There’s nothing like traveling.
Whether staying within your country or traveling internationally, there’s so much of the world to see.
For those avid travelers with a great travel website, pursuing affiliate programs can help bring in additional income you can use to travel and share your passion with like-minded people.
But what travel affiliates are worth signing up for?
There are tons of travel programs available that all range from helping you book flights, car rentals, vacation rentals, and products that you’ll find handy on your travels.
Browsing the internet for the best travel affiliate programs can be time-consuming.
That’s why we’ve rounded up over 24 travel affiliate programs that are sure to impress you.
- An Overview of Travel Affiliate Programs
- Quick Reference: List of Travel Affiliate Programs
- How To Choose the Best Travel Affiliate Program
- 24+ Best Travel Affiliate Programs
- 1. G Adventures Affiliate Program
- 2. Booking.com Affiliate Program
- 3. Agoda
- 4. Skyscanner Affiliate Program
- 5. Expedia Affiliate Program
- 6. KAYAK Affiliate Program
- 7. Hostelworld Affiliate Program
- 8. Viator Affiliate Program
- 9. World Nomads Affiliate Program
- 10. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
- 11. REI Affiliate Program
- 12. Hotels.com Affiliate Program
- 13. Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
- 14. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
- 15. CJ Affiliate Affiliate Program
- 16. Cruise Direct Affiliate Program
- 17. TravelPayouts Affiliate Program
- 18. InsureMyTrip Affiliate Program
- 19. RentalCars.com Affiliate Program
- 20. Discover Cars Affiliate Program
- 21. Outdoorsy Affiliate Program
- 22. Intrepid Travel Affiliate Program
- 23. PriorityPass Affiliate Program
- 24. Scott’s Cheap Flights Affiliate Program
- 25. Safety Wing Affiliate Program
- Similar Affiliate Programs To Check Out
- How To Promote Products in the Travel Niche
- Tips for Promoting Travel Affiliate Programs
- Examples From the Top: Leaders in the Travel Niche
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
An Overview of Travel Affiliate Programs
If you’re new to the world of affiliate programs, learning more about them and why they’re essential for people is critical before you can start to decide which one or ones you want to sign up for.
What Is an Affiliate Program in the Travel Niche?
Affiliate marketing is when people promote products or services they didn’t create. Any industry can utilize affiliate marketing.
You’ll see people on Instagram promoting wellness products and more, which is an excellent example of affiliate marketing.
You can also start making money with a blog with affiliate marketing.
Now, affiliate programs in the travel niche are companies specifically interested in promoting travel or making it easier for you and others to plan your trips.
The travel niche is slightly different from others because many websites are more likely to provide services rather than products.
What Makes the Travel Niche Lucrative?
When choosing affiliate programs, you want to select lucrative ones.
So, what makes the travel niche so lucrative in affiliate marketing?
There are a lot of things!
The first and foremost thing that makes the travel niche profitable is that even if it’s for pleasure, work, or a more upsetting reason, the need to travel will never go away.
You can earn extra money from promoting a product or service in the travel industry.
Since travel happens all the time, people always look for products and services that will make their lives easier when leaving home.
Quick Reference: List of Travel Affiliate Programs
There are dozens of excellent travel affiliate programs for you to explore.
Before we dive deep into the best travel affiliate programs, here’s a quick glance at what we’ll talk about a little later.
What Is the Highest Paying Travel Affiliate Program?
It’s hard to pinpoint which travel affiliate program will be the highest paying for you, but overall, we have to say Booking.com is one of the highest-paying affiliate programs available.
Millions of people around the world use this large platform.
So, your earnings aren’t limited to just people in the United States.
Other Travel Affiliate Programs We Suggest
Besides the highest paying potion, here are 24 other travel affiliate programs we think are worth considering for your website or brand:
- G Adventures Affiliate Program
- Agoda Affiliate Program
- Skyscanner Affiliate Program
- Expedia Affiliate Program
- KAYAK Affiliate Program
- Hostelworld Affiliate Program
- PriorityPass Affiliate Program
- Viator Affiliate Program
- Cruise Direct Affiliate Program
- World Nomads Affiliate Program
- TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
- REI Affiliate Program
- Hotels.com Affiliate Program
- Scott’s Cheap Flights Affiliate Program
- Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
- GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
- CJ Affiliate Affiliate Program
- TravelPayouts Affiliate Program
- InsureMyTrip Affiliate Program
- RentalCars.com Affiliate Program
- Discover Cars Affiliate Program
- Outdoorsy Affiliate Program
- Intrepid Travel Affiliate Program
- Safety Wing Affiliate Program
How To Choose the Best Travel Affiliate Program
As you consider signing up for a travel affiliate program, there are five major factors you’ll want to consider.
