travel leisure submission guidelines

How to Pitch Afar: Contributor Guidelines

Use these guidelines to pitch print and digital stories to afar..

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Afar aims to make a positive impact on the world through high-quality storytelling that inspires, enriches, and empowers travelers who care. In everything we do, our brand values lead the way: We aim to be inclusive, authentic, empathetic, curious, intelligent, and joyful in our approach to travel.

Afar Magazine publishes a range of reported features, personal essays, photo essays, and shorter middle-of-the-book pieces. Instead of more traditional aspirational lifestyle travel stories, we tell the stories of places and the people who live there. Our rate starts at $1/word.

Afar.com publishes stories in the following categories: travel news, intel, destination inspiration, cruise, commerce, features & essays, and hotels, all aligned around the belief that travel can be a powerful force for good. Most of our stories are commissioned based on our current needs, rather than accepted via cold pitch. Our rate starts at $0.50/word.

The best way to understand our requirements is to familiarize yourself with our coverage. Prior to pitching any ideas, please take the time to read our articles in Afar magazine and on afar.com.

All pitches should include:

• A synopsis of the story you’d like to report and write, with specifics including—but not limited to—any potential characters and sources, relevant news pegs, and estimated word count
• A brief bio and relevant clips that outline why you’re the right writer for the story you’re pitching
• Headline and dek possibilities

Although we aim to respond individually to each pitch, we regret that sometimes we are unable to. If you have not heard back from us in two weeks or your story has a timely hook, please feel free to follow up once.

Magazine Pitch Guidelines

The print magazine is published four times a year, and thus we only have room to green-light a limited number of stories.

For feature stories, photo essays, and personal essays: We are looking for richly reported stories that evoke a sense of place, inspire wanderlust, and ideally teach the reader something new about the world. Feature stories typically run 1,500–2,500 words, though we are open to considering stories that are shorter or longer.

How to pitch

• Please send pitches for feature stories to Katherine LaGrave at [email protected].
• Please send pitches for photo essays to Michelle Heimerman at [email protected] .

Digital Pitch Guidelines

Travel news.

When it comes to air, cruise, hotel, and destination news coverage at Afar, we are looking for stories that offer color and context to a new product, policy, or issue relevant for travelers. In our news stories, we include industry analysts, executives, travel experts, or travel associations that can weigh in on any given topic or debate. We also tackle larger issues, whether they revolve around sustainability, legislation, design, accessibility, inclusion, or health and safety. We look to embrace both the positive change as well as the pain points. Trends are key, too, but we aren’t simply looking to cover a trend—we want to explore how it affects travelers who care.

To pitch a travel news story, email Michelle Baran at [email protected] .

Afar’s intel coverage empowers travelers to make their travels easier and more rewarding. In addition to publishing our favorite travel tips and hacks, we also answer questions about air and train travel, visas and passports, cultural etiquette, booking trends, climate change, and more.

To pitch an intel story, send an email to Lyndsey Matthews at [email protected] outlining why your story will help readers travel smarter or lessen their footprint along the way.

Destination Inspiration

Afar’s deeply reported service journalism meets travelers at every step of their travel planning journey—from dreaming to booking. We offer highly curated perspectives on where to go next: timely, off the beaten path, and with unexpected angles. Areas of focus include geographic roundups with a thematic focus (beaches and islands, history/arts and culture, outdoor adventure, EV travel, family travel).

To pitch a destination inspiration story, please email Tim Chester at [email protected] .

Our cruise focus is on ships and sailings that have a smaller footprint, visit lesser-known ports, and/or offer a deeper look at a destination. Our cruise coverage is curated for an audience that is looking to get away from overtouristed locales and have meaningful travel experiences, whether on land or by sea. We cover everything from cruise news (including new ship launches and itineraries) and roundups that offer the Afar take on the best cruises in the world, to first-person reviews of ships and itineraries that help our readers find the right cruise for their needs.

To pitch a cruise story, email Michelle Baran at [email protected] .

Afar’s commerce coverage serves every aspect of a traveler’s trip, including the best gear to buy, as well as which vacation rentals to try, credit cards to get, and loyalty programs to join. But we won’t tell you about every brand out there. Instead, we focus on the brands we believe in, allowing travelers who care to spend their money wisely.

To pitch a travel gear story or review, send an email to Lyndsey Matthews at [email protected] telling us why Afar should cover this brand/product.

