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Travel writing is an exciting genre that allows you to share your adventures and transport readers to new and exotic locales. Whether you’re blogging about a weekend getaway or publishing a memoir of a year spent backpacking across Europe, travel articles let you bring experiences to life on the page.
Whether you’re an experienced travel writer or just starting out, these tips will help you improve your writing and ensure that your articles are interesting, informative, and memorable.
The most important thing when writing a travel article is understanding who your target audience is. Are you writing for budget backpackers, luxury travelers, families, solo female travelers? Research the publication or website you want to pitch to and get a sense of their readership.
Then write your article with that reader in mind – use language and details that will resonate with them.
For example, if you are writing for budget backpackers, you can provide tips on finding affordable accommodations, budget-friendly activities, and hidden local gems that won’t break the bank. You can also include information on cheap transportation options and money-saving strategies for meals and souvenirs.
If your target audience is luxury travelers, focus on highlighting upscale accommodations, fine dining experiences, and exclusive activities that cater to their refined tastes. Showcase luxurious destinations and emphasize the premium amenities and services that are available to them. Additionally, providing insights into high-end shopping, spa treatments, and unique experiences that are synonymous with luxury travel would be valuable.
When writing for families, incorporate information on family-friendly attractions, accommodations, and dining options. Include suggestions for activities that cater to different age groups and interests, such as amusement parks, children’s museums, and outdoor adventures suitable for families. Highlight the convenience of family-friendly amenities like cribs, kid’s clubs, and child safety measures provided by accommodations or destinations.
For solo female travelers, address safety concerns and recommend destinations that have a reputation for being female-friendly. Include details about women-only accommodations, women-led tours or activities, and tips on navigating cultural differences or potential challenges specific to solo female travel.
Success begins with in-depth research of the destination you’re writing about. Take time to read guidebooks, scour Instagram, and read blogs/articles on the area.
Explore its historical background, unique culture, popular tourist spots, local traditions, and hidden gems. Research weather, transportation, accommodation, top sights, safety, crowds, and costs at different times of year. Also look for unique, “insider” information that average travelers may not know.
By doing so, you will not only add authenticity to your writing but also offer valuable knowledge to your audience.
Your intro is key for hooking readers and enticing them to keep reading. Open with a compelling fact, statistic, or quotation about the destination. Or begin with a vivid description of your arrival or a powerful experience there.
Another option is to start with lively dialogue, a historical anecdote, or a thought-provoking question to draw readers in. Whatever you choose, be creative and make sure it’s relevant to the place you’re writing about. Set the tone for your article and create a sense of anticipation.
Headings are like road signs guiding readers smoothly through your article. Break up sections and subsections with H2 and H3 tags.
Headings not only help readers zero in on info they’re most interested in but also assist search engines in understanding its organization, thereby enhancing its likelihood of achieving a higher ranking in search results.
Divide your article into different sections like an introduction, attractions, activities, where to stay, getting around, local cuisine, and conclusion. Keep the sections a reasonable length – 3-5 paragraphs ideally.
This approach will not only provide a logical flow but also enable readers to easily navigate through your article.
The key to crafting an engaging travel article is to make it personal. Share your own experiences, thoughts, and emotions from your travels. Describe specific memories and anecdotes that will allow readers to envision being there with you. Transport them into a scene by vividly recounting sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings.
Make them feel like they are seeing what you saw, hearing what you heard, and experiencing what you experienced. Weave in dialogue and conversations to bring encounters to life. Talk about your highlights and challenges.
Be candid about fears, mistakes, surprises, and epiphanies. Show your vulnerabilities and how you overcame them. Let your personality shine through. The more you open up, the more relatable your journey will be.
While personal stories add heart to a travel article, practical information adds helpful substance. Offer useful tips and actionable recommendations based on what you learned. Share logistical advice like best times to visit, getting around, where to stay, hidden gems, worthwhile tours, packing essentials, budgeting, and avoiding pitfalls.
Reveal your own trial-and-error lessons. Tell readers where you made wrong turns and how to avoid them. Supply resources like apps, books, gear and services that enriched your experience. Provide a balanced guide to the destination – both the highlights and challenges.
Give a realistic preview of what to expect. Offer insider knowledge that typical tourists won’t find in generic guides. Provide a blueprint for readers to travel wisely.
Engaging description is vital to transporting readers inside your travel experiences. Use all five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch – to add vivid sensory details. Describe stunning vistas, bustling street scenes, fragrant cuisine, ambient sounds and textures of places. Use metaphor, analogy, and figurative language.
Compare sights, sounds and feelings to things familiar to readers. Share specific moments that capture a feeling or essence of a place. Convey a sense of motion – zoom in close on details then pan out to sweeping views. Recreate the emotional resonance of notable encounters and events.
Immerse readers in sights, sounds and sensations that reveal the spirit of a destination. Invite readers into unforgettable travel moments with you through rich, vivid descriptions.
For instance: Instead of stating “the beach was beautiful,” you can say “the sandy shoreline extended endlessly, shining brightly under the warm sunshine.” This will create a vivid image in the minds of your readers and make them feel as if they are truly immersed in the location.
Wrap up your travel article with a memorable, meaningful conclusion. Reflect on your insightful takeaways, new perspectives and personal growth from the journey. Share an impactful closing anecdote that encapsulates the spirit of your experiences.
End by inspiring readers to embark on their own adventure, equipped with the knowledge you provided. Leave them yearning to discover the destination for themselves, armed with your hard-won wisdom. Your conclusion should spark wanderlust while summarizing the essence of the place and your time there. Send readers off memorably, wishing to follow in your footsteps.
Careful editing is crucial. Tighten wordy sentences, vary sentence structure, and enhance flow between sections. Double check facts, figures, business hours, URLs, prices, and names. Verify details like airport codes, street addresses, and recommendations are current. Fix typos.
Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Refine descriptions to be vivid but concise. Cut unnecessary words. Run spell check. Review for consistent point of view and verb tense. Proofread with fresh eyes to polish your article for publication.
Writing a compelling travel article takes skill and practice. Whether you aim to publish in major magazines or simply chronicle your trips online, by focusing on the above tips, you can craft articles that will transport readers and inspire them to have their own travel adventures.
