How to Start a Travel Blog Like Mine (No Tech Skills Needed!)

Ever scrolled through a travel blog and thought, “I’d love to do that… but I have no idea where to start”? That was me a few years ago—just a curious traveler with a camera roll full of memories and no clue how to share them with the world.

Fast forward to now, and I run a travel blog that not only documents my journeys but also connects me with a global audience. The best part? I built it without any tech skills.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how I did it—using Squarespace—and how you can do the same.

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My Blogging Journey: From Passport Stamps to Published Posts

Like many, I started my travel adventures by posting snapshots on Instagram. But I soon felt the limitations—no long-form storytelling, no control over layout, no home for my growing collection of travel tips and itineraries.

I wanted a real website. A place to call my own.

But I was overwhelmed by the idea of domains, hosting, design, and code. That’s when I discovered Squarespace.

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Why I Chose Squarespace (and You Should Too)

After trying a few platforms that required too many plugins, tech jargon, or tutorials, I found that Squarespace was:

• Beginner-friendly: No coding or web design experience needed
• All-in-one: Hosting, domains, SEO, analytics—all in one dashboard
• Beautiful templates: Especially for creative storytelling and photography
• Supportive: 24/7 customer support, helpful guides, and community forums

Within a few hours, I had my blog live—with my own logo, color palette, and travel photos. I didn’t need to hire a designer or developer. Squarespace made it possible for me to be creative and in control.

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How to Start Your Travel Blog in 5 Simple Steps

Step 1: Sign Up on Squarespace

It’s free to start, and you can try out everything before committing. They offer a 14-day free trial—plenty of time to set up your site and test the waters.

Once you’re ready, plans start at a very reasonable monthly rate, which includes everything: domain, hosting, templates, and analytics.

💡 Tip: Choose a blog name that’s short, catchy, and reflects your travel style or niche.

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Step 2: Choose a Travel Template That Inspires You

This is where it gets fun. Squarespace offers dozens of beautifully designed templates. For travel bloggers, here are a few favorites:

• Paloma – Minimalist and visual-focused
• Hayden – Great for photo-heavy blogs
• Wells – Classy and clean for storytelling
• Rally – Sleek layout for digital nomads and vloggers

Browse the full collection of travel-friendly templates on the Squarespace Template Gallery.

💡 Tip: Don’t stress too much over the template—everything is customizable later!

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Step 3: Customize Without Coding

Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor makes it ridiculously easy to make your site your own:

• Upload your logo or use their built-in logo maker
• Set your color scheme and fonts
• Add travel photos and videos
• Write blog posts and organize them by categories (like Destinations, Tips, Packing Guides)

There’s no need to install third-party tools or worry about updates—everything works out of the box.

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Step 4: Create Your Core Pages

Start with the basics:

• Home – A clean intro to who you are and what your blog offers
• About Me – Share your story, mission, and travel background
• Blog – Your travel journal, organized by country or trip
• Contact – A simple way for readers or brands to reach you
• Instagram Feed – Show off your latest adventures in real-time

You can also add a newsletter sign-up form (built into Squarespace) to grow your audience.

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Step 5: Go Live and Share Your Voice

Once you’ve added your first few posts and customized the site, it’s time to publish! All it takes is one click, and your travel blog is live to the world.

Start sharing your posts on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. You’ll be surprised how fast people start reading, commenting, and connecting with your stories.

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Bonus Tips for New Travel Bloggers

Here are a few things I wish I knew when I started:

• Be consistent: Even one post a week helps build momentum
• Use SEO tools: Squarespace has built-in SEO settings—make the most of them!
• Start small: You don’t need dozens of pages—just start with 3–4 solid posts
• Don’t aim for perfect: Your blog will evolve. Done is better than perfect.
• Keep backups: Always save a copy of your posts elsewhere—just in case

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Monetizing Your Travel Blog

Once you’re set up, there are plenty of ways to earn from your blog:

• Affiliate links (like for hotels or travel gear)
• Sponsored posts
• Selling presets, guides, or eBooks
• Collaborations with travel brands or tourism boards

Squarespace supports e-commerce too—perfect for selling your own products or services right from your blog.


My Gear, Apps & Squarespace Tools That Helped Me Succeed

When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to overthink the “tech stack.” Here’s a breakdown of what I use to run my travel blog—no complicated tools or expensive equipment required.

🖥️ Website Platform

• Squarespace – The all-in-one platform I use for my website, blog, email marketing, and even my domain. No plugins, no stress.

📷 Photography Gear

• Camera: Canon EOS M50 – great for photos & vlogging
• Phone: iPhone 13 Pro – half my blog images are from this
• Editing: Lightroom mobile (free) + Squarespace image blocks

📱 Apps I Use Daily

• Google Docs: To draft blog posts on the go
• Canva: For social media graphics and Pinterest pins
• Instagram + Pinterest: To drive blog traffic
• Notion: To plan blog ideas, trips, and post calendars

You don’t need to be a tech wizard. Just focus on good content and let Squarespace handle the backend.

