Are you looking for the best travel affiliate programs to earn money promoting travel companies? You've come to the right place.
The travel industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world, with millions of people traveling domestically and internationally every year.
With the rise of affordable air travel, new and exciting destinations, and increased interest in experiential travel, the demand for travel products and services has never been higher.
This presents a unique opportunity for affiliate marketers looking to monetize their affiliate marketing website or social media channels by promoting travel-related products and services.
With a variety of travel affiliate programs available, it's easier than ever to earn commissions by promoting flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, and activities.
In this article, we'll explore some of the best travel affiliate programs, including their commission rates, cookie periods, payout methods, and minimum payment thresholds, as well as some tips on how to effectively promote these programs and earn consistent income online.
Whether you're a blogger, influencer, or just someone who loves to travel, now is the perfect time to capitalize on the growing demand in the travel industry and start earning commissions as a travel affiliate.
Let's get started.
Note: This article contains affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer for more info.
14 Best Travel Affiliate Programs of 2023
Let's checkout the list of all high paying travel affiliate sites that you can join to earn more money.
1. Trip Advisor
Tripadvisor is one of the largest travel site in the world.
Travelers can compare low prices on hotels, flights and cruises on Tripadvisor site. After comparing the prices on different websites, Tripadvisor offers the best available price for your online booking.
They can also check 859 million reviews and opinions of 8.6 million accommodations, restaurants, experiences, airlines and cruises on Tripadvisor website.
Tripadvisor site also allows a traveler to book popular tours and attractions, as well as reserve tables at great restaurants.
About Tripadvisor affiliate program
Tripadvisor affiliate program is offered through Commission Junction. If you already hold an account in Commission Junction you can start promoting this program or you can create a new account and join this program.
Travel bloggers can join Tripadvisor affiliate program and promote it's rich content spanning 795 million reviews and 1.4 million places to stay.
As Tripadvisor is a big name in the travel industry, you would find it much easier to bring in more conversions for you.
You would earn a minimum of 50% of the commission that Tripadvisor receives from their hotel booking partners.
To earn commission, users must come to Tripadvisor via your trackable affiliate link, and then click out to their hotel partners.
Tripadvisor offer a 14-day referral window. If your users return to Tripadvisor within the 14 days period and click out to their hotel partners, you'll still get credit and earn commission.
You get commission payout through your PayPal account.
Join Tripadvisor affiliate program today.
2. Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the world's largest travel marketplaces and offers more than 28 million accommodation listings which includes homes, apartments and other unique places to stay.
You can use Booking.com online portal to book hotels, flights, car rentals and airport taxis.
About Booking.com affiliate program
The affiliate program is free to join with its easy sign-up process.
To promote Booking.com affiliate program, you can integrate the search box on your blog. You can even place banners and use deep affiliate link inside your blog content.
You can also install Booking.com official WordPress plugin on your travel blog and display the search box (see image). This search blog will allow your users to search for hotel accommodation around the world right from your blog.
Any bookings made from this search box will make you eligible for receiving commissions.
Join Booking.com affiliate program today.
Travelpayouts is the largest travel affiliate network with over 60 affiliate programs available. Among them are: Booking.com, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor and other travel affiliate programs.
Joining Travelpayouts is key to a large number of travel affiliate programs, as well as a professional support service and a huge number of training materials that are available on the blog, on the YouTube channel, and in the knowledge base.
Another key advantage is the wide selection of affiliate tools, classic affiliate links, or advanced tools that are available to you, such as API and White Label.
Travelpayouts' pays on cost-per-action basis - you earn money every time a purchase is made using your link.
Several payout methods are available, among which, of course, are PayPal and a bank account transfer. The minimum withdrawal amount is $50.
Join Travelpayouts affiliate network today.
4. Agoda
Agoda is another big name in the travel industry. It has million of properties listed on its website and provides hotel bookings around the world.
About Agoda affiliate program
To participate in the affiliate program you can either join its own program or you can also join it via ShareASale.
If you apply to Agoda to join its affiliate program please take note that it may take about 48-72 hours to get approval. Having a travel blog increases your chances for approval.
