Top 55+ Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers to Earn Income

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Are you ready to join the best Affiliate Programs For Travel Bloggers and start monetizing your content effectively? You’ve landed on the right article because this comprehensive guide lists the Top 55+ best affiliate programs specifically curated for travel bloggers.

Drawing on experience as a seven-figure travel blogger who generates significant income from affiliate marketing and teaches others how to succeed, these are the programs personally used and highly recommended for their lucrative potential. From top hotel and travel insurance affiliates to car rentals, physical products, and the best tour Affiliate Programs For Travel Bloggers, this resource covers it all.

Ready to discover how to leverage affiliate programs for travel bloggers to boost your income? Let’s dive in and explore the best options available.

Quick Guide: What are the Best Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers?

Person on laptop researching the Best Affiliate Programs for Travel BloggersWant to monetize your travel website? Affiliate marketing is one of the fastest ways to achieve this. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of the top recommendations based on personal use and effectiveness. These are the affiliates I consistently recommend for their performance and reliability.

What are the best affiliate programs for travel bloggers?

1. Discover Cars: Top choice for car rental affiliate programs.
2. Safety Wing: Leading travel insurance affiliate program, especially for digital nomads.
3. Travelpayouts: Premier affiliate network specifically for travel bloggers, offering access to numerous brands.
4. Viator: Excellent affiliate program for booking tours and activities worldwide.
5. Booking.com: Highly effective hotel affiliate program with strong brand recognition.
6. Amazon Affiliates: Ideal for promoting physical travel-related products like cameras and luggage.

Each of these top-tier travel blog affiliate programs, alongside many others, are detailed below with in-depth information to help you make informed decisions. Keep reading to explore all your options and quickly start making money from affiliate marketing in the travel niche.

The 55+ Best Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers

1. Discover Cars Affiliate Program: Best Car Rental Affiliate

discover cars affiliate marketing program sign up
Discover Cars stands out as the top choice among rental car travel affiliate networks. For travel bloggers seeking high earning potential from car rentals, Discover Cars consistently delivers.

Here’s why it’s recommended above other transportation affiliate programs:

⭐️ Discover Cars Affiliate Program Highlights & Features

• 365-Day Cookie: Offers one of the longest cookie durations observed in affiliate marketing programs, crediting bookings within a year of a click.
• 70% Commission: Provides leading commission rates among car rental affiliates, with potential for even higher earnings through specific strategies.
• 30% Added Commission: Earned from the sale of their Full Coverage Program.
• Single Tier, Cost Per Sale (Pay Per Sale): A straightforward commission structure ensures payment on every completed sale.
• Monthly Payout: Payments are sent monthly via PayPal or ACH bank wire transfer.
• $200 USD Minimum Payment Threshold: A reasonable threshold for receiving earnings.

Discover Cars partners with 380 car rental companies globally, making it a versatile recommendation regardless of your audience’s target location. Affiliate content creators report average commissions of $20-$50 USD per sale, with potential average monthly payouts around $2,500 per 100K visitors (results vary). This demonstrates significant potential for passive income.

It’s clear why Discover Cars is favored by travel bloggers and is one of the most widely used travel blogger affiliate programs today.

discover cars affiliate marketing program reviews
Discover Cars is a trusted name for both users and affiliates.

The Discover Cars affiliate program is accessible through multiple affiliate networks like Travelpayouts, Share A Sale (now Awin), and CJ Affiliate. Alternatively, you can sign up for their direct affiliate program, which often proves more lucrative due to the higher 70% commission rate offered directly compared to network rates.

Direct engagement also typically offers better support and sales-boosting tips via newsletters, thanks to dedicated account managers. Personal experience using Discover Cars for own travel enhances confidence when recommending it, which positively impacts conversion rates.

The extended cookie period is a significant advantage, ensuring you get credit for sales even if the user doesn’t book immediately.

🍪 What is a cookie?

The Discover Cars affiliate program features a generous 365-day cookie window. This means you are credited for any bookings made within a full year after a user clicks your unique affiliate link.

2. Safety Wing Affiliate Program: Best Travel Insurance Affiliate

safety wing affiliate marketing program sign up
The Safety Wing Ambassador Program (their term for the affiliate program) provides affiliates with creative assets like graphics to aid promotion efforts.

⭐️ Safety Wing Affiliate Program Highlights & Features

• Recurring Commissions: Earn commission each time a referred customer renews their policy.
• 10% Commission Rates: A competitive rate on all policy sales.
• 365-Day Cookie: Another program offering an exceptionally long cookie duration.
• Specialized in Digital Nomad Health Insurance: Caters effectively to a growing travel demographic.
• Unique Features: Policies include benefits appealing to travelers, helping generate more sales.

Safety Wing is highly-rated among travelers for its insurance policies. With 10% commission on policy sales, it’s an excellent way to earn supplementary income while recommending essential travel protection to your audience.

This program is particularly strong for travel bloggers with content focused on long-term travel, moving abroad, or digital nomadism. (For broader travel audiences, the Travel Insurance Master affiliate program is an alternative worth considering).

safety wing travel insurance affiliate marketing program reviews
If your content caters significantly to digital nomads, SafetyWing is arguably the best travel insurance affiliate partner for you.

Safety Wing distinguishes itself by focusing primarily on health insurance rather than comprehensive trip cancellation or possessions coverage. Their marketing targets digital nomads living internationally, with policies starting at month-long coverage and offering recurring monthly payments.

Safety Wing offers one of the best-paying travel affiliate programs because you earn commission on all purchases by a customer within their first 364 days. This includes recurring monthly payments, creating potential for ongoing income from a single referral. If a referred customer makes multiple shorter-trip insurance purchases within that year, you continue earning commission accordingly.

Their 365-day cookie window is highly valuable in the travel affiliate space. Safety Wing’s policies are attractive and easy to promote, featuring unique benefits like free insurance for children under 10 (up to two per family) or the ability to start a policy even after a trip has begun. Pricing is competitive, often making their month-long policy cheaper than competitors for shorter durations.

