Congratulations to Odyssey Overland, Overland Traveller and London To Sydney Overland, which are our Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.

1) Odyssey Overland – found tweeting @EpicJourneys
Although Odyssey Overland is actually a tour operator specialising in extended overland adventures, its blogs are pretty damn good and therefore it’s our overall Gold winner. Not only does its crew pen a blog post after each expedition but its members do too – giving a multi dimensional view of each trip. It’s a great place to be inspired and follow like-minded travellers on their three and six-month journeys across the likes of South America, Central Asia, China, India, Nepal and South East Asia. Who knows… after reading some of these personal accounts, you might just sign up for the next epic journey?

2) Overland Traveller
The Overland Traveller’s Blog is our Silver winner for two reasons: it’s funny and it’s incredibly clever. It’s written by freelance writer and editor Emma Field, who claims to have been an overland travel fan since birth – and she wastes no time in telling it like it is. We love her quirky posts, entitled ‘Elton John and the bison ballerina’ and ‘The pros and cons of a youthful appearance while travelling’. Curious? You should be.

3) London To Sydney Overland
Follow what this blog claims to be the ‘biggest road trip ever’ as 22 intrepid travellers travel overland from London to Sydney via France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Regularly updated and with great images, it’s a brilliant lunch time read. We challenge you not to be jealous of this group’s adventure of a lifetime.

4) Going Overland – found tweeting @goingoverland
Going Overland is an honest account of mature bloggers Helen and Paul’s nomadic lifestyle as they zip about in a white Land Rover covering as many miles as they possibly can. We love things like Paul’s gory injury photos and their warts and all approach to circumnavigating the world overland. Everything from planning and packing to personal medical and practical driving training is covered here and there’s even an online shop.

5) Oasis Blog
Yes, Oasis Overland provide trips but they also provide a pretty good insight into overland transatlantic expeditions. Not only is there a great, informative blog from the team, which is currently in Africa, but there’s a whole online community giving you the opportunity to connect with other travellers. You can even share photos, videos and post your own reviews. In our opinion, it’s great for young, intrepid travellers looking to embark on other meaningful journeys.

6) The Longest Way Home – found tweeting @TLWH
This brilliantly written blog features some great human interest stories from around the world, such as the ‘Green-eyed girl from Nepal’ and takes you on a journey which really is ‘beyond travel’ as its strapline suggests. There are lots of elements here to inspire as it covers, in candid detail, the ‘raw reality of life’ as you join Dave – a man on a mission to travel the world in search of home. He’s been travelling for seven years and seven months so far and we think that’s pretty impressive.

7) Overland to Egypt
This is such a fun blog by Gordon May, who travels the world on his 1952 BSA Bantum motorbike. It’s really well penned and so it should be for Gordon has also written a number of books on the subject – including 2008’s Overland to India and this year’s Overland to Egypt. Expect lots of pictures of Gordon and his bike with some of the world’s most famous landmarks as a backdrop. All in all, it’s a great blog for anyone who’s a fan of bikes and travel.

8) The Man in Seat 61 – found tweeting @seatsixtyone
We’ve already honoured this blog in a previous category but it’s so good that we just had to do it again – particularly in this round covering overland travel. This blog, is of course, about grounded travel and covers all manner of train and ferry adventures – explaining how to get to most countries in the world in the most eco friendly way possible. It’s great for advice and what to expect on your journey and a great read for all those train anoraks out there.

9) Guzzi Overland
Guzzi Overland isn’t the most visually stunning of blogs but there’s some great nuggets of information to be had within. Its posts journal Kev and Karen’s overland adventures on a Motor Guzzi – a legendary Italian motorbike produced in Mandello del Lario. It’s expertly written and gives a great personal insight into life on the road.

10) Overland Live – found tweeting @africaoverland
• The primary source of information for this blog comes from The Africa Overland Network and authors Martin and Nick have been involved in overland adventures for more than two decades and Nick is actually emigrating to South Africa via a 14-year-old Land Rover Defender 110 with his wife, Vicki. It’s a great blog for anyone passionate about Africa and we love to read about the team’s adventures.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here. To be considered for our next round of awards, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Overland Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to The Travel Photographer, Ken Kaminesky and Adventures of a GoodMan – you’re our top three!

1) The Travel Photographer – found tweeting @thetravelphotog
At number one is The Travel Photographer – an expert blog documenting the world in pictures. It’s penned by Tewfic El-Sawy, a photo expedition and workshop leader, among other things, who splits his time between New York and London and has a particular penchant for the Big Apple. The photos are lively, colourful and downright amazing as Tewfic explores countless sub-genres and unusual themes across the globe from the Far East to, of course, NYC. It’s a very cutting edge blog indeed – clever stuff – so we suggest you take a look.

