Welcome to “Stuff You Should Know About” – a monthly collection of travel news, tips, photos, and other odds and ends that don’t really fit in anywhere else but that I still really want to share with you.
Random travel news
Google delves further into travel
I can't say anything too terrible about Google, since the lovely Google Gods send a lot of search traffic to my blog every day. BUT, they're starting to encroach more and more on the travel space, which is something bloggers like myself are keeping a close eye on. Google already had its Destinations tool, which allows people to compare prices for things like flights and hotels, and recently launched Google Trips, which keeps track of travel plans and makes suggestions based on a person's interests. Here's to hoping they don't put travel bloggers like me out of a job!
Norway and the “Frozen effect”
After the massive success of Disney's “Frozen” and Norway's connection to it, the country (and especially the western part of the country with all its pretty fjords) is actually cutting BACK on its advertising budget. In fact, they say that this part of Norway is more or less marketing itself now.
Cool travel website/app/course of the month
I get a lot of emails every week — sometimes every day — about new travel apps, websites, courses, products, and more. I don’t write reviews very often about apps, websites, or courses (only the ones I really, really love), but some of them are still worth mentioning!
This month, check out:
Bloggers to Bylines: A Guide to Freelance Writing
I recently wrote a post outlining all the different ways I make money as a travel blogger (read it here) because it's the top question I get asked as a blogger. And one way that I make money each month is through freelance writing.
It isn't easy to go from independent blogger to paid writer, though – especially when freelance writing includes a lot of hustling and pitching and thinking creatively. If you're curious about breaking into travel writing (and, you know, actually making money from it), you should check out the Bloggers to Bylines course offered in conjunction with Travel Blog Success. The author, Britany, is a very accomplished freelance travel writer herself, and I've learned a lot about where and how to pitch travel stories from the course Facebook group.
Check it out!
Top Instagram shots from the last month
Instagram is one of my favorite social networks. I mean, who doesn’t love pretty photos?? If you aren’t following already, follow me on Instagram @dangerousbiz!
Here are some of my most-liked photos from the last month or so:
Even though I'm just a mere Muggle and will never get access to Platform 9 3/4, there's no denying that London's King's Cross Station is kind of magical. I couldn't stop grinning this morning when I went in to catch a train. Just look at this place! ??
Life lesson: when you stumble upon a bridge like this, you absolutely have to cross it in order to see where it leads. (In this case, it led to sheep-filled pastures in North Wales! ?)
A photo posted by Amanda (@dangerousbiz) on
I was bummed yesterday when a coastal walk I had been looking forward to got rained out. But then I decided to walk down to the castle in Caernarfon around sunset. And suddenly I wasn't so disappointed anymore. ?? •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Last day of Wales snaps (for now)! ? dangerousbiz #FindYourEpic #OMGB
I know that landscapes are pretty, but cityscapes can beautiful, too! Take this shot, for example: this is Victoria Street, one of my favorite streets in Edinburgh. And that's saying something since this whole city is gorgeous! There's a reason the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site…
A photo posted by Amanda (@dangerousbiz) on
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!
Featured bloggers of the month
Check out this month’s Featured Blogs:
Interested in being a featured blog next month?
Go here to learn more!
You should pack this
Each month, I’ll feature one or two of my packing must-haves. This month, I’m recommending:
Ja-Vie flats
I get a LOT of offers in my inbox next week to check out a new travel-related gadget or article of clothing. Most (sadly) go straight into the trash because they're just not right for this blog. But every once in a while I get an offer that does intrigue me – and that's exactly what happened when Ja-Vie contacted me.
Ja-Vie makes ballet flats that are perfect for a girl like me (i.e. a girl who has trouble wearing flats because of a lack of arch support). Ja-Vie flats come with a leather insole and a clear jelly outsole, and the insole actually has some arch support!
These flats come in some pretty adorable designs, too (I just noticed some tartan ones, which is fitting since I'm currently writing this from Scotland!), which is always a plus. Ja-Vie sent me a pair of houndstooth ones to try out, and they're super cute!
The shoes retail for $68 per pair, which is perhaps a tad pricey. BUT, these are the first pair of ballet flats boasting arch support that really do seem to deliver. I also like the clear jelly outsole because it makes them appropriate for wearing when it's raining, too.
Ja-Vie flats come in European sizes (35-41), so my tip for my U.S. readers would be to size up since U.S. sizes don't exactly match up and there's no give/stretch in the jelly outsoles.
Check out Ja-Vie ballet flats here.
What I’m planning right now
Because my blog runs a little bit behind of what I’m currently doing, I figured I would use this monthly update to let you know what I’m up to, and what adventures are coming up next! (You can also find more detailed info in my monthly newsletter.)
Coming up:
- October 5-10: The Baltics – I had a week to play with, so I decided to go to a part of Europe that I still haven't managed to visit yet: the Baltics! I'm spending three nights apiece in Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania). Can't wait to explore some new cities in a new part of Europe. If you have any suggestions for either city, please send them my way!
- October 11-23: Russia – I’m super excited to be working with Viking River Cruises again this autumn. I’ll be checking out their Waterways of the Tsars cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, and am really looking forward to finally visiting Russia.
Are you on Snapchat? If so, make sure to follow me (dangerousbiz) to follow along on my travels in real-time!
That’s it for this month’s edition of “Stuff You Should Know About!” Which section was your favorite this month?
*Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you buy something after clicking, I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you, of course!).
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