Once you are approved by Agoda you can use the following tools to promote it in your blog:
- Affiliate links: Place deep links right inside your content.
- Search Box: Let your site visitors search properties right from your site.
- Banners: Add beautiful image banners inside your blog content.
Earn 5% commission on each successful booking from your affiliate link.
Agoda has wonderful performance based commission structure, see below.
You get paid through direct bank transfer when your account balance reaches $200.
Join Agoda affiliate program today.
5. Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a leading global travel search site and essentially a meta-search engine for travel services.
You can search for hotel, rental car or flight reservation in real-time.
Skyscanner will search for your query in its database and returns all the available options in the form of comparison table.
About Skyscanner affiliate program
You can join Skyscanner's affiliate program via CJ.
Please note that there is a different affiliate program for most countries.
You will only be paid for the country program you are a member of. As a Canadian affiliate, you would not get paid for booking traffic from other parts of the world. So, you must sign-up at CJ for the country you want to direct traffic from.
Skyscanner share the generated revenue with affiliates, starting at 20%. They pay commission on Skyscanner generated revenue, not booking or basket value.
Example: if Skyscanner earned £10 revenue from a booking, they pay a commission to its affiliate starting at £2.
Join Skyscanner Affiliate Program today.
6. Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is another popular website which has partnered with hotels, apartments, hostels, villas around the world and allow its visitors to book their accommodation right from their portal.
A visitor can also book fights and insurance from its website.
A traveler can also buy destination guides, eBook, pictorial & gifts, atlas, etc. from Lonely Planet website.
About Lonely Planet affiliate program
Lonely Planet does not have its own dedicated affiliate program. However they have tied up with the following affiliate network to allow travel bloggers to join its affiliate program.
Get started with Lonely Planet affiliate program here.
7. Airbnb
Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their homes with those who are looking for space to rent.
It currently offers over 7 million accommodations in 100K+ cities around the world.
About Airbnb affiliate program
The affiliate program has two categories - Guest affiliate program and Host affiliate program.
- Guest affiliate program. It gives you access to feature any of Airbnb listing on your blog or website. Any bookings made from your blog will earn you a commission.
- Host affiliate program. It allows you to showcase Airbnb hosting opportunities to your site visitors. You earn a commission when any of your visitors signs up as a host.
Airbnb also offers a referral program where you can earn up to $22 for each successful referral.
Your referral receive up to $40 off their first trip, and you’ll get $15 for a qualifying stay and $7 for every person who goes on a qualifying experience.
Get started with Airbnb affiliate program today.
8. DiscoverCars
DiscoverCars.com makes renting a car easy by connecting customers all over the world with rental cars and making sure the price they see is the price they pay.
They offer all types of cars from more than 500 partners across more than 10,000 destinations throughout the world including one-way rentals.
And throughout the company's history, they have maintained one of the highest ratings in the car rental industry on Trustpilot.
About DiscoverCars.com affiliate program
The program is free to join and very easy to use. Besides that, it offers an absolutely attractive revenue share scheme: 70% from their car rental income PLUS 30% from the Full Coverage.
Average commission earned by an affiliate is 25 euros per booking. Another great advantage of the DiscoverCars.com affiliate program is the cookie period. It's 365 days, which is significantly longer than most of the affiliate programs offer.
It also offers a plenty of integration solutions for affiliates - general text links, deep links, different banners, widgets and API.
Join DiscoverCars.com Affiliate Program here.
9. CheapFlights
CheapFlights is one of the world's largest flight comparison sites. You can check flight deals, last minute flights and travel tips to plan your travel itinerary.
Thousands of airlines, travel agents and travel sites has partnered with CheapFlights where customers can compare and book cheaper flights.
About CheapFlights affiliate program
If you've a travel website or blog, you can join the affiliate program offered by CheapFlights.
You can promote CheapFlights using the following methods.
- Travel Widgets: You can add CheapFlights travel widget on your site that allows your visitors to conduct a flight search on your site and display results on CheapFlights site.
- Banners: You can add banners provided under the affiliate program. The banner code contains your unique affiliate link that track your sales and clicks.
- Text Links: You can add text links containing your affiliate link in your travel site.
