18 Best Travel Lifestyle Blogs To Help You Escape the Soul-Sucking Rat Race

“UGGGH! MY BRAIN HURTS!

Mitch, there’s like eleventy-million travel blogs out there—how do I know who to listen to?

I just wanna learn how to ditch this soul-crushing 9-to-5 so I can go explore the world…is that too much to ask??

Oh, and I don’t want FLUFF either. (Ain’t nobody got time for that). I can’t be spending hours sifting through crap.

I want a list of the BEST travel lifestyle blogs that’ll help me get me outta this rat race. And I want it NOW!”

Well hello, crazy person 👋🏼

First off, please lower your voice.

Second, thank you for trusting me to give you a list of the best travel blogs to follow. I am honored.

Your wish is my command.

Best travel lifestyle blogs to help plan your getaway

There’s a lot of moving parts to a successful escape plan. You need to:

• Get inspired
• Plan your trip
• Pack your bags
• Plan your finances
• Save money for travel
• Get psychologically ready
• Learn how to travel cheaply
• Leave the security of your job (or go remote)
• Decide which travel jobs to support yourself with
• Learn the ins-and-outs of becoming a digital nomad
• Surround yourself with others who support your dream
• Find hobbies to do while traveling to keep you from going crazy
• Build skills (or use ones you already have) to make money from anywhere

That’s a lot of stuff.

A lot of stuff = A lot of potential roadblocks

Each of the following travel bloggers has been chosen because they help you tackle at least one of these roadblocks in their own unique way.

Many of these peeps helped me get to where I am today (whether they know it or not). And I can vouch for every one of them.

Alrighty then, let’s get to it!

#1 – Y Travel Blog – Caz & Craig

Who they are:

Caz and Craig, the Australian dynamic duo, started traveling over 21 years ago. (It’s safe to say they know a thing or two about ditching the rat race).

If that weren’t enough, they now travel full-time with their two young daughters.

They’re on a mission to show that having kids is NO EXCUSE for putting your dream of a travel lifestyle on hold. In fact, kids are actually a reason you should travel more!

How they can help:

That said, their blog is about much more than family travel. It’s valuable for anyone considering leaving a “normal” life behind.

Caz and Craig love sharing personal, intimate details about their life on the road—all the ups and (more importantly) all the downs.

They don’t sugarcoat things (unlike many travel blogs). And when you’re debating whether to unearth your life to travel the world, you don’t want sugar-coated information. You want real information.

#2 – Be My Travel Muse – Kristin Addis

Who she is:

Kristin has an inspiring story many can relate to. As a girl, she dreamed of traveling the world and exploring exotic places. Then reality hit.

Society sucked her into the rat race, where she found a stable job and lived like a “responsible” adult.

However, four years into her successful career as an investment banker, she burned out. She didn’t want to waste her life inside a bank. So, she sold all her belongings, hit the road, learned to support herself from anywhere, and never looked back.

How she can help:

Kristin is the go-to girl for adventurous solo female travelers. (But boys are welcome too!)

Sometimes planning your first long-term trip can be so overwhelming, it’s enough to give up on your dreams altogether. It’s too confusing. Too much work. Too scary.

Trying to figure everything out for the first time is an obstacle holding many wanderlusters back from taking the leap.

Luckily, Kristin is here to save the day. With her free, personalized dream trip planner, you’ll have everything you need to craft your escape plan!

#3 – The Broke Backpacker – Will Hatton

Who he is:

Will’s dream was to become a Royal Marine. That is, until he suffered an injury disqualifying him from service.

Unsure of what to do with his life (and with little money in his pockets), he set off on a worldwide adventure—stretching his money as far as humanly possible by hitching, couchsurfing, and working minimum wage jobs.

One thing led to another, and now he runs one of the most visited and highest-earning travel blogs on the planet.

How he can help:

Will is kind of a legend when it comes to making your money stretch while traveling.

So if a tiny bank account is what’s holding you back from ditching your desk, Will’s blog will crush that excuse once and for all.

In fact, he even wrote a 250-page book called How to Travel the World on $10 A Day (and no, $10 is not a typo, it’s fo-real!)

#4 – Goats on the Road – Nick & Dariece

Who they are:

Nick and Dariece, the two “travel goats”, have a story many of us can relate to. After getting their first taste of travel, they were forced back to the 9-to-5 grind in Canada. That’s when they realized they weren’t made for a life of routine. It drove them crazy.

They were bored. They were tired. And they were desperate for something more.

So they left. And they never turned back. They figured out how to design their travel lifestyle, and now they run one of the best travel blogs teaching others to do the same.

