On July 12, a scandal erupted on Instagram: a well-known travel blogger was accused of a poor-quality blog tour. From the comments, it became obvious that this was not an isolated case: details about other equally famous travel bloggers surfaced there. How fair the claims are, you can evaluate for yourself using the links on Instagram and.

It seems to us at the editorial office that such stories should not be ignored: the hospitality industry is a complex business in which everything is important, from reputation to working out negative reviews, document flow and business legality. That is why we have analyzed the main issues related to choosing a blog tour.

Why do people go on tour with a blogger?

The question that often flickers in the comments is: why go on tour with a blogger at all, when you can arrange everything yourself? There are several answers, and the most obvious one is that people have no one to go with. At the same time, I want company, fun, and new acquaintances. And some travel bloggers have long created full-fledged communities around themselves, so the fact of belonging to such a community is sufficient to understand that it will be at least normal with a fellow traveler.

Of course, the important fact is that everyone will plan for you, take you to places for ultra-beautiful photos. Naturally, many want to brag about an unusual destination, but it’s scary to go alone, and you can’t get a company of friends. But another important aspect is belonging to a blogger, personal acquaintance with him, the opportunity to get on joint pictures, learn from him how to process photos, and just learn more about his life.

As a result, the blogger unites around him people who have no one to go with, who are afraid of unusual destinations and, of course, those who dream of meeting him personally.

How to understand whether to go on tour with a blogger or not?

This is where things get pretty tricky. Now hundreds of bloggers from the top to the niche lead tours. And many do it very well. But how to understand the abundance of tours when one is more attractive than the other?

Agreement. This is a must, period. The organizer must have a legal entity with relevant activities. If there is no contract, then you fall out of the legal field. And in case of problems, you can’t appeal to the law in any way. Alas.

Reputation. It matters if the blogger/guide exists outside of their platform. Example: Elnar Mansurov (Mishka Travel) has his own cafe in Perm, and on the Internet - an interview on a bunch of portals not related to his activities: Sports.ru or!

Plan. In addition to the planned plan on the website / on Instagram, you have the right to demand a detailed plan. If it is planned to travel by car, then specify who will be driving, the experience of this person and experience in a particular direction. Unfortunately, stories happen when the same tour participant gets behind the wheel, who is simply given a discount. And yes, bloggers had unpleasant stories with the car. Even if drinking while driving is allowed in the country, any tour participant has the right to demand a complete abstinence from drinking. No glass of beer/wine for lunch - after all, you trust the organizer with your life and health.

The cost of services in the direction. Do not be lazy and look at the average cost of services along your route: for example, a hotel. Compare with the promised prices. Please note that organizers often (though not always) receive discounts for group accommodation. Draw your own conclusions.

experience in this country. Do not take risks and do not go on a tour with a blogger in the country to which he is traveling for the first time. This also happens. Why is a difficult question: most often - because of the organizer's self-confidence that he will easily arrange everything there. Less often - due to the fact that the organizer has a fixer on site - a person with knowledge of the region and language. There is nothing wrong with the second option, as you understand.

During the tour you become a guide/blogger's main job, so any “take a walk for now, but I have urgent work” should be taken as a refusal to fulfill their duties.

What does a blogger not have to do?

Teach you, say, processing and photography(unless, of course, this is a photo tour). In this case, he is your guide and guide through the country / city and region. But in no way should he teach what he (the blogger) is good at. For this, there are special photo tours or processing courses.

Be your friend, companion. Do not forget - this is a commodity-money relationship. It would be great to make friends, but the organizer of this does not owe you. Plus, be sure to think about the fact that he has a lot of organizational activities: you need to plan the coming days, calculate the time of arrival / departure and make sure that everything goes well.

Fulfill your every whim, especially if it goes far beyond the limits stipulated by the contract. Let me remind you that when you go on a trip, you buy a service, not a blogger's time. He and his team are not obliged to do anything that goes beyond the framework stipulated by the contract. Understand, the organizer always has to be cheerful and friendly, but at the same time he is always stressed. Do not add problems to him - just go to the reception and ask for the necessary trifle yourself.

So who is normal in the end, with whom to go?

Now it will be difficult. This, of course, is not an advertising post, but one cannot but mention those who have been leading tours for several years in the same directions, know them like the back of their hand, have hundreds of reviews and exist not only in the Instagram community. Among those whom we have been following for a long time, this, of course, is Mishka Travel and girls in travel.

If you are interested in a specific country, then do a little analysis of social networks and select those who lead tours in this region. Subscribe and study, because your emotions, impressions, experience will greatly depend on whether you made the right choice or not. And we remind you that a blogger and an organizer are not the same thing. The best, most beautiful and pleasant moments get into social networks, and the journey (like life) consists not only of them. The quality of the organizer's work will be manifested in details, for example, the most accurate timing.

