Travel

The Travelista blogger Jess Gibson bagged 12 holidays in 12 months for FREE

Most people cherish two or three holidays a year, but one lucky traveller managed to go on 12 amazing holidays in 12 months last year, while holding down a job based in London.

And here she reveals how you, too, could rack up a similar number of getaways. 

From hot air ballooning in the Serengeti to diving in the Maldives, travel blogger Jess Gibson, 25, lives a luxury jetsetting lifestyle, but this is a far cry from her life before she got into online writing. 

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Booking a lavish holiday around the world is something many spend their year looking forward to – but one lucky traveller managed to do 12 amazing holidays in 12 months last year – all the while holding down a job based in London

From hot air ballooning in the Serengeti to diving in the Maldives, travel blogger Jess Gibson, 25, lives a luxury jetsetting lifestyle – but this is a far cry from her life before she got into online writing

Moving to London at the age of 21 after university, Gibson, took a ‘deathly dull’ job as an office PA – but now gets to try anti-gravity yoga in Bali as part of her job

Moving to London at the age of 21 after university, Gibson, who goes by the blog name of Travelista, took a ‘deathly dull’ job as an office PA, which she said quickly extinguished her graduate glow.

She was too poor to pay for the tube and crippling rent and like many ‘living the London dream’ could barely afford to actually enjoy the city.

Thankfully fate stepped in, and she learned that her offices shared floor space with a men’s luxury magazine, where she quickly volunteered to write for free in her spare time. 

Finding she had a natural flair for writing and an interest in the luxury sector, Jess realised that she wanted to make her passion her career and created her blogging website, The Travelista

With colourful photographs, exquisite hotels and helpful tips, it is clear to see why the blog has gained a legion of fans as well as winning many awards in its three-year existence. 

It was listed in the Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogs in 2015 by Vuelio and won Highly Commended Travel Blog in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2014 and last year Jess secured the Best Blogger / Journalist prize at the SATOA Blog Awards 2015.

Within two years the website was earning Jess a decent income and it now allows her to regularly follow her passion – travelling.

So much so that last year she managed to tick off a whole host of destinations last year: Dublin, Barcelona, Cape Town, Tuscany, Monaco, The Maldives, Tanzania, Spain, Dubai, Bath, Cancun and Val d’Isere.

Finding she had a natural flair for writing and an interest in the luxury sector, Jess realised that she wanted to make her passion her career and created her blogging website, The Travelista

With colourful photographs of places such as Mexico, exquisite hotels and helpful tips, it is clear to see why the blog has gained a legion of fans as well as winning many awards in its three-year existence

Last year Jess secured the Best Blogger / Journalist prize at the SATOA Blog Awards 2015 for her Travelista blog which features her adventures in locations such as the Serengeti (pictured) 

Within two years Jess started earning a decent income from her blog and it now allows her to follow her passion – travelling

Working as a freelance social media manager three days a week, specialising in luxury travel and hotel brands, Jess manages to spend the rest of her time running her website or travelling.

TRAVEL TIP: HOW TO GAIN FOLLOWERS ON A TRAVEL BLOG

Jess advised: ‘To build a following you need to develop an online identify that people can relate to. 

‘Be human and allow people into your world. If people buy in to you as a person, they buy into your blog and they will keep returning to your site and social media to see what you’re getting up to. 

‘It’s also really important to engage with all of your followers whenever you can; if someone shows you love, show them some back!’

‘I aim to travel once a month to a different overseas destination,’ she said to MailOnline Travel. ‘There’s no time to lie on the beach though!

‘I hate routine, so for me, I love the feeling of waking up every day knowing it will be completely different from the last.’ 

The Yorkshire explorer takes trips both paid and unpaid, and either travels on group press trips  or is sometimes lucky enough to be able to take a plus one.

She advised that networking and maintaining contacts in the industry is key to securing the best trips. 

And the fruits of her labour were seen by her managing to last year achieve her goal of one trip each month, including visits to Barcelona, Cape Town, Tuscany and Val D’Isere – visiting some of the top luxury hotels.

In the Maldives she stayed at the Four Seasons Kuda Huura where she did scuba diving and in Dublin she stayed at The Westbury where golfer Rory McIlroy always stays when he’s in town. 

‘My two standout trips in 2015 had to be Tanzania and The Maldives. The safari in The Serengeti was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn’t have ever been able to do had it not been for my writing,’ she said. 

‘There is something magic about seeing such beautiful animals in the wild and the trip was a true taste of Africa.’

