Chris White Post Covid, the travel industry has been expanding at a significant pace. Affiliates marketers who are either website owners or influencers catering to the travel industry have reported good earnings with these highest paying affiliate programs. In this guide, we present a quick rundown of 25 best and top paying affiliate programs for travel bloggers and influencers. Note that we have curated this list factoring in the payment history, the opportunities and sale potential and the commission structure and payouts as reported by affiliates.
Top Paying Affiliate Programs in the Travel Industry
Whether you’re a blogger, influencer, or just someone with a travel-centric website, these programs can help you earn a substantial income by promoting travel-related services. Here’s a detailed guide where we have the top 30 highest-paying travel affiliate programs in 2024. Hope this expert curated list to help you make an informed decision.
1. Booking.com Affiliate Program
Booking.com is a giant in the travel industry, offering a vast selection of accommodations. It is also considered as one of the best affiliate programs for the travel industry. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions ranging from 4% to 7% per booking. You’ll benefit from Booking.com’s strong market presence and high conversion rates. Plus, they provide a suite of marketing tools like deep links, banners, and a powerful API for advanced integrations, making it easier for you to attract and convert leads.
2. Travelpayouts Affiliate Network
Travelpayouts is a comprehensive network that partners with various travel services including flights, hotels, car rentals, and insurance. The flexible commission rates mean you can earn up to 3% on flights and up to 7% on hotels. You’ll appreciate their user-friendly dashboard, detailed analytics, and timely payouts. With a variety of promotional tools at your disposal, like widgets and white-label solutions, you can tailor your approach to suit your audience.
3. Expedia Affiliate Program
Expedia’s affiliate program is a solid choice because of its extensive inventory, which includes flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. You can earn commissions ranging from 2% to 6% per transaction. Expedia’s strong brand recognition and robust marketing resources will help you attract and convert more leads. They also offer real-time tracking and detailed performance reports, so you can keep an eye on your progress.
4. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
TripAdvisor, known for its extensive reviews and travel content, offers an affiliate program with up to 50% commission on revenue generated from bookings. You can promote hotels, attractions, and restaurant reservations, tapping into TripAdvisor’s vast user base. With detailed performance metrics and a range of promotional tools, you’ll find it easier to optimize your campaigns and boost your earnings.
Learn more about the Tripadvisor Affiliate Program in this detailed Review: All You Need to Know About the Tripadvisor Affiliate Program For Travel Bloggers
5. Airbnb Associates Program
If you’re promoting unique and local travel experiences, the Airbnb Associates Program is a great fit. You can earn a 30% commission on the service fee for each booking. With deep-linking capabilities, you can link directly to specific properties or destinations, making it easier to tailor your content to your audience’s interests.
If you want to learn more about the Airbnb Affiliate Program, we recommend checking out this advanced and updated guide here: What is the Airbnb Affiliate Program? What to Expect.
6. Klook Affiliate Program
Klook focuses on travel experiences and activities, offering commissions up to 7% per sale. You’ll find it lucrative, especially with Klook’s extensive inventory and frequent promotions that help drive conversions. Their comprehensive dashboard for tracking performance and earnings ensures you stay on top of your game.
7. Skyscanner Affiliate Program
Skyscanner is a popular travel search engine for flights, hotels, and car rentals. As an affiliate, you can earn up to 50% of the revenue generated from referrals. Skyscanner’s user-friendly interface and extensive search capabilities result in high conversion rates. They provide various promotional tools, including widgets and banners, to help you attract and convert visitors.
8. Viator Affiliate Program
Viator, a TripAdvisor company, specializes in tours and activities worldwide. The Viator affiliate program offers up to 8% commission per sale, making it an attractive option if you’re focused on travel experiences. You can promote a wide range of activities, from sightseeing tours to adventure experiences. Viator also provides robust affiliate marketing tools like deep links, banners, and widgets to enhance your promotions.
9. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
GetYourGuide is another top platform for booking tours, activities, and attractions. With commissions up to 8% per sale, it’s a great program to consider. You’ll benefit from GetYourGuide’s extensive inventory and high-quality content, which help drive conversions. Their variety of promotional tools, including custom banners, widgets, and deep links, allow you to tailor your promotions to your audience.