Features and Essays

Afar’s features and essays enrich, inform, educate, and spark conversation. As well as diving into unplumbed places and parts of the travel experience, Afar’s features and essays expand the definition of what makes a travel story. We are interested in ambitious works about the natural world , profiles of fascinating people and collectives , scientific oddities , deep dives into subcultures , compelling takes on industry trends , and the never-before-told tales behind some of the world’s most storied places .

To pitch a digital feature story or essay, please send an email to Katherine LaGrave at [email protected] .

Afar reports on the world’s most extraordinary hotels and accommodations that enrich on-the-ground experiences for travelers—while also helping travelers leave a positive impact on the communities and places they’re visiting. Our reviews focus on luxury, premium, and boutique hotels. We also publish hotel news, trend stories, and timely interviews with hospitality leaders.

To pitch a hotel story, please email Jennifer Flowers at [email protected] .

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Afar stories generally fall into one of two categories: articles and itineraries. Both integrate the advertising partner within the content itself and should have distinct angles that are broad enough to appeal to readers while also differentiating the sponsor from competitors.

If you’re interested in being considered for sponsored content assignments, please send a short bio and clips to Ami Kealoha at [email protected] .

Travel Writing Jobs Hiring Now – A List for Newbies!

Last Updated: October 19, 2021

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

As far as dream jobs go, getting paid to write about travel is pretty darn sweet, so I’ve compiled a list of freelance travel writing jobs for you below that are currently accepting pitches and submissions, even from newbie travel writers.

I’m very fortunate in that my own blogging ventures now support me full time, but back in the early days of blogging, I mainly devoted my days to toiling and blogging for free… or worse, for exposure.

I don’t know if you’ve every tried buying Chipotle with exposure, but it usually doesn’t pan out. And you most definitely don’t get guac.

Well, if you’re looking for travel writer jobs so you, too, can start getting paid to travel, this post is for you.

Save this list of freelance travel writing jobs for later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

An Honest Note on Finding Travel Writer Jobs

If you’re wondering how to be a travel writer, or how to earn a full-time living as a content writer for travel websites, here’s the truth: behind every glamorous travel writer is a long history of hustle, failed pitches and crippling self-doubt.

Not to scare you off or anything, but breaking into the travel writing industry and finding well-paying freelance travel writing jobs is a real piece of work.

You’ll find a truly shocking range in the amount that publications pay. In this list for example, I have publications that offer anything from $10 per article to $750.

Professional travel writing friends of mine tell me they usually make upwards of $1000 per print article.

So really, the range is huge. This list is mainly meant for newbie travel writers looking to break into the industry and find freelance travel writing jobs that will accept cold pitches from anyone.

Once you become more experienced, build relationships with editors, and assemble a stronger portfolio for yourself, you should be able to command much higher rates and secure work more consistently.

For now though, if you’re an aspiring travel content writer, refer to my list below of publications online that accept travel writing pitches and submissions from regular folks, arranged from highest payout to lowest.

NOTE: That there are plenty more freelance travel writing jobs out there accepting submissions (especially big names like National Geographic and Travel + Leisure), but I specifically chose ones that are open to submissions from anyone (including newbies/non-pros), had clear guidelines outlined on their website.

Freelance Travel Writers Wanted! Write for Me 🙂

Before I launch into the list of freelance travel writing jobs below, I’m actively looking for writers to contribute to this blog you see right here.

Specifically, I am looking for experts in USA or Europe travel who can write with a humourous tone and research unique, fun and offbeat things to do for city guides and itineraries.

If this sounds like you, send me an email with the subject title “Guacamole Donuts!”, along with some writing samples and your rate per blog post. NOTE: Due to a high volume of emails, I will only be replying to pitches I am interested in. Thanks for your understanding, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Now, onto the other places you can get paid for writing articles about travel…

Los Angeles Times

Payment: Print stories vary from $200 to $750. Online only stories generally pay $500. Original photos paid separately

Let’s start with a big one – according to their official website, the Los Angeles Times is looking for “bold, original travel features that tell a great story.”

Specifically, they are on the hunt for content that is “sophisticated, compelling, complete and written with flair.”

Click here for their writing guidelines

Cruising World

Payment: Ranges from $25 – $1000 depending on a variety of factors

Cruise experts looking for a paid travel writing gig (and a potentially very lucrative one at that) should look into Cruising World, who are looking for a variety of articles from a first-person perspective.

I’ve only ever been on one cruise before (the Celebrity Edge !) but if you’re an exert on cruises, this would be a great travel writing job to pursue.

