Top Pet Peeves with Travel Bloggers

Sep 4, 2019 @ 9:25 AM

top pet peeves of travel bloggers
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This pet peeves with travel bloggers post has been a long time coming. I finally got to the point of wanting to get it off my chest.  I finally decided to put pen to paper. I know people will hate me for this, but c’est la vie! That’s just the way it goes. I, as a travel blogger who travels a lot, I take umbrage at some of the “soft lies” being spouted by travel bloggers. A lot of the best travel blogs are guilty as heck!

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Pet peeves with travel bloggers:

la lateral madrid tapas
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We spent 24 hours in Madrid. This is the best restaurant in the whole city. Really!

Travel Bloggers are annoying when they do this:

  • Top Ten Lists – Right off the bat, l am guilty of that with this post 🙂 . I hate what is known as Listicals, or as l put it “the lazy man’s way” of reporting. It can serve its purpose in some cases, like for this post. It becomes a problem when every other post is a “Top ten things to do”, “Top ten things to see” etc.
  • Best Anything – I have a real problem with someone telling me what they feel is the best restaurant to eat at after a 48 hour visit! It’s one thing to say “this was the best place l ate at during my trip”. It’s quite another to call it the best in the whole city. Even residents would shy away from making that claim 🙂 , what qualifies you as the expert?

pet peeves about travel bloggers
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  • Glossing over everything – I totally get the fact that most places are wonderful. More than likely, that’s the reason why you choose to go there. Most of your experiences will be overwhelmingly positive, but l think we owe it to the readers to give a fair and balanced account of the trips. It’s hard to believe that every single second of your trip was bliss. I think readers appreciate the honesty because it prepares them for what to expect. From reading travel blogs, I thought Amsterdam would be the bomb, but it was just okay for me. If  a place is more expensive than normal, l want to hear it. If you had a epic disaster, I definitely want to hear it 😉 .
  • Living like a local – There are some true nomad travelers out there for sure, but l think most travelers now consider staying at an AirBnB as “living like a local”. Mmm..No! Yes, you can cook, but l suspect most people don’t. Picking up croissants for breakfast and making coffee in the flat is not living like a local. Most people hardly interact with their hosts, either because the host is busy working or the guests are busy sightseeing. Our stay in Japan a few months ago, we had 3 separate hosts, and met only one face to face, and just for a few minutes. The other two flats had combination locks on the doors and there was zero interaction with the hosts.
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  • hanged washing on a Rome street
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    This is how the locals live 🙂 .
  • Writing about places they’ve never visited. I’ve been at this for a couple of years and then some. I was a bit naive at first when reading some blogs. Sometimes l would comment with a question, only to have them say they never actually visited. I could no longer trust what they wrote and I crossed them off my reading list.
  • Elitist attitude – The feeling of superiority over others. Travel is a luxury that most people can not afford. It can expand your knowledge and improve your life experience. It does not, however make you better than the person who doesn’t. If you’re a twat, you just become a  twat who travels. You don’t suddenly achieve superiority 😉 .
  • Shunning the tourist sites. There are bloggers who insist on going “off the beaten path” only. That’s fine, and it’s their choice. There is no reason to belittle others for not traveling your way. I’ve said it before, and l will say it again, with very few exceptions, l think most of them don’t do the “touristy” things that cost money because they can’t afford to. Oh yeah! Denying yourself from seeing beauties like famous cathedrals with free entry just so you can gloat about it? Who’s the idiot then? These places became tourist destinations for a reason. They are gorgeous and historic!!!

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  • view of the Vatican and people on streets in Rome
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    Skip the Vatican! Too touristy. Go off the beaten path.
  • The everyone can and should travel attitude – I think a lot of people from the western world, especially the United States don’t realize how fortunate they are to have their passports. Most of the world population can only dream of traveling. It took my brother over four months of  trying to secure a visa to India for much needed operations. It also takes money! Current visa fee for Nigerians wanting to travel to India is $252! A college graduate earns about $256-350 per month salary, and I’m talking Banking Industry here, not your average person. Priorities!!!
  • The quit your job and travel preaching. This really burns my hide! I’m not going to say much as l have already said it before. It’s kind of irresponsible to encourage people to chuck it all for a life of uncertainty. I believe in the 6 P’s – Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. This is the end of my rant.

Are there too many travel bloggers?:

Good question! Travel blogging is definitely a crowded field. Most people get into it for the wrong reasons in my opinion. There is no huge requirement like a college degree or money upfront to start a blog. I see a lot of new bloggers just looking for freebies like free accommodation and free swag from the companies. They don’t realize that they need to build up a reputation and act accordingly. They want to be  “influencers” whatever that means.

I find it hard to believe the crap that l see when l look on Instagram for instance. Some young 20 year old kid showing off a room that costs $500 a night and thinking l would be motivated to stay there, OR that he/she has an audience with that much disposable income. I don’t blame the bloggers, I blame the companies. If you don’t do your due diligence and vet the bloggers, you deserve to get fleeced!.

Do l hate travel bloggers?

No, of course not. I am one of them. I do however think that on the whole, we can do a lot better. I know the urge to make money is strong, the desire to inspire people is even stronger, but you must put it all out there and write from your own perspective and nob blanket statements.

