What Is A “Travel Blogger?”

Within the "travel blogging' industry there are also several niches and sometimes people can be so anal about it (mostly the travel bloggers themselves). I enjoy what you write, you are not the traditional travel blogger who sells off. As you would know, you do need a thick face in this industry , just keep writing and enjoying. You cannot please everybody, and you shouldn't. But it seems that there are more than enough people who are pleased with what you do so just keep going on :)

If your income came as the vast majority of "travel blogger's" income came--through GoogleAds or Adsense, etc.-- then sure, you could be termed a travel blogger. People could talk about your niche in only blogging about first class/business class airline travel and chain hotels, but the truth is you really do make 99%+ of your income by referring people to banks as credit card applicants.

So what's an accurate name for that?

You're not directly employed by any Banks (to my knowledge), so "bank employee" doesn't seem accurate. You're more like a Contractor who uses sales techniques to help convince potential applicants to go through your site for their credit card applications. And you spend some time explaining why the credit cards you get commission for are the best ones for your readers. Please note that I'm neither being derogatory nor calling you names, I'm serious. Credit Card Contractor? Just plain Credit Contractor, or Credit Advisor? Credit Card Agent?

You're a travel blogger, but you are one who probably pisses off a good section of the proletariat. You know who I mean, the people who get torqued off that I stayed for a night at the Holiday Inn Mayfair in London instead of "a local hotel" in Sussex Gardens even though IHG is a freaking British company. Because it's not "authentic" enough, which is code for "not being around enough poor people."

I admire Rick Steves, he's the man who's writing got me to take my first 6-week and 3-week vacations in Europe when I was in my late 20s. But he says a lot of dumb things which are antithetical to this blog. Why do I have to take the cheapest fare or the junkiest pensione if I can afford something nicer (either paid, by manufactured spending, or by award travel)?

To me, that's the market you serve.

I agree that we can get "destination" information anywhere, but it would add a lot of value to your blog if you would include some information about what you did and what there is to do at a location.

I'm not talking about doing an actual review (or even pictures), just a paragraph or something about what you found enjoyable during your stay. Sometimes that can be "I was only here for 18hours and didn't have time to do much". But sometimes, it can be a couple sentences about what you saw and think that others would enjoy. Sure, if I wanted more details about what you did, I'd find that information elsewhere, but it would add a lot of value if you gave me a starting point.

For example, you may write a post about a great deal or the best use of points to get to Abu Dhabi. I basically skip over those posts because it's not on my short-term "list" of places I'm going. But, if you were to provide a couple sentences about why you think its worth it to use the miles to GO there (not just GET there), I'd be much more likely to read more of those posts.

That's my rambling response to your question...

@Chris S.: I'm certainly not Lucky, nor speaking on behalf of him, but what struck me most about your comment was the last sentence. On the whole, I couldn't agree more. However, do you think that Lucky (Ben) does not immerse himself in the subject matter to which his blog is devoted (amenities, benefits, etc of airline and hotel loyalty programs)? Do you think he doesn't truly understand the beauty of a hotel property or CX F seat? Just asking those questions as a matter of perspective only, not to offend in the slightest. I think that Lucky immerses himself very deeply into the subject matter he blogs about. It just doesn't happen to be about the destination.

@Lucky: VERY interesting post and what I appreciate is that from time to time you address these intellectual aspects that do affect what you do and what the rest of us do when we travel. We have certainly thought about it when we have traveled as a family. We have enjoyed making the journey as equally important as the destination. Life and happiness IS the journey. I cannot surmise this for other cultures, but Americans (as a culture) tend to focus on happiness as a tangible. So, when they are lamenting their seat in coach saying "I can't wait until we get there..." they are forming negatives on just about everything surrounding that experience, which also affects their mood and how they might treat an FA, for example. They focus on attaining happiness once they reach their destination and thus short themselves with potentially more of a trip or vacation than they previously realized.

Perhaps immersion into the journey isn't such a bad idea?

Lucky, I've got just two quick thoughts which are meant to be provocative but not offensive:

1. It was either you or Gary who wrote that people tend to underinvest in experiences. That being said, while you may get a "$75" complimentary breakfast (which nobody in their right mind would pay more than $8 for), you've A) only saved $8, not $75, and B) underinvested in the experience of staying in a family-owned joint where you'd be more immersed.

2. This has more to do with last week's post about the Grand Canyon, but there are reasons why places like the Grand Canyon and Central Prague (or insert any cultural site here) are both considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites: admiring the intrinsic natural or cultural beauty of each sort of venue makes you a better global citizen. For example, I'd have no appreciation for the South Island of New Zealand if I hadn't spent 4 days tramping across it. Likewise, you've got no appreciation for a site like the Grand Canyon because you've never hiked to the bottom to fully immerse yourself in it. We have to immerse ourselves (either in cultural or natural beauty) to understand and appreciate a place, and occasionally I wonder whether how deeply you're actually immersing yourself.

Regardless of what it's called, I do agree your blog adds a lot of value. I am consistently impressed by how much you write and post. Sure, most people are not into points and miles and therefore may never experience the products you write about, but for those of us who are your reviews and reports are an invaluable resource, not to mention enjoyable to read. Also, it is refreshing to read a travel/miles/points blog that hasn't turned into a credit card blog (as most others have).

I am so happy to have found your blog, and while I read many, yours is definitely my favorite. I do think that you are a travel blogger and think that there are many different types of travel blogs and I am happy that there is a variety and that they do not all write about the same things. You certainly do a niche that you focus on, and of that you are the best, and I am very much value what you write about. Before I travel, I want to know as much detail as I can about what my hotel and flight experience will be like. As for destination info, I read other blogs for that. Please keep on doing what you do. Thanks, Ben!

I'm guessing this post is RE the FT thread about this.

You are definitely a loyalty program blogger, an airline first class blogger, and a western hotel chain blogger, but you are definitely not a travel blogger.

Traveling is experiencing a new location, not what caviar is served on each airline. When someone says "I spent my vacation traveling to Bangkok", what class of airline service they traveled in is the last thing 99% of people think about.

If you do consider yourself a true travel blogger, travel to a destination that doesn't have western hotels and write about the experience; for example undeveloped parts of Africa. It might open your eyes to another world of travel you will never see doing the same LH flights over and over again.