Taylor Blair Photography

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Springfield, MO
Taylor Blair Photography

Hey I’m Taylor— a hotel photographer capturing unique stays around the world. Check out my daily travel vlogs over on tiktok!

I create guides and prints to inspire affordable travel and help you experience new places and cultures. documenting stories with photos you can feel
based in MO | available to travel
inquire through email ⤵︎

[email protected]

04/17/2026

still unpacking emotionally

04/16/2026

London 🇬🇧 our motherland, the OG opp and the last stop of my 10 country interrailing trip across Europe

📍 I stayed in Shoreditch and i’d do it again without hesitation. a little grungy, a little artsy, great cafés and vintage shops, fun nightlife and easy access to everywhere else.

🗺️ don’t over plan. I know that sounds overwhelming for one of the biggest cities in the world but London rewards wandering so just pick a direction and walk!! obviously do the classics like Tower Bridge, Big Ben, all of it but don’t make your whole trip a checklist!

🍺 if you’re on a budget find the nearest Wetherspoons it’s a very chaotic very british pub chain and your meal + drink will cost less than £15— it’s a rite of passage honestly!

🍴between the pub classics, a proper Sunday roast and the many markets I was very well fed (yes the chocolate strawberries are as good as the Internet says)

🛍️ Borough Market for food, Columbia Road for flowers, Portobello Road for vintage. go early or it gets overwhelming.

🚇 skip the oyster card and just tap your contactless card or phone! just don’t forget to tap OUT or you’ll get charged the max fare.

🏛️ the major museums are completely free! British Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern so take advantage!

10 countries. 22 cities. 40 days. would I do it again? mmmm not anytime soon but I would definitely recommend! it’s one of those trips you have to do while you’re young and I am so glad I did. not for the faint of heart but 100% worth it. if you’re planning something similar or want recommendations for any of the countries on this trip shoot me a message cause I have a full detailed itinerary and more tips than I know what to do with!

04/09/2026

Paris— there’s a reason everyone talks about it 🥐

a few things I wish I knew before going and would tell anyone planning a trip:

1 - the metro is actually really easy to navigate once you just commit to it. I Ubered way more than I needed to and it adds up fast. apple/google maps tell you exactly which line to take, which stop to get off at and when to transfer— just follow it like a GPS

2 - get a Navigo card for public transit. it covers everything and saves you a ton versus buying individual tickets

3 - where you stay really shapes your whole trip. I stayed near the Champs-Élysées area which put me close to a lot of major sites. Le Marais is great for food and a younger crowd, Montmartre is artsy and incredibly photogenic, Saint-Germain is classic Paris but pricier. figure out what matters most to you before you book

4 - learn a few basic French phrases before you go. locals notice and you’ll have a way better experience for it

5 - if you want a nice dinner WITH EIFFEL TOWER VIEWS without the crazy price tag, book it holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand which basically means great food + reasonable prices. there’s only a few tables outside so it’s worth getting there early to your reservation

6 - if you’re budget traveling most cafés will let you sit for hours with just one coffee— it’s part of the culture so don’t feel rushed (it’s my favorite place to people watch)

7 - you don’t need to buy a ticket for the Eiffel Tower. sit anywhere at the Champ de Mars and just take it in

8 - the museum pass covers 50+ museums and monuments and can save you a significant amount of money if you’re planning to hit multiple sites

9 - if the Louvre is on your list book the 9am ticket and use the carrousel entrance instead of the main pyramid. I got there 30 minutes early and was one of the first people standing in front of the Mona Lisa

10 - stay aware especially around tourist sites. when I left the Louvre someone tried to get me to sign a petition which is a common scam— just keep walking and keep your bag in front of you at all times

04/04/2026

Brussels doesn’t get nearly enough credit and if it’s on your list here’s what you need to know 🇧🇪

1 - stay as central as possible. getting around Brussels can be confusing and the further you are from the center the harder it gets

