Such a fascinating journey you've had, Kristi! I've thought about doing this since I live here in Jamaica but I don't feel called as of yet to move in this direction...I have a few friends here that own boutique hotels and guesthouses, and they often complain about how many requests they get from influencers and travel writers for free stays in exchange for reviews/articles promoting their place...I wonder if that's unique to the people I know or if the market is changing here for this type of thing? The people I know are saying that they need people to come and actually pay them, not ask for a free stay in exchange for something. Hmmm?! On the other hand, as we say here "nuttin tried, nuttin done" so I guess people may as well ask for the free stay in exchange and worst case they say no and best case you are sitting poolside with a rum punch for free! 🤣
I totally get that the influencer market is SO saturated now. Maybe things were a bit different back then. But also, the difference between me and influencers is that I had a huge and longstanding JAMAICA travel site. I wasn't just some pretty girl in a bikini with a million voyeurs watching my channel.
I was heavy into promoting Jamaica ONLY and I think they were able to see that. All of my followers were the type who visited the island as often as possible and were looking for new experiences and I had comments and testimonials to back up my claims.
This is why I think destination writing is SUCH a different beast compared to just travel writing and general influencing.
Great points, Kristi, and super helpful to cultivate more understanding 🙏 That you focused solely on Jamaica and that they could see that probably did make a huge difference! I honestly never thought of the difference between travel writing and destination writing so thank you for opening this door for me to contemplate. I often joke that I should be an ambassador for Jamaica because despite the challenges on this likkle island, I hold a steadfast love and loyalty for it that I share with whomever will listen. Destination writing...hmmmm....the thought wheels are turning 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Your love for the island was exactly mine as well. I promoted the crap out of it EVEN in times of turmoil and when others advised against it! And helloooooo.....if you ever have questions, feel free to ask! Someone just said to me the other day, "I wonder why Deanna isn't doing what you did?"
Ahhhhhh!!! Now you're making me wonder if the universe IS calling me to do this?! I'm taking a deep breath and will contemplate this just as deeply. Thank you for the offer to answer any questions...I just may take you up on that!
I need a travel professional’s advice on a property where my experience was less than optimum.
I once stayed in a $3 per night hotel in Hargeysa, Somalia. A former suite, it was subdivided into two small rooms by a cardboard partition that left each half wide enough for a cot, a small desk and a chair. Although the cardboard partition perfectly matched the room decor, it was not effective at sound management, as I was able to listen to a woman next door in labour over a weekend as if I was in the room with her. Meanwhile, a committee of Cape vultures kept watch on the roof edge directly above my paneless window biding their time. Basic sanction consisting of a small water channel flowing through a popular public courtyard.
My question is whether I should have requested a discount to reflect the loss of sleep I experienced during the exhausting baby delivery or just write it off as yet another colorful experience one can expect to find in almost any small, rural, combat destroyed town.
I forgot to mention that it was the only building left standing in town, so it was either there or out under an acacia tree with a friendly band of gunmen. It had a monopoly on accommodations, so of course it could charge what the traffic would bear without stooping to discounting.
Omg…you have got me so excited with this post! Ive always loved to travel and many years ago I even worked on cruise ships as I could travel AND earn money! (Bonus: bagged myself a man too and we’re still together 15 years later! 😉) Now though, I’m a spiritual life coach and wellness coach…not really a travel writer, although I’ve always loved to write. Do you think there’s a way I could still write articles on hotels in exchange for free stays? Hmm…actually I’m thinking of wellness hotels now! Only thing is…I only have around 650 followers on Instagram. Gonna download your guide soon…you’ve lit something inside of me! Thank you 🥰💖
Isabel, regarding your Instagram, do not stress that part! Do you know, i only had just over 1200 followers when I was travel writing? It's not as important as you think it is.
As for your wellness niche, YES!!!! That's a fabulous angle! You'll be surprised at how willing accommodations are to work with you.
Actually, wouldn’t I need to have some sort of travel writing presence first? I’m going to buy your guide as I’m sure it’ll have all the answers I need in there!
It does have those answers in there, yes. But to add, your online presence doesn't necessarily need to be ALL travel related. After you've gone through the guide I include my email address in there if you have questions. I'm happy to answer.