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top pet peeves about travel writers
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So there you have it, my top pet peeves with travel bloggers. Have l missed any of your pet peeves? Please share. Am l being too hard on travel bloggers and writers in general? Do you feel cheated when you read about a place only to find out there are gaping holes in the reportage when you visit?

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90 thoughts on “Top Pet Peeves with Travel Bloggers”

  1. Well, you definitely got a few things off your chest in this post. I agree with many of the things you mentioned. It is sometimes hard to find real resources in the travel blogging world. The blogs I find most useful provide detail of their experiences with pictures that allow me to feel like I am experiencing it too. I appreciate bloggers who share a unique perspective because this is what will make me want you as a resource.

    Reply
    • Haha! I did get it off my chest. It had been percolating for so long, and totally boiled over while we were in Lisbon 😉 . I think one should try and tell it like they saw or experienced. Granted, like l said, l pick a place because it’s good, safe..etc..etc.. and most of your accounting will reflect that. Don’t leave out the glaring ons though. Let people make their own judgement. I do feel better..

      Reply
  2. Whew! I almost fell out of the bed with “living like a local” lol. Coffee in a flat, gotta love it haha. I definitely agree with your point that you owe it to your readers to be transparent, not necessarily negative. Because you’re right, we. don’t. believe. you. Give us the real and the raw. Awesome job.

    Reply
    • Thanks 🙂 . That phrase is completely overused. If that were the case, I’ve lived as a local in a ton of countries! Shoot..even the locals don’t want to live like locals! It’s sort of discounting the intelligence of your reader when you assume they can’t handle the real recap of your travel. You’re right, you do not have to be negative. The real and the raw, I like that :-).

      Reply
    • Hahaha! I don’t think most of the bloggers have a trust fund of parents that pay their way (maybe gap year kids). We certainly don’t have either, just what seems like a gazillion years in the working world. There are quite a few who live in third world countries though, where the cost of living is insanely low and get by with scraps. Those people l don’t think should be encouraging others, but there’s a reason why misery loves company 😉 .

      Reply
    • There is just no reason to poo poo the people who don’t do things the way you do. If everyone’s off the beaten path is climbing Machu Picchu, does it then become the beaten path?

      Reply
  3. Preach on!! I agree with you and I’m so glad you spoke your mind. As you know I also have an issue with the elitist attitude. That’s funny to think people think staying in an Airbnb is living like a local. HA! I will say I am guilty of a lists, top posts but for some destinations readers love quick handy guides not to mention the dreaded SEO in travel blogging that pushes blog titles. I was determined to get back to more story telling this year and it has been wonderful! Thx for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Thanks Nadeen. I always appreciate your input. I know for sure your pet peeve about the snobishness. I know, l will forever reside in the annals of bottom feeders as far as SEO and keep prattling on :-). I’m glad you’re getting back to story telling. We love it! We are living deep inside surburbia in Sevilla and for almost 2 years now. I still wouldn’t say we’re living like locals :-)! The locals want to live like tourists!

      Reply
  4. Welp. You went there. I can especially relate to the “live like a local” diatribes. Nope. I’m on vacation. I’m gonna do all the tourist stuff, and do it luxuriously if I can. I know struggle. I don’t want those memories. Judge meeeehh

    Reply
    • Haha! I totally cracked up after reading this comment! People are so stressed out from work and all. Federico wanted to stay at an AirBnB when we visited Bologna with my MIL. I was like the poor woman works long and hard, why would she want to cook on her vacation? I don’t want those memories. Judge meeeehh – I LOVE THAT! 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Reply
  5. Great post (as always!) And I wholeheartedly agree with you on all of the points made – especially “Writing about places they’ve never visited” – I have seen quite a few blogs recently on the region where I used to live and it is obvious (stock photos, for one) that the writers have never been near the place!
    Keep up the good work!

    Reply
    • Thanks Sue! Hope you’ve settled in nicely. It takes a lot of balls to write about places one hasn’t been. I can understand writing it from an “I want to go there because..” angle, but to try and sell it as authentic take major stones :-).

      Reply
    • Hah! I just said it in the last comment that I get it if it’s from a bucket list view. It really does get confusing. I was naive at first, but when l realized l was getting snowed, it really pissed me off and l never went back to read their further posts.

      Reply
  6. Oh Kemkem… You’re too cute! Funny stuff. I’m always amazed that bloggers (and I am one) think anyone cares what they have to say. It does seem like a terrible ‘look at me’ way to spend our time, right?

    Reply
    • Sure it does. It’s a “very look at me” kind of way to live. I guess that got too boring and people have to mix it up and take it 10 steps further to “Look at me. Be me. I am the most interesting person in the world”. Bleecchhh! 🙂

      Reply
  7. ‘Love the post KemKem and your rant. Get it off your chest girlfriend!

