15 Best Travel Affiliate Programs

15 Best Travel Affiliate Programs to Boost Your Income

The travel industry is booming, making it the perfect time to dive into travel affiliate marketing. After extensive research, we’ve curated this list of the top 15 travel affiliate programs to help you maximize your earnings while indulging your passion for exploration.

With the travel industry generating trillions in global economic impact and making up 7.6% of total global GDP, the potential for affiliate marketers is enormous. Top affiliates in this space average over $5,000 per month thanks to high transaction values and attractive commission rates.

Let’s explore the most lucrative programs and start inspiring wanderlust!

How IncRev Can Help You Succeed in Travel Affiliate Marketing

To truly excel as a travel affiliate marketer, mastering key digital marketing skills – especially search engine optimization (SEO) – is crucial. That’s why IncRev has created in-depth guides to help you, including:

Implementing these strategies can help your travel website or blog rank higher and drive more qualified traffic, leading to increased bookings and commissions.

Top Travel Affiliate Programs

1. Expedia Group

Niche: General travel, including accommodation, activities, car rentals, flights and cruise lines
Commission rate: Up to 6%
Cookie duration: 7 days
Perks: Tools to help affiliates
Cons: Doesn’t pay on canceled bookings; Only pays out when customer’s trip is complete

Expedia is one of the biggest travel brands globally, offering access to over 3 million properties, 500 airlines, thousands of car rentals, and more than 220k activities. Their affiliate program boasts high conversion rates due to brand popularity.

2. Booking.com

Niche: General travel, including accommodation, flights, car rentals, and attractions
Commission rate: 25 – 40% of Booking.com’s commission
Cookie duration: Session-based
Perks: A trusted brand name and promotional tools
Cons: Payouts only after $109

Booking.com offers a tiered commission structure based on the number of bookings you refer per month. Their program is ideal for bloggers and travel influencers, providing access to over 28 million accommodation listings in 60,000 locations.

3. Tripadvisor

Niche: General travel, including accommodation and activities
Commission rate: 50% of Tripadvisor’s commission
Cookie duration: 14 days
Perks: Various promotional tools including text links, logos, buttons, banners, badges and widgets
Cons: Commissions only on hotel bookings

Tripadvisor’s affiliate program focuses on accommodation bookings, offering 50% of their commission. During incentive campaigns, commissions can reach up to 80%. Notably, no actual booking is required for you to earn – you get paid when a user clicks through to a booking partner.

4. Viator

Niche: Activities
Commission rate: 8% on completed experiences
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: Weekly payouts (PayPal); Useful affiliate tools, including links, widgets, and banners
Cons: For bank transfers, there’s a minimum $50 threshold

Viator offers an 8% commission on any experience booked within 30 days of clicking your link. With 300,000 experiences in 2,500 locations, including sightseeing tours, day trips, and multi-day excursions, the opportunities are endless.

5. Sandals Resorts

Niche: All inclusive resorts
Commission rate: 4% per completed reservation
Cookie duration: 60 days
Perks: Well-known luxury travel brand, opportunities for free trips and higher commissions based on performance
Cons: Some might find 4% low, niche market catering to luxury travel and romantic getaways

Sandals Resorts is perfect for those targeting the luxury travel market. With an average order value around $2,000, the 4% commission quickly adds up. The luxury travel sector is booming, expected to surpass $3.7 trillion by 2032.

6. G Adventures

Niche: Adventure travel
Commission rate: 6% on confirmed sales
Cookie duration: 90 days
Perks: G Adventures provides display ads, XML feed, and additional copy
Cons: Small niche, so can be difficult to break through the noise and market your links

G Adventures caters to adventure travelers, offering a 6% commission on an average order value of about $2,600. The adventure travel niche is estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion by 2026, making it a lucrative market to tap into.

7. Agoda

Niche: Accommodation
Commission rate: Up to 5%, depending on the number of bookings
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: The more bookings, the higher the commission plus free tools to increase traffic
Cons: Only open to website owners (no social media platforms)

Agoda offers a range of accommodation options and provides free tools proven to increase traffic and conversions. The program is available in 38 languages, allowing you to reach diverse audiences.

8. GetYourGuide

Niche: Travel experiences
Commission rate: 8%
Cookie duration: 31 days
Perks: Free training through workshops and networking events
Cons: Bank transfers have a minimum $50 threshold

GetYourGuide offers curated excursions and activities worldwide. Affiliates earn an 8% commission on bookings and completed activities, with access to free training and various promotional tools.

9. Discover Cars

Niche: Car rental
Commission rate: 70% of rental profit; 30% of full coverage revenue
Cookie duration: 365 days
Perks: Tools (banners, text links, widget, landing page generator, XML API integration) and a dedicated account manager
Cons: Minimum payment threshold of $200

Discover Cars offers a “double” commission structure and a long 365-day cookie duration. Affiliates receive a dedicated account manager to maximize profits and provide feedback on links.

