essay about most recent travel experience

English Compositions

Essay on Travel Experience [200, 500 Words] With PDF

Travelling plays an important role in our lives as it enriches our experience. In this lesson, you will learn to write essays in three different sets on the importance of libraries. It will help you in articulating your thoughts in the upcoming exams.

Table of Contents

Essay on travel experience in 200 words, essay on travel experience in 500 words.

We travel to get away from the monotony of our daily lives. It’s a refreshing diversion from the monotony of everyday life. It allows our minds to relax and gives our inner child the opportunity to play. Some trip memories are nostalgic and melancholy, while others are daring and exhilarating. A trip to the graveyard, the poet’s corner in London, or one’s ancestral house, for example, is a voyage to nostalgia.

These travels allow them to relive memories and treasure golden memories from a bygone era. People who go on these journeys are frequently depressed and artistically inclined. Travelling instils a sense of adventure and encourages us to make the most of every opportunity. Some people prefer to travel in groups, whereas others prefer to travel alone.

Trips to amusement parks with massive roller coasters or a deeply wooded forest could be exciting. It’s important to remember that Columbus discovered America due to his travels. The journey becomes much more memorable when things don’t go as planned. For example, if a car tyre blows out on the highway and it begins to rain heavily, the trip will turn into an adventure, even though it was not intended to be such. A visit to a museum or a gothic structure, on the other hand, is sure to be exciting.

We travel to get a break from the mundane and robust lifestyle. It is a welcome change from the monotonous routine existence. It helps our minds rest and gives the inner child within us to have a good time.

Not all travelling experiences are adventurous and exciting, and some are nostalgic and melancholic. For instance, a trip to the cemetery or the poet’s corner in London or one’s ancestral home will be a nostalgia trip. Such trips help them re-live the moments and cherish the golden memories of bygone times. People who undertake such trips are often melancholic and have an artistic sensibility.

Travelling experiences bring enthusiasm and teach us to make the best of every moment. While some enjoy travelling in groups, some people love to travel solo. Adventurous trips could be to amusement parks with giant roller coasters or a deep, dense forest. One must not forget that travelling led Columbus to discover America. When things don’t go as planned, the trip becomes more memorable. For instance, if the car tyre gets punctured on the highway and starts raining heavily, the trip, even if not intended to be adventurous, shall become one. A trip to a museum or gothic architecture shall be thrilling. 

Last Christmas, my trip to Goa with my friends was an enriching one. The golden sun-soaked beaches offered a refuge from the humdrum city life of Kolkata. The cool breeze, the rising and setting sun, and the chilly wind all transported me to heaven. It was paradisal and divine. The cuisine was exquisite. The Portuguese culture and the museums offer various historical insights.

Although it was the peak season and most crowded places, people were civilised and cultured. The melodious music was in the air in every nook and corner, and the happy vibes were contagious. I danced, sang, played and had a great time. I tried sky diving, and it was a thrilling experience.

Besides fun and frolic, I found the independent spirit of people commendable. We spent three days in North Goa and two days in South Goa. We stayed at a guest house as most hotels were expensive and very occupied. We booked scooters to travel far and near. We also went on the cruise for the casino night.

My favourite spot was Thalassa, where we enjoyed the spectacular belly dance performance by males and females. We spent Christmas at Curlies witnessing the waxing moon at midnight. The lap of nature enriches one travelling experience and soothes their soul. The chirping of birds, the sound of the waterfall, the waves of a beach or the snow-covered mountain uplifts the traveller’s spirit.

One must not restrict oneself to a specific type of travelling experience. Life, after all, is a long journey that offers us different durations of vacations to make us laugh and learn at the same time. As Francis Bacon puts it, “Travel in the younger sort is a part of education, in the elder, a part of the experience.”

Hopefully, after going through this lesson, you have a holistic idea of the importance of travelling in our lives. I have tried to cover every aspect of a traveller’s experience within limited words. If you still have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through the comment section below. To read more such essays on many important topics, keep browsing our website. 

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Travel: Personal Experience

One of my passions is travelling. Travel involves visiting new places and meeting new people and having varied experiences. I come originally from Romania and have travelled to UK and US. I remember the quote by Samuel Johnson: “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it”. I have had the luck of visiting better countries and I believe my travel experiences have taught me a lot about human life and helped me expand the way I see things.

When I first travelled within Romania, it opened my eyes to how other people live. I saw how people lived happily even though they did not have much money or luxuries. It taught me that to be happy, money is not the only thing. I must have an attitude to be happy with what I have. It also taught me to accept people from different races and colors. When I travelled abroad, I saw new cultures and different lifestyles.

It was very exciting and adventurous. I learnt to enjoy these new experiences, to become part of these varied cultures by taking their food, wearing their dresses, etc. This has created in me the awareness that people all over the world are basically the same but they are different in the cultures – have different ways of talking, singing, enjoying, dancing, writing, building, dressing and conducting business. I have acquired a more global perspective of the world we live in. My knowledge has thus expanded because of my travel.

Self-confidence is another quality that I developed as a result of travelling. Whenever I travel, I had to be responsible for my own luggage, tickets and documents. I had to be careful in taking flights and cabs. When I was in my home country, I used to be shy to talk to new people. But during my travels, I learnt to talk to strangers and ask for help whenever I needed it. This gave me the confidence that I can make new friends. Also, new places sometimes had new customs that I had to adapt to.

Travel is the time I use to read and listen to music. This also gives me the time to reflect deeply on my life’s goals and where I am right now. It is an ideal opportunity to break free from a routine lifestyle. I feel very much relaxed during my travel and enjoy seeing new scenes and landscapes. It gives me time to discover more about myself. For example, when I was in Los Angeles, I saw a rock music performance at a club where everyone danced. I had not danced earlier at clubs. But when I joined the fun, I was surprised to realize that I enjoyed the experience a lot.

Travel also gives me a sense of being free and independent. It makes my mind open to new experiences all the time. Even during a flight, I get to taste new food, hear a new language, see new ways of dressing and listen to new kinds of music. This is very exciting and I thoroughly enjoy my life during these moments.

Through my travels, I have made many new international friends. Conversing with them has helped me understand their cultures better and I also have opportunities of improving my English which is now very important when travelling in UK and US. Moreover, as I intend to study in United States, it is good to improve my language skills before I begin my studies. Travelling to the United States has also helped me absorb their local culture and understand the value of hard work.

Above all, whenever I return to Romania after my travels, it helps me appreciate my home country a lot. I value Romanian culture and the warm way in which people relate to each other. I can appreciate it all the more when I travel abroad. Thus, my passion for travel while giving me fun, dreams and confidence, has also educated me, helped me embrace new cultures and new communication skills, adopt a more global perspective, improve my English and given me lots of good friends and wonderful memories. It has made me a richer person internally.

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IvyPanda. (2021, September 28). Travel: Personal Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/

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Write a Good Travel Essay. Please.

Kathleen Boardman

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Editor’s Note: We know that many of you are looking for help writing travel experience essays for school or simply writing about a trip for your friends or family. To inspire you and help you write your next trip essay—whether it’s an essay about a trip with family or simply a way to remember your best trip ever (so far)—we enlisted the help of Professor Kathleen Boardman, whose decades of teaching have helped many college students learn the fine art of autobiography and life writing. Here’s advice on how to turn a simple “my best trip” essay into a story that will inspire others to explore the world.

Welcome home! Now that you’re back from your trip, you’d like to share it with others in a travel essay. You’re a good writer and a good editor of your work, but you’ve never tried travel writing before. As your potential reader, I have some advice and some requests for you as you write your travel experience essay.

Trip Essays: What to Avoid

Please don’t tell me everything about your trip. I don’t want to know your travel schedule or the names of all the castles or restaurants you visited. I don’t care about the plane trip that got you there (unless, of course, that trip is the story).

I have a friend who, when I return from a trip, never asks me, “How was your trip?” She knows that I would give her a long, rambling answer: “… and then … and then … and then.” So instead, she says, “Tell me about one thing that really stood out for you.” That’s what I’d like you to do in this travel essay you’re writing.

The Power of Compelling Scenes

One or two “snapshots” are enough—but make them great. Many good writers jump right into the middle of their account with a vivid written “snapshot” of an important scene. Then, having aroused their readers’ interest or curiosity, they fill in the story or background. I think this technique works great for travel writing; at least, I would rather enjoy a vivid snapshot than read through a day-to-day summary of somebody’s travel journal.

Write About a Trip Using Vivid Descriptions

Take your time. Tell a story. So what if you saw things that were “incredible,” did things that were “amazing,” observed actions that you thought “weird”? These words don’t mean anything to me unless you show me, in a story or a vivid description, the experience that made you want to use those adjectives.

I’d like to see the place, the people, or the journey through your eyes, not someone else’s. Please don’t rewrite someone else’s account of visiting the place. Please don’t try to imitate a travel guide or travelogue or someone’s blog or Facebook entry. You are not writing a real travel essay unless you are describing, as clearly and honestly as possible, yourself in the place you visited. What did you see, hear, taste, say? Don’t worry if your “take” on your experience doesn’t match what everyone else says about it. (I’ve already read what THEY have to say.)

The Importance of Self-Editing Your Trip Essay

Don’t give me your first draft to read. Instead, set it aside and then reread it. Reread it again. Where might I need more explanation? What parts of your account are likely to confuse me? (After all, I wasn’t there.) Where might you be wasting my time by repeating or rambling on about something you’ve already told me?

Make me feel, make me laugh, help me learn something. But don’t overdo it: Please don’t preach to me about broadening my horizons or understanding other cultures. Instead, let me in on your feelings, your change of heart and mind, even your fear and uncertainty, as you confronted something you’d never experienced before. If you can, surprise me with something I didn’t know or couldn’t have suspected.

You Can Do It: Turning Your Trip into a Great Travel Experience Essay

I hope you will take yourself seriously as a traveler and as a writer. Through what—and how—you write about just a small portion of your travel experience, show me that you are an interesting, thoughtful, observant person. I will come back to you, begging for more of your travel essays.

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Introduction

Travel is a transformative journey that allows us to escape the ordinary and immerse ourselves in the extraordinary. In this essay, we’ll explore my most recent travel experience, which, like all travel experiences, left an indelible mark on my life.

• The Allure of Travel Experience

A travel experience is more than just a vacation; it’s a window to the world’s wonders, cultures, and landscapes. It’s a journey of self-discovery, a chance to break free from the routine and explore the unfamiliar.

• The Essence of My Recent Travel Experience

My most recent travel experience took me to the heart of Europe. The cobbled streets, the rich history, and the vibrant culture left me awestruck. I found myself immersed in a world of art, architecture, and cuisine .

• My Travel Experience Essay

My travel experience essay is a testament to the beauty of exploration. It’s an attempt to capture the essence of my journey, the emotions I felt, and the lessons I learned. It’s a story of my connection with a world beyond my comfort zone.

• Exploring the Unfamiliar

Stepping into a foreign land is like starting a new chapter in life. My recent travel experience was no different. The city’s rhythm, the language, and the people were all new to me. It was exciting and challenging, pushing me to adapt and learn.

• Your First Travel Experience

Your first travel experience is a milestone in your life. It’s the moment when you realize the world is much bigger and diverse than you ever imagined. Your first journey leaves an indelible mark, much like your first love.

• The Magic of Discovery

Travel is an exploration of both the world and yourself. My recent trip introduced me to captivating art in museums, quaint cafes tucked away in alleys, and stories shared by locals. It’s the magic of discovery that makes travel experiences so unique.

• Capturing Memories

Throughout my journey, I captured memories in photographs and words. My travel experience essay is not just an account of the places I visited but also a collection of my emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It’s a way to revisit those moments and share them with others.

• Writing My Travel Experience Essay

Writing my travel experience essay was a journey in itself. It allowed me to relive the trip and reflect on its impact. It’s a way to share my adventure with others and inspire them to embark on their own journeys.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

• What is the importance of writing a travel experience essay?

Writing a travel experience essay is a way to preserve memories, reflect on your journey, and share your adventures with others. It allows you to relive the moments and inspire fellow travelers.

• How can I make my travel experience essay unique?

To make your travel experience essay unique, focus on your personal perspective, emotions, and insights. Share your unique experiences and what you learned from your journey.

• What should I include in a travel experience essay?

In a travel experience essay, include details about the destination, your feelings, interactions with locals, memorable experiences, and any personal growth or lessons learned during the trip.

• How can I make my recent travel experience essay SEO-friendly?

To make your recent travel experience essay SEO-friendly, use relevant keywords naturally within the text, create descriptive headings, and maintain a logical structure. Additionally, ensure your content is engaging and informative.

• What is the most recent travel experience that left a lasting impact on you?

The most recent travel experience that left a lasting impact on me was my journey to Europe, where I explored its rich culture, art, and history. It deepened my appreciation for the beauty of the world and the value of travel experiences.

Travel experiences are an essential part of the human journey. They provide opportunities for self-discovery, connection with other cultures, and the creation of lasting memories. My most recent travel experience essay is a testament to the magic of exploration and the enduring impact that such adventures can have on our lives. It’s a reminder that there’s a vast, beautiful world waiting to be discovered, and each travel experience is a unique chapter in our personal story.

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Essay on My Best Travel Experience

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Best Travel Experience in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Best Travel Experience

Introduction.

My best travel experience was when I visited Disneyland in Paris. It was a trip that combined adventure, excitement, and learning in the most enjoyable way.

The Journey

Our journey began with a flight from home to Paris. The excitement of flying and the anticipation of the adventure ahead made the journey thrilling.

Disneyland was a dream come true. I met my favorite characters, enjoyed thrilling rides, and watched amazing shows. The magical atmosphere made me feel like I was part of a fairy tale.

This trip was my best travel experience. It was a perfect blend of fun, adventure, and learning.

250 Words Essay on My Best Travel Experience

Traveling is a fantastic way to broaden one’s perspectives, experience new cultures, and create lasting memories. Among all my travels, my journey to the Swiss Alps remains the most unforgettable.

The Excitement of the Journey

The excitement began as soon as I boarded the plane. The anticipation of exploring the Alpine landscapes, filled with snow-capped peaks and serene valleys, was overwhelming. Yet, the journey was merely the prelude to the symphony of experiences that awaited.

The Alpine Wonderland

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the majestic sight of the Alps, their peaks piercing the azure sky. The quaint Swiss chalets, nestled amidst lush greenery, added a touch of enchantment to the landscape. The air was crisp and clean, a refreshing change from the urban hustle I was accustomed to.

Experiencing the Culture

The local culture was a delightful blend of tradition and modernity. The Swiss people, with their warm hospitality and charming customs, made the experience even more memorable. Sampling local cuisine, especially the fondue and Swiss chocolate, was a gastronomic adventure in itself.

In retrospect, my trip to the Swiss Alps was not just a travel experience, but a journey of self-discovery. It taught me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new experiences. This trip remains my best travel experience, a testament to the transformative power of travel.

500 Words Essay on My Best Travel Experience

The allure of travel.

Traveling is an integral part of human life, offering a window to the world’s diverse cultures, landscapes, and experiences. It broadens our horizons, enriches our knowledge, and nurtures our spirit of adventure. Among the numerous journeys I’ve embarked on, one stands out as my best travel experience – a trip to the serene and picturesque landscapes of Iceland.

Journey to the Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland, often referred to as the ‘Land of Fire and Ice,’ is a Nordic island country marked by its dramatic landscapes with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lava fields, and massive glaciers. The journey began with a flight to Keflavík International Airport, the gateway to Iceland’s enchanting beauty. As the plane descended, the first glimpse of the country’s rugged terrains and icy landscapes was nothing short of breathtaking.

