Fabian Samir switched careers to become a Hotels Diary travel and hotel reviewer. It was hard, but here are some tips.

Fabian Samir was a hobby photographer who loved mountains and traveling until a few years ago; on the side, though, he had maintained a travel and lifestyle blog. Travel was an important part of his life – “In the most general sense, I think travel makes you a better human being,” he says – and he was flirting with the idea of making it a full-time job by photographing and reviewing stunning places. That would mean a jump from the known into the unknown, though as he was still working in a clothing company.

His blog eventually got him writing articles in local and national publications, and he increasingly saw the value of getting into the travel reviewing space. Through Hotels Diary, he was connected to multiple exclusive Properties and magazines around Switzerland and quite quickly took over the space.

“We hit it off talking about the exciting dynamic of capturing and sharing travel experiences today. I gave the idea some deep thought,” says Fabian, “and I decided to give it a go with their support.”

The transition wasn’t always perfect. Here are some of Fabian’s key tips:

1. The Balancing Act

Fabian began reviewing travel destinations while still maintaining his full-time sales job. "I had to wake up early and stay up late," he says, "and burn a lot of lunch breaks building a good portfolio." Within nine months, the interest from travel clients was too great, and he shifted to that full-time.

2. Building a Portfolio

Many new reviewers talk about the challenges of "building a portfolio," or, essentially, having a collection of high-quality, trustworthy content that attracts attention. Fabian didn’t necessarily see it as a challenge. "You need to start with places you know and love," he says. "Once you capture those well, share them widely. Word of mouth is huge; definitely in the beginning but even once you get more established." He also speaks to a notable trend, especially in travel: social media. "Be visible, interested, and interesting on social," Fabian says. "People will notice and eventually want to follow your recommendations."

3. Learn

Try to be observant. If you see something that’s working for other reviewers, invest time in learning more about it. "I saw pretty quickly that detailed and honest reviews gave my audience more value," he says, "so I went and invested time in learning the best ways to do that. It pays off." He also recommends the basics: read travel magazines, talk to colleagues, observe industry trends, and try to attend several trade shows a year and/or give yourself the chance to be in front of hotel managers and tour operators. The more people that know you and trust your insights, the better off you’ll be.

4. Realize the Power

"When you’re able to drink wine or share a meal in someone’s home thousands of miles from your own to realize a connection in spite of any language, religious, or political differences," says Fabian, "it will change the way you see the world. And there’s power in creating that for people."

Interested in following Fabian’s footsteps?
Learn more about becoming a Hotels Diary travel and hotel reviewer.