Last year Jess ticked off a whole host of destinations: Dublin, Barcelona, Cape Town, Tuscany, Monaco, The Maldives (pictured), Tanzania, Spain, Dubai, Bath, Cancun and Val d’Isere

Working as a freelance social media manager three days a week, specialising in luxury travel and hotel brands, Jess manages to spend the rest of her time running her website or travelling to places such as Bali (pictured) 

The Yorkshire explorer takes trips both paid and unpaid, and either travels on a group press trip or is sometimes lucky enough to be able to take a plus one

Jess, pictured in Mexico, has no plans to slow down her busy lifestyle. She is aiming to visit another 12 countries in 2016, and in the future hopes to launch an online magazine for women that will be a one-stop destination for stylish luxury travel

Jess came to London with absolutely zero contacts, but is a strong believer in networking and has worked hard to get her name out there and build her own network. Here she is pictured in Florence

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Despite her lavish lifestyle, Jess maintains that it is all achievable through hard work. 

‘All of my family live up North and I came to London with absolutely zero contacts, but I am a strong believer in networking and I have worked hard to get my name out there and build my own network,’ she said. 

‘Although my life may look privileged now, I went to a state school and have built my career with absolutely no financial support.

‘My biggest passion is writing. It has always been my dream to become a travel writer so I made my blog an online portfolio.

‘I got my social media work off the back of running my blog, so it’s proof that launching a blog can really help your career.’

Jess has no plans to slow down her busy lifestyle. She is aiming to visit another 12 countries in 2016, and in the future hopes to launch an online magazine for women that will be a one-stop destination for stylish luxury travel.  

Follow her latest adventures on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  

LIVING THE DREAM: 12 HOLIDAY IN 12 MONTHS – THE TRAVELISTA’S TOP PICKS IN EACH PLACE

To kick start the year Jess stayed and reviewed the five-star Westbury Dublin for a group press trip where she got to see the creative and artistic side of Dublin

January – Dublin

Stayed at: The Westbury

Highlights of the trip: Trying fresh Sligo Oysters for the first at Temple Bar food market and enjoying an Afternoon Tea at The Westbury in front of a roaring log fire

February – Barcelona

During the next month Jess took a spontaneous trip to Barcelona with a friend where she stayed there for a weekend

Stayed at: The W Barcelona

Highlights of the trip: Visiting the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia and going on the hunt for the best tapas in Barcelona

March – Cape Town

As part of a group press trip Jess reviewed Qatar Airlines, Steenberg Hotel and Cape View Clifton in one bumper break 

Stayed at: Steenberg Farm and Cape View Clifton

Highlights of the trip: Climbing up to the top of Table Mountain, visiting Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated and wine tasting in Constantia

April – Tuscany

Jess next jetted off to Tuscany to review Castello di Casole on a magazine commission and Hotel Brunelleschi for the blog

Stayed at: Castello di Casole and The Brunelleschi, Florence

Highlights of the trip: Going on a five-day Tuscan road trip from Pisa to Florence via San Grimignano, Casole d’Elsa and Siena

May – Monaco

Many dream of visiting Monaco Grand Prix but Jess got go last year to work at the event and even met some high profile stars such as One Direction’s Liam Payne

Stayed at: Private accommodation

Highlights of the trip: Watching the Monaco Grand Prix 2015 from a super yacht in the marina

June – Tanzania  

Alongside a group of journalists and bloggers, Jess stayed at the incredible Four Seasons Serengeti to conduct a review

Stayed at: The Four Seasons Serengeti

Highlight of the trip: Going on safari for the first time and taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti

June – The Maldives

During one of her most relaxing weeks of the year, Jess reviewed Hideaway Maldives and The Four Seasons Kuda Huraa for a magazine commission

Stayed at: Hideaway Resort and Four Seasons Kuda Huura

Highlight of the trip: Going scuba diving and seeing seven sharks in one dive

September – Bath

Jess headed to Bath with her boyfriend to review the Francis Hotel which she said was perfectly central and had beautiful interiors and friendly staff

Stayed at: The Francis Hotel

Highlight of the trip: Watching the Jane Austen Festival Parade and strolling down The Royal Crescent

September – Almunecar, Spain

As part of a four-day trip, Jess visited Spain with her family which she spent exploring the local town, going on a catamaran boat trip and enjoying lots of sangria and churros

Stayed at: Villa Los Geranios

Highlight of the trip: Exploring The Alhambra palace in nearby, getting lost in Almunecar old town and eating churros by the sea

October – Dubai

Jess took a personal holiday to Dubai with a group of her friends where they spent their time exploring beach clubs and restaurants

Stayed at: Private accommodation

Highlight of the trip: Going sand duning in the desert and visiting a desert camp site

November – Mexico

In November Jess did a trip to Mexico to create content on behalf of lowcostholidays for two Palace Resorts in the country

Stayed at: The Moon Palace Golf Resort and Spa and Le Blanc Spa Resort

Highlight of the trip: Visiting Chichen Itza in the neighboring state of Yucatan and going loco at Coco Bongo

December – Val d’Isere

In Val d’Isere in France Jess hosted a group press trip on behalf of Powder White where they stayed in a chalet called Chalet Marwari

Stayed at: Chalet Marwari, Val d’Isere

Highlight of the trip: Conquering my fears on a tricky red run and indulging in the cheesiest, creamiest tartiflette