2) Ken Kaminesky – found tweeting @KenKaminesky
At number two is Ken Kaminesky’s blog – a witty and incredibly charming site filled with fantastic posts, interviews, articles and reviews and, of course, fab photography. Ken has spent the last decade shooting commercial lifestyle images for stock agencies, including Alamy and Getty Images – two favourites of the press and glossy media. His expertise shines through in his lively blog in which, for someone whose forte is photography rather than journalism, he can’t half write. His blog is steeped in honesty, engaging descriptions and the odd anecdote or joke pertaining to travel photography. It’s also a great place to check out Ken’s amazing portfolio and order some prints if you fancy.

3) Adventures of a GoodMan – found tweeting @GregGoodman
Wow. Who needs words when you have such fantastic images? The photography on this blog is stunning and, of course, we particularly love the night time images of London, illustrating the London Eye, The Thames, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. Blogger Greg Goodman, who has lived all over the world, also shares his travel stories, some of which are hilarious – like the time he narrowly avoided an international incident and sneaked his late Great Aunt Donnie’s ashes past security and into the Taj Mahal.

4) Mitchell Kanashkevich: The Blog
This visually stunning blog makes us want to pack our bags and head off on a volunteering or conservation journey to the heart of Ethiopia – because that’s exactly where travel photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich is. He captures local life – not just here but across Asia and Eastern Europe – beautifully. The images and supporting text help to bring home what’s important and Mitchell’s snapshots of a very different way of life will almost make you want to weep. But far from being filled with sad tales of underdeveloped countries, Mitchell’s blog gives the lowdown on the good, the bad and the ugly, honestly and without holding back. We think it’s a good read and a great eye-opener for anyone planning to travel to Africa and beyond.

5) Martin’s Travel Photo Blog – found tweeting @travelphotoblog
For enviable snaps of all your dream destinations, Martin’s Travel Photo Blog is the one. From Johnny Cay island to Machu Picchu to Sighisoara Romania, Martin Wilkins has snapped a diverse range of locations across the globe and isn’t done yet. In his blog, he also thrashes out the pros and cons of taking time out to travel – a page no doubt useful for anyone facing the dilemma ‘should I stay, or should I go?’ Perhaps the most exciting part, however, is on the page where he reveals his big travel plans for 2013 – a European road trip in a transit he plans to convert into a campervan. We think it’s a brilliant idea and wish him all the luck in the world.

6) Georgia About
Georgia About journals one Englishman’s experience of living in Tbilisi after making the leap and moving to Georgia several years ago. Naturally, it’s picture led and gives a great insight into the place, its culture, history and, above all, food. With followers in 90-odd countries, it’s quickly gaining momentum and we can see why. It’s well written, well laid out and an absolute pleasure to read so hats off to the man who pens it: Mike Day.

7) Anywhere But London – found tweeting @anywherebutlond
Anywhere But London isn’t your typical photo blog but with its iconic images of British town and country, not to mention pie charts, infographics and screen grabs, it’s pretty visual so we think it fits the bill. Apparently this blog is read by the likes of David and Victoria Beckham and has attracted suggestions from Sir Stephen Fry. It certainly champions Great Britain and we love author Andrew Denton’s concept of focusing on the UK’s other great assets away from London. Thumbs up to him for offering an alternative to Olympic 2012 overload in the 150-day run-up to the event.

8) Anywhere But Home
Join photographer Naomi as she travels far and wide – and believe us, she’s covered some serious miles. She’s lived in Europe, North America and now Asia with no future plans for a permanent abode. Our favourite piece has to be her favourite Moroccan finds, entitled Treasures from the Souk, in which she has snapped some of the most gorgeous, colourful wares and trinkets to be found in North Africa. The spelling isn’t always spot on but we love this 20-something gal’s approach to travel.

9) alexasigno.co.uk – found tweeting @alexasigno
Meet self-confessed ‘mad traveller’ Alex, whose images of everything from Black & White Tip Sharks and Polish weddings to Moscow’s metro and Auschwitz will leave you inspired and hungry for more. His blog is substantial and jam-packed with lots of great tales, tips and travel trivia. But the stand-out post for us is his food safari, in which he explores weird and wonderful delicacies from around the world, including Japan’s infamous sh*@t burger.

