Imagine you’re sitting in a half-empty café in Lisbon. Your fingers are still sticky from the pastéis de nata, and your phone’s packed with photos that no one but your closest friends have seen. You’ve got the itch — the one that whispers, “Maybe I should start a travel blog.”

But here’s the thing. The internet’s already overflowing with dreamy beach photos, drone shots of mountaintops, and top 10 lists of places to visit before you die. So how do you start a travel blog that doesn’t just float along with the others?

Well, it takes more than just an Instagram filter and a catchy domain name. Let’s talk about what you really need — and how to make people care.

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What You’ll Actually Need to Start a Travel Blog

Let’s get something straight: if you want to just post vacation pics and call it a day, that’s fine. But if you’re here to build something, make it grow, and maybe even make a little money from it down the line — you’ll need a few tools (and a few truths).

A Domain That Doesn’t Sound Like a Password

No one’s going to take “travellover2025.com” seriously. Pick a name that sounds like you, but also like someone people might want to follow. Check if it’s available on Instagram (and other social media), too — that part matters more than you might think.

Hosting That Doesn’t Crash

If you’re serious, go for a self-hosted WordPress site. It’s not as scary as it sounds. Services like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Hostinger will do just fine to start.

A Laptop That You Can Count On

You’re going to be writing, uploading photos, editing videos — possibly all while perched on a rickety train table or hostel bunk. You don’t need a MacBook Pro maxed out with RAM, but something light, with a bit of power, goes a long way.

Tools to Make Video Content

Words alone won’t cut it. In 2025, nobody’s reading 1,000-word travel diaries unless they’re also seeing your face lighting up as you try weird candy in Tokyo or jump into a waterfall in Bali. Video is key. Learn to shoot decent footage, even on your phone, and edit it using something clean and beginner-friendly.

A solid movie editor app will save you when your B-roll is shaky or your audio’s a mess. And yeah, it’s worth learning how to overlay subtitles — people watch on mute more than you’d think.

A Voice That’s Actually Yours

People can Google “Things to do in Barcelona.” What they can’t get elsewhere is your story of almost getting kicked out of a flamenco bar for clapping off-rhythm. Own your voice. That’s what’ll make people remember you.

How to Be a Travel Blogger: A Real Guide

So, you want to know how to start a travel blog? Let’s break it down and see what works.

1. Pick a Focus

Niche down. That’s blogger talk for “make it specific.” Are you all about slow travel? Luxury spas on a backpacker’s budget? Motorcycle trips across Latin America? People love knowing what they’re signing up for.

2. Grab Your Name And Lock Down the @Handles

Before you get attached to a name, check if the domain is available — and whether the Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube handles are up for grabs. Having the same name across platforms makes you easier to find (and less forgettable).

3. Build the Blog Even If You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

Choose WordPress or Squarespace, pick a simple theme (seriously, don’t overdesign), and get your About, Contact, and Blog pages live. Write like someone is going to read it — because eventually, someone will.

4. Start Writing and Filming

Don’t wait until you “get better.” Publish that clumsy first post. Upload that awkward video. You might be disappointed and even cringe later — and that’s a good thing. It means you’re growing.

5. Promote But Be Careful

Writing is only 20% of blogging. The other 80% is getting people to care that you wrote it. Join travel Facebook groups. Make pins on Pinterest. DM people whose work you love. Just don’t spam. No one likes a desperate blogger.

What Kinds of Content Do People Actually Like?

If you want to become a successful travel blogger — as in, people read your stuff and maybe even share it — you’ll need to mix things up. Here’s what works (and why):

Destination Guides with Real Details

Skip the vague “beautiful beaches” talk. What did it smell like? How much was the local SIM card? Was the hike worth the blisters?

Travel Vlogs and Video Diaries

Not ready for a YouTube channel? Start small: 30-second Reels, behind-the-scenes snippets, packing fails, tuk-tuk rides. Use video to capture the moment — not just what happened, but how it felt to be there.

Honest, Messy Stories

Tell us when you got food poisoning in an exotic country. Or when you cried from loneliness in a hostel dorm. Vulnerability = trust. And trust = loyal readers.

Packing Lists That Don’t Read Like Ads

If you swear by your collapsible water bottle, cool — tell us why. Just don’t copy-paste what’s already on Amazon’s bestseller list.

Itineraries That Save People Time

You planned your trip down to the hour — now turn that spreadsheet into a blog post. Readers love efficiency. You love content. Everyone wins.

Tips for Other Bloggers

When your blog gets traction, newbies will look to you. Teach them what worked — and what didn’t. That’s where you can even add in affiliate links (tastefully).

A Few Final Thoughts

Starting a travel blog is equal parts fun, frustrating, and strangely addictive. It won’t go viral overnight. You might spend hours on a post only for a random reader from a place you’ve never heard of to read it. And yet — it’s worth it.

Because your stories matter. Not in a cheesy “you can change the world” way, but in the very real “someone’s trip will be better because of you” kind of way.

You don’t need to be famous. You just need to show up. Share the trip. Show the behind-the-scenes. Laugh at yourself. And keep going — even when the internet doesn’t clap right away.

The secret of how to become a travel blogger? Start. Be weird. Be real.