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📈 How I Grew My Travel Blog Audience

Once your blog is live, the next step is growing an audience. Don’t expect thousands of visitors overnight—but with consistency and the right tools, you will build momentum.

Here’s what worked for me:

1. SEO Optimization on Squarespace

I made sure every post had:

• A descriptive title with keywords (e.g., “Things to Do in Lisbon in 3 Days”)
• A clear meta description (Squarespace lets you edit this easily!)
• Images with alt-text
• Fast-loading pages on mobile

💡 Tip: Squarespace automatically generates mobile-friendly versions of your pages, which helps you rank higher on Google.

2. Pinterest Marketing

• I created pins for every post using Canva.
• I embedded Pinterest share buttons on my blog via Squarespace’s social integrations.
• Pinterest became my #1 traffic source after just a few months.

3. Email List Building

Even with a small audience, I began building an email list using Squarespace Email Campaigns. I offered a free travel packing checklist in exchange for signups.

Now, every time I publish a post, I send it to my subscribers. It’s a powerful way to build loyalty.

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✍️ What to Write About on Your Travel Blog (Content Ideas for Beginners)

Writer’s block is real—especially when you’re just starting. Here are 25 blog post ideas you can steal to get going:

Destination Guides:

• “3 Days in Tokyo: A Local-Style Itinerary”
• “My First Time in Amsterdam: What Surprised Me Most”
• “Hidden Gems in Barcelona You Won’t Find in Guidebooks”

Travel Tips:

• “How I Book Cheap Flights Every Time”
• “What I Packed for 2 Months in Southeast Asia”
• “Solo Travel Safety Tips from 10+ Countries”

Photo Stories:

• “24 Hours in Paris in 24 Photos”
• “Colorful Streets of Cartagena: A Visual Diary”

Personal Stories:

• “Why I Quit My Job to Travel Full-Time”
• “Getting Sick Abroad: What It Taught Me”
• “How Travel Helped Me Overcome Burnout”

Squarespace makes it easy to organize these into categories—so your readers can browse by destination, tip, or travel style.

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🛍️ How to Monetize Your Travel Blog (Even as a Beginner)

Blogging can start as a passion—and grow into a side income or even a full-time job. Here are the top ways to make money from your Squarespace travel blog:

1. Affiliate Marketing

You recommend products or services and earn a commission when people buy through your links. Examples:

• Booking.com (hotels)
• Amazon (travel gear)
• GetYourGuide (tours)
• SafetyWing (travel insurance)

💡 Squarespace lets you easily add buttons, text links, and product blocks for affiliates—no coding needed.

2. Sponsored Posts

Brands pay you to write a blog featuring their hotel, service, or product. Once you have a solid-looking blog and growing audience, you can pitch directly.

3. Sell Digital Products

Ideas:

• Travel itineraries
• Printable packing lists
• Lightroom photo presets
• City guide PDFs

You can use Squarespace’s built-in eCommerce store to sell these directly—no third-party platform needed.

4. Offer Services

Love writing or photography? Offer freelance blog writing, travel planning services, or photo sessions in destinations you visit.

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💬 FAQ: You Asked, I Answered

Q: Do I need to know how to code?

A: Nope. Not even a little. That’s the beauty of Squarespace—drag, drop, write, and publish.

Q: What’s the cost to start?

A: Squarespace offers several pricing plans starting from around $16/month, which includes your hosting, templates, SEO, support, and domain.

Q: Can I migrate from another platform to Squarespace?

A: Yes! Squarespace provides import tools and live support to help you migrate your content if you started on WordPress, Blogger, or Wix.

Q: Can I use Squarespace on mobile?

A: Yes—Squarespace has mobile editing tools and an app so you can blog on the go.

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🧭 My Favorite Travel Templates on Squarespace (and Why)

Looking for templates that look like a travel blog out of the box? Here are my top picks:

• Paloma: Great for storytelling and stunning image displays
• Skye: Perfect for minimalist digital nomads
• Rally: Super visual, clean, modern feel
• Wells: Stylish and classy for destination blogging
• Moksha: Zen-inspired, great for nature or spiritual travel niches

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✈️ Ready to Start Your Blog? Here’s What to Do:

🚀 Hit publish—and welcome to the world of travel blogging!

👉 Go to Squarespace

✍️ Start your free trial

🎨 Choose a travel-friendly template

📝 Write your first blog post

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Final Thoughts: You Can Start Today

You don’t need a tech background, a fancy camera, or a big social following to start your travel blog. You just need your stories, your passion, and a tool that makes the process easy.

Squarespace helped me go from dreaming about blogging to building a real online presence—and I believe it can do the same for you.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for your free trial, pick a stunning travel template, and start telling your travel stories to the world. Your adventure deserves its own space online.