10) Taboo Photography
The photos on this new, would-be travel blog are simply amazing – however, the blog content isn’t really up and running yet so we’re watching this space with eager anticipation. It’s also a one-stop-shop for buying and downloading images of Asia and photographic prints and canvases for a small donation, which is split between two linked educational and support-aid charities.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here.

For your blog to be considered in the following upcoming categories, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk:

Top 10 Overland Travel Blogs
Top 10 European Travel Blogs
Top 10 Wine Tour Blogs
Most Humorous Travel Blogs
Most Controversial Travel Blogs

The post Top 10 Travel Photography Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to Flight Global, Flight.org and Plane Talking who are our respective Gold, Silver and Bronze winners, and, of course, to all our other finalists who made the top 10.

1) Flightglobal – found tweeting @Flightglobal
Flightglobal is, undoubtedly, the leading resource for anyone interested in aviation or, indeed, anyone who works in the industry. Its blog covers all the relevant breaking news from across the world, including interviews with leading aviation professionals, such as IATA CEO Tony Tyler, for example. It’s also a great place to read up on all the latest airshows, aviation history and individual aircraft and their merits. For that reason, it’s our number one high flyer.

2) Flight – found tweeting @flightorg
Flight is a top notch aviation lifestyle blog, written by a number of professionals which are actively involved in the aviation industry – comprising journalists and flight crew. Despite their authority on the subject, we love the fact that the blog is written in plain English for anyone to read. It gives an inside insight into life in the industry, from old aviation adages to personal pilot experiences. It’s great for both those in the know and those who aren’t – and a great place for aviation anoraks to get their fill. This one’s our ‘silver bird’, if you’ll pardon the pun.

3) Plane Talking found tweeting @Plane_Talking
We love the contemporary style of Plane Talking, not to mention its choice of brilliant aircraft and lifestyle images plus plenty of aviation and travel news, features and You Tube videos. It also gives readers the chance to browse offers, compare airlines and even explore light aircraft for sale. There’s also a great diary feature, which earmarks important dates in the aviation calendar, from cabin crew recruitment days to business aviation airshows. Well done, Plane Talking. You’ve landed bronze.

4) Airport Spotting
We do love a good read of the Airport Spotting blog, which is penned by fellow aircraft enthusiast Matt Falcus, a private pilot based in North East England. Wily Matt doesn’t miss a trick and even features handy spotting guides so you can pinpoint the best places to be an airliner voyeur. We appreciate his news and views on airports and civil aviation, as well as his various insights into new services and routes.

5) Aviation News – found tweeting @aviation_daily
Aviation News covers… yes, you guessed it… breaking aviation news on a daily basis. For who’s grounded and why, new routes, latest pay cuts, cost reductions and so on, this is your blog. Perhaps what we love best about it, however, is that it also has military and space shuttle sections so you can keep up with all the forces and NASA news.

6) Aviation Week Blog – found tweeting @ThingsWithWings
Aviation Week is, of course, a quality and professional resource for anyone who’s serious about aviation. You won’t find many laughs or funny aircraft anecdotes here but you will find great coverage of some very pressing issues. Our favourite read has to be its report – and pictures – of Northrop Grumman’s X47-B unmanned combat aircraft system demonstrator making its maiden flight along the East Coast of Maryland, USA.

7) Airline Reporter – found tweeting @AirlineReporter
This is one blog from which we can’t get enough of the pictures. New aircraft with shiny, new, ultra-modern interiors are what we love to see – especially ANA’s first Boeing 777-300ER arriving to a water cannon salute in Seattle last week. Keep up the great work, Airline Reporter!

8) Airline World
More aviation news, including in-depth reviews of new scheduled flights, comes from Airline World, which goes the extra mile by including lots of related industry quotes as well as some opinion thrown in for good measure. It’s basic but informative and even includes a section for aviation jobs.

9) All Plane – found tweeting @Allplane
All Plane keeps its coverage timely and relevant, with a few nostalgic pieces too. We like the fact it’s taken the time to cover the impact the London 2012 Olympics has had on aviation and Cyprus’s Nicosia International Airport which sits slap bang in the centre of the UN buffer zone and hasn’t been used since 1974. This particularly retro post is well worth a read.

10) Flying Mag
The Flying Mag blog posts are generally more tailored to those within aviation already but it’s a great way, if you’re not, to find out how things work and more about the politics behind the industry. There are many well versed contributors to this site which always makes for a diverse and varied read.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here. For more information, or for your blog to be considered in our awards, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Airline & Aviation Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

His brilliant blog landed our silver award in the Best Blog for Backpackers category of our 2012 Travel Blog Awards so we set out to discover more about what makes the financier tick.

