Are There Too Many Travel Blogs?

Are there too many travel blogs? That’s a great question! Many people ask this before they start out on their blogging career.

The truth: There certainly are a lot of travel blogs out there. But how many is too many?

Technically I started my travel blog, Teaspoon of Adventure, in 2012 when there were way fewer blogs around. That makes me a pretty seasoned travel blogger!

But for the first few years, ToA was just my online diary where I would post intermittently. I then started to write more for an audience in 2018 and, finally, started to take things more seriously in 2022 with best blogging practices, monetization, etc.

I’m often asked by new bloggers if it’s worth starting a travel blog or if the niche is too saturated and they shouldn’t bother. To them, I offer this post.

Back in the early days of travel blogging

I first discovered travel blogs in 2012 when I was sitting in my university dorm room, desperate to get out and see the world. Back then, travel blogs were more of a novelty. The community was a lot smaller.

But that’s not the case anymore.

Our world is more accessible. It used to be that only certain people could travel around the world, and therefore write a travel blog.

But these days, it’s a lot easier to travel the world even with limited time and funds. It seems like everyone on social media is always on vacation.

Our world is also more digital now. You don’t have to be a tech wiz to start a travel blog or travel-based account on social media.

So we’ve got more people travelling and more people starting blogs – is that how we get to too many travel blogs? Maybe.

But we do know it’s harder to write a viral post or build traffic because travel blogging is no longer a unique niche like it was back in the day.

Is there anything left to say?

Every city, country and place in the world has been blogged about. You could type in the most remote locale on Google and I bet there’s a travel blog post about that spot. We’ve left no rock unturned.

But, all of those spots haven’t been blogged about by you. A travel blog is all about your unique voice and perspective.

Sure, millions of people have been to Ireland and hundreds or thousands of those people have blogged about it. But those people aren’t you. They’re not seeing Ireland through your eyes or telling your story of Ireland.

Find what makes you unique. That is what is going to set your blog apart.

Especially as social media channels come and go, Google updates wreak havoc, and AI takes over the world, people are going to seek out blogs based on the author’s unique perspective.

Are travel bloggers experts?

Probably not. Just because you have a travel blog does not make you a professional traveller or a travel expert.

I think we’re all guilty of writing a version of “The Ultimate Guide to that Place I’ve Been to Just Once for Only 3 Days.” I certainly am.

But that doesn’t mean our opinions aren’t valid.

Way back in the day, before travel blogs existed, you had to spend months or even years researching a place in order to write a travel book about it. But that’s not the case anymore in our accessible and digital world.

You don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion – just ask anyone who has ever reviewed a restaurant on Yelp!

And, to be honest, most of our readers aren’t looking for experts. Sure, they want someone who knows what’s up; don’t start writing travel guides to places you have never been before.

But your firsthand knowledge as a new traveller to a place is what people are looking for. They want to know what restaurants you loved, what lessons you learned and what impressions you got from your trip.

If they wanted an in-depth analysis on the history of Paris, they’d pick up a textbook, not visit a travel blog.

Why do we blog?

I can’t speak for all travel bloggers, but for me, my blog is about more than trying to make money or become the number one authority on a place.

I blog first and foremost because I love it. I love travelling and I love writing. This blog is both of those things.

I love having a place to track my adventures and relive some of my best memories from abroad. I love inspiring other people and helping them plan their own adventures.

When people ask me if blogging is still worth it, especially given how many travel blogs exist out in the world, I always come back to their why. If the only reason you want to blog is to make money, there are easier, faster and more guaranteed ways to make money.

And that doesn’t mean you’re a less worthy blogger if you’re trying to make money. Let’s stop demonizing people in the arts for charging for their work. We wouldn’t expect doctors or lawyers to show up and do their jobs for free!

But I do think you need to start with passion. If you don’t have a passion for travel and writing, don’t bother blogging, no matter how many other travel blogs exist.

Community over competition

But are there too many travel blogs for us to all find success? I don’t think so.

I once listened to a podcast with Natalie Franke of Rising Tide who coined the term “community over competition.” Instead of thinking that there’s not enough space for all of us, we need to think in terms of abundance and do what we can to support one another.

It’s not about comparing myself to another travel blogger who is more successful – it’s about competing with the blogger that I was last month and improving from there.

I’m definitely still struggling with this one – it’s hard to not compare, to not feel jealous and to not get discouraged.

But I don’t want to live in a scarcity mindset where I’m actively rooting for another blogger to fail so I can win. There’s no winning like that.

So, are there too many travel blogs?

No, I don’t believe there are too many travel blogs. I don’t think there will ever be too many travel blogs.

That’s like saying there are too many restaurants. No one opens up a restaurant because they think they’re the first person to make a burger or use kale.

They open up a restaurant because they have new ideas for old staples. They open up a restaurant because they are talented at what they do. They open up a restaurant because they want to serve their community and make money.

And, most importantly, they open up a restaurant because they are truly passionate about food.

Sure, not every new restaurant is going to make it. Just like not every travel blog is going to become a viral sensation with millions of page views.

But that doesn’t stop the chef from cooking – just like it doesn’t stop the travel blogger from travelling and writing.

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I’d love to know what your thoughts are on this. Too many travel blogs? Or keep them coming?