TOP 100
Top 100 Indy Travel Websites and Blogs: Volume 40
Let’s talk about Sex…ism
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve found myself face-to-face with a disturbing trend in the online travel world: sexism towards men. On several occasions I have been denied opportunities due to my masculinity. Advertisers only willing to work with women, PR agents only looking for female travel bloggers, and the list goes on. At first I joked about being hurt and it didn’t really bother me. But as the weeks have progressed and the oppression has deepened I have to say that a good part of my heart felt excluded by a part of the online travel society. I felt like perhaps my voice was being muffled, oppressed, and in some cases just outright blocked and ignored.
The injustice has to end. Women have fought too hard for gender rights equality for men to be treated in this way.
I understand, it’s a supply demand thing. The vast majority of people who read travel blogs are women, in many ways I am a man in a female dominated world. But I will tell you, I have had enough. I’m going to wear a skirt to work and don’t you dare tell me that I’m not allowed to because society says that my gender is meant to wear pants.
Thus, I implore you, men of travel, stand with me in burning your jockstraps. Enough is enough.
The Update
Ok, now that I’ve lost all credibility due to that minor rant, let’s look at the update.
It’s been a couple months since I’ve updated the list, so the turnaround that resulted should have been expected. What you’ll notice, however, is that the top dogs seem to remain forever in control of the top of the list. It is that type of sustainability you should endure to achieve in creating any project. Most of these travel blogs and eZines have built such a strong readership that they could leave their sites for a couple weeks and not see a blimp in their traffic stats. For others, if you neglect your travel blog for a couple days your traffic disappears. That being said, when looking to build your travel site don’t jump to the quick traffic grabs, push for sustainable traffic and a steady readership.
Content
I had about 40 new travel sites to go through this week, about 30 of those sites were travel blogs. For the most part, the new travel blogs all were committing the classic errors in writing a travel blog. To create great content you need to scratch below the surface of the experience. Writing dear mom articles will only really appeal to your friends and family. If you want a greater readership you need to dig deep into the travel experience and expose the emotion involved.
Remember that content is the only thing I judge every update.
Alexa
Since it’s been over a month since the last update of the Top100 there have been a lot of changes in Alexa score. What I have noticed, is that whereas early on only a handful of sites had scores under 100,000 there are now a heap of them. In Fact, having a score under 100,000 doesn’t even guarantee a site a spot on the list, not even close. Also, remember that alexa only makes up a small percentage of the rank so just having a great, or poor, alexa score doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be on, or off, the list.
Newbies
Lots of newbies this update, but lots of sites were also cut out. There are now over 440 travel sites in the math process. Please people, if your website has an Alexa score under 1,000,000 don’t send it in until you can start driving enough traffic to get it under than marking point.
Sponsor
I am my own sponsor on this update. The first issue of travel magazine Vagabundo Magazine is up for sale. Check out my travel eZine!
