So You Want to Write About Your Trip

[tweetmeme] A few days ago, I’ve done something I’ve been mulling over since the start of the year: quit the travel blogging forums I’m a part of. Nothing there excited me anymore, especially the writing. Ninety-five perfect of the posts there are how-to-get there, where to go, and where to stay articles. Can be easily Googled if you’re a diligent enough researcher.

Meanwhile, on my flight back to Manila yesterday, I flipped through the pages of this particular airline’s magazine and found the same type of writing there. Same with another airline’s magazine. How to get there, things to do, places to see, yada yada yada.

I’m not putting anyone down. In fact, I’m friends with many of the travel bloggers in the forum I just left. I’m friends with a few travel magazine writers.

The only thing I’m trying to say is this:

Sure, others appreciate getting how-to travel tips for free. I for one have been recipient of the free tips many of my blogging friends shared with me.

But…

You can always find those tips in travel guides. Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, the Thorn Tree forums and the likes already have those things covered.

Truth is that you can do something better to excite your readers. Let them hear your stories.

Not when you ate this popular restaurant where you spent XXX pesos and think it’s a place to check out when people visit the city. But like when Doi told me about her adventures by learning how to ride a bike and the other side of long term travel like dealing with normal, hohum days in Siem Reap. Or when Lauren constantly talks about losing all her money and not letting that take the fun out of her trips. The how-to get there rarely crops up. It’s all about the place, and all about the experience.

So tell a story. Tell your story.