Travel Affiliate Networks

Introducing the premier selection of travel affiliate programs! Explore the leading platforms providing attractive prospects for affiliate marketers in the dynamic travel industry.

10 Best Travel Affiliate Programs 2024

Travel affiliate programs began to spread as affiliate programs and continue to offer exciting opportunities for individuals and businesses looking to monetize their travel-related websites and platforms. These programs facilitate partnerships between affiliates and travel companies, enabling affiliates to earn commissions by promoting flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more. 

As the travel niche evolves, staying informed about the best affiliate programs available is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top travel affiliate programs, offering insights into their features, benefits, and potential for generating revenue. Whether you’re a seasoned affiliate marketer or just starting, read on to stay ahead!

What Are Travel Affiliate Programs? How Do They Work?

Travel affiliate programs are a type of partnership arrangement between individuals or entities, known as affiliates, and travel-related companies, such as airlines, hotels, and online booking platforms. These programs offer affiliates the opportunity to earn commissions by promoting travel products and services on their travel sites, blogs, or social media channels. Let’s take a look at how they work:

  1. Affiliate Promotion: Affiliates sign up for a travel affiliate network or program and gain access to a variety of promotional materials, including text links, banners, and widgets. These materials contain unique tracking codes that help the travel company identify the source of the referral.
  2. Promotion of Travel Services: Affiliates then incorporate these promotional materials into their content. For example, they may write articles about destination guides, travel tips, or hotel reviews and include affiliate links within the text. 
  3. User Clicks and Actions: When visitors go to the affiliate’s website, click on these affiliate links and subsequently make a purchase or booking on the travel company’s site, the affiliate earns a commission. Commissions can vary and are usually based on a percentage of the sale or a fixed amount per action, like a flight or hotel booking.
  4. Payments: Affiliates typically receive payments on a fixed basis, such as monthly or quarterly, depending on the program’s terms. Payment methods may include checks, bank transfers, or digital payment platforms.

How Can Affiliates Benefit from Travel Affiliate Networks and Programs?

The affiliate marketing industry is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% between 2024 and 2030. By promoting travel products, affiliates can earn commissions, providing a steady source of income. Interestingly, affiliates don’t need to create or maintain travel products or services themselves. Instead, they may focus on hiring effective content marketing services for optimal results, and leave the logistics and customer service to the travel websites.

Travel affiliate programs typically cover many travel-related services, including flights, hotels, vacation rentals, and more. This diversity allows them to cater to various niches. Affiliates have the freedom to choose which products or services to promote and how to promote them. This flexibility enables them to adapt to changing market trends.

Finally, the travel industry is a global one, and affiliates often attract visitors from around the world, expanding their potential customer base. Thus, these networks provide an accessible and low-risk way to enter the travel niche and create a sustainable income stream.

Advantages of Travel Affiliate Programs

Travel affiliate programs benefit both affiliates and travel companies. Affiliates have the opportunity to monetize their travel-related content, while travel companies gain additional exposure and a broader online presence. In a world where travel enthusiasts frequently research and book their trips online, these programs play a significant role in the travel industry’s marketing ecosystem. Here are a few advantages travel affiliate programs offer individuals:

Passive Income Opportunities

Affiliates can create valuable content promoting travel products, and once published, it continues to attract visitors and potential customers over time. Strong blog posts about top destinations or thorough hotel reviews on the affiliate’s website can generate revenue through affiliate links. This hands-off income stream allows affiliates to create more content and expand their reach, all while earning from their existing portfolio.

Effective Marketing

By partnering with established travel companies, affiliates gain access to well-known brands, trusted services, and a wide range of products. This association lends credibility to their promotional efforts and helps convert potential customers into buyers. Additionally, they can benefit from positive reviews and recommendations associated with the travel companies. Affiliates may couple all these with unique copywriting strategies for more persuasive and, in turn, more effective results.

Global Reach

The travel industry is inherently international, and a travel blogger can reach potential customers from around the world. Travel enthusiasts span various demographics and geographic locations. By promoting services through affiliate programs, bloggers may extend their site’s reach far beyond their regional boundaries, especially through genuine link-building practices. This global audience reach allows affiliates to cater to diverse audiences with different travel preferences.

Trusted Brands

Affiliates benefit from associating with these well-known companies, which have already built a reputation for quality and reliability. When potential customers see familiar travel brands being recommended, they are more likely to have confidence in the products and services being offered. A travel blogger can leverage the reputation of these trusted brands whic can lead to increased sales and commissions.

10 Best Travel Affiliate Programs

As travellers increasingly turn to online resources for planning and booking their trips, these programs have become a gateway to revenue for affiliate marketers. We have rounded up the top travel affiliate programs for 2024, each offering unique features and opportunities for affiliate marketers. Let’s take a look at them.

