rendered her creative, dreamer side claustrophobic. 

Her first step was a one-way ticket to Bangkok — envisioning a life of writing and travel. That’s exactly what she accomplished with her blog, which now caters to millions of readers all over the world. 

Kristin believes that solo traveling is the best way for women to feel empowered and more confident. She prioritizes solo female travel tips on her blog, including guides on safety, packing, and maintaining relationships. 

Be My Travel Muse also has heaps of content on popular travel destinations and self-care for women. 

• Self-help for women
• Relationships
• The Photo Muse Masterclass online course

16. Followtheboat

By:  Liz Cleere and Jamie Furlong

Followtheboat   is a unique travel blog that focuses on a specific mode of transport: sailing. 

It is created with love by a travel writer Liz Cleere and photographer Jamie Furlong. There’s also Millie the rescue cat, which functions as a source of inspiration and encouragement for the blog’s human founders. 

Despite the focus on sailboats, Followtheboat’s content isn’t just made for sailors. The posts are tailor-made for travelers who also happen to be interested in the art and joys of sailing. 

Don’t be surprised at the humor and dynamic range of topics on the blog. You’ll find posts like “tools you need on a sailboat” and “is this the weirdest loo in the world?”

Followtheboat also has a library of podcasts, which record Liz and Jamie’s experiences on their travels. 

• Boat maintenance
• Patreon donations

17. Matthew Woodward

By:  Matthew Woodward

If Followtheboat is about boats, you can probably guess what  Matthew Woodward   is a blog about trains. 

Not to be mistaken for  Matthew Woodward  the internet marketer, Matthew Woodward the rail adventurer loved trains as a child. He owned model railway sets, traveled alone by train, and watched shows about trains on TV. 

In his time as a geography student, he explored Europe with his trusty Interrail pass. He set his passion aside to focus on his career, which he eventually gave up to become a travel writer. 

Today, he blogs about railway systems over different continents. He’s also an accomplished author of three books: “The Railway to Heaven,” “A Bridge Even Further,” and “Trans-Siberian Adventures.”

• Railway systems
• Traveling by train
• Selling books

18. The Opposite Travellers

By:  Ryan and Rachel Riel

The Opposite Travellers   were created by married couple Ryan and Rachel Riel. 

While both loved to travel, Ryan and Rachel had contrasting preferences when it comes to traveling. 

Rachel prefers to travel in style and luxury — through the accommodations and services offered by establishments and travel agencies. Ryan, on the other hand, leans toward daring adventures like biking and trekking — on $5 per night accommodations. 

The couple, however, utilized their differences as a selling point in The Opposite Travellers. 

As such, the website’s “Travel” section has two main categories: “Luxury Travel” and “Adventure Travel.” In other words, the blog has a diverse content library for travelers of all tastes and budgets.

The Opposite Travellers also boasts high-quality visuals taken and produced by Ryan Riel. All of the site’s videos are published on Ryan Riel Media — Ryan’s official YouTube channel.  

• Content production
• Social media marketing 
• Influencer marketing

19. No Particular Place to Go 

By:  Anita Oliver and Richard Nash

The next blog proves that you can never be too late to follow your passion.

No Particular Place to Go   is a travel blog created by Anita Oliver and Richard Nash. Both of them planned to retire in Padre Island — happily in their waterfront home. 

After his early retirement, Richard kept himself busy with volunteer work and beachcombing. Meanwhile, Anita kept her job as a hospital pharmacist.

Life was good for a while, but the couple eventually decided that they want and deserve more. That’s when the pair decided to travel with nothing set in stone. 

In 2012, Anita and Richard left for Mexico with two suitcases, two cameras, and two laptops. Today, they own one of the most wholesome and genuine travel blogs online. 

There are no ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate products on the site. There’s only content made by two people who really fell in love with traveling. 

• Moving to Portugal
• Life as nomadic travelers

20. Bucket List Journey

By:  Annette White

Travel is all about adventures, and so is life. 

That’s the essence of the  Bucket List Journey   by Annette White. 

The blog’s tagline is “tools and inspiration to live your list.” It refers to a person’s “bucket list,” which is basically a list of goals and experiences they want in life. 

Annette didn’t always have such a positive outlook in life. She used to be diagnosed with anxiety, which caused her to miss out on life-enriching experiences and opportunities. 

Eventually, she decided that she’ll no longer become a prisoner of fear and uncertainty. She had courage and took charge of her life’s direction — something every aspiring blogger needs to do at one point. 

Bucket List Journey talks about bucket list-worthy destinations, motivation, money, and travel tips. Annette also imparts knowledge on people who also struggle with facing fear and making braver life decisions. 

• Overcoming fear and anxiety

21. Migrationology

By:  Mark Wiens

When I first visited  Migrationology , I wasn’t sure whether to classify it as a food or travel blog. 

Then I checked out Mark Wiens’s “About” page. There, I learned that he viewed food as a way to connect with people in various cultures. 

And to be exposed to these cultures, Mark dedicates his time, money, and efforts to travel. 

Mark makes sure the blog only focuses on content based on his personal travels. It’s made for people who want to experience the flavors of the world — in person or through Mark’s posts. 

Apart from general food travel blog posts and city guides, Migrationology also offers readers a “Food Tour” service. It is the result of a year of research done by Mark himself — in partnership with  Bangkok Vanguards . 

• Bangkok Food Tour

22. The Cranky Flier

By:  Brett Snyder

We already mentioned a blog about boats and another about trains. It’s time to talk about a blog on airplanes and air travel.

Cranky Flier   is a unique blog created by Brett Snyder — President and “Chief Airline Dork” of Cranky Flier LLC. 

Brett has been fascinated with airlines all his life. When he was young, he collected airline timetables and even spent a birthday with his grandmother watching planes land. 

As an adult, he spent several years in the airline industry fulfilling multiple roles. He became a sales intern at USAir, senior analyst at America West, marketing planning product at United, and so on.

Today, Brett publishes his opinions about the airline industry on Cranky Flier. He also updates several series, like “Worst Airline Ever,” “Airlines We Lost,” and “Across the Aisle Interviews.” 

I’ll let you determine what these series are all about based on what they’re called. 

• Airline industry
• Cranky Concierge service

23. Never Ending Footsteps

By:  Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is one of those bloggers who already knew what they wanted to be from an early age. 

She dreamt of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and exploring new cultures.  Never Ending Footsteps   is proof that she accomplished all three. 

The blog consists of posts about Lauren’s fulfilling travels to different countries. But unlike a lot of famous travel bloggers, she also talks about the downsides of being a digital nomad.

Never Ending Footsteps has a “The Incidents” blog section where Lauren discusses the not-so-sexy aspects of traveling. She has been scammed, attacked by monkeys, locked out of her room, lost her passport, and more. 

Despite these incidents, Lauren’s love for travel only grew. Such experiences increased her wisdom and travel acumen — resulting in some of the most insightful travel articles ever published.

Lauren also helps her audience get into the world of travel blogging. Check out “How to Start a Travel Blog” for information on web hosting, working with WordPress, and so on.

• Travel safety

24. A Dangerous Business Travel Blog

By:  Amanda Williams

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog   is a straightforward blog made to help people travel. 

It is created by Amanda Williams, who is a former journalist with degrees in journalism, hospitality, and tourism management.

Amanda first got into journalism by editing obituaries — eventually becoming a copy and layout editor at a newspaper company. She started A Dangerous Business Travel Blog in 2010 out of boredom and her need for a creative outlet. 

Fast forward to 2023, the blog now averages over 340,000 page views per month. Amanda also maintains a strong social media presence with thousands of followers across networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog contains posts about travel planning, packing, destinations, and inspiration. Everything is sprinkled with high-quality photos to keep readers engaged and enthused.  

The centerpiece of A Dangerous Business Travel Blog is “The 10-Day Adventure Project.” Put simply, it’s a collection of ready-to-use, self-guided itineraries that will shave hours off your travel planning process.

• Packing 
• DangerousBiz online course
• Freelance writing

25. Against the Compass

By:  Joan Torres

How do you make a travel blog stand out?

Joan Torres has a surefire answer: covering the most unusual and “off the beaten track” destinations.

Against The Compass   is a unique blog that talks about the travel routes and destinations you probably haven’t heard of. It covers destinations that people don’t normally include in their bucket list, like Pakistan, Tunisia, Syria, and other high-risk countries. 

Of course, Joan makes sure to highlight the importance of safety when traveling in relatively low-popularity destinations. He has comprehensive guides for solo female travel, travel insurance, and general travel safety.

26. Everything Everywhere 

By:  Gary Arndt

In travel blogging, a picture is undeniably worth a thousand words. There’s simply no excuse for any travel blogger to forego the inclusion of visual content in their posts.

Gary Arndt’s absolutely nailed it with his photography work for  Everything Everywhere .

Gary actually won multiple, major travel photography awards — more than any travel photographer. His photography is so good that I suggest you check the “Travel Photos” page on Everything Everywhere.

Go ahead, take a break and thank me later. 

Other than taking breathtaking photos, Gary also publishes detailed blog posts about the places he’s been. He’s been on the go for roughly 9 years non-stop, which means readers will never run out of material.

• Travel photography

27. The Longest Way Home

By:  David Ways

The Longest Way Home   started as the personal travel journal of David Ways — a solo traveler in search of home. 

The blog originally started as David’s private, digital diary. As he journeyed across Europe and gained experience, it turned into a full-on blog with travel guides to specific locations. 

David finally found home in Nepal before traveling to other parts of Southeast Asia. 

He’s not the most nitpicky blogger in terms of grammar and spelling, but he’s definitely a brilliant storyteller. He’s also skilled in capturing and immortalizing moments into photos, which you can view on his blog’s gallery. 

The Longest Way Home has a library of content about various destinations, trekking, and travel planning. It also features in-depth travel guides to Nepal, Thailand, and overland travel — plus a mini-guide to Portugal.  

• Travel planning 
• Overland travel

28. Global Grasshopper

By:  Becky Moore

Global Grasshopper   is a travel blog run by Becky Moore and her team of professional travel photographers and writers. 

Becky’s first adventure was a six-month voyage in Southeast Asia. She considers herself a “semi-nomad,” traveling from country to country while nestling in Ireland, Australia, or parts of Southeast Asia. 

Global Grasshopper contains posts about popular travel destinations, hotels, and other places that deserve more attention. Readers will also enjoy the blog’s posts about dog-friendly travel — covering topics like dog booster seats and pet-friendly hotels. 

Since the blog is run by a team of experts, expect the content quality to be top-notch across the board. The team also organizes boutique tours, which readers can participate in for a memorable travel experience. 

• Traveling with a pet
• Boutique tours bookings

29. Girl Gone Travel

By:  Carol Cain

Carol Cain is an accomplished professional in the field of communications. She is a social media marketing expert, public speaker, branding agency owner, and award-winning travel blogger.

Girl Gone Travel   is the result of Carol’s innate passion for travel and knack for digital marketing. It is a well-designed, engaging, and filled with quality content that shines with Carol’s personality. 

Other than her travel-related posts, Girl Gone Travel also publishes a lot of posts about blogging and online branding. This makes it an excellent place to start for hopeful travelers who plan to have their own blog one day. 

• Destinations 
• Online branding
• Brave World Media company

30. HoneyTrek

By:  Mike and Anne Howard

Believe it or not,  HoneyTrek   is a travel blog about a honeymoon.

Yes — it’s probably the longest honeymoon ever.

Founders Mike and Anne Howard are a power couple with skills that can make any blog great. Anne is a former magazine editor whereas Mike’s a veteran digital media strategist and photographer. 

Together, they’ve honeymooned to over seven continents and 60 countries while creating the most romantic travel blog in the process. 

HoneyTrek contains a collection of posts about their travel destinations, experiences, and travel tips for all budgets. They also wrote two successful books: “Comfortably Wild” and “Ultimate Journeys for Two.” 

• Travel budgeting 
• Travel skills

31. Oneika The Traveller

By:  Oneika Raymond

Oneika The Traveller   is an award-winning travel blog by journalist, keynote speaker, and media personality Oneika Raymond. 

