I travelled right around the world with nothing but a smartphone and 46 million followers. You can too!!
Hello you guys, my fans, my favourites, my lovely intrepid followers!!
I’m so sorry I didn’t blog last week, but when you’re as Irish as I am, you get very busy this time of year. Most Irish bloggers get busy around Paddy’s Day, but it just gets INSANE for me because of the fact that I am the Irish blogger who gets looked to, Irishly, for Irishness on March 17, mainly because of my 2 Insta series #KissMeImGreen and #OYeahShowMeYourPassport.
Anyhoo, no matter how Irish you are, travel is a great way both to broaden your mind and show off your brand. Most of my favourite pictures of myself have been taken in some of the most exotic locations in the world.
Plus I’m never so excited as when I have a new destination reveal to tell you guys about. The suspense almost kills me, even though I already know where I’m going!
The most important thing to remember about travel blogging is where you are. I’ve had moments waking up where I’ve thought, Hmmm: am I in the Four Seasons in Central Vietnam, or the Ritz-Carlton in Bali? Was I upgraded to an executive suite, or is this the penthouse? It’s so hard to get the details right sometimes, but that’s what being a Superblogger is all about!
I never even think about all the famous and royal people who have travelled to the destinations I’m in, possibly even sleeping in my bed.
It’s all about atmosphere and finding myself, for me personally. But I’m always blown away by the beauty and lovely people working in these resorts, who literally cannot do enough for you.
One day, as I was getting a free full body massage in Mauritius – or was it the Seychelles? – from a gorgeous local guy whose name I can’t remember right now but I’m sure I will sometime, but anyway, as he was telling me all about the Biochemistry PhD he’d had to abandon in Europe in order to come home and support four generations of his family, I had a moment of total mindfulness Nirvana where I thought: #blessed #bliss #LifeIsBeautiful. This is where I am.
Someone once said: Wherever you go, there you are, and I was literally nowhere else but there – wherever it was.
But to be a Superblogger, the most important thing to remember is photos, photos, photos! And never forget that the most important element of the travels blogger’s picture is not the scenery. It’s not that ancient monument, or the glittering sea, the stunning mountain view, or even the laughing local urchins dressed in rags.
It’s you! Know which is your best side, put your best foot forward, take care at that beauty spot to properly set up your shot… and be your best, spontaneous, self!
This is one of my favourite selfies, because my legs look really long but still nobody can accuse me of narcissism
How To Fit In With Fellow Intrepid Travellers
Admit it – we all feel shy sometimes around strangers. Even me – I once totally freaked out and refused to get out of a car because there were too many photographers waiting for me to make my appearance! But trust me, when you’ve travelled as much as I have, you’ve just got to make the effort with strangers. Your experience will be way more authentic, and you’ll have so many new friends and followers on social media that your ratings will go through the roof!
My best tip for making new friends on the road is so simple I can’t believe I’m even saying it… so, it’s: just have the same exact conversation with everyone you meet. Seriously. It’s all you need in order to sit back and watch the conversation flow, the bonds form, and the followers fly!
If you’re feeling stuck for something to say, here’s an example of a typical conversation on the trail of the fearless traveller, which will give you some useful talking points!
Traveller 1: So we just came from [Cool Place of The Moment #7] and we’re headed for [Place So Cool It’s Not Even A Hashtag Yet]. Where are you guys travelling to?
Traveller 2: Well, we started in [Ridiculously Remote Place Which Nobody Ever Enjoyed Themselves In Ever] 17 months ago, and we’re making our way to [Lonely Planet’s #1 Destination As Announced Last Week] by Christmas. On foot.
Traveller 1: Wow, that’s such a cool way to travel, on foot. [kind of smugly] You’re gonna love [Lonely Planet’s #1 Destination As Announced Last Week]. I was there last year and it was such an incredible spot. There was hardly anyone there back then. I hope it’s not too busy these days after the Lonely Planet thing.
Traveller 2: [visibly annoyed] Yeah. We actually booked this trip for last year but couldn’t go because of a death in the family.
Traveller 1: I’m sure it’s still amazing, even though it’s so popular and commercialised now. If you can, you should see the underground sky caverns. The locals will bring you if you get in with the right people. We had the most amazing experience there, I remember… they brought us to this bar afterwards that only locals go to. Wasn’t a soul in the place who spoke English, and we were drinking this stuff which looked like rice milk but we found out afterwards was actually hallucinogenic fermented yaks’ saliva, never tasted by Westerners before. It was unreal.
Traveller 2: Oh, was that Blurgh Water?
Traveller 1: Em, yeah, I think it sounded something like…
Traveller 2: Yeah, you gotta watch that stuff! We learned how to make it with the nomads on the volcanic plains in [Ridiculously Remote Place Which Nobody Ever Enjoyed Themselves In Ever]. Luckily our guide had warned us about it, but it’s strong stuff if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Traveller 1: Oh. So, like, you guys always take guided tours, then?
Traveller 2: We always use local guides. We like to learn as much as possible about wherever we are.
Traveller 1: Sure, it makes it so easy to have a guide, but sometimes it’s so much better getting your own feel for the place, you know?
Traveller 2: [flicking open Swiss Army Knife] I guess. So, you were saying that you hardly ever check in with your family and they don’t know where exactly you are right now?
I’ve been so many places I get confused sometimes! But this is definitely China, because signs.
List: My Most Popular Travel Blog Posts
-
- How To Stay in 5-Star Resorts For Free, Using Only A Smartphone And 3.2 Million Instagram Followers
- Promises of Exposure And Threats Of Criticism – Or How To Get Upgraded For Free
- How To Turn The One Tiny Thing About A Hotel That Isn’t Terrible Into 100% Promotional Obligation Fulfilment
- Dealing With Haters Who Don’t Even Understand You Had To Pay For Your Own Flights To That Free Luxury Resort Package 6,000 Miles Away
- Help! A Luxury Resort Brand Manager Doesn’t Believe The Teenage Followers Reading My Blog On Their Phones Are The Right Target Market For A $10,000 Premium Package I Deserve To Get For Free
This is such a timely blog post that I happened to catch as I was scrolling through my too-numerous-to-mention social media lists of followers and fellow influencers. I, in fact, will be embarking on global travel next week and I’m onboarding your suggestions for making friends. Though I much prefer to do my drinking alone, I can definitely see the benefits of connecting with fellow jet-setters, if only for someone to watch my bags in the VIP lounge, or to snap a candid shot of me gazing wistfully out of a rain-streaked window.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Luanna, Superblogger read your comment and had to go and lie down for a while. Whilst Superblogger is glad that you’re taking their sage advice, they worry that your own fabulousness may compete with theirs. I, on the other hand, think you’re brilliant. Good luck with the wistfulness. 😀
LikeLike
The last line is my favorite. Favourite for you Britishers. Fave for those in the know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a lot of favourites, Alicia. I don’t think Britain can handle favourite anything right now, but it’ll be interesting to see the effect on them 😉
LikeLike
A most excellent addition to the series. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you, Widdershins. That comment alone should be worth at least 2 night’s stay in a luxury luxury resort of luxury. Superblogger is most thankful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At the very least. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person