10. Hotels.com Affiliate Program
Hotels.com offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget options to luxury hotels. Their affiliate program provides commissions ranging from 4% to 6% per booking. You’ll benefit from Hotels.com’s strong reputation and user-friendly platform. With a comprehensive suite of marketing tools, including banners, widgets, and deep-linking capabilities, you can effectively promote Hotels.com to your audience.
11. Agoda Affiliate Program
Agoda is a well-known platform for booking hotels and other types of accommodations. As an affiliate, you can earn up to 60% of Agoda’s revenue share per booking. Agoda provides a wide range of promotional tools, including banners, text links, and APIs, which can help you effectively market their services.
12. Turo Affiliate Program
Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing service, allows users to rent vehicles from local owners. The Turo affiliate program offers a flat commission of $25 for each new customer who completes a trip. This program is ideal if your audience includes travelers who prefer the flexibility of car rentals over traditional services.
13. Rentalcars.com Affiliate Program
Rentalcars.com, part of the Booking Holdings family, is a leading car rental service provider. Affiliates can earn up to 6% commission on completed rentals. With access to a wide range of car rental options and competitive rates, promoting Rentalcars.com can be very lucrative.
Suggested Reading: 20 Affiliate Marketing Hacks to Boos Your Online Earnings
14. Sandals Resorts Affiliate Program
Sandals Resorts offers luxurious all-inclusive vacations across the Caribbean. Their affiliate program provides commissions up to 4% per booking, which can add up quickly given the high cost of these vacations. Sandals offers a variety of promotional tools, including banners and deep links, to help you attract customers.
15. Intrepid Travel Affiliate Program
Intrepid Travel specializes in small group adventures and unique travel experiences. Their affiliate program offers a 5% commission on tours and packages. Intrepid Travel provides a range of marketing materials, including banners, text links, and promotional content, making it easier for you to attract adventure-seeking travelers.
16. Marriott Affiliate Program
Marriott is a globally recognized hotel brand offering a wide range of accommodations. The Marriott affiliate program offers commissions ranging from 3% to 6% per booking. Marriott’s extensive marketing resources and strong brand recognition can help you drive more bookings.
17. Travelocity Affiliate Program
Travelocity, a part of the Expedia Group, offers a comprehensive range of travel services, including flights, hotels, and vacation packages. Affiliates can earn up to 4% commission per booking. With Travelocity’s extensive inventory and strong market presence, you can attract a broad audience.
18. HotelsCombined Affiliate Program
HotelsCombined is a hotel comparison website that allows users to find the best deals from various online travel agencies. The affiliate program offers a 50% revenue share on commissions earned from referred sales. With high conversion rates and a user-friendly interface, HotelsCombined is an excellent option for affiliates.
19. G Adventures Affiliate Program
G Adventures focuses on small group travel experiences around the world. Their affiliate program offers a 6% commission on bookings. G Adventures provides a variety of promotional tools and support, helping you target travelers looking for unique and authentic experiences.
20. CruiseDirect Affiliate Program
CruiseDirect specializes in booking cruises and offers affiliates a generous commission structure. You can earn up to 3% per booking, which can be quite profitable given the high cost of cruise vacations. CruiseDirect also offers a range of marketing materials, including banners and deep links.
21. Civitatis Affiliate Program
Civitatis offers tours, activities, and guided visits around the world. Their affiliate program provides commissions up to 8% per sale. With a vast inventory of experiences and competitive rates, promoting Civitatis can be highly rewarding.
22. Rail Europe Affiliate Program
Rail Europe is a leading distributor of European train tickets and rail passes. Affiliates can earn up to 3% commission on sales. With Europe being a popular travel destination, this program is ideal for targeting travelers who prefer train travel.
23. Travelstart Affiliate Program
Travelstart is a comprehensive online travel agency offering flights, hotels, car rentals, and holiday packages, primarily focusing on the African market. Their affiliate program offers competitive commissions, typically around 5% per booking. Travelstart provides a variety of marketing tools, making it easier for you to attract and convert leads.
24. Contiki Affiliate Program
Contiki specializes in group travel for 18-35-year-olds, offering a range of trips and experiences around the world. The affiliate program offers up to 5% commission per booking. Contiki provides a variety of promotional tools and support, making it easier for you to market their adventures to a younger audience.
