Have you been dreaming of earning money while you sleep? This list of the best travel affiliate programs for travel brands may be just the thing that will help you make passive income and kiss your day job goodbye.
Mastering Travel Affiliate Marketing
In 2019, the travel industry generated almost $4.6 trillion for leisure travel alone. Although Covid took its toll, post-pandemic travel is making an astonishing comeback. Even if you aren’t a dedicated travel blogger, you can still join and earn commissions from travel affiliate programs.
Bloggers and social media influencers in almost any niche can promote travel products. For example, music bloggers can place travel-related links in their articles about music festivals. Sports fans can add links for travel to athletic events and promote gear for activities like tailgating. Writers with food-related blogs earn substantial commissions from travel affiliate programs when they discuss the origin of dishes or review restaurants.
Things to Look for in a Travel Affiliate Program
Unfortunately, most beginners waste time with unprofitable affiliate programs, and new marketers often hesitate to apply to established programs out of fear of rejection.
Another common rookie mistake is passing on programs that offer lower commission rates. But even a single-digit percentage of a hotel stay, car rental, flight, or vacation package can mean a big payday.
Here are some essential characteristics of a profitable travel affiliate program:
- Experience: A worthwhile affiliate program should have an excellent reputation. Research the company’s reviews and find out what other affiliate partners say about the brand.
- High-quality products: You won’t want to waste your time promoting a product that no one wants to buy. Check customer reviews and ask yourself if you would purchase the product or recommend it to a friend.
- Cookie duration: Affiliate programs track who gets the commission for a sale or click using cookies. For example, if the cookie duration lasts 14 days, you’ll get credit for the sale if the buyer makes a purchase within two weeks of clicking your link.
- Payment policies: Affiliate programs pay using different methods and on different schedules. Some programs also require a minimum before they’ll send a payout.
- Affiliate support: Travel programs should offer plenty of support to their partners, such as easy-to-use sales tracking tools, high-resolution product images and banners, and consumer research that you can use to tailor your offerings.
Affiliate Programs versus Affiliate Networks
We have to cover one more subject before revealing our list: the difference between affiliate programs and affiliate networks. Some companies have independent affiliate programs that you can join directly from their website.
Other travel brands use affiliate networks to manage their programs. You’ll need to become a member of the network before you can apply to join the company’s affiliate program. Some of the top affiliate networks include AWIN, CJ Affiliate, Flexoffers, ShareASale, and TravelPayouts.
Although most networks have partners in the travel industry, TravelPayouts exclusively caters to travel brands. The network works with over 60 brands and has more than 240,000 affiliate members. TravelPayouts partners include respected companies like Rail Europe, Booking.com, Viator, and Hostelworld, with commissions starting at 8%. You can also join the white-label program that allows you to display your own brand for searches.
Travel Affiliate Programs: An Overview
Below you can find an overview of the best affiliate programs by niche.
Full Service Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | 25-40% | Session only | PayPal, Direct deposit | $100 | Hotels, Trains, Vacation Rentals |
| Expedia | 1-12% | 7 days | Check, wire transfer, bank transfer, PayPal | $50 | Flights, Hotels, Cruises, Activities, Taxi services, Car rentals, Travel packages |
| Wego | Up to $.40 for flight clicks; Up to $.80 for hotel clicks | 365 days | PayPal, Bank wire | $100 | Flights, hotels |
| Kayak | 50% per sale; $.95 per click | 30 days | PayPal, WebMoney, Bank transfer | $500 | Flights, Hotels, Car rentals |
Most Profitable Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonely Planet | 15% | 30 days | PayPal; monthly | N/A | Guidebooks |
| Stasher | 20%, Hosts earn up to $20K annually from a 20×20 space | 30 days | PayPal | N/A | Luggage storage |
| Trusted Housesitters | 20% for housesitters, $100 for homeowners | 30-90 days | According to the affiliate network’s terms | N/A | Housesitting services |
Top Flight Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyscanner | 20% and up | 30 days | Bank transfer, PayPal | N/A | Flights, Hotels, Car rentals |
| Cheapflights.com | Up to $.45 per click | 1 hour | Depends on the program | N/A | Flights, Hotels, Car rentals, Vacation packages |
Hotel Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TripAdvisor | 50% and up | 14 days | Depends on affiliate network terms | N/A | Hotels |
| Agoda | 5-25% | 1 day | Bank transfer, PayPal, E-card | $200 | Hotels and Vacation homes |
| Hotels.com | 4% | 7 days | N/A | N/A | Hotels, Vacation rentals |
| Plum Guide | Up to 80% (10% of booking value) | 90 days | Check | No minimum | Vacation rentals |
| Hostelworld | Up to 40% of deposit | 30 days | N/A | N/A | Hostel stays, vacation rentals |
Tour Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klook | 2-5% | 30 days | PayPal and Alipay with $50 minimum; Bank transfer with $500 minimum | N/A | Tours, Attractions, Trains, WiFi, and SIM cards |
| Get Your Guide | 8% | 30 days | According to AWIN’s policies | N/A | Tours, Attraction tickets, Cruises |