For those who don’t know Oneika, she’s the on-air travel and lifestyle correspondent for CTV Canada and NBC New York. Even more impressively, her blog won her a gold medal in the 2018 SATW Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition.

Oneika talks about travel destinations and her go-to tips for life on the road. With her experience in the field of journalism, she’s definitely one of the most engaging storytellers on this list.

• Fashion and style while traveling
• Traveling as a minority
• Personal opinions
• Social media marketing

32. The Adventurists

By:  Tom Morgan

The Adventurists   is hands down one of the most well-designed travel blogs in this post. 

The blog proves that integrating tons of video content into one page doesn’t have to affect its loading speed. In fact, the site loads surprisingly fast despite having several video panels on the homepage.

I’m not going to delve too deeply into this technical feat. What I’m going to focus on, however, is the brilliant team behind The Adventurists. 

The site is founded by “Chief Idiot” — Tom Morgan. Apparently, most of the crazy ideas featured on the blog were his. 

Every page on the site reflects Morgan and his team’s wackiness and passion for great adventures. They do, host, and document daring outdoor activities on air, land, and sea — plus, a whole lot of charity.

Their audience can also participate in these activities, which can be held in various parts of the globe. The “Monkey Run,” for example, is an event where participants race through dirt trails on tiny bikes.

The bottom line is, it’s hard to come up with unique ideas that set you apart in the blogging landscape. The Adventurists, on the other hand, managed to do so multiple times. 

• “The Adventures” events
• The “Shop of Stuff”

33. Time Travel Turtle

By:  Michael Turtle

Time Travel Turtle   is created by Australian Journalist Michael Turtle. 

Michael was born to be a storyteller and he knew it from an early age. 

In school, he ran the student newsletter and contributed a weekly column. He also filled the role of deputy editor of a university newspaper. 

Time Travel Turtle’s contains mainly posts on the locations that Michael has visited over the years. 

Like most renowned travel bloggers, Michael captures amazing photos that travel enthusiasts can fall in love with. He puts some of these photos up for sale to companies who’d like to feature those locations or properties. 

Michael continues to explore the world as a digital nomad. He also shares practical travel tips so readers can experience these adventures themselves. 

• Selling photography

34. Hand Luggage Only

By:  Yaya and Lloyd

Hand Luggage Only   is a hugely successful travel blog by couple Yaya and Lloyd. 

The site doles out travel advice, inspiration, photography tips, food reviews, and posts about must-see destinations. It also has a library of high-quality videos where Yaya and Lloyd describe their experiences in detail.  

Yaya and Lloyd started the blog in 2014 with a plan to share their travel stories with the world. Within a few hours, they published their first posts using photos they already took and edited. 

The moral of the story is, consider starting a blog if you already have a library of unused travel photos. 

35. Travel4Wildlife

By:  Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley 

It should only take anyone a second to figure out what  Travel4Wildlife   is all about. 

The blog is created by couple Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley out of their passion for wildlife. 

Hal is an experienced wildlife photographer for organizations like the Nature Conservancy Magazine, SEE Turtles, and RARE Conservation. Christina, on the other hand, is an experienced zoologist who worked on studies on wolves, cheetahs, and leopards. 

Travel4Wildlife’s goal is to increase awareness and increase the appreciation for wildlife. More importantly, it was Christina and Hal’s life goal to promote wildlife conservation through responsible tourism. 

Behind the scenes, the couple teams up to create compelling articles that focus on wildlife in specific destinations. The blog covers a range of species on different continents — from owls in South Africa to polar bears in Canada. 

• Wildlife tour reviews
• Responsible travel

36. The Insatiable Traveler

By:  Susan Portnoy

Susan Portnoy, also called  The Insatiable Traveler   on her blog, is a seasoned travel writer and photographer. 

Susan’s last full-time job was VP of corporate communications at Condé Nast. When that door closed, she took on a freelancing career as she learned the art of photography. 

Fast forward a few years, and she has enough accolades to make photography degree holders envious. 

Her photographic works were featured by organizations like National Geographic and companies like Bing. She also won awards like the SATW Lowell Thomas Award and the 2018 Gold in the Muster Photo Competition. 

The main focal points of The Insatiable Traveler include destinations, cruises, photography, and travel gear. Susan also covers the safaris in various regions, like Tanzania, Namibia, and Kenya. 

37. View from the Wing

By:  Gary Leff 

Just like Brett Snyder, Gary Leff of  View From The Wing   is an expert in all things air travel. 

Gary was named one of the “World’s Top Travel Experts” by Condé Nast Traveler since 2010. He also co-founded InsideFlyer.com — a community made by and for frequent flyers.

View From The Wing is a goldmine of timeless tips on airline miles, credit cards, hotels, and business travel. No matter your sub-niche in travel, I recommend checking it out for ways to maximize your frequent flyer miles. 

Gary also publishes posts called “Trip Reports” about establishments, food, and various attractions. 

• Hotel reviews
• Credit cards

38. Uncornered Market

By:  Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott

Dan Noll and Audrey Scott are a pair of adventurers, storytellers, and tourism advisors who advocate for responsible traveling. 

They created  Uncornered Market   — a responsible tourism blog — after leaving their secure and stable lifestyle in Prague. Prior to that, they lived in San Francisco and took a leap of faith for the sake of avoiding regrets.  

It’s clear that both Dan and Audrey believed that fulfillment can’t be found within the confines of your comfort zone. They explored, made connections, and shared their experiences through their travel blog. 

Some of the topics you’ll find in Uncornered Market are about destinations, sustainable tourism, food, and trekking. Dan and Audrey also write about personal growth and experiential travel. 

Uncornered Market is also a tourism development and marketing consultancy company. They help travel companies, destinations, and tourism organizations build their brands and deliver their message to a wider audience. 

• Responsible tourism
• Tourism development and marketing consultancy services

39. Jessie on a Journey

By:  Jessica “Jessie” Festa

Like plenty of bloggers, Jessica Festa needed a taste of life before discovering her true calling. 

In her youth, Jessie traveled to mostly cruises in the Caribbean and road trips in North America. She also experienced being a sightseeing guide in New York. 

Jessie on a Journey   is the result of her pursuing her dreams of getting paid to do something she loves. She now blogs about being a solo female traveler, blogging it, and profiting off of it. 

I’m sure a lot of big-name bloggers are all too familiar with how Jessie made the blogging vision a reality.

For a long time, she felt that the workaday lifestyle isn’t for her. It made her feel like she’s living everyone else’s life — not the kind of life she wanted to keep. 

Despite the disapproval of loved ones, Jessie decided to quit her secure job in favor of being a travel blogger. 

She was just as unprepared as most people before starting their own blog. The key difference is, she went out there and took her first step. 

• Travel blog consulting
• Tour company consulting

40. Legal Nomads

By:  Jodi Ettenberg

Back when Jodi Ettenberg was in law school, she never would’ve guessed she’d run a successful travel and food business. 

That happens to a lot of people, especially those who never thought of giving priority to their passions. 

It’s just a hunch, but I think the name  Legal Nomads   had something to do with Jodi’s background in law. 

Legal Nomads highlights destinations and local cultures just as insightfully as other travel blogs. What makes it different is that Jodi focuses on local cuisines to experience and tell the stories of each destination. 

A huge part of Jodi’s blog is about wellness and gluten-free eating. She then utilized her knowledge and experience to create detailed restaurant cards, which travelers can use when visiting certain countries. 

• Gluten-free restaurant cards
• The Legal Nomads Shop

41. Indiana Jo

By:  Jo Fitzsimons

Like Jodi Ettenberg, Jo Fitzsimons also used to practice law before becoming a successful travel and lifestyle writer. 

Indiana Jo   started way back in 2010 where Jo can comfortably type away her thoughts and musings. Fed up with her full-time job, she went out to see the world as a digital nomad.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Indiana Jo, however. According to her, she thought about quitting the blog several times before finally realizing that it’s a lifetime thing. 

Jo writes about her travel experiences, destinations, wine, and food. She also shares travel planning tips along with a long list of content about topics that personally interest her. 

• Travel health and safety

42. TravelFreak

By:  Jeremy Scott Foster

TravelFreak   is the brainchild of Jeremy Scott Foster who left America in the middle of a recession and to Australia. 

For a while, he racked up some savings as a traveling bartender. It took some time before he finally made the switch to be a digital nomad and online entrepreneur. 

Jeremy created the blog to help people create opportunities to achieve the fulfilling life they deserve. 

He writes about travel advice, destinations, gear, and ways to get your finances in order as you travel. This includes guides on how to land and keep a job abroad along with resources on reliable booking websites. 

I personally like the way Jeremy designed TravelFreak to provide the best possible user experience. Unlike a traditional layout, the site features a search bar so readers can jump right into the content they need.

TravelFreak has been featured in Forbes, National Geographic, The New York Times, and a few other big-name publications.   

43. The Everywhereist

By:  Geraldine DeRuiter

Before anything else, yes — that’s Rand Fishkin in the photo above. 

And yes, the next travel blogger on this list is Rand’s longtime sweetheart and wife. 

Geraldine DeRuiter was a former copywriter and went with Rand in his travels, which are often business-related. She then turned to the habit of documenting their travel experiences, which she described as “love letters” to her husband. 

Today, Geraldine works full-time on  The Everywhereist   — named by Time magazine as one of the best blogs in 2011. 

The Everywhereist contains posts about food and Geraldine’s travel experiences along with a comprehensive Philadelphia travel guide. The guide contains information on where to go, eat, shop, and stay. 

Geraldine also wrote a book called “All Over The Place.” It chronicles how she embraced her love for blogging after being laid off, which aspiring bloggers can draw inspiration from. 

• All Over The Place book sales

44. Keep Calm and Travel

By:  Clelia Mattana

Keep Calm and Travel   is a travel blog created by serial traveler Clelia Mattana. 

Ever since she was 19, Clelia is a certified sea lover and globetrotter. But like many travel bloggers, she was given a choice between a secure job and the traveling lifestyle. 

Clelia’s finalized her choice when she bought a one-way ticket to Asia. She then created Keep Calm and Travel to send a simple message:

“No matter what your age is, or your budget, or status, you can travel and live your life on your own terms.”

The blog’s topics include destinations across continents, photography, and travel gear. She also has a dedicated page for Sardinia, which is one of her absolute favorite travel destinations.

45. Practical Wanderlust

By:  Lia and Jeremy Garcia

Lia and Jeremy Garcia, who aptly labeled themselves a “travel couple” on Instagram, are the minds behind  Practical Wanderlust .  

Jeremy is a film degree holder whose passions include writing and directing. He also became a high school teacher who taught filmmaking and digital media art.

Lia, on the other hand, has a fashion design and apparel merchandising degree. She took on roles in corporate merchandising before becoming a business systems analyst. 

Why did I tell you all this? Simple: I want you to know what the pair had to give up pursuing their dreams of traveling. 

Practical Wanderlust’s goal is to help other people enjoy travel in the most realistic and sensible approach possible. The blog is filled with detailed content on planning memorable trips on a budget, where to go, and staying safe.   

Lia and Jeremy also host their own podcast, which is available on Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 

• Coaching and mentoring services
• Sponsored podcast episodes

46. Expert Vagabond

By:  Matthew “Matt” Karsten

Matthew Karsten, AKA the  Expert Vagabond , has been a travel blogger, photographer, and digital nomad for nine years.

He talks about budget travel tips, destinations, travel photography, and strategies to make the digital nomadic life work. 

Matt is a business degree holder who spent time freelancing as a nightlife and event photographer. While he admits it was fun, he knew that he wants and deserves something more. 

After a year of downsizing his life, eating homemade food, selling eBooks, and saving every penny, he was ready. He set out to obtain a different kind of wealth — that which is made with adventures and experiences.

• Nomadic living

47. The Voyageur

By:  Pauline Chardin

Pauline Chardin is a France-based fashion designer, photographer, and art director. 

She always had a soft spot for travel — driven by her appreciation for picturesque architecture, landscapes, and good food. She started  The Voyageur   to help people view the world through her voice and eyes. 

The Voyageur is a simple, yet aesthetic website achieved through Pauline’s incredible photography skills. Apart from itineraries and posts about hotels, food, art, and architecture, the site also has a sizeable photo gallery.

