Kristin Addis is an investment banker-turned travel blogger and, in a KarryOn exclusive, she shares her experiences since making the big change.
Kristin ia a 20-something Southern California native who has been adventuring around the globe nonstop since 2012.
As a kid she spent hours searching the weather and capital cities of far-off places around the world, just to imagine how it would feel to be there. Somewhere along the way, however, she started to doubt her passions and instead went for a stable career. Kristin worked as an investment banker for four years in Newport Beach, which burned her out and pushed her to make a change.
The Thurong La Pass in Nepal at 5416 meters in elevation.
So Kristin made the brave move and sold her belongings and armed with nothing but a carry-on bag an no company but her own, became a solo female traveller.
Since then, Kristin has hitchhiked solo across China, been invited to countless events by locals, climbed some of the tallest mountains in the world, done some of the deepest SCUBA divesin the world, and even became a Buddhist nun for 10 days.
Almost three years later, the journey continues.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I started my career as an investment banker in Orange County, California. After four years in that role I wanted a sabbatical and began traveling and writing. In time it blossomed into a brand that other travelers, particularly outdoorsy, educated women, came to relate to and rely on for making travel plans, making gear purchases, and getting destination inspiration.
2. When did you start your blog? And what made you set it up initially?
I’ve always enjoyed writing and wanted a creative outlet. I always need a project to work on, so even the sabbatical could not be entirely work-free.
3. There’s been an increasing demand for travel bloggers, are you currently working with any brands?
Yes, I work with fashion, travel gear, hotel, and travel insurance brands.
4. What are the benefits for clients to work with travel bloggers?
I’ve seen real, tangible results from some of the trips I’ve taken. Recently a visit to South Tyrol in Italy even resulted in two immediate bookings from readers who were in Italy with loose travel plans thanks to photos I’ve posted on my Instagram account (@bemytravelmuse) and places I’ve blogged about during my travels. I also found through a poll of my readers that over 70 percent are planning a trip based on things they’ve read on my blog, and 20 percent already have. That was both surprising and encouraging for me!
5. Given that traditional marketing has been replaced with a lot of content marketing, how do you capitalise on this through your blog?
I sometimes run advertorials with brands I use and can tie my name to but I think it’s important to be choosy and only partner with companies whose products really match my audience’s needs and tastes.
6. What’s your favourite travel destination you’ve been to?
South Africa.
7. What’s on your travel bucket list and why?
I’ve been wanting to return to Japan for a while, would love to see more cold destinations like Canada in the winter or the Scandinavian countries. I would love to photograph and share the northern lights and how readers can experience them.
8. You travel a lot, what are your top travel tip to survive a long-haul flight?
Try to board one around 2am so you’re really, really tired. Then promptly order a glass of wine!