Read on to find out how travelling sets him free and why he’s terrified of The White Screen of Death.

1) Neil, how does it feel to win a MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Award?
I’m in shock, to be honest. I’ve always believed my blog is a half decent backpacking resource, but I still never thought I’d come second in your awards. I’m over the moon just to be classed in the same bracket as the other travel blogs you picked out.

2) Tell us about any other awards you have won…
Towards the end of last year, Beat The Brochure named my blog as one of its Top 10 Travel Bloggers of 2011. That was a great surprise – especially considering my blogging exploits really only started midway through 2011. I found out at the airport in Marrakech which softened the blow of coming home a little.

3) Is that when did you start travel blogging – 2011?
Backpacks and Bunkbeds was launched in June, 2011, but it evolved from an older blog and my STA travel blog, which I kept while backpacking through Asia and Oceania in 2006 and 2007. When I returned home from my gap year, I went to night school and learnt a bit about web design – not with the idea of starting a backpacking blog, but purely because I liked the thought of knowing how to build websites. I guess it was only a matter of time before the two merged and formed a travel blog.

4) Do you blog full-time or do you have a day job?
I wish it was full-time, but I have a nine-to-five job – in finance of all things. Luckily I get a decent amount of annual leave a year and I can actually buy some more if needed… which it usually is.

5) What makes you passionate about travel?
I love the way travelling makes me feel. Hopefully, it doesn’t sound too lame but when I’m on the road, I instantly feel freer, less stressed and am generally a happier person. Maybe it’s because of the new opportunities and adventures that travelling affords me. All I know is I love it and I get a great sense of achievement from seeing different parts of the world, meeting loads of new people and learning how they live their lives.

6) What are your future plans for Backpacks and Bunkbeds?
To simply grow. Being just a year old, my blog is still very much in its infancy. I’d like to build up a good readership over the next 12 months while obviously adding posts on each new place I visit. I’d like to try use my web design knowledge to make a few cool, unique features but appreciate that may not be the easiest thing to do as there are lots of other talented bloggers and designers out there. There are so many great travel blogs now, it’s hard to keep up with them all.

7) What are the main challenges you face as a travel blogger?
Keeping up with the technology can be quite tough. I like to think I’m quite capable with a computer, but I’ve come unstuck more than once in the last 12 months. The WHITE SCREEN OF DEATH was particularly nasty (it’s real; I haven’t just made it up for effect, Google it if you don’t believe me). I was up until 3am one morning trying to fix the code but eventually had to bring in a specialist at cost. I wouldn’t wish that problem on any blogger!

8) Which destination have you enjoyed blogging about the most and why?
Sri Lanka has played a major role in my blogging exploits. I have so many good memories from my time volunteering there and travelling around the island on the weekends. It was just beautiful and my volunteering placement was perfect. I’m hoping to go back there fairly soon and one of the girls I was volunteering with – named Natalie @girlandtheworld – actually lives there now so it’d be nice to catch up with her. More recently, Croatia has taken a lot of my focus. It’s a beautiful place and somewhere I hope to visit more than once over the next year or so. The lakes in Plitvice National Park are something else!

9) Do you have any travel ‘heroes’?
Does Dr Who count? He travelled in time! Poor answer – sorry – but I can’t really say that any one person inspired me to travel. My first stint of long term travel (eight weeks in South Africa) was just something I booked one evening after becoming a bit bored of the area where I grew up and went to university. It spiralled from there. I admire all the TV travel personalities and love the BBC shows like Blue Planet and Planet Earth – the guys and girls that make those shows do an amazing job!

10) What would you like to be doing in five years time?
If I could be a full time blogger, that would be amazing. But, if not, I’d like to think I’d be more directly involved within the travel industry in one way or another. SEO, copywriting, or design maybe? I’m open to offers… hint, hint.

11) What’s your advice to anyone looking for a career in travel writing?
Be yourself and write as you would talk to someone. It may not always seem to be the most professional approach, but your blog is your voice. Why pretend to be someone you’re not?

For more insights from Neil, follow him on Twitter @packsandbunks

The post “Your blog is your voice. Why pretend to be something you’re not?” says blogger Neil appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

We have to congratulate Britain’s inner cities on this one as many of the contenders focus on travel and lifestyle within the likes of London, Manchester and Birmingham – and we love it! Isn’t it great to celebrate Britain and what we have right here on our doorsteps?