| G Adventures | 6% | 60 days | Check, Payoneer, Direct Deposit | N/A | Adventure tours |
| Viator | 8% | 30-day | PayPal, Payoneer, Bank Transfer | N/A | Tours, activities, restaurants, cultural events |
Travel Insurance Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafetyWing | 10% | 365-day | PayPal | N/A | Digital Nomad Insurance |
| World Nomads | 10% | 60 days | Bank Transfer, PayPal | N/A | Travel Insurance |
Travel Gear Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 4% | 1 day (up to 90 days for in-cart items) | Checks, Gift cards, Bank Transfer | N/A | Wide range of travel accessories |
| REI | 5% | 15 days | According to Avantlink’s terms | N/A | Backpacks, Outdoor equipment |
| Osprey | 8% | 30-day | Check, PayPal, Direct Deposit | N/A | Backpacks, Luggage, Hydration gear |
Car Rental Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovercars.com | 30-70% | 365 days | PayPal, Wire transfer; monthly | N/A | Car rentals, auto insurance |
| RentalCars.com | 40% (RentalCars.com), 6% (CJ Affiliates) | Session (RentalCars.com); 30 days (CJ Affiliates) | Depends on the program | N/A | Rental cars, insurance |
Cruise Affiliate Programs
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Payment Method | Minimum Payout | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Direct | 3% | 45 days | PayPal; monthly | $25 | Cruises, hotels, resorts |
Best Full-Service Travel Affiliate Programs
Stasher
Stasher is the world’s most extensive luggage storage network, offering travelers convenient, secure, and affordable storage in over 200 cities around the world. With the common problem of finding a safe place to store luggage between hotel check-in/check-out and travel times, the Stasher service easily sells itself.
You can apply to become a Stasher affiliate through the Tapfiliate network. If you own a brick-and-mortar business, you can also partner with Stasher by becoming a host and earning passive income from unused storage space.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 20%, Hosts earn up to $20K annually from a 20×20 space.
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: PayPal
- Products: Luggage storage
Booking.com
In addition to the company’s over 2.5 million accommodations, Booking.com provides an incredible range of products, including flights, attraction tickets, car rentals, airport taxi services, and complete vacation packages.
The Booking.com affiliate program is user-friendly, providing partners with easy ways to promote their products. You can place a Booking.com search box directly on your site and use customizable widgets to show your target audience items that would appeal to them.
While many successful travel bloggers recommend the Booking.com affiliate program, most comment that the session-only cookie duration can take a while to understand. As we’ve already mentioned, you can apply for Booking.com’s affiliate program through TravelPayouts.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 25-40%
- Cookies: Session only
- Payment: PayPal, Direct deposit; $100 minimum payout; one month after the stay
- Products: Hotels, Trains, Vacation Rentals
Expedia
Expedia’s vast affiliate program features partnerships with 400 airlines and over 500,000 hotels. Expedia’s partners include renowned travel companies, such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Vrbo, and Hotels.com.
Commissions range from 1-12%, depending upon the product or service type. Expedia sends payment on the 15th of each month after a $50 minimum is reached. You can apply to become an Expedia affiliate through the Flexoffers network.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 1-12%
- Cookies: 7 days
- Payment: Check, wire transfer, bank transfer, PayPal; $50 minimum payout
- Products: Flights, Hotels, Cruises, Activities, Taxi services, Car rentals, Travel packages
Wego
Wego offers a pay-per-click program that can generate excellent incomes for high-traffic blogs and other travel-related sites. Affiliates earn from 5-40 cents per flight exit click and 20-80 cents for each hotel exit click. Minimums are $100 for PayPal and $500 for bank wire payouts.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: up to $.40 for flight clicks; up to $.80 for hotel clicks
- Cookies: 365 days
- Payment: PayPal, Bank wire; $100 minimum
- Products: Flights, hotels
Kayak
The Kayak affiliate program includes products from all of their brands, including Momondo and HotelsCombined. With its hefty 50% commission rate, Kayak pays out over $76 million per year to its affiliate partners. The only drawback is its $500 threshold for payment.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 50% per sale; $.95 per click
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: Paypal, WebMoney, Bank transfer; $500 minimum
- Products: Flights, Hotels, Car rentals
Most Unique and Profitable Travel Affiliate Programs
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet publishes some of the most reliable guidebooks available. The Lonely Planet Referral program offers a 15% commission for each digital download or hardcopy book you sell. The company provides excellent customer support and high-resolution banners. You can apply to become a Lonely Planet affiliate by joining the AWIN network.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 15%
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: PayPal; monthly
- Products: Guidebooks
Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters pairs homeowners with responsible individuals who can take care of their homes and pets while they travel.
