First-Class Travel Writing Tips

Everyone loves a holiday. But how do go about earning your living writing about them? Surely it’s the easiest gig going, right? You hop on a plane, chill out by the pool for a week or two and write about the fabulous hotel you stayed in when you get back. If you want to write and give a travel copywriting agency a run for its money, then read on to discover our selection of first-class travel writing tips that will get your writing off to a head start.

Get personal

The best kind of travel writing is the kind that takes the reader on a journey. To do this, you need to be able to evoke a sense of place through your writing. How did you feel when you were there? What time of day was it? What was going on around you? What else added to the experience aside from the obvious? Don’t go overboard with information as you’ll waste too many words, but extra details will help personalise your travel writing and make it unique.

Ditch the clichés

Travel writing is packed with clichés – turquoise seas, crystal-clear water, cobbled streets, that sort of thing – so if you want to keep your writing fresh, avoid them at all costs. Your readers will love you for it.

Be tight

Don’t waste words – why use three words when one will do?

Use your senses

Bring your travel writing to life by drawing on senses other than the main one – sight. What do places sound like? How do your favourite dishes taste and smell? Obviously, it’s imperative you describe what a place looks like, but if you can add depth by using your other senses, your writing will be all the more richer.

Deliver something unique

Let's face it, the world isn’t short of a guidebook or two. So if you want to get your travel writing noticed, you’re going to have to deliver something new. To do this, you’ll need to dig deeper. Go off the beaten track, find the bars that people don’t know about, discover the hotels that deserve to be found, and find the beaches that shouldn’t be kept a secret any longer.

A beginning, middle, and an end

Just like any story, your travel writing should embrace structure. Structure helps to make your writing cohesive, meaningful, and satisfying to the reader. If, for instance, you’re able to bookend your article, by linking the final paragraph to the introduction, you’ll be well on your way to creating a piece that's an enjoyable, rewarding read.

A little more conversation

Adding dialogue is a great way to get your reader into the story and in the moment. It also adds a genuine sense of local colour and flavour. Keep it punchy though, and don’t use it if it slows down the pace of your writing.

Double-check everything

Before you hit submit, go through your article and check for spelling and grammatical errors. You should also double-check you've spelled every place and person correctly. And if you list any contact details for hotels and opening times for attractions, make sure they’re right.

The thing about writing is that everyone thinks they can do it. And yes, while we were all taught how to string a sentence together at primary school, we aren’t all graced with a way with words. If you think the world needs a fresh new travel writing talent – and you’re it – we hope our first-class travel writing tips will help you on your way to travel-writing stardom.