Welcome to the FAQ section of the Letters to Barbara. I am receiving lately e-mails about things you guys would like to know; therefore, I thought of replying to your most common questions. I will try to update this section quite often, but please contact me if you want to find out more. Make sure to subscribe to my mailing list, where I often share personal stuff and answer your questions.
Who are you?
I am a published novelist and travel writer from Greece, living between Berlin and Athens. I have written four books, three novels, and one short story collection, all of them published by major publishing houses in Greece. Apart from that, I have been traveling for almost twenty years, mostly solo. My travelogues have appeared in several newspapers and magazines, among them in the Greek edition of the Huffington Post.
You can find out more about me here -and also on my personal website here.
Why did you split Europe into subregions?
Practical reasons. I’m the last person that would like to see Europe torn apart due to politics. Therefore, the “Destinations” drop-down menu on the blog serves practical reasons. The drop-down menu would look too long, and it would be impossible to navigate it. So, I decided to split it into subregions for the readers’ convenience.
Then, a new problem appeared. How should I break down the menu? I didn’t want to split it into two smaller parts like East-West: it sounded highly political and outdated. Then I thought of using the compass. Four sub-categories: North, South, East, and West. This had a clear geographical touch. And then, the next question appeared: in which geographical subregion every country belongs?
To solve that problem, I used EuroVoc, the Publications Office of the European Union. And that’s how I ended up using the different regions of Europe. See the map here.
Are you a budget traveler?
Hm. Yes and no. I always keep an eye on my budget, but I never sacrifice experiences because of the money. If I definitely want to visit a place or a location, I will reduce my daily expenses (food, coffee, souvenirs, etc.) to see it. Depending on the country or the city, I will try to remain below the 75 euro limit per day, including my stay, food, transportation, museum tickets, etc.
Is Barbara a real person?
Yes, she is. You can find out more about the Letters to Barbara concept by clicking here.
Why do you write letters instead of regular posts?
I was always fond of letters. I’ve been corresponding with people all over the world since I was a kid. I often found myself writing travel journal entries in a letter format. I thought this would also release more sentiment in the text, offering a more vintage feeling. That vintage feeling made me add the rest of the sections: the travel journal, the travel guides, etc.
This website is about traveling and whatever we leave behind as travelers. Sometimes, in small hotels, benches, or bus stops (the list is endless), I find myself reading forgotten letters/notes/lists. I find these random urban elements highly attractive. It’s our collective story. Therefore, I thought of making a travel blog about my love for traveling and my obsession with the words we leave behind. The letter is, for me, a unique way of correspondence. That’s why this travel blog has its main posts written like letters.
How do you choose the hotels you are staying in?
As a rule of thumb, I always try to stay in the very center of the city. While I might have to spend 10 or even 20 euros more per night, I found that I save an equal amount of money through the years. For example, I don’t need a taxi to return to the hotel at night. In addition, I save a lot of money on bus/metro tickets because I prefer to walk. Meanwhile, I can also have a quick nap in the afternoon if I feel tired without losing an extra two hours to go back and forth to the hotel.
I book mainly via booking.com, and I am delighted with their services. However, as I mentioned above, I am always searching for a hotel in the city’s very heart, wi-fi, and breakfast included, most likely between three and four stars (this depends on the prices), which is clean and has decent reviews. Regarding the reviews, I try not to pay so much attention: I have stayed in 9,5 rated hotels that were average, while a 6,5 rated hotel still ranks among my favorites.
Try to read five or six random reviews and see if there is a common complaint about the services offered. If you don’t see anything like that and are fond of the hotel, just book it and don’t lose more time. It’s just a place to sleep for a couple of nights, and you are there to enjoy the city.
Yeah, but don’t you like some luxury?
Sure. I mean, who doesn’t? But the truth is that it’s not that easy to stay in a luxurious hotel without paying a fortune. If there is an offer within my budget, I will, of course, consider it.
Hotels or Airbnb?
I have stayed a couple of times in Airbnbs, and I am satisfied with their services. The truth is that I never feel homesick, and I also don’t want to feel at home wherever I go: traveling is about leaving safety zones behind, trying to adapt to new places, and embracing cultures. Plus, I have obstacles regarding the gentrification of specific neighborhoods.
On the other hand, I feel better in hotels, especially if they focus on sustainability. For me, the hotels represent a real escape from daily life, from the safe feeling of a home, from everything included in my routine. I only consider Airbnbs if I am about to spend a long time in a place (usually more than a month). Therefore, if you ask me a hundred times, “Hotels or Airbnb?” I would reply a hundred times, “Hotels.”
So, are you trying to be a sustainable traveler?
Absolutely. There is no reason to write a few lines in the FAQ section about sustainable traveling and get over this topic quickly. Instead, I plan to write on the blog about sustainable traveling, and I might upload a couple of links here in the near future.
Do you have a page about travel resources?
Yes. You can see it here. I have put together all the services I have used in the past, and I think they can help you travel better or easier. I still use most of them every time I am about to travel.
Interesting info so far, but what should I expect from this website?