The company runs two separate affiliate programs: one for homeowners through ShareASale and one for housesitters through AWIN. Homeowners receive a flat fee of $100 for each referral, and the commission for housesitters is 20%. However, Trusted Housesitters affiliate programs can be competitive, so you may want to grow your audience and experience before applying.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 20% for housesitters, $100 for homeowners
- Cookies: 30-90 days
- Payment: According to the affiliate network’s terms
- Products: Housesitting services
Top Flight Affiliate Programs
Skyscanner
Skyscanner offers fantastic bargains on flights and is one of the best affiliate programs for bloggers who cater to budget travelers. Skyscanner offers products and services from over 1200 travel companies. Travel bloggers consistently rave about Skyscanner’s high conversion rates and helpful affiliate managers.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 20% and up
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: Bank transfer and Paypal
- Products: Flights, Hotels, Car rentals
Cheapflights.com
Cheapflights runs a pay-per-click affiliate program paying 25 cents for each mobile click-out and 40 cents for desktop clicks. They offer a US-based program through CJ Affiliates and a Global Program through the Webgains network. Affiliate marketers with over 200,000 unique monthly visitors are eligible to create a bespoke affiliate program with the company.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: Up to $.45 per click
- Cookies: 1 hour
- Payment: Depends on the program
- Products: Flights, Hotels, Car rentals, Vacation packages
Top Hotel Affiliate Programs
TripAdvisor
Although TripAdvisor offers a complete range of travel products, the affiliate program only applies to hotel bookings. However, the company provides a minimum 50% commission on hotel referrals. Percentages can be even higher depending on the hotel, season, and length of stay.
Plus, you can make money from clicks even if the customer doesn’t make a purchase. You’ll need to apply through the AWIN or CJ Affiliate network to join TripAdvisor’s affiliate program.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 50% and up
- Cookies: 14-day duration
- Payment: Depends on affiliate network terms
- Products: Hotels
Agoda
Agoda offers close to a million rental properties, including hotels, vacation homes, and luxury villas. Agoda supports 38 languages, which can be handy if you have a bilingual or multilingual audience. A host of businesses list Agoda among their top affiliates, including RV travel bloggers. You can apply to Agoda’s affiliate program by joining Awin’s ShareASale.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 5-25%
- Cookies: 1 day
- Payment: Bank transfer, PayPal, E-card; $200 minimum; monthly
- Products: Hotels and Vacation homes
Hotels.com
Hotels.com’s network includes over 1 million rental properties around the world. Accommodations run from luxury apartments to budget hotel rooms, and the company’s multiple websites support over 35 languages. So, you’ll surely find the ideal products to offer your target audience.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 4%
- Cookies: 7 days:
- Products: Hotels, Vacation rentals
Plum Guide
Plum Guide manages a carefully curated collection of vacation rentals. Affiliates earn a full 50% of Plum Guide’s profit, and VIP partners can earn up to 80% commission. There’s no minimum for payouts, but affiliates will need to wait one month after the guest’s stay before receiving payment.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: up to 80% (10% of booking value)
- Cookies: 90 days
- Payment: Check
- Products: Vacation rentals
Hostelworld
The Hostelworld affiliate program is a must for any budget travel blog. The site lists over 36,000 hostels in nearly 180 countries, and over 13 million guest reviews make it easy for your audience to find a suitable hostel. Both travel bloggers and property managers recommend Hostelworld’s affiliate programs. The site even counts TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, and Culture Trip among its many affiliate partners.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: Up to 40% of deposit
- Cookies: 30 days
- Products: Hostel stays, vacation rentals
Best Tour Affiliate Programs
Klook
Klook is a global travel network that originally focused on tours and attractions in Asian countries. These days the company has expanded through Europe and North America to provide over 100,000 experiences. Klook has also added train tickets, SIM cards, and WiFi rentals to its offerings.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 2-5%
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: PayPal and Alipay with $50 minimum; Bank transfer with $500 minimum
- Products: Tours, Attractions, Trains, WiFi, and SIM cards
Get Your Guide Tours
Get Your Guide shows up on nearly every travel affiliate marketer’s top ten list. Based in Berlin, the company offers over 34,000 customizable tours all over the world. The brand provides excellent affiliate support, including plenty of regular promotions. You can join the Get Yur Guide Tours affiliate program through the AWIN network.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 8%
- Cookies: 30 days
- Payment: According to AWIN’s policies
