Up-to-date and on the spot, travel blogs are a great source of information for tourists brave enough to take on the exchange rate and those who prefer the less-expensive option of exploring the world from the comfort of their armchairs.
The Times chose eight of the best travel blogs in the country and will run a weekly series of interviews with each blogger.
EAGER JOURNEYS, by Iga Motylska
My surname means butterfly in Polish, so that's the reason I love exploring new places.
I write about travel with some business and tech stories.
Have you always been a big traveller?
My parents instilled in me a fervour to travel. I prefer to forgo Nine West shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and manicures to buy airplane tickets and camera gear.
How did you get into blogging?
I started my first travel blog in early 2010, when I moved to South Korea to teach English and travel around Asia.
Your most memorable trip?
In early 2014 I went to Peru and Bolivia for six weeks with a friend. We summited Salkantay on my 27th birthday and watched the sun rise over the valley at Machu Picchu the following day.
What makes a trip great?
The best trips are those where I get to experience what life is like for the locals - to be invited into someone's home for dinner, eat at the local markets . I enjoy exploring destinations that have yet to be discovered .
Favourite travel blog?
Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere Travel Blog has my dream job. His blog is predominantly photographic. He was named travel photographer of the year and has won a number of awards. Following him on Instagram can give you a serious case of wanderlust.
Do you use blogs to plan trips?
Absolutely! I follow a number of blogs for personal accounts. I still do my traditional research, but blogs will often tell it how it is in a way that guidebooks don't. On a recent trip to Tanzania I did all my research about what to do in Dar es Salaam via travel blogs.