These five factors are the main things we believe when compiling our list of the best travel affiliate programs.
Keep in mind what you might find important to you, others might not worry as much about.
That’s why it’s essential to do your own research and make your own decisions.
1. Audience Purchase Probability
The first thing we consider when choosing travel affiliate programs is their audience purchase probability.
The audience purchase probability is essentially how likely your target audience is to purchase a product or service you’re promoting.
Knowing your audience is the first step to deciding the audience purchase probability of an affiliate program.
You need to know what products and services your audience is interested in the most.
When you know that, you can select options that will appeal to them and increase how likely they are to purchase or use the product or service.
So, if your audience is mainly traveling by car to their destination or needs rental cars, promoting rental car services will be one of your best bets.
On the other hand, if they’re rarely renting cars, that probably won’t earn you a high profit compared to other affiliate programs.
2. Cookie Duration
Cookie duration is another critical factor when choosing an affiliate program, especially in the travel niche.
Cookies are what send vital information to the website about where a specific click on a link came from.
Precisely, it will determine the geographical location of the person clicking on an affiliate link.
So, what does cookie duration mean?
The cookie duration is how long the cookies last from the affiliate link.
The longer the cookies stay, the longer they’ll start seeing more targeted ads for the website that the link goes to.
The cookie duration will vary from website to website and between niches.
Most products have a cookie duration of around 30 days.
3. Commission Type
How you’ll receive your earnings from an affiliate program will vary from program to program.
Some will offer it in direct deposit, others gifts cards, checks, you name it.
Most people don’t care how they’re getting their money as long as they do at some point.
If you prefer how you receive your money, you’ll want to choose programs that fit that preference.
Most are upfront about how they pay their affiliates, but researching to ensure you’ll get your profits how you want is an essential part of choosing a travel affiliate program.
4. Commission Rate
When it comes to money, you need to know how much you should earn.
Every affiliate program comes with a commission rate.
Like the cookie duration, it varies from program to program.
Usually, it’s a specific percentage of the purchaser’s total, but you’ll want to read the fine lines with every program you’re interested in choosing.
The commission rate is one of the most important factors to consider.
A program with a higher commission rate doesn’t necessarily mean it will be profitable.
A company can have a high commission rate, but if it’s not a product or service with many uses, you might be better off with a lower commission rate and more sales than a high one with minimal sales.
5. Payouts
Last but not least, you need to know when you’ll receive the payout for your earnings.
Some affiliate programs will pay out their affiliates monthly.
That’s the most common among all affiliate programs, regardless of the niche.
You’ll find some that pay out weekly, quarterly, or even ones that allow you to request an immediate payout.
If this isn’t essential to you, then you can disregard this factor, but it’s worth mentioning.
24+ Best Travel Affiliate Programs
As you think about the types of products and services you’d like to promote on your travel website, here are what we consider to be the 24+ best travel affiliate programs you can promote and earn money from.
1. G Adventures Affiliate Program
If you’re looking for the best travel website that allows you to book tours and a complete guide for almost everywhere in the world, then G Adventures is the best.
For those who’ve used G Adventures before, you know how amazing it is, and people who love to travel but aren’t into planning will love using the service.
Products To Promote From G Adventures
The best products to promote from G Adventures are their guides.
They’re easy to get, and buyers will get an email after their purchase with helpful tips and tricks for traveling to their specified destination.
They even offer tours you can book as well, so if you’ve used their tour services, these are worth promoting.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
When you think about the average purchase on G Adventures, it’s no secret as to why it ended up on our list.
The average price of a guide and tour with this company is around $2,600.
You’ll earn over $100 per transaction booked with your affiliate link with the commission rate.
Program Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.gadventures.com/affiliate-program/
- Service/Product: Guides and tours in various destinations
- Brands: G Adventures Brand
- Commission Rate: 5%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Discounts on guides and tours and direct deposit
- Other Notes: You’ll need to contact their affiliate customer support to learn more about their earnings per click
2. Booking.com Affiliate Program
Booking.com is the most recognized platform for vacation accommodation online.
Millions, possibly billions, of people use the platform to find lodging and rental cars for business trips, vacations, and other reasons.
Products To Promote From Booking.com
There’s not really a product to promote from Booking.com other than the website itself.
You’ll want to showcase how easy it is to use the platform, how to use it, and how using Booking.com will make your audience’s travel plans easier.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We couldn’t list the best affiliate programs without mentioning Booking.com.
It’s part of our list because of the sheer number of people who use it daily, making it a profitable affiliate program.
