While travel blogging is one of the most popular types of blogs, rest assured, you have not missed the boat (or plane) on your chance to start your own. While competition has increased over the years, so has demand: In fact, The World Travel & Tourism Council projects that travel and tourism in the United States will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022, contributing nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy.
Today, the key to starting a travel blog is going into a niche and offering a specialty of focused content. New popular locations, adventures and hidden gems come to the surface every day. Even your own backyard and hometown might be unfamiliar to new readers, and you can add your unique perspectives to reviewing them.
In this guide, we'll help you navigate the field, from how to make a website and creating a blog to writing your posts and finding collaborations, to not only stand out but also get paid. Once you've learned how to start a travel blog, you'll have the world at your fingertips with this type of website.
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How to start a travel blog
01. Choose the type of travel blogger you want to be
While you can cover all types of travel topics, choosing a niche will more easily lead to success. Think of who could benefit from your unique guidance and hone your content towards them. Not only will this naturally attract an audience of repeat readers, it will simplify the process of monetizing your blog, as you’ll have a defined value to bring to partners.
For example, Wix user Tales of Israel used her expertise as an Israeli resident to help citizens and tourists alike explore the country’s hidden corners.
We Are Travel Girls grew a solid following of more than 415,000 Instagram followers by focusing on tips for women travelers.
Here are some niche blog ideas in the travel space:
City
Country-focused
Region
Budget travel
Luxury travel
Solo travel
Female travel
Traveling for work
Adventure travel
Family travel
Empty nesters
Accessible travel
Experiential travel
Festival travel
Couples travel
Backpacking
LGBTQ+ friendly travel
Traveling for seniors
02. Pick a blog name and secure your domain name
After choosing which direction you’ll take your travel blog, align it with a catchy name to help people discover and remember you. Just like naming a brand, coming up with a blog name should include some creativity and strategic vision of where you'd like to take your blog over the years.
Learn more:
For example, if you’re going to be a city-based blogger, include it in your name. If you’re targeting solo travelers, try to pick a name that portrays that, so people know you’re catering to them. Just don’t let your name corner you in, as you still want to expand on topics in your niche.
Tip: Use a free travel agency name generator for travel name ideas.
Securing your domain name
Once you've found the perfect travel blog name, make sure it's yours and only yours. To prevent confusion when promoting your blog, ensure no other companies or individuals currently use your blog name or hold your domain name. Check that social media handles are available and secure them as well. The more easily people can find your blog, the more likely they’ll return.
You might also want to consider using a .blog domain extension, to make sure your blog stands out.
03. Select your travel blog template
Photos and videos can bring your adventures to life and invite your visitors to join in on your journeys. And that’s why you should choose a visual-forward blog website template to display your travel blog content.
Make sure it also has an inviting homepage, a detailed “About Me” page, a well-organized blogging section and a dedicated newsletter sign-up section—all great places to share your media.
Below, we've showcased a few of our favorite mobile-optimized travel best blog templates:
Travel blog website template 1 features:
A large homepage image layout to make a powerful first impression.
A mid-page menu to take visitors to your different types of travel guides.
A highly-visible subscriber form to help grow your newsletter.
Travel blog website template 2 features:
A dedicated “Work With Me” to showcase your partnership offerings.
A perfectly-placed blog logo that functions as a return-home button.
An attention-grabbing video background to greet visitors.
Travel blog website template 3 features:
An embedded Instagram feed to seamlessly showcase your social media content.
A video page to display high-quality footage or promote your YouTube channel.
A Live Chat tool to communicate with visitors.
04. Create a blog logo
A logo will help you build a brand around your travel blog. You’ll likely try out a few different tactics over the first couple of months as you cement your blog’s brand, like updating your site layout or changing your photography style. Use a blog logo on your site, professional email signature, and social channels to tie your online presence together with a distinctive trademark throughout the changes.
Tip: Get inspired by these blog travel logos and try creating your own with Wix’s free logo maker tool.
05. Prepare your footage
It’s easier to describe a must-see hot spot with images than simply words. In fact, articles with images get 94% more views as opposed to those with none. A good camera can help ensure your images are high-quality and properly-sized to look their best. It might be worth investing in a DSLR, drone, tripod, or other equipment to help elevate your visuals. You can also utilize stock images until you capture new content on your next trip.
Leverage photo tools to assist in gathering and preparing your content, and consider free photo editing software to filter and adjust your shots. What is a blog if not the perfect place to showcase your travel images.
Tip: Use a free Video Maker to craft a compelling video and check out these travel photography tips.
06. Write your first blog posts
Without articles, a live blog is just a website. Before sharing your blog with the world, write and publish at least three posts to give new website visitors a taste of the content you offer. This will also help create momentum behind your content creation strategy.