Payment Structure
Cheapflights offers following commission to its affiliates:
- $ 0.45 per click-out for desktop and tablet
- $ 0.25 per click-out for mobile
How to join CheapFlights affiliate program?
If your site gets traffic from US, you can join the affiliate program by signing up at CJ.com. However, if you get traffic from outside of US, you can sign up at Webgains.com.
10. Expedia
Expedia is one of the largest online travel companies in the world, offering a wide range of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, and activities.
The company operates a global network of branded travel sites, including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, and many others, serving millions of travelers worldwide.
It also offers a robust affiliate program, allowing publishers to earn commissions by promoting its products and services on their websites and social media channels.
About Expedia Affiliate Program
Expedia offers different commission structure for different countries. And they have separate commission structure for different services - hotels, vacation rentals, flight, packages, cars, cruises, activities, ground transfers and more. Learn more about the commission offered here - Expedia commissions.
Depending on the travel services you're promoting, you can expect to earn commission in the range of 2% to 9%. You don't earn a commission on cancelled bookings.
The cookie period is between 7 days and 30 days. All payouts to affiliates are made via Partnerize.
Get started with Expedia affiliate program today.
11. Viator
Viator is a leading online marketplace for tours, sightseeing, activities, and attractions around the world, offering travelers access to thousands of experiences in over 2,000 destinations that include Dubai, Bali, Bangkok, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Phuket, Delhi and more.
As a subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Viator has a strong reputation for quality and reliability, and its platform features user reviews, photos, and detailed descriptions to help travelers find the perfect activity for their trip.
About Viator Affiliate Program
Viator's affiliate program offers publishers the opportunity to earn commissions by promoting its tours and activities on their websites and social media channels.
It offers a 8% commission on completed bookings and has a 30-day cookie period. Payouts are made via PayPal.
Get started with Viator affiliate program today.
12. Hostelworld
Hostelworld is the world's leading online booking platform for hostels and budget accommodations, with over 36,000 properties in more than 170 countries.
Hostelworld's user-friendly platform offers travelers a range of budget-friendly options, from dormitory-style rooms to private en-suite accommodations, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious travelers.
About Hostelworld affiliate program
The affiliate program by Hostelworld offers publishers the opportunity to earn commissions by promoting its hostels and accommodations on their websites and social media channels.
The program offers a 30-day cookie period. Thus, you earn commission on each bookings that is made within 30 days of the first click.
Get started with Hostelworld affiliate program today.
13. CruiseDirect
Cruise Direct is a leading online travel agency that specializes in offering in cruise services. They offer travelers access to a wide range of cruise deals and packages from top cruise lines around the world.
With a user-friendly platform and expert customer service, Cruise Direct makes it easy for travelers to find and book the perfect cruise for their needs and budget.
About Cruise Direct affiliate program
The affiliate program offers publishers the opportunity to earn commissions by promoting its cruise packages and deals on their websites and social media channels.
The affiliate commission is 3% of the commissionable cruise fare. You get a 45-day cookie period. Thus, you have 45 days to get credit for bookings made after the first click.
For promotion, you can use banner ads, text ads & search boxes.
Get started with Cruise Direct affiliate program today.
14. Travel Guard
Travel Guard is a popular travel insurance provider that offers comprehensive travel insurance plans to help protect travelers from unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage.
Individuals, families and businesses can select from range of travel insurance plans to have a complete protection and peace of mind.
About Travel Guard affiliate program
Travel Guard's affiliate program offered through popular affiliate network - Commission Junction.
Affiliates can earn commissions by promoting its travel insurance plans on their websites and social media channels.
With a competitive commission rate of 15% on completed sales and a 60-day cookie period, Travel Guard's affiliate program is a great option for travel bloggers and influencers looking to monetize their content while providing their audience with valuable protection and peace of mind.
The minimum payout threshold is $25 and payouts are made via check or PayPal.
Get started with Travel Guard affiliate program today.
Who Can Join Travel Programs?
Following are the traffic sources and activities that can join the affiliate program.
