May 3, 2022
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Travel blogging and vlogging offer plenty of marketing and sales opportunities because there is so much terrain to cover. A travel content creator can discuss her experiences, tips, hacks, things to do, places to visit, dining, nightlife, tours, reviews, travel reward cards, money matters, what to avoid, and more. In this post, we’ll review the best travel affiliate programs.
Millions of people travel annually for pleasure and business. That makes the trillion-dollar travel and tourism industry an essential part of getting from one place to the next. On the flip side, sales margins tend to be small, negatively impacting what advertisers can pay affiliates. Therefore, commission rates tend to be in the low single to double digits. Cookie durations might also fall short of the industry standard of 30 days.
Best Travel Affiliate Programs
Most travel merchants run their programs on affiliate networks. The Travelpayouts affiliate network features travel and tourism companies exclusively. FlexOffers and CJ Affiliate offer robust selections of advertisers in various travel niches. Impact, ShareASale, and Rakuten Advertising have over 100 programs.
| Affiliate Network | Merchant Listings |
| Travelpayouts | 100+ programs |
| FlexOffers | 568 programs |
| CJ Affiliate | 268 programs |
| Impact | 136 programs |
| ShareASale | 116 programs |
| Rakuten Advertising | 116 programs |
Standard travel categories include accessories, accommodations, airfare, attractions, car rentals, cruises, flights, hotels, insurance, luggage, parking, sightseeing, tours, transportation, and vacations. You won’t find many pay-per-lead affiliate programs in the travel sector since most merchants only pay for sales and bookings.
Airfares & Flights
Booking.com
Booking customers can purchase accommodations, flights, car rentals, attractions, airport taxis, and more. Users can search by property type, including hotels, apartments, resorts, villas, cabins, guest houses, B&Bs, and cottages. Booking has frequent travel specials starting at 15 percent. Finally, users can chat with other travelers in various communities. Booking pays a 4 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Booking affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 4%
- Cookie duration: Session-based
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts, CJ Affiliate, and in-house
Expedia
Expedia offers deals on stays, flights, cars, packages, activities, and cruises. They target multiple user-profiles and demographics with niche travel categories. With Expedia Rewards, members get lower prices on select hotels, points to save on bookings, and more travel benefits. The company was launched in 1996 as a division of Microsoft, which would surprise most people. Expedia pays a 6 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Expedia affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 6%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts and CJ Affiliate
Momondo
Momondo is a travel search engine and comparison site mainly for flights but extends to stays, car rentals, activities, packages, and train reservations. Unlike standard travel websites, Momondo is mostly a click-through site that directs users to other sites to complete their purchases. Environmentally conscious users can filter by CO2 emissions for more sustainable travel. Momondo pays a commission rate of up to $0.55. Learn more and join the Momondo affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to $0.55
- Cookie duration: Session-based
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Orbitz
Orbitz has specials on stays, flights, cars, packages, activities, and cruises. On its homepage, it markets to the LGBTQ+ community. Last-minute deals, all-inclusive resorts, and flights under $199 are standard categories in its featured offers section. Users can earn “Orbucks” on purchases and apply them to hotel bookings (with no blackout dates). Orbitz pays a 5 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Orbitz affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 5%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Priceline
Priceline offers discounts on hotels, cars, flights, and cruises. Its “Bundle + Save” allows users to combine two travel items for greater savings, for example, hotel and flight. Priceline provides free cancellation on most flight, hotel, and rental car bookings. VIP is a membership program offering exclusive discounts and benefits. There are four membership levels, including Member, Blue, Gold, and Platinum. The Priceline VIP Rewards Visa Card is a travel points card. Priceline pays a 3 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Priceline affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a leading global travel search site providing instant online comparisons for flights, car rentals, and hotels. It checks 1,200 travel companies for data and pricing. Its ‘Greener choice’ label highlights flights that emit less CO2. Skyscanner sells travel insurance separately. Skyscanner pays a 50 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Skyscanner affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Trip.com
Trip specializes in hotels, flights, trains, cars, tours, tickets, and attractions. Users can earn and redeem “Trip Coins” to save instantly on bookings and access exclusive member-only deals. There are four membership levels, including Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Trip pays a 7 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Trip affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 7%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and Awin
Vacation Rentals & Holiday Homes
Plum Guide
Plum Guide is building the definitive collection of the world’s most remarkable holiday homes. It picks only the top 3 percent of properties in any destination to ensure high-quality experiences for guests. Plum Guide pays a commission rate of 7 percent per booking. Learn more and join the Plum Guide affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Affiliate software/network: Partnerize
VBRO
VRBO is an online marketplace for vacation rentals with over 1 million properties in 190 countries. VRBO pays a commission rate of $20 per booking. Learn more and join the VBRO affiliate program.
