I used to dream of wealth and all manner of quantifiable success in my life – a good job, a husband, happy kids, a nice home. But as I get older and life has presented few of these childlike notions of happy ever after, increasingly my attention is turning to travelling and exploring the world.
Let’s face it, for those of us who love to travel, scoring a gig where we actually get paid to do so is the holy grail. But it’s a case of how best to do that.
My strongest two skills are my ability to write and my openness to new experiences. These two qualities set me in good stead to make a living from travel. But I don’t want to be one of those travel writers who writes gushing reviews of airlines or motels.
Power to those who can and do, but I spent too long as a journalist to write faux gushing reviews of anything. I know of one journo who once wrote a brutally honest travel story about what can only be described as the trip from hell. The story was brilliant and funny and incredibly entertaining. But he never worked as a travel writer again.
I know another journo who had to do a restaurant review but was under clear instructions that the review could not be negative as the sales team didn’t want to get the potential advertiser off-side. The food was apparently so bad, the entire review was about the restaurant’s decor.
I have no interest in being inauthentic or reviewing anything with a pre-destined outcome.
For the last few years I have been lucky enough to have a job which sent me around the world. I didn’t get to write about these exotic and sometimes bizarre destinations – except to my friends and family – but this time instilled in me a passion for travelling which is a long way from being satiated.
I have bought a bundle of Lonely Planet guides and lived vicariously through them. Now I am pushing Lonely Planet to broaden its own horizons. Their travel guides are ideal for young backpackers and those of us a little older who want basic information including what scams to look out for, climate, must see sights and whatnot. But for those of us over 40, the accommodation recommendations very often don’t quite cut the mustard. You can be older than 30 and still long for adventure and excitement but let’s face it, at the end of the day you very often want to go back to a room which has a hot shower, comfortable bed and is not being shared with a bunch of strangers. And the chances are, the older you are, the more likely you have a slightly larger budget.
This is where writers like myself come into it. Should Lonely Planet include new sections in their guides for the slightly older traveller? Absolutely. I know of dozens in my age group who share this opinion. There is a market for it.
I am, of course, open to any other suggestions on how to make a living combining my love of travel and my ability to write.
Anyone reading this who has been able to do so, I would love to hear your story.