Where to Start?
There are so many travel blogs and sites out there. How do we choose which to follow or utilize on your next trip? It can be overwhelming. There are a lot of travel blogs out there and not all focus on the type of travel that appeals to me personally.
I want to read blogs by people I can identify with. Who travel in a style I totally dig and have some similar values when it comes to traveling: slow travel, solo travel, focusing on living in a place like a local (renting homes and cooking or staying with local families and learning local traditions, etc), finding epic food and great wine.
The Expat, Slow Traveler and Professional Traveler Perspective
The bloggers I’ve included on this list nail it on all counts. They write with knowledge, wit and charm.
These guys keep it real while also still conveying the romance that comes with seeing and experiencing a different culture every day and approaching life like an ever-excited tourist in their own (adopted) backyards.
They embrace cultures, yet deal with the challenges that come with them (no country or culture is perfect-in fact they all have their dark sides and dirty secrets!) and see reality, not just the fluffy tourist version. This lends authority and a unique perspective to their chronicles and makes them invaluable resources for English speakers who plan on traveling (or even moving to) these countries.
Italy Based
Girl in Florence
My go-to resource for getting the best out of Florence and much of Italy! Georgette (aka Girl in Florence) is a savvy expat from Texas who’s been living in Florence for over 12 years now (she and I met during a study abroad program back in 2005!).
She works for Italy Magazine, is married to another expat (French), has an adorable Beagle pup and travels all around Italy (and other countries) having wonderful and unique experiences that she shares with her readers.
If you haven’t read her blog yet you are missing out!
Girl’s Gotta Drink
Valerie Q. (the girl in Girl’s Gotta Drink) is based in Piemonte and writes about how to get around the region, tips on finding the best food and wine and more.
She and her husband run a tour company so they are out there living the experiences (and sharing them with their guests) Val writes about. I love the Piemonte region and can’t wait to get back there and utilize more of Girl’s Gotta Drink advice (such as how to get wine from Italy home with you in your suitcase…).
Spain Based Europe Travel Bloggers
Sunshines and Siestas
Adventures of an American expat married to a Spaniard in Spain. The adorable Cat writes with charm, wit and skill about many of the beautiful places, traditions and meals she has experienced in Spain including quite a few off the beaten path spots which I appreciate.
Having been engaged to a Galician myself (while Cat is married to an Asturian) I love her stories about ‘the novio’ (now her husband) and learning about Spanish culture through him (and her own myriad of amazing experiences).
Driftwood Journals
An awesome blog focused on Spain. Ben Holbrook writes about anything and everything (but heavily focused on Barcelona) and does so in a way that makes you want to keep reading. To the secret bar in a Barcelona neighborhood that you’ll want seek out, to lists of ‘the best’ or guides to ‘how to’ Ben has compiled so much information in once place it’s sure to be a valuable resource! Especially if you are in Barcelona.
The Chorizo Chronicles
Having lived in Madrid myself for two years (and having been engaged to a Spaniard!), my favorite part about Daniel’s Chorizo Chronicles blog is his intelligent, non-partisan, witty and informed take on whatever the current hot political situation is in Spain. He also ‘keeps it real’ when it comes to what is great, not so great, and sometimes just confusing about life in Spain for an expat.
His purposely provocative posts are very popular within the expat world though they garner their fair share of social media thread wars. Funny guy. Entertaining blog. And… a good resource if you want to know how to end up becoming a successful author on Amazon while teaching English in Spain (which he has done).
Hint: all it takes is many many years of making almost no money while continually focusing on writing and eventually publishing a book. In other words, getting shit done and not expecting overnight success. Shit, I just gave the secret away.
All Over Europe & Beyond
Cheese Web
Though the name doesn’t quite conjure up visions of traveling around the world, this is one of the best Europe focused travel blogs there is.
Started as a Belgium focused travel (with a heavy focus on food and you guessed it……cheese) blog, Cheese Web now hosts valuable content on destinations all over Europe and many other parts of the world. You will find the most content focused on Belgium and Canada because these are the places Canadian born Alison and Andrew have spent most of their lives.
Currently they are living the location independent lifestyle from their RV as they traverse all over Canada, giving each destination (and its food…) plenty of time and focus.
Legal Nomads
A former lawyer turned foodie nomad, Jodie Ettenberg writes first and foremost about food, but from a celiac’s perspective. The Legal Nomads blog is one of the absolute best resources for gluten free travelers to find gluten-free city guides, download celiac translation cards (in many different languages) to show at restaurants around the world, and to read posts written by a passionate celiac traveler who won’t let dietary restrictions or a pesky disease stop her from fully enjoying her time (and meals) abroad.