- Travel websites
- Blogs
- Forums
- Content platforms
- Social media groups
- Price comparison websites
- Deals websites
- Advertising networks
- Cashback websites
- Subnetworks (subject to transparency screening)
Please Note: Above list is only for information purpose only. Always check from the related affiliate program website whether you are eligible to join their program or not.
Anyone with a website, blog, or social media presence can join travel affiliate programs to make money from their efforts. Whether you are an influencer, blogger, or just someone who loves to travel, you can earn commissions by promoting travel-related products and services.
Most travel affiliate programs have an easy sign-up process and completely free to join. Once you sign up, you will receive unique affiliate links or banners that you can use to promote the products or services of the travel companies.
The key to success in affiliate marketing is to create engaging and informative content that targets a specific audience interested in travel. By creating content that resonates with your audience, you can attract more traffic to your website or social media channels, and increase the chances of generating commissions.
It's also important to choose travel affiliate programs that are a good fit for your niche and audience. For example, if you have a blog or social media channel focused on adventure travel, you should consider promoting adventure travel companies or products.
Overall, travel affiliate programs are a great way to monetize your website or social media channels and earn commissions by promoting travel-related products and services. Just remember to always disclose that you are using affiliate links and to follow the guidelines set by the travel companies you are promoting.
How to Promote Travel Products and Services?
Here are some tips on how to promote the travel affiliate programs mentioned above and earn commissions:
- Create targeted content: Create blog posts, social media posts, or videos that target a specific audience interested in travel. For example, if you are promoting the TripAdvisor affiliate program, create content that targets travelers looking for reviews and recommendations for hotels, restaurants, or activities.
- Offer exclusive discounts and deals: Many travel affiliate programs offer exclusive discounts and deals for your audience. Take advantage of these offers by creating content that promotes these deals and provides your audience with a unique value proposition.
- Use eye-catching visuals: Travel is a visual industry, so use high-quality original photos, videos, and graphics to showcase the destinations, hotels, and activities you are promoting. Use these visuals on your website, social media channels, and in your marketing materials.
- Leverage social media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest are great for promoting travel. Use hashtags, tag the travel companies you are promoting, and engage with your audience to increase your reach and visibility.
- Write reviews and recommendations: Write honest and detailed reviews and recommendations of the travel companies you are promoting. Provide your audience with useful information, tips, and insights to help them make informed decisions.
- Optimize your website for search engines: Optimize your website for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating engaging content, and improving your website’s load speed. This will help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results pages and attract more traffic to your website.
- Build an email list: Build an email list of subscribers interested in travel. Use email marketing to promote the travel companies you are promoting and provide your subscribers with exclusive deals and offers.
By following these tips, you can promote the travel affiliate programs mentioned above and earn commissions. Remember to always be transparent with your audience and disclose that you are using affiliate links and earn commission if they choose to buy products from your affiliate links.
Join ConvertKit and unlock 1000 subscribers for FREE.
Bonus Tips
Having or starting a blog, website, or social media pages dedicated to the travel niche can be a great platform for promoting travel companies as an affiliate.
By creating engaging and informative content that targets a specific audience interested in travel, you can attract more traffic to your website or social media channels and increase the chances of generating commissions.
For example, if you have a blog or website focused on budget travel, you can promote travel companies that offer budget-friendly hotels, flights, or tours.
Or if you have a social media page focused on luxury travel, you can promote travel companies that offer high-end hotels, resorts, or vacation packages.
The key is to choose travel affiliate programs that are a good fit for your niche and audience. By promoting products or services that align with your niche and audience, you can increase the likelihood of generating commissions.
In addition to creating content, you can also leverage social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to promote travel companies.
By using hashtags, tagging the travel companies you are promoting, and engaging with your audience, you can increase your reach and visibility and attract more traffic to your website or social media channels.
Wrapping Up
These are some of the best travel affiliate programs that offer high commissions, long cookie periods, and various payout methods.
Keep in mind that commission rates, cookie periods, payout methods, and minimum payout thresholds may vary depending on the program you choose.
It's always a good idea to research and compare different affiliate programs to find the best fit for your needs.
As an affiliate marketer, you can join these programs and start earning passive income by promoting travel-related products and services to your audience.