- Commission rate: $20
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Hotels, Motels, & Hostels
Agoda
Agoda is one of the fastest-growing online hotel booking platforms worldwide, listing hundreds of thousands of hotels. Agoda pays a 7 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Agoda affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 7%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts, ShareASale, and in-house
Best Western
Best Western operates hotels in 95 countries, with each keeping an individual charm and local appeal. Best Western pays a 3 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Best Western affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Hostelworld
Hostelworld is a leading online travel agent focusing on the hostel market, inspiring adventurers to visit new places, meet new people, and return with extraordinary stories to tell. Hostelworld pays a 40 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Hostelworld affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Partnerize & Travelpayouts
Hotels.com
Hotels.com offers more than 1,000,000 properties in 200 countries, from hotels and B&Bs to condos and all-inclusive resorts. Hotels.com pays a 4 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Hotels.com affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 4%
- Cookie duration: 7 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
HotelsCombined
HotelsCombined looks for hotels and homes from the best travel sites around the world in seconds. It gathers all of the prices, availabilities, and rooms to enable users to filter and compare the best options and deals for their travels. HotelsCombined pays up to a 50 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the HotelsCombined affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Kayak Affiliate Network
Motel 6 & Studio 6
Motel 6 offers fantastic room rates at more than 1,100 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Learn more and join the Motel 6 affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 6%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Car Rentals
Discover Cars
Discover Cars makes renting a car easy by connecting customers globally with rental cars at affordable prices. Discover Cars pays a 40 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Discover Cars affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie duration: 365 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts and ShareASale
Localrent.com
Localrent.com is an aggregator of car rental companies for Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Montenegro, Thailand, and seven other countries. Myrentacar pays a 50 percent commission rate. It works with local car suppliers to offer unique selections. Learn more and join the Localrent.com affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Cookie duration: Up to 60 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts and in-house
RentalCars.com
RentalCars.com is the world’s largest platform for making online car rental reservations. RentalCars pays a 6 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the RentalCars affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 6%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts and CJ Affiliate
Note: Alamo, Avis, Budget, National, and Thrifty have affiliate programs that pay up to 4 percent.
Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises gives you the chance to be in awe of the world again. Take a cruise vacation to the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and return refreshed. Princess Cruises pays a 4 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Princess Cruises affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 4%
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Affiliate software/network: Awin
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International is a leading cruise holiday company with 22 ships, sailing to over 240 ports worldwide. Royal Caribbean pays a 4 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Royal Caribbean affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 4%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: TradeDoubler
Touring & Sightseeing
GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide helps travelers find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities from around the world. GetYourGuide pays an 8 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the GetYourGuide affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 8%
- Cookie duration: 31 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts and in-house
Contiki
Contiki provides tours for 18-35s. It offers a mix of sightseeing and culture in over 40 countries across six continents. Contiki pays a 5 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Contiki affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 5%
- Cookie duration: 45 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Travel Affiliate Networks
Travelpayouts
Travelpayouts is the largest travel affiliate network. Affiliates can join various travel-related affiliate programs, such as Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Discover Cars, and more. With Travelpayouts, you can manage all your programs from a single dashboard and streamline commission payments. Travelpayouts pays a 50 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Travelpayouts network.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Cookie duration: Avg of 30 days
- Programs in the network: 90+
Other Travel Affiliate Programs
SafetyWing
SafetyWing is building the first global safety net for remote companies, online freelancers, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads. It offers travel and comprehensive health insurance at affordable prices. SafetyWing pays a 20 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the SafetyWing affiliate programs (Nomad Insurance and Remote Health).
- Commission rate: Up to 20%
- Cookie duration: 364 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Groupon
Groupon features daily deals on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in various cities across the United States and the world. Groupon pays a 10 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Groupon affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 10%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspire. SeaWorld pays a 4 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the SeaWorld affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 4%
- Cookie duration: One day
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Travel Guard
Travel Guard is America’s leading travel security company providing insurance, assistance, and emergency services for millions of travelers and companies worldwide. Travel Guard pays a commission rate of $2 per lead. Learn more and join the Getaway affiliate program.
- Commission rate: $2
- Cookie duration: 45 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is a leader in user-generated content, reviews, price comparisons, and offers. TripAdvisor pays a 50 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 50%
- Cookie duration: 14 days
- Affiliate software/network: Travelpayouts, Awin, and CJ Affiliate
Walt Disney
Walt Disney World is a dream holiday destination for all ages, including families as well as adults. Walt Disney pays a 3 percent commission rate. Learn more and join the Walt Disney affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Your Next Move
From luxury to adventure niches, there are easily hundreds of travel affiliate programs to join. I’ve done my best to provide you with the top ones based on their earnings per click (EPC) and website rankings. I recommend sifting through what’s available and promoting the companies and products/services you frequently use. In my case, that would be Priceline and LATAM Airlines.
Booking Holdings and Expedia Group are two of the largest players in the online travel agency (OTA) and booking industry. Booking Holdings brands include Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Kayak, Cheapflights.com, HotelsCombined.com, Rentalcars, Momondo, and OpenTable. Expedia Group brands include Expedia, VRBO, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity, Trivago, and CarRentals. Almost all their web properties have affiliate programs.
Trip.com is the largest online travel company in China. It owns Skyscanner and other Chinese travel websites. Airbnb is a market leader for accommodations and activities. However, it has since retired its affiliate and referral programs.
You can promote goods in related categories, including books, magazines, courses, dating, relationships, entertainment, food, health, wellness, lifestyle, and personal finance. For instance, a post entitled, How to Send Money to Your Family While Traveling, could include an affiliate link to Wise. Wise helps people hold, save, transfer, and spend currencies at interbank exchange rates and low fees. It’s a product I use frequently as a globetrotter and digital nomad.
