Turning your passion into profit through blogging is a common aspiration for many writers. For travel enthusiasts who run a blog, unlocking the potential for supplementary income or even a full-time career is a cherished goal. As a travel blogger, one lucrative avenue to explore is the promotion of top-notch travel affiliate programs.
The travel and tourism industry is a colossal entity, with the US market alone projected to generate a staggering $716.80 billion in revenue in 2022. According to Statista, a substantial 73% of this revenue is expected to stem from online transactions.
For travel bloggers, this moment holds immense promise. As the travel industry gradually recovers, seizing the opportunity to endorse premier travel affiliate programs can be a rewarding endeavor. The ideal starting point is perusing our carefully curated list of the finest affiliate programs tailored for travel bloggers.
Within this comprehensive list, you’ll uncover travel affiliate programs that cater to various niches and preferences. Choose those that resonate most with your blog’s focus and audience, and initiate the application process.
Let’s embark on this exciting journey together…
1. Booking Affiliate Program
Booking.com stands as one of the premier online platforms for comparing and reserving travel accommodations, including hotels, car rentals, and airline tickets.
In addition to these services, users can conveniently locate and book attractions in their local currency directly from the website. With an extensive network of over 12,500 affiliates, Booking.com ranks among the most sought-after travel affiliate programs in the industry.
What sets Booking.com apart is its global reach, boasting an impressive inventory of over 29 million bookable rooms across a staggering 2,563,380 properties worldwide. This places it squarely among the elite ranks of top-tier travel affiliate marketing programs.
Another compelling reason to explore the Booking.com affiliate program is the sheer volume of daily room reservations. On average, a staggering 1,550,000 rooms are booked every single night. This statistic underscores the significant potential for conversion when you successfully drive relevant traffic to the website.
As an affiliate, you stand to earn a competitive commission of 25% of Booking.com’s earnings from its booking partners, which can equate to as much as 4% of the actual sales. Furthermore, your commission rate is subject to growth as you consistently generate more monthly sales, providing an additional incentive to maximize your earning potential.
- Commission – 25%
- Cookie-Browsing Session
- Payout method – PayPal
- Payment Threshold – £100
2. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
TripAdvisor, known primarily as an online platform for user-generated travel and tourism reviews, offers a range of services extending beyond mere feedback. Among these services is hotel booking, a key focus of the TripAdvisor affiliate programs.
As an affiliate, you stand to earn a substantial minimum commission of 50% for each successful referral to TripAdvisor or its affiliated booking partners. What’s truly enticing is that this commission can climb as high as 80% during special incentive campaigns.
One of the standout features of the TripAdvisor affiliate program is that you’ll receive your well-deserved earnings regardless of whether your referral completes a reservation. In fact, you continue to earn commissions even if the referred user clicks on other hotel booking partners featured on TripAdvisor’s platform.
Here’s the real kicker: if your referred user returns to TripAdvisor or its partner sites to finalize a hotel booking within 14 days after initially clicking on your affiliate links, you’ll still pocket a commission. This holds true even if they navigate back via different marketing channels or devices. It’s a win-win scenario for affiliates looking to capitalize on the dynamic world of travel and tourism.
- Commission – 50%
- Cookie – 14 days
- Payout method – Check, Direct Deposit, and Payoneer.
- Payment Threshold – $50 for Direct Deposit and $100 for checks.
3. International Drivers Association Affiliate Program
International Drivers Association (IDA) stands as the foremost provider of International Driving Permits (IDPs), offering a streamlined solution for individuals seeking to legally drive in foreign countries.
With IDA, customers have the flexibility to swiftly obtain their IDPs digitally within minutes or opt for physical delivery to their preferred address. What sets IDA apart is its provision of IDPs in a dozen translations, covering the world’s most widely spoken languages, facilitating effective communication for globetrotters.
Embarking on a partnership with IDA’s Affiliate Program can be a lucrative endeavor, as you stand to earn a generous commission of 20% per sale, orchestrated through their dependable TUNE platform. Bolstering your earning potential is a 30-day cookie lifetime, allowing ample time to maximize your returns.
