What To Expect for 2018

I hope everyone had a productive start to the new year and stuck with their resolutions for at least the first month. I know I have which means it’s time to get back to seeing the world! After about three months of not traveling, I am going to kick off my first trip of the year this weekend in The City of Angels. ❤ L.A. is really a second home to me, especially considering how many of my friends live there, so you can definitely expect to see multiple posts this year featuring it. That being said, it is also time to discuss the new path that I plan to take this blog down.

For people who have been reading this blog since the beginning, you know that this started as a place to just detail what I was doing while I was abroad and any adventures I have had since then. Generally, I just give a play-by-play of what I did in chronological order, much like a narrative. Last year, I tried to switch it up a bit by styling my posts like a review, categorizing different parts of my trip and then ending it with any leftover thoughts. While I enjoyed doing both styles, I have been inspired by both to start turning my posts into something similar to a guide, but from my perspective.

Ultimately, I want to brand this blog as a travel blog. I have always thought of it as a lifestyle blog, but I believe centering it in one direction will be more beneficial to my readers. This does not mean my reflective posts will stop because I actually love writing those; I believe it gives my blog a more personal touch and allows my readers to get to know me on a different level. Nonetheless, my main focus will be making this blog more accessible to the avid and aspiring travelers out there. You can expect to see more detail in terms of what I travel for, how I find my information, as well as estimates of how much I spend on my trips–to name a few. There will also be posts geared toward travel-related content when I am not traveling. Overall, it will be more helpful for people looking for a quick click to information.

I have no idea how long I will have the opportunity to travel, much less for free, so while I do have that ability, I definitely want to give people as much access as possible. I can offer multiple perspectives as a woman, as a person of color, as a non-revenue traveler, and as a 20-something.  I have said it time and time again, but travel has impacted my life in such a positive way and I want people to be aware of how attainable it can be. I also want to show that this is not something exclusive or always costly. While there are plenty of sites and apps dedicated to making affordable travel possible, I still want to play my part.

I hope that the people who have been reading since the beginning will continue with me on this journey, and I offer a huge welcome to anyone who happened to stumble upon my site. I think this is going to be an amazing ride! 🙂

xx, AE