The List
Ok, I think I’ve probably put the 1% of people that actually read the intro to the list asleep so I’ll just give you the list. Here it is:
- yTravel Blog Score: 92.59 Last week: 92.57 Previous Rank: 1
- UnCornered Market Score: 92.44 Last week: 91.52 Previous Rank: 3
- Everything Everywhere Score: 91.82 Last week: 91.88 Previous Rank: 2
- Nomadic Matt Score: 91.37 Last week: 91.51 Previous Rank: 4
- The Planet D: Score: 91.22 Last week: 91.2 Previous Rank: 5
- Fox Nomad Score: 90.92 Last week: 91.16 Previous Rank: 6
- Land Lopers Score: 90.46 Last week: 90.47 Previous Rank: 8
- Wild Junket Score: 90.27 Last week: 88.5 Previous Rank: 17
- Trans-Americas Journey Score: 89.59 Last Week: 89.63 PR: 10
- Bacon is Magic Score: 89.43 Last week: 89.32 Previous Rank: 11
- 2 Backpackers Score: 89.11 Last week: 90.62 Previous Rank: 7
- Johnny Vagabond Score: 89.02 Last week: 88.06 Previous Rank: 19
- Wandering Earl Score: 89 Last week: 88.74 Previous Rank: 16
- Beers and Beans Score: 88.98 Last week: 90.09 Previous Rank: 9
- Go See Write Score: 88.73 Last week: 88.76 Previous Rank: 15
- Go Nomad Score: 88.54 Last week: 88.94 Previous Rank: 12
- Velvet Escape Score: 88.45 Last week: 87.94 Previous Rank: 21
- Otts World Score: 88.41 Last week: 88.89 Previous Rank: 13
- Never Ending Voyage Score: 88.34 Last week: 88.86 Previous Rank: 14
- Go Backpacking Score: 88.28 Last Week: 88.04 Previous Rank: 20
- Hecktic Travel Score: 88.28 Last Week: 86.22 Previous Rank: 35
- 20 Something Travel Score: 88.17 Last week: 87.5 Previous Rank: 24
- Fevered Mutterings Score: 87.93 Last week: 84.6 Previous Rank: 46
- Adventurous Kate Score: 87.91 Last week:86.48 Previous Rank: 31
- Traveling Canucks Score: 87.89 Last week: 87.93 Previous Rank: 22
- Almost Fearless Score: 87.78 Last Week: 86.85 Previous Rank: 28
- Ordinary Traveler Score: 87.76 Last Week: 86.88 Previous Rank: 27
- Art of Backpacking Score: 87.44 Last Week: 88.47 Previous Rank: 18
- Wandering Educators Score: 87.34 Last week: 87.68 Previous Rank: 23
- Dangerous Business Score: 87.23 Last Week: 85.99 Previous Rank: 38
- Hole in the Donut Score: 87 Last week: 86.39 Previous Rank: 33
- Over Yonderlust Score: 86.83 Last week: 86.13 Previous Rank: 36
- The Travel Dudes Score: 86.82 Last week: 86.55 Previous Rank: 30
- Nomadic Samuel Score: 86.38 Last week: 85.04 Previous Rank: 42
- Wandering Trader Score: 86.37 Last Week: 87.46 Previous Rank: 25
- Chris Around the World Score: 86.23 Last Week: 85.5 Previous Rank: 39
- Inside the Travel Lab Score: 85.69 Last week: 85.42 Previous Rank: 40
- Pause the Moment Score: 85.51 Last week: 84.63 Previous Rank: 45
- Wanderlust & Lipstick Score: 85.22 Last week: 86.38 Previous Rank: 34
- Globetrotter Girls Score: 85.15 Last Week: 83.27 Previous Rank: 57
- Legal Nomads Score: 85.04 Last week: 84.51 Previous Rank: 47
- A Little Adrift Score: 84.9 Last week: 85.28 Previous Rank: 41
- The Aussie Nomad Score: 84.79 Last week: 87.21 Previous Rank: 26
- My Beautiful Adventures Score: 84.51 Last week: 84.86 Previous Rank: 44
- Inspiring Travellers Score: 84.45 Last Week: 83.59 Previous Rank: 55
- No Place to Be Score: 84.38 Last week: 83.9 Previous Rank: 50
- Travel with a Mate Score: 84.13 Last week: 81.02 Previous Rank: 84
- As We Travel Score: 84.11 Last Week: 86.81 Previous Rank: 29
- The Travel Chica Score: 84.08 Last Week: 80.11 Previous Rank: 80
