Introduction
Think about it… You are exploring the beauty of the world, meeting new people, becoming part of new cultures – and at the same time sharing your journey with the world through a blog. And the best part? You are also earning money from this blog!
In today’s digital era, travel blogging is not just a hobby, but has become a full-time career. Whether you are a student, a working professional, or a retired explorer – if you like to write and enjoy sharing your experiences with people, then travel blogging is a great way to start your own blog. Blogging can be perfect for you.
In this article, we will learn step-by-step how to start a travel blog – choosing a domain, setting up a blog, writing, promoting, and earning money – all in easy language.
So if you also want to turn your journey into a story and want to raise your voice in front of the world, this guide is just for you.
Let’s start!
How to Start a Travel Blog
Why Start a Travel Blog?
In today’s time, traveling is not just for fun but has become a source of inspiration. People explore and plan new destinations through YouTube videos, Instagram reels, and travel blogs. We travel, and we dream. So imagine how many people you can help if you share your travel experiences with the world through a blog!
Here are some of the main reasons why people start a travel blog:
1. Sharing the story of your journey
You learn something new on every trip – new people, culture, food, and experiences. Writing and sharing all this is like keeping the memories alive forever.
2. Helping people
People get real tips through your blog – what to look for, how to travel on a budget, what to avoid, where to find the best food, etc.
3. Creating Your Personal Brand
With a travel blog, you can create a unique identity for yourself. Tomorrow you can become a content creator, public speaker or travel influencer.
4. Earn Money (Yes, Really!)
Initially it starts as a hobby, but if worked in the right direction, you can generate good income through affiliate marketing, ads, sponsorships.
5. Freedom & Flexibility
You can work from anywhere – mountains, beaches or a cozy cafe. You just need a laptop and internet connection.
So if you don’t just want to make memories while traveling, but also want to make a career – travel blogging can be a perfect start.
Step 1: Choose your travel niche
The most important thing before starting a travel blog is to choose your niche.
You must be thinking – “What is a niche?”
In simple words, niche means a specific topic or area on which your blog will focus.
Why is niche important?
Think if you start writing all kinds of content – sometimes trekking, sometimes luxury hotel review, sometimes family trip tips – then your readers will get confused about what exactly your blog is about.
- But if you have a clear niche, then you:
- Easily attract your target audience
- Position yourself as an expert You can easily collaborate with brands
Popular Travel Niches:
- These are some trending travel blog niches that you can consider:
- Budget travel (travel more with less money)
- Luxury travel (five-star hotels, business class flights)
- Solo travel (travel alone)
- Couple travel (romantic destinations)
- Adventure travel (trekking, scuba diving, skydiving)
- Family travel (kids-friendly trips)
- Digital nomad life (travel with work)
- Food & travel combo (local food experiences)
How to Choose Your Niche?
- Look at your interest and passion
- On which topic can you confidently write?
- What type of your past travel experience is What kind of people do you want to help?
- The more specific your niche is, the stronger your blog will be.
Start narrow, and there is no problem in expanding it with time.
Step 2: Choose your blog name and domain
Now that you have decided your niche, the next step is to choose a unique and memorable name for your blog.(How to Start a Travel Blog )
This name will also become your domain name (eg: www.aapkablog.com).
What should be the blog name?
Your blog name should reflect your personality and the topic of the blog. This name will become your identity on the internet.
Keep these things in mind while choosing a blog name Names:
- Short and simple (people can easily remember)
- Unique (there should not be any other name already)
- Easy to spell and pronounce
- Related to your niche (e.g. if you are writing a solo travel blog then you can use “solo” or “wanderer” in the name)
Example Names:
- BudgetWanderer.com
- SoloBackpackDiaries.com
- TravelWithRiya.com
- WanderlustTales.in
You can also be a little creative – you can use your name, location or a specific emotion to create a fun and memorable name.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is what people type to visit your blog – like www.travelwitharjun.com
This is the digital address of your blog.
Tips to Choose a Domain Name:
- Try to get the .com extension (more popular and professional)
- If you don’t get .com, you can use alternatives like .in, .net or .travel
- Avoid special characters, hyphens or numbers
How to Book a Domain?
You can easily book a domain name from these websites:
- GoDaddy
- Namecheap
- Hostinger
- Bluehost
Domain cost is usually ₹500 – ₹1000 per year. You can get even cheaper during offers.
So what are you waiting for? Think of your perfect blog name, and book a domain and start your digital journey!
Step 3: Setup your blog (Tech setup)
Now that you have decided the name and domain of your blog, it is time to make it live online – i.e., set up the blog technically.
Maybe you are thinking – “How will I do this technical work?”
Don’t worry – I am telling you step-by-step in simple language.
Step 1: Choose a Blogging Platform
First of all you have to decide where you will create your blog.
Best and most recommended option is: WordPress.org
Why WordPress.org?
- It is free
- It is SEO-friendly
- It looks professional
- You have full control over your blog
(Note: Don’t choose WordPress.com if you want to create a serious blog – it provides limited features)
Step 2: Choose Web Hosting
Web hosting is a place where your blog files are stored – without hosting your blog will not be visible online.
Top Hosting Companies:
- Hostinger (affordable and beginner-friendly)
- Bluehost (official WordPress recommendation)
- SiteGround (premium speed and support)
These companies provide you with:
- Free domain (1st year)
- 1-click WordPress install option
- 24×7 support
Hosting costs from ₹60 to ₹200 per month (as per offers).
Step 3: Install WordPress
After purchasing hosting, you will get an option: “Install WordPress” – click on it and your blog will be ready in just a few minutes.