Plus, the high commission rate makes it that much more worth it.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.booking.com/affiliate-program/v2/index.html
- Service/Product: Vacation rentals
- Brands: Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and more
- Commission Rate: 25%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: Zero days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: PayPal
- Other Notes: They pay out their affiliates monthly after a guest has completed their stay at their rental property
3. Agoda
Agoda is a Thailand-based travel website that helps users book vacation rentals, long-term stays, hotels, and flights.
While it’s a very popular website in Thailand and other parts of the world, those in the United States use similar platforms more often.
Products To Promote From Agoda
The product you’ll want to promote from Agoda is how easy it is to use and book a whole vacation.
You can book your flights and lodging all in one place without having to hold on to several different receipts and emails to keep track of your trip.
The activities option on their site is newer but worth promoting if you have experience booking through the site.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Agoda makes our best affiliate list because it’s an easy-to-use platform and has an excellent commission rate.
Even though it seems lower, the price tags on bookings with this platform tend to be higher, resulting in a larger payout for you.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://partners.agoda.com/
- Service/Product: Hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, flights, and activities
- Brands: Delta, Marriott, Hilton, etc.
- Commission Rate: 5%
- EPC: $15
- Cookie Duration: One day
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: PayPal
- Other Notes: They’ll send you your earnings once a month if you hit the minimum payout of $200
4. Skyscanner Affiliate Program
Skyscanner is a travel platform that allows you to search for the cheapest flights, hotels, and car rentals in your destination of choice.
Based in Scotland, it’s a popular choice for travelers in the Western world, but people from 60 different countries can use it to streamline their trips.
Products To Promote From Skyscanner
Much like other similar platforms, Skyscanner is where you’ll promote how easy a platform is to use.
You can search for cheap flights and even get notified when the price drops for your selected trip.
With over 1,000 travel brands, you’ll want to promote how they work well with Skyscanner to make planning a breeze.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
This affiliate made our list because they have a significant commission rate, offer 30 different languages, and people in 60 countries can use the service.
These factors allow you a larger earning potential and the ability to share your passion for the platform with more people.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.partners.skyscanner.net/affiliates/affiliate-products
- Service/Product: Hotel, flights, and rental cars
- Brands: 1,200 popular travel brands
- Commission Rate: 20%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit, check, and PayPal
- Other Notes: Payments are made monthly to affiliates
5. Expedia Affiliate Program
Expedia is one of the most extensive affiliate programs out there, with more than half a million hotels around the world you can choose to stay at.
With a large travel inventory, it’s easy to promote to your users on your travel blog or website.
Products To Promote From Expedia
The main thing you’ll want to promote on Expedia is their hotel inventory.
While they have other products and services, the hotel sector is what might make you the most money in affiliate earnings.
Once you’ve mastered promoting their hotel services, you can start to incorporate their other services.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
One of the main reasons Expedia made our list is the large hotel inventory, but it’s their commission setup.
Unlike the others, they don’t have one set commission rate.
Their commission rates change depending on the packages your audience book or the single service they select.
We love the enormous earning potential with Expedia.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://affiliates.expediagroup.com/en-us/home
- Service/Product: Hotels, flights, rental cars, etc.
- Brands: Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.
- Commission Rate: 3%-10%
- EPC: $30
- Cookie Duration: Seven days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposits and discounts on their website
- Other Notes: They pay out their earnings once a month on the 15th
6. KAYAK Affiliate Program
Since 2004, KAYAK has been one of the top travel agencies stemming from the United States.
While you can use it to travel worldwide, and many countries can use it, it’s a popular option for those in the states.
With over six million searches annually, it’s well worth checking out to monetize your travel website.
Products To Promote From KAYAK
What you’ll want to promote on KAYAK are their flights, hotels, and activities.
Most people opt for their flight options, but with how KAYAK works, you’ll want to promote all three, if possible, somehow on your website and social media.
They offer customized products that help make promotion easier.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
KAYAK made our list because it’s one of the largest in the United States.
Even if it’s not your favorite option on this list, you have to admit that it’s well worth exploring since they offer a variety of products and services with a great commission rate.
Product Details
- Program Host: KAYAK, CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://affiliates.kayak.com/
- Service/Product: Hotels, vacation rentals, flights, activities, and travel guides
- Brands: They have over 1,000 brands
- Commission Rate: 50%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: Minimum of 30 minutes
- Markets: Over 30 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
- Payment Methods: PayPal, check, and direct deposit
- Other Notes: You need to get in touch with them to learn about when they pay affiliate earnings
7. Hostelworld Affiliate Program
Not everyone has a budget to stay in five-star hotels on every vacation, so Hostelworld is an excellent option for those on a budget or who like staying in communal-style lodging.
They offer over 36,000 properties around the world at a fraction of the cost of traditional hotels.
Products To Promote From Hostelworld
What you’ll be promoting from Hostelworld are the hostels.