- Travels with a Nine Year Old Score: 84.07 Last Week: 84.09 PR: 71
- Runaway Jane Score: 84.04 Last Week: 78.27 Previous Rank: 81
- TravMonkey Score: 83.98 Last Week: 76.26 Previous Rank: 76
- Runaway Juno Score: 83.95 Last week: 86.07 Previous Rank: 37
- What’s Dave Doing Score: 83.77 Last Week: 79.29 Previous Rank: 96
- Grantourismo Score: 83.68 Last week: 82.49 Previous Rank: 83
- Budget Travel Adventures Score: 83.64 Last Week: 83.43 Previous Rank: 56
- Never-Ending Footsteps Score: 83.57 Last Week: 77.22 Previous Rank: 77
- **Newbie** Our Oyster Score: 83.52 Last Week: 76.82 Previous Rank: 142
- Travelated Score: 83.38 Last Week: 82.3 Previous Rank: 66
- Off Track Planet Score: 83.32 Last week: 82.51 Previous Rank: 64
- Travels of Adam Score: 82.86 Last Week: 83.6 Previous Rank: 54
- Solo Traveler Blog Score: 82.67 Last Week: 83.77 Previous Rank: 51
- **Revival** D Travels ‘Round Score: 82.6 Last Week: 78.73 PR: 107
- Suzy Guese Score: 82.47 Last week: 82.53 Previous Rank: 75
- Wild About Travel Score: 82.42Last Week: 77.29 Previous Rank: 74
- Spunk Girl Monologues Score: 82.41 Last Week: 76.46 PR: 88
- Indie Travel Podcast Score: 82.38 Last week: 83.97 Previous Rank: 49
- Phil in the Blank Score: 82.37 Last Week: 81.76 Previous Rank: 68
- **Newbie** My Destination Score: 82.3 Last Week: — PR: –
- **Newbi2** Hejorama Score: 82.13 Last Week: 77.24 PR: 124
- Raising Miro Score: 82.11 Last Week: 79.89 Previous Rank: 100
- Don’t Ever Look Back Score: 82.1 Last Week: 79.98 Previous Rank: 79
- Maitravelsite Score: 82.07 Last Week: 81.42 Previous Rank: 70
- Go Mexico Guide Score: 82.01 Last week: 82.33 Previous Rank: 65
- Man on the Lam Score: 81.95 Last Week: 79.11 Previous Rank: 89
- Positive World Travel Score: 81.93 Last week: 84.89 Previous Rank: 43
- Ken Kaminesky Score: 81.9 Last Week: 83.23 Previous Rank: 58
- Migrationology Score: 81.86 Last Week: 83.72 Previous Rank: 52
- Longest Way Home Score: 81.82 Last week: 80 Previous Rank 92
- The Road Forks Score: 81.74 Last Week: 80.84 Previous Rank: 82
- **Newbie** Tourist 2 Townie Score: 81.52 LW: 79.24 PR: 104
- No Vacation Required Score: 81.49 Last Week: 81.93 Previous Rank: 67
- **Newbie** Just Travelous Score: 81.34 Last Week: 79.14 PR: 105
- **Newbie** Green Globe Travel Score: 81.34 LW: 78.88 PR: 112
- **Revival** Family on Bikes Score: 81.11 LW: 79.25 PR: 104
- Nomadic Chick Score: 80.84 Last week: 82.58 Previous Rank: 90
- Rocky Travel Score: 80.84 Last Week: 80.3 Previous Rank: 94
- The Dropout Diaries Score: 80.56 Last Week: 79 Previous Rank: 93
- Cumi & Ciki Score: 80.48 Last week: 82.94 Previous Rank: 62
- FOGG Odyssey Score: 80.41 Last week: 86.48 Previous Rank: 32
- Chicky Bus Score: 80.4 Last Week: 81.49 Previous Rank: 69
- The Vacation Gals Score: 80.21 Last Week: 82.69 Previous Rank: 63
- **Revival** Breakaway Backpacker Score: 79.96 LW: 79.25 PR: 103
- **Revival** Grounded Traveler Score: 79.9 Last Week: 78.83 PR: 114
- **Revival** Finding the Universe Score: 79.73 LW: 78.8 PR: 115
- Career Break Secrets Score: 79.69 Last Week: 83.02 Previous Rank: 59
- Delicious Baby Score: 79.61 Last week: 80.72 Previous Rank: 78
- Nerdy Nomad Score: 79.59 Last Week: 80.35 Previous Rank: 97
- Canvas of Light Score: 79.58 Last week: 83.68 Previous Rank: 53
- **Newbie** Travel Yourself Score: 79.49 Last week: 77.9 PR: 130
Click here for more information on how to get yourself listed.