IDP’s Affiliate Program streamlines payments with a selection of payout methods, including Direct Deposit, Wire Transfer, and Bank Transfer, ensuring a hassle-free and punctual disbursement process. With an impressive 4.8 Trustpilot rating, round-the-clock customer support, and a steadfast 3-year money-back guarantee, IDA epitomizes a trusted partner deeply committed to customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, the program accommodates affiliates with access to an API upon request, while supporting multi-geographical and multi-lingual targeting. Advanced tracking features, coupled with landing pages localized in 44 languages, render IDA’s Affiliate Program a seamless experience for affiliates worldwide.
The time is ripe to join the IDA Affiliate Program and seize the opportunity to garner substantial commissions in the continually expanding international driving permit industry.
- Commission – 20% per sale
- Cookie – 30 days
- Payout method – Direct Deposit, Wire, Paypal, Bank
- Payment Threshold – Weekly payouts are available for affiliates generating $500 in weekly commission for at least 4 weeks.
4. Expedia Affiliate Program
With an expansive inventory encompassing over 500 airlines, a staggering one million hotels and properties, and partnerships with over 175 car rental companies across 200 countries, Expedia stands as a titanic presence within the travel industry.
For affiliate marketers, this partnership represents an opportunity to align with a globally recognized brand, offering an array of avenues to capitalize on one of the premier flight affiliate programs in existence.
The Expedia affiliate program offers varying commission percentages based on the type of sale. Affiliates can earn anywhere from 2% to 6% of the sale’s value once the user has completed their stay.
The program provides diverse avenues for earning, spanning car rentals, vacation packages (comprising flight and car, flight, car, and hotel, as well as flight and hotel), cruise bookings, and a spectrum of activities. Moreover, for travel agencies seeking to enhance their earnings, Expedia offers the TAPP program, tailored to cater to their specific needs.
For a comprehensive understanding of the TAPP program and its benefits, you can access detailed information on this dedicated page.
- Commission – 2% to 6%
- Cookie – 7 days
- Payout Method – Bank, Wire Transfer, Check, and PayPal
- Payment Threshold – $50.
5. Trusted Housesitters Affiliate Program
When it comes to traveling abroad or taking a vacation, many individuals face the dilemma of leaving their beloved pets at home, potentially compromising their well-being and care.
Trusted Housesitters offers an ingenious solution, allowing travelers to connect with trustworthy pet sitters while they’re away. This assurance that your furry companions are in capable hands brings peace of mind and a sense of security, freeing you to fully immerse yourself in your journey.
Trusted Housesitters administers two distinct affiliate programs – one tailored for homeowners and the other for pet sitters, accessible through Shareasale and Awin, respectively.
The homeowner’s affiliate program offers a fixed payout of $100, while pet sitters enjoy a generous 20% commission rate. It’s worth noting that competition within the company’s affiliate program can be stiff, necessitating the cultivation of an engaged audience, trust-building efforts, and consistent promotion of the offers.
- Commission – up to 40% for sitters and $100 for homeowners.
- Cookie – 30 days
- Payout methods – Paypal, Direct deposit, Payoneer, Wire Transfer.
- Payout Threshold – $50
6. CruiseDirect Affiliate Program
Cruise Direct presents customers with the ultimate cruise vacation packages tailored to their preferences and budgets.
Having been in operation since 2001, Cruise Direct boasts the distinction of being one of the most established luxury travel affiliate programs in the industry.
If your audience is passionate about cruise excursions to captivating destinations such as the Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, and more, then Cruise Direct’s luxury affiliate program is an exceptional choice for bloggers.
Cruise Direct manages its affiliate program through Commission Junction, offering a seamless sign-up process accessible via the provided link or the button below.
- Commission – 3%
- Cookie – 45 days
- Payout method – Payoneer, Checks, and Direct deposit,
- Payment Threshold – $50 for Direct Deposit and $100 for checks
7. DiscoverCars Affiliate Program
The DiscoverCars affiliate program stands out as one of the most enticing options on this roster. It boasts a remarkable package that includes a 365-day affiliate tracking cookie, an impressive 70% commission rate on car rental profits, and a substantial 30% commission on full coverage revenue.
What makes this program particularly appealing is its extended tracking window. If a user clicks on your affiliate links but doesn’t make an immediate purchase, you’ll still receive your commission if they decide to book with DiscoverCars within the next 365 days, ensuring that your efforts are duly rewarded.
