👋 Hi, I’m Tony Baker
Hotel Critic. Travel Writer. Tourism & Hospitality Consultant. Travel Voice. And someone who genuinely believes the world is better when more people explore it.
Who Is TouringTony?
I started TouringTony.com in 2015 because I was tired of answering the same question over and over: How do you keep traveling so much? How can you possibly afford to fly first class internationally several times a year and stay in ultra-luxury hotels when you’re clearly not a millionaire? So I started writing it all down. The travel hacking. The loyalty programs. The tricks the industry doesn’t want you to know. Becoming a travel voice or influencer was NEVER the goal — helping people navigate the sometimes complex, often intimidating world of smart travel was. It still is.
I’m originally from Oklahoma, USA, and for the past several years I’ve been splitting my time between Oklahoma and the beautiful State of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Two very different worlds — one landlocked American heartland, one tropical South American paradise — and that dual perspective shapes everything I write. I’m not a tourist passing through. I actually LIVE this stuff, every single day.
My goal — the one I set the day I launched this site — is to visit every single country in the world before I die. I travel on my own money. I pay for my own stays unless I tell you otherwise. And I ALWAYS call it like I see it.
What I Do
🏨 Hotel Critic
I didn’t just start staying in hotels — I worked in them for many years. I started as a valet parker at the Opryland Hotel working through college, moved into hotel management across the USA, and eventually sold my stake in a boutique hotel company in Florida. I’ve seen hospitality from BOTH sides of the front desk. Then I started traveling the world as a guest — through the eyes of a former hotel manager with OCD and very high standards. 629+ nights in Marriott/Starwood alone. My reviews aren’t opinions. They’re verdicts.
✍️ Travel Writer
Since 2015, TouringTony.com has been my platform for sharing real travel experiences, airline opinions, loyalty program deep-dives, and smart travel tips that actually work in the real world. No fluff, no paid-for praise — just honest content from someone who genuinely lives this life every single day.
📱 Social Media Influencer
Follow along on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook for real-time travel updates, hot takes on airline news, hotel photos, and the kind of travel commentary you won’t find in a press release. I say what everyone else is thinking.
🤝 Tourism & Hospitality Consultant
Beyond the blog, I work with tourism brands, hotels, and travel companies to help them understand what real travelers actually want. If you’re interested in a collaboration, sponsorship, or consulting engagement — let’s talk.
Why I Travel — And Why You Should Too
Travel changed my life. It’ll change yours too.
I know that sounds like something every travel blogger says. But I mean it in a specific way: travel doesn’t just show you new places — it shows you a new version of yourself. It breaks down assumptions, builds confidence, and reminds you that the world is much bigger — and much more welcoming — than the news would have you believe. That’s why I do this. That’s why this site exists.
Work With Me
🏨 Hotel & Resort Reviews
I accept hosted stays in exchange for honest, in-depth reviews published on TouringTony.com and promoted across my social channels. “Honest” means honest — I’ll tell my audience what was great AND what wasn’t. That’s what gives my reviews their credibility.
✈️ Brand Collaborations
Travel gear, apps, services, booking platforms, luggage, tech — if it’s something real travelers actually use and it aligns with my values, I’m open to discussing partnerships. I only work with brands I’d genuinely recommend to a friend.
📊 Consulting
Tourism boards, hotel groups, and travel brands hire me to help them understand the traveler’s perspective, improve their guest experience, and develop content strategies that actually resonate. Reach out to discuss your project.
📄 Media Kit
Want my full stats, audience demographics, and partnership details? Download my Media Kit for everything you need to know about working with TouringTony.
Let’s Connect!
Whether you have a travel question, want to share a story, or are interested in working together — my door is always open. I genuinely love hearing from fellow travelers.
Thanks for reading, and PLEASE, TRAVEL MORE! ✈️