You can be as creative as you'd like when writing your blog posts. However, here are some blog ideas and blog formats you can build on:
The Ultimate [ insert location ] Travel Guide
How to See [ insert location ] in Just [ insert number ] Days
X Tips for Finding Cheap Flights During [ insert season or holiday ]
Best Things to Do in [ insert location ]
Why You Need to Go to [ insert location ]
Cheap Things to Do in [ insert location ]
Packing for [ insert type of trip ], What to Bring
What to Do on a Weekend in [ insert location ]
Awesome Stops on [ insert road name ] to [ insert location ]
Don’t forget to break up your content with rich media to hold your readers’ attention.
Blog SEO
Over 80% of travel planning is done online, which means that your readers want to make decisions based upon your content—not just casually look for inspiration. (And if you are part of an affiliate network, those decisions can turn into real money for you.)
To make sure you get a slice of that active audience, make sure you optimize your content for search engines and make your site as visible as possible to these searchers.
Some blog SEO best practices are to:
Research keywords and common terms related to your destination or travel topic.
Include the keyword in the title, URL, a few times in the article in the SEO meta description.
Use internal linking in your blog and website.
Include alt text on images.
Editorial calendar
It’s good to set a regular schedule for publishing new content on your travel blog. It can be once a week or once a month—just keep your posting frequency consistent so readers know when to check back for the latest guides. Also, with new posts going live on the regular, Google will visit your site more often to index pages—improving your SEO.
To start filling out your content calendar, try one of these strategies to brainstorm great content:
Research the specific seasons, holidays or events happening at your destination to brainstorm content. There will be an influx of searches and demand for these topics at key times of the year.
Also, read competitor articles and blogs for inspiration. If you know what people have already said on specific locations or topics, you can add unique value and provide what’s missing.
07. Engage with your audience
Without interested readers, fans and followers, your blog is simply a diary. Use these channels and common methods below to authentically engage with your audience and drive traffic to your website:
Social media
Social media is an invaluable place to grow your travel blog. Up to 50% of travel enthusiasts use Instagram to find local places to explore.
You can use social to discover new audience members by:
Finding which social channels your target audience spends the most time on. See which hashtags they use, locations they tag and which brands and travel creators they follow.
Create content specifically geared to your target audience’s wants and needs. Check out our guide on social media content ideas.
Engaging with your target audience by following them, liking their content and commenting something meaningful on their posts. Here's how to increase your social media engagement.
Using social communities, forums and groups to connect and network with target audience members and fellow travel bloggers.
Tip: A social post maker can help you produce eye-catching, quality content.
Word of mouth
Connecting with potential readers in real life can be a pivotal way to grow your travel blog. Aside from telling your friends and family about your blog, inform people you meet on your adventures that you blog.
Even if travel blogging is not (yet) your full-time job, when you meet people that ask about your occupation, slip in how you just started a new travel blog, and you'd love for them to subscribe or follow. Travelers love staying up to date with the amazing people they meet on their trips, and they’ll likely become new followers.
Newsletter
Once you've gained a few subscribers to your newsletter, you can send email marketing campaigns to engage readers. In your settings, set up an automatic email that dispatches newly published blog articles.
08. Network with tourism partners and brands
Starting a travel blog doesn’t have to be just a hobby. Partnerships with tourism companies, attractions, hotels, restaurants and brands can provide great compensation opportunities, either through an exchange of goods or cash payments.
For example, you can get a free stay in exchange for blogging about the hotel and capturing quality content for them to use on their social media or site. Another example is a suitcase company sending you a free bag to tag them in a post. You might also consider writing content in multiple languages to partner with relevant tourism brands, learn how to start a multingual blog to expand your reach.
How to reach out to brands:
Identify the brand you wish to partner with
Do thorough research on them to understand their audience’s needs
Reach out with a pitch of the exchange of services you can provide
Outreach email template:
Hi my name is [full name],
[Mention something personal you like about this company].
I’m the travel blogger behind [blog name/hyperlink website URL], who specifically covers [list three main topics your blog covers]. My current readers and followers amount to [insert your total reach here].
My audience is mostly [include audience insights and engagement rates if relevant]. I highly believe that it can be mutually beneficial for us to partner as I reach the same audience your brand seems to want to attract.