The Safety Wing Ambassador Program is globally available, allowing recommendations regardless of your readers’ destinations while earning generous commissions. With a low minimum monthly payout threshold of $10 USD, you can start seeing affiliate income relatively quickly.

3. Viator Affiliate Program: Best Tour Affiliate

viator affiliate marketing program sign up
Viator is among the most popular affiliate programs for tours and experiences.

⭐️ Viator Affiliate Program Highlights & Additional Features

• 8% Commission: Earn 8% commission on all experiences booked.
• Extensive Inventory: Access over 300,000 diverse experiences worldwide.
• 30-Day Cookie Window: Provides a standard cookie duration for tracking sales.
• No Qualification Requirements: Easy to join and get started.
• Weekly Payout Available: Offers frequent payment options.

Viator, part of Tripadvisor, is a globally recognized platform for booking tours and excursions, featuring over 300,000 experiences in more than 200 locations. It’s a go-to resource for travelers planning activities during their trips.

A key advantage of the Viator program is its vast selection of experiences and the trust associated with the Viator/Tripadvisor brand, leading to higher click-through and conversion rates.

Viator pays an 8% commission on all experiences booked within a 30-day cookie window. This commission rate and cookie duration are quite favorable, especially considering the potential for high-ticket bookings. Depending on the activities you promote and your audience’s purchasing power, you could earn substantial monthly income through this program alone.

viator affiliate marketing program for travel bloggersLeverage Viator’s millions of customer reviews to recommend experiences to your readers, even if you haven’t personally taken the tour. This helps readers make informed decisions and increases sales.

Joining the Viator Affiliate Program has no strict requirements. You can apply directly through Viator or via affiliate networks such as Travelpayouts, Awin, CJ Affiliate, or Share A Sale. Be mindful that commission rates might differ when joining through networks compared to direct application.

Despite being owned by Tripadvisor, Viator’s affiliate program is generally more lucrative for most bloggers compared to Tripadvisor’s own program, which primarily focuses on accommodations.

4. Booking.com: Best Hotel Affiliate Program

booking.com affiliate marketing program sign up
Booking.com is widely considered among the best programs for hotels due to its immense brand awareness and trusted reputation among travelers.

⚠️ Update: Booking.com has closed its direct program, but you can join the Booking.com affiliate program through Travelpayouts.

Booking.com is a premier affiliate partner for travel bloggers primarily because of its high conversion rates, particularly for audiences in North America and Europe. While conversion rates can depend on your audience’s geographic location (Agoda, owned by Booking.com, often performs better in Asia), Booking.com remains a top performer for many.

With hundreds of thousands of partner hotels, airlines, and car rental companies, Booking.com’s global reach and status as one of the largest online travel marketplaces are significant benefits for both you and your readers. It’s a brand readers trust, leading to confident bookings. In the realm of affiliate marketing for travel, Booking.com is a go-to platform.

🤔 Booking Affiliate Program: Is it Worth it?

booking.com affiliate marketing for travel bloggersWhile it offers many advantages, the Booking Affiliate Program also has some drawbacks.

There are three main reasons why some express reservations about the Booking.com affiliate program:

First, their customer service can be perceived as poor. Second, the traffic requirement for joining is unclear, leading to potential rejections for “insufficient traffic” without a stated minimum. Third, and notably, Booking.com’s one-session cookie window is among the shortest in the industry.

However, the brand’s strong reputation and reader trust often outweigh these cons, resulting in high conversions despite the short cookie window.

The commission structure is tiered, offering 25%-40% of Booking.com’s earnings from hotel bookings. Your tier depends on the number of bookings you generate monthly. High-value bookings or multiple stays can lead to commissions adding up quickly.

Conversely, flexible booking policies and the tendency for users to book in advance without upfront payment can result in high cancellation rates, impacting earnings. Despite this, Booking.com remains a top hotel affiliate choice for many bloggers due to its consistently high conversion performance.

5. Amazon Associates Program

amazon affiliate marketing program sign up

⭐️ Amazon Affiliate Program Highlights & Additional Features

• Global Recognition: The world’s largest and most recognized e-commerce retailer.
• High Conversion Rates: Benefits from user trust and familiarity.
• Commission Rates: Ranging from 1%-10% on eligible physical products.
• 24-Hour Cookie Window: Standard cookie duration for tracking purchases.
• Country-Specific Programs: Separate programs for different countries to capture sales globally.
• Amazon API: Allows integration of real-time product details and pricing.

The Amazon Associates program is one of the largest globally and serves as an excellent entry point for new travel bloggers venturing into e-commerce affiliate marketing. Nearly everyone is familiar with and trusts Amazon for online purchases.

From cameras and electronics to luggage, travel accessories, and books, Amazon offers a vast array of travel-related products to promote.

Amazon Affiliate’s commission rates are generally low compared to niche-specific programs, but the sheer volume of potential sales makes it worthwhile. High click-through rates and conversion potential stem from Amazon’s ubiquitous presence and user trust. With sufficient traffic and targeted affiliate keywords, earning commissions can start relatively fast.

After a user clicks your affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase within 24 hours, you earn commission not just on the linked item but on anything they buy in that session. Commission rates for physical products typically fall between 1%-4%, occasionally reaching 10% for specific categories. While low individually, the cumulative earnings from diverse purchases can be significant.

📝 Amazon Affiliate Program Requirements

amazon affiliate marketing program sign upThe Amazon Associates Program has its pros and cons, but it offers solid support for affiliates.

Amazon has specific requirements affiliates must adhere to strictly. They are very strict about avoiding personal purchases through your own links and may even disqualify purchases by people you know.

A strict disclaimer policy requires prominent disclosure of Amazon Associates links in your content. Amazon provides recommended language for these disclaimers, which is crucial to follow.

Due to potential price fluctuations, you cannot manually display product prices on your site unless you use the Amazon API, which pulls real-time product information and pricing. This is recommended if showcasing prices is important for your content strategy.