Click here for more information on the scoring system.













wheeeeeee! this is fun
Wahoo! You have made it Brendan. I hope and I’m sure you paid scant attention to the hate mail. I think you make this really fair (and I’m not just saying that because we rank so highly) Even if I was way down the list, I would still show my utmost gratitude to you for all the hard work and time you put into doing this each week. You make it clear what the criteria is and I’m always thinking about what I can do to improve our site to rank high in each category.
I think because you evaluate content it makes this ranking very credible. Content is King. Good content brings in traffic and keeps your readers coming back.
Anyway I’m super stoked and cannot believe that we are sitting at number 4 beneath some outstanding blogs.
Thank you once again. This is fun
I’m still amazed how much time you put into this. It must suck up a good part of the day each week. Keep it up. Keep that hate mail flowing!
thanks again for all the work you put in to this. I HOPE to have to make you work some some more this week. Going to try to add some SmugMug photo galleries up. Hope to, that is. Thanks again for all you do.
Can not believe someone sent you hate mail. That really signifies that they have lost the plot and should step away from the keyboard till they get it back again.
Just wanted to add my thanks for the work you are doing here Brendan. This is a great way to keep up with what various travel blogs are doing on a weekly basis and to come in touch with new folks.
Woohoo Stoked to have made the list!
I can’t imagine the work you have to do to keep up with this! I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you for your hard work.
This is such a solid list and such a great resource for us newbie travel bloggers. I can honestly say that I’ve visited each and every site and truly enjoy them. So glad to see that Where is Jenny has joined the ranks. She’s absolutely worthy and it’s come just in time for her fantabulous RTW!
This has got to be one bear of a task and I’m delivering a big cyber curtsy to you!
Brendan, awesome job doing this! If you ever visit Malaysia, let me know and I’ll buy you rounds and rounds of beer! So allocate 2 days for this.
David
Hahah… David… I very well may take you up on that!
nice job Brendan! interesting compilation of travel blogs. ~ I enjoyed the quantitative & qualitative approach. I dig it.
Thanks for including us on your list. All of the 100 blogs on the list are incredible and unique in their own ways. It is difficult to put a number on all of them. We appreciate being a part of the amazing community. Great work and we always find a new blog to follow when we look down the list.
Thanks for including me on the list !
Thank you so much for including me on your very comprehensive list. I am definitely in good company and am honored to be listed.
good list
Hey Brendan,
Wow, excellent job compiling this list; it must take a lot of time each week!! And good to see TP being listed as a newbie
In fairness though; do we really deserve to be listed? I wouldn’t really call the main TP site a blog, though we do occasionally blog at http://blog.travellerspoint.com . Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to seem ungrateful, because it’s GREAT to be listed, but I also really don’t want to wrongfully be taking some blogger’s spot.
Anyway, thanks for introducing me to some great new blogs around the way!!
Sam
Sam… the list isn’t about blogs! It’s called “The Top100 Independent Travel Sites” No one ever called it a blog list!!
Welcome to the list!
uh oh – i’m slipping!! eek! I am still totally impressed that you pull this off every week! Now if I could just talk to someone over at Alexa.
So wait, do I actually have to work harder to claw my way back on to the list?? Dammit. Would a sponsorship package get me a higher ranking?
Wow. This is so impressive. I am really enjoying exploring your site, which I only just discovered recently, thanks to Barbara at HoleintheDonut, so this is the first time I’ve seen this list. I cannot for the life of me imagine how you do it. I know about a half of these blogs/sites I think, and have trouble trying to read them on a regular basis, so imagining doing that and then compiling a list leaves me gobsmacked! ………… and now I have to explore the ones I don’t already know too! Since my own travel must be mostly vicarious at the moment (if you ignore the fact I am an ex-pat, of course) I am so enjoying seeing the world through the eyes of others! Well done and thanks!