2 - use the STIB app for public transit— it’s your cheapest option and it makes navigating the trams and metro much more straightforward. taxi + uber works here as well

3 - Brussels is officially bilingual in French and Dutch but most people in tourist areas speak English. learning a few basic French phrases will go a long way though

4 - have some local currency on hand. not every place accepts card

5 - wear comfortable shoes. the cobblestones are everywhere and they will wear you out

6 - the Grand Place is one of the most stunning town squares in all of Europe and completely free to visit— don’t skip + it’s a perfect place to grab a bite to eat

7 - the frites, waffles, beer, and chocolate all live up to the hype. don’t leave without trying all four

8 - the parks are plentiful, well maintained, and free— a great way to slow down and experience the city like a local

9 - if you have more than two days, take a day trip to Bruges or Ghent! both are under an hour by train and I wish I had made the time when I was there

03/24/2026

Amsterdam I am not over you and I don’t think I ever will be

here’s some things i’d recommend👉🏼

for accommodation I’d say either St. Christopher’s at the Winston or anywhere in the Jordaan neighborhood. the Winston is central, cheap, and you will make friends whether you’re trying to or not! even the private rooms are super affordable. the Jordaan is if you want something a little more trendy and residential, super cute area and very walkable. you can’t go wrong with either!

rent a bike. just do it. it’s the easiest way to see the city!

skip the traditional Dutch meals and go straight for the bar foods, the fries, the stroopwafels— I ate better here than almost anywhere else on my entire trip and I was completely unprepared for that.

yes I went to the red light district. yes I went to a coffee shop. it’s legal, it’s a vibe, and honestly good for Amsterdam for just letting people live. 10/10 experience go with an open mind!

I didn’t get to do a canal boat and it is genuinely one of my only regrets from the whole trip. there’s a lot of different options but I suggest booking the ones in front of Central Station!

I was there during rainy season and it was still one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. I genuinely cannot imagine what it looks like when the tulips are in bloom but I’m going back to find out🌷

📸 also pictured: 📍Leiden, Netherlands

03/22/2026

warning Prague will ruin other cities for you but here’s what I’d tell anyone planning a trip 🇨🇿

stay in Old Town. it’s walkable, central, and honestly just the best home base.

get to Charles Bridge and Old Town Square before the crowds. like early early. I promise it’s worth it!

the food is sooo underrated and I was not expecting that. flavorful, filling, unlike anything I’d had anywhere else in Europe + budget friendly too!!

the castle is a must and I mean actually go inside not just look at it from across the river. there are stairs but trust me on this one nothing prepares you for how massive it is in person!

oh and keep an eye out for the nutria along the river! they’re basically giant capybara looking rodents just living their best life amongst the swans and ducks they’ll even eat right out of your hand!

and if you need a night out, find Durty Nelly’s! four floors with different vibes, karaoke, live music— dare I say the best pub in all of Europe.

honestly Prague might have been my favorite stop on my entire 10 country itinerary and I didn’t see that coming!!
if it’s on your list GO and if it’s not consider this your sign to add it. 🏰

03/10/2026

Salzburg completely caught me off guard and honestly it might be my favorite city I visited this entire trip.

zero plan here and that was the move. this place is so walkable you just start going and keep stumbling into things. shops, cafes, little alleys, a church around every corner. no itinerary needed.

as a Sound of Music girlie Mirabell Gardens was a big deal for me. it looks exactly like it does in the film and honestly doesn’t look like anything has changed since then. all the iconic spots are still there.

the Hohensalzburg Fortress is a whole day on its own. it’s basically its own little world up there. restaurants, cafes, shops, museums and views of the snowy Alps that I was not ready for.

Mozart was born here so music is woven into everything and plan for a show while you’re here. also keep an eye out for the marionette puppets, they are a huge part of the culture and once you start noticing them you see them absolutely everywhere.

the famous Krampus Christmas festival is held here every year and I’m definitely adding that to the bucket list!

