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Twitter: a traveller’s treasure trove

2009 May 4
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by velvet

Twitter is currently all the rage and is rapidly becoming a global phenomenon. It’s not so hard to see why. Apart from the high-profile celebrities who use Twitter to engage their fan base, this social networking service offers its users a unique opportunity to quickly share news, ideas, tips and knowledge in short 140-character messages. Tens of millions of people around the world are on Twitter every day, sending tweets from their computers at home or in the office, or from their mobile phones or Blackberries while on the road. This continuous sharing of information is Twitter’s biggest trump.

happybirds4mediumFor travellers, Twitter really is a treasure trove of information. I’ve been using Twitter for several months now and I’ve connected with a great community of travel experts, foodies, wine lovers, travel bloggers, hoteliers, tourism offices and airlines who are constantly sharing information. For instance, as I write this, I know that it’s 28 degrees Celsius and sunny in Pisa, Italy while it’s freezing in Queenstown, New Zealand. In addition, a list of ways to avoid getting sick while travelling, a photo of today’s sunset in Kenya, a list of the 35 best guidebooks on Africa and the latest travel deals have just appeared on my Twitter feed! Indeed, Twitter is an amazing travel resource.

For travellers who are new to or have yet to join Twitter, I’ve composed lists of travel Tweeps in various categories who are absolutely worth following. You’re invited to start by following me, then continue with the lists below. :-)

Amazing journeys

  • @EverywhereTrip – Gary has been travelling around the world for ages now and tweets every day about it.
  • @soultravelers3 – a family of three on the road around the world
  • @Amazonwalkers – Ed is attempting to be the first man to walk the entire length of the Amazon river and tweet about it!
  • @RowingAdventure – Chris and Joe are rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for charities.

Travel experts, travel columnists, travel writers (for tips, ideas, travel deals and advice)

Accommodation

Airlines

Local sources

And last but not least: my blogger pals

There are so many more fellow Tweeps that I can recommend so these lists are by no means exhaustive. Travel Tweeps burst into hyper-activity every Tuesday as it’s a designated #traveltuesday (see TravelTuesday). This is a great opportunity to find new travel buffs on Twitter. Get onto Twitter today and watch a whole new world unfold before you!

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62 Responses leave one →
  1. Niel permalink
    August 12, 2009

    Great list, just RT’ed to my peeps. We offer sustainable tours and accommodation in South Africa. Im on twitter: @greenhearttours

  2. Sara permalink
    August 12, 2009

    I too, am slow on the uptake and saw this on twitter today but it’s still an awesome list! I really will go through this and check that I am following these great people. Thank you for taking the time to do this and for including the Best of Zambia in it!

    Sara

  3. Motorino Man permalink
    August 11, 2009

    Keith, great list and thanks for including Motorino’s ItalyTravel. Lots of great tweeters here.

    Cheers!
    Motorino

  4. Dan permalink
    August 11, 2009

    Wow, what a list and thanks so much for the mention.

  5. JoAnna permalink
    August 10, 2009

    Hey Keith ~

    I just came across this post ~ thanks for the shout out and a whole host of other tweeps I need to start following!

    Cheers,
    JoAnna

  6. Lanora @WritingTravel permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Thanks for this roundup of great travel tweeps to add to my must-read list! Cheers!

  7. jessiev permalink
    July 28, 2009

    love it! what a great list – i’ll need to double check to make sure i’m not missing anything. thank you!!

    we’re at @WanderingEds and @jessiev for our site, http://www.WanderingEducators.com

  8. century house, nantucket permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Very well, great list. Don’t forget the bed and breakfasts :) We tweet as well!

    Greetings from Nantucket, Otilia
    Century House, @chnantucket

  9. Daniel permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Hey Keith — so happy to see our twitter feed made your list! And agree wholeheartedly with Rajul’s perspective—content is paramount! And solid blogs like Velvet Escape put content front and centre. Your hard work is appreciated!

  10. @gotpassort aye & jack permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Keith,
    What a great list of resources & friends! We enjoy the conversations on Twitter the most. Thx also for mentioning us. See u on Twitter!
    @gotpassort family trio

  11. Nora permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Wow – What a great list! Now I have a whole bunch of awesome new travel Tweeps to follow! (I’m @hobonora). Cheers!

  12. Dian permalink
    July 28, 2009

    Thank you Keith for adding me to your list of travel tweets, I’m honoured. This is a great resource for travel information on the internet, I have also noticed some that I need to add to my follow list!

  13. Anne permalink
    July 28, 2009

    What a fabulous list, thanks so much now have many more to follow and hopefully people will find my travel blog of interest as well

  14. My Melange permalink
    July 9, 2009

    Hi Keith!

    Just saw this today. Thanks for including me :) I followed lots of new travel peeps that I didn’t know about. Great List and good work!

  15. Jess permalink
    July 8, 2009

    Three more resorts to add to the accommodations category: @SecretsResorts, @ZoetryResorts, @DreamsResorts. Awesome post!