Please let me know if you're currently looking for new partnerships, as I'd be happy to [insert which services you'll provide, such as a blog post, rich images, social media posts]. In the past, I've partnered with [brand names] and here [insert link], you can see the examples of the content I've created.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
[Name]
[Signature with your email, phone number, website link, logo and social media channels]
09. Monetize your travel blog
As much as sipping a comped piña colada by a hotel pool sounds extravagant, it won’t necessarily pay the bills. Therefore, you can use any or all of these nine creative ways to make money blogging:
01. Sponsored posts: Most travel blogs publish sponsored posts as their main income source. Agree with your partner on the goal and length of the post and how much you’ll receive in return. The average travel blogger charges an average of $200 per sponsored post.
For instance, a sponsored post about a Caribbean boating service could be about the best way to island hop, and you mention the boating company and link to their website several times in the article and as you review your experience using their services. Just remember to include a note that the post has been sponsored to keep your readers’ trust.
Learn more: How to make money as a travel blogger
02. Affiliate marketing: Many travel bloggers also earn commission from marketing another company's products. You promote their products on your blog, social media accounts, and other platforms using a unique tracked link and make a profit from each sale. To begin, sign up for affiliate marketing programs and send readers to buy from recommended referral links.
Here are some common travel affiliate programs to consider: Expedia Group Affiliate Program, Booking.com Affiliate Program, Amazon Associates, Skimlinks, and AWIN.
03. Advertise: 94% of travel blogs sell advertising. When you're figuring out how to monetize a blog, one of the best ways is to get paid by running ads on your website. Tip: If your site is on Wix, you can add Google AdSense directly to your blog from the app market.
04. Premium content: Consider charging readers for more exclusive information and production-intensive content, like premium guides, digital downloadables or eBooks to open an additional revenue stream. For instance, if you've made a PDF map with all the vegan restaurants in Paris, you could charge readers $5 to download it.
05. Donation: Donations are becoming more popular in the content creation world, so don’t be afraid to ask for them. Accept donations via Patreon, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, and or even paper checks in the mail.
06. Workshops and courses: You're likely an expert in your niche, especially if you travel often. Share your tips and tricks with readers in exchange for payment with an online course or in-person workshop. The two famous travel couples behind Club Life Design, for example, offer a social media and photo editing course.
07. Freelance: You don't necessarily have to make money from your traveling sites. You can choose to be a digital nomad freelancer and make money doing online gigs while exploring the world.
Tip: Wix Marketplace is a great way to grow your client base by designing Wix users’ websites.
08. Sell photos and videos: Make money selling your photos online. If you own a drone, this can be a great way to sell premium video footage to partners, which isn't easy for them to produce. Here's our guide on how to make money as a travel photographer.
Additionally, many travel bloggers, such as Aloha Jana, make money selling photo color preset filters to others who want to beautify their images.
09. Make and sell products: Sell or dropship branded items like swimsuits, sunglasses and travel gear.
Tip: You can add an online store to your blog to sell directly from your site or create a dropshipping website.
10. Learn from the best (travel blog examples)
Sometimes the best way to start a blog is to see how others have done it before you. These Wix users have created travel blogs websites that make us feel like we’re alongside them for all their travels:
Bucket List Bums’ clearly understands what her readers want: Information to help them plan their trips. Beyond her high-quality, stunning travel shots, she organizes her blog posts by country under “places,” allowing readers to explore their destination of interest. She also clearly defines how many days travelers should spend in each location, as you can see in this Three Days in Baja post.
Aside from offering her readers value, she gracefully makes her blog work for her, too. She’s added affiliate links to her shop page and also cleverly embeds them into image captions.
Anika Pannu’s travel blog is modern and interactive—perfect for her target audience looking to replicate that same experience on their journeys. Beyond immediately capturing her visitor’s attention with a parallax scrolling effect on her home page (featuring video and scroll-triggered motion images), she also provides content details that speak directly to her audience.
For example, Pannu rates her recommended stays with a helpful euro sign rating system, as seen in her A Weekend Guide To Lisbon, Portugal. This allows readers to quickly get a sense of the costs associated with her listings without going the extra mile to find pricing ranges. To grow her brand deals, too, she's smartly created a dedicated partnerships page.
Just landing on Zion Adventure Photog’s earth-toned homepage makes you feel like you’re already visiting the eponymous natural park. Since this travel blogger is local to Southern Utah, she helps to provide that inclusive experience throughout the blog.
On the content side, their hiking blog posts all consistently outline the length, difficulty, location, when to go, trail details, and additional info sections. Both regular visitors and new readers alike can easily navigate the posts and get the information they need. They also have a clear call to action to follow them on Instagram to grow and engage their community offsite.
That welcoming feeling extends to their blog monetization strategy as well: They offer various photography services and offer a transparent pricing plan to support their readers’ experience beyond the planning phase.
