It is a dream for many to quit their 9 to 5 job and travel the world full time. Holli McCarthy is one of those people brave enough to quit their job and travel the world. She started her blog, The Beauty of Wandering, in November 2014.
“It started with loads of posts about the whole process of quitting your job and moving to the other side of the world, in the hope that at least one person would find it useful one day,” McCarthy said. “The Beauty of Wandering started as more of a diary for friends and family to read and whilst I’ve graduated it to become a lot more professional and grown my readership, I’ve still kept that relaxed feeling, sharing my true thoughts and opinions on everything, not just pretending that travel is always pretty and filled with beaches and butterflies.”
McCarthy said the most difficult part about being a travel blogger is trying to attract more readers.
“The hardest thing is probably finding new ways to grow your audience and reach loads of people,” she said. “It does not matter how great your writing is, you still need that one good move to get your blog to just blow up.”
The hard work pays off after McCarthy sees that she has readers from all over the world.
“When I look at where in the world my views are coming from and I see Brazil, Vietnam, and India, I just cannot believe that people in all these places actually want to read what I have to say,” she said.
When asked to give her best travel advice, she said to choose a travel style that best suits you.
“Travel how you want to. If you want to go somewhere and see the most typically touristy things there, then do it. If you want to spend the whole trip off the beaten track, then do that, too,” McCarthy said. “Travel should be about seeing things you want to see. Oh and go everywhere in the world at least once!”
For the full interview with Holli McCarthy from The Beauty of Wandering, continue reading below.
Starting this year, Jusz Travel is going to feature a new travel blogger monthly! The purpose of this is to find more inspirational people who can feed our wanderlust! In addition, I believe that not all travelers are the same so this is an opportunity to learn from each other. To kick start this, we have Holli McCarthy from The Beauty of Wandering. Wooohoo!
Tell us something about yourself not many people know about you?
Hmm… I am one of those annoying people who doesn’t really have any secrets or anything interesting to answer to these questions… People probably don’t know I haven’t been to the same destination twice in the last 14 years as I try to go somewhere new every time I take a trip.
What is your blog called and what sets it apart from other travel blogs?
The Beauty of Wandering started as more of a diary for friends and family to read and whilst I’ve graduated it to become a lot more professional and grown my readership, I’ve still kept that relaxed feeling sharing my true thoughts and opinions on everything, not just pretending like travel is always pretty and filled with beaches and butterflies!
Why should people check out your travel blog?
It’s fresh and honest with lots of beautiful pictures, travel tips, and it will absolutely make you want to travel the world.
How long have you been blogging?
My blog was born November 2014. It started with loads of posts about the whole process of quitting your job and moving to the other side of the world, in the hope that at least one person would find it useful one day!
Why did you decide you want to be a travel blogger?
I didn’t really decide it just kind of happened. My main passion in life is traveling and I love to write, so thought I’d just combine the two. Plus it was a great way to share my stories, which I think are pretty awesome, with the world!
What is the hardest part about being a travel blogger?
Hardest thing is probably finding new ways to grow your audience and reach loads of people. It doesn’t matter how great your writing is you still need that one good move to get your blog to just blow up.
And what is the best part about being a travel blogger?
Getting to share photos and stories with everyone, when I look at where in the world my views are coming from and I see Brazil, Vietnam, India, I just can’t believe that people in all these places actually want to read what I have to say!
What are the top three things you always bring with you on your travels?
Music: because no great trip is complete without an epic soundtrack.
Camera: Whether it’s my SLR or just my iPhone, any sort of device that will help me capture incredible memories.
My boyfriend: Because we are traveling the world together so I can’t really leave him behind ha!
What is the craziest thing you’ve done while traveling?
Probably just before traveling, which was quitting my well paid job for life and moving to the other side of the world to be a waitress!
Do you have another travel blogger you get inspiration from? Who is it and what is the name of their blog? How does this person inspire you?
All of the greats, really. I just admire their ability to connect with so many people and that they get to travel the whole world mainly in exchange for work. That is just an absolute dream to me! World of Wanderlust, Girl vs Globe, and Heart my Backpack are some of my favourites. I also love reading smaller bloggers like me who haven’t got that audience yet but have a kickass blog still!
Share to us your best travel advice?
Travel how you want to. If you want to go somewhere and see the most typically touristy things there, then do it. If you want to spend the whole trip off the beaten track, then do that too. Travel should be about seeing the things you want to see. Oh and go everywhere in the world at least once!
Where was your last travel destination? Tell us all about it!
I’m currently living and working in Australia so that’s a travel destination in itself! But the last trip I went on was a five-week trip through the Northern Territory and down the East Coast. We spent two weeks in NT and had an amazing time, spent mainly in hot springs, national parks and hanging out with crocodiles. Our three weeks down the East Coast were incredible as well; my Dad and his girlfriend came out to visit us so we took a road trip from Daintree Rainforest down to Brisbane, stopping at just about every place in between! The Whitsundays, Fraser Island, 1770 and Port Douglas were some of my favourite places; we also learnt to surf on that trip which was on my bucket list!
Where are you going next? What are you most looking forward to on this trip?
I’m currently working in the Outback, which is another experience in itself, but our next trip will be leaving Australia and heading to New Zealand for four weeks, followed by a few months in Asia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines, looking forward too it already!
You can find Holli McCarthy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
All photos (except for the first one) in this post are provided by McCarthy.