    I’m guilty of doing top 10, 48 hours etc, but in many cases, I’ve been there before, and say so in my write-up, and I never ever write about a place that I have never been to! No can do sire! If it’s a short visit, I say so and I specify the budget option if I can, and my personal option which isn’t budget at all! The only day I wrote about travelling to Denmark, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, and I said that if you have a small budget, you really shouldn’t be travelling there! Oh, and I write about museums and galleries ‘cos I like them and couldn’t care less if other people don’t lol!

    p.s. I also dislike preaching on the who’s a traveller or a tourist argument. Quite frankly, unless you’ve lived there for years, you’re a tourist! I’ve lived in Berlin for almost 17 years and I wouldn’t dream of calling myself a true German ‘cos I’m not. I’m an expat local, and a British Berliner, and I’m fine with that lol!

    Reply
    • Well put Victoria! I think it’s perfectly normal to do top 10 when it calls for it. When it becomes top ten every post, then it becomes a problem for me. Glossing over the good stuff to get more traffic rather than telling a story. I guess there are lots of people who prefer that because the click and bait works :-). I know l always appreciate your posts and the detail that goes into them, and costs when provided. You do tell it like it is. We’ve been here for almost 2 years in the thick of things, but to say l’m a local is really pushing it ;-).

      Reply
  8. Your blog is one of the very few I subscribe to because you think exactly like my wife and I do. There wasn’t one item in your “rant” that my wife and I haven’t talked about in the same way many times (except writing about places you haven’t been to – can’t even believe someone would do that). I was reading your comments to my wife while she was working on her blog (more of a diary for friends than a traditional blog) and we were just laughing out loud. We now travel about 6 months every year (2 months in the States and 4 overseas – we live in Colorado) and actually met in Mexico 35 years ago while we were both traveling.
    Thank you for providing me such a joyful few minutes of reading.
    Steve
    Gjirokaster, Albania – almost 1/2 way through this year’s trip.
    http://www.bergersadventures4.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • I can’t tell you how much your comment warms the cockles of my heart :-). Thank you so much. I’m so glad you guys get it! I’m going to read your wife’s journal. It sounds like l would enjoy it. I like the setup you guys have, 6 months in and out. I went to Colorado once for a conference. I really liked it, very pretty, but cold. Oh how romantic your story is. Amazing how shared love for traveling brought you together. Thanks again for your kind comment :-). I hope l can keep you entertained.

      Reply
  9. My husband has mentioned the one about talking about some place you’ve never even been. He has told me before he thinks they just recycle articles. 🙂 Don’t even check out what they recycle. It drives him mad. I love your fresh takes. Has encouraged me to add a couple places to my list I wouldn’t have before.

    I have a few peeves too, not in the travel blog, as I only follow a couple, but in the medical/alternative/nutrition arena. Maybe I should write a peeve post. 🙂

    Terri

    Reply
    • I can understand him getting mad. I feel the same way sometimes ;-). You know, they probably do. I’m so glad your list has expanded a bit. I think you should definitely do a pet peeve one. I would love to read it for sure. I’ll start with the constant ads and how the physicians seem to prescribe based on detailing from the reps and not really the drug itself :-).

      Reply
  10. Thanks for the mention Kemkem. I have a few major pet peeves. 1. The small ones who those those posts “Top 10 Bloggers” in the hopes of getting shares or comments from those big bloggers. Totally unoriginal and nobody respects a kiss ass. 2) bloggers who resort to posing in bikinis. Those are the stupid twats in my book and I have no respect for them. Especially when they’re in their mid-30’s and half their body parts are full of silicone. You know who I’m talking about. But the worse, for me is this category 3) the blogger who sugar coats everything. Everything is peaches and cream, everybody is super friendly, every place is fantastic and worth seeing. I’ve had the same bloggers come on my posts where I maybe don’t say something good about a place and they’ll say “yes, I agree,we didn’t enjoy *****”. But go to their site to find out more and it’s all pretty photos and stories about how they loved the place. For me that’s the worse because it’s just insincere and at worse, a bunch of lies. If you don’t like a place, say so and stand by it. We’re all entitled to different opinions as long as we make a good argument for it based on our observations and experiences. Maybe they don’t feel secure telling their opinions because most travel as you say, 3-4 days somewhere. They don’t know a place. But even then, write the truth, even if you sound like an idiot. Too many bloggers just write boring drivel that won’t offend anybody. And there’s nothing worse than boring and insincere, nobody wants to read that shit.

    Anyway, these are some of my major pet peeves.

    Frank (bbqboy)

    Reply
    • Haha! I can always count on you! I think one could write a book on this stuff 🙂 . Kiss ass is funny but accurate. I have to admit that l really don’t read or run into many of those people with the bikini anymore. A few yoga poses in bikinis which l find just ridiculous. Next time l see you, l want to check some out for a good laugh. For the third part, l really don’t know why one wouldn’t want to just want to write what they experience. Maybe it’s a desire to be liked by everyone. I get that 99% of your trip is wonderful. I know l try to pick my destinations carefully and l fully expect to have a great time. If however there are some snags, l think your readers appreciate the honesty of a true story. Like you say, everyone has their own opinions. We all can’t and shouldn’t like the same places. You simply report what you experienced :-).

