At the corner of Nieuwe Binnenweg in Rotterdam stands a freezing cold awkward American travel writer; shivering in her black H&M peacoat awaiting the tram bus to Rotterdam Centraal station before sunrise. For any traveler, this is a common travel day; waking up at ungodly hours to save a few bucks on a travel fare. For the Spring season, I’m located in The Netherlands; living the local Dutch life and today I traded my Germanic sounds to fly across the pond to listen to what I am told is Proper English. Going against some of my budget travel beliefs, I made a (somewhat) last minute trip to Travel Bloggers Unite in Manchester for an adventure.

After a hectic travel day filled with flight delays, awkward rolling luggage and busy London streets, I situated myself in London. This was only be temporary as Dylan, Cailin and I will took an afternoon train up to Manchester. I have a love/hate relationship with this city that I can’t really judge too much since I have not spent enough time here. My mind was on Manchester and putting faces to the twitter avatars.

Travel Bloggers Unite is a European initiative started by Oliver who felt the need to connect travel bloggers in an area where the radius of travel bloggers to this central location is most likely exponential. It’s the reason why I am attending; I’m a hop, skip and a jump away: Why not? Manchester was never really a point of interest on my bucket list, but I’m always up for fun with travel bloggers. After all, travel bloggers seem to have a lot in common after my first Travel Conference experience at Tbex New York City.

I’m proud to say I was a satisfied attendee of #TBU (Which I adorably pronounce as tee-boo); feeling such a rejuvenated whiff of fresh air from travel bloggers who share the same love and passion for the travel blogging experience. But, what do Travel Bloggers, PR affiliates, and Tech Savvy Speakers Unite on?

The Travel Blogging Movement

Close your eyes and think back to what you did before you were a travel blogger? Perhaps you were already a writer looking for your outlet? Maybe you’re an avid traveler who decided to talk travel and decided to go pro? Everyone has their unique story of how they decided the travel blogging life was for them. But, it doesn’t necessarily have to take over your entire life. (Unless you want it to that is.)

It’s a modern day version of a travel diary, with the potential for so much more; interactions with readers, opportunities to expand your travel and possible career ventures. Though the industry is fairly young, we are all part of a travel revolution of witty characters who have something to say while we’re on the road. So listen up!

Networking and Socializing

For a former socially awkward traveler, I can’t help but jump up and down at the opportunity to meet new people. Especially, when they are fascinating induviduals who I deem #twilebrities on twitter. A travel conference shouldn’t be an overwhelming experience if this is your first. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet others with similar interests.

We’re a friendly bunch accoustomed to traveling on the road and having to break the ice in social situations. Just make sure to keep your head out of your smart phone every once in a while and go outside to catch some sun, or you might end up the unevenly tanned travel blogger. Don’t be shy to be honest about your travel blogging goals; this is your chance to network and find opportunities for yourself, or to even help others.

Having a good time with new friends

Often, I joke around with my friends that I have more friends around the globe than I do in my own city. Consider it a grand opportunity to know people in locations I might have not traveled to before. If it wasn’t for TheTravelingEditor‘s constant banter about meeting in person, I most likely would not have attended #TBU. Besides gaining so much knowledge from the various panels that I can spend paragraphs speaking about, I truly value the new friendships I’ve made. Putting the faces to the twitter names, massive social media headaches during the conference itself, capturing photographs at the event as the official photographer, and the riverting after parties we so much needed.

Some highlights include:

• Eating scotch eggs with TravelYourselff on the train up to Manchester thanks to personal chef TheTravelingEditor
• Enjoying constant #Canspam or how TravelYourself missed the fabulous Candice Walsh
• Sharing the last pizza in Manchester with the fabulous AbbyTegnelia.
• Having an over hour long discussion with LiveShareTravel, about how I have a European spirit and I want my fellow Americans to catch it.
• Making sure I always spell WordPress with the capital P thanks to JohnONolan,
• Sending back poor Mojitos with JustTravelous and still freaking out that she was there to begin with after a Twitter name change I hadn’t realized.
• One Word 48houradventures: Can of Peas.
• Enjoying the exclusive #club91 with Traveldudes, TheTravelingEditor, TravelYourself, AbbyTegnelia, IsabellesTravels, BudgetTraveller, JustTravelous, VelvetEscape, SarahLeeTravels, LiveShareTravel, 48houradventures, JohnONolan, The Aussie Nomad, Wild Junket , Jools_octavius, Campinginheels, TrailofAnts, ChloeSometimes

Travel Conferences share a familiar aura of the High School reunion, only so much better because there are no awkward photographs with braces,acne or strange haircuts.

For more information on TBU and what you possibly missed out on, check out the site for upcoming news about the next TBU conference in Innsbruck, Austria. And, check out all the pictures I took as the official TBU Photographer at the TBU Flickr page!

So fortunate to meet everyone at TBU and I look forward to seeing you guys on any future endevours, shenanigans or just on the #TBU11 feed!

Uniting with Travel Bloggers at #TBU is a post from: Art of Backpacking: Backpacking Independent International Traveler