TAU Presents: Monthly Travel Bloggers Interview Ep.6

Welcome to the sixth episode of “TAU Presents: Monthly Travel Bloggers Interview”!

Recently, I came up with the idea to feature 3 different Travel Bloggers every month on the TAU blog. I thought it would be fun to meet different members of the travel community and learn more about them and their blogs.

Each person will have to answer 10 questions about their blogging journey and travel experiences. 

Here are our three Travel Bloggers for this month’s episode of “TAU Presents: Monthly Travel Bloggers Interview”: Monique from My Perfect Itinerary, Jade from Travel & Blossom, and Carolin from Solo Travel Story. 

My Perfect Itinerary

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Hi, I’m Monique! The creator of the site and brand, My Perfect Itinerary.

As a travel blogger who has worked with countless hotels and tourism boards and makes a full-time income, I decided to start sharing all my tips & tricks about becoming a travel blogger on my new site.

I am a Las Vegas-based traveler, who creates detailed itineraries on destinations mostly in the Southwest of the USA!

While I am not traveling, I am working my full-time 9-5, cuddling my adorable standard poodles, and planning my next adventure!

2. Can you tell us a little bit about your blogging journey?

I started my travel blog in 2018, and it was a long and grueling journey.

I am not exaggerating when I said I almost quit 100 times, ESPECIALLY when COVID hit! But, I stayed persistent and am so happy I did!

My Perfect Itinerary focuses on creating detailed travel itineraries from all over the world, with most of my audience based in the southwest of the USA!

3. What is your number one blogging tip you can give new travel bloggers?

My favorite personal saying is, “It’s not IF, it’s WHEN!”

Most people do not succeed because they compare themselves to those who are farther along than they are and makes them want to give up.

If you are persistent and just focus on getting better / learning every day, you will get there!

4. What is your number one travel tip?

Book early and be flexible!

You will find the best rates by booking far in advance and playing around with dates.

I love to book separate one-way flights instead of a round trip because many times you can save hundreds of dollars! 🙂

5. What is your favorite destination so far and why? 

I would say Iceland was the most unique and impressive destination that I’ve ever been to.

I did a road trip throughout the south coast and there is just nothing like it!

A close second would be the Gorges du Verdon in France, WOW!

6. What place is on the top of your Bucketlist and why? 

Australia is at the top of my bucket list!

That is a big trip that I want to do while I am young and able to be away from home for a while.

I would love to see all the natural beauty like the Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, and the Red Center!

7. What are three unique items you cannot travel without?

Hmm, that’s tough since I am such an over-packer! 😉

I would say my camera, melatonin to help me sleep, and sunblock since I am fair-skinned AF! 🙂

8. What is your favorite food that you have tried on your travels?

When I went to Banff Canada in the winter, I had the most amazing fondue dinner!

I am such a sucker for fondue 🙂

9. What is the best souvenir you have ever brought back?

I think photography and knowledge about the area is the best souvenir you can ever bring back!

I love incorporating at least one tour on my travels so I can learn about the area, especially from a local’s perspective!

10. Do you have any product, course, podcast you want to tell us about?

YES! I just launched my Advanced Pinterest Strategy Course where I outline not only my exact Pinterest strategy, but tips on how to improve your photography & writing, best ad networks, monetization tips, and so much more!

Travel & Blossom

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Hi! I’m Jade the creator of Travel & Blossom! I live in Boston, but I am from New York City. 

I recently just accepted a new job offer as a Platform Success Manager for this artificial intelligence company.

In my free time, I really enjoy traveling, blogging, and just hanging out with new people.

2. Can you tell us a little bit about your blogging journey? 

Although I have been blogging for about a year now, I am still pretty new to this whole blogging journey.

About a couple of months ago, I was recently accepted into SHE Media’s Partner Network where I was able to monetize my site with different advertisements.

So far, I’ve only made $50, but I know it’s just the beginning. As of right now, I really enjoy blogging about black travel, budget travel, and any recent Pinterest trends.

3. What is your number one blogging tip you can give new travel bloggers?

My number one tip for new travel bloggers is to try and focus on your audience and what they need instead of writing about things that are not important to them.

Doing this will most definitely increase your traffic immensely.

4. What is your number one travel tip?

My number one travel tip would probably be to do as much research as you can about your travel destination before you even get there.

I usually suggest doing this because it can be really helpful especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country where you don’t know the language, the culture, or the people.

5. What is your favorite destination so far and why?

So far, my favorite destination has been Rome!

It was my very first solo travel trip as a study abroad student and I made so many memories there that I will take with me to my grave.

6. What place is on the top of your bucket list and why?

Right now, Iceland is at the top of my bucket list.

I recently just heard one of their volcanoes erupt so, I personally thought it would be really cool to go see the eruption in person.

7. What are three unique items you cannot travel without?

I cannot travel without my passport, my portable charger, and my laptop!

8. What is your favorite food that you have tried on your travels?

I would say my favorite food was trying a Sicilian cannolo in Palermo!

Cannoli is obviously plural in Italian so saying cannolo seemed more appropriate in this case.

They’re definitely better than the American version so I didn’t hesitate to buy one every day while I was in Sicily.