Images are accompanied by a brief article that describes the destination’s history and Pauline’s thoughts and emotions during her visit. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s something about this content format that’s truly engaging and relaxing. 

• Art and architecture

48. Amateur Traveler

By:  Chris Christensen

Don’t be fooled by the name —  Amateur Traveler   is by no means run by an amateur.

Chris Christensen is a skilled photographer, travel writer, and podcast host. The site also utilizes a long list of monetization strategies that I believe every blogger should learn. 

True, he wasn’t the most experienced traveler when he started the blog. Before he created Amateur Traveler, he was a full-time EVP of engineering and operations for a company based in Silicon Valley. 

In his defense, he grew up in a family that traveled a lot to national parks in a trailer. He also learned a lot of foreign languages, which he believes is a window into understanding and embracing different cultures. 

Amateur Traveler discusses destinations, travel budgeting, planning, gear, and booking. The site also features a weekly podcast on the top destinations around the world. 

• Amateur Traveler Shop powered by Etsy
• Podcast advertisements
• Social media and content marketing consulting services
• Content writing services
• Paid guest posts

49. Girl Eat World

By:  Melissa Hie

Melissa Hie is the “Girl” in  Girl Eat World  — a name that encapsulates what the whole blog is all about. 

You see, Melissa’s three passions are food, travel, and storytelling. She started the blog in 2015 as a digital diary for herself and friends who need travel tips. 

Prior to her blog’s success, she amassed quite a following on Instagram. This springboarded her blogging career, which she put in the back burner after focusing on her full-time career.

Girl Eat World is essentially a compendium of Melissa’s travel stories and travel planning guides. She also has an iconic style of capturing Instagram posts, which must be seen to be appreciated. 

50. The Adventure Junkies

By:  Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset

The Adventure Junkies   is definitely not your average travel blog. 

It’s not just about the travel stories of founders Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset. Upon visiting the blog for the first time, you’ll realize that it’s all about the community the blog has built. 

New visitors are encouraged to join “ Summit ” — a free community for people who seek adventures through travel and outdoor activities. There, members can connect, plan events, share posts, ask questions, form groups, and discuss anything related to travel. 

The Adventure Junkies also compile guides and resources about outdoor activities like diving, kayaking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. There’s also a section for visitors who’d like to learn about outdoor and underwater photography.

Antonio and Amanda started The Adventure Junkies as a personal blog about their three years of cycling. Over time, their readers began asking questions on how they can plan their own adventures. 

The couple then realized that they need to create something more than a personal blog. As such, they transformed The Adventure Junkies as a one-stop shop for adventurists.  

• The Adventure Junkies Store
• Paid digital guides

51. A Broken Backpack Travel Blog

By:  Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux used to be a social worker who only traveled once a year. 

Melissa created  A Broken Backpack   a year after her journey in the Canadian Rockies — hitch-hiking from point A to B. She continued working on her blog as a creative outlet while working on a farm in Australia. 

It didn’t take long before A Broken Backpack’s popularity gained momentum and gave Melissa a new frontier. 

The website contains crucial tips on travel gear, budgeting, destinations, and the life of a digital nomad. Melissa also put together in-depth guides on travel blogging, moving to another country as an expat, and backpacking.

• SEO eBook on Nomad Life 101

52. The World Travel Guy

By : David Leiter

David Leiter is an American travel blogger currently based in Bali, Indonesia, with his wife Intan (who’s a Bali local).

They travel around the world and try to document the most scenic destinations by creating articles, photos, videos, and guides for other travelers.

David runs  The World Travel Guy , an adventure travel blog that he started when he was a solo traveler, but now covers their travels around the globe as a couple.

In total, they’ve visited dozens of countries, while also checking off some bucket list adventures like a Komodo dragon safari in Indonesia, the Mount Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, and a bunch of world monuments like the Angkor Wat and Taj Mahal.

• Adventure Travel
• Destination Guides
• Budget Tips
• Travel Photography
• Drone Videos
• Affiliate Partnerships
• Display Advertisements
• Sponsored Trips
• YouTube Videos

53. Life Part 2

By:  Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson

The last blog on this list that your best life can start at any time you choose. 

Let me tell you the story behind  Life Part 2   and the people behind it.

Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson are both happy retirees with a simple mantra: “don’t waste your retirement.”

To them, retirement isn’t about being comfortable and secure. Rather, it’s all about the freedom to listen to your heart and follow where it takes you. 

Jonathan and Sarah met in Chiang Mai, Thailand where they both agreed to see the world as a couple. 

Life Part 2 is a mix of all things travel. At times, there’ll be a post about remote destinations and backpacking, and at other times, the theme is luxury travel. 

You will, however, notice that the content topics on the blog often revolve around retirement, minimalism, and travel. 

Planning to go on your own travel adventures? Perhaps you’re thinking of starting your very own travel blog?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a case of wanderlust or the desire to be a travel blogger yourself. 

The list above has some of the best travel blogs ever created. They can provide you with ideas and inspiration for your next trip or first-ever travel blog post. 

If you think I missed a great travel blog that everyone should read, let me know in the comments below. Good luck!

Ankit Singla

Ankit Singla is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He founded and leads Master Blogging . With over 13 years of blogging expertise, he has assisted numerous aspiring bloggers in achieving their dreams of creating successful blogs.

Master Blogging, powered by Ankit Singla’s 13 years of blogging expertise, is your reliable resource for building a profitable blogging business. Here, you’ll gain the insights and support to thrive in blogging.

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Award Winners 2022

Sixteenth Annual Solas Awards Winners

Announced March 30, 2022

Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year

Gold ($1000) Boots Bilong Mi by Patrick Ritter

Silver ($750) Honor and the Sea by Janna Brancolini

Bronze ($500) The Shakeout Trip by Robert Dale Fama ____________________________________________________________

Category Award Winners

Adventure Travel The best story of high adventure, danger, or physical challenge Gold: Travels in Terra Incognita by Masha Nordbye Silver: Imprisoned in La Paz by Emma Morrell Bronze: Tschiffley’s Epic Equestrian Ride by Mark Walker

Animal Encounter The best account of meeting snakes, elephants, rhinos, gorillas, birds, or other creatures Gold: Into the Swarm by Lisa Boice Silver: The Wisdom in the Water by James Dorsey Bronze: What I Learned from the Octopus by MJ Pramik

Bad Trip The best account of when things go wrong, or the shadow side of a culture or individual Gold: Revenge of the Saguaro by Tom Miller Silver: Carbonized by Kathleen Spivack Bronze: Escaping Death Valley by Lisa O’Kane

Cruise Story The best account of a trip on the water in any vessel, from the smallest kayak to the largest ship Gold: In Search of Terra Australis by Masha Nordbye Silver: Lost at Sea by Carmen Bellos Bronze: The Day Doug Fell Overboard by Marina Brown

Culture and Ideas The best story or essay about how art, history, currents events, fashion, or music affected a traveler or a trip Gold: Exploding Valencia by Lenore Greiner Silver: Blue in Toulouse by Moriah Costa Bronze: The Cross by Tania Amochaev

Destination Story The best story about a place that captures its essence and reveals its attractions, making the reader want to go there Gold: Orson, Me, and Our Hilltop Captor by Sue Maccia Silver: Pilgrimage to the Ice Continent by MJ Pramik Bronze: The Quetzals Are Still Soaring by Ying Xiong

Doing Good or the Kindness of Strangers The most inspiring tale of aid, comfort, philanthropy, or caring for others in faraway places, or of being the recipient of a stranger’s largesse Gold: Light and Love by Tania Amochaev Silver: Mongolian Disco by MJ Pramik Bronze: Journey to Zenzellma by Kris Fricke

Elder Travel The best story from a traveler 65 years of age or older Gold: I Am Zhyd by Russell Frank Silver: Searching for the Light by James Dorsey Bronze: On the Paralia by Russell Frank

Family Travel The best story about traveling with family of all generations, including grandparents, parents, children, cousins, siblings or journeying to discover roots Gold: Lunigiana by George Tonelli Silver: Storyteller by Rebecca Eckland Bronze: Shifting Sands by Emma Morrell

Funny Travel The funniest account of a misadventure or an essay about how the world can make us laugh at ourselves and those around us Gold: La Placa by Barbara Ridley Silver: When You Gotta Go: a Lesson from a Spanish Pilgrimage by Nicolle Goldman Bronze: It’s Not a Cruise, It’s a Crossing by Bill Brown

Love Story The best account of love or romance on the road Gold: Pair Bond by Lisa Boice Silver: The Kingdom of Nobody by Amanda Summer Bronze: Free Fall in Central America by Diane LeBow

Men’s Travel  The best account by a man of a testosterone-fueled encounter or experience on the road Gold: Journey with an Amazonian Shaman by Johnny Motley Silver: Eroded Myths by Robert Annis Bronze: No Pasa Nada by Jonathan Rice

Most Unforgettable Character  The story that best captures how one individual or group of people affected a traveler in a meaningful way Gold: Making the Butterflies Dance by James Dorsey Silver: Mud and Lotus Flowers by Lenore Greiner Bronze: A Journey of Secrets by Rosie Cohan

Travel and Food The best story where food or drink plays a role in introducing the traveler to a foreign culture or new friends Gold: USA vs USA by Eva Sandoval Silver: The Truffle Hunt by Susan Van Allen Bronze: The Alchemy That Binds by Cecilia Lee

Travel and Healing The best story about visits with shamans, healers, holy men and women, or holy sites in search of a cure for illness or psychological malady Gold: The Fat Ladies of Malta by Laurie King Silver: Park of the Fallen Heroes by Laurie King Bronze: Plan Be by Lisa Boice

Travel and Shopping The best account of a shopping, bargaining, or haggling experience in a market, bazaar, outlet, or mall, anywhere in the world Gold: A Voyeur in Libya by Laurie King Silver: Can a Picture of a Cake Taste Like a Cake? by John Kachuba Bronze: Make it Spicy by Emma Morrell

Travel and Sports The best account of a sports activity while traveling, such as climbing, rafting, sailing, trekking, swimming,    kayaking, canoeing, fishing, skiing, baseball, Frisbee, polo, basketball Gold: Riding Out by Julia Booth Silver: The Perfect Run by Jack Bernard Bronze: The Place of Lost Lows and Found Highs by Karen Wertheim

Travel and Transformation The best story about the inner journey or pilgrimage, whether religious, mystical, psychological, or emotional Gold: The House of Transfiguration by Dianne Cheseldine Silver: Baker Beach by Tania Amochaev Bronze: Spark of Hope by Michele Bigley

Travel Memoir The best story that draws heavily on the writer’s past to make a point or reveal the lessons of a lifetime Gold: The Medusa of Time by Daniel Hudon Silver: Target Bird by Lisa Boice Bronze: A Furious Angel by Tania Amochaev

Women’s Travel The best account by a woman of an encounter or experience on the road Gold: Strange Birds by Andrea Eldridge Silver: Bright Blossom of the Pacific by Linda Ballou Bronze: True Stories by Kathleen Spivak

Young Traveler  The best story from a young person (aged 18-25 at the time of writing) taking time off to travel between high school and college, or during breaks Gold: An Ireland Travel Log: At a Snail’s Pace by Mellisa Pascale Silver: no award Bronze: no award

______________________________________________________________________________

Honorable Mention

Homage to Lady Gregory by David Hopes Mayflower Memories by Laurie King The Call of the Nightjar by Laurie King Wash and Go and the Stupid Watch by Kevin McCaughey No Dog Is an Island by Richard Pallardy Turkey’s Unique Hand-Sanitizing Methog by Jenna Scatena Social Distance by Jodie Vinson The Prophecy by Russell Working

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10 of the best travel books

We may not be able to venture far right now, but these travel books, from classics to comic travelogues, take us on journeys around the world Share your favourites in the comments below

Venice by Jan Morris

Recent reports suggest the now-quiet canals of Venice are at their clearest for 60 years, with swans spotted in recent days. The city, of course, has always had a touch of fantasy about it. “Venice is a cheek-by-jowl, back-of-the-hand, under-the-counter, higgledy-piggledy, anecdotal city,” writes Jan Morris in this 1960 masterpiece . “She is rich in piquant wrinkled things, like an assortment of bric-a-brac in the house of a wayward connoisseur, or parasites on an oyster-shell.” The book pens a portrait of a city thick with atmosphere and stuffed with history, conjuring an intoxicating sense of place with Morris’s trademark wit and wisdom. Faber

Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy de Lisle

Canadian cartoonist Guy de Lisle is no standard travel writer – and his books are far from standard travelogues. Using simple, unfussy, comic-strip illustrations, he recounts his first-hand experiences of living in some of the world’s knottiest destinations, from Myanmar to North Korea. The result is a series of graphic memoirs that brilliantly juggle the subtleties and oddities of being a stranger in a strange town. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City is the product of a year-long stay in the region and, over the course of more than 300 pages, tries to make sense of somewhere rarely less than complex. Jonathan Cape

Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

Few travel writers of any era compare to Dervla Murphy. Now in her late 80s, she’s been responsible for dozens of travel books , dwelling on destinations as varied as Cuba, Laos, Romania and Cameroon. Her 1965 debut remains her best known work, and tells the account of an astonishing solo bicycle expedition to Delhi. “Within a few weeks my journey had degenerated from a happy-go-lucky cycle trek to a grim struggle for progress by any means,” she writes, before encountering wolves, broken ribs and heat exhaustion. She also packs a .25 pistol, and has more than one cause to use it. Eland

The Crossway by Guy Stagg

This searingly honest account of an on-foot, 10-month journey from Canterbury to Jerusalem found its way onto more than one awards shortlist following its publication in 2018, and for good reason. Guy Stagg, a self-proclaimed non-believer and non-hiker, undertakes the trek as a form of self-healing, following years of coping with depressive thoughts that “stung and reeled”. If the pretext is downbeat, the journey itself is an odyssey, encountering memorable characters and a rippled patchwork of different cultures and beliefs. Almost unbelievably, he sets off from Kent in the dead of winter, requiring a crossing of the Alps in snow. And he writes like a dream. Picador

Stranger on a Train: Daydreaming and Smoking around America with Interruptions by Jenny Diski

After spending three weeks crossing the Atlantic on a cargo ship (“at night, the rabble of stars demanded to be watched”), Jenny Diski travels around the perimeter of the USA by rail . The joy of the book lies as much in her portrayal of characters she encounters en route as the immersive detail of the country she’s passing through. Or, as she writes, “it is much more as if America is passing through you, what you are, what you’ve known”. Part-memoir, and written around 20 years ago, Stranger On A Train captures an America that still feels familiar – albeit with cigarettes in place of smartphones. Virag

French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France by Tim Moore

Few writers since Bill Bryson have nailed the comic travelogue as well as Tim Moore. Dogged in pursuit of an adventure, he’s pedalled the former Iron Curtain on an East German shopping bike, walked the Camino de Santiago with a donkey and, most recently, crossed the USA in a breakdown-prone Model T Ford. He’s also properly, consistently funny, as evidenced in 2001’s French Revolutions , which sees him attempt to cycle the entire course of the Tour de France. The acknowledgement in the title pages (“The Tour de France press office, without whom none of this would have been difficult”) sets the tone for a hugely entertaining read. Yellow Jersey

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia by Rebecca West

Readers get evangelical about this vast book, originally published in two volumes, which ostensibly describes Rebecca West’s travels through what was then Yugoslavia in 1937 . It is, however, far more than just a keen-eyed journal. Gathering up centuries of history and blending them with her own often piercing observations, West uses the book to paint a deep and intricate picture of a region on the brink of the second world war. The New York Times has called it a “masterpiece of history and travel”, while Time magazine would later describe West as “indisputably the world’s number one woman writer”. Canongate

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux

“All news out of Africa is bad. It made me want to go there…” So run the opening words of Paul Theroux’s 2002 classic, Dark Star Safari . Written more than two decades after his first long-distance travelogues, and some four decades after living in Africa as a young teacher, the book follows Theroux on a compelling, north-to-south journey down the continent. The narrative doesn’t shy away from harsh judgements – in Kenya “tourists yawned at the animals and the animals yawned back”, while aid workers also come in for some barbed criticism – but the people and landscapes he encounters are portrayed so vividly you can almost feel the equatorial heat from the pages. Penguin

Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-mile Adventure by Monisha Rajesh

Monisha Rajesh has form when it comes to rail travel. This globe-straddling journey is the follow-up to 2010’s well received Around India In 80 Trains , and sees her undertake a 45,000-mile (72,000km) journey through Europe, Asia and North America. Her gift for detail means characters, as well as places, are brought to life. And from a high-altitude ride into Tibet to a trans-Canadian epic – not to mention a homecoming trip on the Venice Simplon Orient Express – the book does a fine job of affirming the things, large and small, that make rail travel such an absorbing way of seeing the world. Bloomsbury

A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush Eric Newby

“CAN YOU TRAVEL NURISTAN JUNE?” With this 1956 telegram – sent by disillusioned London fashion executive Eric Newby to a diplomat friend – begins an engrossing, at times comical, mountaineering journey into Afghanistan. The pair lack anything like the requisite climbing experience, but undergo a brief training period in Wales before travelling to the unforgiving peaks of Asia, with the aim of conquering the 5,800-metre Mir Samir. Newby’s prose is sharp and lively throughout , drawing the reader into remote villages and the “spiky and barren-looking” Hindu Kush, where hardships (and a chance hillside encounter with steely adventurer Wilfred Thesiger, who sneers at their air-beds) await. HarperCollins

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The Best Travel Literature of All Time

Like many travellers, you may have found yourself immersed in the voyages of those who have gone before you from time to time. While living vicariously is no replacement for being on the road, there are some utterly wonderful nonfiction travel books out there, which are the next best thing.

A Time of Gifts by Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

It’s quite genuinely impossible to create a comprehensive list of the best travel literature. While there’s a lot of replication of these types of lists out there, some books endure precisely because of their importance at the time or to other writers. Although some authors listed below deserve to have more than one of their books featured on this compendium of the greatest travel literature, only their finest work has been included. Consider it your gateway to that writer’s greater oeuvre, if you’ve not read any of their work previously; a reminder if you have. Similarly, non-male writers have often been unfortunately overlooked in the past and some real gems that deserve to be on the best travel literature of all-time lists have been overlooked.

The following aims to redress the balance a little. Consideration is also given to some of the works that defined people who are now better-known for their other exploits, because there’s no greater adventure than that of somebody whose travels inspired them to do something more important or lasting in the world beyond merely moving through space and time for travel’s sake. Here are twenty of the best pieces of travel literature ever written (theoretically), to guide you to your next read, to find inspiration for your next trip, or to simply use as a general reading checklist until your next journey.

A Time of Gifts (1977) – Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor

Writing about Paddy Leigh Fermor in 2020, it would be easy to dismiss the great writer as a privileged individual who was fortunate to stay with royalty and the well-to-do all across Europe as he sauntered from one place to the next. But that would be an awful disservice. A Time of Gifts is the first of a trilogy of books documenting his journey, on foot, from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople (Istanbul). His scholarship and complete immersion in every culture he encountered helped his writing transcend mere travel literature to reach a higher level of writing. You never feel as though he’s an outside observer trying to make sense of the foreign by superimposing his own beliefs. His prose has been described as baroque, and is densely layered with a deep intelligence, understanding and, above all, passion for everything he encounters. The trip itself was undertaken in 1933/4 and the Europe that Fermor uncovers on his peregrinations is one which is beginning to spiral blindly into major conflict. Somehow this aspect makes the random acts of kindness he experiences across Germany and the rest of the continent even more bittersweet.

Publisher: John Murray, Buy at Amazon.com

Arabian Sands (1959) – Sir Wilfred Thesiger

Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger (Photo: courtesy of P.S. Burton via Wikimedia Commons)

Another travel literature classic is Thesiger’s intrepid anthropological look at Bedouin culture and lifestyle in one of the remotest, most inhospitable places on earth: the Arabian Peninsula’s Rub’ al Khali. The setting for the journey is amid the embers of World War II, the repercussions of which were being felt worldwide, including among the Bedouin tribes who’d lived much in the same way they always had until the outside world intruded. In effect, this book offers a snapshot of a remarkable culture that was fast altering, which is what makes this, and many of the books written during the reign of the British Empire, fascinating historical documents. For all of the rightful condemnation of European colonialism, one thing is clear in this book: the fascination and inquisitive nature of the many British scholarly individuals sent to far-reaching corners of the globe created an immensely valuable cache of first-person accounts of cultures and peoples that may not have been recorded otherwise amid the inevitable and inescapable rise of globalisation of the time.

Publisher: Penguin Classics, Buy at Amazon.com

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1942) – Rebecca West

West’s voluminous, in-depth examination of Yugoslavia during her time travelling there in 1937 was designed to explore how the country was a reflection of its past. West spent six weeks journeying across the whole region with her husband and meeting eminent citizens along the way. Sadly, by the time the book was published, the Nazis had invaded and the country would never be the same again, which makes this yet another invaluable early-20 th -century document. What sets Black Lamb and Grey Falcon apart though is the level of exquisite detail and research dedicated to the subject. If there was any proof required that travel literature serves an invaluable purpose as a piece of primary historical evidence, then this may well be it.

Publisher: Canongate Books, Buy at Amazon.com

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Border (2017) – Kapka Kassabova

Beautifully written and layered with a real sense of atmosphere, Kassabova’s haunting Border is one of the standout pieces of travel writing to be published in the last decade. Eastern Europe is one of the least explored regions of the world in travel literature. Owing perhaps in part to the secrecy and legacy of distrust brought about by the Cold War, even those who have travelled through as part of longer journeys (Paul Theroux in Pillars of Hercules or Bill Bryson in Neither Here Nor There ) scarcely shed any real light on the region. Here, Kassabova heads back to the nation of her birth (Bulgaria) to explore the fragments of political ideology, faith and race, and the blurred lines between them, that have developed around the border region separating Bulgaria from Greece and Turkey.

Publisher: Granta Books, Buy at Amazon.com

Border by Kapka Kasabova (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Down and Out in Paris and London (1933) – George Orwell

While much of travel literature is concerned with the voyage and seeking out the miraculous, the unique and the lesser known, Orwell took another route entirely. Down and Out in Paris and London does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a memoir of impoverished living in two of the world’s great cities, at a time when they were global beacons in terms of both power and culture. Not only does this book, in a very prescient move, eschew the superior tone of academia when examining the other, it also avoids all glamour in those cities, focussing entirely on the poor, the meek and the desperate. In Paris he lives on the edge of eviction, working the kitchens of a fancy establishment, while in London he lives the life of a tramp, moving from one bunkhouse and soup kitchen to the next, living day to day. It is to travel writing what the ‘method’ is to acting.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1972) – Hunter S. Thompson

The outlier on this list (all good lists need one) is Hunter S. Thompson’s delightfully absurd, occasionally apocryphal and downright debauched novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . In it, he created a new way of writing known as gonzo journalism, a style of storytelling which is found most commonly today in some documentaries, where the lines of fact and fiction become blurred and with the journalist placed as a central character in the story. This brilliant commentary on the flexible and inconsistent nature of truth was perfectly epitomised by the increasingly hallucinogenic recollections of protagonist Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo. The road trip to Las Vegas ultimately casts important light on an American society gripped by racism and violence (partly why the story is still so powerful today is that America hasn’t yet learned to grow up). As such it remains one of the most intriguing snapshots of America out there, surpassing the work of many strait-laced travel narratives in the process.

Publisher: Random House Inc., Buy at Amazon.com

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (Photo: Mathieu Croisetière via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (1975) – Paul Theroux

A perfect example of how gonzo journalism began to seep into travel literature comes from what is arguably the most important modern travelogue: The Great Railway Bazaar . In it, Theroux travels from London all the way to Southeast Asia and Japan, via India, then back to Europe via Russia’s Trans-Siberian railway. While Theroux upholds elements of the old school travel narrative – like the scholarly, studious approach and the inquisitive air – his journey by train is as much about the growing backpacker, hippie, trail and the western counterculture that encouraged it. Occasionally the line between fact and fiction is blurred in his writing, but only to better convey his interactions with the people he met. As such, you get a fascinating look at what could be called modern colonialism, whereby the train networks that were often built by colonial rulers in non-European nations across the world, like India and Burma, were now being used by a new generation in the post-colonial era to explore these newly-sovereign nations.

