Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my blog would be chosen by the public as the overall Best Travel Blog in the 2018 BTL Blogger Travel Awards. But thanks to you, that’s what happened.
Having been nominated for the “Best Blog Promoting Portugal In A Foreign Language” category, I had to ask for votes in order to go from a shortlist of 4 to 3 finalists in my category.
The response was phenomenal.
Not only did you, my lovely loyal readers, cast your votes but friends, colleagues and communities around Portugal rallied round to make sure I got to this final stage. My neighbour, Luís Filipe Santos, was especially instrumental in whipping up support, for which I am extremely grateful.
On the day of the awards ceremony, I still wasn’t certain that I had even succeeded in reaching the finals. Nevertheless, I went along, feeling hopeful that I stood some chance of winning in my category. When they read out the winner, I was truly gutted not to hear my name (it went to Amass. Cook, by the way).
So when the presenter announced a 5th award for the “Best Travel Blog Chosen By The Public”, it took a few seconds for it to register that I had won it.
Instead of beating the other 3 blogs in my original category, the public voted Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal the best travel blog out of a total of 16 nominees with 22% of the total votes! It was such a shock that I had no time to ask anyone to take a photo of me receiving the award.
This achievement is all down to you and I couldn’t be happier so THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. The award, and, much more importantly, all the encouraging and supportive messages I have received over the last couple of weeks mean a lot to me and make what I do worthwhile.
In case you’re wondering, here are the other winners from this year’s BTL travel blogging awards:
Best Professional Travel Blog: Hotelandia
Best Personal Travel Blog: O Meu Escriorio é Lá Fora (My Desk is Outside)
Best Blog Promoting Portugal in a Foreign Language: Amass. Cook
Congratulations Julie! You 100% deserved it. We just returned from 2 weeks in Portugal and your blog and your emails helped us immensely. Even while in Portugal, I’d get on your webpage and re read some of your advice. We love Portugal so much that we are already planning a Douro wine tasting vacation, the one night just wasn’t enough. we will be looking to you for your invaluable help and guidance again- your are the Portugal guru!
Hi Linda, Thank you for such encouraging feedback. You’ve made me a very happy bunny today 🙂
Hi Julie .
You absolutely deserve this award .
Have been visiting Portugal 2-3 times a year and the info on your site has been of great help .
Especially on a recent motorcycle trip which took us from the north threw the Douro , the sierra estrella mountains and then back up into the gerres mountain range taking in many amazing places enroute , a favourite being the Ponte de Lima area which one of your posts metioned .
Keep up the good work .
Paul .
Thanks, Paul 🙂
Hi Julie, first of all congratulations for your award! It was an honour to dispute the category with you and the other bloggers. We were sorry for not finding the time to meet you personally, we hope to have the opportunity sometime soon. Best wishes!
Congratulations to you, too. As you say, it’s a pity we didn’t get chance to talk – next time!
Congratulations Julie, you really deserve to win. When reading your trips, I feel I am already in Portugal. I save them all and reread them from time to time, when the weather is boring in Holland.
What a lovely thing to say. I am so happy that my articles brighten up your dull days.
Great Job..It makes all of your followers feel good too.
A win win situation. Always the best kind of achievement 🙂
Congratulations, Julie – I really enjoy reading your blog and am so pleased to see you recognized for providing us with such great suggestions and recommendations as we plan and dream about trips to Portugal.
Thanks, Bev. Happy to feed your dreams about Portugal travel.
Parabéns, and once again, you so deserve it. We love your work! 🙂
Thanks, Tricia. So happy to have had your ongoing support all these years.
Excellent news Julie. Your blog has been a great encouragement to me and I now spend a holiday in Portugal every year.
That’s wonderful, Rowan. Thank you for taking the time to tell me.
Well done
🙂
Congratulations Julie. We’ll deserved honour. Look forward to each mail from you. All have been brimming with useful information.
Thank you.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Dave 🙂
congrats Julie! well deserved…your blog is easy to maneuver, easy to follow…covers all you need to know as a visitor and THAT is why the public chooses you.
Thank you Wendy. It’s great to get specific feedback like this and to know that I have succeeded in making my blog user-friendly and helpful.
Having recently been in contact with you Julie and on reading a lot of your “blogs” I would say it was well deserved. You certainly have a lot of information on Portugal and your willingness to share to others, helps us make informed decisions as we plan our trip. Congratulations from New Zealand.
Thanks, Irene. I really appreciate your positive feedback.
Wow! Good on you Julie! New to your blog but I’ve been poking around the site for a while and have found some great advice and recommendations. Thanks! We will be in Tavira for the month of November.
Thank you! Have a great time in Tavira – it’s a lovely little town.
Congratulations! You deserve it. I’ve been living on and off in Portugal for 40 years and I only started visiting places I hadn’t heard of before reading your blog. Always look forward to your mail.
Hi Michele – if I can inspire someone who has been living here for 40 years to find new places, that’s quite an accomplishment!
Congratulations Julie, the award is well deserved!
Thank you!
well done julie you deserve the award and i am very proud to be a reader of your articles on Portugal.Please keep going….
I will do, Michael 🙂
Well done Julie, and really well deserved! Very happy you won! Congratulations! Always look forward to reading your articles and seeing your great photos!
Thanks, Sharon. Lovely to get such positive comments. It makes the work so much more rewarding.
Parabens!
I have really enjoyed your articles and always read up with you about where in Portugal we are going next.
I agree, don’t stop!
Hi Masha, no intention of stopping any time soon – I just struggle to find the time to write all the posts I have waiting in the wings.
Yes, you have been so great in sharing…and tips…will be coming October/ November 2018…would love to meet up with you…am planning to do a Eco Triha Food tour from Lisbon to Porto and Braga
Ben Lee
Thanks, Ben. I’ve sent you an email.
Congratulations Julie! Your award is very well-earned. I have enjoyed learning so much about different parts of Portugal thanks to your blog. Don’t stop!
Hi Martin, no worries, I fully intend to continue – I love blogging 🙂