Journals

DISCLOSURE: This is a rant. I do not mean to cross any lines, but am merely here to express my opinions on what I've experienced working in the travel industry. Read at your own risk.   I'm at a travel reading event standing next to The Lost Girls enjoying the arrival of some familiar faces. It's been a long day, a stressful work week, and a crazy summer. All I want is to enjoy this drink and swap some laughs with friends. So when my arch nemesis' name is immediately brought up in a what seems like topic of conversation I can't escape, I'm immediately bummed. Is this how every travel event is going to be?   I don't care how you travel. I don't care if you take press trips. I don't care if you make money off your blog. I just care that you are doing something positive, that you're happy, and that you have a better life having now traveled with an open mind. But apparently, traveling has some hot button issues attached to it. It's not just a vacation someone takes anymore; it's a lifestyle, and even more - a business. And I've got a bone to pick with that.    I've been working in the online travel industry for roughly two years, but I'm not a travel writer. I'm an observer. I'm the one behind the scenes, pitching coverage on the latest start-up sites and communities, reading far too many articles, cross-posting unique content, and studying up on the latest trends. I consider myself a Travel Geek in the sense that I have a new-found passion for traveling ( to certain destinations ), and believe traveling more often will better fulfill my life with inspiration, joy and education. So what is my role in travel? Promoter. I guess you could consider me a travel publicist, as I am the marketing and social media gal you're probably talking to online in one way or another.    It's with this job that I've made a few observations regarding travel writers/bloggers/publishers - whatever you want to label these folks. And it occured to me more than ever what supportive, flakey, and narcissistic some people are in this business once I attend the Travel Bloggers Exchange conference a few months ago. Let's start with the good:   1. Travel Writers are really supportive   It really touches me how nice everyone has been since I joined this field. Making relationships on and offline has been incredibly rewarding, often times resulting in long-lasting friendships. At this point, I don't even have to pitch to people anymore with a boring press release. I can just send a GTalk message or quick email to certain travel writers and instantly get a response on collaborating. It makes my job way easier, and much more enjoyable.   When I was planning my solo trip to Spain , the feedback I received on Twitter was overwhelming. Numerous travelers gave me personalized recommendations, shared stories, and even helped introduce me to expats & couchsurfers along the way. If it wasn't for them, I probably would have not survived that trip.    The only reason I continue to have work in travel is because of travel writers. When I found out I was leaving my beloved position here , I immediately turned to fellow travel writers for help. Emails started pouring in with leads and contacts galore. I was overwhelmed, but managed to take on 4 new freelance clients all because of my travel writer friends. It felt great. I owe many of them a drink.   2. Travel Writers are really talented   As I admitted before, I'm not a travel writer. I do blog about travel, though limited. I won't even TRY to become a travel writer. It is beyond me - the time, research, lack of income, stress, non-stop writing. . . no thanks. So I commend travelers who are established, have been published, and can manage a site with frequent interesting content posts week after week. I don't know how you people do it, but I admire it. I look up to quite a few writers for their constant inspiration, knowledge, and experience. Without a thesaurus and that good ol' spelling and grammar tool, I'd be a failure. These people know what they're talking about, and know how to write well.   3. Travel Writers are really media-savvy   I'm talking about social media and promoting their travel sites as a business. Today it's all about DIY entrepreneurship: if you won't promote yourself, who will? And with travel writing being so competitive, I admire those who take the initiative to get themselves out there on their own dime, and play the social media game well. From my experience, it's travelers who have a firm grip on how to be an active resource for information and insight in this field that are going far and who I turn to. Don't believe me? Search around any top travel site and see how much multi-media content they're fueling online; self-taught nonetheless. Or browse the latest affiliate programs, e-books, and guide books all started by a single traveler. They're probably doing just as well as any other business man, but with much more ambition and nerdiness behind them. It's something I can relate to and enjoy relating to.   But as with all things, you must take the good with the bad. Let me now explain the bad side of travel writers:   1. Travel Writers are really rude   I was stoked to go to TBEX. I was looking forward to seeing people I had exchanged business emails with for over a year, and people I had yet to meet. It was a perfect time to network and chat about my recent travels. Awesome.    Or not. That weekend I stumbled upon Debbie Downers, Negative Nancies, and Grumpy Gusses. I was floored. On more than one occasion I encountered folks who were dissmissive and just plain rude. It was not a good first impression to be made in my book. I even had to call out a few people on their lack of manners, since apparently I don't qualify to be taken seriously or be given a high five when good times are being had.    2. Travel Writers are really egotistical   Post-TBEX I created the hashtags on Twitter, #BFD and #egocheck101 . It was part inside joke, part "get over yourself" message. I couldn't believe how bragtastic everyone was at that conference. A few travelers in particular stick out in my mind for carrying this halo over themselves as if by going on a round the world trip made them a God-send. I just didn't get it and didn't like it. Just because you went to Thailand for 6 months doesn't mean you saved the world. Talk to me when you're saving victims of sex trafficking over there.    " But on the traveler’s circuit, the amount of time you’ve been on the road and number of countries you’ve visited pegged you as a casual vacationer, newbie vagabonder, or seasoned backpacker "   3. Travel Writers are really judgmental   On another note, don't tell me the right and wrong way to travel. I don't want to hear it. I'm doing fine on my 2 passport stamps and don't need your worldly views dragging me down for whatever reason you feel necessary. I'll travel however I want, whenever I want, to whereever I want. The lifestyle I choose as a traveler is entirely my decision so put away your round the world card, it won't do any good here.    It seems like travel writers these days won't tolerate anything less than a full-time backpacking lifestyle. They forget us Americans have real lives that involves a crappy 9-5 job with bills to pay and people to take care of. If you haven't traveled to a bajillion places, then you're not cool. And I don't really agree with that. Everyone has a different situation, so anyway you can incorporate travel into your life is fine by me. No need to interject with your all-knowing point of views. It'll be okay in the end.   Don't get me wrong. I'm actually friends with a few mean travel writers. But the reason I am friends with them is because they can back it up. They know what they're talking about and have actually done something worth bragging about. Taking photo ops in Southeast Asia? Meh.   Not all travel writers fit the above criteria. And certainly am I not here to point fingers or name names, but I feel like there's this underlying tone that no one speaks of and since I'm that loud-mouthed blogger , I'm here to bring it up. I respect travel writers, I definitely love being a part of the community, and appreciate everything positive that has come about since joining this community, but I just don't care for the negative attitudes I've come across lately. It's travel! Everyone loves to travel! Why all the hubbub?   Let's keep the Travel Geek love positive, please.     *If you or someone you know have been a victim of snarky travel writers, share your story below.