Even if it’s a part-time venture, does having a travel blog actually make me a travel blogger? This is a question I’ve asked and been asked on several occasions. I still haven’t settled on an answer.

How to Be a Travel Blogger Without Travelling

Am I really a travel blogger?

1. I have a serious case of imposter syndrome. Apart from a small amount of money earned through affiliate sales on an irregular basis I don’t earn anything that could be referred to as an income.
2. I don’t travel on a regular basis. I started this blog because I wanted to write about my travels, but then I realised that I simply wouldn’t be able to produce enough content.

Of course the reality is that I set this website up from scratch, I’ve read books, how-to guides, watched youtube videos, attended workshops and conferences and even taken an online course – all of this to learn and improve. Secondly, when I do travel to a destination I research, explore, photograph, take notes, then on my return I write, edit, publish, and promote.

So yes, ultimately, I think this does make me a travel blogger.

Should I travel more often?

Like most people with a full time job I’m restricted by how much annual leave I can take, so it is impossible for me to travel in vast quantities. There’s also an issue that not many people talk about: that travel can be exhausting. This can include the actual journey, all of the activities, the walking and exploring, the possible travel sickness, and the jetlag. Then add the extra work that goes into producing all of the blog and social media content. It’s exhausting!

The difference is, I write blog posts about my travels because I enjoy it, I don’t rely on it to make a living.

Something else I have learned over the last few years is that travel doesn’t have to be about travelling to the other side of the world. It’s simply about exploring and understanding your surroundings. This includes the UK – it’s a fascinating country, I love that we have such diverse locations such as busy, bustling cities and remote, rural villages, all of which can be reached relatively easily. This is why I started the Exploring Oxfordshire series: to encourage and inspire people to explore the area with me, while I step out into my local surroundings and visit new destinations without the hassle of packing a suitcase and getting on a plane.

I don’t need to travel more, just differently.

How to be a travel blogger without travelling

The answer is simple: Travel your way. If you want to fly to the other side of the world. Do it.

If you want to hop on a bus and head a few miles from your own home. Do it.

Live your life. Go where you want. Then write about it.

This will make you a travel blogger.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Here Are 2 Tips

1. Take day trips and weekend breaks closer to home – you’re bound to find somewhere you haven’t been before.
2. Focus on your home town – someone, somewhere is sure to want to visit and receive information 

How do you write about travel without actually travelling?

Let me know in the comments.