TripAdvisor Affiliate Program

With nearly 500,000 unique visitors every month, TripAdvisor is the most popular travel website in the world. The TripAdvisor Affiliate Program is a reputable affiliate program that has been in operation for years. Thus, it is one of the most established travel affiliate programs on our list.

With a vast database of over 1.4 million hotels and a variety of promotional tools, including deep links, banners, and widgets, you can easily showcase a diverse range of hotels to your audience while earning commissions.

The TripAdvisor Affiliate Program is one of the highest paying affiliate programs with a 50% – 80% rate on hotel bookings. Another notable feature of this affiliate program is that you will earn commissions without a booking, you earn if your users visit or return to TripAdvisor and simply click through to their booking partners within 14 days. Also, you get paid through direct deposit in your designated currency.

ProgramTripAdvisor Affiliate Program
CommissionMinimum of 50% on hotel bookings
CategoryAccommodation
Cookie Duration14 days
Program OfferingsHotel Affiliate

Our Verdict About The TripAdvisor Affiliate Program

The TripAdvisor Affiliate offers a relatively high commission rate and a wide range of hotels. Additionally, this program is ideal for affiliates looking to tap into a vast, trusted source of travel content and recommendations. However, it is competitive and has a minimum payout of $50.

  • High commission rates
  • Trusted brand
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • No bookings required for commissions
  • Competitive program
  • Only offers hotels
  • Short referral duration

Booking.com Affiliate Program

The Booking.com Affiliate Program is one of the most popular travel affiliate programs in the industry. It is offered by Booking.com, which is a leading online travel website with over 28 million accommodation options in about 60,000 locations. 

Affiliate marketers may promote hotels, apartments, guesthouses, car rentals and other travel services offered on Booking.com using user-friendly tools like banners, search finders, and deals finders. The booking.com affiliate program offers a commission rate of 25% minimum on stayed bookings. Affiliates can get paid via direct deposit or PayPal.

However, Booking.com comes with a significant downside. It enforces a high minimum payment threshold of $110, and the cookie period is notably brief. Transactions must occur within the initial browsing session or they won’t be tracked.

ProgramBooking.com Affiliate Program
Commission 25% -40%
CategoryAccommodation, Car Rental
Cookie DurationSession-based
Program OfferingsHotels, apartments, guesthouses, and car rental.

Our Verdict About The Booking.com Affiliate Program

If you have a well-structured travel site or blog, the booking.com affiliate program is a lucrative affiliate program you need to consider. But without quality content and qualified traffic, earning will be impossible, and social media pages are not allowed. It offers a competitive commission rate and a wide range of products.

  • High commission rates
  • Trusted brand
  • User-friendly marketing tools and resources
  • Wide variety of products
  • High minimum payment threshold of $110
  • Short cookie life
  • No social media promotion

Hotels.com Affiliate Program

Hotels.com is a part of the Expedia Group, which is arguably the world’s largest travel site. It provides an extensive array of lodging options on the web, including both independent and renowned chain hotels, along with self-catering accommodations across hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide. If you are looking for luxury travel affiliate programs, this might be a good place to start.

The program, which is part of the Expedia affiliate program, enables affiliates to promote about 1 million hotel accommodations in over 200 countries and territories. A good thing about the program is its wide range of affiliate channels, you may promote their products using travel sites, travel blogs, and social media. 

The Hotels.com Affiliate Program offers a commission rate of 6% on all bookings. You get paid a commission if your visitors make any bookings within 7 days of clicking on your affiliate link.

ProgramHotels.com Affiliate Program
Commission6%
CategoryAccommodation
Cookie Duration7 days
Program OfferingsHotels, vacation rentals

Our Verdict About The Hotels.com Affiliate Program

The Expedia affiliate program suits content publishers, distributors, and both offline and online travel agents as the available marketing tools offer great income potential. Nevertheless, to effectively persuade customers, it’s crucial to employ sound strategies, especially considering the program’s short 7-day cookie duration.

  • Trusted brand
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Wide range of program offerings
  • Supports multiple languages
  • Low commission rate
  • Relatively difficult to start
  • Only offers hotel deals

Agoda Affiliate Program

Founded in 2005, Agoda is a top online travel agency that operates in over 200 countries and territories. The Agoda Affiliate Program is a popular travel affiliate program that offers over 2 million hotels and vacation packages.

Affiliate marketers promote hotels, apartments, hostels, and guesthouses on their travel blogs and websites. You may monetize traffic easily with multi-currency tools, dedicated support, and seamless integration. Advanced features include customisable search boxes and multi-lingual data feeds.