We also have a few surprise finalists since we’ve included an eclectic mix of lifestyle blogs, from those that specialise in motor home travel to a unique guest house blog.

Congratulations to all our finalists but, in particular, to our winners, which are Campingly, Manchizzle and World Out There – landing our Gold, Silver and Bronze awards respectively.

1) Campingly – found tweeting @campingly
Haul your folks’ VW campervan out the garage and hit the road because that’s exactly what this inspired blog beckons you to do. There are more hints, tips, advice and inspiration on campsites, vans and motor homes than you can shake a stick at and we love that it celebrates the UK by steering readers in the direction of great things to see and do. It even throws in a few wine and book reviews and isn’t afraid to help us appreciate the simple things in life again. It gets a big thumbs up from us and that’s why it’s our overall Gold winner in this category. Oh, and PS, there isn’t a hint of mince about it

2) Manchizzle – found tweeting @katefeld
Who would have thought you could fall in love with Manchester all over again just by reading Kate Feld’s blog? Well, take it from us… you can! From eating local in Ramsbottom to eating your way through Reading Terminal Market, Kate captures everything that’s great about this part of the UK – and she’s not biased at all. We love her picks of the best bits of Manchester and the surrounding areas – which have even been praised by The Guardian. She has a strict ‘no guest post’ policy which means that each entry is lovingly penned by her own fair hand so it’s just as well we agree with her taste and judgement. Well done, Kate, you’ve landed our Silver award for services to travel and lifestyle blogging.

3) World Out There – found tweeting @World_Out_There
When we first featured Laura Mannering in a profile piece on our website, we had no idea we’d fall in love with her blog quite so much. Yes, we knew it was good but what we didn’t realise is that she’d have us hooked. Laura’s is such a feel-good blog that you feel the sun is shining even when it’s not. A real-life journalist, Laura is at the very cutting edge of travel writing and isn’t afraid to blog about biscuits, bars and even being behind bars for the night. We love it so she gets Bronze – what a femme fatale!

4) The Guest House Eastbourne
You might think this finalist is a little unconventional but, trust us, once you’ve read this blog you’ll agree it’s certainly not to be overlooked. Yes, it’s part of a commercial business but the blog is purely independent and covers the best of the beautiful continent we live in. It certainly doesn’t centre on Eastbourne but the width and breadth of the UK and is definitely worth a good read even if you’re not paying a visit. We couldn’t find a Twitter handle but maybe that’s our mistake.

5) Backpacker Becki – found tweeting @backpackerbecki
Some might say Backpacker Becki should have been featured in our Top 10 Blogs for Backpackers category and we’d have to slightly agree. But the way blogger Becki travels is, of course, a way of life and we couldn’t help but honour this solo female traveller for the insights she’s given us along the way. Our favourite post is, undoubtedly, ‘An orphanage is not a tourist attraction’. Becki has really paid attention en route and we love this heart-felt account of how she’s never actually visited an orphanage for the day and why she deems it to be in bad taste. You’ll love the photography and, like us, will completely see her point.

6) Tired of London Life, Tired of Life– found tweeting @tiredoflondon
Don’t be fooled into thinking this blog is a huge slur on London because it’s anything but. It’s more for seasoned London-goers, or Londoners in fact. It takes a look at alternative things to do in London, away from the mainstream and gives a useful ‘one thing a day to do in London’ account of what’s new, what’s good and where to go once you’ve seen everything else. It’s highly informative and great for anyone looking to experience more of London than the usual tourist attractions.

7) Ldn – found tweeting @LDN
LDN really is the insider’s guide to London – featuring posts from other blogs, carrying news updates relating to the capital and profiling the best places to go out and party. It has an extensive following and is a great guide for anyone living in London – even for the short term. Needless to say, it’s one of our favourite resources when it comes to the weekend.

8) Londonist – found tweeting @Londonist
Londonist reads like a What’s On guide for what to do in London, featuring upcoming gigs, exhibitions and cinema listings. It’s much more than that, however, with reviews, competitions and how to embrace ‘cheap London’. This could well be the real tourist information site to the capital.

9) Exile Lifestyle – found tweeting @ExileLifestyle
Let’s doff our caps to Colin Wright, who not only writes a damn good blog but has the ‘you know whats’ to feature a profile picture of himself relatively naked – covered only by an Apple Mac. But what we really love about Colin is that he lets his readers decide where he lives next. Check it out – he’s a maverick.