Learn more about this freelance travel writing opportunity here

Wanderlust Travel Magazine

Payment: £220 per article

Wanderlust publishes 10 issues a year and is mainly on the hunt for “inspirational round-ups, lists, guides and advice pieces” rather than narrative pieces… so imagine articles like my places to visit in England piece, my places to visit in the Cotswolds piece, or my Germany travel guide.

Specifically, they want writing with a “trustworthy voice and inspirational ideas”.

Learn more about writing for them here

International Living Magazine

Payment:  $225 for 900 words and $350 for 1,600 words

This magazine “aims at providing a scope and depth of information about global travel, living, retiring, investing, and real estate that is not available anywhere else at any price.”

This is not a general travel magazine, but rather a “niche publication for living and retiring overseas”, so definitely don’t be pitching them general travel hacks , packing tips, or off-brand content like guides on backpacking in Europe.

Read more about contributing for them here

Payment: $200 per article/photo essay

For those interested in travel writing jobs related to the US, road tripping, and RV-ing, definitely look into becoming a contributor for ROVA.

Specifically, they are looking for “stories of life on the road” in the US.

Here are their contributor guidelines

Pathfinders Travel Magazine

Payment: $150 per article, $20 per photo

Pathfinders is another pay per article site that has a target audience of African Americans (although they sometimes accept content relating to other persons of colour).

They’re looking for “lively, original, well-written stories that provide a good sense of place, with useful information and fresh ideas about travel and the travel industry.”

Check out their Writers’ Guidelines here

Escapees Magazine

Payment:  $150 per article (max)

This one is a bit more niche, but is an excellent freelance writing gig if you have the necessary expertise.

Escapees Magazine is looking for contributors who are “RVers interested in sharing the RV lifestyle” and can write in an engaging and conversational tone.

So, if you are looking for a travel writer job dealing with RVs, this is a great option.

You can read their guidelines for submission here

Great Escape Publishing

Payment: $150 for interviews, personal stories, and any articles they request for the website

While they don’t accept pure travel pieces, Great Escape Publishing is on the look for “articles on the craft and business of getting paid to travel, whether by writing, photography, tours or other means.”

If you are an expert on getting paid to travel, or are interested in freelance travel writing jobs on this topic, then this would be a great oppotunity to look into.

Check out their writers’ guidelines here

Intrepid Times

Payment: $50 – $150 per article

Intrepid Times publishes narrative travel writing with heart. They are looking for factual, first-person narratives of between 800 and 2000 words about your travel experiences.

All stories are considered and the editors make an effort to provide paid publishing opportunities to writers who have not been previously published elsewhere.

Submit your writing on their official site here

Tales to Go

Payment: $100 honorarium per article

If you’re a freelance travel content writer with great stories to tell, here is an opportunity you might be interested in. Tales to Go is “looking for personal, nonfiction stories and anecdotes—funny, illuminating, adventurous, frightening, or grim.”

Specifically, they are seeking stories that “reflect that unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result.” Bonus: they accept previously published content!

View their Submission Guidelines here

Payment: $100 per list

If you want to find paid blog writing opportunities outside of the travel niche, then here’s one. Listverse isn’t limited to just travel content, so you can submit content on anything from cheesy country pickup lines to world capitals , plus their process is very simple. According to their website:

“You write your list (10 items per list minimum), you send it in , we reply and say “Great—we’ll publish it” and send you $100 by PayPal”. Not a bad deal!

Here’s how you can write for Listverse

Matador Network

Payment: $80-$100 per article

While no longer limited to just writing, Matador Network regularly posts open calls for written submissions based on topics they’re looking for on their Matador Creators page.

They have a lot of different freelance travel writing jobs they post on there, but usually they specify what area of expertise they’re looking for, whether it’s for an event like Oktoberfest , or destination specific like knowing all the best places to visit in France.

See available paid travel writing opportunities here

Hit the Road

Payment : $50 per article

Looking for freelance travel writing jobs related to road tripping? Hit the Road is seeking “original writing, photography, and video that speaks to the adventures, cultures, and amazing experiences of road trips in Australia, New Zealand the USA and Canada.”

All the better if you travel by camper van or motor home!

Learn more about this travel writing job

Payment: $50 per article

Those interested in freelance travel writer work that focuses on the North American desert, then definitely look into writing for Desert USA, who regularly publish content related to “adventure, desert lore, photo essays, events, southwest arts & crafts”.

As they say on their submissions page, they place a “strong emphasis in natural and cultural history is a major theme in our website and a popular interest to readers”.