You practically broke the bank, Kristi, with your genius idea! I love that you see opportunities for yourself everywhere and show them in such fun and no-nonsense way. I literally can’t wait for your next publication!
I LOVE this. Your bold energy really hyped me up. I am infected with the travel bug myself. Currently I am planning a trip to Fiji and American Samoa this summer, and your tips can really help me. Thank!
"It also took a certain amount of bravery to put this out into the public eye." YUP!
"Am I ready?" YUP!
"Is it good enough?" I'm certain it is! And I will purchase it as soon as I'm no longer scraping pennies together to make it to payday. I don't fancy myself a travel writer. I do, however, love to write meaningful reviews that help Innkeepers of B&Bs and small boutique hotels keep the flow of guests coming. Some guidance on how to do that without using the words "awesome", "excellent", or "terrific" ad nauseum is deeply welcome by this little heart.
I think as ANY type of writer, this stuff is useful. Never know, maybe one day you'll be road-tripping across America selling your dog treats and you'll want to find dog-friendly hotels along the way. That's a total niche if you're writing about and selling dog stuff!
I NEVER had that many followers, even after 10 years! My Instagram only had about 1200 lol.
What helped me immensely is being destination-specific though. If you only have 1200 people but they ALL travel to that destination regularly, it's better than having 12,000 who may or may not show up.
Kristi, you were already brave when you cold-called and asked the hotel management for a free stay. You've got Moxy! It sounds exciting! Look at how successful you are here!✨✨✨
Thank you Karen! I think my moxy came from a place of necessity! I have to get creative if I wanted to keep up with my habits and it accidentally worked!
Ah, Kristi. How I wish I'd had this book in 1982 when I started traveling! Now I am too old to travel... rats! I wish you the best of success with this project!
Omg I LOVE this!! Hotels are my fave and I live in the land of hotels - I wonder if it would work here? 🤔
Def getting it and wondering if it would work for other things I love like cruising omg I could go EVERY weekend as long as I have wifi and the kid and hubs might just love that too!
Kristi so glad I found you! I think you need to make some cute buttons for me tooooo. Messaging you. 🦋
Karen, I'm so excited that you're so excited! This is just the FIRST thing I've put out about the art of travel writing, there's so much more that can be explored. I do hope you stay tuned to my posts over the long haul because there's so much I have to share. Just take notes. Or keep cheering me on enough that I go full-blown with my coaching hahahaa.
yeah this is so great, because sometimes I want to record my podcast in a hotel room too and if the view is nice well it makes it all that much easier... then my boys could join me in the late afternoon so it's a win win for all!
I really like the direction this is headed! I've saved this post so I can have the link to your guide, when I'm able to get it. I'm curious- do you think the same method would work in reaching out to gear companies for free gear to use/test out?
YESSSS!!! Especially for you because you already use and write about the stuff you do!
I have way more to put out on this topic but I can tell you right now this also worked for me with Budget Car Rental. I had a 6-year sponsorship from them in Jamaica. I had a free car every single time I landed on the island and I didn't have to do anything for them but mention them in my road trip videos on Youtube and placed a link to their booking site on my blog.
Oh that's a great perk you wouldn't normally think of! I reached out to a couple of companies to be an "ambassador," but never heard back. Maybe it takes being a bit more direct and specific... and fearless of rejection, lol!
That was always my rule of self-confidence. If one says no or ignores you, the next one won't. I mentioned it in my guide because for sure there will be No's but there were many more yes's.
Such a fascinating journey you've had, Kristi! I've thought about doing this since I live here in Jamaica but I don't feel called as of yet to move in this direction...I have a few friends here that own boutique hotels and guesthouses, and they often complain about how many requests they get from influencers and travel writers for free stays in exchange for reviews/articles promoting their place...I wonder if that's unique to the people I know or if the market is changing here for this type of thing? The people I know are saying that they need people to come and actually pay them, not ask for a free stay in exchange for something. Hmmm?! On the other hand, as we say here "nuttin tried, nuttin done" so I guess people may as well ask for the free stay in exchange and worst case they say no and best case you are sitting poolside with a rum punch for free! 🤣
I totally get that the influencer market is SO saturated now. Maybe things were a bit different back then. But also, the difference between me and influencers is that I had a huge and longstanding JAMAICA travel site. I wasn't just some pretty girl in a bikini with a million voyeurs watching my channel.
