Traveling, especially when you’re living on the road doing the #vanlife thing or frequently road-tripping, enriches your life in countless ways — some you can’t even imagine. You get to explore unique and beautiful places, meet new people, learn about different cultures, and constantly have new experiences and get out of your comfort zone.
In today’s digital age, people love getting glimpses of some of these experiences on social media. Whether you’re looking to connect with like-minded people or simply share your travel experiences with the world, Instagram is the perfect platform.
Not totally sure that you should start a travel Instagram account? Read on for eight reasons why you absolutely should (hint: one of them is simply being someone who loves to travel!).
1. Connect with a community of like-minded travelers
Starting a travel Instagram account opens up a whole new world of connections (and, with them, possibilities!). It’s one of the best ways to connect with other travelers who share your passion for adventure, exploring new places, trying new foods, and immersing themselves in new cultures.
It’s also an excellent way to find inspiration for your next trip and get tips from people who have been there themselves. And each time you post and share content on your own account, you’re inspiring others in the same way!
2. Share your travel experiences with friends and family
Chances are, if you’re someone who loves to travel, you enjoy sharing your experiences with others in general, and especially friends and family back home.
Instagram makes it easy to do that, allowing you to share your photos and videos in real-time in a variety of different formats. Create static posts, add in-real-life peeks into your daily life on your stories, and share video Reels. These are all super fun ways your loved ones can follow along with your adventures, in many cases, as they actually happen!
3. Document your adventures
It’s easy to forget some of the details of your travels, even on the most memorable trips. Starting a travel Instagram account is a fantastic way to document your adventures and create a digital “scrapbook.” You can look back on those photos and memories for years to come, and being able to share them with others is just the icing on the cake!
4. Find inspiration for your next trip
Instagram is a great place to find inspiration for your next trip. Start by following other travelers, and travel accounts with a similar vibe to yours to get ideas for new destinations to explore. You’ll very likely come across places that would never have been on your radar otherwise, plus you’ll probably pick up some useful travel tips!
You can also search Instagram to find photos and videos of places you’re already interested in visiting. Searching for a specific location can give you ideas on where to eat, hike, and stay, as well as some of the most photo-worthy spots.
5. A virtual escape
We all know that traveling has endless benefits, particularly for mental health. But did you know that simply thinking about travel or planning a trip has many of those same benefits?
It turns out that scrolling Instagram in search of travel inspo can actually help reduce stress and give your brain a very literal boost, significantly increasing feelings of happiness.
6. Gain exposure for your travel website
If you have a travel blog or website, starting an associated Instagram account serves a practical purpose: it can help you gain exposure and grow your audience. You can share blog posts and other website content on your account alongside photos and videos from your travels, using the platform to drive traffic back to your site.
7. Build your personal brand
Along the same lines, a travel Instagram account is a terrific way to build your personal brand. You can share travel tips and personal recommendations, showcase your photography skills, and position yourself as an expert in the travel niche.
In addition to helping grow your website, this can lead to new opportunities such as brand partnerships and sponsored travel.
8. It’s fun!
Finally, running a travel Instagram account is a blast! It’s a great way to express yourself creatively, connect with others, and share your love of travel with the world. So why wait? Start your travel Instagram account today and start sharing your adventures with the world!
“Cruise” Into Your Travel Instagram Account
If you do want to start a travel Instagram account but aren’t sure exactly how or where to start, Cruise America can help. No adventure vehicle of your own or content to post? No worries!
Rent one of our RVs or travel trailers, then hit the road to start adventuring and documenting it all! Cruise America offers five unique models with space for up to seven and nearly 120 convenient rental locations throughout North America. All that’s left to do is decide where to head first!
