10 Travel Influencers Changing How We Vacation

Some people follow trends, others set them. When it comes to travel, we all have the potential to be great travel influencers, but only a select few separate themselves from the rest. From social media to blogs and even print, influencing how people travel and experience the world starts with a keen eye for the unique and a flair for adventure.

Here are some of the top travel influencers you need to follow!

Dana Freeman

Deep in the green mountains of Vermont, Dana Freeman plans her next trip. A New Englander at heart, Dana discovered her love for travel and blogging after launching a successful marketing career. Now her website and social media accounts are full of interesting anecdotes and stunning photographs of her travels the world over. A member of the Travel Bloggers Influence Network, Dana highlights her experiences using the hashtag #TBIN. She is also a frequent contributor to Porthole Cruise magazine, a cruise ship vacation and travel publication.

 

Murad and Nataly Osmann

You’ve probably seen Murad and Nataly Osmann’s work before. They grew a massive social media following back in 2012 with a campaign called “Follow Me To”. The series, famous for its depiction of Murad being led by the hand towards some incredible monument or landmark, launched the couple to international stardom and a social media following in the millions. You can find their work using the hashtag #FollowMeTo on Instagram or Twitter.

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Kelly Rizzo

When it comes to traveling, Kelly Rizzo knows the perfect spot. As the host and creator of Eat Travel Rock TV, Kelly spends most of her time traveling from coast to coast finding all of America’s hidden gems. Kelly’s instagram is chock full of her adventures from the sunny coast of California to to snow-covered peaks of Switzerland. If you aren’t convinced of her talent yet, Kelly also hosts a radio spot on 101 WKQX-FM in Chicago called Rockin’ Right Now.

Melvin Bӧcher

Melvin Bӧcher loved to travel, but he wanted a place where intrepid souls could discuss their adventures and learn how to make their experiences better. Thus, Travel Dudes was born. Travel Dudes bills itself as the first social platform dedicated to vacation and traveling. Melvin, who tweets under the handle @TravelDudes, is a must follow for the latest tips and tricks for getting the most out of your vacation no matter where you’re headed.

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Christina Vidal

Known more commonly by the moniker, Jetset Christina, Christina Vidal is living her best life. Her website and social media accounts show a life we all want to live, full of exotic locales and exquisite dining. The attractive blonde details her travels and offers unique perspectives on each country, island or city she explores. Follow @JetsetChristina on Instagram or Twitter to stay up to date with her latest adventure.

Bill Panoff

The first time Bill Panoff went around the world, he was entertaining guests aboard cruise ships as a magician. These days, he’s a top name in the cruise industry, hosting his own YouTube show called “Cruise Control,” a unique look at the latest innovations, ships, menus and itineraries across all major and minor cruise lines. The series is a must watch for anyone looking for the best cruise experience possible. 

Damon and Jo

The second couple on our list, Damon and Jo take traveling to the extreme. Their website, Shut Up and Go, combines fabulous travel writing with a number of great life lessons you can only learn when exploring the world. Shut Up and Go started as a humble travel blog, but with thousands of social media followers and excellent content, it’s grown to something very special. The couple’s YouTube channel is one of the best ways to follow their adventures all over the world.

Giaro Giarrantana

If you can look past Giaro, the places he visits are pretty attractive, too. A model, tourist and travel influencer, Giaro Giarrantana looks equally at home on the runway or lounging poolside in some far away country. His Instagram account is a must follow for those who like their attractive men with a side of fabulous scenery. His video logs on YouTube take viewers on a journey to exotic locales with even more exotic and interesting people.

Megan Murphy

There’s no doubt about it, this girl can eat. Though you’d never guess by her svelte frame, Megan has been eating her way across the world for quite a while now. She documents her experiences on her Instagram account, @ThisGirlCanEat. Fair warning, you won’t want to look at her account when you’re hungry! Her posts are frequently shared for their brilliance and uniqueness.

Along with managing her own social media accounts, Megan also contributes her stunning food and travel work to outlets like Food & Wine Magazine, Fodor’s Travel, and AFAR Media.

Sam Evans

No one captures the land down under like Sam Evans. The native Australian began his career posting vlogs of his adventures to YouTube and his following exploded from there. He has more than 150,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and another few hundred thousand following him across his social media accounts. Though his videos feature many adventures from his native Australia, he also travels the world in search of great places and the people who live there.

Sheri Griffiths

When it comes to planning the best cruise vacation, there’s no better follow than Sheri Griffiths. As the host of the YouTube series CruiseTips TV, Sheri is in the know when it comes to all things cruise related. Learn the best packing tips before you go or check out what the various shore excursions have to offer before you even set foot on the ship. Sheri is a wonderful resource for great information including reviews, ship tours, and more presented in a fun and entertaining way.

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— Evan Gove