How to customize your travel blog
Customizing your travel blog is a great way to make it stand out from the crowd and reflect your unique personality and style. There are many different ways to customize your blog, but here are a few ideas:
Choose a theme. A theme is a pre-made design that you can apply to your blog. There are many different themes available, both free and paid. Choose a theme that matches the overall style of your blog and that is easy to navigate.
Customize your colors and fonts. Once you have chosen a theme, you can customize the colors and fonts to match your branding. This is a great way to make your blog look more cohesive and professional.
Add a logo. A logo is a great way to make your blog more recognizable and to give it a unique identity. You can create a logo yourself or hire a professional designer to do it for you.
Add social media buttons. Make it easy for your readers to follow you on social media by adding social media buttons to your blog. You can also use social media to promote your blog posts and connect with other travelers.
Add widgets. Widgets are small modules that can be added to your blog sidebar or other areas of your site. There are many different widgets available, such as recent posts widgets, social media widgets and calendar widgets. Choose widgets that are relevant to your blog and that will provide value to your readers.
Add images and videos. Images and videos are a great way to make your blog posts more visually appealing and engaging. Be sure to use high-quality images and videos that are relevant to your content.
Write a compelling bio. Your bio is a chance to introduce yourself to your readers and tell them why you started your blog. Be sure to include your interests, your travel experiences, and your goals for your blog.
Target audience: Keep your target audience in mind when customizing your blog. What kind of travel are they interested in? What kind of tone and style do they prefer? Tailor your blog to their needs and interests.
Make your blog mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet. Make sure your blog looks good and functions well on all devices.
Use a consistent design. Your blog should have a consistent design throughout. This means using the same colors, fonts and overall layout on all of your pages.
Keep your blog updated. Make sure to update your blog regularly with new posts and content. This will keep your readers coming back for more.
By following these tips, you can create a customized travel blog that is both informative and visually appealing.
How to pick a travel blog name
Here are some tips on how to pick a travel blog name:
Make it easy to remember and pronounce. You want people to be able to easily find your blog and remember its name. Avoid using difficult or unfamiliar words or abbreviations.
Make it relevant to your travel niche. What kind of travel do you write about? Is it budget travel, luxury travel, adventure travel or something else? Choose a name that reflects your niche and interests.
Be original and unique. You want your blog name to stand out from the crowd. Avoid using generic or overused names.
Keep it short and sweet. A long and complicated name will be difficult for people to remember. Aim for a name that is 2-4 words long.
Here are some examples of good travel blog names:
The Wandering Trotter
The Budgeteer
The Luxe Voyager
Adventurous Kate
The Travel Junkie
Nomadic Matt
Off the Beaten Path
The Wanderlust Files
Passport & Plates
A World to Wander
The Globetrotter
Travel Lemming
Once you have chosen a few potential blog names, ask your friends and family for their feedback. You can also do a quick Google search to see if the name is already taken.
Can you start a travel blog writing about old trips?
Yes, you can start a travel blog writing about old trips. In fact, many successful travel bloggers started out by writing about their own travel experiences, even if those experiences were from years ago.
Here are some tips for writing a travel blog about old trips:
Write about your personal experiences. People are drawn to travel blogs that are authentic and personal. Share your stories, your insights and your tips from your old trips.
Use photos and videos. Photos and videos are a great way to bring your blog posts to life. Include photos and videos from your old trips to illustrate your stories and make them more engaging.
Update your blog regularly. Even if you're writing about old trips, try to update your blog regularly with new posts. This will keep your readers coming back for more.
Be specific and informative. When writing about your old trips, try to be as specific and informative as possible. Share details about the places you visited, the activities you did and the lessons you learned. The more information you can provide, the more valuable your blog will be to readers.
Add a contemporary twist. Even though you're writing about old trips, you can still make your blog posts relevant to today's readers. For example, you can share tips on how to save money on travel, how to find the best deals on flights and hotels or how to travel sustainably. You can also write about current events or trends that are related to travel.
Other types of blogs to consider starting
How to start a travel blog FAQ
Do travel bloggers get paid?
Yes, travel bloggers can get paid. There are a number of ways that travel bloggers can make money, including:
Affiliate marketing: Travel bloggers can earn money by promoting products and services related to travel, such as hotels, flights, tours and travel gear. When a reader clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, the travel blogger earns a commission.
Advertising: Travel bloggers can sell advertising space on their blogs to businesses that want to reach their audience. The amount of money that travel bloggers make from advertising depends on a number of factors, such as the size of their audience and the type of advertising they sell.
Sponsored posts: Travel bloggers can write sponsored posts for businesses that want to promote their products or services. Sponsored posts are typically paid for by the business, and the travel blogger will disclose this to their readers.
Selling products and services: Travel bloggers can sell their own products and services, such as e-books, travel courses and photography prints.