“Travel is very subjective. What one person loves, another loathes.”
What makes a good travel Instagram account? Is it the quality of the pictures or the location of the traveler? Do you prefer feature accounts that post from many different sources or personal accounts?
Personally, I follow about 150 accounts, plus or minus a few on any given day. I chose these 150 accounts over the course of this year and I feel like I know each and every one on a personal level now. I am a very loyal follower. I will like every photo you post if your account speaks to me. That’s just how I roll. So how would I answer the above questions? How did I choose these accounts? First of all, photo quality isn’t everything. Sure, I tend to favor accounts that have higher quality photos, but very few are professional photographers. They are regular people with iPhones, just like you and me. Yes, location does matter, but again it’s not everything. Since I am planning my Gap Year in South East Asia, I follow a few accounts just because they are based in this area. In general, I don’t really like feature accounts. There are a few that I follow and love, but most of the accounts I follow are operated by a single person. I prefer personal accounts because they are just that… more personal. You feel like you are connecting with the person in the photos and getting to know them through their captions. You hear their travel stories and it inspires you to book a ticket, to take a leap. Feature accounts have their place as well because they introduce you to new accounts that you probably wouldn’t have found on your own, they just lack the personal touch a lot of the time.
Now it is time to unveil my Top 6 Favorite Travel Instagram Accounts:
Drum roll please…
Best Travel Instagram Accounts of 2015
I have been following Carey since the very beginning. I don’t know how I happened upon her account, but I instantly became obsessed with her story. She is currently teaching English in Prague and spends her free time traveling all over Europe. She is super bubbly and fun, and I love that she gets off the beaten path with her destinations. I recently started following her on Snapchat as well (same handle) and now I get to witness her Justin Bieber jam sessions which generally make my day.
Dame Traveler is one of the only feature accounts that I love and it is mostly because Nastasia, the founder, posts about her own travels often. She gives the feature account a personal touch. Not to mention they exclusively post gorgeous photos of incredible destinations and solely represent women travelers. If you are a lady wanderlover and you don’t follow Dame Traveler, you are missing out my friend. You should also check out my feature on their blog!
3.@emitoms
Emily is from my neck of the woods and is an outdoor enthusiast. I found her through @PNWonderland I believe, and I have been a dedicated fan ever since. She is engaging, adventurous and and posts amazing photos from her hikes that make my jaw drop. If you like mountains, lakes, and forests, you will not be disappointed.
Another account that I have been following since the beginning of time. I found Garrett when I was searching for Instagram accounts that focused on South East Asia. He has spent a lot of time in Thailand and I love following his adventures. He is another person who I recently followed on Snapchat (same handle). He snaps often, gives great advice on food and what to do wherever he is, and he’s pretty entertaining too.
I read an article a few months ago about Brooke and her successes with her blog World of Wanderlust and followed her on Instagram. She has been nearly everywhere and has a story to tell about it. Her blog is great and I use it often for researching destinations and for my general wanderloving pleasure.
Oh, Elise. This girl is just a badass. She climbs, she hikes, she camps, she runs. She seems like someone I could be friends with, and that is the main reason I love her account. Not to mention the outrageous locations she finds herself in. She is constantly surrounded by water, and that is a life I would sign up for in a heartbeat.
Well folks, there ya go. Those are my 6 Favorite Travel Instagram Accounts this year. Please tell me what your favorite accounts are! I am always looking for new people to follow.
Happy Travels!
B