  16. John Traveler permalink
    July 8, 2009

    I think I am worth following. Sad that you didn’t include me. @travelandtweets

  17. Amy @ The Q Family permalink
    June 19, 2009

    Great list and I didn’t see it till Friday. :) I’m really slow.

  18. Travelogged permalink
    June 18, 2009

    Great list! Thanks so much for including me!!! I think I am already following most of these tweeps but I am planning to add any any that I’m not…

  19. Dave and Deb permalink
    June 18, 2009

    Just saw this on #travel tuesday. I feel so honored that you included us in your blogger pals! See you on Twitter. Deb and Dave

  20. Vera Marie Badertscher permalink
    June 12, 2009

    I’m slow on the uptake. Didn’t see this until a Twitterer mentioned it today. Good work, Keith! Thanks for the list. I’m bookmarking for further exploration.

  21. velvet permalink*
    June 10, 2009

    Thank you for your comments!

    Rajul, I agree with you. Companies are slowly starting to “get it” and that we, as bloggers, have an important role to play. Delivering quality content and building communities today; becoming consultants tomorrow! That’s one of the many ways how I see our role evolving.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  22. Rajul permalink
    June 10, 2009

    This is an awesome list: thank you!

    I’m noticing that more and more companies are “getting it” that it’s about creating useful and inspiring travel content first, the bookings will then follow.

    I think in this respect we bloggers have a duty to set an example and hope that companies follow our lead and provide valuable info, not just sales pitches!

    Keep up the great work, have also just followed you on Twitter (@londonhoteltips).

  23. Laura Sangster permalink
    June 10, 2009

    What a great compilation! Thanks for taking the time to share with us!

  24. Sandy Salle permalink
    June 10, 2009

    Hi Keith – I’m blushing. Thank you for including me on your fabulous list. I’m honored. I thoroughly enjoy your tweets and your blog entries, you’re always posting amazing stuff. I’m also looking forward to adding lots of your recommendations to my list and seeing how I can be of service to them.

    As always, you’re the best.

    Sandy
    Hills of Africa Travel
    http://www.hillsofafrica.com

  25. Hansen permalink
    June 10, 2009

    Amazing list. I am still fairly new so it helped build a network of travel resources on Twitter. Follow me @ResorTime and hopefully someday I can make the list.
    Thanks!

  26. Johan permalink
    June 10, 2009

    Thanks Keith for including @planyoursafari

  27. JoAnna permalink
    June 10, 2009

    Thanks for the great list! I’m always interested in learning about more tweeps in the travel world hanging out on Twitter.

    I am also a traveler and freelance writer with a new travel blog that you can find at http://www.kaleidoscopicwandering.wordpress.com. You can also find me on Twitter @joanna_haugen.

    Happy travels!

  28. velvet permalink*
    June 8, 2009

    Thanks Melvin! Sorry, I thought you’d seen this list already. I keep updating it so check it out once in a while for new travel tweeps to follow.

    Best regards,
    Keith

  29. Melvin permalink
    June 8, 2009

    Hey, you haven’t told me about this list yet. :) The list is cool. Thanks also for mentioning me, but even more thanks for the great connection with you and your great tweets!

    Many greetings

    Melvin

  30. Liz permalink
    May 27, 2009

    Great list! Very useful – thanks

  31. Vanessa @EntirelyKiwi permalink
    May 21, 2009

    Hi Keith, We would love to be listed if possible??
    We help those who want information on travelling to New Zealand ! Thanks!! :)
    @EntirelyKiwi

  32. velvet permalink*
    May 21, 2009

    Thank you Nancy, Ed & Latheef for your comments. I’m glad you like the list. I’ll be adding new names continuously so do visit once in a while for some new names.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  33. Nancy D. Brown permalink
    May 21, 2009

    Hi Keith,
    Thanks for the list. The travel writing industry is a fairly tight group and twitter has made us even better connected.

    I’m a freelance travel writer based in San Francisco, CA, What a Trip newspaper columnist, blogger at http://www.Nancydbrown.com, Lodging Editor at http://www.Uptake.com and contributor to Escapes magazine.

    Follow me on Twitter @Nancydbrown

  34. Ed permalink
    May 21, 2009

    Thanks. Great list, especially the airlines.

  35. Latheef permalink
    May 21, 2009

    Good work, this list is really helpful.
    cheers!

  36. velvet permalink*
    May 14, 2009

    Thank you Paul & SoulTravelers3 for your comments! I’m glad you find the list helpful. I’ll be updating it continuously so check back once in a while. Twitter really is an amazing resource!

    Cheers,
    Keith

  37. Soultravelers3 permalink
    May 14, 2009

    Great list! I just stumbled it. Thanks for including us!

    By the way, we are 3 years into our open ended world tour as a family ( 4 continents, 29 countries, over 76, 000 miles …mostly over land) thus far, so have gathered tons of info that we share on twitter, our blog and youtube.

    We love twitter and have found it to be an amazing resource!

  38. Luxury Travel permalink
    May 14, 2009

    Wow… that’s quite a list you’ve compiled there. Well done, Keith. Pleased to see my two accounts (@luxury__travel and @ukseries) are both included. Thanks for that.