DiscoverCars has solidified its position as one of the premier car rental websites by establishing partnerships with over 500 car rental companies. For travel bloggers, this represents a golden opportunity to monetize their platform as a travel affiliate with DiscoverCars.
The DiscoverCars affiliate program is conveniently accessible through several prominent affiliate networks, including Shareasale, CJ, Admitad, TravelPayouts, Conectia, and Indoleads, offering flexibility and convenience for affiliates seeking to maximize their earnings.
- Commission – 30% to 70%
- Cookie – 365 days
- Payout Method – Depending on the affiliate network
- Payment Threshold – Depends on the affiliate network
8. Agoda Affiliate Program
Agoda stands as a dominant force in the realm of accommodation and flight booking platforms, serving as a trusted resource for travelers seeking discounts on hotels, vacation homes, and airline tickets.
With an extensive inventory exceeding 2 million vacation homes, luxury villas, and hotel reservations, Agoda caters to a diverse range of travelers, including those with preferences for luxury, business, leisure, and family-oriented stays. This rich array of products and services offers affiliate marketers an abundance of opportunities to promote, making Agoda one of the most enticing luxury travel affiliate programs for bloggers.
What distinguishes the Agoda affiliate program is its capacity to empower travel bloggers with access to the coveted Agoda power ads feature, enhancing their earnings potential. Affiliates can secure a competitive 5% commission on every successfully completed booking, providing a robust incentive to collaborate with Agoda.
Furthermore, Agoda’s extensive reach extends across five continents and is accessible in 38 languages, ensuring that you can effectively market its offerings to a global audience, regardless of their geographic origin.
- Commission – 5%
- Cookie – 30 days
- Payout Method – Paypal
- Payment Threshold – $200
9. Travelpayouts Affiliate Program
Travelpayouts is a distinguished affiliate network company that opens the door to a diverse array of travel affiliate programs.
Rather than having to scour the internet for individual affiliate programs, this platform provides a one-stop solution, granting access to some of the most lucrative travel affiliate programs available.
Since its inception in 2011, the company has disbursed over $40 million in commissions to its dedicated affiliates. In September 2022 alone, Travelpayouts rewarded its affiliate partners with an impressive $1.6 million.
Travelpayouts specializes in the travel niche, offering promotions spanning flight ticket bookings, hotel reservations, travel accessories, luxury travel experiences, car rentals, travel insurance, tours, and more. Affiliates can earn commission rates of up to 80% on the revenue generated from each sale, with earnings escalating as they refer more customers.
Among the esteemed brands featured on the platform are Booking.com, Airbnb, Hotel Look, Hotel World, Bikes Booking, Rental Cars, and an array of others.
Travelpayouts equips affiliates with a suite of promotional tools, including white-label solutions, a built-in URL shortener, WordPress plugins, and ad widgets, making it a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for travel bloggers and marketers.
- Commission – According to the affiliate program
- Cookie – According to the affiliate program
- Payment Threshold – Depends on the payout method
- Payout Methods – Paypal, Epayments, WebMoney, Yandex.money, and SWIFT.
10. PlumGuide Affiliate Program
Plum Guide serves as a premier platform for travelers seeking the perfect holiday home for their global adventures. Users can effortlessly discover and book affordable accommodations while gaining insights into various aspects of each property, such as available amenities, the surrounding environment, home appliances, interior design, and more.
Catering to discerning travelers with a penchant for luxury, PlumGuide focuses on curated listings in cosmopolitan hubs like Rome, London, Paris, Milan, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, and beyond. If your audience aligns with this niche, the PlumGuide luxury travel affiliate program presents an excellent avenue to generate substantial revenue.
What sets PlumGuide apart is its stringent selection process, with only 3% of vetted homes making it onto the platform. This ensures that your audience will be treated to an exclusive collection of exquisite vacation homes.
Operated through Partnarize, the PlumGuide affiliate program offers the added advantage of a dedicated affiliate manager who can address all your inquiries. Affiliates can enjoy a competitive 7% commission on every successful sale, with payouts typically occurring 1 to 2 months after the customer completes their stay and checks out. For elite affiliate partners, there’s even the opportunity to earn up to 10% commission as a VIP affiliate.
- Commission – 7%
- Cookie – 90 days
- Payout method – Checks, PayPal, Credit Card, and Wire Transfer.