I was heavy into promoting Jamaica ONLY and I think they were able to see that. All of my followers were the type who visited the island as often as possible and were looking for new experiences and I had comments and testimonials to back up my claims.
This is why I think destination writing is SUCH a different beast compared to just travel writing and general influencing.
Great points, Kristi, and super helpful to cultivate more understanding 🙏 That you focused solely on Jamaica and that they could see that probably did make a huge difference! I honestly never thought of the difference between travel writing and destination writing so thank you for opening this door for me to contemplate. I often joke that I should be an ambassador for Jamaica because despite the challenges on this likkle island, I hold a steadfast love and loyalty for it that I share with whomever will listen. Destination writing...hmmmm....the thought wheels are turning 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Your love for the island was exactly mine as well. I promoted the crap out of it EVEN in times of turmoil and when others advised against it! And helloooooo.....if you ever have questions, feel free to ask! Someone just said to me the other day, "I wonder why Deanna isn't doing what you did?"
Ahhhhhh!!! Now you're making me wonder if the universe IS calling me to do this?! I'm taking a deep breath and will contemplate this just as deeply. Thank you for the offer to answer any questions...I just may take you up on that!
As a seasoned veteran, I have plenty of suggestions for you! 😊
Oh this is about to be Huge!!! Cant wait
Thanks Jack! I'm hoping to develop a whole coaching program for the big shebang! 😂
You know how to get attention dear.
Thanks for saying that! It's a little confidence booster 😊
I need a travel professional’s advice on a property where my experience was less than optimum.
I once stayed in a $3 per night hotel in Hargeysa, Somalia. A former suite, it was subdivided into two small rooms by a cardboard partition that left each half wide enough for a cot, a small desk and a chair. Although the cardboard partition perfectly matched the room decor, it was not effective at sound management, as I was able to listen to a woman next door in labour over a weekend as if I was in the room with her. Meanwhile, a committee of Cape vultures kept watch on the roof edge directly above my paneless window biding their time. Basic sanction consisting of a small water channel flowing through a popular public courtyard.
My question is whether I should have requested a discount to reflect the loss of sleep I experienced during the exhausting baby delivery or just write it off as yet another colorful experience one can expect to find in almost any small, rural, combat destroyed town.
At only $3/night I would have just walked away and found a different hotel. What kind of discount would you expect from $3.00??
I forgot to mention that it was the only building left standing in town, so it was either there or out under an acacia tree with a friendly band of gunmen. It had a monopoly on accommodations, so of course it could charge what the traffic would bear without stooping to discounting.
But three dollars? That WAS a discount lol. I suppose you get what you pay for.
Omg…you have got me so excited with this post! Ive always loved to travel and many years ago I even worked on cruise ships as I could travel AND earn money! (Bonus: bagged myself a man too and we’re still together 15 years later! 😉) Now though, I’m a spiritual life coach and wellness coach…not really a travel writer, although I’ve always loved to write. Do you think there’s a way I could still write articles on hotels in exchange for free stays? Hmm…actually I’m thinking of wellness hotels now! Only thing is…I only have around 650 followers on Instagram. Gonna download your guide soon…you’ve lit something inside of me! Thank you 🥰💖
Isabel, regarding your Instagram, do not stress that part! Do you know, i only had just over 1200 followers when I was travel writing? It's not as important as you think it is.
As for your wellness niche, YES!!!! That's a fabulous angle! You'll be surprised at how willing accommodations are to work with you.
Love it! Thank you so much for sparking the inner fire within me. I actually live on the beautiful island of Mallorca, so a great place to start!
Oh wow, that's amazing!!! And a fabulous place to start because it's a beautiful tourist destination.
Actually, wouldn’t I need to have some sort of travel writing presence first? I’m going to buy your guide as I’m sure it’ll have all the answers I need in there!
It does have those answers in there, yes. But to add, your online presence doesn't necessarily need to be ALL travel related. After you've gone through the guide I include my email address in there if you have questions. I'm happy to answer.
Ok manifesting the abundance to pay for the document here we go, I would love to do this 💜
I'm sending all my manifesting powers your way!!
You practically broke the bank, Kristi, with your genius idea! I love that you see opportunities for yourself everywhere and show them in such fun and no-nonsense way. I literally can’t wait for your next publication!