      Reply
    • Hi, Frank. I like your blog. My only pet peeve is that you don’t post more. But thanks for leaving out the bikini shots.
      As for travel bloggers, I tend to follow the more “mature” bloggers. One I follow for entertainment. He is a vlogger so I get a lot of scenery. Right now he’s on Bali. I just found Kemkem because I was looking for a Malta vs Spain comparison.
      Thanks, Kemkem, by the way. This is a good post. I get so tired of Instagram because of bikini shots and people who post photos from others. There are even photoshopped photos, which I called out one Instagrammer for. It was a gorgeous house on the beach below some white cliffs. Except it wasn’t real. I wasn’t the only one who mentioned this to him. It wasn’t even his photo so he had no idea. Lol
      Kemkem, I found you because I was looking for a comparison between Malta and Spain. Your mention of island fever from living on Malta took me back to 1974, when I lived on the gorgeous South Korean island of Jeju. I was there for a year and couldn’t wait to leave. But then I had had to deal with a dialect of Korean that not even Koreans understood.
      I am not a travel blogger though people have asked me to speak about Sweden. I have a podcast for students of English as a hobby and, though I love it, it’s enough work as it is.
      Anyway, thanks for your helpful blog.

      Reply
      • Hi Edith, Thanks for reading it. I have always found it weird to focus on the person as opposed to the actual place being visited. Haha! Good on you for calling out a phony. There seems to be so many of them out, and then to just repost someone else’s image is just insane. No imagination whatsoever.

        I’ve heard of Jeju, and that must have been just as claustrophobic as Malta felt for us after a while. We had been told that it might happen before we moved, but l didn’t think it would be possible… they were right. If l had to endure that, plus have an unknown language like you did, I would have been over it even quicker for sure.

        Hey, any chance you might want to be on the podcast as a guest then? It would be interesting to have you on and talk about your travels :-). If interested, please let me know and l will contact you so we can set it up. If not, no worries :-).

        Reply
  11. I love this! The “elite” grind my gears a bit too much. I’m mostly positive on my experiences, but I have a few “don’t do it’s” for companies and services used.

    Reply
  12. Haha thanks so much for giving me a good laugh this morning. I only visit 2-3 bloggers in all and you’re the only one I check regularly. I would definitely avoid any blogger who flits around the world visiting 500 cities in 1 week! I exaggerate but you know the type;-)
    They would then proceed to write epistles about the places they went; I’m thinking ‘you were there for what, 24 hours and now you know everything ‘?!
    Living like a local? Yeah right, why not visit the poorer parts of town? I’m quite annoyed because for me the biggest con ever perpetuated is the myth of Paris. Truthfully I’ve never seen a dirtier, gloomier town and the people were the rudest I’d ever come across.! #neverforget 🙂
    You have really hit on lots of good points but I think some travel bloggers feel they must show a perfect, ‘fun’ image to attract & keep readers. I think it’s reflective of the fake social media dominated era we now live in:-(

    Reply
    • Awh! Thanks Lili :-). That makes me feel good. I think you’re right about the fake social media society we live in. Facebook is not enough to trumpet the perfect life, and so they spread it over to the other platforms. It just never ends. Hahahaaa!!! 500 cities in one week and you’re an expert, yes.. I do know that type. Been in Sevilla almost two years, l don’t even know the best tapas place in this little surburb, never mind the city. The one thing l do know is that the locals definitely want to live like tourists, at least here :-), and l suspect everywhere else too. They have to work like donkeys for very little money. Paris thankfully I’ve been lucky that most of my visits have been pleasant save for the smelly guy time. The thing is that no one expects you to like every place. That would be insane, so stop cheating your readers and just tell your story. I have a disappointing story coming up soon :-).

      Reply
  13. Do travel bloggers really write about places they have never been?? When I write a story, I def tell about the good, bad and the ugly if that’s occurred while traveling. I like list but when I really want to experience something, I like blogs that tell stories. I like both, some tourist places are must see, while I also love off the beaten path.

    Reply
    • Mixing it up is a good thing. The point is, it’s your travel experience. It is unique and you share that with your readers. Yes, l know you tell exactly what you experience from reading your blog :-), the good and the bad, which is what makes it nice for me to read. Yes, l was so disappointed to see people writing about places they hadn’t been. Before l started blogging, l was a regular reader looking to find out what l could expect from countries and cities l wanted to visit. I can’t take the word of someone who’s never been to tell me how it is, that doesn’t work for me as l could read on Wikipedia or something and not the blog.

      Reply
  14. Wow, I recently just started to incorporate travel in into my blog and I will definitely keep these thoughts in mind when posting! Great points – thanks for being honest!

    Reply
    • Oh cool! I will check out your blog. I always like real stories, and l think that’s what most people like too. I think readers deserve it. Good luck with it 🙂

      Reply
  15. I’m still trying to understand how a “travel” blogger can write abut a place they have never been! SMH That’s crazy! I think newbie bloggers see Travel blogging as luxurious and fun and they are afraid to say what their real opinion is because they won’t get sponsorships and likes. SMH. It keep them from being authentic and that’s sad.