Learn more on their Submissions page here

The Expeditioner

Payment: $30 per article

If you’re looking for blogs that pay writers, there are actually a lot of options of there.

The Expeditioner for example looks for “first-person narratives of all lengths and sizes (anywhere from 1,200 words and up),” and on occasion also “Top 10 pieces, location overviews and other types of non-narrative pieces”.

According to their site, their only requirement is that the “piece be interesting, informative and inspiring for future travelers.”

Their Submissions page can be found here

My Itchy Travel Feet

This site is looking for original content that caters to their target audience of “active, travel-loving baby boomers”. The content they’re looking for is “personable and relatable… [but] also informative.”

This is another example of blogs that pay writers and are actively looking for article writers.

Visit their contributors page here

Go World Travel

Payment: $30-40 per article/photo essay

Content writing for travel sites can often feel like an impossible industry to break into, but there are definitely plenty out there that welcome first-time writers as well.

For an opportunity that is newbie-friendly, Go World Travel welcomes all kinds of contributors “from seasoned travel journalists to first-time writers”. They’re on the hunt for “honest, down-to-earth descriptive writing” (so no plain listicles here!).

Learn more about writing for them here!

Payment: $25 per article

For another opportunity content writing for travel websites, GoNOMAD is looking for “excellent, entertaining, informative, and unique travel articles and research about destinations, activities, and experiences.”

Specifically their focus is on “honest, accurate, well-written and detailed articles and destination guides that speak to an educated, curious, and well-traveled audience.”

Here is their submissions page

Epicure & Culture

Payment : $10 per story, paid upon final draft acceptance

Epicure & Culture aims to help travelers have more ethical, meaningful experiences abroad.

Along with guides focused on responsible tourism and impact travel, you’ll find stories that feature local changemakers and immersive cultural experiences.

Learn more about submitting to them here

Verge Magazine

Verge prides itself on being a “magazine for people who travel with purpose,” focusing on topics like volunteering, working and studying overseas.

Their “readers are typically young (17-40 years), or young at heart, active, independent travellers who want to do something different and make a difference doing it.”

Issue-driven, engaging content with a focus on unique people/experiences is what they’re looking for, so if you’re looking for a travel writing job that goes beyond typical guides, this is a great option.

Check out their Contributor Guide here

Outpost Magazine

Payment: Negotiable

This is a Canadian publication that takes “pride in covering travel in a unique and insightful way”.

They have a variety of article types that they publish, ranging from Insider Guides and Thrillseeker features to long Feature Stories.

Click here for their contributor guidelines

I hope this list of freelance travel writing jobs was helpful!

Are there any big ones I missed? Let me know in the comments! And feel free to leave any tips or success stories for me too. Happy pitching!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

52 thoughts on “Travel Writing Jobs Hiring Now – A List for Newbies!”

wow! thanks for all these ideas! have you done any writing for any of these?

You’re welcome, Tanja!! I haven’t written for any of these, but I know many who have 🙂 They’re all definitely legitimate! I’ve only done a handful of freelance travel writing gigs and in those cases, the companies have always approached me. Would love to get into writing for other publications once I have more time though.

Thanks so much for this valuable resource. It is so helpful for newbie bloggers like us! I’m also glad that you confirmed all sources are legitimate. Sometimes it can be hard to know which sources are up to date and real. From one blogger to another, thanks 🙂

You’re welcome, Cecilia! Glad it helped!

THANK YOU for this! New to your blog but have been loving the tips, advice and helpful resources 🙂

You’re very welcome!! hehe so happy to hear you’ve been finding my guides helpful. <3 let me know if you have any questions, Felicia!

Wowww, THANK YOU so much for this list! Bookmarking! – Charmaine https://charmainenyw.com

You’re welcome!!! 😀 Hope you land a gig through one of these soon!

Wou, awesome info!

😀 Thanks Anja! Best of luck!

Bookmarked – great post, thank you! Certainly will try and give it a go.

Thanks, Anna! Best of luck with your pitches 🙂 Be sure to let me know if you land something!

Great ideas thank you!

You’re very welcome, Ari! 🙂

I LOVE THIS POST! THANK YOU! And yes, everything is in cap-lock, just to show how excited and happy I found this post…your blog in general. This is something I would absolutely to get into. Thank you so much.

xoxoxoxoxo Bukky

haha awww Bukky thanks so much!! I really hope this post helped you. Let me know if you land any writing gigs!