In Patagonia (1977) – Bruce Chatwin

Coming hot on the tail of Theroux’s above book is perhaps the most popular and enduring travel book of all time: In Patagonia . Bruce Chatwin starts it off with a direct nod to writing and journalism’s slide into apocrypha by framing his trip loosely around the search for remains of a “brontosaurus” found in a Patagonian cave, which he first found languishing in his grandparent’s house. The doubtful story behind this find sets him on a road where he aim to unravel various other mysteries whose only connection is geographical, including the final resting place of Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid, in the wild, empty spaces of South America. It’s a brilliant book formed of loose sections that don’t directly link to one another but has greatly influenced modern travel literature today.

Publisher: Vintage Classics, Buy at Amazon.com

In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

In Xanadu (1989) – William Dalrymple

One of the travel writers greatly influenced by Chatwin was William Dalrymple, whose own quest for his first book, In Xanadu , was framed as a search for the fabled palace of Kublai Khan, Xanadu. This type of narrative has always proven to be a ready source of inspiration for some of the better modern travel books; searching for answers to popular mysteries. It has a journalistic bent to it, and manages to sidestep the awkwardness of westerners merely travelling abroad and casting aspersions about the people and cultures they encounter through an imperial gaze, as is the criticism often lodged again some of the earlier works of travel writing. Here, Dalrymple follows in the footsteps of Marco Polo (following footsteps of somebody famous is also a common trope of travel literature) to find the palace. While Dalrymple restores elements of the scholarly, learned approach common to writers like Robert Byron and Paddy Leigh Fermor, you can feel the impact of those 70s writers as well.

Publisher: Flamingo, Buy at Amazon.com

In Xanadu by William Dalrymple (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Into the Wild (1996) – Jon Krakauer

Few gripping travel narratives manage to capture the why? of our impulse to roam quite like Jon Krakauer does in Into the Wild . The book is both harrowing and revelatory, while performing a third-person character study on a young man he never actually met. In 1992 Chris McCandless walked into the Alaskan wilderness and never came back out. The book tries to examine what had led him there in the first place, whether he’d intended to return at all, and why he wasn’t the first to try and cut all ties with modern society. Krakauer looks to others, such as Henry David Thoreau ( Walden is the original escape from society book and a must-read for anybody fascinated by this subject), who successfully parted from the rat race, as well as the reasons McCandless initially fled from well-to-do family life years before and never contacted them again in his search for something more profound and meaningful. While most readers may disagree with McCandless’s methods, his motives seem far more familiar and relatable.

Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Buy at Amazon.com

The Living Mountain (1977) – Nan Shepherd

Perhaps one of the finest pieces of nature writing ever committed to paper is The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd. Sadly, it’s also one of the most underrated books. The research for her book was undertaken in and around 1942, during the Second World War, which didn’t trouble the wilds of Scotland too badly. Here, the stark beauty of the Cairngorms seems to mirror the harsh reality of war. But Shepherd’s deep examination of the various microcosms of life that thrive on the region’s mountains is really a poem that exalts life. It’s a celebration of survival and endurance. Her wonderful book almost never made it to print, lying in a drawer for decades until a friend read it and encouraged her to seek out a publisher. We’re lucky it did.

The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

The Motorcycle Diaries (1992) – Che Guevara

Even if Che Guevara never became the revolutionary and icon of a generation that he did, The Motorcycle Diaries is a fascinating first-person account of travel’s capacity to broaden the mind. The young medic Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara sets out from his home in Buenos Aires with his friend Alberto Granado sharing a motorcycle ‘La Poderosa’ and in his pointed recollections, you can almost feel Che’s ideological shift. He sees poverty and pain and beauty in the poor communities they visit, and through this, we learn a lot about how Guevara became a key player in the Cuban Revolution. But it’s also a beautiful rumination about the paths we take in life and the importance of curiosity.

Publisher: Perennial, Buy at Amazon.com

Notes from a Small Island (1995) – Bill Bryson

You can’t really write a top travel literature list and omit Bill Bryson. He’s one of the finest travel writers still producing books. Notes from a Small Island is particularly intriguing because, while most of the books that make any top travel literature list tend to be written by Brits, this is a book about Britain, written by an American. And it’s a delightfully observed book at that, pinpointing the eccentricities and unusual aspects of the island nation that most Brits would never think twice about, but when seen through foreign eyes suddenly become absurd. Bryson is especially gifted at making even the most mundane things seem funny. His books neatly balance thorough research and scholarship with humour and keen observation, effectively amalgamating all of the key aspects of travel literature into one inimitable style.

Publisher: Black Swan, Buy at Amazon.com

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson (Photo: Wolf Gang via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

On the Road (1957) – Jack Kerouac

Before modern travel literature’s more self-aware phase that started in the 1970s, we had what essentially kick-started the great 20 th -century American cultural upheaval: The Beat Movement. Kerouac was writing about sexual promiscuity, wanton drug use and giving the establishment the middle finger way before it was cool to do so. Well-educated and moving in New York’s literary circles, Kerouac’s thinly-veiled characters in On the Road (substituting Old Bull Lee for William S. Burroughs, Dean Moriarty for Neal Cassady, Carlo Marx for Allen Ginsberg, and Sal Paradise for himself) are painted into a quasi-fictional account of his cross-country jaunts in the late 1940s. The post-war world was much-changed; the white picket fence America with its Jim Crow segregation and uptight Bible-belt hypocrisy were no longer acceptable. Around the same time, J.D. Salinger was branding it phoney, while Kerouac was realising this in his own way, by embracing escapism and drugs. On the Road still resonates today; both the book and the Beats gave licence to a generation of youths to question the oppressive system that became all too obvious in the 60s.

On The Road by Jack Kerouac (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

The Road to Oxiana (1937) – Robert Byron

Much of the Afghanistan and Iran of Byron’s writing has disappeared, making the precision of his prose all the more valuable. The Road to Oxiana has all the classic elements of earlier travel narratives in it, scholarship, keen observation but also the kind of humour and casual presentation that would become far more popular in the writing styles common to the latter half of the 20 th century. Byron’s constant use of Marjoribanks to replace the name of the Persian ruler of the time was designed to evade censure or punishment in case his notebooks were confiscated and read. The humour of this rebelliousness is not lost when read today, even if some of his style may feel a little bit dated now. His architectural descriptions may be among some of the finest in all of travel literature.

The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Rome and a Villa (1952) – Eleanor Clark

Because the majority of travel writing is crafted around a voyage or quest of some sort, we expect the movement to transcend places, countries even. What Clark does exceptionally well in Rome and a Villa is offer an in-depth depiction of just one city: Rome. This book, although not particularly tied to or crafted around any one specific idea, offers a deeper understanding of The Eternal City based on Clark’s explorations, often on foot. Indeed, her scholarly treatment of the Italian capital brings the city’s rich, storied past to life in imaginative and illuminating ways that offer fresh insight on a place that we may easily think has already been well covered already. Which goes to show that places change with the times offering an opportunity for fresh perspectives. There’s nowhere that is dull or too well-known in travel writing if handled by the right scribe.

Publisher: Harper Perennial, Buy at Amazon.com

Shadow of the Silk Road (2007) – Colin Thubron

Colin Thubron’s fascination with worlds that are ostensibly closed off to westerners has often led him into places that many others wouldn’t think to go. He visited China before it had opened up to the world, and the same goes for Soviet Russia. In Shadow of the Silk Road Thubron exhibits why his books are perhaps the most masterfully crafted of all contemporary travel literature. His pacing and descriptive writing are exquisite, particularly in this book, in which he journeys from Xi’an to Antakya in Turkey following the old ways, through Central Asia, once known as the Silk Road. The worlds he uncovers and the people he meets are painstakingly woven into a rich text, much like a hand-woven Persian rug, that is one of the most evocative pieces of travel writing out there.

Publisher: Vintage, Buy at Amazon.com

Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Travels with Myself and Another (1979) – Martha Gellhorn

Even if Martha Gellhorn was writing today, she would rightly be upheld as one of the great journalists, but given that she was doing it decades ago, often better than her counterparts in a male-dominated field, is even more remarkable. The ‘Another’ that accompanies Gellhorn through much of the book was her former husband Ernest Hemingway, but the book also includes memoir from Africa in which she voyages solo. The book is presented as a collection of essays, a format that has become increasingly common in travel writing and which effectively allows the book to focus on more than one topic. Gellhorn’s writing includes keen observation, lively wit and a really sharp political outlook.

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd., Buy at Amazon.com

The Valleys of the Assassins (1934) – Freya Stark

Stark was an incredible human being. Fluent in numerous languages, including Farsi, she travelled the world often alone at a time when even men undertaking such journeys were considered intrepid. Stark was particularly drawn to the Middle East and was able to recount the stories of the women there, living in devout Muslim communities, in a way no man would ever have been able to do. She also discovered regions that had not been explored by Westerners before, including the Valley of the Assassins, which forms the basis of this eponymous book, receiving the Royal Geographical Society’s prestigious Back Award in the process. She continued to write books well into her 90s (releasing work over six decades) and died in Italy at the age of 100.

Publisher: Modern Library Inc., Buy at Amazon.com

Wild by Cheryl Strayed (Photo: Paul Stafford for TravelMag.com)

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (2012) – Cheryl Strayed

Some may question this popular book’s inclusion on a list of the all-time greats, but it really has all the ingredients of a classic exploration of the human psyche. The physical duress that Strayed experienced on her hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (which runs from California’s border with Mexico to Washington’s border with Canada), and the gradual loss of her toenails as a result, is depicted with visceral precision. Her self-inflicted pain mirrors the mental health and dependency issues that plagued her before embarking on the feat, and in the process, we discover the restorative power of travel, of meeting new people and of forcing ourselves to step beyond our comfortably-positioned boundaries. Like any good travel literature, this book sheds light on why travel is so addictive, powerful and pertinent. Just like all the other books on this list, you’ll finish it wanting to plan your next trip.

Publisher: Atlantic Books, Buy at Amazon.com

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14 Best Travel Authors of All Time

Here are some of the best travel authors that you will want to read to gain inspiration about the art of traveling.

There are times when we simply want to escape the mundanity of everyday life and explore an exotic location like Arabia or Mexico. Yet when travel is not possible, a book can take us where we want to go. Exploring the world through the writing of travel authors can give us a sense of wonder, even when we have to stay at home.

If you are hoping to learn more about the world, put down the guidebook and pick up a more engaging work by one of these top travel authors . You will read a great story while also gaining some travel experience. These 14 authors are ones you will want to grab from Amazon to read today.

1. Bill Bryson

2. paul theroux, 3. bruce chatwin, 4. eric newby, 5. ernest hemingway, 6. graham greene, 7. jack kerouac, 8. freya stark, 9. jan morris, 10. john steinbeck, 11. peter mayle, 12. anthony bourdain, 13. elizabeth gilbert, 14. pico iyer.

Bill Bryson  is an American and British author whose book Notes from a Small Island, showcasing travel in Britain, brought him to prominence among travel writers. His travel books include works about travel in America, England, Australia, Africa, and other countries in Europe.  

Bryson started his adult life as a student at Drake University, but he dropped out to backpack in Europe after two years. Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe chronicled these adventures. This trip caused him to move to Europe permanently, settling in Britain in 1977.

Early in life, Bryson worked as a journalist and copy editor. In 2014, he took the citizenship test to earn dual citizenship in the UK and America. Bryson’s extensive work earned him several honorary doctorates from schools in America and the UK.

• Bryson, Bill (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 324 Pages - 05/15/2001 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

Paul Theroux was born in Massachusetts in 1941, and he earned his acclaim as a novelist and travel writer. The Great Railway Bazaar is one of his most famous works in the travel genre. 

Throughout his career, Theroux experienced some controversy. For example, Singapore banned his novel, Saint Jack, for over 30 years because of its content.

Throughout his life, Theroux lived in several countries, including Uganda, Singapore, and England, in London specifically. He returned to the United States in the 1990s and continues to write today. Looking for more books to binge on a weekend? Check out the best books for beach reading . Or you can also search for our best book guides using our search bar.