- Products: Tours, Attraction tickets, Cruises,
G Adventures
G Adventures offers unique excursions for small groups, making their affiliate program ideal for adventure travel blogs. Although the 6% commission may sound meager, the adventure travel industry is booming, and G Adventures’ average order is nearly $3000.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 6%
- Cookies: 60 days
- Payment: Check, Payoneer, Direct Deposit
- Products: Adventure tours
Viator
Viator offers unique tours to nearly 400,000 in 2,500 locations worldwide. The website supports over 30 languages, making the Viator affiliate program perfect for bloggers with international audiences. And with over 1 million customer reviews, Viator’s partners will have no problem racking up the commissions.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 8%
- Cookies: 30-day duration
- Payment: PayPal, Payoneer, Bank Transfer
- Products: Tours, activities, restaurants, cultural events
Top Travel Insurance Affiliate Programs
SafetyWing
SafetyWing provides travel insurance for entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and remote workers. The affiliate program includes a full-year cookie duration and a convenient Facebook group that gives additional support to its partners.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 10%
- Cookies: 365-day duration
- Payment: PayPal
- Products: Digital Nomad Insurance
World Nomads
World Nomads offers a wide arrange of travel insurance policies, including trip cancellation insurance, coverage for medical emergencies, and specialized policies for risky activities. The company has also donated more than $3 million to organizations that help communities around the world.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 10%
- Cookies: 60 days
- Payment: Bank Transfer, PayPal
- Products: Travel Insurance
Best Travel Gear Affiliate Programs
Amazon
Although the Amazon Associates program only pays 4% commissions, the company offers plenty of travel-related products for affiliates to recommend. A series of sales at a 4% commission can add up fast.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 4%
- Cookies: 1 day; up to 90 days for in-cart items.
- Payment: Checks, Gift cards, Bank Transfer
- Products: Wide range of travel accessories
REI
One of the most trusted names in travel and camping equipment, REI has manufactured exceptional quality travel gear for more than 80 years. The company offers affiliates a 5% commission, but the average sale is over $120. Your customers can also order their products online and pick them up at one of their 165 retail stores. You can apply to REI’s affiliate program through the AvantLink network.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 5%
- Cookies: 15 days
- Payment: According to Avantlink’s terms
- Products: Backpacks, Outdoor equipment
Osprey
Osprey has been providing quality travel and outdoor gear since 1974. The company offers a lifetime guarantee on all of its products and free shipping on orders over $49, both fantastic incentives for buyers. The affiliate program features an 8% commission and average orders of around $150. Osprey’s affiliate program is also available through the AvantLink network.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 8%
- Cookies: 30-day duration
- Payment: Check, PayPal, Direct Deposit
- Products: Backpacks, Luggage, Hydration gear
Top Car Rental Affiliate Programs
Discovercars.com
Discovercars.com offers up to 70% commission on car rentals and $30 of full-coverage income. Cookies last an entire year, and the company provides a dedicated account manager to each affiliate. Payment is on a monthly basis, but you won’t get paid for canceled reservations. However, most current affiliates find DiscoverCars’ affiliate program easy to use and highly profitable.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 30-70%
- Cookies: 365 days
- Payment: PayPal, Wire transfer; monthly
- Products: Car rentals, auto insurance
RentalCars.com
Affiliate marketers can join the RentalCars.com program directly through the company or the CJ Affiliate network. RentalCars.com handles rentals for most major providers, such as Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 40% (RentalCars.com), 6% (CJ Affiliates)
- Cookies: Session (RentalCars.com); 30 days (CJ Affiliates)
- Payment: Depends on the program
- Products: Rental cars, insurance
Top Affiliate Program for Cruises
Cruise Direct
While Cruise Direct specializes in cruises, the company also partners with hoteliers. Cruise Direct offers affiliates 3% of the gross profits, an affiliate newsletter, and a comprehensive set of promotional materials.
Program Highlights:
- Commission: 3%
- Cookies: 45 days
- Payment: PayPal; $25 minimum; monthly
- Products: Cruises, hotels, resorts
Now that you have a list of the best travel affiliate programs, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about the subject to make the most of your content. For starters, you should always disclose your affiliate links as required by law and understand the buyer’s cycle and stages of the buyer’s journey.
You can find tips for successful travel affiliate marketing from books, HubSpot, YouTube, and Stasher’s blog.
Hi! I am George and I am the Content Lead for Stasher.com. I love travel, writing, making music and meeting new and interesting people.