To join as a blogger, Amazon typically requires proof of robust, original content, suggesting a minimum of 10 published posts. You also need to generate at least three qualifying sales within 180 days of signing up, or your account may be deactivated (you can reapply if this happens).

For audiences in multiple countries, signing up for Amazon Associates accounts for each target country (e.g., Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca) is necessary to capture sales from those regions. Update: Amazon One Link now simplifies this process, allowing integration of multiple country-specific accounts.

6. World Nomads Affiliate Program

World Nomads has historically been a prominent travel insurance affiliate program, endorsed by well-known travel bloggers and companies. Known for flexible plans covering unexpected changes and adventurous activities like skydiving and scuba diving, it was a strong option.

🚨 Here’s Why I No Longer Recommend World Nomads Affiliates

world nomads travel insurance affiliate marketing programWorld Nomads offers good protection for travelers, but its affiliate marketing program is no longer a top recommendation due to significant changes.

World Nomads transitioned from a direct affiliate program to partnering with CJ Affiliate, implementing major changes influenced by Australian regulations (their operating base).

World Nomads Change #1

A significant change is earning commission for users simply obtaining a quote, even without purchasing a policy. However, the commission per quote is a low $0.85. This is substantially less than their previous 10% commission on policy sales. This structure might benefit affiliates who excel at driving quotes but not conversions. However, for those with high conversion rates, competitors like the Safety Wing travel insurance affiliate program, which rewards sales, are likely more profitable.

World Nomads Change #2

Furthermore, World Nomads imposes a strict, extensive list of content guidelines outlining what you can and cannot say in your promotional content. Violating these rules can lead to program termination. A notable restriction, due to Australian law, is the inability to use the word “recommend” when promoting their services. This limitation makes it challenging for bloggers to authentically endorse the product.

7. Travel Insurance Master Affiliate Program

travel insurance master travel insurance affiliate marketing program

The Travel Insurance Master (TIM) Affiliate Program is a strong choice for bloggers primarily targeting an American audience. What makes TIM appealing is its function as an aggregate search tool, allowing users to easily compare travel insurance options from various providers by answering just three simple questions.

TIM prioritizes transparency and a user-friendly experience for both customers and affiliates. They specifically cater to US travelers going abroad (requiring purchase before departure) and international visitors to the USA.

Operating as a direct affiliate program (not through a network), TIM offers potentially better customer service and higher commission rates compared to some network-based programs. Referral fees are fixed based on a tiered structure tied to the policy value, with rates up to 10% of the sale price, translating to earnings between $5-$55 USD per transaction.

TIM’s generous 365-day cookie duration is another compelling feature for travel insurance affiliates.

8. Wise (Formerly Transfer Wise)

wise travel insurance affiliate marketing program

If you’re involved in digital nomad or international finance content, you’ve likely encountered Wise (formerly TransferWise). It’s highly regarded for offering some of the best currency conversion rates and significantly lower fees compared to services like PayPal. This positive reputation extends to its affiliate program.

The Wise Affiliate Program, managed through the Partnerize network, provides competitive commission rates and an unlimited cookie window – a significant advantage in affiliate marketing, especially for services with potential for repeat use.

Referral commissions are earned when new sign-ups convert (make a transfer or get an account). Commission rates are currently £10 for personal accounts and £50 for business accounts, though Wise notes these may change. Commission is paid monthly and available in five currencies. Earning in Wise and converting within a Wise account provides an easy solution if your preferred currency isn’t offered for payout.

Joining is straightforward after creating a Partnerize account, followed by an application review process by Wise. Once accepted, you can utilize affiliate links, rate APIs, calculators, and comparison widgets. Note that this differs from their “Invite a Friend” referral program, which is for direct referrals among acquaintances.

Wise is an ideal travel blog affiliate marketing program for digital nomads seeking extra income by promoting (and potentially using) Wise’s reliable money transfer services.

9. Expedia Affiliate Program for Hotels

expedia affiliate program sign up

→ Join Expedia through Travelpayouts here

Expedia Group’s broad partnerships with hotels, airlines, car rentals, and cruise lines worldwide make it another trusted aggregate travel service platform for travel blogs. The group includes major names like Hotels.com, VRBO, Orbitz, Agoda, Stayz, and Travelocity, all carrying strong brand recognition and trust among consumers.

Expedia offers commission rates ranging from 2%-6%, varying based on the brand and audience location. Cookie durations also differ among brands, ranging from 7 to 30 days.

To join the Expedia Group affiliate program, you typically need to apply through affiliate networks like Travelpayouts, Commission Junction (CJ), or Partnerize, as they do not generally offer a direct program. This applies to all Expedia brands, including the Hotels.com Affiliate Program.

10. Agoda Affiliate Program: Best Hotel Affiliate for Asian Countries

→ Join Agoda through Travelpayouts here

For travel bloggers whose audience is primarily located in or traveling to Asia, the Agoda Affiliate Program is frequently recommended for hotel bookings. With its main operations in Asia, Agoda tends to achieve better conversion rates in this region compared to other global hotel booking platforms.

Agoda offers a tiered commission structure starting at 4%, with potential to earn up to 7% based on the number of monthly bookings generated. The platform is available in 38 languages, making it a truly global platform with wide reach potential.

Agoda provides an easy onboarding process and useful tools for affiliates to increase bookings and track performance effectively. While other major hotel platforms may perform better elsewhere, Agoda is the top choice for targeting the Asian travel market.

11. Get Your Guide Affiliate Program

get your guide affiliate program sign upConsidering becoming an affiliate travel agent? Get Your Guide offers a program suitable for promoting tours and activities.

→ Join Get Your Guide through Travelpayouts here

Get Your Guide is another significant platform in the tour and activities market, listing over 68,000 options globally. Originating in Germany, it holds particular popularity within European markets.

If your audience is heavily European or you aim to target that market specifically, Get Your Guide is a strong contender. A drawback compared to platforms like Viator is a smaller inventory of tours and generally fewer customer reviews available for reference. However, Get Your Guide is known for reliable monthly payouts, good customer service, and an intuitive dashboard with solid analytics.

