Travel Writing Jobs: 30 Publications That Pay Freelance Writers
Finding travel writing jobs isn’t always the simplest task. Luckily, to fill their pages, more and more travel publications are turning to freelancers who can provide adventure-filled memoirs, local maps, restaurant and hotel reviews, guide books, insider location tidbits, and so much more.
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a freelance travel writer, this post is for you. We’ve found 30 great publications that will pay you for articles about all aspects of the traveling experience. We’ll tell you a little about these publications and the amounts they generally pay and provide you with the information required to connect with each one. In the end, we’ll even give you a valuable opportunity to try out some training for free.
Read on to find your next travel writing opportunity!
1. Lonely Planet
Anyone who likes to carry a detailed guidebook with them when they travel has probably heard of Lonely Planet. This publisher offers travel guides, maps, expert advice, and other destination information for any type of adventurer.
The editors at Lonely Planet are often keen to receive pitches for a wide range of interesting travel stories and will pay around $0.60 per word, depending on the scope of the story and the expertise of the author. On the contribution page, you can find details about how to submit.
2. Verge Magazine
Verge Magazine is a Canadian digital-only publication that focuses on articles about purposeful travel (working, volunteering, studying, etc.). The magazine’s target audience isn’t the average tourist; it’s people who want to make a positive impact on the places to which they travel.
Verge offers a flat fee for contributions. On its Contribute to Verge Magazine page, you can find information about pitching a story or blogging for the publication. Verge asks you to conduct all correspondence regarding submissions via email, and you can find the address at the bottom of the page.
3. Backpacker
Backpacker is an online American lifestyle magazine that covers trail guides, gear reviews, backcountry skills, and much more. Generally, you can submit writing to Backpacker about backpacking, hiking, and the outdoors.
The magazine pays $0.25 to $0.50 per word, and you can send pitches to the email address found on the Contributor Guidelines page.
4. Road & Travel
People travel in many different ways, and you can find travel writing opportunities for those who like to experience the world from the driver’s seat. Road & Travel is about automotive travel, climate change, and personal safety. The weekly magazine’s primary target audience is women aged 25 to 59.
Rates vary, but Road & Travel typically will pay $100 for articles no longer than 1,200 words. You can find the magazine’s submission guidelines on the Writer’s Guidelines page.
5. ROVA
ROVA also focuses on travel by automobile, with the target audience being millennials and Gen Xers. The publication wants its articles to illustrate how roads connect people to places and experiences.
ROVA pays a flat rate of $200 per article, and on this submission page, you can apply to be a contributor.
6. Backroads USA
For those who prefer two wheels to four, Backroads USA provides motorcycle-related touring guides, tips, and information. The editors are always on the lookout for interesting stories about unique eateries, fascinating destinations, and obscure roadside attractions.
The publication pays $75 and up, but it would like all articles to include some high-quality photos. To get in touch with the editor, visit the contact us page.
7. Porthole Cruise and Travel
If you enjoy the open ocean or have experience working on a cruise ship, you may look at Porthole Cruise and Travel, which focuses on water-related travel. Relaxing river cruises, journeys aboard more intimate sailing vessels, and the luxuries of megaships are all covered in detail.
The magazine typically pays $500 to $600 for feature stories, and you can pitch your ideas via email.
8. Escapees
More freelance travel writing opportunities are available to people who like to explore from the comforts of a recreational vehicle (RV). Escapees, a bimonthly magazine, includes safety education, advice from full-time RVers, information about off-the-beaten-path locations, product reviews, technical tips about RV maintenance, and much more.
Escapees pays anywhere from $25 to $200 per article, and you’ll find all the requirements on the submissions page.
9. RV Magazine
RV Magazine is another RV-focused monthly publication that provides technical and travel information. The magazine likes to publish information about breathtaking RV travel destinations and unique campgrounds.
RV can pay up to $600 for an 1,800-word article. Just be sure to check all their editorial guidelines before you submit a content suggestion.
