If you’ve ever thought about becoming a travel blogger, you’ve probably wondered “how much money can you make from a travel blog?”.
Or maybe importantly, “how do travel bloggers make money”?
And those are both great questions!
If you’re planning to blog and earn a solid income while traveling, it’s important to understand the pros and cons before you invest your time and energy into it.
While my family has always loved the idea of starting a travel blog, the reality of travelling with two young kids AND documenting the entire journey is a bit daunting.
But if you have a passion for exploring the world, and a knack for writing and photography, then travel blogging might be the perfect fit for you.
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How Much do Travel Bloggers Make on Average?
Income levels can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of a blog, the travel destinations, and the amount of work invested, so it’s important to consider all the variables.
While many travel bloggers currently earn 6 figure incomes, it didn’t just happen overnight. Behind every success story is usually years of dedication and struggle, which often includes draining their personal savings to travel!
However, with plenty of research and planning, there is limitless opportunities in the travel world for new bloggers to find their place (I’ll show you examples below).
How Do Travel Blogs Make Money?
There are three main income sources for travel bloggers:
Sponsored Posts
For travel blogs of all sizes, sponsored posts and campaigns can be a great way to earn an income while covering travel expenses.
Even without a large social media following, having an engaged and targeted audience can attract many new opportunities.
Destinations and brands are willing to pay top dollar to be in front of an audience that is already highly interested in their location, product or service.
Check out my post Niche Blogging Income – 5 Steps to Sponsored Posts for more tips and strategies.
Advertising Revenue
For any blog with steady monthly traffic (think 20,000+ sessions/month), ad revenue can be a solid income stream.
While some travel bloggers may choose to sell their own ad space, many choose to join an established ad network.
Some of the most popular ad networks for travel bloggers are Mediavine, AdThrive, Google Adsense and Media.net.
Affiliate Marketing
By recommending online products they already use and love, travel bloggers can earn passive income by sharing affiliate links on their blog, through social media, or email.
Amazon.com is a great source for travel items and just by sending their traffic over, bloggers can earn a percentage of the sales.
For more ideas see this List of Travel Affiliate Programs for Travel Bloggers.
If you want to start earning quickly, I also highly recommend checking out Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. After taking this course, adding a passive income stream your blog is a piece of cake. Michelle earns over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing, and she shares all of her best tips in this step-by-step course (it’s helped me earn an extra $1000 this year!). Get started here.
Other Income
Here’s a few other common methods travel bloggers use to generate income:
- YouTube Videos
- Physical products
- Digital Products
- Course and Online Training
- Consulting and other services
How Much Does it Cost to Run a Travel Blog?
While it’s nice to think about all the money coming in, it’s also important to know where the money is going out. Here’s a few examples of common travel blogging expenses:
- Web Hosting (I use Siteground)
- Email Service (I use Mailerlite)
- Pinterest Scheduling (I use Tailwind)
- Photography/Video Editing
- Support Staff/Virtual Assistants
- Travel Equipment & Supplies
And of course…the actual cost of travel!
Travel Blog Income Reports
How much money can you make from a travel blog? Check out these income reports from some of the top travel bloggers!
How We Made $14,179 in 1 Month On Our Travel Blog: Income Report March 2019
Travel Blog Income Report, June 2018: $10,676.44
How We Made $19,233 Blogging in June While Traveling The UK
How We Made Over $30.9K in May - Travel Blog Income Report
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do travel bloggers make money on Instagram?
Just like with sponsored posts on a blog, advertisers love to have their destination shown off in front of an engaged, targeted audience.
Watch for words like #ad, #sponsored, #hosted, #partner to see which of your favorite travel bloggers are making money on Instagram.
Do travel bloggers get to travel for free?
Yes! While some of the top bloggers regularly score all-expense paid trips, many just have a portion of their vacation covered. For some that may be flights or accommodations, and for others an activity or local food tasting.
To make travel more affordable, a blogger may work with several sponsors to cover the majority of their costs.
How do I start a travel blog?
Once you’ve chosen a niche and a domain name, you’ll need a hosting company that can set you up on WordPress.
If you want to make blogging your business (even if you’re starting small) I highly recommend choosing a web host that focuses on speed, uptime, and customer support (without blowing your budget).
Siteground has done all of those for me (including 100% uptime!) and has really helped take my blog to the next level. Check out their Managed WordPress Hosting here.
They can also get you set up with a domain name if you’re starting from scratch, and make it a breeze to get your blog up and running!
Not sure if a travel blog is right for you? Check out these posts:
How Much Do Fashion Bloggers Make?
How Much Do Food Bloggers Make?
Have you thought about starting a blog? What’s holding you back?
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