15 Must-Read Travel Blogs for 2014

Written on January 8, 2014 at 11:47 am, by  
I thought we’d kick off the New Year with a roundup of some of our favorite travel blogs. Whether you’re looking for some good business travel pointers or some inspiration for your next getaway, all of the blogs below are a great place to start your research.
This list is in no way exhaustive—there are tons of amazing travel blogs and bloggers out there. I encourage you to add your favorites in the comments below and clue us in on any we might not have heard of.
1. THE TICKET – Published by Chris McGinnis, a longtime travel blogger and columnist (he’s written for the likes of BBC.com and has appeared as a travel correspondent on CNN Headline News), THE TICKET is a great blog for the frequent traveler. It’s filled with expert tips, industry trends, and insider insight. If you’re planning on logging a lot of airline miles this year, you’ll definitely learn a thing or two from THE TICKET.
2. earthXplorer – J.D. Andrews is the blogger extrodinaire behind earthXplorer, and his photos and videos are what bucket lists are made of. From his recent pics of the sweeping mountains in Austria to the sunrise in the Highlands of Scotland, he always seems to be traveling somewhere new and beautiful. And take note: a few of the destinations on J.D.’s wish list for 2014 include Japan, the Galapagos Islands, Cuba, and the Greek Islands. Who knows … he might inspire your next dream vacation.
3. Johnny Jet – Johnny Jet is a well-known name around the travel blogosphere, but if you haven’t had a chance to check out his work, then tack his blog onto your “must-read” list. He has spent the past 10 plus years flying around the world, racking up hundreds of thousands of miles in the process, so there’s no question that the guy knows his stuff. Check out his clever tips, descriptive hotel reviews, and valuable trove of travel wisdom.
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(Photo Courtesy of Johnny Jet)
4. Skift – Skift, a self-proclaimed travel intelligence company, is the perfect blog for those who like to geek out on data and stats. They pull together compelling pieces about the travel industry, the latest and greatest travel startups, global travel trends, and much more. Jason Clampet, a former editor at Frommers.com, is the co-founder and head of content, so Skift definitely knows what they’re talking about and does a great job producing timely and relevant content.
5. LandLopers – Landlopers, the brainchild of Matt Long, is an invaluable resource for all sorts of travel info. From favorite foodie destination across the globe to reviews of the newest travel gear, and everything in between, Matt makes travel approachable. His unique perspective is centered on the fact that he isn’t a backpacker nor is he sustaining his travel on a trust fund, but rather he is a “typical Gen-Xer” who has chosen to prioritize travel in his life. For those who think that they can’t travel because they don’t have time or they have a mortgage (or whatever reason under the sun), Matt will inspire you to make room in your life.
6. The Mother of All Trips – Mara Gorman is the founder of The Mother of All Trips, a family-centric blog rich with travel tips and nuggets of wisdom from her journeys with her two young sons. Her blog is filled with great posts, even for those without kids. If you love to explore museums, zoos, and historical landmarks, you’ll fall in love with her blog even more, as these types of activities are often on her travel itinerary. Mara also writes a lot about outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, so if you’ve been bitten by the adventure bug, you’re bound to find inspiration for your next nature romp.
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(Photo Courtesy of Mara Gorman)
7. Midlife Road Trip – Talk about a fun duo. Co-hosts Rick Griffin and Sandi McKenna blog, create fun videos, and even host a radio program all about travel and adventure on Midlife Road Trip. Whether it’s wine tasting, skydiving, or anything in between, they tout the therapeutic benefits of travel, and hey—we can’t argue that.
8. My View from the Middle Seat – Writer, photographer, and social media addict Christina blogs about life as a D.I.N.K., which cleverly stands for “Double Income, No Kids.” As you can imagine, that’s a great opportunity for her to explore the world foot loose and fancy free. Although she has fabulous knowledge and expert advice on a variety of destinations, she’s without a doubt your go-to gal for all things Barbados.
9. Ann Tran – While her blog isn’t only about travel, I couldn’t possibly leave Ann Tran off the list. A Forbes “Top 50 Social Media Power Influencer,” Ann has a deep-seeded passion for global travel. Her blog features content from locales such as Machu Picchu, Maui, and Paris, and additionally, you’ll find posts on a wide variety of topic such as tech, social media, and art.
10. Lee Abbamonte – Lee is the youngest American to visit every country in the world. Need we say more? He’s been hang gliding over Rio de Janeiro, played golf in Afghanistan during the war, and tracked silverback gorillas in Rwanda. His tips and advice are rooted in experiences that few people in the world can claim to have, and he has appeared on Fox News, the Travel Channel, NBC, CNN, BBC, and more. For sound advice on any destination under the sun, you don’t want to pass up Lee’s entertaining posts.
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(Photo Courtesy of Lee Abbamonte)
11. Smarter Travel – The name says it all. Who doesn’t want to travel smarter? Well, this blog is a one-stop shop for all of the latest and greatest travel deals, unbiased advice, and compelling destination guides. Discover what the best beaches in the Florida Keys are in one post and read all about what it’s like to have global entry in the next. The breadth of information shared is pretty astonishing, and you won’t leave Smarter Travel anything less than, well, smarter.
12. The Points Guy – Want to learn how to maximize your frequent flier miles and credit card points to bankroll your future trips? Then Brian is your guy. Once a Wall Street road warrior, he learned all the tips and tricks of the trade to spending less and getting more. Be sure to consult his “Beginner’s Guide” before deciding what loyalty programs and credit cards to sign up for–you could start off your career as a points collector a lot richer than you think.
13. The Travel Bite – Travel plus food equals a winning combination in my book, and Rachelle hits the nail on the head with her blog, The Travel Bite. She fell into travel blogging kind of on accident, when she decided to become an innkeeper and was appointed as the designated blogger. From her global (and delicious looking) recipes to her spunky and fun looks at different destinations and activities, Rachelle breathes tons of fun into The Travel Bite.
14. The Boarding Area – A collection of blogs, The Boarding Area is home to some pretty profound travel bloggers with a wide variety of insight on topics ranging from dinning as it relates to air travel, the best travel hacks, and what it’s like to be a young female road warrior. If you’re looking for a jumping off point to exploring lots of different travel topics and amassing insightful tips for the frequent traveler, this is the spot for you. But be warned: there’s so much great content on The Boarding Area, you might never stop reading.
15. TripIt – I decided to add TripIt to the roundup because in 2014, we’re looking to pull together our collective years of travel experience and unique industry insight to provide our users with interesting and fresh content on all things travel. And believe me, we travel A LOT. Just check out our recent holiday card video that showcases all of our 2013 travels. Be sure to bookmark our blog and follow us on Twitter for updates, how-to’s, travel hacks, and much more.
(Photo by zabdiel / CC BY)