If you are a travel writer, you are in a very lucrative business. Chances are you already have a popular blog, and you are making a name for yourself by participating in travel contests, guest blogging, or simply by grabbing the best travel writing gigs in your niche. Are you ready for more?
In the following you will find an extensive selection of sites, newspapers, magazines, and blogs that pay for travel articles. They are all well-established, prestigious publications with an excellent readership; some offering printed editions. Most of them look for high-quality writing and unique angles that respect their submission guidelines, so read carefully before sending in your pitches.
We hope you will find this selection useful and please feel free to recommend other sites to expand the list in the comment section below the body of the article. Although we made this an ordered list, this is not a top. The numbers are there to keep track of the entries, as we plan to improve the list as a resource for you over time. We count on your help.
- Wanderlust counts among the most prestigious travel magazines in the UK. For most magazine features they pay £220 per 1,000 published words. See the submission terms.
- Adventure Kayak by Rapid Media pays contributors a pre-negotiated rate of up to $0.20 per word depending on length, content, and quality. The magazine celebrates kayak touring, from a tour through the local bay to an arctic expedition to all the diversity in between. You can find their submission guidelines here.
- 101 Holidays pay between £50 and £100 per article published, depending on its length and complexity. Published articles remain the intellectual property of the author. They also run 101 Honeymoons. Submission terms and details on their website.
- ADVMoto, or Adventure Motorcycle, is a bi-monthly magazine showcasing courageous people on inspiring rides around the world, both on road and off. Monetary compensation varies from $150 and up. More details via adventuremotorcycle.com.
- Mississippi Magazine e is a bimonthly publication that celebrates the positive points of Mississippi, from interesting people and places to homes, gardens, food, history, culture, special events, and more. They pay $250-350 for feature articles.
- Great Escape Publishing publishes articles on the craft and business of getting paid to travel, whether by writing, photography, tours or other means. They pay $50-$75 for articles they request for the website, $100-$150 for interviews and personal stories, and $150-$200 for articles with specific income advice a reader can print and follow to earn more income. Learn more.
- Russian Life is a bimonthly magazine that pays for travel features. Payment is upon publication and fees vary depending upon the length and difficulty of the article. See how to pitch them here.
- Verge Magazine pay $0.10 (CAD) per word. They need articles for and by people who travel with purpose. The magazine explores ways to get out and see the world by volunteering, working and studying overseas. The Verge Contributor Guide can be downloaded in *.pdf form.
- Ensemble Travel Group is happy to accept pitches from travel writers too. They buy all rights to manuscripts, although copyright is returned to the author 90 days after publication. Payment is made upon acceptance of the final article and receipt of the writer’s invoice. They accept freelance queries for most departments.
- Viator needs no introduction. They currently invite writers to join their database. They usually pay $100-$150 for features.
- EatingWell is happy to accept pitches that show how food and eating intersect with lifestyle, such as travel, beauty, books (not diet or cookbooks) and gifts. Learn more.
- BootsnAllare accepting article pitches again, but they are looking for very specific ideas. They have an editorial calendar plus other opportunities. Check them out.
- If you want to write for TravelPulse, they pay anywhere from $40-50 per article, but evaluate that on a per-writer basis. See their Frequently Asked Questions Document to learn how to pitch and what they like to receive.
- The Military Officers Association of America is a nonprofit organization that publishes the Military Officer magazine. They accept travel articles too. They pay up to 0.80 cents per word for features. See requirements and payment details here.
- Travel Weekly currently accepts editorial freelancers. They are quite important in the industry, so writing for them could boost your travel writing career.
- Green Lifestyle Magazine is a lifestyle magazine with a difference: it is aimed at readers who are interested in reducing their ecological footprint, but without abandoning their quality of life. They address environmental concerns while showcasing the latest in food, fashion, home and garden, books, finance, travel, and more. Payment varies from A$400 to A$1,500 depending on word length and level of research required.
- Salt Magazine accept pre-written articles; however, spec submissions must meet specific criteria. Salt is a sophisticated magazine that motivates consumers from Calgary — one of Canada’s most prosperous cities — to visit and invest in Vancouver Island.
- International Living is an easy one. They publish “postcards” from expats living overseas. They pay a one-time rate of $75, including any photos you may wish to include. (Please note: photos are not a requirement.)
- Alaska Airlines offer a great opportunity for your writing to be seen by featuring your pieces online and in their in-flight magazine issues. They pay within 30 days of publication, buying First North American Rights, with reprint rights. They pay a kill fee of one-third the contracted price. Rates begin at $150 to $250 for short articles in the Journal section (200 to 600 words); $150 for business shorts (500 words); $500 for columns (1,600 words); and $700 for features (2,000 to 2,500 words). Expenses, if agreed to in advance, are paid on an invoice.
- Canada’s YAM Magazine is interested in home and garden, food and wine, experiential travel, arts and culture, health and fitness, and lifestyle. Check out their submission guidelines here.
- Travel + Leisure is another industry superstar. If you are a writer with an idea for a story, you can send it here.
- PassageMaker Magazine is a publication covering all aspects of trawlers and ocean motorboats, and welcomes contributions from around the world. Payment ranges from $300–$950 for magazine feature articles, which can range from 800-4000 words in length and from $150-400 for Channels e-newsletter articles, which should be no longer than 1200 words.
These are only 22 sites that pay for travel articles. We will update the list soon to include more. In the meanwhile, drop us a line in the comments if you have anything to add.