Embracing the Icelandic Culture

Upon arrival, I was welcomed by the warm-hearted locals who were eager to share their culture and traditions. The country’s capital, Reykjavík, was a blend of modernity and tradition, with its vibrant art scene, historic sites, and cutting-edge design. I was particularly intrigued by the Icelandic language, a North Germanic language that has remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

Exploring the Natural Wonders

The highlight of the trip was exploring Iceland’s natural wonders. The Golden Circle, a popular tourist route, offered a spectacular view of the geysers, waterfalls, and the historic Þingvellir National Park. The awe-inspiring sight of the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, painted across the night sky was an experience that words fail to encapsulate. The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, with its floating icebergs, was another unforgettable spectacle.

The Blue Lagoon Experience

The trip concluded with a visit to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa located in a lava field. The warm, mineral-rich waters offered a therapeutic experience, providing a perfect end to the journey. The Blue Lagoon, with its surreal beauty and healing properties, was a testament to the harmonious coexistence of nature and human innovation in Iceland.

Reflections on the Journey

The Iceland expedition was not just a geographical journey but also a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It was an opportunity to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature. The trip instilled in me a deep appreciation for the planet’s beauty and fragility, reinforcing the importance of sustainable travel and conservation efforts.

In conclusion, my journey to Iceland was an enriching and transformative travel experience. It was a perfect blend of cultural immersion, natural exploration, and personal introspection. The memories of the trip serve as a constant reminder of the world’s vastness and diversity, inspiring me to continue my quest for knowledge and adventure.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Travelling
• Essay on Travel by Train
• Essay on Train Accident

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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19 Inspiring Travel Experience Stories About Life-Changing Trips

Love inspiring travel experience stories ?

Then you’re in the right place!

Grab a snack and your favorite beverage and get ready to settle in, as you’re about to read some truly inspiring travel stories about life-changing trips.

In this roundup, some of my favorite bloggers share their best travel stories.

You’ll hear about travelers embarking on sacred pilgrimages, growing after a first solo female travel trip, deeply connecting with locals on the road, and getting out of their comfort zones in ways that completely alter the course of their life.

And if you’re looking for a unique travel experience, you’ll likely find it in the short stories about travel below.

Table of Contents

Free Travel Resources

But first… before we dive into these stories about travelling…

Make sure to grab free access to my #BeyondTheGuidebook Travel Resource Library:

Want to take the hassle out of trip planning?

Enter your name + email below to subscribe and snag access to my FREE Ultimate Travel Planning Resource Library, full of trip planners, cheat sheets, packing lists, Google Map itineraries + more! //  Privacy Policy . 

Woohoo! You’re officially a member of the Jessie on a Journey community. 

Make sure to also connect with me  on Instagram ,  on YouTube , and  on Facebook  to start traveling #BeyondTheGuidebook.

I regularly share about solo female travel, New York City, lesser-known destinations, unique experiences, active adventures, and how to turn your passion for exploring the world into a profitable business through travel blogging.

Click here to head back to the travel blog .

There is so much included!

Plus, I’m constantly adding new resources, guides, and personality quizzes to help you travel beyond the guidebook!

On that note, let’s dive into the inspiring travel stories .

1. Travel Experience Stories In South America

My travel story takes place in South America, back when I used to travel solo for months at a time.

I was in my mid-20s, and even though I’d backpacked Europe, Southeast Asia, and China and had studied abroad in Australia, the mix of intense excitement and nerves I had leading up to my South America backpacking trip was different.

And despite family and friends warning me that South America wasn’t a place for a solo female traveler , it ended up being my best trip ever and one of my life changing trips!

There are so many interesting short travel stories and unforgettable travel experiences woven into this trip, like:

• Getting invited to have dinner with my Brazilian plane seatmate and her grandma
• Having a group of complete strangers on Couchsurfing take me out for dinner and dancing on my birthday in Mendoza
• Attending a small house party in Argentina and learning about the tradition of mate
• Getting stuck on a broken-down bus and having an impromptu language exchange with an elderly woman in Peru
• Having a love interest back home break up with me via text, and then experiencing the kindness of strangers as a woman in my hostel who I barely knew treated me to ice cream to cheer me up
• Having a romance with a hostel mate in Ecuador and then traveling through the country together
• Living in a giant treehouse with a group of strangers during a solo trip in Brazil and spending our days exploring hiking trails and swimming and our nights drinking and exchanging stories about traveling
• Taking a 4×4 from Chile to Bolivia across the Siloli Desert to see otherwordly sites like rainbow lagoons and train graveyards in the middle of nowhere
• Experiencing some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders, like Iguazu Falls, Torres del Paine, the Amazon River, Uyuni Salt Flats, and Perito Moreno Glacier

At times the trip was also challenging, from dealing with long bus rides and car sickness to flipping over my bicycle handlebars in Peru and getting my body (and ego) badly bruised.

But, I was okay.

In fact, I was more than okay, as the trip showed me how independent I could be and what I was truly capable of. It also showed me the beauty of immersing yourself in cultures different than your own and connecting with locals who want to share them with you.

Years later, when people ask what my best travel experience has been this is the trip that comes to mind.

-Jessie from Jessie on a Journey

2. Traveling With An Open Mind

Many people think of travel as an experience and rightly so. Sometimes, however, you cannot choose the places you travel to.

This happened to me in 2019.

My husband found himself posted in Brunei for work.

Three months pregnant meant that I had a choice:

Either stay with him in Brunei for three months before returning back to India or remain in India, alone.

I chose the former. Not because of my love for the country but because I wanted to be close to him.

Brunei had never held any appeal to me. Whatever research that I pulled off the Internet showed me nothing other than one beautiful mosque.

The flights in and out of the country were expensive so traveling frequently out was not an option either.

I was engulfed by a sense of being trapped in a remote place.

Needless to say, I reached Brunei in a pretty foul mood. I think one of the things that struck me the most even in the midst of that bad mood was the large swaths of greenery that surrounded us.

Mind you, we were not staying in the big city but as far away on the outskirts as you could imagine. I’m not a city girl by any stretch and the greenery eventually soothed my nerves.

It took a week, but I soon found myself interacting with people around me. Fellow expats and locals all went out of their way to make me feel comfortable.

The more comfortable I felt, the more we explored. We trekked (yes, while pregnant!), we joined the board game community, and we enjoyed the local cuisine.

Three months later when it was time to leave, I found myself reluctant to say goodbye to the warmth of the country I had called home for a short while. I ended up having some of the most meaningful travel experiences there.

I think that my time in Brunei taught me a valuable lesson:

Don’t judge a place by what others say or a lack of information.

Sure, you may not always like what you see, but there will always be something that you will like. You just need to look hard enough to find it!

-Penny from GlobeTrove

3. From Half-Day Hiker To Walking Holiday Enthusiast

I’ve always enjoyed walking but never in a million years did I imagine I’d end up walking over 200 kilometers (~124 miles) in 10 days, become a fan of walking holidays, and end up developing self-guided hiking routes in Portugal with a local tour operator as part of my business.

The shift from being someone who was content with an easy three-hour walk to an experienced multi-day hiker began with a brief taste of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrim trail through Portugal to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain.

Back in 2013 I did a guided one-day hike along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Camino, north of Ponte de Lima. It’s also one of the most challenging sections so it was hard work, but the views from the top of Labruja Mountain made the climb worthwhile.

My guides were so enthusiastic about the thrill of arriving at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral after the challenges of day after day on the Camino that I began to think I might want to give it a go, despite not being religious.

Fast forward a few years and I set off from Barcelos with a friend of mine to follow the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.

Apart from suffering from chronic back pain, I thought I was quite fit but nothing had prepared me for how utterly exhausted I would feel at the end of each walking day.

This was truly a slow travel experience, as we were averaging about 20 kilometers (~12 miles) per day and by the time we reached our hotel, I would barely have enough energy to get cleaned up and find food before collapsing. I had envisioned plenty of sightseeing but that ended up being minimal.

Quickly, I realized the moral of this unique travel experience:

The Camino was all about making the most of the journey rather than the destination.

For me, that was quite a shift in thinking as I am usually all about getting to where I want to be as soon as possible so that I can start exploring. It was, perhaps, also my first step on the path towards mindfulness.

I will never forget the sense of achievement and progress at the end of each walking day, and the relief and pride I felt when we finally made it to Santiago de Compostela.

We met people who had walked the Camino several times and I can totally understand how it can become addictive. 

Walking the Camino is one of the life changing travel experiences for many people!

-Julie from Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

4. A Story About Traveling & Its Ripple Effect

Tucked away in far eastern Indonesia is a tiny archipelago of islands called the Banda Islands.

Apart from world-class snorkeling and some crumbling colonial buildings, the Banda Islands are mostly forgotten and would be described as a backwater by all accounts.

However, the Banda Islands are possibly the main reason that I am who I am today. 

Well, the Bandas are the original Spice Islands.

Nutmeg used to grow on this tiny group of islands alone and nowhere else. The Dutch colonized Indonesia and promptly became the owners of islands where money grew on trees.

The only problem was that Indonesia was so far away that they needed a halfway stop to and from Indonesia.

That’s where my travel experience story comes in.

The same Dutch East India Company that traded in spice set up a halfway station at the foot of Table Mountain to break up their long journey. As a result, my Dutch ancestors arrived in the southernmost point in Africa , and generations later we are still there.

When I visited the Banda Islands, it dawned on me how something happening on the other side of the world can ripple out and affect people on the other side of the planet.

And I’m not the only one!

The spice trade was so important to the Dutch that they even traded a tiny island in the Banda archipelago for a much bigger island…Manhattan.

Yes. That Manhattan.

Before visiting the Banda Islands I never really knew about this part of my history.

Along with the spice that the ships carried back to Amsterdam, it also carried slaves. These slaves, more often than not, ended up in Cape Town.

Just like my European ancestors, they too became a part of Africa and added another shade to our beautiful Rainbow Nation.

It was in the Banda Islands that I realized how much of my culture, food, stories and even words in my mother tongue, Afrikaans, actually originated in Indonesia.

Because of these tiny islands, I am a true mix of Europe, Africa, and Asia. While I always thought I knew how all things in life are somehow connected, I didn’t really grasp it until my visit to Indonesia.

This could have been a resort travel experience story, as I went to Indonesia to swim and snorkel and relax on the world’s best beaches. And while I did get to do that, I also learned a lot about who I am as a person, my people, and my country…on another continent. 

It is a travel experience I will never forget!

My visit to the Bandas has sparked a fascination with Indonesia, which I have visited seven times since. I’m already planning another trip to this spectacular country!

-De Wet from Museum of Wander

5. Awakening My Spirit In A Costa Rican Cloud Forest

In February 2017, I was just coming out of a decade of mysterious chronic illness that had shrunk my world.

And one of the things that finally helped me to resurface during the previous year was an online Qi Gong course I stumbled upon: 

Flowing Zen .

To the casual observer, Qi Gong looks a lot like its better-known cousin, Tai Chi — the ancient art of moving meditation — but it’s actually energy medicine for healing.

In fact, it’s commonly used in Chinese hospitals.

My daily practice that year made such a difference for me that I dangled a reward for myself:

If I stuck with it all year, then I’d head to Sifu Anthony’s annual retreat in a cloud forest in Costa Rica the following February.

And I did! It was my first trip out of the country for more than a decade.

Just like that, I booked a solo trip — something I hadn’t done since I was an exchange student to Europe 30 years earlier — to San Jose where I met up with a dozen strangers and Sifu Anthony, our Qi Gong master.

We boarded a tiny bus and rode up, up, up around carsick-inducing curvy mountain roads into a magical cloud forest jungle where we finally arrived at The Blue Mountain (“La Montana Azul”) for a weeklong Qi Gong retreat. 

There were no Internet or distractions here — just delicious organic vegetarian meals made with love and shared with the community under a gorgeous open-air palapa.

There were also colorful tropical birds singing in the jungle, as well as the largest arachnid I’ve ever seen in my gorgeous (but also roofless) room for a little extra adventure.

I’d felt a little energy movement during my year of online practice, but during that week on The Blue Mountain, my body began to really buzz with Qi — life force energy — as I Lifted the Sky, stood in Wuji Stance, and practiced Shooting Arrows.

I felt electrified and joyful. 

And that was when everything changed for me.

At home, I had a successful career as a freelance writer, but I decided during my week in the cloud forest that I wanted more from life.

I wanted to explore the beauty, diversity, nature, and culture in every corner of the world.

And I wanted to share this intoxicating joyful feeling of life-giving freedom and adventure with anyone who wanted to come along for the ride.

Shortly after that, at age 53, I launched my travel blog.

Dreams really do come true. They are just waiting for you to claim them.

-Chris from Explore Now or Never

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6. From Rome With Love

This wasn’t the way I wanted to see Rome. 

Sure, I was happy to spend Christmas in Rome and stand in awe of the city’s many iconic attractions. But, life wasn’t meant to turn out like this.

I was supposed to go to Rome with my mom back in 2012; however, life had different plans, because a week before our trip, I got a double kidney infection. A condition that required a week of hospitalization.

Although I was annoyed I had missed my trip, it wasn’t the end of the world since I was fine and everything seemed okay…until my mom developed a cough.

A cough that later became a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer. 

My mom spent the final months of her life in chemo, desperately trying to fight a horrific disease so that she wouldn’t let her family down.

And she didn’t.

Instead, she showed us how to never give up on life, even if it was a losing battle. 

So, when she eventually passed away, I booked a trip to Rome. 

Sure, it wasn’t the trip I had hoped for. But, I knew that as her daughter, it was my job to live enough for the both of us. 

And that’s exactly what I did.

Was I an anxious, sad, angry mess of a person?

Absolutely. I was still getting used to a world that my mother wasn’t a part of. 

And honestly, you never get used to that world. You just deal with it because you don’t really have a choice.

But I also knew that I wanted my mom to live on through me and that I didn’t want to live a life where the haunting phrases “should of,” “could of,” and “would have” swirled through my head and ate away at my happiness.

So, I went. I packed a boatload of tissues, sobbed my heart out, and attended Christmas mass at the Vatican. 

I also threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, walked through the Colosseum, chowed down on gelato, and spent two weeks doing all the things my mom and I had wanted to do. 

And that’s when it hit me. I had never gone to Rome alone because my mom had always been there with me. Maybe she wasn’t physically there, but I thought of her and felt her presence every minute of every day. 

Her presence also reminded me that life isn’t about the things we buy or the money that we have.

It’s about making memories with the people we love; people that never really leave us since they are constantly influencing our lives in countless ways.

And after my trip to Rome, I finally knew that my mom would always be there because she had forever changed my life in the best possible way. 

-Kelly from Girl with the Passport

7. Studying In Finland

One of my major life-turning points happened during my exchange studies in Finland.

Until then, I was studying at a university in Prague, had a part-time job at a renowned management-consulting firm, and thought I was on the right path in life.

At the University of Economics where I studied it was notoriously difficult to get on an Erasmus exchange trip abroad since the demand was huge. Everyone wanted to go!

Regardless, I decided to sign up early for my last semester, just to see what the process was like to be better prepared for applying again in a year.

I did make it through all the three rounds and surprisingly got a spot at a University in Turku, Finland! I was ecstatic. The success brought its own challenges, but once you set your eyes on the goal, nothing can stop you.

And I had the time of my life in Finland. It was a fantastic personal travel experience.

I met the most amazing people, traveled a ton, partied a lot, and bonded with friends from all over the world.

Given I was one of the few people there who really needed to pass all her courses and additionally write her thesis, I managed to run on an impossible sleep schedule of four hours per night. But I made it!

My studies in Finland opened up my horizons, too.

The summer after, I wrapped up my life in Prague and went on to study in Germany and China . The whole time I traveled as much as possible, often going on solo adventures. It was only a matter of time when I’d start my own travel blog.

My Finland adventure led me to a life of freedom made up of remote work, travel blogging , and plenty of traveling. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. And it gave me one of my favorite true adventure stories that I can now share with others.

