Travelling is born from inspiration. The inspiration is usually different for every traveller, but for most, it is the work of others. Let it be a picture-perfect snap, a travel diary, a simple travel story, or a perfectly articulated travel blog, travel tales and travel bloggers amaze and inspire people all over the world.
But who is a travel blogger? A travel blogger is someone who travels around a city, country, or world and shares his/her experiences, with some travelling tips and hacks. Travel blogging has become a full-time career in social media’s age. So, if you are looking to become a travel blogger or searching for the best travel bloggers, you are at the right place.
This blog lists the top 10 travel bloggers for you to get first-hand information about your next trip.
The 10 Best Travel Bloggers to Follow
Kiersten Rich – The Blonde Abroad
The Blonde Abroad is the best place for solo and female travellers. The blog focuses on women’s needs while travelling. For example, what to pack, where to go, where to live, and how to travel comfortably. Above all, all the blogs are written in a friendly tone. You’ll not get bored while reading; they’ll keep you glued to your screens.
The brain behind the blog is Kiersten Rich (KiKi). She is a Californian native who left a well-established career in wealth management to pursue her dream. She didn’t follow the societal idea of success – to go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. Instead, she took a detour to happiness. She became a travel blogger. Luckily for her, it worked. She is earning more than $1,000,000 annually, and above all, she is happy. That’s what all the beautiful pictures on her site are telling the world.
Kiki earns through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and consultation.
Matt Kepnes – Nomadic Matt
Nomadic Matt is a well-trusted name in travel. The basic purpose of the site is to help people travel cheaper, better, and smarter. The blog has grown enormously over the years, but the best thing is that it feels like a personalized blog. Mett Kepnes, the owner of Nomadic Matt, often shares his opinions on various travel-related topics.
Matt also has 3 books and 5 destination guidebooks. His books, “How to travel the world on $50 a day & Ten Years a Nomad”, are New York Times Best Sellers. His annual estimated revenue is around $1,000,000. Matt started this blog in 2008. Since then, he has helped countless people travel successfully around the world.
Matt was a cubicle worker once. Trips to Costa Rica and Thailand changed everything for him. Matt has visited over 100 countries and territories. His website has been featured on major media sites such as the New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Forbes, and The Washington Post.
Dan James – Dan Flying Solo
The website’s intro says a travel photographer and blogger focused on Asia, Europe, and Australia. The blog offers travel guides, tips, and stories to help you plan your next adventure.
Dan, a British travel blogger, used to work as a restaurant manager. Dan is obsessed with exploring the world, meeting new people, and putting his camera to work. Dan’s story is not so different from other bloggers but still unique, just like his blog. He had nothing to sell, more debt than savings, and no passion for becoming a blogger. But one trip changed everything for him.
Dan’s income or net worth is not known, but he makes a good amount of money. He earns through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and consultations.
Drew Binsky
Drew is one of the leading travel bloggers. He has over 10 million social media followers and 5 billion video views. Drew is also a 2-time Guinness World Record Holder and a 3-handicap golfer. He has travelled to all 197 countries in the world. That’s a huge achievement compared to other travel bloggers. Drew shows the culture, food, religion, and living style of the places he travels to.
Drew’s 3-hour travel hacking masterclass is a well-known course that helps budding travellers learn tips and secrets he has picked from every country.
Drew is a graduate with a double major in economics and entrepreneurship from The University of Wisconsin-Madison. His passion for travelling was born during his time in Prague in 2012. He spent a semester there and travelled to 20+ European countries. This was when he decided to make a career out of travelling.
Binsky also earns a lot. His income streams include his travelling course, store, speaking engagements, trip booking, affiliate marketing, and endorsements. His passion for travelling has made him one of the richest travel bloggers in the world.
Matthew Karsten – Expert Vagabond
Matthew Karsten is a true vagabond. He has been exploring the world for more than 10 years. Matthew is a business graduate, and his story is pretty similar to other travel influencers. One day he decided to save some money, give up the 9-5 life, and hit the road. It has been 10 years since that day, and he is exploring the world and sharing his experiences with us.
His website contains tones of entertaining stories, budget travel tips, travel videos and photography, outdoor adventures, and advice on nomadic living.
Matthew is a family man, currently living in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and a travelling cat. He has lived in countries like Mexico, Thailand, Italy, Spain, and South Africa.
Matthew earns through affiliate marketing, YouTube, and endorsements.
Dereck Earl – Wandering Earl
Dereck Earl, the owner of the famous and well-known Wandering Earl, has been around for more than 20 years. He has been on the road since 1999. His first travelling experience was a backpacking trip around Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This was originally a post-graduation trip, but backpacking inspired him so much that he never went home. The 3 months changed into decades. His plan to start a career as a sports agent is still packed in his backpack.
Dereck has travelled to over 130 countries on more than 6 continents. He has been to some of the most dangerous places in the world, such as Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
Wandering Earl is not only about stories and entertaining blog posts. It provides tips and suggestions that will help you travel around the world and enjoy yourself while staying on a budget.
Yaya & Lloyd – Hand Luggage Only
Hand Luggage Only is quite different from other travel blogs. Its founders, Yaya and Lloyd, are quite different, too. The blogs about page tells a different story than other blogs. They don’t list the countries they have travelled to or the places they have stayed in.
Yaya and Lloyd started Hand Luggage Only in 2014, when they were studying at Cambridge University. Yaya is a die-hard foodie, as he describes himself. His love for food knows no end. Lloyd, a chocolate lover, loves to explore new places. He wanted to be a pilot but ended up as a travel blogger.
Their travel blog is neatly organized and easy to navigate. It provides travellers with tips on travel, life hacks, and a different perspective on travelling.
Nick Wharton & Dariece Swift – Goats On The Road
Quite a strange name? The inspiration behind this name: goats tend to wander a lot, and they like to wander too. The owners say that they also love to wander a lot and often bumped into goats. Hence, they named their blog: Goats On The Road.
Goats On The Road is owned by a Canadian couple, Nick Wharton & Dariece Swift. Their main focus is on travel, living abroad, and the digital nomad lifestyle. They earn through affiliate marketing, display ads, and YouTube videos.
This blog shares a lot of tips on finding work while travelling abroad. It also focuses on how you can earn money online and enjoy a freer lifestyle while spending time and enjoying the things you love the most.
Goats On The Road has been featured in leading publications such as Forbes, CNN Money, Business Insider, Lonely Planet, NBC, Travel Pulse, and many others.
Brian Kelly – The Points Guy
The Points Guy is not your regular travel blog. Founded by Brian Kelly, this blog focuses on maximising credit card points. The blog shows the average American how to travel first class on an economic budget.
Brian Kelly launched The Points Guy in 2010. Since then, it has become the go-to place for people looking to travel in luxury without paying too much
As per the travel aspect, the blog focuses on airline news, reviews, and deals. It also covers hotels, cruises, and general travel resources.
Jeremy Scott Foster – TravelFreak
Jeremy started this blog without a clue about what he was doing. His quest to push him out of his comfort zone changed everything for him. He realised on his trips that travel is an excellent medium for personal growth. He started TravelFreak to help other people travel around the world while staying on a budget.
Jeremy lives in New York and is a serial entrepreneur. He has travelled to over 50 countries and is currently incubating multiple companies.
TravelFreak focuses on travel tips, destinations, booking resources, and travel gear.
Final Words
Travel bloggers make travelling easy for people. Their stories, tips, and guides provide real-time information that comes in handy while packing, travelling, and during the trip.
If you are planning for your next trip, don’t forget to check out tips and hacks from one of the travel bloggers listed above.