Plus, we hope that such stories will not discourage the desire to travel with bloggers on tour - many of them do their job brilliantly, show really hidden places and in communication - very nice people!

Interview hero

I go to Instagram to be inspired and read friends Travel beautifully means to travel wisely A smile helps make the world a better place, communicate My superpowers: I can cheer up the gloomiest person on the planet

Arrivo: Here's what I managed to find out: at the age of 16 you went abroad for the first time - on a package tour with your parents to Turkey. She trained as a tourism manager, but did not work in her specialty. After 10 years, travel has become your job. This is destiny?

Masha: It turns out that it is, because we build our own destiny.

After university, I was looking for my way. She organized concerts in Kyiv and managed to work as a concert manager for a Russian rap group. But the dream of travel did not give rest. I always wanted my life and work to be connected with travel. So I started traveling on my own and blogging and instagram about it. And I always believed that someone needed it and it was useful, and it would turn into something grandiose for me. And so it happened...

How did you get into Girls in Travel? Did they just post a job posting on the internet? By the way, what is your position?

I learned about the Girls in Travel project two years ago. We have published in the same magazine. They have an article about the first "On the Roof of the World" bachelorette party in Nepal, I have an article about volunteering in Iceland. Two years later, the guys found me themselves: they were looking for girls in the team and stumbled upon my interview. I received a letter in the mail with a proposal for cooperation.

My position is called "super girl" (sounds cool, right?). I do trips for girls. Schedule for the year ahead!

This job is called a "dream job". Is it really? Take us backstage...

This is the “dream job”, and I dreamed it up myself. I did not want to sell tours in a travel agency, but I wanted travel to be my job.

I spend bachelorette parties in those countries in which I have been many times, because I understand them well and show the girls why you can love Nepal and India. Two bachelorette parties have already passed in Nepal, one more in India, then there will be a New Year in Bali, Vietnam-Cambodia, South America in the spring: Peru and Bolivia, and Africa next autumn.

During breaks, I travel on my own and explore new places.

In one of your posts, you write that “a tourism manager will never see the world the way he wants to.” What is the difference between regular travel companies and Girls in Travel? After all, your bachelorette parties are essentially the same travel agency.

The difference is in the concept. We travel in the girls only format, no husbands and children. Groups have a maximum of 14 people, which makes traveling friendly and sincere. No running around, a lot of gatherings in cozy coffee houses, shopping. The program includes yoga and cooking classes - everything that girls love so much.

The routes are thought out to the smallest detail by Yulia and Anton, and my task is to create an atmosphere and make the best trip in life for the girls, and, in my opinion, I do it well. When you love your job and get high from what you do, you do it with soul.

The girls leave in tears and I cry with them (cries).

Six years at a desk in a stuffy institute could not have been in vain. What did they give you?

The university gave a store of knowledge and experience. I liked studying in Tourism because I had the opportunity to practice in different countries, two compulsory foreign languages ​​and a lot of geography. Thanks to this, I had dreams and a desire to see all the places that I once wrote essays about.

You did your internship at a hotel in Greece, where “in five months I realized that living in the country and coming on vacation are two different things.” How did you live on the islands?

I still remember that summer as one of the brightest. I did my internship on the island of Crete, but managed to go to Santorini. I visited Mykonos this summer. Greece has over a thousand islands. I have not seen many, but I definitely like the Cyclades. I love their white and blue architecture - this is the hallmark of Greece.

When I was in Greece, I also felt at home. Take the Greek alphabet, for example: half of the letters look and sound like native ones. You can read the inscriptions. I wonder what else this feeling is made of? Let's say language is the foundation. A house has walls, a door, windows and a roof.

Culture and traditions are the doors to the country. Religion is the wall that holds everything else up. National cuisine is windows through which you can look into the house, try different dishes.

Well, all this is “protected” by the people themselves, the local population.

Ukrainian, Russian, Greek… Are these all languages? What else do you know?

English, of course. And some Spanish. But I want to learn it so I can speak Spanish fluently.

Masha, are you an introvert or an extrovert? In your opinion, who is easier to communicate while traveling?

I am definitely an extrovert. In fact, extroverts are easier to communicate with. But even if you are an introvert, traveling will help you to know yourself. Sometimes I want to be silent, to observe the internal processes that happen to me while traveling.

I recently heard the opinion that language is not the main means of communication between people. Facial expressions, gestures, half-phrases, a common cultural code - that's what makes communication successful. Does it look like the truth?

Language has never been a barrier. People communicate with emotions and you can see a lot in the eyes.

In Peru, my basic Spanish was helped by sign language. I had to explain on my fingers that a vegetarian not only does not eat meat, but also chicken, fish and eggs (smiles).

Apart from Greece, there are two other countries that you call home: Nepal and India. What is your relationship with the latter? You didn't fall in love with her...