How they can help:

Goats on the Road is one of the best travel blogs for teaching others how to turn travel into a lifestyle.

Their site is chock-full of everything you could possibly want to know about earning money on the road (not to mention some epic destination guides).

And for those interested in starting their own travel blog, they even offer a free blogging course!

#5 – Indie Traveller – Marek Bron

Who he is:

Unlike others who voluntarily leave their jobs to start a life of travel, Marek’s journey started from losing his job. In fact, his long-term travel adventure basically started by accident.

After losing his job in London, Marek needed to regroup. He decided to take a 2-month trip to Thailand to update his CV, email recruiters, and figure out his next steps.

Yeah, those CVs never got touched. Thailand sucked him in. And he’s been addicted to travel ever since.

How he can help:

Dream of traveling the world but worried about the unknown?

Well, you’re in luck. Because Marek literally wrote the book Travel the World Without Worries: An Inspirational Guide to Budget and Adventure Travel.

In addition to his book, his blog is full of useful tips for planning your rat race escape. And best of all, Marek is just a cool guy. He took the time to personally help me plan my very first backpacking itinerary over three years ago (back when I was the worried one).

#6 – Wandering Earl – Derek (AKA Earl) Baron

Who he is:

Earl is an impressive travel specimen who has been on the road since 1999. (You heard that right…that’s 20 years!)

His story started just like Marek’s (and many others):

“Oh, I’m just going on a quick 3-month trip to Southeast Asia. Then I’ll be back to start my career.”

…and here we are 20 years (and 100+ countries) later.

How he can help:

You can’t survive 20 years traveling the world if you don’t know how to make money on the road (he’s the go-to expert for landing awesome cruise ship jobs) (affiliate link).

His site is the motherload of all things travel—from tips, resources, and insights to detailed guides on how to afford a life of travel.

He’s also got some absolutely insane travel stories.

If you’re stuck and need some inspiration, Earl’s got you covered.

#7 – A Little Adrift – Shannon O’Donnell

Who she is:

Shannon is no ordinary traveler. Ordinary travelers don’t get named “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic.

She started her travel blog in 2008 to share her experiences on the road. Since then, her site has evolved into a massive resource that helps others live out their travel dreams. She now focuses on responsible tourism and encourages others to travel with a service mindset.

How she can help:

Traveling for the first time is scary. And the scariest part is often the element of unknown…

What do I need to pack? What if I forget something? What if I get sick? How do I stay safe? How can I make my money last? What about language? How do I even know if travel life is for me?

By reading Shannon’s Ultimate World Travel Planning Resource (which literally answers every reader question she has ever been asked), you won’t have much “unknown” left to worry about.

#8 – The Planet D – Dave & Deb

Who they are:

Dave and Deb are an inspiration to anyone feeling stuck in life.

That’s exactly how they felt back in 2008. When they first got married, they were full of dreams, passion, and energy. But as time passed, all that energy and excitement faded as “life stuff” took its toll.

They realized something needed to change. So they took a trip to—you guessed it—Thailand! Thailand changed everything for them.

Since then, they’ve built one of the top travel blogs that inspires “ordinary” people to travel the world and live extraordinary lives.

How they can help:

Maybe you think world adventure is just for super fit, adrenaline-filled, YOLO youngsters.

Dave and Deb beg to differ.

Their travel blog focuses on proving that adventure is for everyone.

And seeing as though Forbes named them one of the top 10 influencers in the world, they may be worth listening to.

#9 – Adventure in You – Tom & Anna

Who they are:

Speaking of ordinary people living extraordinary lives…meet Tom and Anna.

Tom was a waiter in the UK, and Anna a teacher in the Philippines. No cushy jobs. No trust funds. No benefactors.

They decided they wanted to make the most out of their lives. So they did. They hit the road, started one of the top adventure travel blogs, and now inspire others to create their own unforgettable memories.

How they can help:

If self-confidence is keeping you from following your travel dreams, there’s nothing better than some “if they can do it, so can I” inspiration.

And that’s exactly what you’ll get on Tom and Anna’s travel blog.

They are living proof that you don’t need to be filthy rich to live out your adventure. It all comes down to a choice…

How do you want to spend your time on this earth?

#10 – Mapping Megan – Meg Jerrard

Who they are:

Megan (an Australian journalist) and her partner-in-crime Mike (an American photojournalist) are a traveling power couple addicted to adventure. And they have quite the story…

They met while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, got married in Maui, and celebrated their anniversary on an Antarctic expedition.

They live their lives to the fullest and encourage others to do the same.