10. Oregon Coast Magazine
As the name implies, Oregon Coast Magazine is a bimonthly publication centered on the coastal region of Oregon (in the USA). Article topics include walking or driving tours, special events, restaurant profiles, and community events.
The pay will vary depending on the type of story and the word count. Check the guidelines page for submission inquiries.
11. Journey
If you’d prefer to write about northern Idaho or the state of Washington, online magazine Journey is run by AAA Washington. The articles educate and inform people about interesting activities, places to go, and places to stay in the region.
You can pitch your story ideas and preferred rate to [email protected]. Journey has been known to pay as much as $0.50 per word.
12. Texas Highways
Texas Highways is another region-specific publication for any writer who lives in Texas or has intimate knowledge of the state. The magazine’s goal is to promote travel and tourism in and to Texas. Texas Highways publishes articles that cover a wide range of topics: city/town guides, natural wonders, things to do, recipes, restaurant and business profiles, and more.
The magazine pays up to $0.50 per word. Make sure you check out the submission guidelines before making your pitch.
13. Travelers’ Tales
Travelers’ Tales is a little different from the other entries on this list. It isn’t a periodical publication. Instead, it accepts manuscripts for whole books and stories for travel anthologies. Because Travelers’ Tales doesn’t publish regularly, you may have to wait a while to see your work in print.
Travelers’ Tales will pay $100 for any story it prints. Plus, you’ll get a free copy of the book where your writing appears. Check out the Submission Guidelines to see the upcoming anthologies for which Travelers’ Tales needs stories.
14. International Living
International Living is advertised as the number one resource for helping people live, travel, and retire abroad. The publication doesn’t want just regular travel articles; it publishes product reviews, interviews, how-to guides, and other features related to settling down and living in various places all over the world.
International Living pays $250 to $400 for print articles and about $0.10 per word for blog and website articles. On the submissions page, you can find information about how to offer your services.
15. Transitions Abroad
Transitions Abroad is an online resource of inspirational and practical guides for people interested in traveling to study, intern, volunteer, teach, or work. The publication seeks useful, information-based content to help people immerse themselves in the culture of their chosen destination.
Transitions Abroad pays $75 to $150 for articles of 1,250 to 3,000 or more words. All the information about what the publication is looking for and how to submit can be found on the Writers’ Guidelines page.
16. Viator
Viator’s blog looks for writers who have very specific knowledge of or experience in multiple destinations so they can frequently write short articles about directions, local festivals, interesting landmarks, etc.
You can earn $45 for a post of only 300 to 400 words. You also have the option to sign up for the Viator Partners program, through which you can make money from your own blog.
17. Pathfinders Travel
The goal of Pathfinders Travel is to help people of color plan where to travel, how to get there, and what to do when they arrive. This travel group publishes articles with an emphasis on inclusion, diversity, and empowerment through travel.
Pathfinders normally pays $150 for an original article of 800 to 1,000 words. To find out about writing opportunities, you need to email the editor at [email protected].
18. World Nomads
Have you ever dreamed of living and working as a digital nomad? This publication is looking to build its Travel wiser section with wellness tips, budget traveling hacks, gear reviews, and health advice.
World Nomads pays about $0.45 per word. Here’s how to pitch your ideas and become a contributor.
19. Wanderlust Travel
Wanderlust Travel is looking for professional writers. It publishes only 10 issues per year. It aims to provide high-quality, award-winning guides, travel tips, interviews, quizzes, and more.
How much Wanderlust pays varies a lot based on the type of post, but you can expect to earn $100 to $300 for 750 to 1,000 words. All the contributor’s guidelines can be found on the Contributors page.
20. Horizon Guides
Horizon Guides describes the articles it publishes as “Unbiased travel guides from impartial experts.” Instead of focusing on a country as a whole, the publication prefers to look at a single activity or experience in any given location.
What Horizon Guides pays varies according to the brief, but the compensation can be anywhere from $250 or more for features to upwards of $500 for guides. In the How to pitch us section, you can find all the information about writing for this publication.