India is my second home. This country will always be special, because my story began with it. Two years ago I went to India for a yoga teacher training course, where my life was turned upside down and I started from scratch. Since then I have been traveling constantly.

India is a very specific country. You can either dislike her, or accept and fall in love. At first she shocked me, but then I let her heart in, and she took me into her arms. Since then, I spend many months of the year in India. I am here now (smiles).

Tell us about the Indian prince who constantly invites you to visit ...

The Indian prince is my friend. By the way, I still went to see him in Rajasthan. It's very cool when you can really make friends with someone from the locals.

Relationships for me now are a difficult issue, they require stability. It is difficult to keep a baby who does not sit still. Unless I find a crazy traveler like me.

In Nepal, you have three bachelorette parties this year. Why do you travel there more often than other countries? What is a girl to do in this harsh mountainous country?

Nepal is the most suitable country for exploring Asia. It is original, it has an ancient history, beautiful nature and unique architecture. This is a very multifaceted country. Nepal is not only mountaineering and bearded men in mountain boots, it is also the medieval streets of Kathmandu, safari in the Terai jungle (Terai region in the Himalayas - Arrivo), picturesque views of the snow-capped peaks of eight-thousanders, Buddhist stupas and monasteries.

Believe me, the girls are absolutely delighted with Nepal. Even if they don’t want to go to the track with a backpack (although we also organize tracks) or they are afraid to go alone.

Here's what I noticed: you manage to love both Europe and Asia at the same time! Before the interview with you, I did not think that such a thing could happen at all.

In Europe I am attracted by architecture, in Asia by people and culture. They are very different, but special in their own way.

I thrive on travel in general. I'm interested in everything from Gothic cathedrals in Europe to floating markets in Asia.

I know from my own experience: fatigue accumulates from distant wanderings, from time to time you need to recharge the batteries. What helps to cheer up?

I stopped chasing quantity a long time ago, counting countries. It is better to spend more time in smaller places than to visit more places in less time. Frequent moving is very tiring, I like to spend several weeks in one city (on one island), and then travel to another place and immerse myself in a completely different atmosphere. Of course, on a psychological level - coming home is most often such a recharge of batteries, an opportunity to relax and be inspired for further wanderings.

Can you please explain what is happening in this photo? Where did you find the ramp-colored dress?

(Laughs). It's more like a ramp painted to match the color of the dress! I bought it long before. Just a coincidence.

I wanted to show you how you spend your time. The photo is from your Instagram. Are Anton and Yulia forcing you to blog? It already has 1200 publications and 18 thousand subscribers.

I run my own Instagram and blog. This is my personal space for creativity. I only post what I like, what I feel. I love taking photos.

Is natural beauty enough to become a popular travel blogger? This question might be asked by our readers...

Natural beauty is enough to just be a blogger and post selfies (smiles). Travel bloggers need to talk about travel, provide high-quality content.

I know many popular travelers on Instagram, but they hide their beauty behind the scenes of Instagram posts.

How many times a year are you at home? Do you have time to explore your native country?

Recently, I come to Ukraine once or twice a year for a month and a half to get another visa, to see relatives and friends. This year I decided to spend the whole summer in Kyiv.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to travel much around Ukraine, because I wanted to take a break from endless journeys. But at the same time, she didn’t sit still: she went to Greece and Turkey.

In addition to mom's borscht, what else do you miss when you travel?

For my mother, of course. By friends. And also… fast Wi-Fi, a hot bath and delicious lemongrass coffee for $1.5 at my favorite coffee shop in Kyiv.

I wanted to ask for the recipe for borscht, but we already seem to have failed the interview. (crying)… I’d better ask: how to find a dream job so that you don’t have to work as a tourism manager? Do you have such a recipe?

The main thing: do not sit at home on the couch with folded arms and do not expect that the work itself will be found. Dream and act! Do not be afraid, travel, gain experience by any means. Believe in yourself, follow your dreams and realize ideas.

I, Julia and Anton are a vivid example of this.

Today Julia Savitskaya, who has already shared with us her fascinating travels around the world more than once (please note that by the tags in the upper right corner you can always find more articles by a certain author, in this case Yulin tag - ), will talk about travel bachelorette parties . This is something new, unusual and so exciting that it will most likely interest more than one or two of you. And this time we will talk about one of our favorite destinations - the island of Bali.

“Let’s make trips just for girls!” - this idea appeared in our heads with Anton suddenly (like all brilliant ideas). Journeys that will go beyond the usual expedition tours. And they will embody our travel philosophy - everything that we love and appreciate.

The term travel bachelorette parties appeared by itself, on that memorable evening in Bali. We came up with it on the veranda of our Balinese house. There were so many routes in my head, secret places around the world, favorite cafes and shops in the narrow streets of another crazy city. That's how it all started.