How they can help:

Megan is a travel blogger with a superpower…

She is AMAZING at interacting with her readers!

Think about it…You’re planning to leave your ordinary life behind for a life of travel and adventure. You’ve never done this before. It’d be nice to actually get in touch with someone who has “been there, done that”.

The problem is, travel bloggers are notorious for adventuring off-the-grid, then coming home to an overflowing inbox they can’t keep up with.

So, when you find someone who actually does get back to you (like @mappingmegan), you stick to them like glue!

#11 – Location Rebel – Sean Ogle

Who he is:

Sean is yet another example of someone who “had it made” (according to society’s definition), yet still felt miserable.

He was a successful financial analyst with prestige, money, and a killer office view. But he felt caged in. Despite his comfortable lifestyle, he knew deep down he wasn’t living his dream—traveling the world and running his own business.

So he left it all behind. He moved to Thailand (starting to see a pattern here?), learned some freelancing skills, and was finally free. Now he runs a community teaching others to do the same.

How he can help:

Most of the travel blogs on this list focus on travel, with just a side of business. Location Rebel is the opposite. Sean focuses primarily on getting your “lifestyle business”—a business you can run from anywhere in the world—off the ground.

Sean’s blog and Youtube channel are perfect for beginners who are hungry to get started, but need some direction. (He also has an awesome course and private forum—check out my full Location Rebel review here).

Most importantly, Sean is just a cool cat. He loves seeing others follow their dreams and is always willing to help. He’s someone you want in your corner.

#12 – Desk to Dirtbag – Ryan Shauers

Who he is:

Ryan is another inspiring dude. (Click around his blog for 10 seconds and you’ll see what I mean.)

After working for a senior member of Congress for 5 years, Ryan’s boss retired, leaving him jobless. Instead of pouting, Ryan saw it as an opportunity.

He set out on an epic road trip (driving the same old truck he bought when he was 16) and never looked back. He now bases himself in Medellin, Colombia (Hi neighbor! 👋🏼) in between adventures.

(Coincidentally, I met Ryan in Sean Ogle’s Location Rebel community—small world, right?).

How he can help:

Ryan is an expert on Colombia travel and North and South America road trips.

He also has a knack for inspiring people and lighting fires under fannies.

So if motivation is what’s keeping you back from leaving your 9-to-5 and building your dream life—Desk to Dirtbag will take care of that.

(And for even more inspiration, check out his book, Big Travel, Small Budget)

#13 – Hobo with a Laptop – Mike & Oshin

Who they are:

In case you haven’t noticed, this list is full of power couples. Mike and Oshin are no exception.

After two years of working together virtually, they finally met in person. It was a match made in heaven, and they married one year later.

Now they explore the world together, earning money on the road with their travel laptops.

How’s that for a cute love story? 💜

How they can help:

Mike and Oshin’s blog is all about building up your digital nomad skills—the skills you need to land a remote job or start your own “laptop business”.

If you’re worried you don’t have what it takes to become a digital nomad and make money online, Mike and Oshin have you covered.

Their site is jam-packed full of valuable info for transitioning into life on the road as a digital nomad.

#14 – The Professional Hobo – Nora Dunn

Who she is:

Back in the day, Nora ran her own financial planning practice in Toronto. She was kind of a big deal (newspaper interviews, TV appearances, speaking gigs, etc).

She had success. But what she didn’t have was time. And time was what she needed to pursue her travel dreams.

So, at 30 years old, she took the plunge. She sold her company and hit the road. With limited savings, the clock was ticking. She had to build a location independent business before her money ran out.

And she did. She now enjoys the freedom to live and travel wherever she wants, whenever she wants.

How she can help:

When planning your escape, it’s easy to get so caught up in researching dreamy destinations that you forget about your finances.

Luckily, financial planning for travelers is Nora’s specialty.

She covers all topics related to travel and money—saving for trips, finding travel deals, budget planning, digital nomad taxes, travel insurance, etc.

She also has an inspiring Financial Case Study Series where she dives deep into the lives of full-time travelers who have found a way to make a living on the road.

(Check out my “Escape the Rat Race” Interview I did with her for an inside look into her life.)

#15 – Digital Nomad Soul – Denise Mai

Who she is:

Denise is yet another ex-corporate worker who got fed up with uninspiring work, long commutes, and boring routines.

Realizing she was wasting her life doing things she didn’t care about, she made a choice. She chose to start spending her time on earth doing what she loved most—traveling.

So she quit her job, bought a plane ticket, found some freelance work, and started her adventure…and she doesn’t regret it for a second.

