Whether you're just starting out as a travel creator or looking to diversify your income, there are plenty of opportunities to earn money while exploring the world. From brand collaborations and affiliate marketing to hosting group trips and selling digital products, the options are more diverse than ever.
In this post, we'll share 12 realistic ways to make money as a travel creator in 2025. Some are beginner-friendly, others take time to build, but all of them can help you create a travel lifestyle that not only inspires others, but also pays the bills.
1. Brand Collaborations & Sponsorships
Paid partnerships with tourism boards, hotels or gear brands are one of the most popular ways travel creators make money. Brands are willing to pay creators to promote their destinations, products or services to a targeted audience, even if you're a micro creator.
The scope of paid partnerships can vary widely: it might be a single sponsored Instagram post, a YouTube integration, a full TikTok series, or even a combination of all your social platforms.
Rates will depend on your audience size, engagement and deliverables, but travel creators with strong storytelling skills and an engaged audience can charge premium fees for this.
2. User-Generated Content (UGC)
UGC has exploded in popularity in recent years because brands need authentic, relatable content for ads and social media, and they don’t always want to use traditional influencers.
As a travel creator, you can shoot photos or videos of products, hotels or experiences that brands then use for their own marketing. The content never has to go on your channels, which means you don’t need a massive audience to get paid.
Typical deliverables include short-form videos (think TikTok/Reels style), lifestyle photography or drone shots. Rates vary but can range anywhere from £150-£500 per video for beginners, and £1,000+ for creators delivering packages (multiple videos, hooks, raw footage etc).
3. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to build passive income as a travel creator. Instead of just sharing recommendations for free, you earn a commission whenever someone books or buys through your links.
Commissions can range from 3-10% for hotels and tours through programs like Booking.com, GetYourGuide or Viator.
We have a guide on the best travel affiliate programs for creators to get you started, and if you’re already part of the Travel Collabs community, you can also join our very own affiliate program.
While affiliate income usually starts small, it scales as your content library grows. A single blog post like “Best Hotels in Santorini” or a YouTube packing guide linking to these programs can keep earning you income for years.
4. Digital Products
Selling digital products is a fantastic way for travel creators to earn scalable, passive income. Unlike sponsored posts, digital products can be created once and sold over and over, whether it’s travel guides, custom itineraries, Lightroom presets or online courses.
You can create digital products in almost any travel-related niche. For example, you might make travel guides for the destinations you’ve visited or create courses teaching others how to become a travel creator.
The great thing is, you don’t need a full e-commerce site to sell your products. Platforms like Gumroad, Rexby and Shopify Digital Downloads make it simple to launch and sell digital products quickly.
Digital products take some upfront effort but can provide a reliable, long-term income stream while you focus on creating content and exploring new destinations.
5. Ad Revenue
Ad revenue is one of the classic ways travel creators monetize, and it works across multiple platforms. On a travel blog, networks like Mediavine or Raptive let you earn by displaying ads to your readers.
YouTube also offers monetization through ads on videos once you meet their Partner Program requirements, and even newsletters can generate income via sponsored placements or display ads.
The key to maximizing ad revenue is consistent traffic. More pageviews or video views translate directly into higher earnings, so focus on creating evergreen content, like destination guides, packing tips, or gear reviews, that keeps attracting an audience over time.
6. Memberships & Communities
Memberships and communities are becoming increasingly popular ways to generate recurring income. Platforms like Patreon or Substack allow you to offer exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access or private Q&A sessions to paying supporters.
You can create Skool or Circle communities to create a space for travel creators to connect, grow and learn from each other. You can include weekly discussions, Q&A sessions and even meet-ups around the world.
This model works particularly well if you have a dedicated audience that values your expertise, tips or travel insights.
7. Freelance Content Creation Services
If you have photography and videography skills, consider selling this as a service to travel brands. Hotels, tour operators and tourism boards often hire creators to produce professional content for their websites, social media or advertising campaigns.
Unlike brand collaborations, this is a service-based arrangement where you’re paid for the content itself rather than promotion.
To get started, build a portfolio showcasing your best work and reach out directly to potential clients. You can also use platforms like Travel Collabs or Upwork to help you find paying clients.
Freelance services allow you to monetize your skills immediately and rates can grow as you build experience and a strong portfolio.
8. Freelance Travel Writing
Freelance writing is another accessible income stream for travel creators. Many online publications, blogs and magazines are looking for fresh travel stories, destination guides and tips from creators who’ve actually been there. Payment varies widely and is often charged per word.
To get started, look for publications accepting pitches and ideas. Focus on pitching specific story ideas rather than sending generic messages, you can use Travel Collabs to help you find travel writing opportunities.
Over time, you can build a portfolio of published articles that not only brings in revenue but also strengthens your authority as a travel creator.
9. Licensing & Stock Footage
If you already have high-quality travel photos or videos, you can earn money by licensing them to hotels, tour operators or destinations you’ve worked with before.
Rather than just letting your content sit in your portfolio, pitch it directly - many businesses are happy to pay for professional images or footage they can use on their websites, social media or marketing materials.
You can also upload content to stock platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock. Keep in mind that earnings from stock sites can take time to build, as it depends on downloads and demand. But even small, occasional payments from stock sales add up over time and can serve as a nice extra income stream alongside your other work.
10. Host Group Trips
Hosting group trips is a brilliant way to monetize travel while creating unforgettable experiences for yourself and your audience. You could host small adventure trips, photography workshops or curated tours to destinations you know well.
Platforms like TrovaTrip and TruTravels make it easier for travel creators to organize and manage trips, handle bookings and reach a wider audience. You'll be paid a portion of the trip revenue, usually around 20% (the average host earns $6,000 per trip!).
This is a great way to connect with your audience, travel with likeminded people and earn money while travelling.
11. Social Media Creator Programs
Many social media platforms now offer programs that pay creators based on content performance. TikTok’s creator rewards program, Instagram Reels bonuses, and YouTube Shorts monetization all reward creators for engagement, views or growth.
While these payments often start small, they can grow significantly if your content consistently performs well. Integrating these programs alongside your other income streams is a smart way to earn from the content you’re already creating, without relying solely on brand deals or sponsorships.
12. Speaking, Workshops & Consulting
Once you’ve built authority as a travel creator, opportunities to share your expertise can be lucrative. This could include speaking at travel conferences, running workshops on photography or content creation, or consulting with brands and tourism boards on creator marketing.
The advantage is that these roles often pay well per project or event, and they position you as an expert in your niche. Even a few workshops or consulting gigs each year can add a substantial boost to your income, while also helping you build connections in the industry.
Final Thoughts
The key to building a sustainable business as a travel creator is to diversify with multiple income streams. Most successful creators don’t rely on just one source of income; they mix and match different strategies to create a steady, reliable flow. Start with a few methods that feel natural to your content and audience, and expand over time as your skills and following grow.
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- 🔓 Travel Collabs Pro - Get unlimited access to the full library of travel collab opportunities - updated weekly.
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