Step 4: Login to Your Blog
- After WordPress is installed, you can login to your blog dashboard:
- From here you can control everything – writing posts, changing designs, installing plugins, etc.
- After all this, your travel blog is officially live!
- The next step will be – customizing the design and look.
Step 4: Design your blog (Look & Feel)
Now that your blog is live, it is time to make it beautiful and user-friendly.
Design is the first impression – and as they say, “First impression is the last impression.”
People should feel “Waah, there is something interesting in this!”
1. Choose a Clean & Travel-Friendly Theme
You get thousands of free and paid themes (design templates) on WordPress.
The theme defines the layout, color, fonts and overall style of your blog.
Popular Free Travel Blog Themes:
- Astra (lightweight and fast)
- OceanWP (fully customizable)
- Neve (clean & responsive)
- Hestia (modern look)
You can install all these by going to the “Appearance > Themes” section of WordPress.
2. Customize Your Blog
After installing the theme, you have to customize the blog according to your needs:
- Add logo and blog title
(You can create a logo for free from Canva) - Set menus
(like: Home, About Me, Destinations, Blog, Contact) - Choose color scheme and fonts
(that match your vibe – fun, classy, nature-inspired, etc.) - Adjust sidebar, footer and homepage layout
(that highlight your content)
3. Create essential pages
Along with design, it is also important to create some important pages:
- About – who are you, why do you travel, what is the purpose of the blog
- Contact – how can people reach you (email form or social links)
- Privacy Policy & Disclaimer – Blogging looks professional and builds trust
- Destinations Page – List of the niches you have covered
4. Use Plugins for Extra Features
WordPress “plugins” allow you to add new features – without coding.
Important Plugins:
- Elementor – drag & drop page builder
- Yoast SEO – for SEO
- WPForms – for creating contact forms
- Smush – for loading images fast
- Jetpack – for security & performance
The more clean, organized and visually attractive your blog design is – the more time people will spend on it.
So now make your blog beautiful, and the next step will be – start writing!
Step 5: Write and Publish Your First Blog Post
Now when your blog design is ready, the most exciting part comes – writing your first blog post!
This is where your travel storytelling officially begins.
What can be the topic of the first blog post?
The topic of your first blog post should be such that:
- Connect your readers with you
- Introduce your style
- Inspire them for travel
Some Great First Blog Post Ideas:
“Why did I start a travel blog”
“My first solo trip experience – from fear to freedom”
“Top 5 places I visited (and why they are special)”
“Travel tips for first-time travelers”
“My most memorable journey – a real story”
Format of writing a blog post (simple structure):
1. Catchy title
Write a title that grabs people’s attention, like:
“3 Din Goa Mein – Masti, Beaches and Local Food Ka Swag”
2. Introduction
Give a little context – where did you go, why did you go, what was special?
3. Main Content
- Tell about the location
- What did you see, what did you learn
- Share travel tips
- Give your honest opinion
4. Add photos
Good quality images give a visual experience to the readers. (Watermark optional)
5. Conclusion + CTA (Call to Action)
At the end of the post, ask the readers something or ask them to comment/share.
Example:
“Have you also had a similar travel experience? Do tell us in the comments!”
How to publish?
- Go to WordPress Dashboard and click on “Posts > Add New”
- Write your content, add images
- Set title and meta description for SEO (Yoast plugin will help)
- Check with “Preview”
- Press the “Publish” button – and your first blog post is live!
Congratulations!
You have officially become a travel blogger!
Now start writing regularly, develop your voice, and start connecting with the audience.
Step 6: How to earn money from your travel blog?
You created a blog, started writing, promoted it too – now it’s time to earn money from that blog.
Yes, if you consistently provide quality content, you can earn money even while traveling.
This is the dream of every travel lover – “Send, write and earn money.”
1. Affiliate Marketing (Most Popular Method)
In affiliate marketing, you share the link of a product or service on your blog. When a reader purchases from that link, you get a commission.
Example:
- Promote travel gear from Amazon (bags, cameras, shoes)
- Share hotel booking links from Booking.com or Agoda
- Travel insurance, backpacks, tour services, etc.
Pro Tip:
Affiliate links easily fit in posts like “Best Travel Backpack Under ₹3000”.
2. Sponsored Posts & Brand Collaborations
As your blog grows, brands will contact you or you can pitch yourself.
Brands can:
- Pay you for writing a review of their product
- Get you to travel for free
- Provide paid trips, hotel stays or gear
Example:
“XYZ Hotel Review – My Stay Experience in Manali” (Sponsored by XYZ Hotel)
3. Google AdSense (Put Ads on Blog)
Google AdSense is a free service where Google displays ads on your blog. When people see or click on those ads, you get money.
Bas:
- Apply for AdSense for your blog
- After approval, ads will start appearing automatically
- Earnings will start (initially small, but good in the long-term)
4. Launch your product or course
When you become a trusted blogger, then you can also sell your product or course.
- Ebook: “Top 10 Budget-Friendly Destinations in India”
- Online Course: “How to Plan Your First Solo Trip”
- Travel Itineraries or printable planners
This gives you 100% profit – no middleman!
5. Photography & Freelance Writing
If your travel photos are good, then:
- You can sell them on stock photo websites (Unsplash, Shutterstock)
- You can do freelance travel writing for brands (travel magazines, tourism sites)
Bonus Tip: Be patient!
Blogging brings money, but not in a month or two.
You will:
- Have to write regularly
- Have to build trust
- Have to understand the audience’s interest
But once the flow is established, blogging can generate consistent and passive income.
So now you are ready – to travel as well as to earn!
Keep exploring, keep sharing, and keep growing.
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