9. What is the best souvenir you have ever brought back?

I would say the best souvenir I’ve ever brought back would probably be all of the photos I took of Rome on my Instax Mini camera before I left!

I still treasure them all to this day.

10. Do you have any product, course, podcast you want to tell us about?

I do have a podcast coming up in the works, but it’s not travel-related at all.

It’s going to focus a lot on spirituality and the steps to overcoming childhood trauma.

If you’re interested in learning more about it, you can check out my podcast once it’s live.

Solo Travel Story

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself

Hey hey, guys, I’m Carolin, and professionally, I design promotional events for fashion & lifestyle clients.

When I’m not stressing over spreadsheets or researching the latest consumer trends, I blog about my travel adventures in the world from my London home.

I’ve got an active lifestyle (e.g. nature, hiking, surfing, cycling) and am an avid ice skater.

I love everything art, culture, linguistics, and fashion-related and of course anything adventurous will always get my attention! 

2. Can you tell us a little bit about your blogging journey? 

My first blog “Lunch Break Adventures” started in 2014 and was born out of pure creative frustration from my first job.

I felt very unfulfilled and needed my own project. Something that was created completely by me and was my work. It was a personal blog covering mostly lifestyle-related topics that interested me.

I’m glad I started the journey because I soon found and connected with many bloggers on Twitter via RT Services.

I was accepted and everyone was just very welcoming and friendly. I had moved permanently to the UK in 2013, so my blog helped me tremendously in making friends and connecting with like-minded people.

It was a huge contributor to help me settle into a new life and integrate myself.   

By 2015, my blog had gained a good following and popularity.

I re-branded as StyleLingua and focused on fashion and style posts.

Soon I received PR samples and got invited to cool blogging events where I met new bloggers and made even more friends.

Blogging also taught me a couple of digital & marketing skills which have opened many doors for me ever since.

It landed me a job in London and the interest that people have in the blog always astounds me. 

I slowed down my blogging game over the next few years due to work and life commitments.

By 2020 I changed the focus again and blog now entirely about travel, experiences, and personal adventures.

3. What is your number one blogging tip you can give new travel bloggers?

Every travel style and adventure is unique.

Please don’t feel disheartened by content that is already out there, because no one will have had the same experience that you will have.

Stay personal and authentic, because even though SEO and Google are important, bloggers fall into the trap of writing purely for Search Engines. It shows!

It comes across as fake and profit-making from telling you just anything.

Most people who read travel blogs want a unique view and hear your personal story rather than a manufactured one-size-fits-all information string that could be straight off from Wikipedia.

Stay true to yourself and keep on going!

4. What is your number one travel tip? 

I always book my trips on rather short notice. Like one or two months in advance tops.

I want to make sure the trip is happening within close time proximity.

I hate waiting for the moment of leaving, plus the longer the wait the more potential that I will change my mind or something else comes along to ruin the plans (e.g. flights get canceled, any other WTF moment, etc).

Therefore, I want to make sure I go as soon as possible to not lose the momentum and to make the trip actually happen. 

5. What is your favorite destination so far and why? 

I was really impressed by Brisbane and felt instantly connected to the city when I travelled there last year.

It had everything I could ask for: nice weather, easy-going people, big city flair without the stressful hustle, and beautiful things to do e.g. Ferris Wheel, Koala Sanctuary, hiking in the Glass House Mountains, or surfing on the Gold Coast.

Byron Bay in Australia was another cool place that I’d like to re-visit as the sudden Covid lockdown shortened my stay.

It’s a cool and relaxed hippie/surfing town with a relaxed atmosphere, a wonderful lighthouse, and Cape to go hiking.

From up there you can watch dolphins and the whole place is just magical. It was worth traveling to the other side of the world for that! 

6. What place is on the top of your Bucketlist and why?

I’d love to see the Hobbinton movie set in New Zealand. It must be absolutely magical and it’s a shame I wasn’t able to travel there due to Covid.

Also very high on my list are the hike on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

The three-day hike would be an absolute adventure of a lifetime.

Afterward, I wouldn’t mind a break in the Galapagos Islands to experience the natural diversity as described by Charles Darwin.  

7. What are three unique items you cannot travel without?

Headphones to provide the soundtrack to my travels.

A good book, especially on long journeys to keep me occupied 

My driving license – I love a good spontaneous road trip!

8. What is your favorite food that you have tried on your travels?

I’m not a big food person but I’m always impressed by a delicious breakfast.

Australia, for example, has an extensive brunch and breakfast culture. They do know their waffles, birchers, and crunchy granolas for sure!

It was pure heaven and the perfect start to a long day exploring. 

9. What is the best souvenir you have ever brought back?

Mostly the memories from my adventures which have often kept me motivated and inspired 🙂

If I have to choose a physical souvenir, I’d say my Compostela and memorabilia from my pilgrimage hike on the Camino in Spain.

Those are very special to me and it’s not only a travel dream come true but also an achievement that I’m super proud of (I’m quite lazy and hiking those 120km was a big moment for me!).  

10. Do you have any product, course, podcast you want to tell us about?

Not yet

Check out TAU Presents: Monthly Travel Bloggers Interview Ep.5