It's been more than a week and I'm already nostalgic for TBEX. It was a breath of fresh air to be in a room of people who were just as crazy as me. It was really refreshing to be in a roomful of other individuals who fully understood my addiction. It felt amazing to not have to explain that this wanderlust of mine was not just "a phase" that was going to go away until I finally found "a grown up job". It felt really good to be with people who understood that travel was not just a luxury, but a much needed call to be open-minded and open-hearted in an increasingly global society.
I know that this collection of ragmatag travel bloggers and video bloggers (both veteran and newbies) that I met at TBEX were into chronicling their travels because, just like me, they truly loved exploring the world and sharing all their eye-opening adventures. I can't express how lovely, accessible, and warm-hearted everyone was.
Here's a list of follow-worthy Travel Vloggers and Bloggers I admire and hung out with at TBEX. Check out their awesome stuff! (in alphabetical order by first name)
Alexandra Baackes of Alex in Wanderland, a travel and diving blog that's a guide to working and playing all over the world.
Alicia Taggio of My Life Untethered, a social media specialist and New Media producer based in Canada who is fueled by tea, travel and hustle.
Ashley Castle of Travels with Castle, an AFAR ambassador living life inspired through the lens of travel.
Brock of BackPack with Brock, an adventure coach and backpacker extraordinaire.
Calin O'Neil of Travel Yourself, a world travelers web series.
Charu Suri of Butterfly Diary, an online magazine, focusing on travel as a transformative experience.
Chris Staudinger and Tawny Clark of Captain and Clark, the one and only Modern Cartographers.
Courtney Scott Radovanovic,Travelocity Senior Travel Editor, as well as Producer & Host of Travelocity's Let's Roam Show
David Lee of GoBackPacking.com, an amazing around the world travel guide.
Ethan Gelber, founder and editor of The Travel Word, that showcases local, sustainable and responsible travel.
Gareth Leonard of Tourist 2 Townie, chronicling his quest to travel like a local.
Jessie Festa of Jessie on a Journey, a kickass girl's guide to adventuring.
Julia Rosien of GoGirlFriend.com, a blog to inspire intelligent women to travel smarter.
Juliana Broste, a travel vlogger and Denver-Based Video Journalist, Producer, Writer, Shooter, and Editor.
Jodie Ettenburg of Legal Nomads, a former lawyer from Montreal currently eating her way around the world.
Kate Thomas of TravelwithKate.com, an online host and media producer who susses out what the locals know in her travel web series.
Kelley Ferro, the Travel Hostess with the Travel Mostest of TripFilms
Kristen Sarah of HopScotchtheGlobe.com featuring travel tales from an adventure junkie and her traveling pants.
Lisa Cohen of Make Me Hungry, a fresh food blog worth salivating about.
Luke Armstrong, the vagabond behind Travel. Write. Sing.
Matt Stabile, editor of The Expeditioner, a travel mag for the avid traveler.
Maria Laborde of LatinAbroad.com, a Spanish Translator and Digital Marketing extraordinaire, this Latin diva is spreading her spiciness all over the world.
Mickela Mallozzi of Travel Bare Feet, a webseries where she penetrates into local culture, one dance at a time.
Mike Corey of Kick the Grind, the beautifully filmed video blog of a breakdancing biologist at heart.
Mike Shubic of Mike's Road Trip, where you can find hidden gems of the road.
Monica Suma of Whimsical Tales of Travel & Lifestyle, a travel writer, blogger and social media maven who can't sit still.
Nadine Sykora of Hey Nadine, a video blogger, world traveler and internet personality.
Nathan Fluellen of World Wide Nate, a lifestyle travel show that's A Guide to Living a Global Lifestyle
Ryan Van Duzer of Duzer TV, a sportsman, adventurer and of course, a paradise hunter.
Ross Borden, CEO of MatadorNetwork -- the world's largest independent travel online publisher
(if I missed out anyone, please just gently but firmly scold me in the comments section below and I will promptly add you!)
I was finally able to meet so many of the Travel Vloggers that I've only seen online. I am SUPER HONORED to be imitated in this video by put together Kristen Sarah of HopScotchtheGlobe.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/ftL-XyY0Ls8]
TBEX Takeaways
Other than the new friendships with my fellow adventurers, I made loads of contacts with tourism boards, travel companies and got loads of FREE stuff (which is ALWAYS nice). So overall, this conference was very fruitful. Check out the video (below) I edited of my TBEX experience and some of my favorite things from my TBEX goody bag. Watch til the end you'll get the chance to win one of my favorite items - a cable wrap bag from STM Bags!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWbqnHFumv0]
Hope to see you at the next TBEX!
Safe travels! (and to quote Mike Corey of KicktheGrind.tv, "but not too safe because that's boring.") xoxoxoxo
