If you love exploring new places and have a way with words, travel writing might feel like a dream career. But how do you actually get started? Is it enough to just describe your last vacation? And how do travel writers stand out in a world overflowing with Instagram captions and blog posts?

We spoke to writing mentors and published travel writers to understand what it really takes to break into travel writing, and how you can begin, one step at a time.

1. Write Like a Local, Not a Tourist

This is the most repeated (and most ignored) piece of advice. Travel writing is not about listing the top 10 attractions or sharing every step of your itinerary. Instead, it’s about offering perspective, why this place, this moment, or this encounter mattered.

Start by slowing down. Pick one moment, eating a meal, missing a bus, meeting someone interesting, and write from there.

2. You Don’t Need to Travel Far

You don’t have to board a flight or visit an “exotic” location to start writing. Good travel writing is about perspective, not passport stamps. Start in your own city. Take a local bus route you’ve never tried. Visit a neighbourhood you’ve never spent time in. Attend a cultural event you don’t know much about.

The more familiar you are with a place, the more detail you can bring to your writing, and sometimes, the most surprising stories are waiting just around the corner. That’s why many writing retreats for beginners encourage writers to explore even the ordinary with fresh eyes.

3. Choose an Angle Before You Write

Before you sit down to write, ask yourself: What’s the heart of this story? Are you exploring a food culture? Reflecting on solo travel? Examining how a place has changed over time?

Having a clear theme or angle helps your writing stay focused and meaningful. It also sets your work apart from generic travel blogs. You’re not just writing about a place, you’re telling a story within it.

This is something most professional-level travel writing workshops emphasize: great travel narratives start with strong ideas, not just destinations.

4. Read Travel Writing Widely

One of the best ways to learn is by reading. Look beyond travel blogs, explore essays, memoirs, and longform features. Pay attention to how writers use scene-setting, dialogue, and reflection to bring their experiences to life. Notice how they balance information with emotion. The more you read, the more you’ll develop a sense of what works and what makes a story memorable.

If you’re part of a writing retreat with mentorship, your mentors will often recommend books and articles that help sharpen your observational skills and narrative voice.

5. Start Small, Share Smartly

You don’t need a big platform to start sharing your travel writing. Begin with short pieces on your personal blog, Medium, or a newsletter. Submit to smaller publications, contests, or digital magazines. Practice writing pitches, think of story ideas, not destinations. Editors want to know why this story and why now, not just “I went to X.”

With time, your published clips will grow, and so will your confidence.

Ready to Begin?

Travel writing isn’t about visiting everywhere, it’s about seeing anywhere with depth and curiosity. If you can slow down, observe closely, and shape those observations into a narrative, you’re already doing the work.

So start with one story. One place. One moment. And write it the way only you can.

Want the perfect setting to begin?