-Veronika from Travel Geekery

8. How Cuba Changed My Life

One of my favorite inspiring stories about travel takes place in Cuba.

I visited Cuba in February 2013 and it changed my life — and I like to think it did so for the better.

Interestingly, I expected a completely different country and was compelled to write about it when I got back home.

But let me tell you more.

I read copious amounts of blogs and travel diaries to prepare myself for the trip to Cuba so I thought I’d go in with a fairly good idea of what to expect. Each and every post I read spoke of marvelous landscapes, pristine beaches, crumbling but charming cities, and welcoming locals.

All of it was true, in my experience — except for the locals.

I didn’t find them so welcoming. At least, not genuinely so. They only seemed to welcome me as far as they could get something in exchange: money, clothes, pens, soap, you name it. 

Each and every day in Cuba was a challenge to avoid the scams, to avoid being ripped off, to fight off each and every attempt of people trying to take advantage of me. I usually managed, but it was exhausting and it left a sour taste in my mouth.

Once I got back home I felt the urge to write about my experience — not for other sites or papers as I’d often do. This time I was afraid I’d be censored.

So I opened my own blog. With zero tech knowledge, zero understanding of online content creation and SEO, I started writing and telling people what they should really expect during a trip to Cuba.

I’d put up the occasional post, but continued with my usual job.

At the end of the year, my contract as a researcher in international human rights law at the local university ended, and I decided to stop pursuing that career for a while.

I packed my bags and left for a long-term trip to Central and South America . I started writing on the blog more consistently and learning, and eventually took my blog full-time , turning it into a career.

As of today, I have never looked back and have no regrets. This was a life changing traveling experience.

The one thing I’ll do, as soon as I can, is travel to Cuba to say thank you — because it changed my life in a way nothing else has ever done. 

-Claudia from Strictly Sardinia

9. A Short Travel Story About Finding Inner Peace In Patagonia

Life in London is hard.

Life in London as a gay single brown refugee is harder.

Juggling between work, my passion for traveling, and the prejudices that I dealt with on a daily basis eventually took their toll on me and I reached a breaking point.

The fact that I couldn’t return home to see my family and being away for them for almost nine years was enough to hammer in the final nail in the coffin.

I almost had a nervous breakdown and in that moment of desperation, which I knew would define the rest of my life, I took a month off and headed to Patagonia.

It was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. The 36 hours it took me to get to El Chalten from London were tiring but Patagonia blew me away.

On my first day there I did a 28-kilometer (17-mile) hike which included a steep mountain climb. It was incredible how moving through the forest helped me clear my mind. And as I stood in front of Laguna de Los Tres, the rain and clouds gave way to sunshine and a rainbow.

I felt at peace.

The countless hikes, great food, and the warmth of locals in Chile and Argentina helped me get back in my skin and find the peace I was missing in my heart.

Nature is indeed the best medicine when it comes to stress relief and I won’t be coy about hugging trees to speed up the process (it did).

Patagonia was life-changing for me.

The beauty of nature struck me at each point and every time I thought it wasn’t possible to beat the view, the next one did just that.

I came back a changed, resilient, and most importantly, a happy person.

-Ucman from BrownBoyTravels

10. Looking Inwards & Making Connections With Strangers

It was decades before I traveled solo for the first time in my life.

This trip — a six-day escape to Colorado — was the first trip that was not for business or family reasons but just to travel and discover.

As I prepared for it, I had a strange feeling of excitement and nerves at the same time. I had all sorts of thoughts and doubts:

Would it be fun?

Would I be bored?

Would I stay in bed all day or would I bounce with excitement to do the next thing?

I wasn’t sure. Little did I know that it was going to be a memorable journey of self-discovery. 

As a good wife and mom, for me travel is always about the family; always thinking of who would enjoy what. It’s about family time and bonding. It’s about creating memories and travel stories together. It’s all so wonderful.

But on a solo trip who would I connect with? What would I say?

Well, I found that I got to do anything I wanted!

Usually when I travel with my family, if I feel like going on a drive that’s not on the itinerary or getting a snack no one else is interested in, we simply don’t do that.

So it was weird to just go do it. Really, that’s a thing?

As for making connections, it was so easy to meet locals while traveling and also to connect with other travelers. Honestly, I had conversations everywhere — on planes, while hiking, in restaurants, in the hotel lobby.

It was quite an eye-opening experience to meet a mom of 18 kids and hundreds of foster kids, a cookie baker, a professional photographer, a family of Fourteener hikers, and an internationally ranked marathon runner.

The inspiring stories I discovered were amazing and nothing like my wonderful safe life at home. 

In terms of travel safety , I got to go rock climbing, solo hiking, driving up a Fourteener, eating alone.

And it was all fine. Actually, it felt surprisingly normal.

It was was just me, my SUV, and my backpack for a week. Most of all, it was a breath of fresh air that I didn’t know existed. 

It’s wonderful to be back home and know that possibilities are endless and there is so much more out there to explore and be wowed by!

-Jyoti from Story At Every Corner

11. A Solo Hike To Find Connection

I have traveled solo many times, but I admit I was a bit uneasy booking my trip to Colombia . In part, due to the country’s dark past. But also because I desperately wanted to do the Cocora Valley hike, and if I’m honest, I was terrified.

This hike is located in the Coffee Triangle, an area recognized for its beauty as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features both rainforest and a stunning green valley speckled with cartoonishly-tall wax palms rising 200 feet or more.

It’s incredibly beautiful.

It’s also a long hike and quite challenging — it generally takes between six and eight hours and there is a steep area with over 3,000 feet of elevation within a quarter of a mile.

I wasn’t in hiking shape, so I was a little concerned. But, worst of all for me were the seven dodgy-looking suspension bridges. 

I’m terrified of heights.

And, I’d be going alone.

I decided to go anyway and I met an incredible woman on the bus to Salento, the town near Cocora. She was also traveling solo and we agreed to hike together.

The town is a backpacker enclave and we met up with a small group of people all traveling solo. As the days passed, our group got larger and it was such a magical experience.

As much as I love city travel, this small town won my heart.

My new friend and I set off on the hike and met two other women who were nervous to do the hike. We all went together.

When we got to the first suspension bridge, I paused. I was embarrassed to admit my fear, but the bridge swayed widely and there was nowhere to hold onto.

When they realized how out of my comfort zone I was and how scared I felt, everything changed. Instead of me dealing with it alone, they were all there to encourage me.

One crossed the bridge to encourage me from the other side and they stayed off of it to limit the sway. Crazy enough, I not only crossed the seven suspension bridges, but I also crossed one an extra time when we went the wrong way on the trail.

I did it! 

I was prepared to be blown away by Cocora Valley’s beauty, but what I wasn’t expecting was what a life-changing travel experience my time there would be.

 -Sam from My Flying Leap

12. How A Pet Sitting Travel Experience Led To A Passionate Career

We wanted to go to the Caribbean but didn’t know much about the islands or how we were going to afford it.

By chance, a friend of ours in Australia mentioned “pet sitting” and that it is something you can do all over the world.

We quickly created an account on a pet sitting website and began searching for options. There were only a couple of sits available in that part of the world, but we tried our luck, sent a request, and to our surprise landed a three-month gig in a beautiful house in the US Virgin Islands — with an infinity pool overlooking the British Virgin Islands.

A month into our sit, we had explored the destination pretty well and so had a lot of time on our hands. We managed to secure another sit in Grenada, so our year was going to be taken up with Caribbean pet sits.

Inspired by a Canadian couple that had previously stayed at our Grenada housesit, we decided to start our own travel blog. We began by writing about The Virgin Islands, highlighting the beautiful beaches and funky bars.

But for every photo of a beautiful beach there were 10 photos of trash.     

It was hard to ignore the plastic pollution issue, especially on such pristine and remote beaches.  So, we began to share photos of the trash we saw and how much we could pick up on our daily dog walks.

The more we looked into plastic pollution, the more we realized the severity of the global plastic pandemic. From that point, we used our platform to create awareness and highlight ways to say no to plastic and travel plastic-free .

We changed our daily routines, our way of living, and even our diets to accommodate more organic foods and little to no plastic packaging.

It’s been over three years now and we continue to do what we can. This journey has led us to some amazing places, working with great conscious brands and even organizing a country-wide beach clean-up campaign in Grenada.

Our aim now is to keep on going.

We love connecting with like-minded people and love the shift over the last few years that brands have made towards creating more sustainable products and services.

It’s been an amazing few years that was sparked by a conversation about pet sitting. Who would have guessed?

-Aaron & Vivien from The Dharma Trails

13. Learning To Slow Down The Hard Way

On Christmas of 2017, I was born again.

We like to spend our Christmas holidays somewhere warm abroad, and that year we chose Uganda.

Nature, wildlife, and sunny days were a blessing when it was so cold and dark in Europe. Life was beautiful, and we had a rental car and a busy schedule ahead to explore the country.

This is where this short travel story turns into one of my more scary travel experiences :

At Murchinson Falls National Park, we had a car accident.

I lost control of the car, and it rolled over, destroying windows, chassis, and engine.

But we were alive! My right arm was severely injured, but we managed to walk to our lodge, not far inside the park.

In the lodge, I was happy to learn that there was a pretty decent American hospital in Masindi that was just a one-hour drive from the lodge. Moreover, one of the lodge’s guests was a nurse who cleaned the wound while we were waiting for the taxi from/to Masindi.

The hospital took care of us, and after a couple of injections and stitches, I was ready to head to our new hotel in Masindi; however, my wound required daily dressing and more injections, so we were asked to stay in town for a few days.   

Masindi is the kind of place where you may want to stop to buy some food or water, but that’s it.

The town’s highlights were the market and our daily visit to the hospital, so we ended up looking for the small things, chatting with the medical staff, the hotel staff, the people in the market, and learning more about their customs.

We learned to slow down the hard way.

When we were allowed to leave, we took a road trip south through the country to see something else. We did not care about our travel bucket list anymore — we were alive, and we wanted to enjoy Uganda’s unique nature and its people. 

In the end, our Uganda trip was not about the places that we saw, but the people that we met. It was travel for experience vs sightseeing.

I hope to revisit Uganda one day, with a stop at Masindi for some food, water, and maybe something else.

-Elisa from World in Paris

14. A Cycling Trip To Remember

During the summer of 2019, I cycled solo from London to Istanbul. This huge bicycle tour took me 89 days and through 11 countries.

As you might expect, it was a challenging yet incredible journey, which saw me pedal along some of Europe’s greatest rivers, pass through some of its best cities, and witness some of its most beautiful scenery.

It’s becoming more and more important for us to think about the impact that travel can have on our environment. This was the inspiration for my bicycle tour; I wanted to find more responsible ways to explore the world and avoid flights where possible.

I discovered that bicycle touring is one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel, as using nothing but a bicycle and your own pedal power you can carry everything you need while covering surprising distances each day.

The simplicity of life and the sheer amount of time I spent cycling alone gave me a lot of time to just think . This really helped me to come to terms with some personal problems rooted in my past and, as a result, I arrived solo in Istanbul with newly found confidence, independence, and liberation. 

Cycling across the entire European continent may seem like an impossibly daunting task, but I assure you, it will make you feel like a new person, just like it did for me.

-Lauren from The Planet Edit

15. How The Caribbean Shaped Me Into A Fully Sustainable Traveler

One of my first international trips as an adult was traveling around the Caribbean .

I checked into my hotel in Jamaica and asked for a recommendation for a local place to eat. The receptionist told me that under no circumstances should I should go into the town because it was really dangerous, but that — to my luck — the hotel’s restaurant offered wonderful Caribbean food.

I pondered my options:

Did I really want to spend all my time on the beach without getting to know a single local?

I was a very inexperienced traveler and very young, but there was only one answer to my question:

Absolutely not. I was not going to be visiting a new place and staying hostage in a hotel chain. So out I went.

The poverty hit me in the face. After only seeing fancy resorts, the reality was hard to swallow.

A few locals approached me and were super curious as to what I was doing there alone, since most tourists didn’t go there.

I told them I was interested in meeting them and experiencing their culture. And just like that, I was embraced.

We met more people, had some food, and then we danced the night away. They had so little, yet they wanted to share it with me. They wanted to make me feel welcome.

And they undeniably did.

The next morning all I could think about was how all the money most tourists spend goes to big corporations. The locals have to be thankful if they get a job that pays minimum wage, while foreign businesses earn millions.

I have always been environmentally conscious, but this trip made it clear that sustainability goes well beyond nature and wildlife.

It’s also about communities.

From then on I always look for locally owned accommodation, eateries, guides, and souvenirs.

Sustainability, with everything it entails, became a motto for me and changed the very essence of the way I travel.

-Coni from  Experiencing the Globe

16. Lessons From My Students In Peru

One of the most life-changing trips I’ve ever been on was a volunteering experience in the stunning city of Cuzco in Peru.

In this last travel experience, I spent a month there teaching English and Italian to a group of local adults. And even though my time there was short, the travel experience was so humbling that it changed my outlook on life.

My lessons took the form of active conversations, which essentially turned into a massive multilingual cultural exchange between me and my students. Hearing my students talk about their lives — and realizing just how different they were from mine — made me look at my own life with a fresh new perspective.

One person spoke about the three years he spent living in a jungle with his dad, where they fed off of animals they hunted in order to survive.

Another student told me about her ultimate dream of mastering English so that she could become a tour guide and have a more stable future.

For me, these stories were a reminder of just how small I am in this world and how much we can get consumed by the small bubbles we live in. 

Most of all, my students showed a passion and appreciation for life that I’d never witnessed before.

This is true for the locals I met in Cuzco in general. The quality of life in Cuzco is very modest; hot water is scarce and you learn to live with little.

But the locals there do way more than just that — they spontaneously parade the streets with trumpets and drums just because they’re feeling happy, and their energy for the simple things in life is incredibly contagious.

It was impossible to not feel inspired in Cuzco because my students always had the biggest smiles on their faces, and the locals showed me again and again that simply being alive is a blessing.

I went to Peru to teach, but ended up learning more from my students and the locals there than they did from me.

Ever since I got back from that trip, I made it a goal to slow down and not take the simple things in life for granted.

Every time I get upset about something, I think about the Peruvians in Cuzco parading their streets in song and pure joy, and I tell myself to stop complaining.

-Jiayi from  The Diary of a Nomad

17. Braving Travel With Chronic Pain

Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city with a prominent cathedral positioned centrally within the city.

While the historical cathedral attracts numerous visitors, even more well-known is the route to Santiago de Compostela, Camino de Santiago –- the world-famous pilgrimage route that has a plethora of trailheads and ends in Santiago. 

Home to locals, students, English teachers, and those on a spiritual pilgrimage, personal conquest, or a great outdoor hiking excursion, Santiago is a magical city.

My introduction to Santiago de Compostela doesn’t begin on the pilgrimage route, yet ends with a spiritual awakening analogous with those other unique pilgrimage stories.

It was my first solo trip abroad teaching English in Spain, a country that’s always been on my travel bucket list. A small town outside of Santiago was selected as the school I’d be teaching at for the year.

Unknowingly, this teach abroad program chose the perfect city for me to live in. 

A year prior, I suffered a traumatic brain injury that left me unable to function normally and complete average tasks. Migraines, headaches, and dizziness became my body’s normal temperament, a hidden disability invisible to the naked eye. 

Braving travel with chronic pain was the first lesson I learned during the trip.

The vast green outdoors and fresh dew from the morning rain enlivened me daily and reminded me about the importance of slowing down so I could enjoy traveling with my hidden disability. 

I also learned to stop often for daily tea breaks and to embrace the long lunch hour,  siestas , with good food, company, and a nap to rest.

Meeting locals , indulging in local food, and learning Spanish allowed me to connect deeply with the beautiful culture of Santiago. After all, my dream was to travel to Spain, and I more than accomplished that dream.