Hahaha… God I would love a sponsor! lol… and it might work, whatever link I put in the sponsor’s window has been getting about 25 clicks a week! That might boost your Alexa score. lol
Thanks for your comment. Yes, putting together the list is definitely work at times. But I get to read some great articles in the process! Hope you continue to enjoy the site!
Thanks for making this list – you’ve filled my rss reader to overflowing with new blogs to follow. I’m going to click right over and add my little blog to your process.
Congratulations to everyone on the list — your determination and hard work has paid off!
Thanks for the research Brendan.
Is it wrong that one of my goals is to make the list?
Just how long does it take for your alexa score to go up anyhow?
-T
Thanks so much for your hard work & for including us! Great blogs from hard working peeps!
I think we are the only family on your list that has been world traveling/blogging non-stop into our 5th year now, so that is pretty thrilling. Half the time we seem to be in locations with no or horrible internet, so between the travel & roadschooling, just getting up a post can be quite the gauntlet.
Can’t imagine adding the work of this list.
One tiny tweak? We are Soultravelers3 and looks like you forgot the 3.
Thanks so much!
TravelholicA is not there anymore. Sad!
HAAHAH, Brendan, absolutely love the shout-out. Thanks man. B well, Phil
Awesome list! Great to see someone putting the effort into compiling an old school directory list. Reminds me of the interwebs back in the 90′s.
You put all this work into this list every week, and people send you hate mail? That’s just so wrong.
If your list ever includes travel video sites, maybe take a gander at Tripfilms! Totally agree with this 100 and great work Brendan!
I include anything travel onto this site!! I’ll add you to the math for next week!!
Keep up the great work everyone…and thanks again to Brendan for compiling the list!
Thanks Brendan! It seems like most everyone is doing well!
This is a goldmine for any traveller. It’s also an ever elusive target for us to strive for!
I’m glad I stayed on the list, thanks! You’re cracking me up with your beauty pageant cat fight with Keith!
I’m off to vote – hope you’ve got your fake tan ready and that you’re manicured up to the hilt!
this week, after 4 months my site was cut from the math!
I do update my website every week, but not all updates are shown on the blog page. Anyhow I feel it’s a pity because of the valuable contribution rocky australia travel guide constantly gives to indepedent travellers. Hope to see my site back on the list sometimes in the next future!
Happy Holidays and thanks for your great work!
Hi Michela… I’m sure you’ll be back sooner rather than later… your site is a great resource! Happy holidays
Hi i am Anny. I was looking around the web for inspiration — sort of a boost to get me back into writing —
and your blog, here gave me tons of it. Stoked I stumbled into it.
Looking forward to keeping up with your posts.
Happy holidays to each and everyone of these great travel bloggers ~
Such a great source of travel info, fun & inspiration!
Thanks Brendan for pulling it all together
Great list — hope to be on it in 2011 (must get A game on!). Thanks for pulling together such a thoughtful and objective list. Definitely check out Tripfilms.com…also my friend @AndiPerullo ‘s travel blog too.
Charu
Yes!!!!!! We finally made it! Thankyou!
Mike & Luci recently posted..The Traveling Diva of 2010!
Awesome list! Thanks! We love being included with so many great travel sites.
jade recently posted..Traveler’s Night In- Australia Edition
Is my blog one of the ones for consideration? Just curious if I am still on the list to be considered. It doesn’t really matter because I am unveiling a brand new blog in the next two weeks anyways!
Jeremy B recently posted..Photos of the valley
No Jeremy, I actually tossed your blog out because of the ending of that love story… lol. Ya, the site is still in the math. Let me know when the new one flies
You guys crushed it this week…
Great list Brendan. Looks like I’ve got some reading to do
Roy recently posted..CruiseSurfing- Now Bought To You By The Letter Z
nice list man… been following most of them too
flip recently posted..Lessons from Strangers
awesome list! I love finding new travel blogs, and now i’ve got almost 100 to explore… there goes my productivity for the week.
alex recently posted..Boating Holidays UK