For bloggers focusing on European travel and valuing strong affiliate support, Get Your Guide presents a worthwhile option.

12. VRBO Affiliate Program for Home Rentals

VRBO affiliate program for travel bloggers

→ Join VRBO through Travelpayouts here

Alongside Airbnb, VRBO is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for vacation rentals, featuring over two million properties in 190 countries. Given that Airbnb currently lacks a public affiliate program (see below), VRBO offers a valuable alternative.

With its focus on vacation homes rather than hotels, VRBO is particularly well-suited for travel niche bloggers promoting unique accommodations, family travel, or slow travel experiences.

Affiliate commission rates range from 2%-4%, depending on the affiliate network used. There’s also an opportunity to earn a $20 bonus for referring new property owners who list on VRBO.

VRBO is a trusted name in the travel industry, recognized for safety and reliability. If your audience values authentic stays or longer-term rentals, VRBO can be an excellent affiliate program.

Does Airbnb have an affiliate program?

No — Airbnb previously had one but discontinued it for most publishers on March 31, 2021.

If you encounter articles mentioning the Airbnb Associates Program as publicly available, be aware that the information is outdated. Airbnb retained its affiliate program only for high-volume sites with over one million monthly visitors. For the vast majority of bloggers, the program is closed.

13. Travelocity Affiliate Program

travelocity affiliate programThe Travelocity Affiliate Program is worth considering for audiences who prefer booking multiple travel services (flights, hotels, cars) as a package to potentially secure better deals.

This model allows travelers to benefit from lower package prices, which in turn can lead to you earning commissions on multiple services from a single booking.

However, if your readers typically book flights, cars, or hotels individually, they might find better deals on platforms specializing in those specific services, potentially leading to lower conversion rates for Travelocity in those instances.

Travelocity’s cookie duration is relatively short at 7 days, requiring efficient promotion to convert clicks into sales within that timeframe for substantial earnings.

Considering these factors, Travelocity can be a suitable travel affiliate program if your audience is specifically looking for bundled travel deals and budget-friendly options. Assess whether this aligns with your readers’ needs to ensure it’s the right fit compared to other travel affiliate partners.

14. REI Affiliate Program

avant link affiliate program sign upThe REI Affiliate Marketing Program is primarily available through the AvantLink network.

For bloggers in the outdoor travel niche, the REI Co-Op Affiliate Program is a highly relevant option. As one of the largest retailers of outdoor recreation gear and apparel with over 20 million members, REI offers a vast selection of top brands like Arc’teryx, Black Diamond, Columbia, and Patagonia.

The REI website is rich with expert advice, detailed product information, and a commitment to quality, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee for customers.

A potential drawback is that accessing certain benefits or making purchases often involves becoming an REI member, which might slightly limit the broad pool of potential buyers compared to open retailers.

Offered through the AvantLink Network, the program provides a base commission of 5% with a 15-day cookie duration. REI is an excellent affiliate partner for targeting an audience of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts willing to invest in high-quality gear.

15. Skyscanner Affiliate Program: Best Flights Affiliate

Skyscanner’s affiliate program is available through the Impact Radius affiliate network. It is widely considered one of the top airline affiliate programs and is my preferred choice for bloggers aiming to earn commissions from flight bookings. While a solid option, it is generally not one of my highest-revenue-generating programs on average.

With access to over 1,300 airline and hotel suppliers across more than 52 countries, and a strong global reputation, Skyscanner offers a significant opportunity for travel bloggers. By joining, you can earn competitive base commission rates starting at 20% of Skyscanner’s sales profits, with potential for increased rates as you drive more referrals.

While best known for flights, Skyscanner also now offers commissions on hotels booked through their platform. You can apply via the Impact Affiliate Network, gaining access to travel widgets, a Flights API, and deep links for major airlines.

16. Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights Affiliate Program)

⚠️ Update: Scott’s Cheap Flights has been acquired and the affiliate program is now known as the Going Affiliate Program.

Are you looking for popular affiliate programs in the budget travel niche? Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) is a great opportunity for travel bloggers helping readers find affordable airfare. This service is endorsed by prominent budget travel bloggers and offers exclusive discounts to members.

If you join the Going Affiliate Program, you earn $3 for each new member you refer, with potential incentives for reaching specific referral goals. The program is available through the Impact Radius affiliate network.

With millions of members already using Going to discover flight deals, this affiliate program is another effective way for travel bloggers to build passive income.

17. Kayak Affiliate Program

kayak affiliate marketing program for travel bloggersKayak’s affiliate program can be accessed through networks like the CJ Affiliate travel site.

Kayak is a leading aggregate travel booking platform for flights, hotels, cars, and packages. The Kayak Affiliate Program provides access to all Kayak brands, including HotelsCombined, Momondo, and CheapFlights. This program allows earnings not only from actual bookings but also potentially from clicks and ad revenue depending on the terms.

You can apply directly to Kayak’s program when they are open for new publishers, or join through affiliate networks like CJ Affiliate, FlexOffers, or TradeTracker (a UK-based network). Direct programs may offer commission rates up to 50% of Kayak’s profits, while network rates typically range from $0.06-$1.90 per sale.

While some programs offer higher earning potential per transaction, Kayak’s extensive network of publishers (over 15,000) and its trusted global brand make it a viable option for travel bloggers.

18. Skimlinks: Turn Almost Anything Into An Affiliate Link

skimlinks affiliate program sign up

Skimlinks is a unique and time-saving affiliate network designed to streamline finding merchants and creating affiliate links. A key feature is the free Skimlinks Editor Toolbar. As you browse websites for products to feature, the toolbar alerts you if a product has an affiliate program and provides a simple link to insert into your content.

The Skimlinks affiliate marketing program is used by over 60,000 publishers. It has partnered with more than 48,500 merchants and 50 different affiliate networks, offering extensive variety beyond just travel. It positions itself as the largest commerce content monetization program, often providing exclusive commission rates, sometimes double those available through other networks.