Difficult or not, I learned to own my dream and I was more than surprised with the results.

Who knew that a year after my injury I’d be traveling the world with chronic pain, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

-Ciara from Wellness Travel Diaries

18. A Blessing In Disguise

2020 has been a wild year for all of us and foreign students in China are no exception. As soon as the malevolent virus began to make its rounds in China, our university sent us home for “two weeks.”

However, within a short time, countries began to shut their borders and these “two weeks” turned into months, a full year even.

Crushed by the burden of online lectures and virtual labs, my boyfriend and I packed our bags and caught one of the first flights to his home country of Pakistan.

I had always been an over-ambitious traveler. I believed numbers were everything — the number of countries I visited, the number of hours I spent on a plane, the number of international trips I took in a year. These numbers were what defined me.

My feet were constantly itching and I never liked to spend more than a few days in a place before heading to the next country. Revisiting a place felt superfluous to me.

That’s why I was hoping to spend a month or two in Pakistan and then continue to check new countries off the list — after all, my online classes finally granted me the freedom to “work on my numbers.”

But as is usually the case in 2020, things turned out quite different from what I had expected. Borders remained closed and worldwide infections stayed rampant. At this point, I have already spent nearly half a year in Pakistan.

During this peculiar time, however, an amazing thing happened:

My mindset about travel started to change and I began to look at my long stay in Pakistan as perhaps my most valuable travel experience ever.

I may not have visited dozens of countries like in previous years but my experiences were deeper than ever before.

From trekking to one of the world’s tallest mountains to sharing tea with heavily armed officers at nearly 5,000 meters altitude to exploring hidden beaches in the most secluded regions to spontaneously being invited to village homes, my adventures in Pakistan couldn’t have been more incredible. They opened my eyes to the sheer diversity of many countries and completely transformed my idea about traveling. 

It took me nearly a full year of heavy restrictions on international travel and a few months in one of the world’s most fascinating countries to give up on my superficial ideals and become a more mature traveler.

This time will always have a special place in my heart.

-Arabela from The Spicy Travel Girl

19. What The River Taught Me

My travel story takes place in the summer of 2017 — the final summer before I graduated university — as it continues to play a significant role in the person I’ve become.

When I say that, people ask me if it was the portion of the summer I spent solo backpacking in Europe . And to their surprise, it wasn’t. It was actually the latter portion of the summer where I stayed closer to home.

For July and August I worked as a canoe guide leading whitewater canoe trips on remote rivers in Canada. It was here that I got to canoe the powerful and iconic Missinaibi River, a river that continues to influence me all these years later.

The Missinaibi River flows from the powerful Lake Superior to the even more powerful salty waters of James Bay. Here, I led a group of eight teenagers through dozens of whitewater rapids over 500 kilometers (~311 miles).

With no cell service for 25 days, we were forced to disconnect from anything other than the river.

During this trip I learned two important lessons:

First, I learned to be confident in my own abilities as a leader and problem solver.

There were a few rapids where my campers’ boats flipped and I had to rescue the campers and the canoes. One rescue saw two boats flip on a mile-long rapid. It took six hours to make it down the rapid, and during this time I managed stuck canoes and crying campers.

And while this was one of the most difficult rescues I’ve done, I was amazed at how calm I was throughout it. I gave clear directions, prioritized effectively, and kept my campers safe throughout the entire experience. Following the rescue, I had a newfound sense of confidence in my abilities.

The second lesson I learned on the Missinaibi was the power of disconnecting from society and connecting with the people around you.

A wild river commands all of your attention. Each day, you and your group must take down camp, load canoes, paddle up to eight hours while navigating both rapids and portages, get to a new campsite, set up camp, cook dinner, and go to bed.

And without the distraction of technology, your attention has nowhere else to be. You focus on the river and your teammates.

As someone who had wrestled with anxiety and depression prior to this summer, I felt at total ease on the trip. Now I seek societal disconnection and human connection as much as I can. 

Sometimes the most profound, life-altering trips are the least expected trips closer to home.

-Mikaela of  Voyageur Tripper

More Short Travel Experience Stories

Looking for another story about travelling? Check out these short and unique travel stories!

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These stories are so much fun to read! Thanks so much for putting a post like this together. It’s great to be able to check out other people’s blogs and read about other people’s experiences!

Always great to read about travel experiences of others. Some great stories to read over coffee. I’ve Pinned your post for future reference and to share with others. Will check out each story author’s blog as well. Great Job! 🙂

Amazing story for new traveler like me thanks for your contribution

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Short Essay: My Adventurous Trip

Writing about an adventurous trip not only lets you relive the experience but also allows you to share the thrills and lessons learned with others. Whether you scaled mountains, navigated foreign cities, or embarked on a wilderness safari, each moment holds a story worth telling. Here’s how to craft a compelling short essay about your adventurous trip that captures the essence of your experience.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Begin with an attention-grabbing opener that sets the tone for your adventure. This could be a vivid description of a pivotal moment, a surprising fact about your destination, or a brief anecdote that sums up the spirit of the adventure. Introduce the destination and the purpose of your trip, leading into a thesis statement that outlines what your essay will cover.

The body of your essay should consist of several paragraphs, each focusing on different aspects or key experiences of your trip. Here’s how to structure it:

• The Journey Begins:  Describe how you prepared for the trip and your feelings as you set off. This sets the stage and gives context to the narrative.
• Key Adventures:  Focus on one or two significant adventures. Describe the setting, the people involved, and the activity itself. Use sensory details to bring scenes to life (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).
• Challenges and Overcoming Them:  Share challenges you faced during these adventures. Describe how you dealt with these situations, what you learned, and how these experiences changed you. This adds depth to your narrative and makes it more engaging.
• Cultural Encounters and Insights:  If your adventure involved interacting with different cultures or environments, describe these experiences. What new understandings did you gain? How did they impact your perception of the world?

Conclude your essay by summarizing the key points. Reflect on the overall impact of the trip on your life and outlook. End with a reflective thought or a lesson that readers can take away from your adventures.

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example #1

Traveling is one of the most exciting experiences one can have in life. It allows us to explore new places, meet different people, and create unforgettable memories. My recent adventurous trip was one such experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. The trip involved hiking through a dense forest, crossing a river, and reaching the summit of a mountain, where I enjoyed a breathtaking view. Despite facing challenges such as unpredictable weather and rough terrain, the trip was a memorable and rewarding experience. In this essay, I will share my experience of this adventurous trip, highlighting the challenges, the exhilarating moments, and the memories that I will cherish forever.

Our trip started with hiking through a dense forest. The forest was full of tall trees, colorful flowers, and chirping birds. The trail was steep and rocky, and we had to be careful while walking. The forest was so dense that we could hardly see the sun, and the air was full of freshness. We had to take breaks in between to catch our breath and hydrate ourselves. As we walked, we could hear the sound of a river, and after a few hours of hiking, we finally reached the river. The river was wide and had a strong current, and we had to cross it to continue our journey. We had to be careful while crossing the river, and we held hands to maintain our balance. The water was cold, and we could feel the current pushing us, but we made it to the other side, feeling proud of ourselves.

The highlight of our trip was reaching the summit of the mountain. The climb was steep and exhausting, but the view from the top was worth every effort. From the top of the mountain, we could see the entire valley, and it was a sight to behold. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining brightly, making the view even more beautiful. We took pictures and sat there for a while, enjoying the serene beauty of nature. We could hear the sound of birds and feel the cool breeze on our faces. It was a moment of pure bliss, and we felt grateful for being able to witness such a beautiful view.

Despite facing challenges such as unpredictable weather and rough terrain, the trip was a memorable and rewarding experience. We had to face unexpected rain and strong winds, which made the climb more challenging. We slipped a few times, but we managed to keep going, motivated by the thought of reaching the summit. The journey was long and tiring, but the memories we created were worth it. We bonded with our fellow travelers, shared laughter, and created memories that we will cherish forever. The trip taught us to be resilient, to push ourselves beyond our limits, and to appreciate the beauty of nature.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to explore the beauty of nature, push my limits, and create memories that I will cherish forever. Hiking through a dense forest, crossing a river, and reaching the summit of a mountain were challenging but rewarding experiences. Despite facing unpredictable weather and rough terrain, we persevered and created memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. The trip taught us the importance of resilience, perseverance, and appreciation for the beauty of nature. It was an experience that I will always treasure and would love to relive again.

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example #2

My adventurous trip was an experience of a lifetime. It was a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and explore the great outdoors. The trip was filled with activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking. The beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings made the trip memorable. Overcoming challenges such as inclement weather and physical exertion added to the sense of accomplishment and adventure. In this essay, I will share my experiences of this unforgettable trip.

Hiking was one of the most exciting activities of the trip. We started our hike early in the morning, and the trail was challenging, but the view was worth it. The trail led us through dense forests, and we saw wildflowers, butterflies, and birds along the way. We stopped for a break at a small waterfall, and the sound of the water was soothing. As we continued our hike, we came across a steep incline, which was physically demanding, but we pushed on. At the peak, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the valley below. The sense of accomplishment we felt after completing the hike was indescribable.

Camping was another activity that added to the adventure of the trip. We set up our tents near a lake, and the view was breathtaking. We spent the night sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and sharing stories. The night sky was clear, and we saw countless stars, which was a beautiful sight. The next morning, we woke up early to go kayaking on the lake. The water was calm, and we saw fish jumping out of the water. We even saw a family of ducks swimming nearby. Kayaking was a peaceful and relaxing experience.

The trip was not without its challenges, however. We faced inclement weather during our kayaking, and it was physically demanding. The waves were strong, and the water was choppy. We had to navigate our kayaks through the waves carefully. At times, it was nerve-wracking, but we were able to push through and complete the activity. Overcoming these challenges added to the sense of adventure and accomplishment.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an experience that I will cherish forever. The activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking, the beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings, and the challenges we faced made the trip unforgettable. It was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone, explore the great outdoors, and create memories with friends. I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example #3

Going on an adventurous trip is an experience that many people crave. It is an opportunity to explore new destinations, push oneself to the limit, and create unforgettable memories. I recently had the chance to embark on one such journey, and it was an experience that I will never forget. My adventurous trip involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall. Along the way, I encountered challenging terrain and had to navigate through rough terrain. Despite the difficulties, the stunning views and sense of accomplishment made the trip a truly unforgettable adventure. In this essay, I will describe my trip in detail, highlighting the challenges and the rewards that came with it.

The first part of my adventurous trip involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall. The trail was not well-marked, and the terrain was challenging, consisting of steep inclines, muddy patches, and slippery rocks. The dense foliage made it difficult to see the path ahead, and we had to rely on our instincts and map reading skills to find our way through. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and small animals, and the air was fresh and invigorating. As we got closer to our destination, the sound of rushing water became louder, and we knew we were getting close. Finally, after several hours of hiking, we arrived at the waterfall, and the sight before us was breathtaking. The waterfall was a powerful force of nature, cascading down from a height of over 100 feet. The water was crystal clear, and the surrounding rocks were covered in moss and ferns. It was a sight that made all the hiking and exertion worth it.

The second part of my adventurous trip involved navigating through rough terrain. The terrain was rocky and uneven, and we had to be careful not to slip or fall. At some points, the trail was so steep that we had to use ropes to climb up or down. The weather was also unpredictable, and we had to be prepared for sudden rain or wind. Despite the challenges, the sense of adventure and excitement kept us going. We were a group of friends, and we encouraged and supported each other along the way. We shared food and water, helped each other over difficult patches, and cheered each other on when we reached a milestone. The journey was not just about reaching the destination; it was also about the bonds we formed and the memories we created.

The final part of my adventurous trip was the sense of accomplishment that came with it. After several hours of hiking, navigating challenging terrain, and enduring unpredictable weather, we finally reached our destination. The feeling of standing in front of the waterfall, surrounded by the beauty of nature, was indescribable. It was a sense of accomplishment that came from pushing ourselves beyond our limits, from facing our fears and overcoming them. We took pictures, laughed, and savored the moment. It was a feeling that stayed with us long after the trip was over. The adventurous trip was not just a physical journey; it was also a journey of the mind and the spirit.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an experience that I will never forget. It involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall, navigating through rough terrain, and the sense of accomplishment that came with it. The trip was challenging, but it was also rewarding. It reminded me of the beauty of nature, the importance of perseverance, and the power of friendship. It was an experience that taught me to appreciate the simple things in life and to embrace the adventure that comes with it.

Final Tips for Effective Writing

• Use Vivid Descriptions:  Make your narrative vibrant and engaging by using descriptive language that paints a picture for the reader.
• Incorporate Dialogue:  Adding conversations can enhance the storytelling aspect of your essay, bringing characters and scenes to life.
• Keep It Structured:  Even in a short essay, maintaining a clear structure helps keep the narrative focused and easy to follow.
• Proofread:  Check for any grammatical errors or typos to ensure your essay is polished and professional.

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

Whatsapp: +85259609792

[email protected]

Personal Narrative Essay: My Travel Experience

Travelling is an action in which the mind is enriched and which can ultimately change one's life. It all began from the business trips my dad used to take to Berlin, Germany. He used to tell us these fascinating stories and how the atmosphere of this beautiful city was unlike any other. We are a family who loves to travel, whenever we have off from school we usually travel. Some of the places that I have travelled to include the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, United States, etc. So when my dad told me that Berlin and Europe was different from all of my other travels I was fascinated. I wondered, what could make Europe so different? After that, I was extremely anxious to travel to Europe, especially Paris because I love fashion. Once summer of 2018 came around we took a trip to Europe. It was an exonerating experience. One that made me appreciate different cultures. This trip gave me a different perspective on life and its diverse cultures. It gave me the wonderful opportunity to experience different cultures, lifestyles, cities, and most importantly it made me appreciate the life my parents have provided for me. 

My month long trip consisted of travelling to different cities such as London, Paris, and Berlin. The moment I landed in Paris, I already noticed a big difference in the culture, language, food,and style. I honestly fell in love with the city. As a fashion designer the fashion industry was the best; the boutiques were so unique with exquisite clothing pieces. My favorite was going to Champs Elysee and Galeries Lafayette where we shopped day and night. Oh and the architecture was even better; from the tall gold defined construction of the Palace de Versailles was eye shocking. It was a feeling and ambience unique to Europe. It was like seeing the art from the History books but in real life. Our next stop was London. This was much different as compared to Paris, it honestly was the most culture shocking for me. The accent was so different but I honestly loved it. It felt like I was living a royal lifestyle because of how respectful, kind, and downhearted the natives were. We were staying at the Waldorf Astoria of London which was probably one of the best hotels I have stayed in; the breakfast they offered was to die for from various pastries, cheese’s, and breads. The ambience was amazing; it felt like you were living through history with an acadian style architecture with gold finishes. Something I found fascinating was how the taxi cabs were like the cars you would see from the 1900s, the back beetle like cars, with the driving seat on the right side. The London eye and the Big Ben was breathtaking. The last stop to our trip was Berlin, the most relaxing of them all. We were able to  explore the city without having to make it on time for some activity. The breakfast we had at the lounge was also amazing. The people were so kind there. However, the one thing i did notice was that people love to drink beer and smoke cigarettes there a lot, which is something I find appalling as I feel that consuming or smoking such cansmoking such can have negative effects on your health. We went on fairy rides that took you all throughout the city, which was relaxing. Overall, Berlin was a beautiful city and the most relaxing.  Overall the culture and moral is much different from anywhere else in the world.