- Payment Threshold – No minimum
11. World Nomads Affiliate Program
World Nomads is a comprehensive provider of travel insurance policies and expert guidance, encompassing essential coverage like medical emergencies and trip cancellations. Beyond that, they offer insurance protection for travel equipment, health-related risks, luggage security, repatriation, COVID-19 concerns, and an array of other travel-related scenarios.
If your blog revolves around the themes of travel insurance and safety advice, World Nomads emerges as a standout choice among insurance affiliate programs.
Commencing in October 2022, the World Nomads affiliate program will transition to CJ, thereby affording affiliates access to enhanced promotional materials, robust tracking capabilities, greater transparency, and a broader spectrum of payout options. This exciting development ensures that partnering with World Nomads remains a lucrative and user-friendly experience for affiliates.
- Commission
- Cookie
- Payout Method – Check, Payoneer, and Direct Deposit
- Payment Threshold – $50 for Direct Deposit and $100 for checks
12. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
Get Your Guide is a prominent online platform offering a suite of tour guide services, pre-booking options, and an array of related activities for travelers.
The fundamental concept behind Get Your Guide is to simplify the process of booking tickets for your chosen tour destinations, eliminating the need for last-minute arrangements while you’re on-site.
On the website, users can effortlessly explore a wide range of global attractions, embark on boat tours, and secure transportation, all while having the convenience of purchasing tickets in advance.
Get Your Guide’s affiliate program, operating through Awin, presents an attractive proposition for travel affiliates. Affiliates can access a high-paying commission structure ranging from 8% to 10% on successfully completed tour experiences, offering a lucrative opportunity for those in the travel niche.
- Commission – 8-10%
- Cookie – 30 days
- Payout Method – According to Awin
- Payment Threshold – $50
13. GAdventures Affiliate Program
With over three decades of expertise in the travel industry, GAdventures stands as a juggernaut in the realm of adventure travel websites worldwide.
The company specializes in catering to adventure enthusiasts, offering insights on safety precautions, facilitating small group adventure travel, providing booking services, promoting community-based tourism, and connecting travelers with local tour guides.
GAdventure’s affiliate program, managed through CJ, is a rewarding opportunity for affiliates. It offers an attractive 6% commission on each successfully completed order via the website.
Considering the substantial average order value of $2,600, affiliates have the potential to generate a substantial income by referring multiple customers each month.
- Commission – 6%
- Cookie – 90 days
- Payout Methods – Check, Payoneer, and Direct Deposit.
- Payment Threshold – $100 for checks and $50 for Direct Deposit
FAQ – Best Travel Affiliate programs
Do you have any questions or thoughts regarding travel affiliate programs? Feel free to share them in the comments section below, and let’s engage in a meaningful discussion.
Do travel affiliate sites make money?
Indeed, travel affiliate websites have the potential to generate revenue through blogging and other activities. My recommendation is to maintain a regular schedule of publishing valuable content that assists your audience in making their travel experiences easier and more cost-effective.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to expand your content to encompass safety tips, particularly as the world adapts to the post-COVID-19 landscape. Providing your audience with this vital information will undoubtedly earn their appreciation and trust.
How much can you make with a travel affiliate website?
On average, travel affiliate bloggers typically earn between $1,500 to $3,000 per month. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as your website’s traffic, the quality of your content, and the size of your audience.
To achieve success in this field, consistency is key. It’s essential to consistently produce valuable content, continuously work on increasing your website traffic, and expand your affiliate network to maximize your earnings potential.
Conclusion…
When it comes to identifying the top travel affiliate programs for bloggers, the choices are abundant. Within the realm of travel, you’ll encounter a plethora of opportunities, spanning flights, hotels, vacation rentals, holiday homes, tours, adventures, and more.
However, let’s acknowledge that earning as a travel affiliate may not be a straightforward endeavor, particularly if you’re just embarking on this journey. Building a dedicated audience, cultivating loyal readership, and driving the right kind of traffic to your affiliate offers demand persistent effort.
Nevertheless, it’s a goal that’s entirely achievable. You can begin by delving into my comprehensive guide on how to kickstart a travel blog. This guide furnishes you with detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to effectively monetize your travel blog and set yourself on the path to success.