Joining Skimlinks is free, offering bloggers a convenient way to monetize content from numerous merchants without managing individual applications and relationships.

19. Tripadvisor Affiliate Program

tripadvisor affiliate program sign up

→ Join Tripadvisor through Travelpayouts here

As the world’s largest travel site, the Tripadvisor affiliate program is naturally on the radar for many bloggers. Tripadvisor connects users with over 1.4 million places to stay and hosts hundreds of millions of reviews.

Although Tripadvisor features various travel services, commissions are typically earned only on accommodations. The commission structure is unique: you receive a minimum of 50% of the commission Tripadvisor earns from the accommodation provider, potentially even for clicks that don’t immediately result in a sale.

A 14-day cookie window ensures you earn commission on sales made within that period, even if the customer uses a different device or channel to complete the booking. There are no minimum traffic requirements to join the Tripadvisor Affiliate Program, which is available on networks like CJ Affiliate.

20. Hostel World Affiliate Program: Best Hostel Affiliate

→ Join HostelWorld through Travelpayouts here

Hostels are a popular choice for budget and social solo travelers. If your readership aligns with this demographic, joining the HostelWorld affiliate program is highly recommended. HostelWorld is one of the largest hostel booking websites globally, listing over 36,000 properties in 179 countries.

You earn commission on bookings made directly through their website or mobile app, tracked with a 30-day cookie window. Payments are supported in 60 currencies, and the program is managed via the Partnerize network.

If you aim to connect your readers with the best hostels while earning income, the HostelWorld Affiliate Program is an excellent fit.

21. Eurail Affiliate Program (Interrail Affiliate Program)

train in europe

For those focusing on the European travel niche, the Eurail Affiliate Program (also known as Interrail Affiliate Program) is worth exploring. This program allows your readers to access passes for over 40 train and ferry companies across Europe, offering single-country or global passes covering travel in 33 countries, providing a flexible way to explore the region.

Available through the AWIN network, affiliates can earn up to 3% commission with a 30-day cookie window. With an average order value exceeding £300, there’s significant potential for substantial commissions.

If you want to introduce readers to an efficient and often budget-friendly method of European travel while generating passive income, the Eurail/Interrail program can be mutually beneficial.

22. NordVPN Affiliate Program: Best VPN Affiliate

Nord VPN affiliate program sign up

As a travel expert, recommending tools for safety and security is crucial. If you cater to digital nomads, promoting a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is highly valuable. VPNs enhance online security and privacy and can provide access to geographically restricted content.

NordVPN is a highly trusted VPN provider, and its affiliate program offers some of the highest commissions in the VPN market, including lifetime revenue sharing. Commission rates are 40% for new sign-ups (potentially 100% for a 1-month offer) and 30% on renewals.

You can join the Nord Affiliate Program directly or through networks like CJ Affiliate (direct is often preferred). With NordVPN’s global market presence and dedicated account management, this can become a highly lucrative affiliate program for travel bloggers focused on digital nomad or tech-savvy travelers.

23. Klook Affiliate Program

→ Join Klook through Travelpayouts here

Klook is another popular platform for booking experiences and activities, featuring over 100,000 options ranging from tours and dining deals to hotels and more. Klook has a particularly strong market presence in Asia and offers its platform in 13 languages, making it a leading booking resource in the region.

Commission rates vary from 2%-5%, depending on the specific activity or service booked. The Klook Affiliate Program is available through networks like Travelpayouts and AWIN, supporting payouts in various currencies.

24. Outdoorsy Affiliate Program: Best RV Affiliate

If your niche is RV travel, the Outdoorsy Affiliate Program is an excellent way to connect your readers with the world’s largest RV rental marketplace. Available through AvantLink, CJ Affiliate, or HasOffers networks, you can refer both RV owners and renters, earning commissions of $60 or more for each qualified booking.

Outdoorsy is recognized for its customer focus, providing insurance coverage with approved rentals and maintaining high satisfaction rates, making it easy to recommend.

With its user-friendly online platform, Outdoorsy offers a unique affiliate opportunity for bloggers targeting the North American RV travel niche.

25. RentalCars.com Affiliate Program

best rental cars affiliate program signup

DISCOVER CARS VS RENTALCARS.COM: WHICH IS BETTER?

My concise answer is Discover Cars, which I consider one of the best travel affiliate sites for car rentals, as elaborated below.

Beyond Discover Cars, RentalCars.com is another major player in the car rental affiliate space and is the official partner for the Booking.com Affiliate Program. When comparing Discover Cars vs RentalCars.com Affiliate Program, several key differences stand out.

Overall, both platforms offer solid travel affiliate programs that can help you generate income from your travel blog quickly. However, if prioritizing higher commission rates and user-friendliness, Discover Cars is my recommended go-to car rental affiliate program. You can also join the RentalCars.com affiliate program through Travelpayouts.

Best Affiliate Marketing Networks for Travel Bloggers

computer, cell phone and tablet looking at the best affiliate marketing programs for travel bloggers

What is an affiliate marketing network?

An affiliate marketing network serves as a central platform consolidating multiple affiliate partners, providing a single dashboard to track sales and commissions from various advertisers.

Affiliate marketing networks facilitate connections between advertisers (brands/companies) seeking promotion and publishers (bloggers/influencers) who have audiences matching the advertisers’ target demographics. Advertisers compensate affiliates with commissions for sales, clicks, or sign-ups generated through their unique links. Sales are typically tracked via affiliate links containing unique codes.

Affiliate marketing, especially through networks, involves minimal to no upfront cost for both advertisers and publishers, making it an accessible starting point for monetization. While it might initially seem complex or feel like “selling,” it’s one of the most natural ways to monetize a blog by recommending products or services you genuinely believe in. If you’ve ever recommended something you like to friends, you’ve done the core of affiliate marketing.

Networks streamline the process significantly, reducing the need to manage individual relationships and payment processes with each brand. While individual applications are still often required within a network, the network structure simplifies much of the administrative work.