The lifestyle in Europe is if you just want to forget about all your problems and have no one rush you. Everything there was just so laid back and relaxing, like I mentioned before they didn’t rush you out of anywhere. I am also coming from a vacation aspect, if I lived there it would be a totally different lifestyle. Talking about living, my family and I were going to move to Berlin for a year because we loved it so much. I truly wanted to move there but my sister didn’t want to leave in the middle of high school so we decided to stay in America. In Berlin, it just felt safe, me and my sister were going on the train and just exploring all of Berlin by ourselves because our parents knew it was safe. If you want to live the city lifestyle with the European touch Berlin is the place to be. London had the luxury lifestyle everyone fantasizes about with houses shaped like castles and going to Harrods to shop and eat. The atmosphere in Paris specifically near the Eiffel Tower was everyone is just living in the moment and you would hear soothing French street music as you observe how the Eiffel Tower is nothing like the pictures. 

All of this wouldn’t be possible without my parents. This trip made me realize how fortunate and grateful I am to have parents who want me to experience all different types of cultures. If it weren’t for my parents my trip to Europe would not have been possible. I wouldn’t be staying at such luxurious hotels and eating such exquisite food. I have never appreciated travelling as much as I did when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It made me reminisce of all the wonderful times we had as a family. 

Going to Europe gave me a different perspective on life by making me realize how grateful I should be to have experienced such an amazing trip which I will remember for the rest of my life. It also made me realize that we should never take things for granted especially because there are many out there who aren’t fortunate enough to be able to experience such luxuries. So whenever we take such trips my family likes to donate to various organizations to help those in need. This trip was most definitely the most enriching especially because I was able to experience different cultures, food, languages, and cities. After this trip, I was even more intrigued in travelling than I was before. I want to continue travelling the rest of the world and explore more cultures. I definitely believe that travelling can change a person for good, it makes one appreciate all the amazing cultures, religions, and lands out there. A wise man once told me that people forget years and remember moments which will resonate with me for the rest of my life. 

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Dave's Travel Corner

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

How to write a travel essay

November 22, 2023 by Josh Collins Leave a Comment

Travel essays and short notes allow you to dive deep into the memories and share your experience with readers. If written well, readers can explore new places without traveling or get inspired to explore new things. The location you have visited may contain many things to discuss: architecture, sightseeing, nature, culture, and much more. How can you tell about it in a short essay? Whether you are planning to write an essay, blog post, or another type of writing – all the tips below will help you craft an appealing paper.

Understand your goals

Before writing a travel essay: 1. Define the main idea you want to stick to in your writing. If you have a specific word limit, you may be unable to cover everything you wish to write about. 2. Check whether the professor asked you to cover specific experiences during your trip or stick to a more descriptive writing style. 3. If you are free of what to write about, make up a list of things you wish to focus on.

Understanding your goals will help you see the big picture and write the text within a limited time. If you were assigned to write an essay about your travel and can’t meet the deadline or have no ideas, you can get punctual help with essay writing from EssayShark .

Write catchy introduction How did your travel start? What were your plans? You can start with a quote about adventure or just begin your story by planning or arriving at the destination place. For example, here are some starters for travel essays: ● Who has said traveling is pricy? ● Don’t let the routine bore you; add a bit of spice with traveling to your everyday life. ● And the adventure begins!

Experiment with various approaches to engage the reader. You can put this step at the end when you finish the first draft, when the overall idea will be more transparent.

Add vivid descriptions First, think about whether you can attach images to your essay to make it more appealing to the reader and support your adventures with real photos. An additional illustration can create a unique atmosphere that will transfer the reader to the place you have visited.

Use a more relaxed writing style and understand that a travel essay is not a formal academic paper but more personal writing. Use the language you use every day, and avoid cliches and slang to sound more natural and appealing to the reader.

Focus on several ideas What if you have no solid experience in traveling? Or maybe you haven’t seen anything special to talk about. In fact, even a small town has its own spirit and local sightseeing that, you can tell in your essay. For example, you can discuss local cuisine the weather, and share specific descriptions of the places.

Tell the simple story The main aim of every travel essay is to help the reader wear your shoes and imagine what you have experienced during the trip. Describe your emotions and experience in detail to help the reader feel like they have already visited the place. Avoid listing attractions or telling the traveling process step by step. Share your thoughts, and use creative expressions to keep your natural flow.

Ensure your travel story has a standard format and contains an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Don’t interrupt your writing in the middle of an idea; wrap up everything you have said in a meaningful conclusion.

Wrapping Up In general, you can approach traveling essays from different points of view. Grab the reader’s attention with an exciting intro, add vivid details, and focus on several aspects of your journey to keep them reading. Share your experience in a storytelling manner, and your writing won’t be unnoticed.

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How to write an essay about traveling experience

Writing college essays about travel is no rocket science. You just need to be aware of how you must use your skills. Following all of the tips mentioned above will ensure that your draft is perfectly formatted, well-organized, and error-free.

Write my essay is a common plea among students, especially when faced with the intricate task of composing travel narratives. According to more than one professional paper writer online , writing traveling essays can be fun yet challenging. You may want to include a lot of information. But be careful, you may lose track of your essay direction. If you want to craft a perfect travel essay, you need to follow the basics of an essay. How? Follow these tips.

Use a capturing introductory section The thing that hooks your reader is, of course, the first few lines of your write-up. When writing a travel essay, students may begin with cliche or boring statements, such as:

• Traveling is an important part of life.
• Traveling plays an integral part in making us feel relaxed.

The statements mentioned above indicate nothing new; instead, they indicate that you don’t have something interesting in your write-up. If your first few sentences are not interesting enough, the reader will anticipate the same for the rest of the piece. Thereby, it is essential to start with something that catches their attention or interests them. For instance, to introduce your travel write-up, you could write:

• Having a routine helps me stay focused and productive. But, breaking that routine and traveling helps me experience life at its best.
• I firmly believe investment in travel is an investment in yourself.
• Travelling has not only helped me experience life in different ways, but it has turned me into a storyteller.

These statements indicate that you have something interesting to tell in the body. However, if you’re feeling stuck and asking around, “who can write my essay “, taking help from a writing service could be the best solution.

Follow a standard essay structure This is one of the crucial tips to keep in mind. No matter what your topic is, you need to follow a standard structure. Travel essays are mostly like personal essays, but it doesn’t mean you can write a personal essay as you wish. Hence, make sure you follow this structure:

• Introduction (Include a thesis).
• Body (Divide your body into a logical paragraph).
• Conclusion (Sum up the draft and leave the reader with food for thought).

Following this structure will help you organize your thoughts and ideas and maintain cohesiveness. Your paragraphs must be well-connected. Besides, make sure you don’t repeat any of the information. A good body of essays about traveling has two to three paragraphs. In the first paragraph, introduce the place where you traveled and the person you traveled with. Also, mention what your feelings and expectations about this trip were. In the second paragraph, include an exciting experience you had there. In the third paragraph, you can write what you learned from this experience. Also, you could mention if this trip met your expectations. Following these steps will help your piece look structured and your thoughts organized. As a result, you’d be able to achieve cohesion in your writing.

If you want to craft a perfect travel essay, you need to follow the basics of an essay like this one about “ Sarajevo Tours ”.

Outline To follow a proper structure and keep your ideas organized, outlining the essay is a prerequisite. Do you want your travel experience essay to be perfect? If you’re nodding your head in yes, don’t forget to create an outline. Having an outline helps you stay on track and not miss anything important. Your outline should include the following:

• Thesis to be included in the introduction.
• Experiences that you will be sharing (key points, people you traveled with, place you traveled to, and any other relevant information).
• Concluding thought.

Use the 1st person perspective When sharing your personal experiences, you must use the first-person perspective. You cannot tell your story from a third person’s perspective. Avoid writing like a novel writer even if you are tempted because this is a personal essay. Your reader must feel that you are telling the story. Writing in the first-person point of view makes the writing personal. Besides, it creates a connection between the reader and the writer.

Keep it simple You may want to use flowery language and include a lot of information, but that’s not necessary. Your teacher or examiner is only interested in how well you can convey your story. Besides, they also focus on the fact that your write-up is well-structured. Your experience may not be something very unique. Your travel destination may not be too dreamy. But, what counts is how you demonstrated it. Therefore, describe just one experience, that too in an organized way. Moreover, make sure you’re not showing off your vocabulary. Using too many difficult words may interrupt the flow of reading. Also, using relevant vocabulary is a great way to impress the reviewer, such as:

• Globetrotter.
• Destination.
• Sightseeing.

Avoid clichés and formal  Avoiding cliches is highly crucial if you want your essay to be catchy. Spend a reasonable amount of time brainstorming ideas. Think carefully about how you will start each paragraph. Ask yourself these questions:

• Does it sound interesting?
• Is it engaging?
• Does it have unique information?
• Is my language repetitive?
• Do I sound too formal?
• Will it connect with the reader?

Basic self-questions like these will help you improve your content and remove cliches. Remember using too common phrases is a big turn-off for the examiner. You have to showcase your best language knowledge to them. This is one of the critical ways to score high grades.

Proofread and edit Once you’re done inscribing your draft, ascertain that you proofread and edited it. Re-read the entire draft at least three times and look for:

• Spelling mistakes.
• Grammatical errors.
• Punctuation errors.
• Incorrect sentence formation.

After checking your document thoroughly, have someone else read it. Sometimes, it is normal to overlook some mistakes such as punctuation errors, incorrect sentence structure, incorrect vocabulary, typos, etc. When you ask someone else to read it, they read from a different perspective. Their personal feelings are not involved in the writing. Therefore, they read it in their own voice. As a result, they are capable of giving valuable feedback. They may notice some errors in your writing that you have missed. Also, they would be able to tell you if you succeeded in creating a unique voice as a writer. And if you successfully conveyed what you were trying to convey, also, if your essay is precisely what it needs to be, edit your draft as per their feedback, and you’re good to submit.

To conclude, writing college essays about travel is no rocket science. You just need to be aware of how you must use your skills. Following all of the tips mentioned above will ensure that your draft is perfectly formatted, well-organized, and error-free.

Main photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

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Celebrity Cruises elevates “The Retreat” experience

Hubby launches eSIM in the UK travel market

Great Western Railway’s new Pullman menu

COP29 unveils acommodation portal

HBX Group announces CFO transition

Canada’s hotel industry report first occupancy increase in four months

Traveazy Group signs MOU with Emirates to enhance customer experience

TAAG holds first event with travel agencies based in Congo

Former Emaar, Dubai Properties executive Nima Khojasteh joins Samana Developers

Pre-registration opens for 2024 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference

InnSpire integration with Optii Leverages AI to optimize hotel operational efficiency, guest service and satisfaction

Boutique Sydney: Where luxury meets local charm

Experience luxury & intimacy: The allure of boutique hotels

Wings of Change Focus Africa to address resilience and sustainability

UN Tourism connects leaders for Investment Conference focused on Middle East opportunities

Embraer partners with Avfuel to increase SAF adoption

Western National Parks Association selects MMGY Origin as its agency of record for branding

Chairman of the Board of Directors of GM confirms: The African Tourism Forum will be held annually in Sharm El-Sheikh

Helsinki set to host MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony next week

KeyNest teams up with Quadient to expand key exchange network across the UK

Tivoli Hotels & Resorts to add its second property in Italy – Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi in Florence to launch in June

Discover Qatar introduces air tours around Doha’s most iconic sites

Experience Oxfordshire partners with Activate Learning to connect hospitality talent to potential employers

Airbus takes superconductivity research for hydrogen-powered aircraft a step further

ForwardKeys partners with CHTA to deliver regional travel insights

Central Holidays forges new strategic alliance with Swan Hellenic Expeditions, elevating customized travel experiences

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, URW and American start construction for $125 million JFK T8 commercial redevelopment

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort unveils transformation celebrating an 18-month revival post-hurricane Ian

World-first earth-built property now open in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Three new hotels to launch from McKibbon Hospitality in North Carolina

BeCause and d2o team up to create first-of-its-kind CSRD solution for the Travel and Hospitality industries

Limelight Hotels announces team growth and development progress for forthcoming Boulder location 

Safer Tourism Foundation launches Travel Behaviours Risk Index to measure traveller risk perception and behaviours 

Hotel Equities promotes Eric McCarthy-Zink to Chief Financial Officer

Hotelschool The Hague and CTO forge partnership for sustainable tourism innovation

Azamara Cruises announces new UK Call Centre

UN Tourism launches the Tourism Investment Guidelines for Jordan

SWISS to continue to serve Washington, DC this winter

Gleneagles appoints new Executive Chef Darron Bunn

Majorca: Restaurant collapse, 4 dead and 16 injured

First Hospitality grows management portfolio adding three new lifestyle hotels and seven restaurants

Beware hidden fees: Understanding payday loan agreements

PM Hotel Group announces partnership with Procure Impact and joins the Dignity of Work Pledge

Capri Hotel gets Amalfi Coast-inspired makeover by Manola Studio

Virgin Atlantic awarded the “Best Use of Customer Insight” accolade with Medallia and Kantar Program

Royal Jordanian adds Paphos as a new Summer destination to foster tourism between Jordan and Cyprus

New luxury spa and leisure facilities now open at Mar Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort

Love Travel Awards 2024 winners revealed

Villa Sea Princess Nika prepares for its grand opening on 1st June 2024

Rixos Hotels Egypt’s expansion provides a significant contribution to Egypt’s tourism

Wolfgang Thome, the veteran Tourism journalist of Uganda welcomes Alain St.Ange to his Kampala home

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa appoints Mario Maesano as Vice President of Marketing

IAEE renames Woman of Achievement Award to honor Cathy Breden

Seychelles official licensed taxi services unite to ensure service and security

Do CBD gummies for flight anxiety really work

Zela Jet, Fly 7, and CaptainJet have joined forces for 2024

SWISS reconstitutes its Board of Directors

easyJet opens new AI equipped operations control centre

ACI World Assembly charts course for sustainable aviation with three key Resolutions

Qatar Executive welcomes the world’s first Gulfstream G700 aircraft to Doha

Sabre introduces SabreMosaic, its revolutionary offer and order retailing platform for airlines

New Aparthotel Brand SeaSpace Launches on Cornwall’s Coast

Finnair adds flights to Lapland and Norway for next winter

ATTA launches the ATTA for Action Awards to spotlight meaningful impact in tourism across Africa

Summer travel poll: 61% of Americans likely to travel for leisure

Quarterly Market Update report: Geopolitical changes and workforce preferences driving demand for corporate travel  

Antwerp to host PIANC World Congress 2028

Paradores and Civitatis renew agreement to reinforce sustainable tourism in Spain

Middle East members prioritize innovation and investments as UN Tourism Regional Commission meets for 50th time

Air Austral adopts flydocs platform to digitise aircraft records

Hôtel Martinez unveils La Palme d’Or restaurant by Chef Jean Imbert at Cannes Film Festival

Eve Air Mobility and Saudia Technic sign MOA to explore MRO activities and eVTOL reassembly in Saudi Arabia

Commit to active mobility through next NDCs, says PATH with new guide and tracker

Inflation impact on US Summer travel: Spending resilient amid cost concerns

New Miami International Airport search engine

Top tips for booking excursions and renting homes in Tenerife

A luxury gem on Italy’s fabled Sorrento Coast: Hotel Mediterraneo

Aruba details new technology, sustainability initiatives, hotel developments, and more in honor of Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2024

Βlue Caves Villas: a private, peaceful and romantic villas complex in Zakynthos island, Greece

Hilton and the Hilton Global Foundation announce notable year of progress towards 2030 travel with purpose goals

How to keep blog writing even when you have writer’s block

Airport lounges are big business, with Delta Sky Clubs serving more than 30m. guests annually

Center taps former SAP Concur executive to lead travel ecosystem expansion

Oceania Cruises’ new ship Allura to debut early in 2025

SAS and Apollo have signed a new agreement worth 4.5bn. SEK

VIVA Cruises introduces new Seine River cruises aboard the refreshed VIVA Gloria for Winter 2024

Bradley International Airport opens new sit-down restaurant

Launch of the African Tourism Forum in Sharm El Sheikh with the presence of ministers and officials

Kempinski Hotels appoints Barbara Muckermann as Group Chief Executive Officer

The Conscious Travel Foundation launches a collaborative Climate Fund for members – in partnership with Pinwheel 

The Hotel Group awarded management of Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South

UN Tourism Secretary-General calls for a people-centered transformation of sector

ÀNI Private Resorts appoints new Vice President of Sales

VisitBritain/VisitEngland activity boosts economy by £1.26bn, as agency sets out plans to grow value of tourism

CMAC Group reports 15% increase in disruption management bookings

Entries open for the 2024 ABPCO Excellence Awards

Czech Airlines Technics launches Aircraft Paint Shop construction

Bob W strengthens London presence with three new openings

SIHOT launches payment aggregator

CHTA unveils dynamic rebranding and intuitive website, redefining excellence in Caribbean hospitality

New EU cross-border rail services between Copenhagen and Stockholm

Holidayme unlocks 100,000+ curated sightseeing and attraction options with Servantrip

easyJet puts thousands of flights on sale for spring 2025

GoNexus Group and Blue Diamond Resorts’ new Guest App boosts incomes and customer satisfaction at Planet Hollywood Cancun

WAGA 2024: The most important global gathering of airport leaders kicked off in Riyadh

SITA announces acquisitions of Materna IPS in game-changing move for the air travel industry

Fourth aircraft maintenance hanga to be built at Katowice Airport, building to be leased by Wizz Air

JFK Millennium Partners selects Arora to implement IBM’s renowned Maximo Enterprise Asset Management Software and Arora ATLAS Mobile Solutions for JFK Terminal 6

Image Hotels acquires Courtyard by Marriott North Charleston Airport/Coliseum

Aberdeen flights from Teesside launch with Eastern Airways

International tourism reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2024

Guestline unlocks new revenue streams with fully integrated distribution hub

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One dead and 30 injured as Singapore Airlines plane makes emergency landing due to turbulence

Patricia Affonso-Dass named Caribbean Hotelier of the Year

Minor Hotels exceeds revenue, profit expectations in strong Q1 earnings report

Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa introduces Verdell Ekberg as new Director of Sales & Marketing

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Car accident recovery.

