October flew by for us and we are in shock it’s already time to interview yet another awesome travel blogger. Each month, we post a fun interview that we conduct with fellow travel bloggers that we’ve met either during our travels or through online blogging communities. On Dates in the States, we want to showcase these wonderful people so you can meet them, too!
This month we’ve interviewed Kate from KateLovesTravel.net. Kate is a mother who has a love of travel and languages. She teaches and translates both Spanish and English. Kate travels all over the world while having her own freelance writing and blogging business.
If you are a travel blogger interested in being featured in one of our upcoming interviews, please contact us!
1.) Who is Kate Loves Travel? Tell us where you are based out of and a little about you and your blog!
My name is Kate and my blog is Kate Loves Travel. I am originally from Sheffield, but now live in Market Harborough, Leicestershire (UK). My blog covers anything travel-related from trip reviews, to packing lists, to photography, to food! If it is in anyway related to travel, I blog about it!
2.) Why did you start your own travel blog and when?
I have been blogging since April 2017. My reason for starting was that I had thousands of photos and lots of notebooks/guidebooks full of my scribbles and it seemed a shame to do nothing with them! I didn’t really plan it. The idea just popped into my head and within a few hours I’d come up with a name, bought the domain/hosting and that was it – my blog was up and running!
3.) What was your most recent trip?
My most recent trip was a family holiday in the Lake District, UK. I love the Lake District National Park – it is such a beautiful part of the UK. It was a pretty active week of kayaking, walking, tree trekking, swimming and lots more!
4.) Where are you planning to travel to next?
I am off to New York for six days in November with my husband and some friends. We went three years ago and I loved it. I’m not normally a city break person, but New York was just amazing! The atmosphere is incredible and everyone was so friendly. It’s also very easy – and reasonably priced – to get around and see all the sites.
5.) How do you afford to travel as often as you do?
I work part-time as a Spanish tutor and Spanish to English translator (I have a degree in Hispanic Studies and a Masters in Latin American Studies) as well as writing travel articles. I’ve written a few articles that have been published in a glossy magazine. I was actually contacted through Facebook, completely out of the blue to write them! And it was so rewarding to see my stories in print – it’s just different somehow to seeing my travel writing on line!
I also make some money from my blog, too through sponsored posts. My sponsored posts are usually for holiday companies, outdoor clothing/equipment companies, companies offering photo products, etc who pay me to write about their products/services.
6.) Do you mostly travel solo or with other people? Which do you prefer and why?
Nowadays pretty much all my travel is with my husband and daughter. In the past, I traveled solo most of the time as I loved the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. I like travelling with others as well as solo – there are pros and cons with either. I like company, but usually know what I want to do and see when I get to my destination (which sometimes causes friction). I enjoy travelling with my daughter and seeing her react to new experiences – it’s very rewarding to be able to pass the travel bug on to her!
7.) Is there a place that you would suggest people to travel to over the holidays if they are looking to just get away from it all?
The Maldives are great if you really want to escape from everything. Lots of tiny islands surrounded by clear, turquoise sea. They are peaceful and picture postcard perfect!
8.) Do you have a favorite city or country? Tell us why we should visit and what you love most about it.
My favorite country is Mexico – I love it! There is so much to see and do and it’s such a fantastically diverse country. You can ride the Copper Canyon Railway in the north before heading down to the stunning ruins of Palenque in the south and then there are the beautiful beaches on both coasts! Not to mention great food (if you like chili with everything!) and warm, friendly people.
9.) I see you’re an avid photographer, (Crystal is, too!), tell us what type of camera you use and what equipment you take with you while travelling?
I am a big Canon camera fan – in fact, all my cameras are Canon. I have a trusty old EOS 40D DSLR and a Canon Powershot SX60 HS bridge camera, not to mention a few other compact point and shoots.
My basic camera equipment when I’m travelling is either my 40D or my Powershot, a decent camera case (I don’t want my camera getting damaged!), a lens cloth, spare memory card, polarizing filter, tripod (if possible) and a battery charger. How much else I take depends on how long I’m going for, how much space I have in my luggage and what sort of photography I think I will mainly be doing at my destination…
10.) We love what you’re doing and sharing with the world on your blog, tell us how we can support you!
You can support Kate Loves Travel by subscribing to my blog at https://katelovestravel.net and following me (and interacting with me!) on social media…
Blog:
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katelovestravel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate_loves_travelling/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katelovestravelling
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KateLovesTravelling/
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