    Reply
    • I still don’t understand it either. You’re right though, maybe new bloggers are afraid of endorsement deals. The way l figure, the more authentic you are, the more believable your posts about their hotels/stuff etc. It is sad 🙁

      Reply
  16. Haha! Nodding my head and keeping time while I was reading your rant and loving it! 😀 We came to the conclusion years ago that “living like a local” was the one thing we wanted to avoid – think Mexico,Central & South America & the DR and you’ll get over the “local” living real fast when you come face-to-face with down and out poverty. If travel has taught us anything it’s how amazingly fortunate we are to have the choice to experience as much or as little of “living local” as we want and the ability to pony up the money necessary for the degree and depth of experience we want. And, BTW, what the hell is an AUTHENTIC experience? One last point, I absolutely love travel bloggers who mix it up, the good and the bad as well as epic fails. Who wants to hang out with the person who’s been “everywhere” and who packs the perfect suitcase anyway? EESH! Anita P.S. Back in Lagos again. We’ll give our suitcases a rest for a few weeks and then get in touch for a meet-up sometime, somewhere!

    Reply
    • Welcome back! Very well put as usual. Yep! When you’re exposed to how the real “locals” actually live, you don’t want any part of it. We also consider ourselves lucky in being able to have good experiences which usually involves money, let’s face it. When l go back home for instance and see kids selling the prepacked ice for like 20 cents of which they only get one cent for themselves and you know there is no future for them because they can’t go to school. Parents that work several jobs just to provide food. It is considered a luxury if you eat 3 meals a day and if there’s meat in one of those dishes, then you’re golden. Locals dream of a better life. Sometimes l get so overwhelmed that l don’t want to go out when l’m visiting Nigeria. Every red light, every stop..so many locals hungry, disabled. We do what little we can to support groups and organizations, but it’s a losing battle. You get to hang out with imperfect me, who forgets the whole suitcase..bwaahhh..like in Marrakesh 🙂

      Reply
  17. GIRL!!!!!!! I agree with so many of these. How can you write about a place you’ve never been? I can understand writing about a place you are anticipating and maybe mentioning some places you can’t wait to visit. However don’t act like you’ve been if you haven’t. Crazy.

    There are some real travel snobs out there, I don’t pay them any mind. I’ve not left the USA but that doesn’t mean my travels are less than yours. I share what I’ve experienced. I believe in telling the truth, I had an amazing time but the bugs will eat you alive. lol

    Reply
    • Yep! You gotta tell the little annoying stuff too. I really just don’t get the writing about places you haven’t visited. Makes it impossible to keep your stories straight! :-). Yep, even traveling to the next state qualifies you as a traveler! I saw a t-shirt that said something like my passport has more stamps than yours or something like that, and l just wow!I think it’s great that people travel, but nope..doesn’t make you better. Not one bit 🙂

      Reply
  18. I hate the elitist attitude – ie I’m better than you are because I’ve been xyz. I’ve also experienced pushback from travel Facebook groups because although I write about travel, it’s not my main focus. It really threw me off and I’ve taken a mini hiatus from writing about traveling.

    Reply
    • Really? That sucks that people can’t just focus on their own crap! You should write about whatever you want. It’s your blog! I don’t think you’re diluting the message at all, especially because you incorporate some financial tips with it. Don’t mind them 🙂 and keep on doing you.

      Reply
    • Yeah, you have to kind of read between the lines, but as someone stated.. it probably has to do with the state of social media nowadays. You have to live bigger, richer..etc.. Where does it end? 😉

      Reply
  19. Honey please dont get me started…especially with these new travel elitest! I am traveling more and I am so happy after only getting my passport last year and already got 10 stamps on it, but I am very humble to travel. I enjoy it but it doesnt make me better, but social media is really blowing some people heads up like they think they are better. So you went to 20 countries in 20 days and wanna rub it in others faces and say “I love traveling wish you were here” #blessed is obnoxious. Also people downing others on how they travel, saying where they travel is so much better than places they havent even touched land on ,or think you have the right to be the travel guru and be pompous about it grinds my gears. We are so privileged to travel especially Americans. I am so happy so many of my black people are traveling too but yeah dont get elitest and realize what you do in your leisure, someone in that same country wish they had the opportunity. I went to Cuba recently to learn that on my resort the girl who worked there as the entertainment only made $20 an hour and probably feels she will never be able to leave Cuba. Traveling isnt an option for everyone. So I am blessed that I can travel whether its sponsored or out my own pocket.

    Add this to your list of PP: New Travel Bloggers and everyone saying they are travel bloggers now and trying to make every trip a press trip. Everything isnt a press trip…you can go without it being sponsored or with the CVB contacting you. You can also blog about it if you paid for it. Dont lie about being a travel blogger now too and you only travel once a year.