Very interesting! Might have to check it out sometime soon!
I LOVE this. Your bold energy really hyped me up. I am infected with the travel bug myself. Currently I am planning a trip to Fiji and American Samoa this summer, and your tips can really help me. Thank!
Ah I'm so glad it hyped you up! Fantastic travel agenda, too.
Well done Kristi, this will help many people. Also your pictures are amazing!
Thank you Donna! And the pics don't do the experiences justice.
"It also took a certain amount of bravery to put this out into the public eye." YUP!
"Am I ready?" YUP!
"Is it good enough?" I'm certain it is! And I will purchase it as soon as I'm no longer scraping pennies together to make it to payday. I don't fancy myself a travel writer. I do, however, love to write meaningful reviews that help Innkeepers of B&Bs and small boutique hotels keep the flow of guests coming. Some guidance on how to do that without using the words "awesome", "excellent", or "terrific" ad nauseum is deeply welcome by this little heart.
I think as ANY type of writer, this stuff is useful. Never know, maybe one day you'll be road-tripping across America selling your dog treats and you'll want to find dog-friendly hotels along the way. That's a total niche if you're writing about and selling dog stuff!
Ideas are always percolating.
Believe me, that is DEFINITELY in the Rolodex of ideas in my brain!
"Rolodex". I really said that. 🤦♀️ SMH.
😂😂 You have arrived.
Yes but— do you hear that all the time? Yes, but I don’t have 10k followers to warrant a free hotel stay.
I NEVER had that many followers, even after 10 years! My Instagram only had about 1200 lol.
What helped me immensely is being destination-specific though. If you only have 1200 people but they ALL travel to that destination regularly, it's better than having 12,000 who may or may not show up.
Ah. Makes sense. 🥰
Kristi, you were already brave when you cold-called and asked the hotel management for a free stay. You've got Moxy! It sounds exciting! Look at how successful you are here!✨✨✨
Thank you Karen! I think my moxy came from a place of necessity! I have to get creative if I wanted to keep up with my habits and it accidentally worked!
Isn't that called serendipity?
Ah, Kristi. How I wish I'd had this book in 1982 when I started traveling! Now I am too old to travel... rats! I wish you the best of success with this project!
LOL Sharron, in 1982 the internet didn't exist so I guess this method wouldn't have worked anyway!
Omg I LOVE this!! Hotels are my fave and I live in the land of hotels - I wonder if it would work here? 🤔
Def getting it and wondering if it would work for other things I love like cruising omg I could go EVERY weekend as long as I have wifi and the kid and hubs might just love that too!
Kristi so glad I found you! I think you need to make some cute buttons for me tooooo. Messaging you. 🦋
Karen, I'm so excited that you're so excited! This is just the FIRST thing I've put out about the art of travel writing, there's so much more that can be explored. I do hope you stay tuned to my posts over the long haul because there's so much I have to share. Just take notes. Or keep cheering me on enough that I go full-blown with my coaching hahahaa.
And I'm ready for your buttons when you are! 😁
yeah this is so great, because sometimes I want to record my podcast in a hotel room too and if the view is nice well it makes it all that much easier... then my boys could join me in the late afternoon so it's a win win for all!
That's a selling feature for you doing reviews as well. You can mention the hotel in your podcast.
ummm DUH YES! omg, ok I've got to work my gigs this morning, but I am so distracted and excited for this!! YAY! 🦋
I really like the direction this is headed! I've saved this post so I can have the link to your guide, when I'm able to get it. I'm curious- do you think the same method would work in reaching out to gear companies for free gear to use/test out?
YESSSS!!! Especially for you because you already use and write about the stuff you do!
I have way more to put out on this topic but I can tell you right now this also worked for me with Budget Car Rental. I had a 6-year sponsorship from them in Jamaica. I had a free car every single time I landed on the island and I didn't have to do anything for them but mention them in my road trip videos on Youtube and placed a link to their booking site on my blog.
Oh that's a great perk you wouldn't normally think of! I reached out to a couple of companies to be an "ambassador," but never heard back. Maybe it takes being a bit more direct and specific... and fearless of rejection, lol!
That was always my rule of self-confidence. If one says no or ignores you, the next one won't. I mentioned it in my guide because for sure there will be No's but there were many more yes's.