I remember when I loved the travel pages of my city paper. They proudly proclaimed that they didn’t take freebies and explained why. If we pay our own way we can be objective in our comments. They also published readers travel stories. I was inspired to go to many places based on those stories. Then they took freebies saying they couldn’t afford to send people to travel sites without free flights and a accommodation.
As a result, I find the travel pages to be more like a brochure for expensive resorts and tours and not inspirational at all.
Yeah agree, and the thing is, even if they were paying their own way, no way could I afford to stay at the kind of joints that get profiled. $1,000 a night? Ummm no I don’t think so—how about $20. lol
They posted it on their facebook page, but it didn’t say why. I hope they are ok and didn’t have to sell it. As far as I understood it was still long owned family property. Devastated by it. After many times I haven’t been there since 2009 and somehow assumed it‘ll just be there forever…
Oh wow yes it was one of those forever places. I was last there a few years ago. Sahaat (somewhat incredibly!) was still kicking and Mol had the beach bar, tho I didn’t see Tep. Hate to think what will replace it.
All of this makes me grateful to be writing on Substack. No chasing algorithims, no having to only cover the positive parts of our nomadic lives. Sure, we mostly live where we go and what we do, but not always and we tell people that. As for paid trips, etc. that hasn't come up for us and if it did, of course it would influence what you write, no matter how much you might not want it to!
And being able to monetize it in a very upfront way that doesn't involve having to entire people to stay with misleading descriptions or faux-enthusiasm. Not having to do SEO.
I remember when I loved the travel pages of my city paper. They proudly proclaimed that they didn’t take freebies and explained why. If we pay our own way we can be objective in our comments. They also published readers travel stories. I was inspired to go to many places based on those stories. Then they took freebies saying they couldn’t afford to send people to travel sites without free flights and a accommodation.
As a result, I find the travel pages to be more like a brochure for expensive resorts and tours and not inspirational at all.
Yeah agree, and the thing is, even if they were paying their own way, no way could I afford to stay at the kind of joints that get profiled. $1,000 a night? Ummm no I don’t think so—how about $20. lol
Honest and thought provoking … thank you Stuart!
Thanks Tony.
Wonderful read. Thanks Stuart!
Thank you!
I just learned that Hin Wong Bungalows has closed down. Definitely one of my favorite places 💔
Oh noooooooooo! Really?!
They posted it on their facebook page, but it didn’t say why. I hope they are ok and didn’t have to sell it. As far as I understood it was still long owned family property. Devastated by it. After many times I haven’t been there since 2009 and somehow assumed it‘ll just be there forever…
Oh wow yes it was one of those forever places. I was last there a few years ago. Sahaat (somewhat incredibly!) was still kicking and Mol had the beach bar, tho I didn’t see Tep. Hate to think what will replace it.
Yeah, totally!! Hin Wong became the only reason to keep going back to Koh Tao at all.
A friend of mine was there in 2019 and they all seemed fine and Tep being busy in his Tep way 😅
I really enjoyed that Stuart. Thank you
Cheers!
All of this makes me grateful to be writing on Substack. No chasing algorithims, no having to only cover the positive parts of our nomadic lives. Sure, we mostly live where we go and what we do, but not always and we tell people that. As for paid trips, etc. that hasn't come up for us and if it did, of course it would influence what you write, no matter how much you might not want it to!
Yeah I really like the newsletter format, be it on Substack or wherever. Like the direct connection.
And being able to monetize it in a very upfront way that doesn't involve having to entire people to stay with misleading descriptions or faux-enthusiasm. Not having to do SEO.
So much yes to this.