• Theroux, Paul (Author)
• 352 Pages - 06/01/2006 (Publication Date) - Mariner Books (Publisher)

Bruce Chatwin considered himself a storyteller, not a travel writer, but his first book, In Patagonia, solidified him in the genre. He got to travel much of the world working as a reporter for The Sunday Times Magazine, interviewing political figures. This helped him gather more tales for his travel books.

Chatwin was born in England and went to Marlborough College. He worked for a time at Sotheby’s, where he gained knowledge of and appreciation for art. 

Throughout Chatwin’s body of work, the theme of human restlessness is clear. He believed humans had a genetic predisposition to wanderlust, and his works helped fuel that. You might also be interested in these essays about traveling and essays about journeys .

• Bruce Chatwin (Author)
• 240 Pages - 03/01/2003 (Publication Date) - Penguin Classics (Publisher)

Eric Newby was an English travel writer known for A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush, The Last Grain Race, and A Small Place in Italy. He was born in London in 1919 and died in 2006 at 86. His famous travel work The Last Grain Race chronicled his experience on a Finnish ship that took part in a voyage from Australia to Europe past Cape Horn. 

Newby was a prolific writer, with 25 books to his name. His travel writing included some of his stories from being captured as a prisoner of war in the Adriatic during World War II, which he wrote about in Love and War in the Apennines. 

Newby continued writing until 2003, three years before his death. Many of his works included his own photography.

• Newby, Eric (Author)
• 288 Pages - 11/12/2023 (Publication Date) - HarperPress (Publisher)

Ernest Hemingway  was a  Nobel Prize-winning author  who wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls, which spoke of the Civil War in Spain. His travel books include Green Hills of Africa, which talks about his time on safari.

Hemingway grew up in Illinois and joined the military during World War I. He got his first taste of international travel on the Italian front of the war. He also served during WWII, working as a journalist and foreign correspondent. 

He fell in love with Paris and chose to live there as an ex-pat for some time. His time there was the story behind The Sun Also Rises, another of his famous works. In addition to traveling and writing, Hemingway was a keen sportsman.

• Hemingway, Ernest (Author)
• 480 Pages - 07/01/1995 (Publication Date) - Scribner (Publisher)

Graham Greene was a British writer who lived from 1925 to 1991. He often brought conflicting moral and political issues into his writing, and he earned the Shakespeare Prize and the Jerusalem Prize for his works. 

Greene traveled extensively to find subject matter for his books, which led him to get recruited for MI6, the British espionage agency. As a result, many of his works, including The Comedians and his memoir My Silent War, include settings pulled from his travels. 

Greene often wrote about remote places, which earned him a spot as one of the best travel writers, but he was more prominently known as a thriller and political writer. 

• Greene, Graham (Author)
• 320 Pages - 01/25/2005 (Publication Date) - Penguin Classics (Publisher)

Jack Kerouac was an American poet and novelist known for Big Sur and The Dharma Burns. His prose is known for its spontaneity, and he covers a wide range of themes in his writing. Though he grew up in Massachusetts, his home was French-speaking, so he often spoke with a French accent. 

Like many travel writers, Kerouac got his taste for international travel during World War II, where he served as a Marine. He published a total of 14 novels during his lifetime and also several volumes of poetry. 

On the Road is one of his most famous travel works. It chronicles a road trip Kerouac once took with Neal Cassady. A heavy drinker, Kerouac died from an abdominal hemorrhage at the age of 47. 

• Jack Kerouac (Author)
• 293 Pages - 06/01/1999 (Publication Date) - Penguin Classics (Publisher)

Freya Stark was an explorer and travel writer who lived in the early 1900s. She had dual British and Italian citizenship and lived in many parts of Europe, including Italy and France. The book One Thousand and One Nights, which she received for her ninth birthday, inspired a love for Asia and the Orient, which later fueled her passion for exploration. 

Stark took many excursions into the Middle East, including dangerous countries like Lebanon, Baghdad, and Iraq, and these became part of her writings. The Valleys of the Assassins, which she published in 1934, is one of her famous works, and it describes some of her early travels. 

Throughout her life, Stark continued to travel extensively. She helped the British in both World War I and World War II. Her adventure travel writings earned her the Founder’s Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.

• Stark, Freya (Author)
• 320 Pages - 07/24/2001 (Publication Date) - Modern Library (Publisher)

 Yet another English travel writer, Jan Morris, lived in Great Britain and Wales. She was born James Morris, and while living as a male, she was part of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition – the first time the mountain was traversed. 

Last Letters from Hav was one of Morris’s most engaging travel novels. She described it as an imagined travelogue and political thriller. She also published several books on travel to Trieste and Venice. 

Morris died in 2020 at the age of 94. She was famous for being one of the first high-profile individuals to make a gender transition. She traveled to Morocco for the necessary surgery when British doctors refused to perform it. 

• Morris, Jan (Author)
• 203 Pages - 02/18/1989 (Publication Date) - Vintage Books / Random House (Publisher)

American author John Steinbeck is most famous for his novels The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940. The Grapes of Wrath sold 14 million copies in just the first 75 years of publication. 

Not all of Steinbeck’s works are travel works, but in 1943 he became a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. A role that took him overseas. This gave him new settings for his stories beyond California, and some of his works became known as travel books. For example, his A Russian Journal included photographs and first-hand accounts of his visit to the Soviet Union in 1947. 

In 1960 Steinbeck embarked on a road trip with his dog, Charley, which created the scenes for Travels with Charley: In Search of America. This piece of travel literature is a travel memoir that perfectly captures what it means to be American, even the different flavors of America seen across the country. 

• Steinbeck, John (Author)
• 277 Pages - 01/31/1980 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher)

Peter Mayle  is the author of the New York Times bestseller A Year in Provence. He has 14 books to his name, including both non-fiction works and travel novels. A Year in Provence was his first book, and it has six million copies in forty languages to date. 

Mayle was born in 1939 in England, and he started his literary career writing educational books, not travel stories. However, he eventually moved to southern France as an expatriate, which served as fodder for his most famous works. In 1989 the British Book Awards called A Year in Provence the Best Travel Book of the Year.

Mayle died in 2018 at the age of 78. He was still living in Provence at the time. In addition to his work as an author, he also worked as an advertising copywriter. 

• Great product!
• Bourdain, Anthony (Author)
• 312 Pages - 01/09/2007 (Publication Date) - Ecco (Publisher)

Anthony Bourdain is a chef who also traveled the world. He writes on both cooking and travel, and A Cook’s Tour is one book that combines both into one interesting tour of the dining and culture of the world. 

Bourdain’s books are known for their whit, and his book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly hit the New York Times bestseller list in 2000. Many of his works tied in with his television series. 

In addition to writing, Bourdain hosted several travel shows for television. His work for these shows fueled some of his great travel and cooking books. Are you searching for books to give to someone? Check out our round-up of the best books to give ! Or you can also search for our best book guides using our search bar.

In Eat, Pray, Love,  Elizabeth Gilbert  takes the reader to Italy, Indonesia and India. The book’s theme is finding self-love and inner devotion, but it fits the travel genre because of its exploration of these locations. 

Gilbert was born in Connecticut in 1969 and grew up on a Christmas tree farm. She started writing short stories while in college, and she traveled throughout America during her young adult years, which provided some ideas for her books.

The popularity of Eat, Pray, Love, and the movie based on the book earned her a spot on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. 

• A balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence
• Gilbert, Elizabeth (Author)
• 400 Pages - 01/30/2007 (Publication Date) - Riverhead Books (Publisher)

Pico Iyer was a close friend of the Buddhist leader Dali Lama, which comes into play in his book The Open Road. In this book, he encourages readers to look into the themes of Buddhism as they relate to life. 

Iyer traveled to Cuba, Ethiopia, and Kathmandu throughout his life, and those places influenced his writing. Though he was born to Indian parents and raised in California, he currently resides in Western Japan. His Falling Off the Map: Some Lonely Places of the World showcases his travel writing style as he explores places not often found in travel guidebooks.

Because of the Buddhist influence in his life, Iyer’s works are very introspective. Often causing the reader to think about human nature just as much as they inspire thought about travel. If you liked this post, you might also be interested in these authors like Bill Bryson .

• Iyer, Pico (Author)
• 288 Pages - 03/10/2009 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Why Writers Should Travel: The Best Cities for Writers to Travel To

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

How do you become a better creative writer? That was the question I was facing in my own life more than ten years ago. I wanted to be a writer, was even writing part-time for a local magazine, but I didn’t know how to make my dreams of becoming a professional writer happen.

Five years later, I had finally made it, and now, five years after that, I’m earning over $100k from my writing.

How did I do it? It took so many things, but one of the first, and most important, was travel.

In fact, I believe every writer should travel. In this post, I’ll explain why. But I don’t want you to just take my word for it. No, I actually want to send you on a trip to Paris, one of my favorite writing destinations, on me.

Read on for how to enter to win a flight to Paris!

How I Discovered Travel Would Help My Writing

I think the first time I considered traveling the world for a year was while reading the blog of someone who was in South Africa. She was volunteering at an orphanage for children who had been infected by HIV/AIDs. It was heartbreaking, and opened my eyes to a side of life and of the world that I rarely considered.

And for a writer, growing your worldview is essential.

Benjamin Franklin, my country’s literary founding father, said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

As I began to think of my favorite writers, I realized that they often did both . Ernest Hemingway lived in Paris, East Africa, Spain, and Cuba. John Steinbeck traveled around Cape Horn as a young man, then worked as a migrant laborer in Baja Mexico. Oscar Wilde, a Brit, spent years traveling around France and then America (although Wilde’s travel was forced exile ). Jack Kerouac hitchhiked across the U.S. And even Mark Twain sailed up and down the Mississippi on a steamship for several years.

And that’s just what I did .

I've travelled to over fifty cities, some of which were tremendously helpful for my writing. And others which… well, weren't.

Below I'm going to share all ten of the best cities for writers (plus a brief account of all the cities I've been to as a writer), but here's a quick sneak peak at my top five.

The 5 Best Cities to Travel for Writers

• Paris, France
• Los Angeles, United States
• Portland, United States
• Pula, Croatia
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia

BONUS: Antigua, Guatemala

Note: I’m only including cities I’ve actually been to. As I travel more (Japan 2024?), I’ll update this list.

A Brief Journal of the Places and Cities I’ve Traveled to as a Writer

For me, travel has been incredibly rewarding for my writing. Here is a brief list of the places I’ve gotten to travel to, with an occasional note about my experience while there:

• France: Paris (where I lived the adventures that would become Crowdsourcing Paris ), Bordeaux
• The U.K.: London (in college, was able to see thirty-two plays in thirty days), Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace), Canterbury
• India: Delhi
• Pakistan: Islamabad
• Ireland: Dublin, Wicklow Mountains (where Braveheart was filmed)
• Romania: Târgu Mureș in Transylvania (where Count Dracula’s castle is)
• Hungary: Budapest
• Croatia: Pula (one of the most amazing cities I’ve ever written in)
• Turkey: Istanbul (amazing rooftops overlooking the Bosphorus for writing), Diyarbakir (100 miles from the Syrian border, don’t ask), plus all the way across the Black Sea ( crazy 2,000 mile road trip )
• Israel: Jerusalem (the shuk!), Tel Aviv, Arad (where I hiked eighteen miles into the Dead Sea Basin—amazing)
• Egypt: Cairo
• Kenya: Nairobi, Eldoret, Nakuru (tried to bike from Eldoret to Nakuru, failed and hitchhiked instead)
• Uganda: Kampala, Jinja (rafted the Nile and thought I was going to drown), Soroti
• Thailand: Bangkok, a small town in the jungle on the border of Myanmar (see my story in Crowdsourcing Paris of my terrible birthday there), Chanthaburi
• Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City (one of the best/worst places I traveled to), Kon Tum (caught very bony fish in a man-made pond)
• Cambodia: Phnom Penh (my favorite city in SE Asia), Siem Reap
• Spain: Malaga, Mijas (a small town in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean where I was paid to travel to while cowriting a book), Rhonda (where Hemingway would watch the bullfights as an older man)
• Germany: Frankfurt
• Italy: Rome, Florence
• Guatemala : I stayed in one of the most beautiful houses in Lake Atitlan I've ever seen. It was like a museum! And Antiguag
• The U.S.: New York (met Steven Pressfield at a writer’s workshop), Washington D.C., Santa Barbara (I’m from here, so it’s cheating, but still there are a lot of writers who live here), Los Angeles, San Diego (didn’t get much writing done), Portland (some of the best cafés in the U.S. to write in), Atlanta (the capital of the south, where I live now), Nashville, Austin, and more

Now that I’ve shared my history of whereas a writer I’ve traveled, what are the best places for a writer to travel to?