    Reply
    • Haha! I guess you had a bit to get off your chest too :-). I think the common point everybody seems to hate is that very elitist attitude. The fact that you went somewhere doesn’t make you an expert traveler all of a sudden. They forget that most people read to get a feel of how it will be when they eventually travel there, or to share your memories. They don’t read it so they can feel inferior to you or bad that they can not afford to travel. Coming from Nigeria where the salaries are just pennies, people work an insane amount to just get by. They don’t have the extra money to hop on a plane. If the only reason you’re traveling is to say..”just because l can”..then shame on you. It’s for the experience. Yeah..the new bloggers and their “hi..l started my blog this week, how do l get free trips?” does irritate..Good one! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Totally agree with your points especially what gets me off is folks behaving like authorities about a city when they’ve barely interacted with locals, and have been to the said place for a couple of hours/days.
    I’m an Airbnb host as well and I leave it to guests to set the tempo of the interaction as I’m careful not to be all in their face; some are in the city for specific reasons ie work or study and keep interaction at a minimum as they are busy and so forth…others are tourists coming for concerts or stays in between their gambols and can afford more interaction; cooking meals together, walks around the city for icecream etc.

    Reply
    • Yeah..that really rubs me the wrong way. How does not become an expert of a place in 12 or 24 hours or a long layover? It takes balls to say that! :-). You’re right about the AirBnB. People might be visiting for different reasons all together, not just vacation and it’s great that you let them set the tempo. The living like a local is pretty much the same all over the world isn’t it? Like you said, cook meals together, walk, get ice cream, do laundry etc..just normal everyday living, be it in Amsterdam or London or Cambodia. Most people go on holiday to skip doing that for a bit. Why go away just to do laundry, cook, etc? Meh! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Another pet peeve is travel bloggers I’m following, who post instagram pictures of them getting inebriated at destinations instead of pictures of the said destinations..not showcasing the destinations rather just a picture and city tag..as if to say, “I’ve been there…duh!! Those..get..me so BLUE!!

    Reply
    • Haha! I haven’t been exposed to that, but yeah..that would piss me off no end! Why would they think anyone was interested in their drunken pursuits. I want to see lovely pictures, not some blurry image of you in a bar getting wasted 😉

      Reply
  22. Great article, Kemkem! You are 100% right about everything. One of the things that upsets me the most is people simply leaving out the bad stuff and only showing you the amazing things. It’s true, people don’t necessarily want to read about bad experience and we as persons try to put it away, but when you’re telling somebody “you must go there” and present it as heaven on earth, although it’s not, then there is a problem.

    I’ve always been a fan of SE Asian countries and you probably know that it’s all the rage right now for nomads to be there because of the perfect living conditions and cheap cost of life. Only after reading tens of blogs and thousands of blog posts I managed to read between the lines and realize that those countries, just like all others, have their own problems if not more. I also remember one of your articles about India where you talked about the wild boars roaming the cities. I had read until then tens of articles about how beautiful India is and not a single one had pointed that thing out. And it’s not like you might miss packs of boars roaming around the city!

    Reply
    • Thanks C! I have now come to the point of starting to read between the lines when l read blogs. I have also come to the realization that my blog will always be an underdog because l refuse to play that game.I just think it’s a disservice to your readers to lead them on about perfect places. Just let them know what to expect. They are not stupid and can make their own decisions. I’ve been a fan of Asian food haha! and yeah..it is the rage to be based there because of the low cost of living. It’s not for me truthfully, l am not a fan of third world problems. I came from that, and don’t want or need to relive it. Misery loves company is my whole thinking behind that…and no! You can not miss boars or giant cows roaming the streets :-). P.S.. I will let you know our take on Bangkok soon. We are headed there.

      Reply
  23. Kemkem! You have hit the ail right on the head…the last 2 are my BIGGEST pet peeves! As an African I know the struggle well, even travelling withing Africa one still has to struggle to get visas not to mention the exorbitant rates for flights. Travel is not always affordable and when it is it is out of reach for a huge chunk of the world’s population. I really could go on and on about this but I’ll stop before I need up writing a whole post in the comment section.

    Reply
    • Haha! Write away :-). The worst part about the visa is when you’re denied, you don’t get a refund on the fees. It was the 3rd time when it was finally granted, with an actual doctor in tow! Insane. It is out of the question for most of the world like you say :-(. I think they just assume it’s the same for everyone everywhere.

      Reply
  24. Great post, Kemkem! I agree that it’s hard to claim that an AirBnB stay means you’re living like a local, BUT it does give you more of a local experience that you definitely wouldn’t get staying in a hotel. That’s AirBnB’s whole motto…”Belong anywhere” I believe it is. I try to make a point of really engaging with locals and picking their brains about local life – especially my travel guides. A lot of travel bloggers frown upon taking guided tours which is also silly. We’ve made friends with guides in different countries who’ve given us such great insight to local life because we’ve made the effort to really dig deeper past the typical tourist questions (e.g., restaurant recommendations) to find out what the local mood is about more substantive issues (e.g., immigration, local politics, quality of life, etc.). I don’t think travelers take advantage of their guides enough. I think my biggest pet peeve with travel bloggers is reading their BS fluff. I don’t want to just know about where you eat, stayed and played…I want to know the nitty gritty about your experience in X destination (i.e., the crazy characters you met, the mishaps, the life lessons, etc.). How is travel really changing us, if at all, and how do our travels shape our perspective about our own lives and communities? THOSE are the stories I’d love to read more.

