✨ Welcome to our series, TravMedia's Travel Writer of the Week! ✨

Each week, we'll be shining a spotlight on one of the incredibly talented, passionate, and inspiring Journalists or Editors from our amazing community.

This week, we'd like to shine the spotlight on freelance travel writer - Monica Meade!

We hope you enjoy - happy reading !!

Where are you based?

Bristol/Wiltshire, but from November I'll be in South America – starting in Patagonia travelling north to Central America over the course of two years, writing as I go.

What outlets do you write for? Who is your audience? What are your travel specialities?

A huge perk of freelancing is the freedom to write in various styles for a range of publications. My bylines can be found in the likes of Adventure.com, The Independent, Escapism, Travel Weekly, The Club by British Airways, Skier & Snowboarder and Euronews.

In a nutshell, I specialize in adventure, nature and sustainability in wild and remote places of natural beauty. I'm also drawn to writing about interesting people who we can learn from or who deserve celebrating.

Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?

Freelance since 2022 and a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.

What are your professional pet peeves?

Stolen story ideas, a lack of understanding about the financial struggles of freelance travel writers and required commissions before a press trip (especially if it's more than one). The latter, I think, threatens to cast shadows of bias while hugely limiting writers. Our best story ideas aren't discovered until we're on the trip.

In your past professional life, you were …

An in-house feature writer at a UK-based national press agency.

Where would you like to return to?

Cuba and the Azores both have special places in my heart for sentimental reasons. I also plan on returning to Costa Rica, as the “pura vida” lifestyle aligns perfectly with my own values and personality.

What's on your bucket list?

What isn't! Everything from classics like seeing the Pyramids of Giza to slightly daunting feats like an expedition through Hang Son Doong in Vietnam and running a high-altitude ultra. I also want to get my skipper certification and motorbike licence so I can expand the possibilities of how and where I explore. Spending a decent amount of time volunteering is a priority, too – which I've got plans for Chile.

Where do you travel for fun?

I'm typically drawn to tiny islands and mountainous areas. Although recently a lot of my work and leisure trips have revolved around scuba diving.

Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is …

When me and my girl friends ran for our lives from an extremely loud growling animal in a pitch black rainforest (while being savaged by insects) – then later discovering it was just howler monkeys.

What advice would you give your younger professional self?

It's still something I'm working on – and it's to have some damn confidence in the things I'm good at. 

What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?

This industry is full of fantastic people, so I'd like to say cheers to those who have treated me with kindness, sincerity and compassion – especially in the early freelancing days. There are a handful who, maybe without fully realising the extent, have made an immeasurable impact on my career path which I'm extremely grateful for.

How best should people contact you?

I do love LinkedIn or messaging on TravMedia is also a great option. Emailing is ok too but the best way to chat is over a video call or in-person I'd say.