Tourism is back to pre-Pandemic levels, but challenges remain

Hyatt Centric to debut in Puerto Rico with Hyatt Centric San Juan Isla Verde

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USTOA explores Portugal for its Out of Country Board Meeting

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Fairmont Dallas announces Executive Chef Adam Reson

Alfred Sanzari Enterprises begins capital improvement project at Glenpointe Marriott

North Americans seek active travel adventures this Summer as Europe remains a top destination for hiking, biking and cultural trips

Otis Harbor Springs brings first-of-ots-kind luxury to the storied Northern Michigan resort town it calls home

Hemsworth continues international expansion with addition of two new Travel & Tourism clients

Saudia Group orders 105 A320neo family aircraft to support Saudi Arabia’s aviation goals

Portugal and Greece climate perception, the most resilient to global warming among Mediterranean destinations

RoomRaccoon appoints Cyril Lavenant as Global Head of Customer Success

Air Serbia launches “Take Off” paid Summer internship for students and recent graduates

PROMPERÚ and LATAM Airlines sign strategic alliance to promote travel to Peru

Ethiopian inaugurates transformed Addis Ababa domestic terminal, doubling its capacity

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City Sightseeing operators around the world join forces to make water drinkable in the Peruvian Upper Amazon

CHTA unveils revolutionary AI guidebook to elevate Caribbean tourism

Student Essays

5 Essays on My Travel Experience – Joys, Memories, Friends [ 2024 ]

Traveling is the wonderful and most beautiful thing to have in life. Traveling broadens our mental capabilities and understanding of life. The following essay on topic My Travel Experience via travel to Goa sums up best life moments of my journey. This essay is very helpful for children and students in school exams and written tests.

Essay on My Travel Experience | My Joyful Train Travel Experience to Goa

Traveling bring a unique experience with wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of life. It exposes one to different lifestyles, people, and places. It helps us learn new things and explore the world beyond our imagination. For me, traveling is an opportunity to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

I had always wanted to travel by train but never got a chance until recently when I went on a vacation to Goa. I took the train from Mumbai to Goa and it was a wonderful experience. The journey was very relaxing and the views were amazing. I saw different types of landscapes and villages as we passed by. I also got a chance to meet some interesting people from all walks of life.

I utilized multiple ways to  maximize my joy during train travel experience to Goa. I made sure that I had my travel essentials with me so that I could make the most of my journey. I carried a map of the train route, some snacks and drinks, and a book to keep me entertained during the long journey. I also made sure to dress comfortably as I knew I would be sitting in the same position for a long time.

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I started my journey early in the morning so that I could enjoy the views of the sunrise. As the train made its way through the countryside, I was mesmerized by the beauty of nature. The fields, trees, and rivers looked like a painting. I also saw some animals grazing by the side of the tracks. It was a wonderful experience and I felt very lucky to be able to witness it.

The journey was a bit tiring as it took over 16 hours, but it was definitely worth it. I arrived in Goa feeling refreshed and relaxed. I would definitely recommend traveling by train to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of India’s countryside. It is an experience that I will never forget.

My Suggestion to Everybody Travelling via Train

1. Make sure you carry all your essentials with you, including a map of the train route, snacks, and drinks. 2. Dress comfortably so that you can relax in your seat during the journey. 3. Start your journey early in the morning to enjoy the views of the sunrise. 4. Talk to the people around you to learn more about their culture and way of life. 5. Take plenty of breaks to stretch your legs and walk around the train. 6. Enjoy the scenery as you pass through different landscapes and villages.

Therefore, my train trip to Goa was a unique one. I met different types of people from all walks of life. I also got a chance to experience the beauty of India’s countryside. I would definitely recommend this mode of transportation to anyone who wants to explore India. It is an experience that I will never forget. Do you like travelling by train? What are some of your best experiences? Let us know in the comments below!

Unforgettable Travel Experience Essay:

Traveling is one of the most enriching and life-changing experiences one can have. It allows us to step out of our comfort zone, immerse ourselves in different cultures, and create unforgettable memories. Among all my travels, there is one particular trip that stands out as my most unforgettable travel experience.

It was a solo backpacking journey across Europe, and it was my first time traveling alone. I had always wanted to explore the world on my own terms, without any restrictions or agendas. So, when I finally got the opportunity to take a month-long break from work, I knew exactly where I wanted to go – Europe.

I started my journey in Paris, the city of love and lights. From there, I traveled to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Each city had its unique charm and history that captivated me. The museums in Paris were a treasure trove of art and culture; the canals in Amsterdam were picturesque; the street art in Berlin was thought-provoking; the architecture in Prague was breathtaking; the palaces in Vienna exuded grandeur, and the ruin bars in Budapest were vibrant.

But what made this trip truly unforgettable was not just the places I visited, but also the people I met along the way. As a solo traveler, I had to rely on my communication skills to make friends and navigate through unfamiliar territories. This experience pushed me out of my shell and allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds and nationalities. From hostel roommates to locals I met at cafes, each person had a unique story to tell and left an indelible mark on my journey.

Moreover, being alone in a foreign land made me more aware of my surroundings and more appreciative of the little things in life. Whether it was sipping coffee at a quaint café while people-watching, admiring a street performer’s talents, or getting lost in the cobblestone streets of old towns – these were moments that I would have missed if I had been traveling with others.

As my trip came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this unforgettable travel experience. It taught me so much about myself and the world around me. It showed me that there is so much beauty and diversity in the world, and it only takes a curious mind and an open heart to experience it. This trip also gave me the confidence to continue traveling solo, and since then, I have visited many other countries on my own.

In conclusion, my unforgettable travel experience across Europe was not just a journey of visiting new places but also a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and personal growth. It will always hold a special place in my heart and serve as a constant reminder to keep exploring and creating unforgettable memories.

My Travel Experience Story:

My love for travel started at a young age when my parents took me on my first trip to the beach. The new sights, sounds and smells fascinated me and I knew that I wanted to keep exploring more of our beautiful world.

As I grew older, my passion for traveling only intensified. I saved up money from odd jobs and planned trips with friends whenever possible. But it wasn’t until I took my first solo trip that I truly fell in love with traveling. Being able to set my own itinerary, make decisions on the spot and fully immerse myself in a new culture was an exhilarating experience.

During one of my solo trips, I went backpacking through a few countries in Southeast Asia. It was an eye-opening journey filled with adventure, delicious food and wonderful people. I learned so much about myself and gained a new perspective on life.

Since then, I have made it a priority to travel at least once a year. My destinations range from popular tourist spots to off-the-beaten-path locations. Each trip brings its own unique experiences and memories that I will always cherish.

Traveling has not only allowed me to see amazing places, but it has also taught me valuable life lessons. I have learned to be more adaptable, patient and open-minded. I have made lasting connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures, broadening my understanding of the world.

I believe that traveling is one of the best ways to learn and grow as an individual. It allows you to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and gain a new appreciation for the world we live in. I am grateful for every opportunity I have had to travel and I cannot wait to see where my next adventure takes me. So here’s to more stamps on the passport and memories to last a lifetime!

Travel Experience in English:

Traveling with friends is an experience unlike any other. It allows you to not only explore new places but also strengthen the bond between you and your friends. Recently, I had the opportunity to go on a trip with my college buddies and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

We planned our trip for months, deciding on a budget-friendly destination that would cater to everyone’s interests. We finally settled on a beach destination and were eagerly looking forward to our adventure.

The trip began with an early morning flight and all of us being sleep-deprived, but the excitement and anticipation kept us going. As soon as we landed, we made our way to our accommodation which was right by the beach. The scenic view from our room instantly lifted our spirits and we knew it was going to be an amazing trip.

Over the next few days, we explored the local markets, tasted new cuisines, and indulged in various water activities. The ocean breeze, warm sun on our skin, and carefree attitude made us feel alive. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, took countless pictures, and made unforgettable memories.

But what made this trip truly special were the conversations we had. We talked about anything and everything, from our childhood memories to our future aspirations. Being away from the chaos of college life, we got a chance to connect on a deeper level and understand each other better.

Reflecting back on that trip, it was not just about visiting a new place, but also about the bond we shared. Traveling with friends brings you closer, teaches you patience and understanding, and makes for unforgettable experiences.

I highly recommend everyone to plan a trip with their friends at least once in their life. It doesn’t have to be an exotic location, even a nearby town or city will do. What matters is the time you spend together and the memories you create. It’s a great way to recharge and reconnect with your friends, and I guarantee you won’t regret it. So don’t wait, start planning your next trip with your buddies today! Happy travels! Let the adventures begin!

Essay on why traveling is Important:

Travelling is an important aspect of life that allows us to explore the world around us and learn about different cultures, people, and places. Whether it’s a short trip to a nearby city or a long journey to a foreign country, travelling has the power to broaden our horizons and change our perspective on life.

One of the main reasons why travelling is important is that it provides us with the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and experience new things. When we travel, we are exposed to different customs, languages, and ways of life that may be unfamiliar to us. This allows us to challenge ourselves and learn more about who we are as individuals.

Moreover, travelling also helps us understand and appreciate diversity. In today’s globalized world, it is essential to have a broad understanding of different cultures and societies. By travelling, we get the chance to meet people from all walks of life and gain a deeper appreciation for their traditions, beliefs, and values.

Travelling also allows us to disconnect from our daily routines and live in the moment. It gives us the opportunity to relax, unwind and take a break from our busy lives. By exploring new places and trying out new activities, we can rejuvenate ourselves and come back with a fresh perspective on life.

In addition to personal growth, travelling also has numerous educational benefits. It provides us with the opportunity to learn about history, art, architecture, and other subjects in a hands-on manner. By visiting museums, historical sites and attending cultural events, we can gain a better understanding of the world and its rich history.

Travelling also has a significant impact on our mental well-being. It allows us to escape from stress, anxiety and other negative emotions that may be weighing us down. By immersing ourselves in new surroundings and engaging in new experiences, we can improve our mood and overall mental health.

Finally, travelling also has a positive impact on the economy. It generates employment opportunities and contributes to local businesses in the places we visit. By supporting the local economy, we can help improve the lives of people living in those areas.

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In conclusion, travelling is an essential part of life that allows us to grow personally, culturally, and intellectually. It has numerous benefits that not only enrich our lives but also contribute to the growth of society. So, pack your bags and embark on a journey of self-discovery, knowledge, and adventure!

• Start with a compelling introduction.
• Share personal experiences and observations.
• Use vivid descriptions and sensory details.
• Include cultural insights and interactions.
• Reflect on the impact of the journey.
• Conclude with a memorable closing.
• A travel essay is a literary genre that combines elements of travelogue and personal reflection.
• It narrates the author’s experiences, impressions, and emotions during a journey.
• It often explores cultural, historical, or social aspects of the destination.
• Travel essays can inform, entertain, and inspire readers to explore new places.

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How to Write a Travelogue: 8 Tips To Write Better Travel Stories

As I wrote in a previous article , a travelogue is a truthful account of an individual’s experiences traveling, usually told in the past tense and in the first person. In that article, I focused on how travelogues compared to modern travel books. In this article, I will offer tips on how to write a captivating travelogue. You will learn how to avoid writing a traditional (and boring) “Dear Diary” travelogue and craft a modern and compelling travel story. 

What does a travelogue contain?

A travelogue contains vivid descriptions of the place you’re traveling in, descriptions of the subjective experiences of visiting a place (your thoughts, blunders, fears), informed commentary about a place (its history and culture), and accounts of your interactions with local people. Above all, a travelogue must tell a story.

A travelogue is not academic writing, so you need not make a formal argument and present evidence—keep formal language at bay. A travelogue is not a write-up for a tourism board or a marketing agency, so don’t try to “sell” the destination to your readers. A travelogue is not a guidebook or a blog post, so you need not be helpful, list “the top 10 best restaurants,” or offer practical travel tips or suggestions.

Rather, a travelogue is a creative narrative of your experiences traveling. 

Tell one specific story

Traditionally, travelogues were mundane accounts of what a person saw, did, and ate while traveling. But try to avoid giving a “Dear Diary” account of your travels. You will bore your readers if you write a step-by-step report of what you did, ate, and saw.

Instead, a travelogue will be more effective if it focuses on one interesting story from your travels. A destination is not a story. Neither is simply traveling from point A to point B.

Now that you’ve returned from your travels and want to write an essay or an article about your trip, review your notes and reflect on your experiences. Does a particular story stand out? Is there an experience that you can’t stop telling people about? Did you have a haunting, transformative, or enlightening experience? Did something bad or unexpected happen? If so, it might be a good candidate to write about.

Be descriptive

Now that you have your travel story in mind, think about the setting. 

Details and descriptions are essential in travel writing. They will make your writing and story more vivid. What sounds, scents, tastes, and textures did you experience? 

Give your readers a sense of what it is like to be there. Transport your reader to that specific time and place.

Be forthcoming

A travelogue is special because it gives us a glimpse of a foreign place, but it does so through the lens of the writer. We want to know your specific take on things. 

We are all human. We all think, have opinions, and get scared. What did you feel? Did your experience stir up old memories? Were you frightened? Did you embarrass yourself? Was there a misunderstanding? What did you learn?

Be honest with your own flaws, biases, and assumptions. Give your reader subjective and emotional insight.

Be engaging

We travel (and read travel stories) to engage with and learn about other cultures. And our best travel stories almost always involve interactions with local people you’ve met.

So, while it is good that your reader gets a glimpse into the subjective world of the author, we will want to hear other voices in your story too. 

What conversations did you have with the locals? Did anyone tell you something interesting, alarming, or enlightening? Who did you meet? Who were they? What did they look like? Did they have a particular manner of speaking? A distinctive feature?

Be informed

The point of a travelogue is to entertain, but sometimes it is good to inform. Sprinkle relevant information into your story.