21. Go World Travel
Go World Travel is looking for descriptive writers who try not only to inform other people but also to inspire them to travel. The publication aims to cover the best destinations in over 90 countries.
Go World advises new writers to look at the publication’s previous articles and submit only new ideas, angles, and experiences. Go World pays $30 to $40 for articles of 850 to 1,600 words, and in the Travel Writer Guidelines section, you can find information about submissions.
22. Matador Network
Matador is a global media brand that offers guides, shows, and destination information for all kinds of travelers.
It pays $40 and up for short articles. To find out about available opportunities, you need to register as part of its creators community and set up a profile.
23. Listverse
If you have an original idea that includes an interesting perspective, hidden knowledge, or unique facts about a travel destination and you can put it into a 10-point list of paragraphs, Listverse wants to hear from you.
Listverse pays $100 for each list of 1,500 to 2,000 words. Just make sure you don’t copy anyone else’s ideas. See the author’s guide for submission details.
24. Outpost
Outpost is a Canadian magazine, but it publishes articles about destinations all over the world. It specializes in insider travel guides, local recipes, and thrilling adventure stories.
Outpost pays $40 for 800 to 1,500 words, but it will pay more for longer articles. It accepts story pitches through email only, and its about us page has all the information about what the magazine is looking for.
25. Yoga Journal
It may not surprise you that this online magazine is about yoga, meditation, and astrology, but with these practices becoming popular all over the world, they can also present great freelance travel writing opportunities. Yoga Journal is a subsidiary of Outpost magazine, mentioned above.
Yoga Journal will pay $800 to $2,000 for longer feature stories, but normally, it’s looking for only 500 to 1,000 words, which will earn you around $40. Here are all the contributor guidelines.
26. My Itchy Travel Feet
This travel website’s target audience is baby boomers, so the site is looking for original and informative content that relates to that specific demographic only.
My Itchy Travel Feet pays $30 and up for 700- to 1,200-word articles. Here are the guest writer guidelines.
27. GoNOMAD
GoNOMAD is another great option for anyone who wants to become a digital nomad. It publishes mini destination travel guides and first-person accounts of unique trips called Journeys. The organization wants facts and originality, not fluff or promotional content.
GoNOMAD pays only $25 per article, but the organization can give you exposure by promoting your website and featuring you on its home page. Once you’ve read the writers’ guidelines, GoNOMAD can be a great way to build your freelance writing portfolio.
28. The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a popular daily newspaper that is always on the lookout for articles to go in the travel section. Writers must follow the newspaper’s ethical guidelines and not accept compensation from any person, place, or business about which they’re writing.
Pay varies depending on length and whether the article goes to print or stays online, but you can expect to make $200 to $750. Be sure to check out all the submission guidelines.
29. The Penny Hoarder
Although this financial education website may not seem to be the best place to find travel writing opportunities, it does publish articles about traveling on a budget and saving and earning money.
The Penny Hoarder pays $75 for 700 to 900 words but can pay more for longer articles. You can email the site at [email protected] to make your pitch.
30. Travel + Leisure
This is an international travel resource for hotels and flight information, destination ideas, city guides, and miscellaneous travel tips. The mission of Travel + Leisure is to inform and inspire all world travelers.
Travel + Leisure will accept only engaging, original content, but the publication is willing to pay $1,000 for online-only articles and $2 per word for printed articles. Here is all the information you need about how to write for this organization.
Becoming A Freelance Writer
If you want to take advantage of some of these lucrative freelance writing opportunities but you believe you may be lacking some of the skills required to be a great travel writer, don’t worry. We have a course that can teach you everything you need to know!
Becoming A Freelance Writer will show you how to research, outline, write, and redraft compelling travel-related content. Plus, if you achieve a grade of 80% or higher on the final assignment, you’ll have the opportunity to build your portfolio by writing three pieces of content for our blog.
You can even try some lessons for free right now.
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