03/09/2026

before planning this trip I had never even heard of Lucerne. my heart was set on those little Swiss mountain towns you see all over the internet but they just didn’t work out with our train route and I am so glad because this place completely won me over.

we went during peak fall and honestly the timing could not have been more perfect. the old town is exactly what it sounds like. the buildings look straight out of a storybook and each one is more detailed than the last.

the Musegg Wall is free to walk and you can climb up into the towers for views over the whole town which can’t recommend enough. I didn’t even know it existed before I got there and it ended up being one of my favorite things I did.

things I loved about Switzerland: the locals are so friendly and there’s free public buses and wifi everywhere.
things I did not love: the prices. good luck finding a meal under $30 lol and I genuinely mean that.

we got fondue with a mountain view which sounds so touristy and it was and I loved every second of it. we tried to make it up to Mt. Pilatus but the weather was not having it so that one is going on the list for next time.

one night we ended up in this tiny local hole in the wall that I still think about all the time. we met these locals who were also celebrating a birthday and they introduced us to alpenbitter which is this dark swiss liqueur and we literally had the best night even despite the language barrier. the best part about traveling is you never know what kind of characters you’re going to meet or what side quest stories you’ll bring home as souvenirs.

03/04/2026

18 days into interrailing through Europe and the universe finally caught up with me when the line to Varenna went down and what should’ve been an easy train from Milan turned into a 6+ hour travel day.

that’s just traveling though. you can’t plan for everything and at some point you have to stop sweating it or you’ll ruin the whole trip.

Lake Como was exactly what I needed. the off season weather was gloomy but I’d choose that over the insane crowds every single time. no ferry lines, no reservations, completely different from the tourist packed videos I’ve seen on TikTok.

but what nobody tells you is that Bellagio is essentially just stairs. hundreds of them. I had an 80 pound suitcase and dragged it up about 300 steps myself cause there’s really no getting around them here.

skip the hotels they’re overpriced and underwhelming. I found a few local homestays on Booking.com for a fraction of the price and the views are insane just be ready for a workout lol.

my biggest tip is to split your time between a few towns— I did Bellagio and Varenna and they couldn’t have felt more different.

this was my last stop before heading to Switzerland the next country on my itinerary. if you want any recs from this trip slide into my DMs cause I could talk about it forever.

02/15/2026

Venice is one of those places that looks exactly like the photos but somehow feels completely different in person.

maybe I’ve been to the Venetian in Vegas too many times or watched too many movies but I was picturing singing gondola riders and romantic canals but that’s just not the reality. it’s super overpriced, pretty dirty, there was construction EVERYWHERE and dragging my suitcase over endless bridges and stairs genuinely almost made me cry.

we stayed two nights and out of everywhere I went in Italy this ended up ranking somewhere near the bottom which surprised me. that said the glass blowing was worth seeing, the water taxi system makes getting around super easy and the architecture was stunning (is it just me or does turning 30 make you suddenly care about architecture?) lol. going during off season helped it feel more local which I’d definitely recommend.

my honest take? Venice is worth seeing but maybe do it as a day trip from Mestre or even Murano instead of staying there. you’ll get the experience without the hassle and the price tag.

01/26/2026

by the time I got to Florence I had already dragged my 50 pound suitcase up more stairs than I could count and that’s when I realized I’m definitely a backpacker for life.

Florence though?? the pizza was incredible, the wine windows felt straight out of a movie (touristy but worth every penny) and I had the best cannoli of my entire life at this little spot right next to the Duomo that makes them to order. if you go you need to try it.

also the real statue of David is here located in the Galleria dell’Accademia (get tickets early because they sell out fast). and the shopping was unreal like this whole city is basically one giant mall and I was obsessed.

every stop in Italy felt completely different from the last and Florence was definitely one of my favorites.

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