Our trips take place in a narrow circle - 10, maximum 12 people, in the format girls only with an emphasis on what girls love so much: we do yoga, go to cooking classes, explore city labyrinths and temples, have a long breakfast and drink coffee in cozy cafes, do not forget about shopping (traveling is for girls!), looking for treasures in local shops and look into secret courtyards, drink delicious coffee and just laugh a lot.

After a project appeared in our life Girls In Travel, travel organically grew from a hobby and passion into the main business of our lives. This is what we live, breathe and inspire.

That night in Bali, we could not sleep discussing this idea. And in May, three months later in Kyiv, the program of the first travel bachelorette party on the Roof of the World was released. On what kind of roof? In Nepal, of course.

We immediately decided that there would be no Europe in our schedules. After all, girls can easily go there on their own. And we want adventure and the feeling that you are on another planet. Therefore, we choose countries that, from the first breath, the first step, hit on the head. Those that can radically change life and the idea of ​​the world: Nepal, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bolivia or Peru.

As you already understood, the island of Bali occupies a special place in our lives, so we could not resist the temptation to celebrate our first New Year there and show the girls our beloved island. Therefore, we tried to combine all the most stunning places on the island in our trip around the island. They are very different and do not resemble each other. And of course, our favorite restaurants, cafes, coffee plantations, decor stores, in general, all the secret places that have appeared during our life here.

Travel Girls in travel is always a mix of emotions. Most of all, we do not like a monotonous and boring vacation: a dozen temples a day or a beach from morning to evening is not our option. Drink coffee in one of the stylish ones, walk through the mysterious Monkey Forest, laugh and take plenty of pictures, and then have lunch on the ocean - so that the sea breeze in your face and huge waves right under your feet. Admire one of the most stunning temples of the island - Tanah Lot, and watch the sunset there. In the evening, feel the atmosphere of the traditional Balinese kechak dance, under the light of stars and torches ... And how could it be otherwise when you discover an island like Bali.

The island is a mystery. Someone falls in love without looking back, someone disappointedly sits for two weeks on the beach of Kuta. The biggest mistake is to come to Bali for the beaches. There are only a few heavenly places with blue water and snow-white sand and they still need to be found. Here meditatively contemplate the ocean from a steep cliff - yes. And yet - imbued with culture, explore unusual temples, do yoga, enjoy rice terraces, dine in amazing restaurants, discover surfing and enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of every step.

And, of course, Ubud. The heart of the island. What is the secret of this small town? Lost somewhere in the middle of the island among the jungle, volcanoes, rice terraces and mountain rivers, Ubud has been the cultural, artistic and spiritual heart of Bali for centuries.

Many come here for a couple of days and stay for months. It is the special atmosphere that reigns here, and the opportunity to immerse yourself in culture, that attracts like a magnet. Well, after filming “Yes. Pray. To love ”tourists were drawn here simply by the thousands.

Lonely foreign women ride their bikes along the narrow winding paths in the rice fields in the hope of meeting the man of their dreams with the appearance of Javier Bardem. And making an appointment with the healer Ketutu is becoming more and more difficult every year.

Ubud is like a year-round open-air exhibition, there are so many galleries of local artists, workshops with unique bamboo products, carved wooden furniture, shops with creations of local designers and unique silver and gold products.

There are about as many yoga schools in Ubud as there are artist workshops. And how could it be without this, the very atmosphere of serenity and complete relaxation is conducive to meditation and daily practices. And then, according to tradition, I rush to breakfast.

Food is generally a separate conversation, it seems to me that I have not yet seen such a cult anywhere in Asia. And raw and organic is an absolute trend. Almost everything here is organic. The omelet you eat for breakfast will, of course, be organic eggs with organic whole grain toast. And all this is washed down with organic Balinese coffee.

Also live chocolate. I confess that I really have no idea who and where invented this delicacy, but I strongly believe that local Ubud craftsmen are on some organic farm. Raw chocolate is prepared from raw cocoa, coconut oil, dates, coconut flakes and other natural ingredients without heat treatment.

It is simply unrealistic to resist the temptation of numerous spas. And once you visit, you risk spending your entire vacation there. Balinese full body massage with fragrant oils, rose petal baths, hot stone massage, the famous Javanese Lulur body scrub, chocolate wraps - five-hour sessions fly by.

Perhaps you will fall in love with the island, as I once did. You may want to buy a house here, or even move completely, as thousands of foreigners living on the island have already done. Maybe you will return once a year for a couple of months, well, just to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and walk along your favorite paths in the rice fields.

I don’t know how it will be for you, but I can tell you with almost one hundred percent certainty that this trip will give you a point on the world map where you will return again and again throughout your life. Because Bali is a drug. Once you try it (in the right doses and in the right places), you simply cannot live without it.