Note: Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive for Writers

How can writers living on a budget still travel? Travel doesn’t have to be expensive if you follow a few rules.

I have taken my family of five to Europe and even lived there for two months without spending a fortune. When I was single and traveling the world for a year, I frequently took trips for just a few hundred dollars, ate for less than $5 a day, and had amazing experiences.

By the way, if you want a worksheet to help you plan out your next trip, I’ve created a Workation Adventure worksheet for writers that will help. Download the trip planner for writers here.

Here are some rules that I follow to travel cheaply.

• If possible, travel in the offseason. For example, a flight to Paris that can cost $1,500 in June is just $609 in May. See screenshots below. I use Kayak to find the best times to travel and search with flexible dates. Kayak’s calendar tool is especially helpful, since you can see in green the best days to fly. Then, I book the flights via the airline’s own website to get the best price (use incognito mode for best results).

YES, it is possible to fly to Paris for less than $1,000. See below. (Read on to enter to win a flight!)

• Stay in an Airbnb or rented apartment and cook most of your own meals. One of the major costs, especially in Europe, is the price of eating out. But you can save money and have an amazing, authentic experience by cooking your own meals when you stay at an Airbnb.
• Save miles. I’m not a points guru, but when my family and I went to Paris and Bordeaux last summer we paid for all of our flights with airline points that we mostly earned from our credit cards. It can make a too-expensive trip actually work out!
• Rent out your house/car. If you own a home or have a lease that allows it, you can rent out your house on Airbnb while you travel, dramatically lowering the cost of lodging. You can even rent out your car through Turo.
• Choose inexpensive destinations. Europe is almost always very expensive to travel to, but choosing less expensive cities like Bordeaux or Pula (rather than London and Paris) has helped save money. Even better, traveling to South East Asia or Africa, where the conversion rate benefits most westerners and the cost of living is relatively inexpensive, can help too.

These tips won’t make travel free, but they may make it possible with some careful planning.

Obviously, I say all of this from the perspective of a privileged man from the U.S., where a strong dollar and high earning potential make travel much more possible. Not everyone can travel internationally, and I get that I have had experiences few people in the world can have. I’m so grateful to have had them!

At the same time, I believe travel for anyone who wants to be a writer is important, whether you’re taking a train to a new city or flying to a new continent. Go on an adventure somewhere , even if it’s relatively close.

10 Best Cities For Writers to Travel To

The best places for writers to travel to combine history, culture, great food and drink, and are, hopefully, affordable. In my list below, I share my personal list of best cities to travel to.

Again, I’m only including cities I’ve actually been to. As I travel more (Japan 2020?), I’ll update this list.

 1. Paris, France

Paris is number one on this list for one reason: 10,000 cafés. Paris has more cafés—and those amazing places to write—per resident than any other major city.

This has been the temporary home of many of the best writers of the 20th century, including Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Baldwin, and more.

While it’s fairly expensive, making it impractical for full-time living, it’s a perfect pilgrimage spot for writers.

If you want to get the most out of Paris as a writer, read my memoir Crowdsourcing Paris .

And if you want to win a flight to Paris, on me, read on for how to enter.

2. Los Angeles, California, United States

The capital of the global film industry, there are cafés in Silverlake and other central L.A. neighborhoods where you have the sense if you could just hang out there for long enough, you could talk your way into the movie business.

I grew up not far from L.A. and get bored by the tourist things (Star Walk, Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, etc.), but just hanging out in the coffee shops and bistros where producers are holding meetings and screenwriters are working on scripts is invigorating.

3. Portland, Oregon, United States

Portland has the best café culture of any U.S. city, in my opinion, and it’s hard to go to one without bumping into amazing writers.

Some of my favorite U.S. writers live in Portland, and if you’re looking for a city to write in and connect with other writers, you can’t go wrong here.

4. Pula, Croatia

I liken Pula (and, by association, other coastal Croatian cities like Split and Dubrovnik, although I’ve never been) to a cheaper version of Italy. You still have amazing streetside cafés overlooking wide plazas where you can sip bijela kava while looking at ancient Roman ruins. You just can do that for half the price and a quarter of the tourists.

5. Phnom Penh, Cambodia

What I love about Phnom Penh is that it’s the most quiet of the three Southeast Asian capital cities I went to. If you’re looking for something more kinetic or more developed, then Ho Chi Minh City or Bangkok respectively might be better.

Cambodia experienced a huge amount of trauma in the 1970s as Pol Pot committed genocide on nearly all of the educated members of his country. Forty years later, the culture is still rebuilding, but that gives it a youthful energy and enthusiasm that I found exciting to be around.

You can’t get much better food or much kinder people than in Cambodia, and the cost of living is so inexpensive for Westerners that it makes it perfect for long stays.

If I had no family or other responsibilities, I would move to Phnom Penh to write.

6. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Like Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City is filled with amazing food, has an inexpensive cost of living, and, with the French and American influences, has unique cultural experiences you can’t find anywhere else.

I accidentally stayed in a rough part of town when I lived here, so that colored my experience, but stumbling into a dance hall where the most amazing swing dancers were performing, eating the best pho, and driving all night into the mountains where I caught very bony fish in a man-made pond, all made for memorable things to write about.

7. Santa Barbara, California, United States

I grew up and went to college in Santa Barbara, so I’m biased, but even when visiting, I’ve always found this medium-sized, coastal city north of Los Angeles to be a creatively invigorating place. I’ve done some of my best writing here, sitting at cafés like the French Press and Lucky Llama, looking out at the foothills, the ocean close enough to walk to.

Some of the world’s best-known celebrities and writers have lived here, including Julia Child, Sue Grafton, Thomas Steinbeck (John Steinbeck’s son), and even Katy Perry.

8. Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Nashville is secretly one of the world’s hotspots for writers. While it’s best known as the home of the Country Music industry, I personally know dozens of well-known writers who live here, plus more that I don’t know.

With great, hipster coffee shops, lots of local events for writers, and a supportive artistic community, this would be a great place for any writer to visit.

9. Nairobi, Kenya

I actually did most of my best writing in Kenya in Eldoret, hopped up on Nicotine tea (seriously), but since I doubt you’ll ever go to Eldoret (or find my perfect writing spot), I’m putting Nairobi. Some of my best months traveling were spent in Kenya. The kindness of the people, the affordability, the beautiful scenery, and the rich, East African literary tradition all make for a perfect place to write. If you’re looking for a place to contradict your existing lens and expand your worldview, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Bonus: most Kenyans speak English. Also, if you’re white, as I am, it’s kind of strange and exciting (and sometimes awkward) be treated as a minor celebrity everywhere you go ( mzungu, mzungu! ).

10. New York City, New York, United States

You have to include New York, the capital of the world publishing industry, in any list of cities for writers to travel to.

But I included this last on the list because I honestly think New York is overrated as a travel destination for writers. It’s just too expensive! Even though there are hundreds of great writers who live or have lived there, most inevitably move outside of the city where rents and mortgages are cheaper. On top of that, it’s so crowded and frantic, it’s hard to get much writing done.

The last time I tried to write in New York, I was jammed at a community table between a web developer and a group of models loudly talking about their fashion week gigs. It was an interesting place to eavesdrop, but not a great place to write!

You should go, but honestly, if I could, I would have included a city in Spain on this list of best cities for writers instead!

Antigua is one of the coolest cities in central America, a short flight away for most U.S. travelers, and the perfect place for a writer to hole up while working on a book, especially considering the amazing food and relatively low cost of travel.

Antigua is a city in central Guatemala about two hours outside of the capital of Guatemala city. Nestled in the highlands between three volcanoes (and near several more, including Pacaya which is currently active), it's filled with Spanish colonial and baroque style architecture, the ruins of many of the oldest churches and monasteries in the Americas, and a thriving food scene with both local and international restaurants. 

Antigua is cool because you're walking on these cobblestone streets next to whitewashed buildings that are hundreds of years old, and then you dip into one of them only to realize you're not inside but in a beautiful courtyard filled with fountains and sometimes restaurants or cafés. Each building is like a book—simple on the outside but full of secrets on the inside.

How about you? What city would you like to travel to as a writer? And when you’ve traveled, what has been your best city as a writer to go to? Let me know in the comments .

In every chapter of my memoir Crowdsourcing Paris , there is a challenge directed at the reader to do some kind of adventure. For this post, I think it would be appropriate to include the very first challenge:

Book a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. It might be short, perhaps to a national park nearby or a local museum you’ve always planned on going or to a fancy restaurant. Or it could be a long trip, perhaps to Buenos Aires, Tokyo, or yes, even Paris.

What it must be is somewhere new . Why? Because mostly we go to the same places: our office, our house, our normal restaurants. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it rarely makes for a good story.

Instead, take a risk on a new destination. Look at your budget (travel can be inexpensive if you plan well), look at your calendar, and commit.

Where will you have your next adventure?

Once you choose your travel adventure destination, let us know where you’re going in the comments .

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2023

Take a trip without leaving home with these adventurous reads from this year

Laura Kiniry

Travel Correspondent

It’s often said that travel is all about the journey, whether it’s planning a remote island holiday or setting out on the adventure of a lifetime across the Arctic Ocean. But it can be almost as thrilling to roam the world from the comfort of our homes. Just take our pick of 2023 travel books, which include everything from humor-fueled essay collections and thought-provoking narratives to tomes brimming with full-page colorful photographs and tips on finding the most welcoming LGBTQ+ spots around the globe. They all share the uncanny ability to transport readers through time and space without ever having to open the front door.

Whether it’s a deep delve into a Balkan landscape of healing plants and foraging, or a more than 2,000-mile road trip through America’s racial history, here are ten travel books that are more than worthy of this year’s holiday wish lists.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance by Alvin Hall

From 1936 to 1967, the Green Book served as an annual travel guide for African Americans, helping them to identify welcoming hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses across the United States during the Jim Crow era. Compiled by Black New York City postman Victor Hugo Green , this essential reference publication included places like Manhattan’s Hotel Theresa , once considered the “Waldorf of Harlem,” and the Moulin Rouge Hotel in Las Vegas, frequented by celebrities like Harry Belafonte and Ella Fitzgerald during its five-month stint in 1955.

Award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall first learned about the Green Book in 2015, and he was immediately intrigued. Several years later, he and a friend, activist Janée Woods Weber , set out on a 2,000-plus-mile cross-country road trip from Detroit to New Orleans, visiting many of the establishments once featured in the guide’s pages. (Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has a nearly complete collection of the Green Book , which Hall utilized.) Along the way, Hall also gathered memories from some of the guide’s last surviving users.

The result, Driving the Green Book: a Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance , is a poignant 288-page journey along America’s open roads, delving into the country’s racial past, detailing the Green Book ’s life-saving history and bringing it all together in one remarkable read.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance

Join award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall on a journey through America’s haunted racial past, with the legendary Green Book as your guide.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-Mile Horseback Journey Into the Old West by Will Grant

In 2019, American journalist Will Grant embarked on a five-month, 2,000 mile journey on horseback from Missouri to California. His goal: to follow the historic route of the Pony Express , a legendary frontier mail system operating between April 1860 and October 1861, which used a series of horse-mounted riders and relay stations to deliver mail from one end to the other in just ten days. Although the express service went bankrupt after only 18 months, it remains an iconic symbol of America’s Old West.

