Notes From the Home Front: Plugging into the Travel Community with Twitter
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by Steph in Resources, Trip Planning
In my real life, almost nobody I know would even remotely considering the idea of dropping everything in their life to take off and see the planet. I’m a novelty. I’m different, and maybe kind of cool, but definitely a little crazy. While that makes for great cocktail party chatter, it can also be pretty lonely.
It is hard to be outside of the norm, particularly at my age. Everyone seems to be starting careers, starting serious relationships, saving and investing. While my coworkers are planning weddings, I’m planning what kind of backpack to buy. And while I wouldn’t trade with them for a minute, staying motivated and staying focused are a major challenge when you have nobody to answer to but yourself.
Which is why I’m so grateful for the online travel community I’ve found. On the internet, I’m one of many wanderlust-inflicted souls. I’ve mentioned before that the discovering the internet travel community has been one of the greatest rewards of blogging. On a more practical front, I’ve found so many resources and so much encouragement in my trip planning.
Creative Commons License photo credit: M i x y
My contacts are not just other bloggers, but travelers from every imaginable background.. Whether they are currently traveling, have already returned from their trips or are planning, like me, to take on the world, they are full of stories, advice and information. We support each other through blog comments, through twitter and through meet-ups around the world.
Blogger or not, if you are planning to do some serious travel in the future I strongly suggest you plug into the resources available online. One of the easiest ways to do this is through Twitter. Now, nobody was more skeptical of Twitter at first than me, but it is absolutely ideal for meeting other travelers. Here are a couple ideas to get you started:
-Use hash tags to find like-minded friends. Chatting with several travelers planning their own RTW trips in the next year, the idea for a hash tag was born (for those of you not in the know, a hash tag is a way of organizing comments in Twitter). #RTWSoon is a spot for travelers planning to go Round the World, preferable soon!
-Get involved. There is always something going on in the Twitter-verse. There is an endless supply of contests to enter, conversations going on and events being planned. My new favorite Twitter event is called Traveler’s Night In. On Thursdays at 3:30 pm EST the Zip Set Go Girls manage a discussion on travel related topics. Hosts tweet a series of discussion questions any anyone can weigh in. Guess who was one of their very first hosts? You can follow along with the hash tag #TNI.
-Don’t be afraid to take it offline. I have used Twitter to connect with scores of travelers in person. We are a social lot and love to meet up for a casual beer and talk shop. One of the advantages of the travel community is that we are always on the move, making serendipitous run-ins quite likely. Thanks to Twitter I now have connections all over the world to meet up with.
You can start by checking to see if there are any travel tweet-ups in your area (we have a monthly DC meet up). If not, think about creating one. You want to be safe of course, but people from the internet are not as scary as you might think.
Goofy? yes. Scary? no.
I get teased (and crack some jokes myself) about meeting up with my internet friends. It does sound nerdy, but in the information age it’s just the easiest way to connect with like-minded people. And as independent as you or I might like to think we are- we all need some community sometimes.
Interested in trying Twitter but don’t know where to start? Check out this Twitter for Beginners Guide by Darren Rowse.
25 Responses to “Notes From the Home Front: Plugging into the Travel Community with Twitter”
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Ren
16. Mar, 2010
My Bangkok trip would have been so different if I hadn’t met the BKK Tweeps (@migrationology, @richardescobar, @travelhappy, @underexpose). Twitter has definitely helped form a travel community, I think.
.-= Ren´s last blog ..TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Protest Rally at Malioboro Street in Jogjakarta =-.
Steph
16. Mar, 2010
I’m really looking forward to meeting other twitter travels around the world once I get moving.
Joel
16. Mar, 2010
Aside from just getting great advice and reading some great stories, knowing there is a community of people out there also planning to do the things that I’ve been dreaming about has been tremendously motivating.
It’s NOT such a scary, seemingly impossible thing to do when you can connect with others already doing it.
Now if only I can find enough #rtwsoon LA residents for a tweet-up!
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Confessions of a Cultural Idiot Part 2: Learn =-.
Steph
16. Mar, 2010
We are lucky to have so many travelers here in DC. It’s very inspiring.
ayngelina
16. Mar, 2010
I think anyone even contemplating travel should hang out on twitter for a while with the #rtwsoon group. It takes you from “this is a crazy idea” to “so many people are doing it, why can’t I”
I’m a bit sad that in two weeks I’ll be leaving #rtwsoon for #rtwnow.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..My Trio of Travel Secrets =-.
Steph
16. Mar, 2010
haha, but there are quite a few #RTWnow-ers as well.