Some networks, like Travelpayouts, specialize exclusively in travel brands, while others like CJ Affiliate and Awin cover a wide range of verticals. Each network has its own rules, terms, and commission structures, which can even vary for the same brand depending on the network. Familiarizing yourself with these specifics is important for selecting the best networks for your blog.

Affiliate Networks vs Affiliate Programs: Which is better?

woman at a computer comparing two thingsThe choice between an affiliate network and a direct affiliate program often comes down to personal preference and specific goals.

It’s important to distinguish between an affiliate network and an affiliate program. An affiliate network is a platform hosting multiple advertisers and affiliates, while an affiliate program is a direct agreement between one advertiser and its affiliate partners.

For travel bloggers, a travel-focused affiliate network like Travelpayouts can be an excellent resource for accessing numerous relevant brands from a single platform, simplifying discovery and management. Within a network, you might even receive invitations from brands to join their specific programs, exposing you to options you might not have found otherwise.

However, it’s crucial to note that terms and conditions, such as commission rates, cookie duration, and payment methods, can differ significantly for affiliates who join a program directly compared to those joining through an affiliate network. Furthermore, a brand’s terms might vary across different networks. Comparing terms across networks and direct programs is essential for finding the most lucrative opportunities.

26. Travelpayouts (Best Overall for Travel Bloggers)

Travel Payouts Affiliate Program sign up

Without question, Travelpayouts is a top affiliate network platform for travel bloggers. It focuses exclusively on travel companies, streamlining the process for niche bloggers. Travelpayouts also has a strong reputation for customer service and support.

By targeting only the travel sector, this network provides access to over 100 relevant travel service companies, making it easy to find brands aligning with your content within one convenient platform. Travelpayouts partners with travel companies of all sizes globally, from major brands like Booking.com and Tripadvisor to unique platforms like EatWith (for culinary experiences).

Travelpayouts promotes itself as the first online partnership platform specifically for travel brands, utilized by over 350,000 content creators and influencers worldwide. For over a decade, they’ve partnered with travel services covering accommodations, tours, rentals, transport, cruises, flights, insurance, and more.

The Travelpayouts dashboard is intuitive, showing impressions, clicks, and sales for each partner. While cookie duration and commission rates vary by company, specific details are easily accessible once you join the network and browse brands.

27. CJ Affiliate (Formerly Commission Junction)

CJ Affiliate is one of the largest and most established affiliate marketing networks globally. While vast, it’s often considered less user-friendly than some competitors for travel bloggers specifically.

Hosting over 3,800 brands worldwide, it’s a significant source for travel bloggers seeking monetization options. However, navigating this extensive selection to find travel-specific brands can be overwhelming. The CJ dashboard is more complex than many others, presenting a steeper learning curve for newcomers.

Some bloggers also find acceptance rates into individual brand programs within CJ can be lower, particularly compared to networks that partner with smaller companies, as CJ tends to attract larger corporations.

Nevertheless, significant earning potential exists within CJ Affiliate if you are willing to invest the time to explore its thousands of brands and identify those best suited for your content. Cookie duration and commission rates vary by advertiser, with details available upon network acceptance.

28. AWIN

AWIN is one of the fastest-growing affiliate marketing networks, boasting over 20,000 advertisers and 240,000 publishers. It’s well-regarded for its wide array of travel-related brands, making it highly suitable for travel bloggers.

Initially, AWIN’s platform can seem complex, requiring a learning curve compared to simpler networks. However, once familiar with the dashboard, AWIN offers powerful features valuable for travel websites.

A key strength is providing detailed statistics for each program within the network, aiding selection based on metrics like click-through rate, approval rate, payment time, and earnings per click. This facilitates identifying high-potential programs aligning with your content.

The AWIN Affiliate Marketing Network also provides a helpful glossary for industry terms and allows browsing unjoined programs to review overviews, terms, and performance ratings before applying.

29. Share A Sale

Share A Sale Affiliate Program sign upThough distinct networks, Share A Sale is owned by AWIN.

⚠️ Update: Share A Sale was acquired by AWIN and is scheduled to cease operations by the end of 2025.

Share A Sale is among the oldest and most established affiliate networks, featuring thousands of partner brands across various categories, including travel. Compared to larger networks like CJ, ShareASale tends to partner with smaller companies, offering diversity and potentially more unique options for your audience.

The sign-up process for Share A Sale is noted for being straightforward and quick. Their website offers robust search and filter options (e.g., by auto-approval, cookie duration, commission rates) to help identify programs with high earning potential. Since Share A Sale often works with small to medium-sized companies (alongside some large ones), newer bloggers may find higher acceptance rates from brands eager for exposure.

For new travel bloggers, Share A Sale offers a strong all-around choice among affiliate marketing networks to join.

30. Impact Radius

Impact Affiliate Program sign up

Impact Radius, or simply Impact, is an affiliate network connecting over 1,000 brands with thousands of publishers via a powerful, flexible, and intuitive platform. Partnerships span numerous verticals, and joining programs is easy once accepted into the network.

Impact has established a reputation as a leading affiliate marketing suite, offering advanced tracking and tag management for detailed performance statistics. A potential drawback is a potentially lengthy sign-up process. However, once accepted, you gain access to valuable insights for optimizing campaigns.

The Impact Affiliate Marketing Network also provides flexible global payment options, facilitating convenient receipt of earnings.

31. AvantLink

If you prioritize quality over sheer quantity in an affiliate network, AvantLink is a solid choice. They feature over 800 high-quality advertisers and emphasize strong customer support for affiliates at all experience levels.

For outdoor travel gear affiliates, particularly in hiking, camping, or road trip niches, AvantLink hosts the sought-after REI affiliate program. AvantLink highlights its high-conversion tools, tracking/reporting systems, and performance marketing technology as top-tier.

The AvantLink dashboard is user-friendly once you join. They operate three international networks (USA, Canada, Australia) with additional partners in Europe and Asia Pacific. Payouts are available in these three currencies, convenient for Australian and Canadian bloggers avoiding conversion fees.

