My Current List of Favorite Travel Blogs
July 1, 2018laST Updated: 10/10/20 | October 10th, 2020
I’m not going to lie: I think I have a pretty good travel blog. (You probably do too if you’re here.) I work hard to provide excellent practical travel advice to help you travel better, but I’m not the only great travel blogger out there. In fact — and I know this might be shocking — there’s a lot about travel that I’m not an expert on. Family travel? No idea. Travel as a woman? Clueless. Information on hotels? Only a little. Photography? I can manage to turn my camera on if that counts. Food expert? Only at eating it.
I’ve realized that it’s been a while since I last talked about the best travel blogs out there — the ones I read — so I wanted to take a moment and highlight some of my favorite travel blogs that can also help you travel better, cheaper, and smarter. There are so many good blogs out there, I feel like I’m long overdue to point you to some of them:
Legal Nomads
Besides being one of my all-time favorite people in the world, Jodi is also a damn amazing blogger who writes often about food and culture. She devotes a lot of time to food on the road, taking mouthwatering photos that make me jealous of her ability to do so. A former lawyer, she also writes a series called “Thrillable Hours” about other lawyers who gave up being a corporate lackey for life on the road.
Uncornered Market
If there was a contest for the best travel blog, I would tell everyone to vote for me. Then I would go vote for Audrey and Dan. They tell heartwarming stories and take incredible, out-of-this-world photographs. Their blog focuses on cultural travel and sustainability issues (they even work with the UN Global Sustainable Tourism Council). I focus on the nuts and bolts of going places, whereas they focus on the people. They are simply great storytellers.
Alex in Wanderland
I met Alex years ago in New York City and we’ve been friends ever since. The author of the article on diving in Koh Tao, Alex is a photographer, graphic designer, travel lover, and dive specialist currently roaming the States. Her blog features great photos, dive tips, travel stories, and a biting and self-deprecating humor. Plus, I helped pick out her blog name, so it’s hard not to love it.
The Blonde Abroad
Kiersten’s site focuses on the intersection of fashion and travel. She gives tips and advice for women on what wear, pack, and see while overseas and focuses more on higher-end, comfort travel than I do. I think her blog is one of the best for female travelers and, though it’s not targeted to me, I find useful information that I share with others. Kiersten and I are friends, and I love seeing her site grow and expand, especially over the last year. She seems to be everywhere!
Hey Nadine
This popular YouTube channel by Nadine Sykora documents her experiences as she travels around the world. Nadine’s zany, nerdy take on travel makes her videos entertaining to watch! She’s funny, smart, and a bit awkward, but her filmmaking style really puts you there in the destination with her. There’s a reason she’s one of the biggest travel channels on YouTube!
View from the Wing
Gary Leff is the “OG” of travel hacking. While I read many travel-hacking blogs, I follow Gary because he provides industry analysis and behind-the-scenes information on loyalty programs and airlines. Gary doesn’t just provide trip reports or share deals and reward opportunities, he gives you context and a greater understanding of how travel hacking and airlines operate.
Wandering Earl
My kindred spirit, Earl is a vagabonding nomad backpacker like myself. We both love budget travel, backpacking, blogging, and everything in between (and yes, we’re good friends in real life too). I read Earl’s blog because he goes to places few people ever visit (Kurdistan, anyone?) and tells raw, honest travel stories that don’t sugarcoat the travel experience. Very few blogs do that, and for that, I think he’s one of the best travel websites out there. I’ve been reading him for years and he deserves a feature! (He’s also one of the few other bloggers I know that doesn’t accept sponsored content or trips!)
Oneika the Traveller
One of my favorite blogs as she talks about the “real” side of travel and is not afraid to get political, talk about racial prejudice when she travels and discusses life as a black female traveler. So much of travel writing is from a white perspective, it’s really great to hear from someone else. Not only that, but her tips and tricks are super useful and her writing and photos stellar too.
Never Ending Footsteps
Lauren is the most accident prone traveler I know. Anything that can go wrong usually does go wrong when she travelers. She’s one of the unluckiest travelers I know. But all that misadventure leads to some amazing travel stories and her blog is filled with funny tales that will keep you captivated for hours.
Additionally, she provides some wonderful practical tips on travel and detailed expense breakdowns on how much she spends in each place.
Be My Travel Muse
Kristin is an adventurous solo female traveler and my resident expert on all things solo female travel. She isn’t afraid to get off the beaten path and explore less-visited destinations, sharing her tips and tricks along the way. She takes incredible photos and also makes amazing YouTube videos (she’s one of the most underrated travel YouTubers out there if you ask me). She’s been traveling for over 5 years now and creates insightful, entertaining content. Even if you’re not a solo female traveler, you’ll still enjoy her posts and videos.
HoneyTrek
Mike and Anne quit their jobs in 2012 to go on an extended honeymoon. Eight years later and they are still on the road. They’ve road-tripped around the US in their camper van, stayed at some of the most incredible glamping sites in the world, and wrote the book on ultimate couples travel experiences. They’re an adventurous couple with a focus on the outdoors and sustainability and they share tons of tips on living in an RV, couples travel, and long-term travel as well.
Chubby Diaries
Chubby Diaries is run by Jeff Jenkins and focuses on plus-size travel. His blog tackles body shaming head-on and provides travelers of all shapes and sizes with resources and inspiration. His optimism and positivity are infectious and he never shies away from telling it like it is. Jeff is going above and beyond to shake things up and make the travel space more inclusive. He’s an awesome guy who creates incredible content.
Travels of Adam
Adam has one of the best LGBTQ bloggers out there. (He also wrote a bunch of LGBTQ content for this site!) He focuses on gay travel and lifestyle content, with a specific focus on hipster city guides. If you want to know where to find the coolest bars, hippest cafes, and the best nightlife spots, Adam is the man to ask. As a former expat, he also has tons of great content on Berlin, one of Europe’s hippest and artsy cities.
Hey Ciara
Ciara is a full-time solo female traveler who shares honest, insightful travel reflections and advice. She’s been featured in major travel publications and has built up a solid following of readers who appreciate her genuine style and her honesty about traveling as a solo black female traveler. She’s a good writer and creates a lot of practical and helpful content.
So there you have it! My current list of favorite travel blogs on the web (besides mine) that I read. This is an ever-changing list so I’ll be updating as time goes on! After all, new travel blogs start every day. Go read these ones, laugh, learn, and be inspired!
Are you looking to start a blog too? These posts can help you do that:
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip