Well, if you’re a travel blogger, I’m 99.99% sure you’ve had that same question. Sure, you likely have a backlog of write-ups from past trips. But when those dry up and you’re still tied to your home base, what travel blog topics can you write about?

Travel blogger friends, I have your back. Below, I put together a list of 61 travel blog post ideas for when you’re not traveling. And I went one step further: I created a handy pdf of all these questions that you can download for free! (Scroll on down to get your free printable of blog post ideas!)

So read on to get a bunch of travel blog post ideas circulating in that beautiful brain of yours. Then download the freebie printable of travel topics to write about. Keep it on hand for when you need post inspiration.

Happy writing and happy travels!

Travel blog post ideas when you’re not traveling

Contrary to popular belief, most travel bloggers aren’t on the road 100% of the time (or even close to it). Keep the content cranking with these travel blog post ideas.

Travel blog post ideas about tips & hacks

1. How to organize your trip
2. Packing tips to make travel easier
3. How to stay healthy when you travel
4. Your packing list(s)
5. Tips for airline travel
6. Tips for road trips
7. What you won’t leave home without
8. Pre-trip prep
9. Your favorite travel apps
10. Your favorite travel snacks
11. What to do when reservations go wrong
12. How to travel with pets
13. How to travel to a place when you don’t know the language
14. How to plan a trip with a big group
15. The travel items you don’t actually need
16. How to stay safe while traveling
17. How to stay comfortable on long travel days
18. How to not get bored on long travel days
19. How to take better photos

Travel blog topics about money and budgets

1. How to stretch your travel budget
2. Brilliant hacks for cheaper travel
3. How to save money on hotels/hostels/home rentals
4. Exactly what you spent when you traveled to _______
5. Budget ____: Is it worth it? (e.g. budget bus, airlines, suitcases, etc.)

Travel topics to write about lessons learned

1. 10 mistakes you made (and what you do now)
2. What you wish you’d known when ______
3. Places you’d never go again
4. What happened when you forgot ____ at home
5. What have you learned about yourself through travel?

Blog post ideas about you as a travel blogger

1. How often does a travel blogger really travel?
2. How does a travel blogger pay for all those trips?
3. Your favorite hashtags
4. Your Instagram strategy
5. How does a travel blogger decide where to go?
6. How you satisfy your wanderlust when you’re at home
7. How travel bloggers make friends on the road
8. Do you have a routine while traveling?
9. What do you do when you’re homesick?
10. What travel bloggers really want for a present this year (gift guide)

Blog posts about travel inspiration

1. Why you travel
2. Your top 10 favorite trips
3. Why you bring your kids when you travel
4. Future travel wish list / Bucket list destinations
5. Exploring your hometown
6. Your favorite books about travel
7. What you miss from home when you travel
8. What inspires you about travel
9. Favorite travel quotes
10. Where do you go to get ideas on what to do, where to go and where to stay?

Travel blog topics that get personal

1. What was your first trip like? When did you start traveling?
2. Your favorite travel splurges
3. Your favorite childhood trips / first memory of vacations
4. A truly lonely time traveling
5. The moment when you realized travel changed your life
6. The time you fell in love while traveling

Roundup blog posts

1. Your favorite foods from around the world
2. Your all-time favorite hotels
3. Your favorite foods from home
4. The weirdest things you’ve eaten while traveling
5. The weirdest things you’ve done while traveling
6. The most underrated beaches/destinations/cities/etc.
7. Best destinations for couples

Never run out of travel blog ideas again!

Now that you have this list—and a handy dandy free printable of travel blog post ideas—you’ll never hit writer’s block. Whenever you’re stuck at home when you would rather be jetting across the globe, pick one of these travel blog topics and get typing. You’ll feel more inspired, and your audience will love that you never run out of ideas.

Do you want this entire list designed in a printer-friendly layout so you can refer back to it whenever writer’s block strikes? Sign up below:

Do you have any go-to blog post ideas? Can you add to the list of travel topics to write about when you’re not traveling? Please share in the comments below!

The post 61 travel blog post ideas for when you’re stuck at home appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

As bloggers, we sometimes get stuck in the cycle of go go go, do do do. (Doesn’t that sound like a song? Well, an exhausting song, but still.) There’s always more we can be doing—social media! commenting pods! Facebook ads! freebies! webinars!—so we always feel behind.

But when we’re just treading water, doing things as we always have and feeling this close to drowning, it’s hard to realize that sometimes—sometimes—there might be a better way. A blogging life preserver, if you will.

That’s where these back to school for bloggers resources come in. I’ve selected the best podcasts for bloggers and the books that have made a huge difference in my own life, whether that’s giving this introverted/slightly awkward business owner actionable tips for authentic networking, or getting over my perfectionist tendencies to get more done.

These books and podcasts have taught me so much that I’ve applied in my own life, career and blogs, and I know they’ll help school you, too. You ready? Let’s do this.

Grow your blog with back to school for bloggers resources

We bloggers, entrepreneurs and bosses don’t have a lot of extra time on our hands. That’s why I’ve selected this brilliant resources from entrepreneurs, online marketing experts, psychologists and other smarty pants folks. We can always learn from those who are even more expert than we are (or who maybe just light a fire under you to do something different).

Don’t let your kids have all the fun. This back to school for bloggers post has what you need to learn—then put in to action—what you should do to grow your blog.

Back to school for bloggers: Podcasts

I’m a gigantic fan of podcasts. I listen to between one and three a day on my commute into my coworking space in Portland, Oregon, and I love how they tackle one topic and give you the Cliff Notes version of what you need to know.

Chances are, you’re like me: You listen to podcasts when you’re driving, cleaning, gardening or whatever because you want to maximize your valuable time. Well, I’ve helped even a bit more by narrowing down the podcasts you should be listening to and even selecting some of the gems you should put on your podcast queue today.

Get ready for back to school for bloggers just by listening!

Podcast review: 100% relatable, 100% helpful

When I found Amy Porterfield’s Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, I was overjoyed: Here was a podcaster who was like me, whom I actually identified with! I seriously did a happy dance while driving down I-5. (Don’t worry, I was totally safe!)

You see, I love her and her podcast because she brings heart to online marketing and entrepreneurship. It’s not all about squeezing the last dollar out of customers or clawing your way to the top of google rankings at any cost. Instead, she and her interview guests have integrity and emphasize the bigger picture behind wanting to grow your blog and online business: You’re making a difference and helping real people.

Amy Porterfield is also genius at narrowing down on a topic and distilling exactly what you need to know, but she doesn’t stop there. She makes sure to always go the extra step to show how you can actually put that know-how into practice. For example, most podcast episodes contain awesome, downloadable freebies so you can continue to integrate what you’ve learned (when you’re not driving 65 miles an hour down the highway, of course).

Finally, she’s totally relatable. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and she doesn’t pretend to be perfect. She’s delightfully authentic and transparent. Her real talk (and showing how she has made mistakes and continues to learn) makes me think that I can grow my blog to be bigger, better and more helpful, too.

So for your first back to school for bloggers assignment, listen to a few of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcasts. I’m certain you’ll want to subscribe, just as I have. Start with this phenomenal podcast episode for bloggers:

Listen to this: B- is good enough

Why You Aren’t Taking Action, with Brooke Castillo (episode 217) was like a huge wake-up call for me and my blog. The entire episode is gold, but the real treasure for me was the portion on accomplishing things, not just working. In this episode, Amy’s guest told her (and the rest of us) that we should be striving for B- work. As a perfectionist, that totally blew my mind. Brooke Castillo explained that your blog posts or other content don’t have to be shiny A+ quality to help someone and make a difference in their life.

Since then, I’ve pushed back on some of my perfectionist blogger tendencies. For example, I recently wrote a post for my other blog on motherhood and didn’t proofread it a million times, like I typically do. So writing and publishing the post took a lot less time, freeing me up to do more to grow my blog.

Podcast review: Tips and strategies, straight-up

What I most like about The Blogging Millionaire podcast is that the host gives you super-useful blogging tips and growth hacks in an insanely digestible way. Brandon Gaille is expert at step-by-step instructions and just enough repetition that the lessons sink in (but not so much that you get annoyed).

That said, his style is very scripted—there’s not a lot of spontaneity, so the podcast’s tone isn’t very conversational. I later learned from one of his episodes, though, that his style is actually partly from how he manages a chronic health issue. Just goes to show we shouldn’t be so quick to judge!

Finally, I love that these podcast episodes are short. Most clock in around 15-20 minutes, which is always enough time for Brandon to break down a very specific topic and offer advice that you can start using that very day. There is pretty much zero fluff to this podcast—so it’s an excellent back to school for bloggers resource for those of us who are strapped for time.

Listen to this: Craft awesome blog post headlines

There are oodles of super-helpful, to-the-point podcast episodes, but I recommend you start with Pillar Two of the 4 Pillars of Blogging Success. This podcast episode was the one that got me hooked: It changed how I wrote headlines (and, later, subheadings). Another thing I appreciate about The Blogging Millionaire podcast is how Brandon backs up his advice with deep, thorough research. He brings out statistics, like characteristics of the best-performing headlines across the internet, to glean insights he turns into advice you can put into practice immediately.

Podcast review: Up-level your blog (and enjoy an Australian accent!)

Darren Rowse, host of the ProBlogger podcast, is friendly, straightforward and above all helpful. He makes listeners feel like he’s talking to them one-on-one. He delivers terrific content and ideas on how to improve your blog in his unscripted, conversational style. Plus, he has decades of experience to draw from.

Listen to this: Collaborate to drive traffic—together

My favorite ProBlogger episode is the one all about collaboration, called How Collaborations Can Accelerate Your Blog’s Growth (#237). In it, Darren shared how he has used collaboration to build courses, posts and more, and how doing so not only helps you create content faster; it also improves the quality of what you deliver.

What I absolutely loved about this post was it provided a fresh idea of how I can put this new approach into action—immediately. At the end of the episode he encouraged listeners to take the first step on collaborating with other bloggers, and I did! I reached out to others for an upcoming post that I’ll share soon, and I’m so excited to not only offer you readers something new—but to build relationships with other bloggers, too.

Back to School for Bloggers: Books

Whether you read or listen, buy or borrow, skim or underline, books can be a phenomenal back to school for bloggers resource. Books allow you to really dive deep into a given topic. If you know you want to learn more than you could in just an article or even a podcast, books are the way to go.

Here are a few of my recent favorite books for bloggers.

Overcome perfectionism

Anyone else here a perfectionist? I know I am. I like to always be on my a-game, to showcase my best work, to avoid mistakes—but life, unfortunately, gets in my way. Start Right Where You Are by Sam Bennett aims to help us become recovering perfectionists. If you’re too busy to give this book a read, download the free audiobook here!

One of my favorite things about this book for bloggers (and others!) was that each chapter is short—like a few pages. Slogging through a ton of text isn’t a huge task that I have to add to my already overburdened to-do list. And each chapter ends with something you can do right now to put that lesson into practice, and they’re all totally doable.

Her guiding philosophy is that by changing just a tiny bit, you can move your whole life by opening yourself up to new perspectives and opportunities. I highly recommend Start Right Where You Are for anyone who is turned off by the grand, sweeping narratives of most self-help books and just wants a little straight talk—and concrete ideas on how to execute small changes.

I found myself constantly taking photos of sections of the book so I can refer to them later. Finally, I would copy quotes from this book for bloggers into my planner, onto sticky notes, and everywhere that would remind me of her badass wisdom.

Embrace your inner introvert—and still network like a boss

I have to admit that I felt kind of goofy with this book on my bedside table, as it seemed a little manipulative to try to “hack” my body language and conversation sparkers so I could get along better with others. But I am awkward, at least in my head. I get major social anxiety around groups of people, especially those I don’t know well. Yet my professional and blogging success depends on making good first impressions, building relationships, collaborating, networking and more.

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards is a book for bloggers and everyone else who sometimes finds themselves in a room of acquaintances, colleagues or strangers. First-off, I was so relieved her advice wasn’t to just fake it til I make it—she actually gives the recommendation to not dive into big networking events if those give you hives. Secondly, she gives science-based tips on body language, conversation starters, how to follow up with people and even where to stand at a party so you catch people when they’re ready to connect with you (not when they’ve just popped a meatball in their mouth—awkward!).

I’m actually going to reread this one. I don’t buy books often, but this book is perfect for my back to school for bloggers project—and beyond. There are sections I want to reread so I can practice and hone the skills she outlines. They’ve already helped me get over myself a bit, reach out to people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and feel prepared when I strike up a conversation with someone new.

Constant learning to improve your blog in the long run

Whether you have kids going back to school or you’re just inspired by all the cute school supplies, taking a back to school for bloggers mindset can help you expand your blog’s reach, attract new readers and take your blog to the next level.

I’m curious—and always wanting to learn more!—so please share your favorite books, podcasts, articles or experts below. I can’t wait for you to school me!

The post Back to school for bloggers: Resources to next-level your blog appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

A writer’s retreat staycation to level up your blog

Being a travel blogger as a side hustle isn’t always easy. I love nothing more than exploring a family-friendly destination with my kids (or a kid-free getaway!), but then I have to actually find the time to write about my adventures. I love writing blog posts, too, but while juggling my full-time job and motherhood, my to-write list is always long—and daunting. That’s why I recently reserved an entire day for a writer’s retreat staycation—and here’s why you should, too.

Setting aside a whole day to do nothing but work on my blog made me more productive. It helped me bank a reserve of travel blog posts to draw from during busy weeks. It allowed me to focus on creating great content my fans love to read. And it cut out distractions—even the cutest distractions in the world, aka my kids.

What allowed me to spend a whole day focused on travel writing instead of laundry and fixing snacks and pretending not to see the stack of unopened mail on the counter? Building the writer’s retreat staycation around a brilliant concept I just learned about: Hotels By Day. The startup, which you may remember from its appearance on Shark Tank, partners with hotels around the world to open up rooms during the day. So if you have a day-long layover en route to a far-flung destination, or you want a place to clean up for a wedding and use the pool after a day of hiking, you can reserve a room with Hotels By Day. Or, of course, you can do a “daycation” writer’s retreat like my blogging bestie Jenni from A Well Crafted Party and I did.

7 steps to write a library of blog posts in one day

Pretty sure it’s safe to say all of us bloggers want to create better content more quickly—right? Batching blog post writing—in the right environment and with the right productivity hacks—helps you write more (and more engaging!) posts. Here’s how to plan the ultimate blogging writer’s retreat staycation.

1. Post up in a place without distractions

Jenni and I got into our room at Portland’s The Jupiter and it was clean, uncluttered and definitely free of My Little Ponies all over the floor. In other words, it was the serene opposite of my house.

Booking a daycation with Hotels By Day for our local writer’s retreat gave me the space to concentrate on writing great blog posts. Because my attention wasn’t being constantly pulled this way and that, I was able to get more done in these hours than I could ever dream of at home.

2. Pack your writer’s essentials

When we went on our writer’s retreat staycation, I packed the notebook I use for brainstorming posts, my bullet journal with my hashtag lists, post-it notes—and a pack of La Croix. You see, we all have quirky routines that put us in the writing mindset, and mine just happens to be sparkling pamplemousse. #dontjudge

3. Articulate your writing goals

To have a successful writer’s retreat staycation, you first need to figure out what you aim to accomplish—and be specific. For me, I wanted to write a bank of travel blog posts that I could have ready to publish during the busy weeks when I don’t have the time to write a post from scratch. You may want to spend your time researching long-tail keywords and brainstorming post ideas, or rebranding your web site, or go my route and just write. But regardless of what you do, pick—and stick with—one theme, at least for a chunk of time.

This productivity hack is called batching, and research shows it’s much more effective than our usual way of working. When we multitask—e.g. begin to write a blog post but then remember that you need to create a pin for it so you go through your images and then remember another point you want to add to your post—your productivity dips 40%.

So be clear about your goal for your writer’s retreat staycation. You can write it on a post-it note to steer you back to your task when you’re tempted to peek at reddit, or you can share it with your writing partner like I did with Jenni. Just make sure you know what you’re doing—and what you’re not doing.

4. Fuel your creativity

If you’ve rented a room for the day, you may be tempted to hole up and not leave—but don’t forget to eat! Jenni and I ate breakfast at Moberi and lunch at Prasad East, where we indulged in 100% healthy and delicious food that wouldn’t make us feel sluggish afterward. Make sure to take food breaks! A hungry brain is not creative.

5. Channel encouragement and inspiration

Sometimes it’s hard to get in the blog writing zone—whatever you type doesn’t seem right. In these moments, I like to draw inspiration from other writers.

That’s why I made a set of cards with quotes on writing. (I even made them pretty, because glitter washi tape makes everything better!) When I’m feeling stuck, I pull out a card at random and use the advice from the quote on writing to push me out of my rut.

And hey, you can too! Download my free quotes on writing printable for a little inspiration. And if you’re like me and want to go just a tad bit extra, gussy them up with washi tape. #teamglitter

6. Get a change of scenery

Just because we booked a Hotels By Day room didn’t mean we had to stay behind that closed door (although have you seen the doors at The Jupiter? They’re chalkboards! Yes, we took advantage).

So no matter where you’re doing your writer’s retreat staycation, move every so often. Getting out of your chair wakes you up and increases blood flow (and therefore nutrient-rich, creativity-boosting blood to your brain). A change of scenery may help spark new ideas, too.

At The Jupiter, we hung out for a bit in the hotel lobby, which was filled with the attention-grabbing photo composites of Portland icons created by Beth Kerschen. Oh, and the lobby had coffee and tea, too. #caffeine!

Plan your next writer’s retreat staycation

Jenni and I vowed to do another writer’s retreat staycation—or daycation, or destination—soon. I was blown away by how much more productive I was writing blog posts when I wasn’t doing anything else. (I know, shocking!)

We don’t have another writer’s retreat on the books yet (because life), but this one won’t be our last. Whether we book our writer’s retreat spot again through Hotels By Day, or rent a house together on the beach, or simply take over a local cafe, we’ll be rocking the writer’s retreat staycation before long. If you want your choice made easy, though, book through Hotels By Day because a day-long hotel stay is a savvy way to plan a writer’s retreat.

Want to join me? Reach out via my contact page. Whenever you’re in Portland I’d love to connect with fellow travel bloggers or travel-loving parents!

The post 7 steps to write a library of posts in a day—with a writer’s retreat staycation appeared first on To & Fro Fam.