  39. velvet permalink*
    May 12, 2009

    Thanks John!

    Cheers,
    Keith

  40. John permalink
    May 12, 2009

    Hi Keith,
    I very much enjoy your Tweets and blogging. You use Twitter responsibly and interact with Tweeple in a positive way. Thank you for the list. I appear to be following a significant proportion of the Tweeple listed. I will check out some of the ones I’m not following and probably add a quite a few more to my follow list.
    John

  41. Eric from EF permalink
    May 12, 2009

    Great post, Keith. As a huge Twitter fan, it’s wonderful to see others promoting the value of Twitter to travelers.

    Plus, your list is tremendous. I recently compiled a similar list of 50 travel tweeps on Twitter on our educational travel blog, Following the Equator. We included a lot of the same fine folks. Thanks for sharing.

    We’re also on Twitter, providing tips and tidbits on educational travel. Maybe you’ll consider adding us the next time you update your list. Follow us @EFtours.

  42. velvet permalink*
    May 12, 2009

    Hi Mary Ann,
    Thanks for your comment. You’ve got some really cool France travel tips on your blog.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  43. Mary Ann Grisham permalink
    May 12, 2009

    Hi Keith, thanks for the great list. I just stated “tweeting” a few weeks ago, and am finding value, especially in the travel industry, where I’ve been working my whole life. I have a France blog http://www.enchanted-traveler.com so I hope you include me too some day. @enchantedtravel

  44. Sian permalink
    May 11, 2009

    Hi Keith,

    Maybe you would think about following me, @sianw I work for a online hotel price comparison site trivago.

    Sian

  45. velvet permalink*
    May 11, 2009

    Hi there,
    You’re welcome. I’ll be keeping this list updated so check back every now and again for new Travel Tweeps.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  46. Authentic Seacoast Resorts permalink
    May 11, 2009

    Great list of travel tweeters, Keith! Thanks for adding @AuthenticCoast as a local source for Nova Scotia, Canada. We look forward to helping your readers find their way in our beautiful part of the world.

  47. velvet permalink*
    May 9, 2009

    Thanks Lois. I’ll be updating the list from time to time so check back or bookmark it if you like.

    Cheers from Amsterdam,
    Keith

  48. Lois permalink
    May 9, 2009

    Thanks so much, Keith – v. useful list! I am now following you. I have recently started using Twitter (as @homeexchangeuk – about home exchange holidays) and it’s fascinating finding so many people involved in travel.

    Cheers from London

  49. velvet permalink*
    May 9, 2009

    Hi Donna,
    Thanks! I’ll be following you back! :-)

    Cheers,
    Keith

  50. Donna Hull permalink
    May 9, 2009

    Great list, Keith. I’m bookmarking as a resource. I twitter as @DonnaLHull (for My Itchy Travel Feet), talking about active travel for baby boomers which includes soft adventure, luxury, eco and cruise travel.

  51. Happy Hotelier permalink
    May 7, 2009

    Thank you Keith!

  52. velvet permalink*
    May 6, 2009

    Hi there,
    Thanks for your comment. I will update this list continuously as I find more interesting contacts via Twitter and will post an updated version every so often.

    Best regards,
    Keith

  53. Gaby-Bali permalink
    May 6, 2009

    Hi Keith!Thanks for the crazy (exhaustive) yet useful post and recommended me as the Bali ‘secret keeper’ :p
    It’s amazing indeed to see the world is as big as the computer screen could reveals from here, and travel passionate people are all over the TweetWorld!!
    Cheers!

  54. Tommy David - CheapHotelsGroup permalink
    May 6, 2009

    Keith, i follow you ont witter and this is a great post. I particular like the mention of #traveltuesday.

    Hope you can keep the list updated as you find more and more interesting resources.

  55. velvet permalink*
    May 5, 2009

    Thanks Janice! Never thought that this post would do as well as it has. I’m really happy with the attention it’s received.
    Great to see a lot of Twitter beginners picking up suggestions from this post.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  56. Janice permalink
    May 5, 2009

    What a smart idea and a great service for all travelers. Thanks!

  57. velvet permalink*
    May 5, 2009

    Hi Chris,
    Thanks for your comment. I’ve seen hoteliers tailor-make trips for customers via Twitter. That direct contact is very cool and effective!

    Cheers,
    Keith

  58. Chris permalink
    May 5, 2009

    Great list, I agree twitter allows the direct contact with the hotelier, try also @noziotravel

  59. velvet permalink*
    May 4, 2009

    Thank you Sharon for your comment. Brian’s a good pal of mine too and I’ve added him to the list.

    Best regards,
    Keith

  60. Sharon permalink
    May 4, 2009

    Great list here; I follow many of these myself. One of my other faves is @coqui2008 who is based in Puerto Rico and runs two travel related blogs.

  61. Brian permalink
    May 4, 2009

    Thanks for taking the time to compile this list – a very useful twitter travel resource.

    @coqui2008 (for Puerto Rico tips) :o )

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