Keith
16. Mar, 2010
Tapping into the internet travel community via blogs, twitter, and facebook has been such a worthwhile and meaningful adventure for me. I’ve met so many people and we almost instantly become friends because we share the same interests. Being a part of this community definitely provides some strong structural support to your ventures.
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Trackpacking: Explosions in the Sky =-.
Gray
16. Mar, 2010
Nicely put, Steph. I love Twitter as well as the Internet in general for finding kindred spirits. Too often, they are nowhere around in one’s “real” life.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..5 Reasons to Take an Organized Tour =-.
Christine
16. Mar, 2010
The first time I met a Twitter/blogger friend in person, my friends thought I was crazy. But we chatted in person just like old friends- not surprising, considering we knew so much about each other’s lives through constant tweeting and commenting.
Twitter is a great tool for travelers to motivate each other, ask questions and provide support. It’s also fun just to hear about other people’s past adventures and future travel plans- and check out the awesome pictures!
While I’m not part of the #rtwsoon or #rtwnow crew, I’ve still found a great travel community through Twitter and have made a ton of important connections. Now if only we could put together a West Coast travel tweetup in SF…
Steph
16. Mar, 2010
I love meeting Twitter people in person, it IS like seeing old friends.
Lauren
16. Mar, 2010
Um, I love this post! It is so true, especially given our Tweets about the single life post you wrote a few weeks ago. You find support and ideas through like-minded people. And meeting up with some of those people is awesome as I found out this weekend!
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..I Know This Much is True =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
Yeah, it’s really great to connect with people on the same wavelength.
and I’m SO jealous of your meetup with Chris. So jealous.
Ivan
16. Mar, 2010
Sure, Twitter is great for meeting fellow travellers, but one site that I find more useful is couchsurfing.org a well established global community of travellers.
.-= Ivan´s last blog ..Finding Luxury in Luxor – Christmas in Egypt =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
I think couchsurfing is really great for meeting people while you are abroad, but Twitter is really great for making connections from home. Both great resources.
Adam
16. Mar, 2010
I was skeptical about Twitter at first, too, but since then I’ve actually been able to convince a couple friends to join. As far as travel planning, I wholeheartedly believe it’s been instrumental in my new online life.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet people through Twitter (including you!) and look forward to meeting more as I go around the world. And I look forward to running into you somewhere else besides D.C. as well!
I’ve said it before, but I do really love Twitter! Where would I be without it? Meh.
.-= Adam´s last blog ..Polaroid Post: Texas State Capitol =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
Haha, a ringing endorsement! It’s definitely radically changed my outlook and plans as well.
Laura
17. Mar, 2010
This is so timely for me – I just joined Twitter a couple months ago (and found this post from there
). One of the reasons I started a blog was just like you said – none of my friends in real life think about things like extended travel or quitting jobs or lifestyle design. I read so many inspiring blogs that I decided I wanted to be a part of that community by blogging myself and getting to know the people behind the blogs I read. Twitter has really helped me do that and also find so many other great people and websites.
I haven’t had any luck finding any travel bloggers in Pittsburgh so far though – kinda jealous of all you DC folks!
.-= Laura´s last blog ..What to do in Pittsburgh =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
Hmm I don’t think I know any Pittsburgh bloggers… We are pretty lucky to have so many in DC.
Glad Twitter is working so well for you!
Joya
17. Mar, 2010
I agree with everyone that the travel community has made me feel like I am not the only one who loves to travel and that I’m not crazy but it is especially comforting to be in the community when I can’t travel and miss it so much.
.-= Joya´s last blog ..Where Did All the Dublin-ers Go? =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
Yeah it’s really great for keeping up motivation and getting new inspiration.
Candice
17. Mar, 2010
Lol, I was a total Twitter skeptic too. Now I’m hooked. Amazing way to make friendships and boost blog traffic, I think. And I am SO with you on nobody understanding this desire to travel and not “settle down” right now. It’s a pain in the ass.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..A Post For My American Friends: Newfoundland is a Lot Closer Than You Think =-.
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
Yeah, I’m glad I found people with the same mindset as me. Was feeling pretty strange for awhile there…
floreta
17. Mar, 2010
I’m just now getting a feel for the travel community on twitter. I’m sort of a n00b [to RTW, not to twitter!] so I got really excited when I was mentioned five times to #TT today. lol
.-= floreta´s last blog ..The Interview, and How I Will Shave My Head and Practice Depravity Whilst Writing Erotica at a Holy Place =-.
Katy - Community Manager
17. Mar, 2010
Love this article, thanks for sharing. Personally, I like to use #traveltuesday to share travel information and to find newbies and oldies within the travel industry!
Steph
17. Mar, 2010
#traveltuesday is a great one I forgot to mention!