How to Become a Freelance Travel Writer

By Joel Witherington

Published Oct 15, 2023
Last Updated Jun 11, 2025
10 min read

Have you ever thought about becoming a freelance travel writer? If you enjoy traveling and have a passion for writing, freelance travel writing could be an exciting career option.

There’s something undeniably appealing about being a digital nomad – working remotely while discovering the world one destination at a time. But taking that first step can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin.

This post will guide you through everything you need to know about travel writing, such as the different types of work available and the skills you’ll need to succeed. Whether you’re dreaming of tropical beaches or cobbled European streets, travel writing is your chance to turn wanderlust into a sustainable freelance career.

What Is Travel Writing?

Travel writers get paid to write about travel. Some travel writers explore destinations around the world, documenting their experiences firsthand. Others research and write about destinations closer to home, crafting detailed guides to local attractions or cultural highlights. As a travel writer, you can write about anything, from a hidden gem of a cafe in your hometown to a five-star resort in Bali.

Travel Writing Examples

Travel writing comes in many forms – blog posts, magazine features, guidebooks, and even social media posts. Some pieces aim to inform readers with practical tips and recommendations, while others focus on storytelling and personal experience to bring a place to life.

Here’s a brief overview of some popular formats:

Hotel, restaurant, and destination reviews: Visit new places, describe your experience, and rate or review them in a way that’s informative and engaging. Whether you’re covering a luxury hotel or a street food stall, honesty and detail are key.
Travel itineraries: A well-structured itinerary breaks a trip down into manageable days (or even hours for shorter trips). Start with a quick overview, then guide readers through each stop with tips, timing suggestions, and highlights that bring the journey to life.
Travel guides and advice: Often based on personal experience, travel guides blend practical tips with storytelling. The tone should be friendly and informative, helping readers decide what to do, where to go, and what to avoid.
Blog or social media content: There’s a huge range of opportunities here, from long-form travel blogs to Instagram captions. The key is to choose a niche – such as solo travel, family travel, food tourism, or eco-travel – then post regularly with content that informs, entertains, or inspires.
Travel books: If you’ve had a memorable journey or a unique perspective, a book might be the right format. Travel books go beyond diary-style entries; they use narrative and creative techniques to immerse the reader and help them imagine themselves in the destination.
Branded content: Many travel writers also create content for brands, such as airlines, tourism boards, and travel companies. This might include destination features, promotional articles, or curated newsletters that blend editorial writing with marketing goals.

What Does a Travel Writer Do?

As mentioned above, travel writers create content related to traveling. While many travel writers take trips and write about their experiences, others rely on thorough research to produce content – especially when covering destinations they haven’t yet visited. The type of writing you do will shape your approach.

Typical tasks include:

Describing specific travel destinations
Giving tips on how to prepare for a certain trip
Making recommendations (or offering criticisms) about hotels, restaurants, or excursions
Highlighting religious or local holidays, festivals, markets, architecture, and other cultural experiences
Providing advice on seasonal weather conditions, events, or travel considerations
Writing about personal experiences you’ve had while traveling

The way you format your writing will largely depend on where it will be published. If you’re writing for your own blog or social media, you may want to include eye-catching photographs to complement your words. If you’re working with an editor or a publication, they may handle the visual elements for you – or expect you to follow specific style guidelines.

How to Become a Freelance Travel Writer

Breaking into travel writing takes persistence, but with the right approach, it’s absolutely achievable. Here are a few simple steps that can help you succeed and stand out in a competitive field:

1. Develop the Relevant Skills

To become a successful travel writer, you need more than just a love for travel and a flair for words. You need to combine strong writing skills with digital literacy, research ability, and storytelling techniques that draw readers in.

Core skills to focus on include:

Clear, engaging writing (with a strong grasp of grammar and tone)
SEO and keyword research (to help your content rank on search engines)
Headline writing (crafting compelling, click-worthy titles that reflect your article’s content)
Formatting for web readability (using subheadings, short paragraphs, and bullet points to make content skimmable)
Image sourcing and basic photo editing (for creating visually appealing blog or social content)
Understanding different content formats (such as how –to guides, itineraries, reviews, and narrative features)

Study the structure of top-ranking travel articles on Google, and pay attention to how they draw readers in with compelling angles, use clean formatting to keep things digestible, and balance useful tips with engaging storytelling.

If you feel any of your skills are lacking, consider taking a course or doing some training. You can find freelance writing courses that build a strong foundation in areas such as writing techniques, pitching, and working with clients. There are also more focused options that teach specific skills, such as SEO or content marketing.

2. Choose Your Travel Writing Niche

Travel writing covers a wide range of content types and audiences. Choosing a niche helps you sharpen your focus, build a stronger portfolio, and attract clients who are looking for your specific perspective.