These are some fantastic sources! Thank you so much for sharing xx

http://www.wildfirecharm.com

You’re very welcome!! 😀

Thank you for this, so helpful! I’m new to your blog and I love your tips and the overall vibe, really inspirational.

Agnese xx https://agnesescoiffeuse.blogspot.com/

Interesting article! Well done. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a great week!

Thanks, Jo. Hope you have an awesome week as well!

Thank you for this! I will keep it bookmarked until I build a bit more followers! Setting those dreams! Cheers!

You’re very welcome, Maegan!

This is fantastic.. thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!

Can’t wait to get on to some of these!

So happy you found it helpful!! Best of luck, Dani 🙂 <3

Thank you for this clear and useful information and advice. I’m going to be traveling with a group of teen girls in a few weeks and thought maybe I could write a freelance article about the pre-planning and actual trip when I get back. I’m trying to capture the entire process in notes and images for latter when I sit down to write. Do you think a trip to LA California to a concert with 4 teen girls is something the companies you spoke of who be interested in purchasing?

Hey Cheaquetta, sounds like a fun trip!! All of these publications have different focuses, so I would recommend sitting down and doing some research of your own to determine whether or not your piece will be a good fit. I would find publications that have published similar content in the past and go from there. 🙂 Best of luck!

Useful information. Many thanks. I’d like to try to write something for them.

you’re welcome! happy writing 🙂

Wow nice blog ..keep the fire burning

aw thank you!

nice article. keep it up. thumbs up for you.

I just found your blog today – definitely some on this list I hadn’t come across before. Thanks!

No problem. Hope it helped, Claire!

Thanks for this great list! I’ve opened a few of them in new tabs and will definitely be looking into applying and contributing with them. Doesn’t hurt to get some extra money on the side!

Happy Monday and thank you so much for this great info. I an very interested in sharing my travel experiences and getting a few dollars on the side! If you don’t mind please check out my travel blog “Travel Is D’New Black.”

http://www.travelisdnewblack.com

Great list!! Thank you so much for this useful information. I am a travel blogger. Check out my travel blog “Best World Travel Guide”. https://bestworldtravelguide.wordpress.com/

Thanks for reading, Adam!

Thanks for sharing a great list!

This is an awesome list of writing sites!

Informative post. Thanks for sharing; I am sure this post is helpful to many of us who might be looking to work independently in a more passion-filled field .

Thank you for sharing this! I was scouring the inter webs trying to find the info myself when I and found this on Pinterest!

Thanks for sharing for sharing this info

Thanks for this amazing information babes. Dropped by via a google search. Keeping an eye on you now 🙂 Loved it.

Thanks so much for the nice comment! 🙂

Wonderful blog. Thanks for sharing this informative article.

Welcome! Thanks for reading!

“Great read” ,this is a most important list for every travel blogger When you travel live freely and enjoy every moment of journey-:) .

thanks for the nice article 🙂 interesting reading

It’s A Piece Of Great Information. Thank You For This Information.

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Travel Blogger Academy

Write. Travel. Get Paid for Both.

Travel Writers: 37 Publishers Who Pay

Travel writers need to be in two (or more) places at once…

Before we begin, I’d like to say something…

Here at Travel Blogger Academy, I show you how to run your travel blog as a business .

Therefore, writing for other publications (especially print) may not be the most effective route for two reasons…

• Reason #1: Most do not pay all that well (though a few on this list do)… and…
• Reason #2: Print publications don’t lend online benefits. They don’t build links to your site, get shared on social networks or help with SEO. Plus, they don’t send as much traffic to your site (in most cases).

Having said that, getting your name out there is a good thing . And while many of these sites don’t pay much, it can help pay the bills (especially if you’re traveling abroad).

So here’s 37 publishers who pay:

#1. Airtran Airways Go Magazine

Contact: [email protected]

Executive Editor: Peter Koch

Assistant Editor: Sophie Hoeller

Looking for: Destination pieces on North America.

#2. American Airlines American Way Magazine

Looking for:  Destination pieces on the Americas, as well as lifestyle, business and technology.

#3. American Eagle Airlines: Latitudes Magazine

Contact: at the link above.

Looking for:  Destination pieces focused on Florida, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Here’s a map of all their routes. If possible, pitch ideas about those destinations.

#4. AOL Travel

Contact: run by Seed.com, you create an account and apply for writing assignments. The pay isn’t bad, either ($250  – $400 for 750 words). To apply, sign into Seed,  select “travel” in the “Choose a category” dropdown and start applying.