The application process for the AvantLink Affiliate Marketing Program is rigorous, which can be a barrier for those seeking quick sign-up. However, successful applicants gain access to high-quality advertisers, including prominent brands like REI and Patagonia.

32-61. A Few More of the Best Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers

affiliate marketing infographic

While the list so far is extensive, it is not exhaustive. The world of affiliate marketing is vast, with nearly every company offering some form of program. Here are 30 more travel-related affiliate programs worth considering:

✈️ 🏩 Flights, Hotels, Etc.

• 32. Momondo Affiliate Program
• 33. WayAway Affiliate Program — Join it through Travelpayouts
• 34. Priceline Affiliate Program
• 35. Hotels Combined Affiliate Program
• 36. Priority Pass Affiliate Program for airport lounges — Join it through Travelpayouts

📸 Tour Affiliate Programs

• 37. Civitatis Affiliate Program Travel Co.
• 38. G Adventures Affiliate Program for group tours
• 39. Tours By Locals Affiliate Program
• 40. Intrepid Travel Affiliate Program for small groups tours
• 41. Go City Pass Affiliate Program for tickets to attractions — Join it through Travelpayouts
• 42. Cookly Affiliate Program for cooking classes

🏨 Accommodations Affiliate Programs

• 43. Plum Guide Affiliate Program for luxury home rentals
• 44. RV Share Affiliate Program for RV rentals
• 45. Stay22 Affiliate Program for hotels, home rentals and more

🚕 Transportation Affiliate Programs

• 46. FerryHopper Affiliate Program
• 47. Bookaway Affiliate Program
• 48. BusBud Affiliate Program — Join it through Travelpayouts
• 49. Omio Affiliate Program — Join it through Travelpayouts
• 50. 12Go — Join it through Travelpayouts

🧳 Misc. Travel Affiliate Programs

• 51. Rakuten Affiliate Program, an affiliate network
• 52. Express VPN Affiliate Program, a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
• 53. Cruise Direct Affiliate Program for cruises
• 54. Heymondo Travel Insurance
• 55. Lonely Planet Affiliate Program, for travel guides and travel guide books

Best Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers: FAQ

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where an affiliate (publisher) earns compensation for referring customers or visitors to a merchant (advertiser).

what is affiliate marking infographicThe affiliate receives a commission for each successful referral, typically based on sales, clicks, or sign-ups generated via unique affiliate links that contain tracking codes.

Affiliate marketing involves little to no upfront costs for both advertisers and publishers, making it an attractive starting point for monetization. While it might feel intimidating initially, it’s a reliable and natural way to monetize your blog. It doesn’t require pushy sales tactics; you can promote companies that genuinely align with your blog’s values. If you’ve ever recommended a product or service you like, you’ve already practiced the core concept. You likely have the necessary skills to start monetizing your travel blog through affiliate marketing.

What is a travel affiliate program?

A travel affiliate program is specifically designed for bloggers and influencers within the travel niche.

Through these programs, you can earn commissions by directing customers and visitors to partner companies such as airlines, hotels, tour operators, and travel insurance providers. Travel affiliates might also receive exclusive discounts or perks they can pass on to their readers, adding value and demonstrating the benefits of promoted services.

Travel is a highly popular and profitable niche for affiliate marketing, offering numerous program options. Research is key to selecting programs that align with your blog’s focus, values, and audience.

How do I become a travel affiliate?

Becoming a travel affiliate starts with identifying the right programs for your blog or social media presence.

affiliate marketing infographic chartOnce you’ve selected potential programs, apply to join. The approval process can take anywhere from a few days to several months. Upon approval, you can begin promoting their products or services using your unique affiliate links.

When choosing programs, pay close attention to any requirements, such as minimum sales thresholds, or restrictions on content and promotional methods. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before signing up. Some programs may prohibit certain types of promotion or require specific disclaimers.

Honesty and transparency are crucial for success in affiliate marketing. Using disclaimers and promoting only high-quality products you genuinely endorse helps build trust and loyalty with your audience while you earn commissions.

How do affiliate programs help travel bloggers?

Affiliate programs offer travel bloggers an excellent way to monetize their blog and audience.

By referring readers to relevant travel industry partners, you can earn commissions. Recommending the best travel affiliate products that meet your readers’ needs helps satisfy their search intent, builds trust as an authority, and simultaneously monetizes your content.

Many affiliate programs also offer exclusive discounts or perks to bloggers, which can help you stand out and provide added value to your audience. For many top travel bloggers, affiliate marketing is the most lucrative monetization strategy. However, it involves more than just adding links. Understanding how to identify lucrative affiliate keywords is key.

How do bloggers get affiliates?

Finding affiliates to promote starts by understanding your readers’ needs and interests.

books about affiliate marketingConsider the challenges or desires your readers have when traveling to destinations you cover. Identify products and services that could help address these points and then seek out affiliate programs that match. This approach allows you to provide significant value to your readers while developing a profitable affiliate marketing revenue stream.

Once you’ve identified potential affiliates, inquire about their program. Many companies have an online application process. If a company doesn’t have an established program, you might need to contact a representative directly.

What is an affiliate marketing cookie?

An affiliate marketing cookie is a small data file stored on a user’s computer when they click an affiliate link redirecting to a partner website.

affiliate marketing cookieThis cookie enables the advertiser to track the user’s activity and purchases over a specific period, even if they leave the site and return later. This tracking ensures that the affiliate is credited for sales resulting from their referral link or advertisement.

Affiliate cookies have varying durations, from a single session to 365 days or even longer, depending on the program’s policy. Most reputable travel affiliate marketing programs use cookies for accurate sales tracking, which is vital for measuring partner performance. It’s important for bloggers to disclose the use of tracking cookies in their privacy policy and offer readers an option to opt out if they wish.

How do I pick the right travel affiliate programs?

Selecting the right travel affiliate programs involves looking for ones with competitive commission rates, reliable tracking, and a diverse range of products or services that align with your audience’s needs.

