←→From the Travesphere: Pia of Backpackers.com

Posted Thursday, June 7th, 2007 · Permalink

We’re on a roll with the interview series! Backpackers.com has been through a lot of changes, and more recently became a dedicated blog focused on events and destinations. One thing I find interesting is that they managed to get a blog on such a “high-level” domain name. It goes to show how long Pia Taylor, editor of Backpackers.com, been in the game. This is one thing we discuss in this edition of From the Travesphere.

I must say that I find the feel of Backpackers.com somewhere between something corporate and bloggy. For instance, it lacks an about page yet does have a privacy policy, but indeed has the writing style of a true and tested blog. In any case, I don’t do interviews with Travesphere bloggers I don’t admire, so I say check out the site and subscribe to the feed. It’s a gem.

Let’s first start with some questions about Pia, the traveler. When did you first become interested in traveling?

I’ve loved travelling since I was a little girl. My dad is a musician and in those early days was doing gigs around the country (South Africa) as well as neighbouring countries like Namibia and Zimbabwe. We’d often tag along (my younger brother and I), and so I got to see some beautiful places. That, and visiting my relatives in England and Denmark a number of times sparked a love of new places, sights and sounds that has never left me.

What do you enjoy most about traveling?

The independence of having everything you need in one backpack and the freedom to explore new places on a whim.

What are a few of your favorite places you’ve traveled through?

Thailand is probably my favourite so far. The people are so friendly, the scenery so breathtaking, and the food I can not get enough of. I’d go back in a flash. Malawi was also fantastic. Hot summer days spent splashing about in Lake Malawi, having lunch at the local villages, snorkelling among tropical fish. Heavenly.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

So many places. Right now I’d love to visit Japan; their food, their culture, their architecture all appeals immensely.

Do you have any favorite travel equipment you would recommend?

Quick-dry towel, quick-dry clothing, a moneybelt to stash your cash and a Pacsafe to tie around your backpack when you’re sleeping.

Do you have an essential Pia’s tip?

When you’re on the road, stop and smell the proverbial roses. Racing around from sight to sight just makes you one more tourist visiting one more stop. Sit down, breathe deep, and take it all in.

I agree entirely. This is something I’ve discussed before. In any case, let’s talk about your blog. What inspired you to start travel blogging?

Travellers on the move generally don’t have time to wade through pages and pages of waffle. They want ‘bite-sized’ chunks that they can absorb during their brief stop at an internet cafe. Enter the travel blog format: perfect for highlighting travel news, interesting articles, freebies - stuff we’re interested in, and imagine they would be too. So we decided to shelve our previous format - a global travel directory - and start blogging.

What would you say your blog’s focus is?

Mainly festivals and destinations, placing emphasis on how to travel within a restricted budget. Most backpackers are fun-loving folk who want to get out there and enjoy themselves. They want to know where to go, how to get there, who’ll be there, and how they can score free tickets. We try to provide as much of that info as possible.

Backpackers Travel Blog is a little less than a year old. What was it before the blog?

Backpackers.com has always been a global online travel resource for backpackers and like-minded budget travellers. We started out as a comprehensive international travel directory way back in 1996, introduced travel forums and then an online hostel booking service. Last year we ditched the travel directory in favour of the more accessible blog format.

Besides blogging, what do you do for a living?

Blogging is my day job! That, and the overall management of Backpackers.com.

How do you see the travesphere changing?

I see travellers turning more and more to social networking sites and their favourite travel blogs for travel tips and information. No doubt they will still buy the trusty guide books, but will hopefully rely on them less heavily and start to explore based on other travellers’ recommendations. As more people write their own travel blogs, a wealth of independent first-hand travel information is making its way into cyberspace, becoming an invaluable travel resource generally unsullied by commercial agendas.

What’s next for Backpackers.com?

In the near future, we’ll be introducing a round-the-world online flight booking service for backpackers and a bit further down the line, I’ll be heading to Europe to gather backpacker intel.

Sounds interesting, especially considering that it might be one of the first such site combinations. Thanks for your insights and for stopping by!

Filed under Interviews.