Looking for:  Everything. Take a look at current assignments (Update: they are currently on hold with new applications) .

#5. BootsNAll

Looking for: BNA offers a number of paid/non-paid programs:

• Feature Articles Program ($50/article)
• Expert Travel Articles Program ($30/article)
• Travel Essays Program ($20-40/article)
• Guest Posting (Bio and link to your site or blog)

#6. Budget Travel

Contact:   [email protected]

Looking for: articles about visiting destinations on the cheap.

#7. Delta Airlines Delta Sky Magazine

Contact:   [email protected] or 612.373.9613

Looking for: articles on travel, lifestyle and business with a unique angle. AP Style, with some variations (ie. italicize movies, books, etc.) with a 4-month lead-time (this means pitch Christmas features in July/August). Features range from 600–2,000 words. Their full set of guidelines are  here .

#8. Emirates Airline Open Sky Magazine

Contact: [email protected] or at the link above.

Looking for: articles on business, culture, gourmet cuisine, international news, technology, travel and people profiles.

#9.Outside Magazine

Contact: Um, apparently they don’t accept online queries (if you find an email address, lemme know).

You have to print and mail it to:

Editorial Department, Outside magazine, 400 Market St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501.

Looking for: outdoor destinations, gear and news. “Features are generally 1,500 to 5,000 words in length. Dispatches articles (100 to 800 words) cover timely news, events, issues, and short profiles. Destinations pieces (300 to 1,000 words) include places, news, and advice for adventurous travelers. Review articles (200 to 1,500 words) examine and evaluate outdoor gear and equipment.”

Read their guidelines here .

#10. Fodors

Looking for: guidebooks around the world. Keep in mind Fodor’s prefers local writers… so pitch where you live.

#11. Gadling

Contact: Full list of editors and writers here . You can also try their contact form .

Looking for: budget travel, tech, gear and adventure pieces.

#12. Galavanting

Contact:  [email protected]

Looking for: Travel essays, women-owned businesses, short travel tips. Read their guidelines here .

Pay:   Feature travel essays (600-1200 words) pay $50 within 30 days after publication. Blog posts (200-500 words) pay $15 each within 30 days after publication.

#13. GoNomad

Looking for: First person stories, destination pieces and local events. Submit documents as MSWord or text only attachments with your name, address, phone/fax/email and word count on the first page, and your name on each subsequent page.

Full guidelines here .

Pay:  $25 for features. You must email them with an invoice. Payment by check or Paypal.

#14. Hawaiian Airlines Hana Hou! Magazine

Simone Abbott (advertising, no editor listed) 808 384-4860 [email protected]

Tacy Bedell (advertising, no editor listed) 808 220-3688 [email protected]

Looking for: destination pieces and features on Hawaii.

#15. Canadian Geographic Magazine

Looking for:  Outdoor pieces on Canada. They only publish six times a year, so rejections are common.

#16. In the Know

Contact:  editor [at] intheknowtraveler.com

Looking for: Practical information on destinations.

Pay: $10 per story (450+ words) and $3 per blog post (150+ words). Yeah, you read that right. Three bucks.

#17. Jaunted

Contact: Link above.

Looking for: hotel reviews, airline news and destination pieces.

#18. Literary Traveler

(Note: Literary Traveler is undergoing a redesign at time of writing.)

Contact:  submissions [at] literarytraveler.com

Linda McGovern and Francis McGovern, founding editors

Looking for: 1500-2000 word pieces written in a first-person narrative that inspires readers. Articles must capture the literary imagination; subjects can cover all types of artists. Small .JPGs must be included.

Pay: $50 per article.

#19. Escapees Magazine

Contact: [email protected] (Note: send full article; no queries)

Looking for: Articles on all phases of RV life, especially relevant mechanical/technical information.  About 85 percent of the club members are retired, over 98 percent travel without children, and about 50 percent live in their motorhomes, fifth-wheels, or travel trailers on a full-time basis.

#20. Lost Girls World

Contact:  See guidelines here for department contacts.

Looking for: Women’s travel, dispatches, travel book/film/show reviews. Full guidelines here .

Pay: $12 per article.

#21. Matador Network

Contact:    [email protected]

Looking for: Travel pieces around the world. Matador currently has 12 blogs to write for. Read their guidelines and submit articles here .

#22. National Geographic Traveler Magazine

Contact: See link above. Mail queries to:

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER Attn: Query Editor 1145 17th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-4688

Looking for: Stories of adventure. Content ranges from 750 - 2,500 words. Compensation varies depending on the type of feature or department but is competitive with other national magazines.