    Reply
    • Hah! I forget about the guide thing. It’s good for getting the nitty gritty of a place like you say for sure. We seem to bond a lot with waiter and hotel workers as we have discussed previously. All of that helps to get a flavor of the place, which is always wonderful and leaves you with great memories. What l object to is claiming you lived like a local for 2 nights in an AirBnB, didn’t visit any local markets, talk to anyone and claim you know it all. I do agree that yes, AirBnB when you stay long enough does give you an insight. Frank and Lissette for instance stay at an Airbnb anywhere from 1-2 months, shopping, eating, getting haircuts or what not at local places. That is living like one. I suspect that most people don’t do this and just take it on to save money. I love reading true accounts of travel, the little quirks that give your story substance. I think everyone would appreciate it, but l don’t think that gets the clicks as much which is probably why they don’t do it or do it as much.

      Reply
  25. Absolutely LOVE this post, Kemkem! So many great points (some had me laughing!;-) But the point about not going to touristy attractions really rang true! Even though I mostly write about NYC (where I live), I’m the first to sing the praises of the touristy attractions—they are famous attractions for a reason! It always blows my mind when locals say things like “Ugh, I HATE Times Square” or “I’ve never been to the Empire State Building and have no desire to go”…I mean, really? Yes, these things have their time and place, but if you’re lucky enough to live in such an amazing city (with all the sacrifices it takes to live here) I would think that you would, at least on occasion, appreciate all the reasons people travel from across the world to visit, right?:-)

    Reply
    • Thanks Jess. I think there was a bee in my bonnet :-). How can one deny themselves beautiful places? It’s important to get a whole rounded outlook of where you visit. People are looking for guidance so they can pinpoint what to do and where to go since they have limited time. If you’re going to tell them not to visit places that makes the city what it is, then what? A place like New York?..you gotta do the rounds and proudly mark them off :-). I still remember Times Square, Empire State Building even after like 20 plus years. Memories that stay with you forever. Like you say, places like NYC require a lot of sacrifice thanks to the high cost of living. The least you can do is take advantage of it :-). Most people will only get there once in their lifetime.

      Reply
  26. Hi Kemkem! How about adding to your list of pet peeves stupid ass debates such as being a “slow” traveler versus a “fast” traveler or “Should you recline your seat in the plane?” (yawn). Why can’t everyone just do want they want and let everybody else travel as they wish?! I think a lot of these topics have to do with driving traffic to their sites though. I noticed people comment the most on such posts (on FB or blog). But here’s where I get a little cheeky…..I do find it ironic that writing about one’s pet peeves has become a thing (at least in the travel blogging world). Yours isn’t the first of its kind that I’ve come across so that might be a new pet peeve of mine….lol! 😉

    Reply
    • Haha! You’re totally right. Writing about pet peeves being a thing :-). I read mostly financial blogs so l’m a bit behind with the fads and the “things”, but l have read a few. I actually had a post about Lisbon and then l remembered why l was mad.. I was disappointed with part of our visit there and was all pissed because of the glowing reviews l had read..and poof..blog post. I’ve heard the slow vs fast, but didn’t know about the seat recline being a thing too. I will forever stay tiny as far as traffic 🙂 because l just spout off at the mouth when l feel like it. I think if l needed $ to survive, l would probably be chasing the traffic too and writing glowing reports and listicals so l can’t hate :-). How about you do a pet peeve about people with pet peeves post :-), me being numero uno 😉 . I promise to read it.

      Reply
      • Then you would get along with my boyfriend (he’s a finance guy)! I only recently started travel (& design) blogging and decided I just want to write what I want or else it doesn’t feel like me. I, of course, still try to write interesting (I hope) stuff but I don’t want to follow blog trends just to get traffic (I might join you in the “Club of Tiny Blog Traffic”). Very funny…..I think I’ll stick to NOT writing about pet peeves (until the day I’m eating from a trash bin and need my blog to survive)! Thanks for your sense of humor! 🙂

        Reply
        • Travel and design sounds fun. I’m going to check it out for sure because unfortunately a lot of the financial blogs are just away for one reason or the other. Yeah.. I totally told the audience at least a year ago that l will stay tiny because l need to write freely and truly as best as l can. I’m an old dog that refuses to learn new tricks :-). This was my second rant in 2.8 years, the first being the quit your job and travel one. Thanks for reading, and totally love your sense of humor as well..Remember me when your blog takes off 🙂 😉 🙂 .

          Reply
  27. Thanks for sharing your pet peeves!!! I’m a big fan of doing what you want on vacation. It’s your time and money. If you want to see famous sites with other tourists. Great. If you want to be one with the locals. Awesome. It’s your experience so do what makes you happy!!!

    Reply
    • Exactly! No one should dictate what is acceptable for your vacation. There is no right or wrong way to visit a place. Famous sites are famous for a reason and it’s kind of stupid to deny seeing beauty because you want to be in with the “in” crowd.. 🙂 . Thanks for chiming in..great point of view.