10) Birmingham: It’s Not S*@t
We’re nice, clean cut, wholesome travel aficionados here at MyTravelMoney.co.uk so we’re sure you’ll understand why we couldn’t quite bring ourselves to display the true title of this brilliant blog but we’re pretty certain you’ll get the idea. In short, this blog bigs up Birmingham and it’s great.

Well done to all our winners and finalists, who can download their badges of honour here. To be considered for our awards, please contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Lifestyle Travel Blogs: Our winners appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Read on to find out which blogs have us reaching for the champagne and smoking jackets…

The Luxury Travel Bible – found tweeting @LuxTravelBible
Although The Luxury Travel Bible is more an online magazine rather than a blog, we love it so much it just had to be in our top three. We admire the simple yet sophisticated layout which reeks of pure indulgence and signals escapism for the world’s most dedicated hedonists. Even if you can’t afford to travel to any of the resorts or destinations listed, you’ll have a field day scoping out Big Houses, Hotels with Heli-Pads and Resorts with Mega-Pools. Also hats off to The Luxury Travel Bible for managing to combine high end with humour – never an easy task. Congratulations, Luxury Travel Bible, you’re our overall Gold winner.

Simply Luxury Travel – found tweeting @SimplyLuxuryTvl
Simply Luxury Travel is fab – simple as that. And that’s why it’s our Silver winner in this category. The design is clean, contemporary and the content concise. Spearheaded by travel industry expert Yvette, who has worked for some of the UK’s leading airlines, tour operators, airports and corporate travel management organisations, this blog is all about sharing personal travel experiences and keeping abreast of industry news. The photography is absolutely stunning and editor Yvette certainly thinks outside the box when choosing what to cover. We’ll be following this blog religiously from now on so please keep up the good work!

A Luxury Travel Blog – found tweeting @luxury_travel
This blog comes to us from a team of luxury travel bloggers, headed up by Dr Paul Johnson whose travel industry experience spans more than 20 years. The Dedicated Partnership, of which he is managing director, operates more than 200 travel-related websites and represents some of the finest hotels in the world. Therefore, Paul and his team are well versed to be talking luxury and the blog itself has been dubbed ‘one of the best travel blogs in the world’ and ‘best for luxury’ by the Daily Telegraph. Although we, too, love the blog, which describes some of the best restaurants and resorts for discerning passengers, we’d love to see a better layout and definitely more images of these mouth watering places! The content and categories are great, however, so it’s definitely high up on our list – Bronze, in fact.

Luxury Travel Butler – found tweeting @lxtb
Luxury Travel Butler is another well-thought-out blog for the high end of the travel market – run by two brothers, Filip and Tom, who have undoubtedly travelled the majority of the globe, gathering priceless information as they went. Filip alone seems to have done it all – been there, seen it and got the T-shirt. Snowmobiling on Iceland’s glaciers, trekking to the Arctic Circle, jungle tours in Guatemala, and snorkelling in Fiji are just of the few travel experiences he’s clocked up over the years and what’s great is he’s happy to share them all! Follow these two siblings as they check out the best destinations, hotels and resorts in the name of research – you’ll never look back.

Mr & Mrs Smith – found tweeting @Smithhotels
Ah yes – Mr & Mrs Smith – the epitome of style, brought to you by Smith Hotels. It feels like naughty luxury and the dedicated blog captures this perfectly. Read up on the Smith Travel Blog’s Private Island of the Week, Hotel of the Week and what’s new. You won’t fail to be inspired and some bedtime blog reading might even help to rekindle your romance. Let’s just say we wouldn’t be surprised if, after reading these posts, you decided to whisk your loved one away to a tropical island or decided to renew your vows.

Luxury Travel Blog – found tweeting @ITC_Classics
Luxury Travel Blog is the brainchild of ITC Classics – a UK-based tour operator specialising in bespoke, tailor-made holidays for suitably classy travellers. The blog is great as a standalone, however, and is penned beautifully alongside gorgeous, idyllic-seeming luxury holiday hotspots. Refreshingly, this blog isn’t about the hard sell but sharing genuine experiences from around the world.

Out of the Blue Blog – found tweeting @TurquoiseUK
Great people pics, landscapes and idyllic settings coupled with top notch copy make this a great blog to add to your reading list. Yes, it’s written by a tour operator – The Turquoise Holiday Company, in fact – but the blog is all about unbiased accounts of great destinations. We say hats off, too, for managing to capture our imaginations with a landing page which you could almost dive right into.