#23. Northwest Magazines

Contact:   [email protected]   Alicia Spooner, Editor

Looking for:  Articles on Oregon destinations.

Include brief information, if applicable, that allows and motivates readers to follow in your footsteps: how to get to a featured destination, nearby places of interest or accommodations, opening and closing times of attractions, and how to obtain additional information.

Pay:  $100 - $650 depending on content. See full listing here .

#24. Outpost Magazine

Looking for:  Profiles of travellers and intriguing people from around the world; useful bits of travel information, from products to advice; human interest, environmental and cultural reportage; reviews of books, movies and music from around the world; destination profiles

Include a one-page query letter outlining the story idea, including its angle, direction, elements and proposed length.

• A brief list of where the writer has been previously published
• Availability of photographs or other artwork to illustrate the story
• All necessary contact information, including phone number and email address
• A full or partial manuscript
• Examples of previously published work are encouraged
• If including a full or partial manuscript with your email submission please enclose it as a word, .txt, or .rtf document attached to the message.

#25. Road and Travel Magazine

Looking for: Content to help consumers make informed decisions on vehicle purchases, travel plans, and personal safety on the road.

Pay: $25 - $100 per article. No compensation for blog posts.

#26. The New York Times

Contact:   [email protected] .

Looking for:  Trips and destination pieces.

The date of the trip on which an article or query is based should be given on a separate line at the top of the manuscript. A brief resume should accompany both articles and proposals. No submission should exceed 1,500 words. Backpage essays should be between 1,200 and 1,400 words.

#27. Southwest Airlines

Looking for: Articles on the American southwest. See all their guidelines here .

#28. The Expeditioner

Contact:  Matt.Stabile (@) TheExpeditioner.com

Looking for: Off-the-beaten trail destinations. Narratives, lists, whatever… so long as it’s good, they’re interested.

Pay:  $30 per article

#29. Transitions Abroad

Looking for:  Usable, practical information on work, volunteering, study, travel, and living abroad. See current requests here .

Pay: $50 - $150 per article

#30. Travel and Leisure

Contact: Go here and click the link under “Editorial Submissions”.

Looking for: Travel articles and destination pieces. Service information is important to every destination article: when to go, how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, what to see and do. The reader must be able to follow in the author’s footsteps, and the articles are scheduled with that in mind.

#31. Travel Belles

Contact:  [email protected] (Write “Submission” in subject header)

Looking for: Mostly female travel pieces. First person narratives, inside guides to cities and classic destination pieces with a unique angle.

Pay:  $10 per post

#32. Sunset Magazine

Looking for:  “Take-action” travel ideas within their coverage area (Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and possibly British Columbia and Mexico) that will appeal to a large, general interest audience (70 percent women) that is time challenged, appreciates value, and is more likely to live in the suburbs than San Francisco, Seattle, or Los Angeles.

Pay:  Negotiable.

#33. Verge Magazine

Looking for: Articles on getting involved abroad (volunteering, working, school, etc.) Read their full guidelines here .

Pay: $.10 (CAD) per word.

#34. United Airlines Hemispheres Magazine

Looking for:  “Insider” articles by residents or writers with expert credentials and a global perspective. Include clips as attached PDF or Word files, or provide links to recent examples of your work.

#35. Wanderlust

Contact: [email protected]  Editor: Dan Linstead Editor-in-chief: Lyn Hughes

Looking for: Destination features, dispatches and off-the-wall travel experiences.

Pay: £220 per 1,000 published words

Contact:  edit [at] wendmag.com (Specific departments listed here .)

Editor: Kyle Cassidy

Looking for: First person, narrative nonfiction accounts of adventure travel, with a human-powered outdoor recreation bent. See their guidelines here .

Pay: $100 - 1,300 (depending on departments)

#37. World Hum

Looking for: First person narratives, rants, interviews and videos. Full guidelines here .

Before you submit ANYTHING…

Ask yourself why you’re doing this. Some publications pay well enough to live on… others, not so much.

Some give great exposure. Others provide valuable links for SEO (and traffic).

What do you look for when writing for travel publications? What advice can you provide?

Adam Costa is co-founder and Editor in Chief of both Trekity.com and TravelBloggerAcademy. He currently lives... um... somewhere.

Is this list still valid? Can’t see publishing date.

Yes, the list was compiled in March, so it’s very up to date.

Is this still likely to be fairly up to date?

Great, informative list. Thanks so much. I’m enjoying devouring your site!!

