Why I Took A Break From Travel Blogging (+ What’s Next)

It was pretty weird to call myself a “travel and lifestyle blogger” when I’ve hardly left my hometown over the past couple of months. 

People assume that travel bloggers are always on the go and constantly jetsetting to a new, fabulous destination every week. While sometimes that is true, I don’t think people realize the work that goes behind this career, the low pay, and the burnout associated with travel blogging.

I’m not making this post to complain by any means: I absolutely love being able to partner with brands for trips and experiences. I went on vacation to the same places over and over again when I was growing up, so I love being able to explore new places (and countries!) as an adult. 

But sometimes, I just need a break from it. Here are a few reasons why I decided to take a break from travel blogging this summer and how I’m shifting my travel mindset for the rest of the year.

Why I Took A Break From Travel Blogging (+ What’s Next)

I Had Major Travel Burnout

By the end of 2022, I was majorly burned out from travel. In October, I had 4 press trips, then went straight into holiday travel afterward. I was a zombie when I came home in between trips, never really found a way to be consistent and productive, and felt like I was barely getting by.

I’ve been on a couple of press trips this year, and while I’ve enjoyed them, I think after my last trip, I can safely say that my body just isn’t bouncing back from trips quite like I used to.

While press trips are fun, they also aren’t a vacation. I often feel stressed out making sure I’m on time for everything on my (packed!) itineraries, there’s a bit of social anxiety meeting new people and having to remain professional, and I also am so focused on getting enough content that I don’t have much mental downtime during these kinds of experiences.

I realized that I overcommitted myself last year, and my body honestly can’t handle the back-to-back trips like I used to. So, this year, I made sure to make a conscious effort to take fewer trips to avoid burnout. 

Summer is my Least Favorite Season to Travel

I’m very lucky that I blog full-time and I don’t have kids, I don’t have to worry about taking PTO when I travel, and I don’t have to plan trips around when the kiddos are out of school. Parents: I don’t envy you!

That being said, the summer travel season is an absolute nightmare, and if you have the flexibility to travel in the shoulder season, I’d 100% do it. The weather is still nice, but the crowds will have dwindled, and the airports will be a lot less chaotic. Plus, if you can avoid the summer thunderstorm season, your flight will less likely be delayed. 

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Travel Blogging is the Least Lucrative Vertical (For Me)

I cover a lot of topics on my blog. When I launched my website back in 2011, I was solely a fashion blogger. As time went on, I incorporated more and more verticals, and one of my strengths is producing compelling travel content. 

While travel blogging is fun and I do genuinely enjoy it, out of every topic I write about, it is the least profitable vertical for me. I still do it because I genuinely love producing this type of content, but it is 1. super time-consuming to produce the content, and 2. doesn’t pay as much as a beauty or fashion project.

While I might spend several hours producing one beauty or fashion campaign, it usually takes weeks to produce a travel project. This includes pre-trip coordination, travel days, being away from my home/desk to produce the content, and post-trip editing, posting, and analytics reporting.

If you break down how much I get compensated for some trips vs. the amount of time I spent on that trip, sometimes the hourly rate breaks down to minimum wage — or less. I had to have a come to Jesus moment and really limit how many of these projects I took on because it isn’t always the best use of my time.

I Moved

ICYMI: I moved! Just to another apartment in L.A. 

I am so glad I gave myself a long break from travel after moving because even though I’ve moved several times over the past 12 years, I’m still pretty horrible at unpacking. My first day in my new place was June 30, and as of the end of August, I still have boxes everywhere. But, I was able to settle in a bit before my upcoming fall travels which I’m thrilled about. Baby steps, right?

Staying Home to Focus on Health

I’ve shared this on social, but I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that’s causing scarring alopecia. I’ve spent the summer making a ton of meals at home vs. eating out, and I can tell it’s made a huge difference. I don’t participate in diet culture, but I’ve been making a conscious effort to include more anti-inflammatory foods in my everyday life. Think: a lot of Mediterranean dishes at home and tons of leafy greens. 

It can be pretty tricky to maintain healthy eating habits when you’re constantly on the go, but now that I know what types of foods are best for my health, I hope to make better choices and order those types of foods when I’m away from home. But I’m aiming for balance here because I can’t completely eliminate things like french fries and pasta from my life!

Next Steps for Travel

While I really enjoy travel, I’m hoping to approach it from a more strategic approach this time around to avoid burnout and frustration.

I’m also at the point where I’ve been able to travel to so many fabulous places over the years, and I want to help you plan the best trip ever. That’s why I’m excited to announce that I am now a Fora Advisor, and I can help you plan your next great adventure!

With Fora, I can hook you up at the best hotels around the world with upgrades, resort credits, free bookings, and way more. Best of all — there’s no additional cost to book through me! The hotel provides me with a commission, but you pay the same price.

Let me plan your next great adventure. Sign up for my Fora mailing list here, and get a free packing list! 

Looking for more travel inspo? Check out my travel guides here!

Photos by Tom McGovern