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How to Make Money with Travel Affiliate Programs (Top 10 Picks)

This post contains affiliate links.

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your love for travel โ€” or just your skill in writing about it โ€” into an income stream, affiliate marketing might be your passport. Travel affiliate programs are abundant, but not all are equal when it comes to commission potential, brand recognition, or user trust.

Whether you’re a lifestyle blogger, travel enthusiast, or niche content creator just exploring the space, this guide breaks down 10 of the most reliable and rewarding travel affiliate programs available today.


๐ŸšŠ 1. Trip.com

Trip.com is one of the world’s leading online travel agencies. Their platform covers everything from hotels and flights to train bookings and attraction tickets.

  • Why it’s great: Global coverage, user-friendly experience, and multiple travel verticals
  • Best for: Bloggers with an international audience

With coverage in over 200 countries and a multilingual platform, Trip.com is ideal for global content creators. The platform offers competitive commission rates and consistent conversion due to its trusted booking experience. Plus, they frequently run sales โ€” giving you more angles to create content around.

๐Ÿจ 2. TravelUp

TravelUp offers access to thousands of hotels, flights, and vacation bundles with competitive pricing.

TravelUp Flight & Hotel Deals
  • Why it’s great: Strong inventory, regular promotions, and responsive support
  • Best for: Budget-conscious travel bloggers or deal-focused content

TravelUp partners with airlines and hotel providers around the world, which gives bloggers a chance to earn on flights and accommodations. Their interface supports dynamic affiliate deals, meaning you can promote time-sensitive discounts for better urgency and click-through rates.

๐ŸŽข 3. Tours4Fun

Tours4Fun specializes in guided tours, multi-day adventures, and activities around the world.

https://www.tours4fun.com/
  • Why it’s great: Unique inventory and niche-specific appeal
  • Best for: Bloggers covering group tours, city guides, or U.S.-based adventures

This program is a goldmine for niche content โ€” especially city-based travel guides and themed experiences (e.g., ghost tours, national park tours, etc.). With customizable affiliate tools and deep links, you can link directly to specific tours your audience would love.

๐Ÿจ 4. Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a household name in the travel booking space, and its affiliate program is backed by strong consumer trust.

  • Why it’s great: Brand recognition, mobile-friendly experience
  • Best for: Bloggers who write hotel roundups, travel itineraries, or comparison content

Hotels.com offers an intuitive user experience and strong loyalty program that keeps customers coming back โ€” which is great for long-tail income. Their affiliate platform allows for flexible integration, including widgets, banners, and text links to match your blog layout.

๐Ÿ›ซ 5. Expedia

Expedia is a major player offering packages, flights, car rentals, and hotel stays.

  • Why it’s great: High customer familiarity, cross-sell potential
  • Best for: General travel content, flight + hotel bundles, or family vacation planning

As one of the largest names in travel, Expediaโ€™s trust factor boosts conversions. They also offer cross-sell features, so when a reader clicks to book a hotel, theyโ€™re also shown car rentals and flights โ€” increasing your potential earnings on a single referral.

๐Ÿญ 6. CityPASS

CityPASS lets travelers save on top attractions in major cities like NYC, San Francisco, and more.

  • Why it’s great: Perfect for urban explorers, compact value offers
  • Best for: Bloggers writing destination guides or “things to do in” style posts
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Perfect for bloggers covering U.S. cities, CityPASS is an easy affiliate win when writing โ€œ48 hours inโ€ฆโ€ or โ€œbest things to do inโ€ฆโ€ posts. Their passes bundle top attractions with real savings, making your recommendation both practical and helpful.

๐ŸšŒ 7. CheapTickets

CheapTickets lives up to its name by offering competitive rates on flights, hotels, and car rentals.

CheapTickets.com
  • Why it’s great: Price-sensitive readers love it
  • Best for: Budget travel blogs or comparison-style content

CheapTickets appeals to budget travelers โ€” and their platform often undercuts other OTAs on pricing. They also offer promo codes and flash deals, which make for compelling blog content and click-worthy social posts.

โœˆ๏ธ 8. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (Impact)

As one of the most trusted low-cost U.S. airlines, Southwestโ€™s affiliate program through Rapid Rewards lets users earn points and book travel affordably.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

  • Why it’s great: Loyalty-focused and great for repeat customers
  • Best for: U.S. travel bloggers and airline-focused posts

This affiliate program is perfect for creators focused on family travel or budget-conscious U.S. travelers. With no baggage fees and flexible flight changes, Southwestโ€™s customer-friendly model boosts satisfaction โ€” and return visits via your links.

๐Ÿ™๏ธ 9. Vegas.com

This one speaks for itself. Vegas.com specializes in hotels, entertainment, and vacation packages specific to Las Vegas.

  • Why it’s great: Niche-specific, high-converting for entertainment-focused travelers
  • Best for: Bloggers with Vegas content, nightlife posts, or weekend trip roundups

If you create content about Las Vegas travel, event planning, or entertainment, this affiliate is practically built for you. They cover everything from shows and concerts to hotel deals โ€” making it easy to bundle travel recommendations in one place.

๐Ÿ–๏ธ 10. Tahiti Village Resort & Spa

A luxury resort in Las Vegas with a tropical escape vibe. This affiliate is more exclusive, but offers strong commissions.

  • Why it’s great: Strong brand story, immersive experiences
  • Best for: Bloggers writing about romantic getaways or resort travel

Though niche, this affiliate program has high payout potential due to the resortโ€™s premium pricing. If you write about romantic escapes, girlsโ€™ weekends, or luxury U.S. stays, this is an ideal fit โ€” especially when paired with personal commentary or themed content.

(Floating River included! โฌ‡๏ธ๐ŸŒŠ)


๐ŸŒŽ Tips for Promoting Travel Affiliate Programs

  • Donโ€™t just list deals โ€” offer value through guides, comparisons, and curated itineraries.
  • Use phrases like โ€œbest places to stay in…โ€ or โ€œweekend travel ideasโ€ to naturally work in your affiliate links.
  • Add affiliate tools like Lasso to make your links more visual and clickable.
  • If youโ€™re using Koala or other AI tools, batch content by region or travel style.

๐Ÿ  Bottom Line

The travel niche can feel competitive, but the right affiliate programs help you stand out. By offering trusted booking platforms, valuable trip ideas, and content tailored to your audience, you can turn your travel posts into long-term income streams.

As always, keep it honest, add your own flair, and focus on serving your readers first.

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