Popular niches include:

Budget travel and backpacking (affordable trips, hostel culture, low-cost itineraries)
Luxury and boutique experiences (high-end stays, exclusive destinations, upscale experiences)
Solo female travel (safety tips, empowerment stories, destination guides for solo women)
Adventure and active travel (hiking, climbing, cycling, diving, and thrill-seeking experiences)
Cultural deep dives (in-depth exploration of local customs, history, and communities)
Slow or mindful travel (longer stays, immersive experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations)
Food and drink tourism (culinary experiences, local dishes, wine trails, street food culture)
Sustainable or eco travel (low-impact tourism, ethical choices, conservation-focused writing)
Family travel (traveling with kids, multi-generational trips, family-friendly destinations)
Accessible travel (destinations and tips for travelers with mobility or sensory needs)

Your niche doesn’t have to limit you, but it should give your writing direction and your brand consistency.

Want to write about everything? Start with one niche and build authority there. Once you have a following or client base, branching out becomes much easier.

3. Build Your Portfolio

You don’t need bylines in major magazines to get started, but you do need writing samples that show your skills and voice. Aim to create three to five portfolio pieces that reflect the type of work you want to be hired for.

Good examples might include:

A sample travel itinerary
A personal narrative or trip reflection
A destination guide or how-to article
A hotel or restaurant review
A blog-style post or social caption thread

If you don’t have any clients yet, start your own blog or publish on platforms for writers, such as Medium, Substack, or LinkedIn Articles. These not only give you a place to showcase your work, but they can also help attract your first readers or clients.

To make your work easy to access and share, consider using a dedicated portfolio platform. There are plenty of great options out there, and we’ve rounded up seven of the best portfolio hosting sites for freelancers to help you get started.

4. Read a Lot

To write well in any genre, you need to read it. Read blogs, essays, and magazine articles by successful travel writers, especially those in your chosen niche. Look at:

How they open stories (e.g., by using hooks)
How they balance narrative with information
The types of photos or media they include
What kinds of headlines or story angles they use

Some great publications to study include AFAR, Wanderlust, Condé Nast Traveler, Roads & Kingdoms, and National Geographic Traveler. Each offers a different perspective on travel writing, from practical guides to immersive storytelling.

Keep a swipe file of favorite pieces and headlines. Use it for inspiration when crafting your own stories or pitches.

5. Market Yourself

Freelance writing is part craft, part hustle. You need to be visible and memorable. A basic digital presence goes a long way.

At minimum, create:

A simple portfolio site with your bio, contact info, and writing samples
A consistent presence on one to two platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, X, TikTok)
A short professional bio that clearly states the topics you write about

You can also network with editors, pitch stories, or comment on relevant posts to stay visible in the industry. Don’t wait for clients to find you – reach out. Even a brief direct message or email introducing yourself can lead to work.

6. Find Work

Once you’ve built your skills, developed your niche, and created a portfolio, it’s time to start looking for paid opportunities. There are several ways to find freelance travel writing jobs. Here are some of the most effective:

Freelance platforms: Platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr can be a good starting point for beginners, helping you build experience and earn your first testimonials.
Industry job boards: Sites such as ProBlogger, Skyword, and Contena list a wide variety of freelance writing roles, from blog posts to feature-length articles.
Travel-specific outlets: Communities such as Travel Massive and Matador Creators offer niche job boards, editorial opportunities, and industry networking focused entirely on travel.
Cold pitching and editor outreach: Research travel publications that accept freelance contributions and pitch them directly with tailored story ideas to land bylines and build relationships.
Social media and professional networks: Platforms such as LinkedIn, X, and relevant Facebook groups regularly feature job leads, calls for pitches, and useful connections within the writing and travel industries.
Reaching out to tourism boards or small businesses: Many tourism boards, boutique hotels, tour operators, and local experiences need content for their websites, blogs, or brochures – especially if you’re already traveling in the area.
Partnering with brands or content creators: Collaborate with travel influencers, photographers, or small travel brands to create sponsored posts, guest content, or co-branded articles that boost visibility and build your network.

Keep a pitch tracker (a simple Google Sheet or Notion board works well) to stay organized and follow up professionally. Use it to log where you’ve pitched, the date you sent it, the editor’s name and contact info, the status of your pitch, and any follow-up actions. Staying on top of your submissions not only prevents duplicate pitching but also helps you build long-term relationships with editors and identify which ideas are getting traction.

Build a Career in Freelance Writing

If you’re ready to turn your passion for writing into a flexible freelance career, we’re here to help. Our Becoming A Freelance Writer course is designed to teach you the core skills every successful freelancer needs – skills you can apply to travel writing, content creation, blogging, and more.

One of the most important steps is building a strong portfolio. Our unique publishing guarantee means you’ll graduate with three professionally edited writing samples to help you land your first clients (as long as you score 80% or higher on your final assignment).

Try some free lessons today and take the first step toward becoming a confident, professional freelance writer.