This is a very popular website in Europe, but people use it worldwide to find cheap stays.
You can talk about your experience staying in hostels booked through the site, the booking experience, and more.
It’s great to show pictures and videos of the hostel you choose too.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose Hostelworld to list on our best affiliate list because we know not everyone has a considerable budget to travel.
This is great to promote to college kids, young adults, or anyone looking to save some money on their vacation.
Product Details
- Program Host: Partnerize
- Application Link: https://partners.hostelworld.com/
- Service/Product: Hostels
- Brands: Affordable vacation stays
- Commission Rate: 18%-22%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit
- Other Notes: You’ll receive payment once your booker’s stay is complete
8. Viator Affiliate Program
Viator is one of the oldest travel companies on our list, launching in 1995.
The company is all about experiencing new and exciting things in your chosen destination.
You’ll search your destination and dates to see what fun things are happening while you’re there.
Products To Promote From Viator
What you’ll promote with Viator is the experience.
You’ll talk about how easy it is to search where you’re going and dates to see what’s going on.
They go beyond the classic tourist activities and show you different shows, festivals, tours, and events happening during your visit.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Why we chose Viator to add to our list is simple.
It focuses on the best part of traveling: doing new and fun things.
Your audience can pick their vacation destination based on something they like to do rather than dealing with flights and then figuring out what to do.
The commission rate is a little higher than others, which is a plus.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://travelagents.viator.com/
- Service/Product: Experiences
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 8%
- EPC: $14
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit or PayPal
- Other Notes: Payments are made once per month
9. World Nomads Affiliate Program
If you want to promote a travel insurance company, you can’t go wrong with World Nomads.
Sometimes, things happen when you travel, and it’s best to be prepared with travel insurance.
It’s a great product to promote to your travel-loving audience to keep them safe during their travels.
Products To Promote From World Nomads
Besides travel guides, the main thing you’ll be promoting with World Nomads is travel insurance.
They offer a variety of plans that cover everything from trip protection to emergency services and emergency extraction if something severe were to happen in another country or city.
They also offer protection for your belongings, which is a good thing to incorporate into your website.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose this website because not enough people are promoting travel insurance, but this is the best one out there.
It’s affordable for most audiences, and you’ll still earn a decent percentage of each purchase.
Product Details
- Program Host: Direct
- Application Link: https://partner.worldnomads.com/
- Service/Product: Travel insurance
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 10%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 60 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit and PayPal
- Other Notes: Not everyone purchases travel insurance, so you might need to really promote this affiliate harder than others
10. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
TripAdvisor is a common name you’ve probably heard of multiple times before.
Millions use this large website that helps with all travel bookings, including restaurants worldwide, to book the vacation they want.
You can successfully book your entire trip using TripAdvisor and limit the number of websites you’re searching, which can appeal to the travel niche.
Products To Promote From TripAdvisor
As for the products you’ll promote with TripAdvisor, their hotels are the leading promotional product.
You can also talk about the flights, car rentals, restaurants, and events, but most people head to TripAdvisor to book a great hotel.
Besides their hotels, the second most popular reason people use this website is to search for activities and events.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
This program made our list because millions of people rely on the site to book their trips.
The commission rate is competitive, and you shouldn’t have to do much work to promote TripAdvisor.
Product Details
- Program Host: CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/affiliates
- Service/Product: Hotels, restaurants, rental cars, experiences, etc.
- Brands: Over 5,000 brands
- Commission Rate: 50%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 14 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit and PayPal
- Other Notes: We love this program, but it might be challenging to compete with all the other affiliates promoting the site
11. REI Affiliate Program
For those who love travel gear, REI is a must-promote affiliate.
They have everything an outdoor enthusiast could want or need for their upcoming adventures.
Products To Promote From REI
The best part about REI’s affiliate program is the number of products you can choose to promote.
You can promote their camping gear, clothing, hunting gear, food, and more.
You can pick the ones that best suit your travel brand and go from there.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose REI to add to our list because of how popular it is with travelers, particularly those who love camping and hiking.
Even if your audience is just looking for a new paddleboard, bike, or outfit to take on a trip, REI has something for everyone, making it a great option to promote on your website.
Product Details
- Program Host: AvantLink
- Application Link: https://www.rei.com/help?a=Affiliate-Program—id–SnToxfZRRI-o6A7lkasoWA
- Service/Product: Outdoor gear, clothing, camping gear, bikes, and more
- Brands: Columbia, Patagonia, and more
- Commission Rate: 5%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 15 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit, gift card, and PayPal
- Other Notes: The commission rate is lower, but with more products, you’ll be more likely to earn quite a bit of money
12. Hotels.com Affiliate Program
Hotels.com has one of the largest selections of hotels around the world for your audience to choose from.