How she can help:

Reading travel blogs run by uber famous bloggers who “have it made” is great and all. But when you’re just starting out, sometimes it’s even more helpful to follow someone who is actually in the trenches, grinding it out, overcoming struggles.

After all, the strategies these “celebrity travelers” used to build their remote business 5-10 years ago might not be relevant to someone starting from scratch today.

That’s why I like Denise. She’s neck-deep in building her own digital nomad business, carving out a name for herself. She shares realistic information on digital nomad life (no hyped up get-rich-quick stuff) and covers ALL aspects of what it takes to thrive as a digital nomad.

#16 – One Bag Nomad – Kristen & Gaby

Who they are:

Kristen and Gaby were two “regular” people with regular jobs. Kristen, a personal trainer. Gaby, a video editor.

They liked their jobs. What they didn’t like was that they never had time for a vacation. So they came up with the perfect solution.

They figured out how to “virtualize” their professions, and then set off on that vacation they always wanted.

But this time, with no return date.

How they can help:

This is another one of the best digital nomad blogs with new and fresh insights.

One thing you’ll notice right away when reading One Bag Nomad is Kristen and Gaby are personable. It feels like you have a friend holding your hand, helping you through the common struggles all aspiring digital nomads face.

They have a knack for weaving together entertaining travel stories with practical advice to escape the rat race and succeed as a digital nomad.

#17 – Location Indie – Jason & Travis

Who they are:

Jason Moore graduated from college with dreams of travel. The problem was, he had no money, no job, and $20,000 of debt. His solution?

Landing a job as an event tour manager that allowed him to travel for ten years nonstop. Fast forward to today, and he’s the podcaster behind Zero to Travel.

Travis Sherry, Jason’s partner in crime, is the blogger behind Extra Pack of Peanuts—where he teaches how to travel hack your way around the world for ridiculously cheap prices.

Jason and Trav joined forces to create the ultimate resource for building a location independent life—Location Indie.

How they can help:

Location Indie is a bit different from the rest of this list. It’s more than just a blog, it’s a community.

Deciding to leave your secure job behind to pursue a life of uncertainty and adventure can be a terrifying—especially if you’re doing it alone.

Yes, all the travel blogs on this list can help ease your worries. But sometimes that’s not enough. (Especially if everyone in your life thinks your dreams are crazy).

If you don’t want to do this alone, there’s nothing better than joining a community of like-minded adventurers who “get” you, understand your struggles, and want to see you succeed.

#18 Nomadic Matt – Matt Kepnes

Who he is:

This list wouldn’t be complete without the king of travel bloggers, Matt Kepnes.

Ironically, Matt didn’t grow up dreaming of travel. In fact, his first overseas trip to Costa Rica wasn’t until age 23. But during that trip, he got bit by the travel bug (must’ve forgot his repellent). And he was hooked.

A year later, he took a trip to Thailand (surprise, surprise) that changed his life forever. He met a group of backpackers who were traveling full-time. Matt couldn’t believe it. It was unheard of. He never imagined such a life was even possible.

And he wanted in.

So he tied up loose ends back home and set off on his adventure…

…Little did he know this little adventure would lead him to creating the biggest travel blog on earth.

How he can help:

Matt is the guy who inspired me to leave my doctoral program behind and start my life of travel back in 2015.

I vividly remember stumbling on Matt’s site one night. I grabbed a 12-pack of beer, settled in, and staying up all night reading the “Get Inspired” section of his blog.

It made me rethink everything.

That same night I ordered his book, How to Travel the World on $50 A Day. When it arrived, I devoured it in one sitting, got up, walked straight to my computer, and booked a one-way flight to Cancun, Mexico.

Nomadic Matt helped me escape the rat race, and he can help you too.

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Okey-dokey, there you have it!

18 of the best travel blogs to help you break free from those wretched rat race chains.

Now, here’s your homework assignment.

1.) Identify the biggest obstacle between you and your travel dream.

2.) Choose the best travel blog on this list that focuses on that specific area.

3.) Read their posts, subscribe to their email lists, and smash that obstacle to bits.

Life is short. Don’t waste it. Get going!

P.S. If you’re REALLY serious about learning ways to make money while traveling, download my FREE Travel Jobs Ultimate Resource below ↓↓↓

***How’d you like this best travel blogs roundup? These posts take me an embarrassingly long time to write (thanks, ADD). So it’d be SUPER if you clicked the buttons below to share on social media. Gracias! 🤗***

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⚠️HOLD UP! Before you peace out to explore the world—have you thought about travel insurance? If not, let me tell you a little story…⚠️

Images Sources:
Feature photo by Mantas Hesthaven