5 Inevitable Conversations When You Reveal You’re a Travel Blogger

Being a travel blogger is awesome, as I may have mentioned a few times. Being in the job I am and my friendship circles in London I think I sometimes forget what life is like not being a travel blogger, and it’s only when I go back to my parents’ or meet friends of friends who aren’t travel bloggers that I realise just what a confusing profession it is.

I’ve sensed jealousy, bewilderment, disbelief and fascination among other emotions when I reveal exactly what I do, but no matter what the reaction I am sure to be asked one of the following conversations, if not all five.

1. Money

How do you make money?

Same way as you my friend, hard work, initiative and a little bit of charm.

Most people are only asking this because they’re intrigued, I know. But being a Brit I can’t help find it a little rude. I usually reply ‘advertising’ and that’s enough for most people. If they delve a little further I like to confuse them with internet, WordPress and hosting speak I know they won’t understand – works for both mum and dad’s friends and mine. You only realise how complicated the internet is when you work in it. Blows my mind when I think about it too much.

Sometimes they even like to ask ‘how much?’

You show me yours and I’ll show you mine (pay check I mean).

2. Free stuff

I’m going to [insert destination] can you get me any discounts?

Only if I go with you!

I’m being serious on that one. If you take me with you it’s possible I could maybe get the odd discounted night here and there. But as for getting free holidays for everyone and their grandson I’m not sure there’s anyone that could do that. Definitely not a poor little travel blogger like me. Would you be able to sort me out with any deals from your work? Exactly.

3. Favourites

So, I have to ask, where’s your favourite place?

Who’s your favourite child?

This question is kind of ridiculous, but I have been known to ask it myself. There is no easy answer to this. You’ll often hear me say ‘New York’ as I spent two happy years working as a camp counselor there, and an awesome week with my best friend when I was 18. But I haven’t been on holiday there for eight years and what’s my favourite may not be yours. Porto would be my favourite city for a weekend away from the UK, Havana was an absolutely incredible experience, but then I could also list Montpellier, Barcelona, Cape Town, Dublin, Halong Bay, and so many more. It’s too difficult and hurts my brain.

And your worst?

Naples.

4. It’s easy, right?

So you just buy a domain name and set one up?

Yep. And work on it for a bazillion hours a week, become obsessed, let your health and friendships fall by the wayside and hyperventilate when you can’t work on it for a day or two. Then you’re halfway there. 

You can definitely ‘just buy a domain name and set one up’ and then you will join the millions of blogs in the world with 1-10 posts on them. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all. But if you do want to get to a stage where someone other than your mum and aunty read it you’re going to need to put a bit more effort in there my friend.

5. The future

Where are you going next?

Here’s my card. Visit my blog and you’ll soon find out.

I don’t really do that, but it might be good to get a few extra views on the page. I do actually like this conversation, gives me a chance to talk about the future rather than the past and usually ends in me giving some advice on where they should go for their next trip.

And by the end of this part of the conversation people are either sick with jealousy, bored, don’t believe me or someone else has intercepted and the conversations start all over again.

Got any questions for me? Just ask in the comments section below…