You should expect loads of odd stories and tons of photos. You should also expect the most decent reviews of places I can write. Being a writer for almost fifteen years, I have learned to value my readers and be totally honest with them. If I don’t like a place, I will write why I don’t like it.
At the same time, I will try to give you the best tips in order to have a great time there. Travel writing is not about discouraging people from visiting places; it highlights what makes a place worth visiting, even if the writer doesn’t really like it. Travel writing is focused on the reader’s needs; if I want to write about ideas or things that bother me, I’d rather write another novel.
Finally, you should expect quality writing accompanied by information that helps you travel better.
Okay, but will you accept paid trips?
I prefer to pay for my journeys and plan them based on what I’d like to discover and see. If I ever decide to take a paid trip, this will be stated even before the first line of the post; therefore, you will know it straight ahead. Of course, I don’t plan to say nice things just because the journey is paid: you will read my honest opinion as always. That said, I will only consider taking such a trip if a) I find it interesting for my readers, b) I feel that I can deliver high-quality content, and c) it fits my interests and schedule.
So how do you plan to maintain this website if you don’t accept paid journeys?
I don’t expect to make a living out of paid journeys. As for maintaining this website and the trips presented here, well, I can say the following:
- I am running Google ads. I’m doing my best to show only relevant ads to you.
- Affiliate marketing. Some of the outbound links of this website (but not all of them, of course) are affiliate links. It means that every time you decide to buy something by following these links, I earn a small commission. I have even written an Affiliate Disclaimer for you.
- Writing. Apart from writing on this website, I write for other publications both in Greece and abroad. If you want me to write for you, drop me a line on the Contact page.
- Photography. I make some money by selling my photos.
- Planning your journey. If I have visited a place previously and have a good overview of it, I can help you plan your trip. And of course, I can plan your journey to the Greek islands.
- My products. Last but not least, I create my own products. Lightroom presets, ebooks, polaroid zines, and a couple of books. You can check my Travel Shop here.
Are you paying taxes?
Of course. We all have to pay taxes. This is a registered entity, and I have to pay taxes for every penny I make. I am happy that my accountant is taking care of it because I am a total fool when it comes to financial issues.
Are you carrying a suitcase, or you’re traveling light?
I only travel with hand luggage, plus a backpack with my travel gear. I prefer to travel light and save money -for a return flight you can save a minimum of 50 euro if you don’t have a suitcase. I usually pack several T-shirts, socks, and underwear in my hand luggage, plus an extra pullover. I don’t bring toiletries as I rely on the ones I find in the hotel. I never found myself wearing a second pair of shoes, nor the second pair of jeans. If something gets damaged, I replace it by visiting a local shop, no big deal.
Traveling light is good for my body and my mental health. As I stated before, I don’t want to bring anything that worries me at home (or that has significance) when traveling. For the last couple of years, my motto has been, “If it doesn’t fit in my backpack, then I don’t need it.” You should also try to travel light: it will liberate you.
I’d love to see your travel gear!
Well, I am glad you do 🙂 You can see it here. As I stated above, I travel light; therefore, my equipment is chosen with that in mind.
Do you have a favorite travel camera?
Yes! You can find out more here.
Do you post-process your photos/videos?
Yes. I use Adobe Lightroom for photography and Final Cut Pro X for video.
Do you also sell your Lightroom Presets?
Yes. As of June 2019, you can buy my Ricoh GR ii Lightroom Presets here.
There is no easy way to say that, but I see a spelling/syntax mistake.
Well, I am not a native English speaker, and this is a one-person business. While I am trying hard to keep everything free from mistakes, there will always be a minor (hopefully) error. If you see really annoying mistakes, feel free to contact me, and I will correct them. Just make sure to write down the exact post and sentence. Thank you in advance.
How much do you work?
There is no easy answer here. Sometimes, freelancers work more than the average employee; sometimes, they work way less. On a busy day, I can easily work 14 hours non-stop. I try to keep it around 6-7 hours on an average day. Once in a while, I will give myself a day or two off because I usually work a lot during the weekends, too. When traveling, I try to work not more than 3-4 hours per day.
Can I also start a travel blog?
Of course, you can. I have even put together a guide on How to start a travel blog. Make sure to check it out and take advantage of the current Bluehost offer for hosting your blog by following this link.
But I’m afraid that I might not be able to write…
Well, here’s the thing: I have created a FREE Travel Writing Course. You will receive 5 e-mails in 10 days that will rapidly improve your travel writing. Check it out!
Do you have any advice for an aspiring travel blogger?
Yes. You should manage your time carefully. Try to save money in advance; the first months won’t be easy at all. Travel to places that you are interested in. Produce the best content that you can. Have a camera always with you -even when you’re not traveling. Have a pen and paper always with you -even when you’re not traveling. Don’t listen to your parents. Don’t get disappointed; it’s not easy, but it’s worth taking the ride if you like traveling.
Well, this is already a very lengthy FAQ!
I agree! 🙂
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Well, I guess that’s all for now. This FAQ is already too long, I think 🙂 If something is not answered here, feel free to write me an e-mail. Just follow the link to the Contact page.