By now, we all know more about staycations than we thought we ever would - and believe it or not, staycations can be just as much fun (if not more!) than a holiday abroad. After all, it’s easy to forget the wonders that are waiting for you right on your doorstep. These bloggers know the importance and joy of the staycation - so much so that they are in the running for Best Staycation Travel Blogger!

Our expert panel will vote for a winner who will then be nominated to run for the British Travel Awards’ Best Blogger Award, sponsored by Teletext Holidays. We can’t wait to see who wins!

Sophie’s Suitcase

Blogger Name: Sophie Davis

Blog URL: www.sophiessuitcase.com

Why Should I Win?

Since COVID hit in March I have pivoted my travel blog, focusing less on far-flung destinations and instead basing most of my content around staycations. My blog has always been about travel around a 9-5 and showing my audience how possible it is to see the world and hold down a career. But since COVID I have had to pivot my content around exploring our beautiful country.

I have produced over 20 staycation guides, plus I have updated existing content with more outdoor and socially distanced experiences. The content has been well received and I have even more content ready to go out in the coming months. I wanted to make sure I was providing my audience with content they wanted and needed for their own upcoming travels, and by doing research to find out what my audience wanted meant I could pivot my blog.

I have focused a lot on promoting lesser-known destinations in the UK too, to avoid over-tourism of the most popular sites. I have produced blog posts on hiking, outdoor experiences and road trip guides, as well as separating guides into regions.

Two of my most popular blog posts during the past six months have been about 'unique Airbnb's to rent in the UK' and 'things to do in Milton Keynes'. I have also ensured this pivot has been apparent across my social media channels and in the same way, my Instagram has also made a shift to more relevant lifestyle content and since the easing of lockdown staycations.

My Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

There are many things I am proud of this year, not just in my blogging career, but also in life. I have managed to change my business to suit a really difficult time, hold down a full-time job and start planning for the future. I am also really proud of how much my YouTube channel has grown over the past year, providing more video content than ever before, with a constantly engaged audience and ever-increasing subscribers. It is going to be a priority for my business strategy over the next 12 months.

I am proud of how I have managed this period during the devastating global pandemic, and despite initial fears, my blog has continued to grow and engage during this period.

 

Devon with Kids

Blogger Name: Claire Hall

Blog URL: www.devonwithkids.co.uk

Why Should I Win?

Devon with Kids is a new staycation blog for families living in and travelling to Devon, England for holidays. This is not my first blog. I have been writing about travel with children for nearly eight years and have an award-winning family travel blog - Tin Box Traveller. 

In March 2020 I used my blogging experience to set up Devon with Kids to focus in on all the reasons for families to get out and experience this destination where I have lived with my own children for five years. 

Devon with Kids is already achieving nearly 11k page views a month as people look for things to do, places to stay and where to visit with their children post-lockdown. The linked Instagram account now has 1.1k followers and the Facebook page has 500 likes. 

Blog posts include information about what’s open and measures that are in place at popular attractions this summer, as well as reviews and timeless guides for the years ahead. 

My Proudest Achievement Over the Past Year

Creating a community around the Devon with Kids blog has been a proud achievement. This is managed with a Facebook group where families can share their personal recommendations. It was launched in June. It now has 1.1k members and is growing daily.

As well as flying the flag for tourism in Devon, the group helps promote important messages about responsible travel during 2020. It highlights what’s open, things people should check before they travel and COVID measures in place.

 

Great British Bucket List

Blogger Names: Chloe Gunning and Macca Sherifi

Blog URL: www.greatbritishbucketlist.com

Why Should We Win?

We’re so passionate about showing our readers the UK’s natural beauty, diversity and incredible things to do. From beautiful hikes and money-saving travel tips to quirky accommodation and unique activities, we think a staycation offers just as much, if not more, than adventures abroad. Added to that, we have the opportunity to share a more sustainable and eco-friendly style of travel - something we feel is incredibly important. We feel now, more than ever before, that people should travel in Great Britain - hopefully we can inspire people to do just that!

Our Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

The Great British Bucket List is relatively new, but we’ve worked hard (particularly through lockdown) to increase content and attract readers. It’s been incredible to see the blog grow from 0 to 25,000 page views over just a few months, and we can’t wait to see how it increases from there. We’ve also felt incredibly proud to see our readers following in our footsteps, venturing out on hiking routes we’ve recommended and sending photos at the end. We believe our biggest achievements in the future will be influencing travellers to explore what’s on their doorstep.

 

Dorset Travel Guide

Blogger Name: Emily Luxton

Blog URL: www.dorsettravelguide.com

Why Should I Win?

I grew up in Weymouth, and no matter how far I travel or where I'm living, I always think of Dorset as home. I genuinely think it's the most beautiful county in England, and you'd struggle to find a bigger fan of Dorset than me! But large parts of the county still get really overlooked by tourists - both local and international - who instead head to more famous UK holiday destinations in Devon and Cornwall.

There are a couple of well-known spots in Dorset, but so many other places that are just as beautiful and are sadly underrated. I set up the Dorset Travel Guide this year because I wanted to share these places, and encourage more visitors to explore the county that I love so much. While other bloggers are setting up more general staycation blogs, researching and writing about places they've not even been to, mine is filled with tried-and-tested recommendations.

