How We Create Travel Content on the Road (Our Full Setup)

We didn't start this trip as content creators. We started as a couple who wanted to document their travels for friends and family. Somewhere between Marrakech and Cappadocia, we started getting DMs asking "where is this?" and "how did you find that?" and our following grew from 800 to 12,000.

We're not influencers. We're not making a living from this (yet). But we've learned a lot about creating quality travel content from the road, and most of it comes down to having the right tools and a reliable internet connection.

Our Gear (Minimal)

Camera: iPhone 15 Pro (both of us)

We don't carry a separate camera anymore. Tom brought his Sony a7C for the first 3 weeks and barely used it. Modern phone cameras are genuinely good enough for social media content. And you always have your phone. The best camera is the one you actually use.

Key settings: Always shoot in 4K 30fps for video. Use the 0.5x ultrawide for landscapes and interiors. Portrait mode for food and people shots. Cinematic mode for short clips.

Audio: Nothing Extra

We tried a wireless lapel mic for one video. The audio quality was marginally better but the setup added 5 minutes to every shot. Not worth it for social media content. Phone microphone is fine for reels and stories. If we ever do long-form YouTube, we'll reconsider.

Editing: Phone Only

• CapCut for reels and TikToks (free, powerful, all editing happens on the phone)
• Lightroom Mobile for photo editing (free tier is enough)
• Canva for story graphics and carousels (pro plan, $12/month)

We used to edit on a laptop. Now everything happens on the phone during downtime: waiting for buses, sitting at cafes, the 20 minutes before sleep. Editing on the phone means we don't need to carry laptop chargers, transfer files, or find a desk.

Storage: iCloud (200GB plan)

All photos and videos auto-upload to iCloud over Wi-Fi. This gives us a backup and lets us free up phone storage regularly. $3/month. Worth it for the peace of mind.

The Content Workflow

1. Capture

We shoot constantly but casually. No tripods, no posed setups, no "wait, let me get the right angle." The best content is candid. Tom laughing at a market vendor. Me trying to eat something I can't identify. The two of us completely lost in a medina.

Rule: If we're having a genuine moment, one of us picks up the phone. If we're trying to create a moment, we put the phone down.

2. Edit

We batch edit in the evenings or during transit. A 30-second reel takes about 20-30 minutes to edit in CapCut. We aim for 3-4 reels per week and daily stories.

3. Post

This is where connectivity matters most. Posting a reel requires uploading 100-200MB of video data. Stories are smaller but constant (5-10 per day during active days).

On hotel Wi-Fi, uploading a reel takes 1-2 minutes. On GOAN's cellular data via our eSIM, it takes 3-5 minutes. Both are fine.

What's not fine: trying to upload on sketchy cafe Wi-Fi that drops every 30 seconds. We lost an entire day of content in Morocco because the riad's Wi-Fi kept timing out mid-upload. After that, we started uploading via cellular data whenever Wi-Fi was unreliable.

4. Engage

Responding to DMs and comments within the first hour of posting significantly boosts reach. This means being online and active right after posting. Not "I'll check when I find Wi-Fi." Right now.

Having our own data through GOAN means we can post and engage from anywhere. A rooftop in Marrakech. A train in Japan. A beach in Koh Lanta. The engagement window doesn't wait for Wi-Fi.

Data Usage for Content Creation

Content creation uses more data than casual browsing. Here's what we typically use:

GOAN's 20GB plan handles this comfortably. We do the heavy uploads (reels) on Wi-Fi when possible and use cellular for stories and engagement.

What Grew Our Account

1. Specific, Useful Info

"10 best things to do in Marrakech" posts do okay. "The exact riad where we paid $65 for this view" does better. Specific, actionable content outperforms generic advice every time.

2. Real Stories Over Polished Content

Our most engaged reel was Tom getting lost in the Fes medina and me filming his increasingly panicked face as we wandered in circles. Not professional. Not polished. Very real. People related to it.

3. Responding to Every DM

When someone asks "what hotel was that?", we respond within an hour. This builds community and signals to the algorithm that our content drives conversation.

4. Consistent Posting on a Schedule

We post reels Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Stories daily. The algorithm rewards consistency. Showing up every day, even when you're tired and the Wi-Fi is garbage, is what separates accounts that grow from accounts that stall.

The Brand Deal Reality

We've had 3 small brand deals so far. Not life-changing money, but enough to cover a few nights' accommodation. Here's the honest truth:

How they found us: Two reached out via DM. One we pitched via email after staying at their property.

What they paid: $100-300 each plus free accommodation. This is beginner-level. Established creators with 50K+ followers earn $500-2,000 per post.

The connectivity factor: One deal happened because I replied to a DM within 10 minutes while sitting in a cafe in Istanbul. The brand was looking for creators in Turkey that week. Being constantly online meant I saw and responded before 20 other creators in their DM queue.

Reliable data isn't just about posting content. It's about being available when opportunities show up. They don't wait for Wi-Fi.

Our Posting Schedule

The Bottom Line

You don't need expensive gear to create travel content. A modern phone, a free editing app, and reliable internet are enough.

The internet part is what most people underestimate. You need data to upload, engage, respond to DMs, research hashtags, and stay visible. Wi-Fi alone doesn't cut it when you're moving between countries and accommodations.

Tom and I both run GOAN eSIMs on the group plan ($29 each). It covers everywhere we go, and the real phone number helps when we need to coordinate with brands or properties by phone.

If you're starting a travel content page, get your connectivity sorted first. Everything else builds on top of it.

Get your GOAN eSIM

Sophie Ward

29, travelling the world with my husband Tom before the next chapter. Currently documenting everything.