Choosing affiliate programs can be both exciting and challenging. Here’s an example to illustrate the process. If your blog focuses on luxury travel, you would seek luxury travel affiliate programs available through networks or directly from luxury brands like the Plum Guide Affiliate Program, which positions itself as a high-end alternative for home rentals.

In contrast, if your niche is budget travel, luxury programs would not be suitable. Instead, you would focus on programs relevant to budget travelers, such as the HostelWorld Affiliate Program.

woman in blue getting off a private jet

Additionally, it’s essential to choose programs with a positive reputation and an active affiliate community, ensuring quality products for your readers and reliable payouts for you. A good starting point is to join one or two programs for products or services you already use and would genuinely recommend. As you gain experience and grow your audience, you can expand to include more programs to diversify your income streams.

Here are four key factors to consider when choosing the best travel affiliates and networks:

🍪 What is their cookie policy?

🍪 Wondering what cookies are? An affiliate marketing cookie is different from a baked treat!
Tracking cookies are fundamental to any affiliate program, ensuring you are credited for leads and sales generated from your content. Every program should have a clear cookie policy detailing the cookie duration (or cookie window), how data is collected, and what happens if customers clear their cookies. Carefully review each policy to understand the tracking mechanism.

Knowing these details helps you select effective travel blog affiliate programs and ensures fair compensation for your efforts. Furthermore, transparency is crucial; you should disclose tracking cookies in your privacy policy and provide readers with the option to opt out. A cookie consent pop-up is a common way to address this.

💰 What are their commission rates?

When selecting travel programs for affiliate marketing, commission rates should be a high priority. While some programs offer pay-per-click, most provide a percentage of the sale value, which varies by product or service.

Platforms acting as intermediaries, such as Booking.com or DiscoverCars.com, often pay a commission based on their portion of the profits from the sale, rather than the full sale price. While the percentage might seem high, the actual amount received might be lower than a direct program offering a lower percentage of the total sale value. Some programs also have tiered commission rates, offering higher percentages for achieving larger sales volumes.

Comparing commission structures across different programs and networks is typically worthwhile to identify the highest-paying options for similar products. This helps maximize your earnings and optimize your monetization efforts.

🙋 Do they have a dedicated Affiliate Manager?

affiliate marketing manager at their computerMany travel affiliate programs offer dedicated affiliate managers to assist you in promoting their products and services effectively. A good affiliate manager can answer questions, provide marketing materials, suggest tailored promotions, and help you get the most out of the program.

Having a dedicated contact can significantly streamline launching campaigns, optimizing performance, and potentially negotiating better commission rates based on your success. Considering whether a program offers a dedicated affiliate manager is a valuable factor in your selection process.

🗝️ Can they give your readers a discount code or special offers?

Offering your readers a discount code or special offer is an excellent strategy to boost conversion rates. Look for affiliate programs that provide regular promotional offers and discount codes, as these can substantially increase your affiliate income.

Always check the terms of each offer carefully, as you are responsible for providing the code and ensuring it’s applied correctly. Additionally, many programs have restrictions on where offers can be advertised, so review the terms and conditions before promoting any deals.

Is travel a good affiliate niche?

Travel is one of the most popular and potentially profitable niches for bloggers, particularly if you focus on promoting services for specific destinations or target demographics.

affiliate marketing stats on a tabletSpecializing can help you attract a relevant audience faster and create content that deeply resonates with them. Travel bloggers often benefit from higher engagement and more loyal readers compared to many other niches, making it an ideal fit for affiliate marketing.

By targeting the right affiliate keywords and joining relevant, high-converting programs, you can effectively earn income from your travel blog while providing valuable information to your readers.

What is the best program to promote as an affiliate?

Identifying the best travel affiliate programs for your blog begins with clearly defining your blog’s niche, understanding your audience, their challenges, and their travel aspirations.

Finding lucrative affiliate programs starts by finding ones that are most relevant to your readers, as this inherently increases the likelihood of conversions. After assessing relevance, evaluate programs and networks based on commission rates, favorable terms, reputation, and reliable customer service to ensure both quality for your readers and dependable payouts for you.

Is travel affiliate marketing profitable?

It certainly can be. The travel industry is an incredibly lucrative market for affiliate marketing, offering high profitability for those who employ effective marketing strategies.

In fact, affiliate marketing is often the leading monetization strategy for travel bloggers, accounting for over 60% of revenue for many successful creators. By focusing on appropriate affiliate keywords, applying marketing best practices, and maintaining reader trust, travel bloggers can earn significant commissions from their affiliate marketing efforts.

When should I start affiliate marketing?

Immediately – if not sooner! Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to monetize your blog and create passive income streams. With the right strategies, you can start generating earnings relatively quickly.

green key on a computer keyboabrrd that says affiliate marketingStarting early allows you to experiment and refine your marketing methods to best suit your audience. Furthermore, joining affiliate networks and programs early in your blogging journey can give you an advantage later on when seeking to negotiate higher commission rates or better promotional offers.

What are the average affiliate network conversion rates?

Affiliate conversion rates can vary significantly based on factors like niche, audience relevance, traffic quality, and promotional strategy. However, many affiliates report average conversion rates ranging from 1% to 3%.

My Final Thoughts on the Best Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers

affiliate marking infographic

Based on personal experience growing a travel blog to generate substantial income, affiliate marketing is a prime area for travel bloggers to focus on for passive income. By selecting the right programs, targeting relevant keywords, and committing to learning the nuances of affiliate marketing, achieving significant passive income through your travel blog is highly possible.

Now that you have this list of the best affiliate programs for travel sites, begin brainstorming your audience’s needs and which travel-related products or services would enhance their travel experiences. Find a program from this list that aligns with your blog’s niche and start introducing it to your readers. As you continue to build your audience and refine your strategies, the potential for what you can achieve with travel affiliate marketing is vast. For perspective, personal earnings from affiliate marketing exceeded $330K in 2023.