Uuuuuh that’s a nice list! I will let you know if I discover any more. Thanks for sharing! Annika

Hi Adam, We also have initiated a paid article system at Travelsignposts. Check the writer’s guidelines at http://www.travelsignposts.com/write-for-travelsignposts-guidelines/ . This is a first for us, we took the GoNomad model as a basis, and also have started guest posting, because we found some people couldn’t really (or didn’t want to) provide a complete story package but still had some good information. We cover Greater Europe and the Mediterranean. Any comments anyone has are welcome, we’re feeling our way with this! Tony Page

Nice add Tony, thanks!

Not sure if you want to update the AOL listing. This is a message currently on their homepage:

We are in the process of reformatting Seed.com and new assignments are currently on hold. If you would like to sign up for the all-new Seed 2.0, please email [email protected] .

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for the heads up - post updated 😉

Great post for travel writers! Thank you!

It amazes me how so many are so easily convinced to give up their hard work for nothing or for a pittance all with the assurance that they will “get some exposure.” The only thing that writing for free will get you is other people asking you to…write for free. If you are going to write for free, at least bang up a blog and put it there. And something I recommend to all writers…write a book and if no one will publish it, publish it yourself.

Kyle Cassidy left WEND magazine long ago.

Appreciate you posting these resources online when what you’re really doing is opening up the field to competition from yokels who otherwise would have no idea of how to find paid work. Altruism at its best. Thanks, buddy!

Hello Adam, just a quick update about Boots after clicking through, you get this: Want to be notified when we’re accepting applications again?

Thanks for your interest in the BootsnAll Travel Writer Program! We’re no longer accepting applications, but if you enter your email, we’ll let you know when we start accepting applications for a future round of BootsnAll writers.

Thanks for the update - hopefully they’ll accept applications again soon 😉

So much great content on your site Adam! Thanks again. Might look into a few of these!

I don’t write for Outside because I’m not an outdoorsy adverture sport person, but their email address formula is first initial last name @outsidemag.com

I have no idea if Chris Keyes is still the editor - you’ll need to check the masthead - but if he still is the email address is [email protected]

Hope that helps!

Thanks for publishing this list!

This is a great list but does anyone know where we can apply for AOL Travel? The link led me to the main page. Thanks!

Liink exchange is nothing else except it is only placing the other person’s web site link on your page at proiper place annd other person will also do same in support of you.

We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.

Wow. With pay scales like that, I think I’ll stick to pharmaceutical/medical writing while I finish my novel. Ugh! Internet has really driven down the price of a good writer.

Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!

Hello Adam!

Wow! This is great. Thanks so much for featuring these sites that open a gate of opportunities to bloggers like me. I landed at your post because I am desperately looking for a site that pays for travel article submissions. I am a travel/Royal blogger and I am resigning from my full time work in the corporate to concentrate in writing because this is what I really wanted in life. I will go over on these suggested sites this weekend and send my pitch articles/queries to them. Hope of these sites will accept my submission. Thanks again, this helps a lot in my writing goal!

Thank you for the great article and travel blog resource! I had no idea there were so many publications that pay for you to write while traveling. I hope more have sprung up since this article was originally posted. Cheers!

FYI, I just sent a query to American Way and received the following automated response:

Thank you for writing in to American Way. We do not respond to unsolicited story pitches. If you sent an unsolicited story pitch, please do not expect a response.

The Editors

[…] Okay, this is not the easiest to make money from, but you can if you work hard, apparently it can happen. And if you want to try getting stuff published, you could send your articles off along with a pitch to editors. Here’s a list of paying publications: http://travelbloggeracademy.com/paid-travel-writing/ […]

[…] http://travelbloggeracademy.com/paid-travel-writing […]

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Travel Websites

If you’re wondering where you can get published, you came to the right place. There are travel websites where you can submit your writing.  For example, The Write Life offers a listing of freelance travel writing jobs with some guidelines on what to do next.

There’s an online version of Travel and Leisure Magazine and under their contact page, you’ll see an area about submitting a story.  Be sure to prepare a well thought out pitch – this might help. FYI : Travel and Leisure pays “on acceptance.” The magazine does an excellent job of providing travel writers with submission guidelines.  You might find this article helpful.

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Why not write a review about your travels? It may seem kind of “offbeat,” but it’s another way to showcase your travel writings to the public. Check out GoNOMAD and this article on Nashville (and much more).  Be sure to review their guidelines .  This is another way for you to get your travel writing noticed and there are many others.

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