Is there historical or cultural details that will help your reader understand why something is so? Did a local person reveal something interesting about the politics or history of a place?

How do you start a travelogue?

If a travelogue is a narrative account of your travels, then consider starting the travelogue with an inciting incident. Begin your travel story with something that will draw your reader in. Highlight a problem, conflict, struggle, or tension that will propel your story along. 

As Seth Kugel says, the best travels stories are when things go wrong.

For example, you can begin your travelogue by stating your quest or mission, and then complicating that with an obstacle that gets in the way. Or, you can start with an intrigue, curious statement, declaration, or observation. You can start  in media res , and then fill in the story later. 

The trick is to hook your reader.

How do you end a travelogue?

Like any story, a memorable travelogue will offer a resolution. Consider ending your story with a transformation or a resolution, a return to the beginning, a moral, a message, or a revelation. 

You want to give your reader a sense of closure, that the specific story has ended.

Tips to write a better travelogue

• Tell a specific story
• Describe the outer world using vivid descriptions
• Reveal the inner world (your thoughts, mistakes, missteps, blunders, excitements, etc.)
• Provide informed commentary (historical, political, cultural, etc.)
• Talk to locals and describe your interactions with them
• Use a conversational tone and avoid fancy/big words, marketing jargon, and guidebook speak
• Begin with an intrigue, something going wrong, or a compelling or captivating moment
• End with a resolution, a moral, a message, or a revelation

Do you have any other tips on how to write a better travelogue?

Last Updated on 29 November 2020 by Travel Writing World

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Travel Writing World

With an emphasis on travel books and long-form travel literature, host Jeremy Bassetti talks with the world’s most inspiring travel writers about their work and about the business and craft of travel writing in this award-winning podcast and website. In addition to the podcast, the site also features travel writer profiles, book reviews, and articles.

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What I want to know is how to write your thoughts? In Italics so the readers knows that’s your thoughts or constantly writing “I remember thinking…” “I thought to myself”. I prefer just writing my thoughts as italics but is this the accepted way? Will an editor hate it and want me to rewrite is what I’m asking.

You’re talking about “internal dialog.” Do a google search to see what others think, but here is my take. Italics and quotes are both accepted forms. There is also a third way: don’t use italics, quotes, or thought/dialog tags at all. While this depends on the point of view of the work, I’m assuming that that you’re writing in the first-person present or past if you’re writing a travelogue. Why not use italics, quotation marks, or tags if you’re writing in the first-person? It will be implied that the narrator who says “I” or “me” is the one doing the thinking. So, instead of writing Why did the man steal my purse , I thought… You could simply write: Why did the man steal my purse? as it will be implied that the narrator is the one having the thought.

Just finished my travelogue book

Great. What is it about?

Just starting up and very much enjoyed this article.

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How To Write a Good Travel Essay

• March 18, 2020

Travelling is one of the most exciting parts of everyone’s life. In the same way, this experience has the potential to be a fascinating topic for your writing assignments.

Writing a travel essay requires minimal creativity because trips are full of extraordinary events by their nature, as well as dramas and cultural findings. So, there’s no need to make things up or think through ideas while you are writing this kind of essay. To make life even easier you can even order essay .

However, as easy as it may sound, turning a travel experience into a piece of writing can be a bit challenging for students. Because if not careful, they will end up writing some dull clichés about a bunch of different places, and nothing more.

If you’ve never read any trips or you don’t have enough time to write a paper, you can quickly get your essay written by making use of available writing services. However, here we present some practical guidelines to help you write an exceptional essay:

Select Your Favorite City

Sometimes a trip is explicitly taken to collect information for an essay. If this is true about you, take your time to choose your destination carefully. Do some research before deciding on the city. Read about various regions and see which ones inspire you the most.

Your task here is to share useful information with people and get them involved in your journey. If you can’t enjoy your own trip, how can you let others have fun while reading the story? So it’s essential to choose a destination that you are interested in.

Choose a Few Attractions

Every city or town usually has several tourist attractions. If you attempt to include every single place you visited on that journey, your writing would be a boring list of city attractions that can be found anywhere, such as a tourist website.

Rather than mentioning multiple sights, focus on two or three places, and provide detailed information about them. Let readers know few, but know well.

Another point is that famous attractions are not proper choices for your writing because almost everyone knows the basic information about these places. Put your focus on unknown sites, remembering that people want to hear about something they have never heard.

Write a Compelling First Paragraph

Your first paragraph is usually the most important one. It’s where you convince the readers you had an incredible trip – one that has something new to teach your audience and is worth reading about.

Start with an unusual tradition you witnessed, an interesting dialogue you had, or a cultural misunderstanding you faced during your journey.

Use your sense of humor. Be as innovative as you can. No matter what you do, the final aim is to engage the readers and make them stick to your story.

Show Rather Than Tell

‘Showing’ is what makes a difference between a boring and outstanding travel essay. When you show something with your words, you actually describe what you experienced in full details. However, when you tell something, it’s like you’re just giving a brief report on what you did.

Readers won’t understand what an incredible park, a fabulous road, or a fantastic building means unless you show it to them. Showing makes the readers feel they’ve been there with you.

Therefore, don’t merely rely on telling where you went. Instead, add specific descriptions about that place, talk about your feelings, and paint an imaginary picture of that space in the minds of readers.

Images serve as a complement to your verbal description as they help readers imagine your story better.

One or two pictures is enough, but try to pick the most breathtaking ones that are more related to your narrative. Also, remember that vivid shots are always a better option than black and white ones because they are more eye-catching and can better intrigue the reader’s curiosity.

Keep It Simple

The primary purpose of writing a traveling essay is to entertain your readers. So, there’s no need to show off by using literary words or highly academic structure. Instead, use an active voice, try to be friendly, and bring readers closer to your story.

In this kind of essay, your writing intelligence depends on your ability to amuse people and your art of describing scenes, not using a lot of fluffy sentences.

Describe What You Achieved

If your traveling experience didn’t teach you anything or couldn’t make a positive change in your life, it would be a significant loss of time and money. Every great experience comes with great achievement. This can be as small as a shift in your beliefs, or as big as making wonderful friends. Whatever the accomplishment is, it’s worth telling your readers about it.

Give Readers a Good Ending

Every fantastic narrative begins with a good starting point, continues with a climax, and ends with a reasonable conclusion. Plan your paragraphs before writing. Think about the ways you want to start your story, go through the rising action, and then slow it down gradually to let readers know they are reaching the end of the story. If you end your writing in the middle of the turning point where the reader is reading the most thrilling part of the story, they might get puzzled and confused. It’s like putting an obstacle in front of a high-speed runner and making him stop all of a sudden.

Bottom Line

Travels are full of new experiences. Sometimes a short trip gives you a handful of stories to tell your future grandchildren. They have a lot to teach us and therefore, a lot to talk about. So why not use them as a subject for your writings? The next time you will be searching the net for online essay writing services with “interesting topics to write my essay,” think about your traveling experiences and bring everything you can remember on the paper. Then, google some “help write my essay tips” to learn the main guidelines for writing a travel essay.

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DESCRIBE A RECENT TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

• Post author: admin
• Post published: September 1, 2023
• Post category: IELTS Cue Card / IELTS Speaking
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Describe a recent travel experience

You should say.

Modal Answer 1

> Where you had this experience > What the experience was > Who you did it with > And say how you felt while you were doing it.

Where you had this experience?

I love to travel and explore different places and I have been to many places in India. But, recently, about a month ago, me and my family went to Australia. It was our first international trip as a family. Our main purpose for this visit was to attend my cousin sister’s wedding events but, we decided to extend our tour for a month, as we wanted to explore several parts of Australia properly.

What the experience was &Who you did it with?

While we were there, we visited 3 of Australia’s main cities, that are Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia and the scenery there is beautiful with many surrounding small hills. We also paid a visit to country’s Parliament House there and played golf in the lush green grasslands. Sydney on the other hand has many beautiful beaches where we swam and tried surfing. Melbourne was the last place we visited and we stayed there for a week at my cousin’s house. Melbourne is a beautiful city with an artistic image. We tried a lot of quaint cafes for its famous coffees and explored many art galleries.

And say how you felt while you were doing it?

It was an amazing experience and we got a lot of exposure to other things around. Visiting new places always makes me ecstatic.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Paris — My Travelling Experience

My Travelling Experience

• Categories: Paris

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Published: Nov 8, 2019

Words: 1061 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

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Travel Essay

Travel essay generator.

Being given the chance to write essays travel to places around the world is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted. For some people, it’s a dream that isn’t quite easy to reach. After all, not everyone is fortunate enough to afford such luxury.

When one travels, it’s an experience that they want to share with others. They want to tell a story of the things they’ve seen, the people they met, and the culture they’ve experienced. Most people tell this story through photographs, video diaries, or even travel essays. Through this, they are able to express the thrill and joy from their travel experience. It’s not about bragging but it’s about sharing the beauty of our surroundings.

Travel Writing Essay

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Travel Photo Essay

How to Write a Travel Essay?

Writing a travel essay is simple. The only thing essential is how you deliver the message. When you travel, it’s important to pay close attention to details.

This would be anything from the structure, the ambiance, and the locals. Allow yourself to wander and focus on the uniqueness of the given place. Tour guides, natives, and travel brochures often provide a short history of a place that you could include in your essay. It’s also best to learn the backstory of a place through your own research. This will allow you and the reader to feel the historic value of a place. It’s best to create an essay outline of your experience for you to properly organize your thoughts.

Purpose of Travel Essay

You have probably read a travel essay in the past. This could be from blogs, newspapers, or magazines. Some essays are so well-written that it makes you feel like you’re a part of the experience. This would inspire you to visit the place at one point in your life. However, it’s not all about what to see or where to go. It’s about the experience. It’s about sharing the beauty of a place that most people aren’t aware of. Travelling isn’t only about having fun but it’s also about appreciating the world we live in.

It’s a descriptive essay explaining the endless wonders of mankind. A travel essay also provides a glimpse of the culture of a given place. Writers inform us of the living conditions of the people there, their character traits, and their outlook in life. These essays are meant to be informative for people to remember that there’s a whole different world out there to explore.

Travel Experience

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Sample Space Essay

Why Is It Important to Write a Travel Essay?

Travel essays may be written for different reasons. This could be to promote a given location to encourage tourists for a given travel agency or even as a good subject for a high school essay . Writing a travel essay is important in such a way that we can promote local tourism.

Not only can this support a country’s economy but it can also contribute to a local citizen’s means of living. A travel essay is often more accurate and descriptive than a mere photograph. It simply brings the image to life.

Text prompt

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Write a Travel Essay on a transformative travel experience.

Create a Travel Essay exploring the culture of a country you visited.

The Best Travel Writing of 2021: Our Favorite Stories of the Year

Tom Lowry , Skift

December 28th, 2021 at 1:30 AM EST

In a year when travel's recovery began, only to sputter, the pandemic was still a story for Skift that just kept giving. Our reporters and editors kept their heads down on crisis coverage, but shared some of the adrenaline too, on other worthy travel topics. Here's our team members' favorites, and how those stories came to be, in their own words.

The first year of the pandemic was an extraordinary achievement for Skift’s team of reporters and editors covering the unparalleled crisis in real time. Year two tested the mettle of the team in new ways, as glimmers of hope seesawed with the heartbreak of setbacks. But the journalism was no less exceptional in 2021.

As I am at this time every year, I am proud upon reflection of what Skift’s journalists accomplished. As is our tradition, I once again asked the difficult question of every reporter and editor who each produce a couple hundred stories a year: Which one was your favorite? They delivered, of course, explaining why the story was their favorite, and how it came to be.

We hope you find that our favorites are yours, too.

Edward Russell, Airlines Reporter

Behind-The-Scenes With American Demothballing Jets From Pandemic Storage

The Backstory: After writing so much about airlines pulling down their schedules, parking jets, and threatening to furlough staff, it was refreshing to actually see how airlines were recovering. In this case, how American Airlines put their jets back in the air to be ready for the then-forecast surge in summer travel. I flew to American’s largest maintenance base in Tulsa, Okla., to see exactly how the carrier did this. The team in Tulsa walked me step-by-step through the process of checking and re-checking every flap, seal, door, and crevice to make sure they were up to par for carrying passengers again.

What really struck me on my visit to Tulsa was how, for all the doom and gloom around the pandemic, the dedicated professionals at American never ceased working hard to make sure every aircraft was safe and ready to fly. Even for the seemingly thankless task of keeping black widow spiders from building webs in wheel wells.

Matthew Parsons , Corporate Travel Editor

Companies Face Challenge of Inclusivity on Travel for Remote Workers

The Backstory: The conversation around business travel shifted even further to remote work In 2021, as the phenomenon flipped from temporary measure to mainstream movement. It spring-boarded countless scenarios, mostly tinged with tourism because destinations saw plenty of marketing opportunities.

But among the images of work and play, I was struck by a conversation I had with the co-founder of a community interest organization who wants to level the playing field. Talking with Lorraine Charles of Na’amal , I was reminded the brave new world of remote work doesn’t revolve around middle and high-income countries, where people have ample opportunity to travel and work where they please.

Charles’ mission is to make remote work available for refugees, for people who don’t have the privilege of a U.S. or European passport, or the means to hop from one sun-kissed island to another with their laptop. She told me she wanted to help convert refugees into employees by training them on the softer skills needed, like Zoom meeting etiquette, then help them connect with potential employers.

In the same way travel broadens horizons for a tourist, does the same apply to an organization that recruits outside of its comfort zone? Later on in the year the topic was broached by immigration lawyer David Cantor , while the growing need for intercultural communications also emerged as a one-to-watch topic during 2021.

The plight of refugees around the world was brought home as we witnessed crises such as the large-scale evacuations from Kabul, and the tragedies of migrants in France attempting to cross the channel to the UK. Climate migration may also become a factor in the years ahead. 

A lot of progress has been made in diversity and inclusion over the past few years, and this is one area that I imagine, or hope, more organizations will address over the coming years.

Sean O’Neill , Senior Travel Tech Editor

What Accor’s Top Technology Executive Has to Say May Surprise You

The Backstory : This year, we launched Skift’s first Travel Tech Briefing , a guide for travel executives to decide if their company should “build, buy, or partner” to stay ahead in enterprise technology.

I was delighted that the first edition spotlighted Floor Bleeker, who gave his first interview since becoming Accor’s chief technology officer. The hotel giant had taken a contrarian tech strategy but hadn’t publicly discussed it before.

Until recently, Accor had planned to centralize its core technology systems. That’s a common trend among many large hotel groups. But around the time Bleeker came on board, the company decided to give up its plan to centralize its core technology systems. It will now be running multiple property management systems instead, allowing owners to tap upstart players, such as Treebo and Mews, after it certifies them.

While the move may seem like small potatoes to an outsider, the decision is significant for the hotel technology sector. It allows smaller players to compete to provide critical software to properties. Guests could be the ultimate beneficiary as competition may spur faster innovation in how hotels interact with guests.

Madhu Unnikrishnan , Editor, Airline Weekly

The United Airlines Engine Failure Is a Story Being Wildly Botched by Media: Commentary

The Backstory : On February 20, 2021, one of the two engines on a United Airlines Boeing 777 exploded in spectacular fashion, showering a Denver suburb with wreckage and terrifying passengers with sights of flames shooting out of the jet. The story dominated U.S. television news for several days, and pundits spouted dire predictions about Boeing’s future and the safety of commercial aviation.

Granted, it’s been an exceedingly difficult few years for Boeing, after two fatal crashes grounded its best-selling 737 Max for almost two years (forcing Boeing to admit that the aircraft’s flight-control software was flawed and responsible for the crashes); Federal Aviation Administration inspections of its 787 have halted delivery of a long-range aircraft airlines depend on; and its 777X has been delayed by several years. Boeing has gotten a lot of things wrong in recent years, but the United 777 failure was not one.