These are places I grew up visiting, or places that friends and family have recommended to me, so I like to think that my Dorset guide is a little more trustworthy than other staycation blogs! And I've tried to fill it with love, passion, and lots of locals’ tips, to create a place of inspiration and advice for travellers. 

My Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

Reaching 10,000 monthly pageviews within 6 months of launching and achieving a 371% traffic increase within the last 3 months! Several top UK bloggers quoting my guide as a source of inspiration or advice for their own trips (including Vicky Flip Flop and Girl Tweets World). A reader tweeting me recently to tell me that they've booked a trip to the Isle of Purbeck after reading my blog post - and that they'd never heard of the place before that! 

 

Conversant Traveller

Blogger Names: Heather and Peter Cole

Blog URL: www.conversanttraveller.com

Why Should We Win?

Conversant Traveller is an information hub with bags of personality, aimed at independent adventurers who love hunkering down in luxurious but unusual places to stay. Now seven years old, the blog is known for its honest reviews, experiential storytelling and a dry British sense of humour.

We are entering the Best Staycation Travel Blogger category because over the last couple of years we’ve been concentrating on celebrating our home turf here in the UK, and showing our readers that they don’t need to travel to exotic shores to enjoy incredible trips. With a strong focus on rural staycations, Conversant Traveller encourages couples and families on our beautiful island to choose to holiday a little differently. Featuring weekends in castles, round houses and even churches, the blog is recognised as a bit of an authority on unique accommodation in the UK.

Our Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone but we’ve chosen to look for opportunities rather than focus on negatives. In the last year we have successfully transitioned our competition-winning blog into a full-time business, and it makes us incredibly proud to be able to share our experiences to help other travellers have the best UK holidays ever. 

 

The Girl Outdoors

Blogger Name: Sian Lewis

Blog URL: www.thegirloutdoors.com

Why Should I Win?

The Girl Outdoors is an award-winning UK travel blog for anyone who loves adventures, and offers guides and reviews to help others get outdoors and explore Britain’s wildest corners. My content on wild swimming, camping, hiking and places to stay in the UK is popular year-round but has been booming this summer as we all spend more time near home. I write to inspire others to find the confidence to get outdoors and try new sports and activities such as surfing and climbing. I also regularly work with major British tourism brands such as Visit Wales, Ordnance Survey, the South West Coast Path and Visit Scotland.

My Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

I've been quick to adapt to the changes we’ve all faced this year, focusing on UK staycation content and actually doubling my blog traffic as interest grows in British hiking, glamping and wild swimming. I also launched my first online course, Adventure Writing With Sian Lewis, which aims to help others develop their own travel blogs and social media platforms. I’m also proud to have been named an ambassador for Komoot, an adventurous mapping app.

 

Pack The Suitcases

Blogger Name: Caroline Rowe

Blog URL: www.packthesuitcases.com

Why Should I Win?

As much as I enjoy escaping abroad, with a full-time job and limited time I've always been a huge fan of 'staycations'. I've gotten more into living a greener lifestyle and reducing my carbon footprint through flying less, so local travel has become increasingly high on my agenda through that too. There's so much on our doorstep that we often take for granted but I think the pandemic this year has really made us appreciate our local areas, and nature especially.

My childhood holidays were always rural UK breaks so I've loved revisiting old haunts as a 30-something to see them with new eyes and blog about them on Pack The Suitcases. I also love a UK city break and am lucky enough to live within a reach of lots of great cities like Liverpool and Manchester, which I know so well and can share insider info on. Like me, many of my regular readers work full time and try to make the most out of weekends, bank holidays and short breaks locally, so they really appreciate my insights; I've had some really nice emails from them when they've visited somewhere because of my blog. A couple went to the Isle of Man recently after reading my post on 60 things to do there - and they sent me a photograph of themselves having a pint on the ferry over there with a thank you note!

My next UK trip is up to Scotland and that'll be my first time writing about staycationing in the 'new normal' post-pandemic world - I'm looking forward to it. I'd love to be nominated for this category and get to share with more people what I know and love about local travel.

My Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

Working with Visit Liverpool over Christmas was lovely - I'd never done much Christmas travel content before and it was a really cosy, festive trip that I adored writing about. I'm also particularly proud of my top performing post this year, '18 of the Best UK City Breaks for a Weekend Getaway'. I covered lots of places very dear to me and it's luckily been hugely popular, keeping my blog afloat over lockdown and hopefully giving people some good ideas to look forward to.

 

Sussex Bloggers

Blogger Name: Kathryn Burrington and Suzanne Jones

Blog URL: www.sussexbloggers.com

Why Should We Win?

Suzanne and Kathryn, who live in the neighbouring counties of East and West Sussex, became friends many years ago, initially through reading each other's blogs. They have since travelled together many times, both locally and around the world, becoming great friends along the way. A few years ago, they joined forces and launched Sussex Bloggers, where they share the best of their two home counties. 

Articles include where to find the finest food and drink, where to go for a great day out and where to stay. Whether you enjoy exploring historic castles or taking quiet walks in the South Downs, visiting colourful festivals or discovering local food and drink producers, you'll find all you need to know to make the most of your time in Sussex. It's a fabulous resource for both locals and visitors alike.

As well as sharing our passion for all things Sussex, we enjoy supporting local businesses and the people who make Sussex such a fabulous place to live.

Our Proudest Achievements Over the Past Year

We are proud of our home counties of East and West Sussex and how we bring the best of Sussex to people looking for staycation inspiration.