Blog hop – a look behind the scenes

It is always very rewarding to be recognised by other bloggers – especially those whose own work you enjoy. I spend so much time chatting to Kelly from “Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes” on twitter and instagram that I don’t spend enough time reading her blogs. I’ve just whiled away some time catching up – we have similar tastes (luxury, nice views, BA Club) and challenges (blasted food allergies) and so its been an enjoyable read, as has learning about her writing process!

Where did this crazy blogging idea and persona of mine came from? I was never very good at English at school and I didn’t manage to stick at keeping a diary for more than a few days at a time! But already it’s been almost 2 years since I wrote my first blog on A Luxury Travel Blog and I haven’t looked back!  Since then I’ve set up my own blog (clearly, you’re reading it – thank you) as well as being invited to contribute to The Lux Traveller.

Where it all began…

What am I working on or writing?

A new look for 2015 – on the beach, and by the sea

This year my main aim is to lose the wordpress.com bit and be a self-hosted site.  I didn’t want to start with it as I wasn’t sure whether I would like blogging or draw in readers, but I do and I have so I will!  I want to change the layout/design and make it more professional.  Friends have said I should make this into a little business, I would love to but I haven’t worked out how.  For now I am enjoying sharing memories and ideas, and cherishing any travel treats that come my way as a result of it. My husband is also taking increasingly good photographs (as he expands our (his) lens collection) and I want to share more of these – I guess as a photo essay.  I haven’t reviewed many hotels on my blog, however in the past few years we have stayed at some incredible locations and I plan to write about these hotels.

Love this old skool camera of my Grandpa’s

In the middle of 2014 I started doing my ‘flashback friday‘ series which is a great way of sharing a photo and a memory of one of our previous trips each week. I want to keep this up – it’s fun and I love picking my favourite pictures for it.  I have thankfully just finished ‘project 365‘ – and I need to think about something else to do instead that ensures that I have a regular blogging schedule.  Working full time and with long hours, it is hard to have enough to write about at times, so I need to think carefully about this.

I have stacked up future blog posts over Christmas for the weeks ahead – work is busy and so whilst new things might appear on my blog when I’m working, that’s because they’ve been scheduled!  I’ve also got a good list of post ideas that will follow later this spring.

How does my work and writing differ from others of its genre?

It’s a very personal blog, not just writing about where we went, but also about our memories and favourite moments – I hope this sets it apart from those that focus more on the accommodation.  I think it is important that personality and preferences come across in a blog, as well as the humorous sides to a visit or the calamities that arise.  There are so many luxury travel blogs and I hope that mine goes some way to proving that luxury isn’t necessarily about spending lots of cash and being waited on hand and foot.  It is about getting off the beaten track and looking for something memorable for you and being able to relax. I’m not sure if I have quite found my niche yet but I think that comes with time.  Writing has made me think harder about what we like to do with our annual leave and look for something extra special each time we travel.

Good memories, good places

Why do I write what I do?

It comes down to why I started this little blog.  Basically I don’t like to forget anything, down to the minutiae – we are lucky to have our opportunities and my blog recognises that and records it.

I love sharing tips with others and it is really rewarding to prove that luxury isn’t all about big-name big-budget hotel groups and is far more personal and unique.  Sometimes the most enjoyable trips have been self-catering in Cornwall, or a sailing trip in Europe.  On these, the luxury comes from being squirrelled away miles from anyone (and 3G) or having access to a 50ft yacht to sail on (one of our best trips this year was a regatta in Sardinia where laughter was the medicine – so much fun and we did none of the planning).

Champagne Sailing

My husband and I have had some amazing travel experiences – not least because we often go to places that others might not consider – Jamaica isn’t a typical Caribbean choice; a hotel 3 hours drive into the desert when there are others 30 minutes from Dubai; or a small hotel on mainland Greece or in Venice rather than one of the better known spots.  It isn’t always easy to find much out about the less obvious places aside from on Trip Advisor so hopefully this blog (and others in its niche) help people discover hidden gems and passes on the confidence we have in those places having already been to them.

Monemvasia is very unique and stunning

How does my writing process work?

To say there is a process would probably be an overstatement!  But as an accountant, I’m naturally organised and I enjoy writing lists.  But there is no space for a spreadsheet here sadly!  Our photographs are our memories and souvenirs and they tell the story of any trip.  They give me a loose structure that I fit things around and highlight the moments that mattered. I desperately try and keep my blogs to under 1000 words – advice I received from a pro (I failed on this post).  Sometimes it is really hard as there is so much to share, but it is a great tip that I need to pay better attention to.  I also try to balance the words with the pictures so that it keeps the interest – harder done than said!  Re-sizing the images before uploading has been a recent discovery and definitely speeds up my site!  I tend to write in advance of publishing so that I can proof read a few times – anything done in a rush never looks good, although some of the things I jot down in ‘notes’ on my iPhone are often the best quips and sentences!

Being part of a ‘link up’ with other bloggers is great as it focuses the mind and helps me remember things that I haven’t necessarily written about before!  I’m off to Traverse this spring which is a bloggers conference – so hopefully there will be new tips to pick up to help me develop my process and style.

There is inspiration for writing everywhere

And so my nominations are…

Molly from Travel with Molly – she gave me the reassurance (kick) I needed to set up my own blog and give it a go! She was right, it is great fun and very rewarding!

I love Travel with Kat as Kathryn keeps on finding more places that look like I should stay in them and is a big fan of going somewhere off the beaten track!

Chris and Heather from A Brit and a Southerner – also key in getting me started and keeping me motivated through Facebook groups.  They have one of the busiest travel schedules I’ve seen (despite full time jobs) and are masters at making the most of a long weekend!

Thanks for reading – I hope you enjoy these blogs too. And if you want to follow me – here are my social media profiles at a glance, links below:

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