There’s an old adage that says a lie travels halfway around the world before the truth puts on its pants. Television news fell all over itself to air video that had already spread on social media. Important context was missing. Yes, the footage was horrific, but what was lost was why the incident happened. A fan blade broke loose from one of the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney engines, causing the engine to fail and exposing its combustion chamber. The fan blade did not pierce the fuselage.

What was lost in the consumer media’s coverage was this: The aircraft stayed intact, and its many safety systems prevented a catastrophic accident. The crew performed flawlessly and safely landed the airplane without any injuries. In fact, most of the flight’s passengers were rebooked and carried on with their travels that same day. In other words, the real story was that the everything and everyone worked as they should, which may be a lot less exciting than the breathless stories the news media reported, but important to note.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Global Tourism Reporter

Why Tourism Needs to Step Up and Push for Vaccine Equity

The Backstory: The horrific pandemic surge in India in April had just unfolded and in parallel, the travel industry in the U.S. and Europe, and their consumers, were focused on planning for the start of a “hot vaxxed summer.” The contrast was glaring and a clear sign to me that vaccine access would be critical for a full and fair tourism recovery. So while it was a difficult choice to make — this being my first full year of tourism coverage for Skift — I am most proud of this initial story on vaccine equity. It became the first in what has been a series of updates from us throughout the year after leading this conversation for the travel industry.

Why this topic continues to matter is because first, it’s an issue that remains critical for the industry and continues to impede and influence travel’s recovery everywhere, as we’re currently witnessing with the Omicron variant. Second, it’s critical to push travel leaders in the major source markets to recognize that solely advocating for the lifting of border restrictions is a short-sighted approach. There’s a clear business case for the industry — particularly the World Travel & Tourism Council and the United Nations World Tourism Organization and their members — to use its political muscle to push for more rapid vaccine distributions and donations globally so that the recovery is sustainable.

Third, this is a time in which we need bold leadership and vision. We saw companies such as Intrepid Travel and Expedia Group move forward with vaccine equity campaigns some months after this initial story was published. Many more need to follow.

We need this industry to have a reckoning on what global tourism should represent and stand for in the future, and that it’s about more than arrival numbers and gross domestic product. Vaccine equity is an opportunity to do just that.

Rashaad Jorden , Editorial Assistant

How One Tour Operator Is Using a 1977 Hit Tune to Lure Back Travelers

The Backstory: I was looking to write a story about a tremendously successful tour operator marketing campaign that I thought could become a regular feature, and I was referred to Steve Born, the chief marketing officer of the Globus family of brands. 

How exactly? Globus was saying that landmarks popular with their guests – including the Eiffel Tower and the Easter Island statues – had missed them by singing Player’s hit Baby Come Back. Born explained in the story how the campaign came about and why it had enjoyed success.

It was my favorite story from the year because as Born mentioned, travel is fun and supposed to bring a smile to travelers’ faces. Seeing the video of popular landmarks — or even thinking about it — has never failed to elicit a chuckle from me. Born talked about the hard work that went into creating the campaign, which was timed to coincide with the reopening of numerous destinations. 

But most importantly, travel for many is a cause for celebration, and despite numerous ongoing challenges, some tour operators have had things to celebrate this year. 

Cameron Sperance , Hospitality Reporter

Lessons for Travel’s Recovery From Anthony Bourdain’s New Book

The Backstory: Some travel stories span beyond one’s assigned beat. It was timely to see the late Anthony Bourdain’s travel guide come out just as unruly airline passengers and rude hotel and restaurant guests became the unfortunate legacy of the pandemic. You couldn’t go days without seeing a headline of a diverted aircraft because some idiot wouldn’t wear a mask and punched a flight attendant to make a point — a point the federal government and airlines responded to with jail time and a lifetime ban from flying.

Restaurants and hotels weren’t spared the abuse. Irate was the default mood for patrons who had to wait longer than expected for a meal or, heaven forbid, were told by hotel management to keep their volume down.

Bourdain’s book made me miss his weekly wisdom doled out on his TV series, and I felt a particular bond with the words since I live in Provincetown, Mass. — the seaside town at the end of Cape Cod where he got his start in the world of restaurants.

But the guide also painted some important travel lessons: Always remember you’re a guest in someone else’s hometown. Be patient in this era of longer waits: It’s not neglect; it’s a labor shortage crisis.

Oh, and stop being a jackass to hospitality workers.

Angela Tupper, Deputy Editor, EventMB

The Catch-22 of Zero-Covid Zones: Events Happen But Can Cancel on a Dime

The Backstory: A major part of our 2021 news cycle was dominated by Covid coverage, but this story was particularly compelling because it approached a well-known news story from an under-reported angle. While major publications were drawing attention to Australia and New Zealand’s success with enforcing a zero-Covid policy, there was very little coverage of what this approach meant for the event industry. Headlines announced that life Down Under was able to continue largely as normal, apart from periodic snap lockdowns whenever a handful of cases were confirmed. Were large-scale events able to move forward as well? 

Through multiple interviews with event professionals in Australia, a consistent story emerged: The nation’s successful suppression of Covid transmission made it much safer to hold events from a public health standpoint, but the measures needed to maintain zero-Covid status also meant that a lockdown could be triggered by just one case — with events therefore prone to last-minute cancelation. In other words, reducing the health risk indirectly amplified the financial risk. In turn, What began as an investigation into the viability of events turned into a conversation around the need for event cancelation insurance. With private insurers unwilling to cover the risk, lobbyists were calling for government-backed programs. 

In some ways, this story provided a glimpse into the “stop-and-go” future that the global event industry would soon be facing in a post-vaccine world periodically threatened by new variants of concern. Since then, the UK has announced a government-backed event insurance scheme, as has the Australian state of Victoria. The impact of these programs will be a story to watch in the coming year.

Dennis Schaal , Founding Editor

Vacasa Paid $619 Million for TurnKey Vacation Rentals in Mostly Stock

The Backstory: This story combined two things I love: A scoop of sorts and scouring Securities and Exchange Commission financial filings.

What’s the first thing that travel veterans ask you when they learn of an acquisition? Namely, what do you think the sale price was? On smaller deals, when a startup gets bought by a public company, the buyer doesn’t necessarily have to explicitly disclose the price, and when a private company acquires a startup, the usual thing is there is no public statement about the price.

Vacasa’s acquisition of a smaller property management company, TurnKey, wasn’t a small deal, it turns out, but it involved two private companies. I therefore didn’t expect Vacasa to disclose the acquisition price — and apparently neither did the rest of the press — but the twist was that Vacasa was slated to go public in a blank check merger and was filing its financials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vacasa eventually went public, on December 7.

I love reading certain Securities and Exchange Commission documents and frequently tell my reporter colleagues that you can find all kinds of news bits and scoops if you take the time to read them, which I often do during the evenings or on weekends — for fun.

So there was the price tag and details about the deal in a Vacasa financial filing. Vacasa acquired TurnKey for nearly $619 million, mostly in stock. As TurnKey had only raised some $120 million in funding, it appears as though co-founders T.J. Clark and John Banczak did fairly well for their investors.

Miguel Neves , Editor-in-Chief, EventMB

Event Tech Investment Tracker

The Backstory: For my favorite article, I am going to say the  EventMB Event Tech Investment Tracker . This continually evolving post sums up a lot of my learnings in 2021. I knew that joining Skift to lead EventMB, I would bring the event professional’s point of view with me. With this post, I am not distilling what I have learned from all the amazing editors at Skift and their unique ways of looking at the travel industry. I’ve had help from many members of the Skift and EventMB to make this post a real at-a-glance review of the crazy world of mergers and acquisitions in event tech. Everyone I have shared it with has given positive feedback and I know it will be an important part of future iterations of the EventMB website, so the story will continue to evolve.

Colin Nagy, On Experience Columnist

Doha Quickly Comes of Age Ahead of World Cup 2022

The Backstory: This was an interesting story to report, as Doha is in the harried run-up to a major milestone, the World Cup in 2022. The event has been a forcing factor for a lot of the obvious things like hospitality and infrastructure but also has accelerated a lot of Qatari soft diplomacy: museums, interesting small businesses and centers to attract more of the global creative class. Covid has put a damper on a lot, but it is clear to see there’s been clear vision and a lot of progress. I liked this piece because it was an honest look at what is working well, and what needs to be improved in a region that has a lot of shallow, one-note coverage from Western outlets. There is a lot of depth and moving parts to the modern Qatar story: from regional and global politics, to business, investment, real estate to national country branding and the desire to live up to the promise of the World Cup. These are my favorite stories to try and make sense of when I can.  

Ruthy Muñoz , Freelancer

How Unruly Do Airline Passengers Have to Be Before the Government Decides to Prosecute?

The Backstory: I love writing feature stories that bring extraordinary people to the forefront, but surprisingly, when faced with choosing my favorite account this year, a Skift feature wasn’t it. Instead, my favorite story is accountability in the other pandemic- unruly passengers.

As a former flight attendant, I understood there’s only so much flight crews could do without the backup of airlines, the FAA, the Justice Department, and Congress.  Writing this and other stories on unruly passengers and holding everyone accountable to bring about needed change is what the power of the journalistic keyboard is for me.

Lisa Jade Hutchings , Branded Content Writer

How Event Professionals Can Cope With Imposter Syndrome

The Backstory:  I have had the opportunity to work on some great stories this year, such as the effect of the pandemic on local event industries around the world and an analysis of the sector’s commitment to net-zero. However, my favorite post explored the topic of how event professionals can better cope with imposter syndrome. 

While massive technological advancements and innovation have taken place within the sector, I wanted to delve deeper into the human experience of an event professional through real-life insights into the current situation. As professionals working in a high-stress industry (events), the cancellations and job losses due to the pandemic have impacted the mental health of those working within the space. Because of this, many planners have experienced crippling self-doubt in adapting to new tech, event formats, external stressors — all while learning new skills.

In writing the post, a background of the syndrome was given, alongside actionable tips to coping so people could gain tangible value by reading the piece. To better understand imposter syndrome, its effects, and how people can manage, insights were gained by speaking at length with a counseling psychologist, researching the topic online, connecting with others in the industry, and drawing on past personal experiences. 

The highlight of the post for me was seeing the effect it had on others in the industry — people were able to relate and felt that a voice had been given to an experience so many people live with daily.

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‘Dropping Very Dramatically’: What Deadly Turbulence Did to a Flight

Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 was a rare instance of turbulence resulting in a death.

By Sui-Lee Wee and Muktita Suhartono

Reporting from Bangkok

The seatbelt sign came on moments after the plane started shaking, but, for some, it was too late.

“Whoever wasn’t buckled down, they were just launched into the air within the cabin,” said Dzafran Azmir, who was among the 211 passengers on board the London-to-Singapore flight that encountered deadly turbulence on Tuesday. “Within an instant, they hit the ceiling of the cabin and dropped right back onto the floor.”

The plane, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 ER, had taken off from London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday night, about 10 hours earlier. It was about three-quarters full. Many of the travelers were Singaporeans returning home. Some were students studying in England. Others were families and some who had planned a “holiday of a lifetime” to far-flung destinations like Australia.

The bulk of the 13-hour journey of flight SQ321 was over, and many passengers had finished their last meal onboard, a breakfast that these days has been a choice between an omelet with cream cheese or stir-fried Asian noodles, both served with a side of fresh fruit.

By this time, the plane had reached the Bay of Bengal, which sits between the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Some pilots consider the region “notorious” this time of the year because its monsoon rains can cause turbulence.

But commercial pilots know how to prepare for such scenarios. They rely on weather radar and carry extra fuel so they can fly around and wait for the weather to ease, if needed. Or they follow the course charted by other planes that recently have passed through the area and have warned air traffic controllers about weather upheavals.

One scenario that is impossible to prepare for is when the skies are clear and the plane’s radar does not detect anything amiss. This phenomenon is known as clear air turbulence.

“It could be the plane just starts shaking, we turn on the seatbelt sign, but, unknowingly, we fall into the clear air turbulence zone,” said Captain Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, president of the Thai Pilots Association. “It’s totally unpredictable.”

It’s unclear what happened next with SQ321, but there had been thunderstorms near its flight path. As it was flying over Myanmar, cruising at 37,000 feet above the southern section of the country’s biggest river, the Irrawaddy, it hit what the airline later described as “sudden extreme turbulence.”

For the next three to five minutes, the plane shook violently, said Mr. Dzafran, 28, a university student heading home to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who was buckled into a window seat in row 52.

“Then it built up, like a feeling of going up a roller coaster, up the crest, and suddenly dropping very dramatically,” he recalled.

His bag, stored under the seat in front of him, flew across the plane, and his phone was flung across the aisle. The woman sitting in the row in front of Mr. Dzafran hit her head so hard on the plastic seatbelt indicator sign above her that it broke. Oxygen masks dropped down from the overhead panel. The person behind him hit a seat. Mr. Dzafran was unharmed, but the other two passengers had bloody gashes on their heads.

At least one passenger, it appeared, was able to react quickly enough and buckle her seatbelt. It was a woman sitting behind Mr. Dzafran.

“That was miraculous luck on her side to respond so quickly,” he said.

Another passenger, Teandra Tukhunen, who was sleeping, was not able to react as fast. She was awakened by the turbulence and saw the seatbelt sign come on, but she had no time to fasten it and was thrown to the ceiling, then to the floor, Ms. Tukhunen, 30, a native of Australia, told Sky News from a hospital in Bangkok, her arm in a sling.

Elsewhere on the plane, people started crying and screaming out in pain. The whiplash was so furious that one passenger said that it appeared as if those who had been walking around on the plane were doing somersaults. Dozens of people, including some crew members, were injured.

As things settled down, it was clear that one of the worst affected passengers was a male traveler, Geoff Kitchen. A grandfather of two who ran a local theater group in the town of Thornbury in southwest England, Mr. Kitchen, 73, had planned a six-week “holiday of a lifetime” to Australia and Southeast Asia with his wife of 50 years, Linda.

Andrew Davies, who was sitting in front of Mr. Kitchen, helped carry him out of his seat and laid him on the floor, where he was given C.P.R. for at least 20 minutes.

With the plane now in Thailand’s airspace, the pilot placed a distress call to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, asking to make an emergency landing. Then he made an in-flight announcement about the new destination, and asked for anyone who was medically trained to help passengers with injuries.

Forty-five minutes after the ordeal began, Mr. Dzafran said, the plane landed. It was 3.45 p.m. local time.

Several ambulances with flashing lights were standing by. The passengers waited patiently while nurses, emergency medical workers and doctors rushed in to treat the critically injured first. A total of 83 people were injured. Twenty of them were sent to the intensive care unit of a local hospital.

Drew Kessler, the New York-based treasurer of Rotary International who was en route to Singapore for the annual Rotary International Convention, said he had broken his neck while his wife, Vicki, had broken her back.

As Mr. Dzafran prepared to disembark, the crew told passengers to avoid one of the aisles. Mr. Dzafran said he thinks he saw someone lying on the floor. Flight attendants near the business and first class zones were bleeding. Food was strewn across the galleys.

The passengers, dazed and confused, boarded a bus from the tarmac and arrived to a holding area inside the Bangkok airport. Conversations were struck up. A fellow passenger told Mr. Dzafran that someone had died on the plane and showed Mr. Dzafran an online news article. It was Mr. Kitchen. He was the only fatality — one of the few ever blamed on turbulence — and the cause of death hasn’t been released yet.

Singapore Airlines has apologized for the episode, and its investigators have arrived in Bangkok to try to understand what happened.

Mr. Dzafran was among the 143 passengers who emerged unscathed. So was his seatmate, who he said also had her seatbelt on.

Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region. More about Sui-Lee Wee

Muktita Suhartono reports on Thailand and Indonesia. She is based in Bangkok. More about Muktita Suhartono