Adventure Sports Holidays – found tweeting @advensportshol
Find great round-ups, Top 10s and reviews of luxury travel related products and equipment here – perfect for discerning adventure holidays. Great, down-to-earth posting with a little touch of funny is why this blog makes our Top 10. Don’t expect any revelations but good, honest answers to questions like ‘which travel adapter is best?’ and coverage of top travel apps, destinations and travel photography tips.

Luxury Lifestyles – found tweeting @uk_luxury
This blog doesn’t just cover travel and boating but everything else – i.e. cars, clothing, food and drink, jewellery – luxury too. Here’s where you’ll find reviews of some of the most exclusive retreats both in the UK and around the world. This is a really forward-thinking site complemented by videos, great imagery and first class copywriting and will have you coveting most of its distinctive destinations like Palm Island Resort in St Vincent and the Grenadines, for example. There’s also currently a piece on some of the swankiest places to stay for the 2012 Olympics.

Luxury Travel – found tweeting @LuxuryTravel4U
For short, bite-sized nuggets of information on prime places to visit then check out this basic travel portal. It’s easy to read, informative and loaded with useful advertising: where to get the best books for more on your chosen destination, for example. Expect to find lots of useful hints and tips on booking wisely and which cruises go where others do not.

For your blog to be considered in the next round of MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Awards, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogs: Our Winners appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to today’s winners and finalists in our Best Blog for Travel Advice category because, let’s face it, this is a tough one.

There are so many blogs out there which claim to offer valid advice and they probably do in their own right. However, these are our top 10 and whose hints and tips we, quite frankly, couldn’t travel without. But, be warned, it’s a real mixed bag.

At number one, we have Inside Traveller, followed by The Globe Travel Health Centre and The Man in Seat Sixty One which have won silver and bronze respectively.

Inside Traveller – found tweeting @insidetraveller
In its own words, Inside Traveller shows how you can travel in luxury, enjoy five-star accommodation and gain VIP status – all at economy prices. And, the thing is, we have to agree. This blog is written by a team of travel industry professionals which misses nothing. For travel advice you won’t find anywhere else, this blog’s top of our list.

The Globe Travel Health Centre – found tweeting @GlobTravHealth
This travel health blog is exactly what you need – particularly if you’re travelling somewhere exotic. It’s our number one UK resource for double checking vaccines, health requirements and travel-related symptoms. In fact, you’d be mad not to check it before you travel.

The Man in Seat Sixty One – found tweeting @seatsixtyone
This is a great name for a great blog – penned by UK travel lover Mark Smith. As far as we’re concerned, this is the number one resource for everything to do with train travel. The site offers a worldwide guide to travelling over land and sea and is broken down into handy sections split by geographical area with all the handy hints, tips and advice you might need to stay right on track, whether in the UK, Europe or beyond.

Expedia Trips Tips – found tweeting @Expedia
For travel advice from real travellers, check out this extension of Expedia, whose archives will have you losing track of time as you ponder hotel reviews, destination recommendations and fantastic photography.

The World Travel Man – found tweeting @worldtravelman1
For travel advice on everything from how to spend 24 hours in New York City to what to expect when it comes to dorms versus private rooms, you’ll find it all at The World Travel Man. This is a really great, well written blog with some fantastic photos thrown in for good measure. It’s perfect, in fact, for some light lunchtime escapism.

Perrin Post – found tweeting @PerrinPost
This warts and all blog comes from travel expert Wendy Perrin at Conde Nast Traveler, which sticks to a strict ‘Truth in Travel’ ethos. You won’t find any press trip reviews here, just basic impartial travel advice tackling how to save money, where to find what and how to avoid the hassle. We also can’t help but love the hint of retro in the web design.

Gatwick Blog – found tweeting @GatwickBlog
It might only have 48-odd Twitter followers but Gatwick Blog is the bee’s knees for travellers going to, from or anywhere remotely near Gatwick. As well as keeping Gatwick goers up-to-date with all the relevant news, it carries some genuine travellers’ tips relating to the surrounding area.

Trip Advisor – found tweeting @TripAdvisorUK
We couldn’t possibly omit Trip Advisor which, although not actually a blog, is one of the top travel reference tools of our time. It still remains the first place we look when scoping out hotels, package deals and destinations and gets a big thumbs up from us.

Captain Greybeard – found tweeting @CaptGreybeard
Forget Captain Beefheart, or Captain Birds Eye for that matter, because Captain Greybeard is the real legend here. Former Fleet Street journalist John Honeywell turned his hand to travel blogging and is now one of the UK’s foremost authorities on cruise ship travel. Find his travel advice over at The Mirror and enjoy!

