Travel and Blogging – Is it Work?

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Colosseum in Rome

Almost every blogger’s dream is to turn their passion into a career that can pay the bills and fulfill their desires, whether that is traveling, cooking, or some other interest. We certainly have not found the secret of success, but we do get a definite sense of satisfaction through all of the interactions that we have had during the two years since we started our site. Blogging has definitely changed the way that we travel, the way that we take photographs, the way that we view our experiences. We have found it important to have a schedule and keep to that schedule when it comes to sharing our adventures. So, as we prepare to leave for Ecuador in seven days, we have been having conversations about how we can keep up with our usual routine and whether we should even be worrying about that.

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Andes Mountains in South America
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Unique Architecture in Brasov, Romania

So, that begs the question, has traveling become a job for us? Do we feel a responsibility to fill our trips with interesting destinations, locations, excursions that we can write about or do we do them just because we want to and if we can write about it, then fine? The reality is that it is probably a little bit of both. We do think about whether or not something might be of interest to everyone that we’ve connected with, but we are also consumed by seeing and learning about new and different things. One of the biggest differences is that when we traveled in the past, we would have carried a camera and nothing else. Now we take an assortment of electronic equipment with us and getting through security can be a challenge at times.

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Standing on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
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Mahabalipuram near Chennai, India

If you are doing what you love, then you aren’t really working is true, but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t work. We enjoy visiting places that we haven’t been before, meeting people with a different culture than ours, and trying regional foods. We have “real” jobs, but there is a reason that we take time every day to focus on connecting with other travelers. So, perhaps traveling has become work for us, but if it has, then it is work that we love and if we could make that our only job, we would do that in a heartbeat. What do you think, how much of what you do to create your stories is work and how much is simply what you would do even if you didn’t share it with the world?

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Prague Castle Complex, Czech Republic
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Iceland

41 thoughts on “Travel and Blogging – Is it Work?

  1. Lots of food for thought in this interesting post. I also love writing posts about my travels but I’ll return to places I love even if it means I’m unable to write new blog posts. I never pick a destination with a view to blogging but hope I’ll find interesting things to write about there.

  2. I think blogging made me more adventurous. I am in Bangkok right now and I visited the Royal Palace and the Wat Pho. Just when Im headed back to the hotel, I saw a sign “Boat ride” and off I went. I think it works both ways, while I get more content I also get to have fun in the process. Dont be forced to do something, but just do things that you like or might be interested.

  3. Thank you for the thought-provoking post! Besides being a great creative outlet, I find that blogging keeps me motivated and focused while I travel. For me, I need that structure to do and see the things I am most interested in. The photography and writing force me to understand and be accurate. Also, blogging is a way for me to communicate my thoughts, and helps me to internalize and remember the experiences. Cheers!

  4. I keep a notebook with ideas for blogs – as I’m sure many do – since creativity can’t be predicted. A general “rule” to try to post at least 3 blogs a month seems to keep me on track, although a real “schedule” seems impossible for me. In the end, it all seems to work out!

  5. Maybe I’m an outlier, but my travel style has not changed much since I started blogging. There may be times when I think about photographs that might look great on the blog or even write up an experience in my head a little as I’m on the road, but for the most part, I travel as always and if a blog post comes out of it – great! If not, so be it. I definitely do not have a posting schedule – my blog is for fun, and fun has no timetable!

  6. Totally agree with everything you said. Ultimately, our travel has to be enjoyable for all the family, but blogging definitely influences it. It’s added a dimension which I find fun!

  7. I agree! It’s work in that it’s thought-provoking and time consuming, but it’s also enjoyable and relaxing in a way for me to type up our adventures! Keep up the good work! 🙂

  8. I am definitely more aware about what pics to take and what I can utilise for a blog post. I try to keep to a schedule of once a week posts. Though it does give me immense enjoyment when I publish a post. Lorelle. 😊

  9. I think that unfortunately theres a lot of stigma when it comes to blogging. The idea that by stating you have a blog or write for others to read, you’re doing it for fame and/or money rather than satisfaction. This, I think can often be reflected in someones work, whether they do it because they love it, or whether they do it because someone wishes to be “famous”. Although, some people are lucky enough to be able to turn blogging into a job.

  10. I have been travel blogging for a year now, and it has changed my way of travel too, I found I have to carry way more stuff with me to travel with, but also enjoy my new adventure and meeting different people. Although I want to live the way out of blogging, and there are lots of competition in the travel blogging world tell us how to write a post that is sell, how to pitch brands and how to get sponsored post, but after all of these, I enjoy my own travel the most. I like to share stories and my adventures with others. Thanks for this post, reminded me why I started travel blogging in the first place.

  11. It would be wonderful to make money doing this since I enjoy connecting with people through my blog and my Instagram. I guess it would become work if I were dependent on the income.

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  13. Pingback: Travel and Blogging – Is it Work? — livingtheqlife – Kristalin Davis' Musings on the Human Condition

  14. Liked your article. Are you actually able to pay your bills just by travel blogging? That sounds truely amazing to me. I do travel blogging too, but in German, so I should probably change my to english as more people could be in the audience that way. Just thinking out loud. Enjoy your day!

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