They can filter through their destination and dates to see a comprehensive list of hotels and their features to choose the best one for their trip.
Since everyone needs a place to stay when they travel, it’s a great option to promote on your website.
Products To Promote From Hotels.com
As the name might suggest, you’ll be promoting hotels from Hotels.com.
You can do this by showing which ones you’ve booked through the site and encouraging people to look at them to see discounted rates.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Hotels.com earns a spot on our list of the best travel affiliate programs because of how popular the site is.
It’s well known worldwide and won’t take a lot of effort to incorporate into your promotions on your website.
We love the vast selection of hotels they offer and think your audience will love the prices.
Product Details
- Program Host: CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.hotels.com/page/travel-affiliate-program/
- Service/Product: Hotels
- Brands: They have thousands of hotel brands
- Commission Rate: 4%
- EPC: $100
- Cookie Duration: Seven days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit and PayPal
- Other Notes: They pay a commission once someone’s stay has been completed
13. Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
Amazon is one of those companies that can fit into any niche.
Everyone has heard of Amazon, and, more likely than not, your audience has or has access to an Amazon Prime account where they can have all their travel essentials shipped directly to them.
Products To Promote From Amazon Associates
Even though Amazon has thousands of types of products, for the travel niche, you’ll want to focus on clothing suitable for travel, toiletries, luggage, and other travel-type products.
For example, you can talk about how you bought a new backpack for your trip from Amazon.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose Amazon because it’s a great platform to get all your travel items quickly and without leaving your home.
Your audience will love being able to shop your favorites from Amazon and see what they might need for their upcoming trip.
We love that the commission rates vary by category because you’ll still earn if they purchase something non-travel related on your link.
Product Details
- Program Host: Amazon
- Application Link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
- Service/Product: Clothing, travel gear, toiletries, and more
- Brands: Over 10,000
- Commission Rate: 1%-10% depending on the category
- EPC: $0.05
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Amazon gift cards, direct deposit, and PayPal
- Other Notes: Even with the commission rate varying, you’ll still have high earning potential with this program
14. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
GetYourGuide is a German-based travel company that offers guides to all your favorite tourist destinations and plenty that are off the beaten path.
You’ll be able to share this website with your followers, and they can find activities to do wherever they’re traveling.
Products To Promote From GetYourGuide
What you’ll be promoting with GetYourGuide are their activities and tours.
You can talk about the tours you’ve booked through their site or what you plan on booking to convince people this is the company to book with.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
GetYourGuide makes our list because they have a great commission rate and plenty of guides, and it is something we think you’ll also love booking tours with.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://partner.getyourguide.com/en-us/travel-agents
- Service/Product: Travel guides
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 8%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 31 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit
- Other Notes: They pay affiliates monthly and without any hidden fees
15. CJ Affiliate Affiliate Program
CJ Affiliate isn’t your typical travel affiliate program, but it’s a great affiliate hosting platform that can help you reach your travel website goals.
They host various travel websites we’ve already mentioned, so you’ll want to consider signing up with them.
Products To Promote From CJ Affiliate
Unlike with other affiliates, you won’t be promoting products with CJ Affiliate.
You’ll be sharing a platform with other travel bloggers and website owners.
You can showcase how the analytics work to build your business and reach more people.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
This program is on our list because it’s one of the largest affiliate hosting sites available.
Product Details
- Program Host: CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://info.partnercentric.com/cj-affiliate-agency-partner
- Service/Product: Affiliate hosting
- Brands: CJ Affiliate
- Commission Rate: It varies
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: PayPal
- Other Notes: There are certain hidden fees when working with CJ Affiliate
16. Cruise Direct Affiliate Program
Cruise Direct is a website for those who love going on cruises and want to find the perfect one for them.
They have all the top cruise lines on their website, and you can search various ports to leave from, visit, and the dates you want to go.
Products To Promote From Cruise Direct
You’ll be promoting various types of cruises with this affiliate.
They have Alaskan cruises, Caribbean cruises, cruises through the Mediterranean, and more.
You can talk about the activities, cuisine, and ports of call to entice your audience.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
This affiliate program makes our list because it’s one of the few that focuses solely on cruises.
These all-inclusive trips are a great way to get away with friends and family and will be easy to market to your audience.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.cruisedirect.com/affiliates
- Service/Product: Cruises
- Brands: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and more
- Commission Rate: 3%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 45 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit
- Other Notes: It’s free to sign up, but it takes at least 24 hours for your affiliate account to activate
17. TravelPayouts Affiliate Program
TravelPayouts is the largest travel affiliate network.
They offer services like hotels, car rentals, insurance, and more.
You can browse their selection and find plenty of other programs to affiliate with and promote.
Products To Promote From TravelPayouts
With TravelPayouts, you’ll promote everything from flights to hotels to other travel-related activities.
You can choose which ones to talk about or combine all of their services.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
TravelPayouts made our list because of how extensive the network is.
That, combined with the high commission rates, are just a few reasons you’ll want to sign up to affiliate with them.
Product Details
- Program Host: TravelPayouts
- Application Link: https://support.travelpayouts.com/hc/en-us/articles/203955593-Getting-started
- Service/Product:
- Brands: 100+ brands and programs
- Commission Rate: Up to 70%
- EPC: $50
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit
- Other Notes: You have to pay to sign up, but you get 15 days for free
18. InsureMyTrip Affiliate Program
InsureMyTrip is another excellent travel insurance company worth sharing with your followers and website visitors.
If you like to encourage your audience to purchase travel insurance, you’ll love this affiliate program.
Products To Promote From InsureMyTrip
With InsureMyTrip, you’ll promote travel insurance that covers lost luggage, cancellations, emergencies, and any medical care you might need while abroad.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose this program because it’s been around for over 20 years and has excellent reviews.
We’re confident you’ll feel comfortable sharing it with your audience, and they’ll have safer travels.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.insuremytrip.com/about/affiliate-program/
- Service/Product: Travel insurance
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 8%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: North and South America, Europe, and Australia
- Payment Methods:
- Other Notes: Their coverage doesn’t work in many countries, so you need to be sure your audience is mainly traveling to the covered areas
19. RentalCars.com Affiliate Program
If you rent cars when you travel, you’ll love sharing RentalCars.com with your audience.
Whether they rent cars to drive to a destination or don’t like flying, this will appeal to those people.
Products To Promote From RentalCars.com
What you’ll promote from RentalCars.com is a variety of rental cars in different locations.
The best part is that you can rent cars through this website in most places around the world, so it doesn’t matter where the majority of your audience is located.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Much like other programs on our list, this one ranks because of its extensive rental car selection.
They have all sizes and are up-to-date with safety features to keep your affiliates safe as they travel.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://partnerships.booking.com/rentalcarsconnect
- Service/Product: Vehicle rentals
- Brands: Most major car rental brands
- Commission Rate: 40%
- EPC: $30
- Cookie Duration: Zero days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit and PayPal
- Other Notes: You’ll need to test out Discover Cars, too, so you can see which converts better for your audience
20. Discover Cars Affiliate Program
Discover Cars is another excellent rental car company to promote to your audience.
They have a massive selection of vehicles, including compact cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Products To Promote From Discover Cars
As the name suggests, you’ll promote rental cars and insurance coverage with Discover Cars.
You can talk about your experience renting with them, show them the process, and more to showcase how the platform works.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Discover Cars made our list because while it’s similar to other rental car companies, it has a larger country selection than others.
You can rent a car in more countries, which can turn into more conversions for your affiliate earnings.
Product Details
- Program Host: CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.discovercars.com/affiliate
- Service/Product: Rental vehicles
- Brands: All major car brands
- Commission Rate: 70%
- EPC: $40
- Cookie Duration: 365 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Wire transfer or PayPal
- Other Notes: They don’t have the same large selection of cars in every country they rent in
21. Outdoorsy Affiliate Program
Outdoorsy is essentially the Airbnb for RVs.
Users can rent RVs and drive them around for however long they’ve rented them.
Usually, this is to national and state parks where you can pay for an RV site for a night.
Products To Promote From Outdoorsy
You’ll promote RV stays and traveling through beautiful areas when working with Outdoorsy.
This affiliate might not be for you if you’re not a wilderness person.
Even if you are, but your audience isn’t, you’ll want to look at others.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We’ve added this affiliate program because it’s one of a kind.
There’s barely any competition, and it’s a fun product to promote to your travelers.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.outdoorsy.com/affiliate
- Service/Product: Rental RVs
- Brands: Airstream, Newmar, etc.
- Commission Rate: $60 minimum per booking
- EPC: $60
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: North America
- Payment Methods: Direct deposit or PayPal
- Other Notes: This is a newer company, so it might not be very lucrative right away
22. Intrepid Travel Affiliate Program
Intrepid is a tour company that offers week-long trips to various areas worldwide.
They plan everything out for you, so all you have to do is divide where and when to go and then book.
Products To Promote From Intrepid Travel
If you’ve ever traveled with Intrepid, you’ll want to promote those so that you can show you’ve had experience with the company.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose this for travel websites in North America and Europe, with followers wanting to travel worldwide.