25. Luxury Retreats Affiliate Program
Luxury Retreats, now part of Airbnb, offers high-end vacation rentals. Their affiliate program offers substantial commissions, up to 10% per booking, reflecting the high value of their luxury properties. This program is ideal if you target affluent travelers looking for exclusive experiences.
26. Orbitz Affiliate Program
Orbitz, another member of the Expedia Group, offers flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages. Affiliates can earn up to 3% commission on bookings. With its strong brand presence and extensive inventory, promoting Orbitz can help you reach a broad audience.
27. Momondo Affiliate Program
Momondo is a travel search engine that helps users find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals. The affiliate program offers competitive commission rates and provides a range of marketing tools, including banners and widgets. Momondo’s user-friendly interface and high conversion rates make it a solid choice for affiliates.
28. HomeAway Affiliate Program
HomeAway, part of the Vrbo family, offers vacation rental properties worldwide. Their affiliate program provides commissions up to 3% per booking. With a wide range of unique properties and strong market presence, promoting HomeAway can be highly profitable.
29. Trip.com Affiliate Program
Trip.com offers comprehensive travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and tours. Their affiliate program offers commissions up to 5% per booking. With Trip.com’s extensive inventory and competitive pricing, you can attract a diverse audience of travelers.
30. CityPASS Affiliate Program
CityPASS offers discounted tickets to top attractions in various cities across North America. Their affiliate program offers up to 10% commission on sales. With CityPASS’s strong value proposition and high demand among tourists, promoting their passes can be very lucrative.
Detailed Comparison and Insights
When expanding your portfolio with these additional programs, consider the same factors: commission rates, product range, marketing tools, and brand recognition. Here’s a quick comparison:
Commission Rates
- Highest: Luxury Retreats and CityPASS offer up to 10% commission, reflecting their high-value offerings.
- Mid-Range: Many programs like G Adventures, Civitatis, and Klook offer around 5% to 8%.
- Lower-End: Some programs like Agoda and Rentalcars.com offer around 3% to 6%.
Product Range
- Broad Range: Expedia Group programs (like Orbitz and Travelocity) and Booking Holdings programs (like Agoda and Rentalcars.com) cover a wide spectrum of travel services.
- Niche Focus: Programs like Turo, Sandals Resorts, and Rail Europe focus on specific travel segments, offering targeted opportunities.
Marketing Tools
- Advanced Tools: Programs like Travelpayouts, Skyscanner, and HotelsCombined provide robust dashboards and analytics.
- Standard Tools: Most programs offer basic promotional tools like banners, widgets, and deep links.
Brand Recognition
- Strongest Brands: Programs under Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, and TripAdvisor have significant brand recognition.
- Emerging Brands: Programs like Civitatis and Travelstart are growing and offer unique opportunities.
Effective Affiliate Marketing Strategies for Travel Bloggers and Influencers
To maximize your earnings from travel affiliate programs, try implementing these strategies:
- Content Quality: Create high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience. Detailed guides, reviews, and personal travel experiences can drive more clicks and conversions.
- SEO Optimization: Optimize your website for search engines to attract organic traffic. Focus on relevant keywords like “best hotels in [destination],” “cheap flights to [destination],” or “top activities in [destination].”
- Email Marketing: Build an email list and send out newsletters with travel tips, deals, and recommendations. Include affiliate links within your emails to drive traffic and bookings.
- Social Media Promotion: Use social media platforms to reach a broader audience. Share engaging content, travel photos, and videos, and include affiliate links in your posts and bios.
- Use of Analytics: Regularly review your affiliate program’s analytics to understand which content and promotions drive the most traffic and conversions. Use this data to refine your strategies and focus on high-performing areas.
- Targeted Marketing: Tailor your promotions to specific audiences. If your audience consists primarily of budget travelers, promote affordable accommodations and cheap flight options.
- Seasonal Campaigns: Capitalize on peak travel seasons by creating content and promotions around holidays, summer vacations, and popular travel events.
Closing Thoughts
Travel affiliate programs offer substantial earning potential for you as a content creator or marketer. By choosing the right programs and implementing effective strategies, you can tap into the lucrative travel market and generate significant income. Booking.com, Travelpayouts, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Airbnb, Klook, Skyscanner, Viator, GetYourGuide, and Hotels.com are among the highest-paying travel affiliate programs in 2024, each offering unique advantages and opportunities for you as an affiliate.