World First – found tweeting @World_First
This one might not be as exciting as all the rest but it helps you get down to the nitty gritty of travel money as economist Jeremy Cook reports on the latest movements in the currency rate market. It’s a great resource to have just a click away – just as long as you don’t expect any belly laughs.

Well done to all our finalists – you can claim your badges here. If your blog wasn’t in the running but you think it fits one of our other categories, drop us a line and we’ll take a look.

The post Best Blog for Travel Advice: Our top 10 awards finalists appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Today, we’re honouring the Best Business Travel Blogs on the Twitter map and we’re delighted to announce that Air & Business Travel News is our overall Gold winner.

Second and third are Business Traveller and The Middle Seat Terminal, with a whole string of other finalists closely following their lead. Well done, everyone!

1) Air & Business Travel News – found tweeting @ABTN_online
Everything you ever wanted to know about business travel is probably here so it’s no wonder we’ve ranked it number one. ABTN carries all the most important up-to-the-minute travel news, from which airlines are changing what in business class to the impact the Olympics is having on travel suppliers. Not only that, but the site is well-laid-out, easy to navigate and a clear winner with us.

2) Business Traveller – found tweeting @BTUK
We love Business Traveller thanks to its eclectic mix of reviews, destination guides and breaking travel news. It’s also one of the best-loved newsletters among business travellers in the UK and never disappoints.

3) The Middle Seat Terminal– found tweeting @WSJ
This blog comes to us from the Wall Street Journal and is a great, thought-provoking resource for any serious business traveller. It digs deep into the politics of travel and asks industry-related questions like ‘How to airlines spend your airfare?’ and ‘Of all airline fees, which are most hated by travellers?’ If you haven’t bookmarked this one already, you probably should.

4) Travel Weekly – found tweeting @travelweekly
Travel Weekly is great at communicating industry news and carries a whole host of current travel jobs listings. The online magazine is fab and we’re never less than impressed by the timeliness of updates and how the team are on the ball with social media too. Make sure you sign up for its alerts.

5) Gulliver – found tweeting @EconBizTravel
Gulliver is the business travel blog of The Economist and, as such, is extremely well written by those in the know when it comes to money and industry advice. We especially admire its latest post on hygiene in American hotel rooms following the latest research which has revealed ‘fecal matter hiding in hotel rooms’ and suggests where the ‘germiest’ accommodation in the States might be.

6) TTG Digital – found tweeting @ttg_digital
Okay so TTG Digital isn’t entirely independent – it’s in the business of selling travel, but its blog ‘s still not to be sniffed at. Find the latest news – which is entirely independent of opinion and the company – along with competitions and lots of friendly, business advice. The verdict? We think it’s ace!

7) The Meze Magazine – found tweeting @MezeMagazine
As if you didn’t know, Meze is London’s foremost luxury journal with its very own business section of the blog. The site’s so pleasing on the eye that you can’t help but settle down for a good read – even if you can’t quite afford some of the suggestions. This is one blog to reaffirm your standards, but don’t just take our word for it…

8) A Dangerous Business – found tweeting @DangerousBiz
‘One ordinary girl… life’s extraordinary adventures’ – that’s exactly what you’ll find here from Ohio blogger Amanda. It’s not technically a business travel blog but it has the word in the title so there we go. We just can’t get enough of Amanda’s musings as we follow her around the globe. Rumour has it that she’ll be in the UK in August and, in the meantime, you can find out all about her night in prison and how she’s urging fledgling travel bloggers not to give up over at the website.

9) Road Warriorette – found tweeting @RoadWarriorette
We admire this controversial travel blog which has a strong focus on business travel and often comments on wanderlust related customer service – such as in the current ‘Rude or Not?’ poll. There are some great categories, including Business Travel Tips for Women and Business Travel for Moms.

10) FCM Travel – found tweeting @Fcm_UK
Although not strictly a travel blog, this site has some great insights and updates news as it breaks. There are lots of travel tools and suggestions from this global travel solutions provider, which won a 2011 World Travel Award as the World’s Leading Travel Management Company. We certainly thought it deserved a mention.

If you’re a winner or finalist, don’t forget to claim your MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Awards badge of honour and that we’re happy to help with the technical stuff.

If you weren’t shortlisted and think your blog should be in the running in one of our other categories, don’t hesitate to give our PR & Community Manager a shout.

Just email lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk and she’ll be delighted to hear from you.

Good luck!

The post Best Business Travel Blog: Our Top 10 Awards Finalists appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.