Its commission rate is competitive, and the cookie duration is a huge plus.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://affilimate.com/programs/intrepid-travel-affiliate-program/
- Service/Product: Tours
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 4%
- EPC: $100
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Markets: The United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, and Europe
- Payment Methods: Wire transfer
- Other Notes: Ensure you’re promoting to people wanting to travel to the serviced areas since it’s somewhat limited
23. PriorityPass Affiliate Program
For those with audiences that love luxurious travel, PriorityPass is an excellent option.
Membership gives them access to over 1,000 airport lounges where they can relax, eat, and work while they wait for flights.
Products To Promote From PriorityPass
With PriorityPass, you’ll promote 1,300 different airport lounges to your audience who love luxury.
This grants them access to these lounges worldwide without membership with a particular airline.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
We chose PriorityPass because we know that there are budget travelers and luxurious travelers out there.
If you have that type of audience, you could rake in some high earnings by promoting this on your website.
Product Details
- Program Host: Affiliate
- Application Link: https://www.prioritypass.com/en/affiliate
- Service/Product: Airport lounge passes
- Brands: Major airlines
- Commission Rate: 10%
- EPC: $35
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Markets: The United States
- Payment Methods: Direct Deposit
- Other Notes: Even though it caters to customers in the US, you can use it in lounges around the world
24. Scott’s Cheap Flights Affiliate Program
No one likes overpaying for flights, even if they can afford it.
Scott’s Cheap Flights offers discounted flights to hundreds of destinations.
Your audience will have to pay for a membership, but it’s worth it for those under $100 flights.
Products To Promote From Scott’s Cheap Flights
You’ll be promoting their memberships to your audience.
Each one has a different price point but offers immense flight price savings between 40%-90%.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Several companies like Scott’s Cheap Flights are out there, but we chose this affiliate because their membership prices are much more affordable than others.
This way, you’re not promoting spending a significant amount on a membership that counteracts how much you save on flights.
Product Details
- Program Host: CJ Affiliate
- Application Link: https://scottscheapflights.com/affiliate
- Service/Product: Flights
- Brands: All major airlines
- Commission Rate: $3 per every member you refer
- EPC: $3
- Cookie Duration: Seven days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: PayPal
- Other Notes: They pay affiliates monthly
25. Safety Wing Affiliate Program
Safety Wing is travel insurance, but it’s not geared towards random travelers.
This is a company that offers health insurance for nomads.
Safety Wing is a wonderful company to promote if you have a sizable nomadic audience.
Products To Promote From Safety Wing
You’ll be sharing why health insurance is still essential to have, even if your audience is moving around every few days, weeks, or months.
Whether you encourage them to purchase a plan based on personal experience or because you also have it, promoting health insurance in a nomadic lifestyle is great.
Why This Affiliate Program Made Our List
Safety Wing is on our list because, unlike the other insurances on our list, this one isn’t just for temporary travel.
This is insurance that travelers can use for as long as they’re signed up, wherever they go.
Product Details
- Program Host: Direct
- Application Link: https://safetywing.com/partners
- Service/Product: Travel insurance
- Brands: N/A
- Commission Rate: 10%
- EPC: Unknown
- Cookie Duration: 365 days
- Markets: Worldwide
- Payment Methods: Wire transfer
- Other Notes: You earn when someone initially signs up, and then for every month they stay signed up
Similar Affiliate Programs To Check Out
Choosing one niche and sticking to it is excellent with affiliate programs.
But, sometimes, you need other programs that can somewhat go with the travel niche to keep things interesting for yourself and your audience.
Rakuten Affiliate Programs
Besides the travel niche, you might be interested in other affiliate programs.
If you want to branch out of the travel or choose some in conjunction with those, check out these Rakuten affiliate programs.
Affiliate Programs for Beginners
Affiliate programs are great tools, but even beginners need a place to start.
Most of our travel affiliate programs above are good for beginners, but if you want other options that might not specifically be in the travel niche, these are the top affiliate programs for beginners.
Fitness Affiliate Programs
Fitness affiliate programs are great to look into for those who love to live a fit lifestyle when you’re traveling and when you’re not.
They work well with travel niche affiliate programs, so there’s no harm in at least checking them out and seeing if any of them appeal to you.
How To Promote Products in the Travel Niche
Promoting products in the travel niche is a little trickier than with some others.
Since many affiliate programs are about booking flights, cars, and hotels, you’ll have to get creative on showcasing why you love those products to your target audience.
Send Out Emails
If you have a newsletter for your brand, sending out monthly newsletters is a great way to market in the travel niche.
You can send them out more than monthly too, but that could annoy your audience.
Be sure to include the affiliate link in your emails.
Take Videos Showcasing How You Use the Service or Good
One of the easiest ways to promote anything in the travel niche is to show your audience how you use a platform to purchase tickets, rent a car, etc.
