There are countless travel blogs out there, all touting the distinctive experiences and insightful tips of the writer and traveler. But how do you determine which ones are truly worthwhile? Here are three signs of a legit travel site with content you will actually use in your own adventures.
1. Engaging pictures. From a communications standpoint, a travel blog is only as good as the photos that accompany the post. If there are not any pictures to coincide with the journey, you will have no reference point for the experiences being detailed. For example, a tip about what means of personal transportation is best for traversing the roads in Venice has much less of an impact if you cannot see what a typical Venetian road looks like.
2. Articles that tell a story. A decent travel blog site does more than just describe a picturesque location far away and then expound upon its charms. After reading a post about a particular culinary treasure, a local cultural icon, a little known musical subculture in a given city, you should be left with a keen sense what makes it worth seeking out. Is there an indelible image you cannot get out of your mind? Is there a destination that has so captured your imagination that it is now a a must stop when you visit a particular city? If the story makes you want to create your own stories, it has done its job.
3. Frequently updated articles. The overall effect that active travel sites have on the reader is much more subtle, but the fact remains that you are more likely to implicitly trust the travel writer who is producing the content if or she appears to be actively traveling, experiencing new things, and sharing new expertise. In other words, the vibrancy of travel blogs are directly correlated with how often they are updated.
If you have questions about where to find great travel content, or you have tips about quality travel blogs, share them in the section below.