10. Klook

Niche: Experiences and tours
Commission rate: Up to 5%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: Tools to aid with integration
Cons: Must own a website or blog (no social media posts)

Klook offers commissions on attractions, shows, tours, transport, and dining experiences. While originally focused on Asian markets, they’ve expanded to North American and European offerings as well.

11. Hostelworld

Niche: Affordable accommodation; backpackers; hostels
Commission rate: Calculated as % of deposit
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: Dedicated support team and integration tools
Cons: Does not report commission rate on their site

Hostelworld focuses on affordable hostel experiences, making it ideal for affiliates targeting budget-friendly travelers. Users can access over 13 million reviews and bookings of backpackers and hostels in 179 countries.

12. Skyscanner

Niche: Airline tickets, hotels and car rental
Commission rate: Up to 20% on bookings
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: Tools for integration (widgets, banners, links)
Cons: Strict affiliate marketer requirements

Skyscanner is a trusted global brand with over 100 million monthly users. While they have strict requirements for affiliates, including a minimum of 5,000 unique monthly visitors, they offer competitive commissions of up to 20% on bookings.

13. Travelpayouts

Niche: Travel partnership platform
Commission rate: Depends on brand
Cookie duration: Ranges from single session to 365 days
Perks: Support team, free education, integration tools, and access to 100+ brands
Cons: Bank transfer $400 minimum threshold

Travelpayouts is a unique platform offering access to over 90 different travel affiliate programs. This cost-per-action travel partnership platform is ideal for beginners as there are no minimum traffic requirements.

14. KAYAK

Niche: General travel
Commission rate: Up to 50%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Perks: Access to several brands and integration tools
Cons: Minimum payment threshold of $500

KAYAK owns several travel brands including Momondo, Cheapflights, and HotelsCombined. Affiliates can earn up to 50% on bookings, clicks, and ad revenue across their travel offerings.

15. World Nomads

Niche: Travel insurance
Commission rate: 10% on sales
Cookie duration: 60 days
Perks: Integration tools, ongoing support, and a platform recommended by big brands like Lonely Planet and Contiki
Cons: Insurance-related content is difficult to rank for

World Nomads offers one of the best affiliate programs in the travel insurance niche. With sales in over 100 countries and a 10% commission rate, it’s an attractive option for affiliates despite the challenges of ranking insurance-related content.

Becoming a Successful Travel Affiliate

To become a successful travel affiliate, focus on these key areas:

Building Your Site/Audience

Create a travel website or blog with steady traffic. Build rapport with your audience by offering personalized experiences and up-to-date content. Share travel stories, give tips, and aim to inspire your audience.

Promoting Travel Offers

Promote your content and unique referral links naturally, without being pushy. Stay on trend with your content, focusing on current travel interests like digital nomadism or sustainable travel. Create engaging content such as listicles, personal itineraries, and destination deep-dives.

Maximizing Earnings

Find the right balance between high-commission programs and those likely to convert. Choose programs that appeal to your audience and are likely to drive conversions. Diversify by signing up for multiple programs or joining an affiliate network like Travelpayouts or ShareASale.

Choosing the Right Travel Affiliate Program

Consider these factors when selecting travel affiliate programs:

Align with your niche and audience interests
Evaluate commission rates and conversion potential
Check cookie duration for extended earning potential
Compare tools and resources offered
Investigate payment reliability and schedules

By carefully selecting the right programs and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can turn your passion for travel into a lucrative affiliate marketing venture. Start your journey today with these top travel affiliate programs and watch your earnings soar!

FAQ

What is the best travel affiliate program for beginners?

Travelpayouts is an excellent choice for beginners as it offers access to multiple programs without minimum traffic requirements. It also provides educational resources and support to help you get started.

How much can I earn as a travel affiliate?

Earnings vary widely, but top affiliates can make over $5,000 per month. Your income will depend on factors like your audience size, the programs you choose, and your marketing effectiveness.

Do I need a large audience to become a travel affiliate?

While a larger audience can lead to more earnings, many programs don’t have strict traffic requirements. Focus on building a engaged, targeted audience rather than just chasing numbers.

Can I join multiple travel affiliate programs?

Yes, and it’s often recommended to diversify your income streams by joining multiple programs that align with your niche and audience interests.

How can I improve my conversion rates as a travel affiliate?

Focus on creating high-quality, informative content that addresses your audience’s needs. Build trust with your readers, and only promote products or services you genuinely believe in. Continuously test and optimize your affiliate links and promotional strategies.

15 Best Travel Affiliate Programs

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