9 Best Affiliate Programs For Travel Bloggers

Affiliate marketing is a straightforward way for travel bloggers, especially beginners, to generate income. You simply recommend products or services through unique links, and when someone makes a purchase through your link, you earn a commission. This strategy works well for travel bloggers since you naturally recommend accommodations, tours, gear, and other travel essentials in our content.

When selecting affiliate programs, focus on those that match your niche, have reasonable approval requirements, offer good commission rates, provide decent cookie durations, and feature user-friendly platforms with accessible payment options.

Top Affiliate Programs for Beginner Travel Bloggers

1. Travelpayouts

Travelpayouts is a specialized travel affiliate platform connecting bloggers with over 100 travel brands like Booking.com, Expedia, and Viator. The benefits include:

• Single dashboard to manage multiple brand partnerships
• Comprehensive affiliate tools and widgets
• Reliable monthly payouts
• Instant approval for many programs
• Lower payment thresholds than direct programs
• Time-saving "Link Switcher" tool to convert existing links

2. Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates allows you to earn commissions by recommending travel gear, accessories, luggage, electronics, and travel guides. Key advantages include:

• Vast product selection across all travel niches
• High consumer trust in the Amazon brand
• User-friendly "Site Stripe" toolbar for easy link creation
• Great for specific travel niches like camping or photography

3. Booking.com Affiliate Partners

Booking.com Affiliate Partners offers commissions on completed accommodation bookings. Benefits include:

• Global recognition and vast inventory of accommodations
• Strong potential for conversions with accommodation-focused content
• User-friendly marketing tools, banners, and widgets

4. Expedia Group Affiliate Program

Expedia Group Affiliate Program covers a wide range of travel services beyond just accommodations, including flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises. Advantages include:

• Access to multiple Expedia Group brands (Hotels.com, Vrbo) through one account
• Diverse monetization opportunities across different travel services
• Variety of trackable links, widgets, and banner tools

5. Viator Affiliate Program

Viator specializes in tours, activities, and travel experiences worldwide. Benefits include:

• Over 300,000 experiences in numerous destinations
• Perfect for destination guides and activity recommendations
• Quick, free sign-up with no minimum traffic requirements

6. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program

GetYourGuide is another popular platform for booking tours and activities with these advantages:

• Competitive commission rates
• Extensive inventory including unique and niche experiences
• User-friendly widgets and integration options

7. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program

TripAdvisor offers a unique commission structure, paying on click-outs to hotel booking partners even without completed bookings. Benefits include:

• Easier initial income for bloggers still building their audience
• Extensive database of reviews to enhance your content
• Trusted platform readers already recognize

8. Agoda Affiliate Program

Agoda is a growing travel booking platform with a strong presence in the Asian market. Key features include:

• Competitive pricing and frequent deals appealing to budget-conscious travelers
• Tiered commission structure that increases with more bookings
• Various affiliate tools and support

9. Hostelworld Affiliate Programme

Hostelworld focuses specifically on hostels and budget accommodations for backpackers. Benefits include:

• Perfect alignment with budget travel and backpacking content
• Strong community focus for social travel experiences
• Relevant partnership for bloggers targeting budget travelers

Conclusion

Start by choosing programs that align with your travel niche and audience interests. Begin with a few programs that fit your content well, then expand as you gain experience.

Remember, building a sustainable income stream through affiliate marketing takes patience and persistence, but with the right programs and engaging content, you can turn your travel blog into a revenue generator.