      Reply
  28. Kemkem it is good to rant and get it off your chest. I started reading travel blogs back in 2012 and became fascinated about the different styles of traveling, the interactions between the travel bloggers community and the useful information about travel destinations. Because of my full time job I lack time for my own travel blog and only post occasionally, but I do enjoy it and I am slowly learning to improve it. Some of my earlier posts were awful and I cringe now when I look back. I don’t care about traffic to my blog, since I don’t ever intend to monetise it, but it is nice to know that people read it and I love getting comments. I dislike when blogs became too commercial and all posts are sponsored. Also I do think bloggers must be careful when writing negative reviews of a place and take good care of giving a balanced view, since beauty after all is…in the eye of the beholder.

    Reply
    • Haha! I think everyone cringes about the old posts. I know l do. Whenever l get a minute, l go back to them and try to improve them. I started reading blogs about the same time as you, when we decided we wanted to move and l found so little about Malta once we made the decision. I decided to write a bit to help others. I think when it gets to be your main source of income, the need to gloss over and do sponsored posts all the time starts to become a priority. Of course it’s a double edge sword in that you turn people off. I love when people comment too, and appreciate what you are doing, but more importantly can get a glimpse of what to expect when they visit someplace. A balance opinion and then let the reader decide. I would guess 95% of the time, all is good, very good. You don’t go visit a war zone for instance, you go someplace nice. It’s kind of disappointing when you meet bloggers who hated a place and had the worst time write such glowing reports.

      Reply
  29. You know Kemkem. I’ve spent the last 2 weeks thinking about what a vacuous and self-absorbed pursuit travel blogging is (and honestly, I’ve never found a travel blog that interests me. Not even my own!). I’ve decided to put my focus on living my life. Not blah blah blahing about it. I owe you one!!

    Reply
    • Oh l hope you’re not saying what l think you’re saying 🙁 . I don’t want credit for that, I don’t want to be owed..or pay me back by keeping on writing. I love the stories you share, especially the way you write them. Very polished and professional. Blah blah only when you feel like it. I for one would have never known how Budapest was until l found your blog while you were still living there. Live life a little, write about life a little. :-). Pretty please?

      Reply
    • That’s the one that really bugs me the most 😉 . How can you talk up a place you’ve never been? It was really crushing to me when l discovered that. I get the appeal of top ten, but all posts should not be that, just trying to get eyeballs. A little substance please. Thanks for chiming in :-).

      Reply
  30. You know I so agree with you… people visit a city for like a weekend and come back as an expert. …As blogger I think our aim should be to share our experience and not claim to be an expert. I think part of it comes from writing for Search Engines and not for sharing your voice / humans. I am sure in coming years search engines will start discounting the click bait headings… 🙂

    Reply
    • Seriously, I think believing to be an expert after a long layover is the worst :-). How can anyone even think that’s possible? I do admit that l used to be naive in the beginning until l started asking questions.. Shoot, I lived in Hollywood for 19 years and l can’t even call myself an expert, maybe of my street. Oh, it would be great if the search engines start discounting them. They are mostly rubbish.. Haha! Thanks so much for your comment.

      Reply
  31. These all annoy me so much as well. I get so sick of seeing posts like “The ultimate guide to 2 days in Bangkok” where they list the Grand Palace, Khao San Road and Wat Pho. We already have thousands of such posts. I like to hear about a traveler’s unique experience. If a person does go more “off the beaten path,” then write a guide to the destination – that is okay.

    Reply
    • Hi Jeff. I got so jaded from reading the same kind of articles after a while. It might even be okay if they would just add a personal touch to it but l get the feeling most have never been, so they just rework articles. From what l am learning, they do this because those kind or articles are the money makers, but switch it up a little l say :-). I like your article on Bangkok…haha! Yep, it is an assault on the senses for sure, but l loved it. Reminds me of home (Nigeria) with the energy. Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  32. WOW!! I found you through a comment you made on Facebook. I’m a new travel blogger and your post is definitely on point. As I’m finding my “travel blog voice” this post is definitely giving me food for thought.

    The “don’t visit tourist spots” mindset is so utterly ridiculous to me and the writing about a place you’ve never been is something I don’t plan on doing. Thanks for getting this off your chest as it helps me solidify the type of travel blogger I want to be. And the kind I DON’T WANT TO BE!

    Reply
    • Welcome to the blogging world. It is definitely very different looking at things from this side as opposed to the reader side. I think for me the most important thing is to stay true to myself and not concentrate so much on the money side that you lose the trust people have in you. I’ve said often on this blog that l will never become a “big” blog, I can’t because l refuse to play the game and have rose tinted glasses on everything and every place.

      Yeah..it can be a fine line and once you choose what side you want to be on, it’s a whole lot easier. I look forward to following your journey :-). I’m also glad that you found this little blog.

      Reply
  33. Hi Kemkem, Your “rant” and list of pet peeves came at the perfect time for me! I am starting a travel blog this month because, well, the world needs ONE MORE! Your comments really made me think hard about what I will write about and how. Good inspiration to be real, honest, and share the good and the not-so-good! Well done you! I subscribed!

    Reply
    • You had me laughing at the what the world needs is one more blog.. :-). I find if you write true to yourself, you can do no wrong. I read so few blogs nowadays because they all sound and look the same. I will be reading your blog, so please make it real :-). The world needs more of us for sure. Good luck with it.

      Reply

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