You can make videos talking about how great the product or service is all you want, and they can be helpful, but actually showing your audience why you’re promoting something is critical.
Take Advantage of Social Media
Social media will be your best friend when it comes to affiliate marketing.
Thanks to the various affiliate programs, you can post photos and videos to showcase your latest trip.
You can even post live stories to share, in real time, how you’re using a specific product or service to travel the world or throughout your country.
Tips for Promoting Travel Affiliate Programs
Before you sign up for a travel affiliate program, knowing how to succeed is critical.
Even if you’ve used affiliate programs in the past but haven’t branched into the travel niche yet, learning some ways to succeed and avoid failure can get you started.
Tip for Success: Don’t Be Afraid of Failure
Our first tip may be easier said than done, but you can’t be afraid to fail.
If you’re constantly worrying about failing, you won’t be able to promote a product or service effectively.
Failure is scary, but you can’t let it hold you back when jumping into affiliate marketing.
Tip for Success: Use Affiliate Link Disclosures
When promoting products and services with an affiliate link, you need your audience to trust you.
One of the best ways to build trust with your audience is always to use affiliate disclosure.
When you hide links or purposely don’t tell people that you’re promoting something, it can feel like you’re misleading people.
Affiliate link disclosure helps build trust with your audience, and the more they trust you, the more likely they’ll be to use your affiliate link.
When you’re clear about the link, you don’t need to hide, and when you’re honest with your audience, they’ll feel comfortable.
Tip To Avoid Failure: Know What You’re Promoting
One of the most significant ways to set yourself up for failure with affiliate marketing in the travel niche is to know what you’re promoting.
Knowing what you’re promoting is a key to avoiding that terrible feeling of failure we all strive to avoid.
When you know what you’re promoting, you’ll be able to market it more effectively, build trust with your target audience, and people are more likely to believe that you actually like the product you’re promoting.
The best way to know your product is to use it at least once and do plenty of research.
Make sure to use affiliate marketing tools as well.
Tip To Avoid Failure: Prioritize Helping Your Audience Instead of Selling
The quickest way to fail with affiliate marketing is to market your product like you’re selling something and not like you want to share the product to help people with a problem.
Using overly “salesy” language can be off-putting and make people rethink using your affiliate link to purchase a product or service.
The best way to avoid failing is to use the language you would with a friend when raving about something.
Examples From the Top: Leaders in the Travel Niche
We’ve talked about many different affiliate programs in this article, but a few are leading the way in the travel niche.
Choosing an affiliate program from the leaders is a great idea, but you don’t have to.
But, if you’re interested in learning about those leading the way in the travel niche, we’ve got you covered.
Who Is the Number One Affiliate in the Travel Niche?
The number one affiliate in the travel niche is Booking.com.
This third-party booking site is one of the most used in the world, allowing you to book hotel rooms and rental cars with ease.
They know how to market and use their affiliates to build more site traffic.
Other Examples of Websites Dominating the Travel Niche
Booking.com isn’t the only website that’s taking over the travel niche in affiliate programs.
Here are three other widely successful websites that are leading the way in the travel niche.
Skyscanner
Everyone’s looking for the best flight deals, and Skyscanner is one of the best out there.
They do plenty of marketing on their own, but most of their marketing comes from people who love it and get fantastic flight prices thanks to their software.
TripAdvisor
Even if you don’t travel often, you’ve heard of TripAdvisor.
They offer guides to cities with different activities, hotel rentals, vacation rentals, cars, flights, and more.
Expedia
Expedia is similar to Booking.com, which is why it’s another leader in the travel niche.
It’s a competitor of Booking.com, but it has to be leading the niche if it can compete with the leading website.
Frequently Asked Questions
For any further questions you might have about affiliate programs in the travel niche, here’s what other travel lovers are asking.
How do I create a travel affiliate website?
You’ll need to choose your website builder and host to create a travel affiliate website.
From there, design the website to your liking and sign up for travel affiliate programs.
Once you’ve got your website and affiliate programs, you’ll start promoting them to your followers.
Does VRBO have an affiliate program?
VRBO does have an affiliate program for travel and hotel niches.
They offer commissions of no more than $20 on a new property listing.
It’s not the greatest affiliate program in the travel niche, which is why it wasn’t mentioned on our list.
Wrapping Up
As travel resumes after the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are ready to explore new cities.
If you’re an avid traveler, you probably miss sharing your travels with your friends, family, and audience.
Travel affiliate programs are a great way to earn extra income to fund your travels and share your love of them with other passionate travelers.
Whether you’re interested in just one affiliate program or several, you can’t go wrong with the 25 travel affiliate programs on our comprehensive list.