Grant chronicles his 142-day adventure in The Last Ride of the Pony Express , a first-person narrative describing his trip across the Great Plains of Nebraska and the sagebrush steppe of Wyoming in the company of his two horses, Badger and Chicken Fry. While Grant reflects on the West’s modernization over time, it’s his vivid descriptions of the communities and local residents—including ranchers, farmers and migrant sheep herders—along the way that make the book a real page-turner.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West

The Last Ride of the Pony Express is a tale of adventure by a horseman who defies most modern conveniences, and is an unforgettable narrative that will forever change how you see the West, the Pony Express, and America as a whole.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel

The latest in the Unforgettable Journeys series by DK Eyewitness, a publisher of nonfiction books known for its visual travel guides, Unforgettable Journeys Europe highlights the notion that travel really is all about the “getting there.” This inspirational tome details 150 of Europe’s best slow adventures, such as kayaking through Lithuania and crossing the Arctic Circle by train.

The bucket list is organized by modes of transportation, with sections titled “By Bike” and “By Rail,” for example. Illustrations, photos, maps and plenty of practical information (including start and end points for trails, difficulty ratings and website links) are then spread throughout the text, making the book as much colorful reference as it is inspiring read. In the “On Foot” chapter, there’s a description of Scotland’s Fife Pilgrim Way , a 56-mile trek along an ancient pilgrim route with cathedral and countryside views. Along with details on what to see during the multiday hike, the book features a selection of highlighted tips, like what to do (pick wild berries while passing through Clatto Reservoir ) and how to splurge (dinner and an overnight stay at the cozy, Michelin-starred Peat Inn ) en route.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel (Dk Eyewitness)

Inspirational travel book covering 150 of Europe's most incredible journeys, including routes on foot and by bike, road, rail and water.

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time by Kapka Kassabova

After a decade of living in the Scottish Highlands, native Bulgarian Kapka Kassabova returned to her roots in southwestern Bulgaria’s remote Mesta Valley, a rural region known for its array of wild crops and their vast medicinal properties. Over several seasons (Kassabova’s move occurred at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic), the poet and writer set out to study the deep relationship between the area’s people and plants, as well as with the land itself. Her resulting text—with chapters like “Pine Syrup,” “Honey Sellers” and “Shepherd’s Superfood”—is an autobiographical exploration of one of the globe’s lesser-known corners, one brimming with forages, healers and a wealth of folk traditions.

“ Elixir is the vibrant, beautiful story of a singular, remarkable place,” writes Foreword book reviewer Catherine Thureson. “It issues a call to reclaim the physical, emotional and spiritual connection between humanity and the natural world.”

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time

In Elixir , in a wild river valley and amid the three mountains that define it, Kapka Kassabova seeks out the deep connection between people, plants, and place.

The Life Cycle by Kate Rawles

British writer and cyclist Kate Rawles has a penchant for raising awareness about environmental challenges through her own adventures—and inspiring action in the process. In 2006, Rawles cycled 4,553 miles from Texas to Alaska , interviewing Americans about climate change along the way. Her latest endeavor—an 8,288-mile, 13-month journey across the length of the Andes Mountains on a self-built bamboo bicycle she nicknamed “Woody”—is the basis for her new book, The Life Cycle .

During this largely solo endeavor in 2017 and 2018, the author crossed some of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, including South America’s Atacama Desert and the Bolivian salt flats. Simultaneously, she found herself witnessing the devastating effects of extreme biodiversity loss caused by industries such as logging and gold mining, and met with activists and communities working to regenerate these habitats—sharing their concerns and insight throughout the narrative.

The Life Cycle: 8,000 Miles in the Andes by Bamboo Bike

Pedalling hard for thirteen months, eco adventurer Kate Rawles cycled the length of the Andes on an eccentric bicycle she built herself. The Life Cycle charts her mission to find out why biodiversity is so important, what's happening to it, and what can be done to protect it.

Unravelling the Silk Road by Chris Aslan

An extremely well-researched story of three ancient trade routes that helped define a continent, Chris Aslan’s Unravelling the Silk Road “merges trauma with textiles to track the past and present experiences of the people of Central Asia,” writes author Clare Hunter . He explores the roles played by wool, a textile used by the region’s nomads for both yurts and clothing; silk, a commodity that was once more valuable than gold; and cotton, the cause of Russian and then Soviet colonization, since it provided cheap material for the global superpower.

Turkish-born Aslan interweaves his own personal experiences (the author once picked cotton with locals and worked with nomadic yak herders in Central Asia’s Pamir Mountains) with the history of each route and its impact on the lives of local residents ​​ —as well as the region itself. Aslan also examines how political and cultural changes are affecting new trade routes and the people who depend on them.

Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia

Veteran traveler and textile expert Chris Aslan explores the Silk, Wool and Cotton Roads of Central Asia.

The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise​​ by Pico Iyer

British-born essayist and acclaimed writer Pico Iyer is no stranger to travel journalism. The author—whose childhood was divided among English, Indian and U.S. cultures—is known for works like 1989’s Video Night in Kathmandu , a stark look at modern Asia, and The Global Soul , a 2001 collection of essays on finding home in a world of international airports and shopping malls. For more than 40 years, Iyer has traveled the globe, reflecting on the planet and our role within it.

“After years of travel, I’d begun to wonder what kind of paradise can ever be found in a world of unceasing conflict,” writes Iyer in his latest book, The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise , “and whether the very search for it might not simply aggravate our differences.” The result is a retrospective look at his own travels and encounters—from North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang to Jerusalem’s Ethiopian chapels—through the idea of “paradise,” what it means and whether it exists.

The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise

Traveling from Iran to North Korea, from the Dalai Lama’s Himalayas to the ghostly temples of Japan, Pico Iyer brings together a lifetime of explorations to upend our ideas of utopia and ask how we might find peace in the midst of difficulty and suffering.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers by Maartje Hensen

Big, bold and colorful, The Pride Atlas is a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies, as well as a perfect coffee table topper. Compiled by queer author and photographer Maartje Hensen , its 400 pages are brimming with eye-catching photos and practical information, such as websites like Meetup and Couchsurfing that are useful for connecting with similarly minded locals and travelers, and resources regarding laws and cultural attitudes worldwide.

At the heart of the book are 500 destinations from around the globe, each one of them highlighting a way of engaging with LGBTQ+ culture. You’ll find drag shows, Pride parades, campsites, microbrew pubs and other places, from San Francisco’s Transgender District to Haircuts for Anyone , an inclusive and affirmative hair salon in Montreal that charges by sliding scale.

“Hopefully,” writes Hensen, “ The Pride Atlas expands your horizons and inspires you to go out into the world, to (un)learn from others … because, like gender, the world doesn’t fit into binary.” Indeed.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers

Combining immersive photography with expertly researched travel writing, this is the ultimate guidebook for LGBTQ+ travelers—whether you're planning your next getaway, daydreaming from the comfort of your armchair, or seeking to learn about queer culture in other parts of the world.

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib

An enlightening and entertaining debut essay collection by a U.S.-based Indian Muslim author, Airplane Mode brings a unique and under-represented perspective to the world of travel. Shahnaz Habib approaches such topics as the origins of passports, colonial modes of thinking about travel—like safaris and pilgrimages—and terms like “pseudiscovery,” which she uses to describe an explorer’s claim of discovering something that’s existed for thousands of years, with both wit and curiosity, incorporating her own personal narratives to boot.

Perhaps Annabel Abbs, author of Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women , says it best in her praise for Airplane Mode, which has been long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence . She calls it “a fascinating, wide-ranging and insightful travelogue that poses some of the biggest questions of all: Who gets to travel, and what is it that makes us so keen to travel in the first place?”

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel

This witty personal and cultural history of travel from the perspective of a Third World-raised woman of color, Airplane Mode , asks: what does it mean to be a joyous traveler when we live in the ruins of colonialism, capitalism and climate change?

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang

The closest Chinese expression to “Oh, my god” is wode ma ya , which literally translates to “Oh, my mother.” It’s a declaration of astonishment, as well as the title for journalist Connie Wang ’s humorous and heartfelt book, Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures . Wang details the complicated relationship between herself and her stubborn and “wildly opinionated” mother, Qing Li, across nine essays, taking readers from time-share properties in Cancun and Aruba to a Magic Mike strip show in Las Vegas. “This is our memoir—a long personal essay, if you will—and it was forged through shared fact-checking,” Wang writes in the book. “Qing was the first person to read each chapter as it was written, and she is this book’s first editor.” According to Kirkus Reviews , the author “drives to the heart of how a daughter comes to know her mother as someone with a life beyond motherhood.”

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures

A dazzling mother-daughter adventure around the world in pursuit of self-discovery, a family reckoning, and Asian American defiance

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Laura Kiniry | READ MORE

Laura Kiniry is a San Francisco-based freelance writer specializing in food, drink, and travel. She contributes to a variety of outlets including American Way , O-The Oprah Magazine , BBC.com , and numerous AAA pubs.

My Money Chronicles

5 Travel Websites to Fuel Your Wanderlust

Posted: December 4, 2023 | Last updated: December 4, 2023

In today's fast-paced world, taking a break from the daily grind and exploring new horizons is essential for both physical and mental well-being. Travel opens doors to new cultures, cuisines, and experiences, broadening our perspectives and enriching our lives. With abundant online information, planning and executing a memorable trip has become easier than ever. Here are five outstanding travel websites that will inspire and empower you to embark on your next adventure:

1. Work Hard Travel Well

For busy professionals who crave travel experiences but struggle to fit them into their hectic schedules, Work Hard Travel Well is a beacon of inspiration. Founded by Kim, a Black travel blogger and content creator, this website provides practical tips and strategies for maximizing PTO, planning incredible journeys, and extracting every ounce of value from travel experiences. Kim's expertise is helping individuals make the most of their limited vacation time, ensuring every trip is a rejuvenating and unforgettable experience.

Follow her on YouTube here

2. The Points Guy

Travel enthusiasts and frequent travelers alike will find The Points Guy to be an invaluable resource. Founded by Brian Kelly, a travel expert and authority in frequent flyer programs and credit card rewards, this website provides a comprehensive guide to maximizing travel rewards and earning free flights and hotel stays. Their website features in-depth reviews of airlines, hotels, and credit cards and strategies for accumulating and redeeming points for valuable travel experiences . Whether you're seeking luxurious getaways or budget-friendly adventures, The Points Guy has the expertise to help you maximize your travel rewards and stretch your travel dollars further.

3. Lonely Planet

For travelers seeking in-depth insights into various destinations worldwide, Lonely Planet is a trusted and respected resource. Renowned for its comprehensive travel guides and destination-specific information, this website offers a wealth of travel knowledge, including destination guides, city guides, regional guides, and travel tips , all tailored to diverse travel styles and interests. Whether you're planning a backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia or a cultural immersion in Europe , Lonely Planet provides the tools and resources to make your trip informative, engaging, and unforgettable.

4. Condé Nast Traveler

Discerning travelers seeking high-end travel options will find inspiration and guidance on Condé Nast Traveler. A leading publication in the travel industry, this website features a curated selection of travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, and experiences, catering to those who appreciate luxury and refinement. Condé Nast Traveler's expert editors provide in-depth reviews and recommendations, ensuring that travelers make informed decisions and enjoy the best the world offers. From opulent accommodations to exclusive dining experiences, Condé Nast Traveler showcases the pinnacle of travel, inspiring dreams of unforgettable getaways.

5. National Geographic Travel

With a rich history of storytelling and exploration, National Geographic Travel offers a unique perspective on travel, combining stunning photography, insightful articles, and immersive experiences. Their website features a vast collection of travel stories, destination guides, and interactive features that inspire wanderlust and encourage exploration. National Geographic Travel takes readers beyond the typical tourist hotspots , venturing into remote corners of the world, uncovering hidden gems, and shedding light on diverse cultures and traditions. Their website is a treasure trove of travel inspiration, igniting a passion for discovery and encouraging travelers to embrace the unknown.

These five travel websites cater to diverse travel interests and preferences, providing valuable resources for planning and executing memorable travel experiences. Whether you're seeking budget-friendly backpacking adventures or luxurious getaways, these websites offer inspiration, guidance, and practical tips to make your travel dreams a reality. So, pack your bags, grab your passport, and let these travel websites fuel your wanderlust and guide you on your next adventure.

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