Finally, the Agoda Affiliate Program has a tiered commission structure, with commission rates ranging from 4% to 5%. The commission rate will depend on the number of bookings you generate each month, and they only get paid on any bookings that your visitors make within a day of clicking on your link.

ProgramAgoda Affiliate Program
Commission5%
CategoryAccommodation
Cookie Duration1 day
Program OfferingsVacation packages and hotels

Our Verdict About The Agoda Affiliate Program

This is one of the best programs for travel bloggers and website owners, thanks to its extensive marketing resources and support. However, it’s worth mentioning that the program has a relatively high minimum payment threshold of $200, which could be challenging, especially for newcomers. There are also potential payment delays.

  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Multilingual support, over 38 languages
  • Trusted brand
  • A wide range of program offerings
  • High minimum payment threshold
  • Only travel bloggers are accepted
  • Short cookie duration

Discovercars.com Affiliate Program

The DiscoverCars.com Affiliate Program is a relatively new affiliate program, but it has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best in the travel niche. DiscoverCars.com is a leading car rental service platform with rental options from over 500 suppliers in over 18 countries. This includes major international brands and trusted local car rental companies. 

With a variety of banners, promotional text links, and a booking widget, you can promote any of the options offered on DiscoverCars.com, including economy cars, luxury cars, SUVs, and vans. They also offer a Full Coverage product that protects customers from unexpected expenses, such as damage to the car or theft.

The DiscoverCars.com Affiliate Program offers commission rates ranging from 56% to 70% of car rental profit and 30% of full coverage revenue, this is one of the highest for transportation affiliate programs. You will earn this commission on any bookings made within 365 days of clicking on your affiliate link. All commissions are paid monthly via PayPal or wire transfer.

ProgramDiscoverCars.com Affiliate Program
Commission70%
CategoryCar Rental
Cookie Duration365 days
Program OfferingsCar rental services

Our Verdict About the DiscoverCars.com Affiliate Program

This is a good option for affiliate marketers looking to earn money online by promoting car rentals. The program is easy to join and offers a high commission rate. Also, if you need assistance with their affiliate program, a dedicated affiliate manager is available to support you. But it has a minimum payment threshold of $200.

  • Long cookie duration
  • High commission rate
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Dedicated affiliate support team
  • High minimum threshold
  • Only car rentals

CruiseDirect Affiliate Program

Since 2001, CruiseDirect, a leading online cruise travel company, has been providing customers access to great deals on the most popular vacation destinations and cruise vacations such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line, etc. Through the CruiseDirect Affiliate Program, you may promote thousands of cruise options in addition to bus, train, and airline tickets. 

CruiseDirect offers a range of travel content and traffic-driving banners that lead to high-converting pages, effectively boosting your earnings. Additionally, you’ll find new banner ads, text ads, and search boxes to enhance your marketing efforts.

The affiliate program offers a commission rate of 3% on any bookings that your visitors make within 45 days of clicking on your link.

ProgramThe CruiseDirect affiliate program
Commission3%
CategoryTravel
Cookie Duration45 days
Program OfferingsCruise bookings

Our Verdict About the CruiseDirect Affiliate Program

Overall, the CruiseDirect affiliate program is worth considering for affiliate marketers who are serious about luxury travel affiliate programs and promoting cruises. However, affiliates should weigh the pros and cons carefully before joining, while they provide enough marketing tools and support, the Affiliate Program pays a relatively low rate for the travel niche.

  • Long cookie duration
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Trusted brand
  • Relatively low commission rate

Omio Affiliate Program

Boasting a network of over 1,000 reliable travel partners, spanning trains, buses, flights, and airport transfers, Omio is a top multi-modal travel booking platform you need to consider. Omio offers one of the best affiliate programs for travel with a wide range of transportation options to promote and earn passive affiliate income. Through their search widgets, APIs, and a variety of banners, affiliates can drive traffic to the transportation options offered on Omio, which include bus, airline, and train tickets. 

The Omio Affiliate Program pays a commission rate of up to 8% on all bookings, which is competitive for transportation affiliate programs. However, what you receive depends on the transportation type and the route that is booked. And you will earn a commission on any bookings that your visitors make within 30 days of clicking on your affiliate link.

ProgramOmio Affiliate Program
Commission8%
CategoryTransportation
Cookie Duration30 days
Program OfferingsTransportation options

Our Verdict About The Omio Affiliate Program

The Omio affiliate program offers a wide range of travel products and services to promote at competitive commission rates, supported by a variety of marketing tools and resources, but its difficult approval process and poor customer service make it a poor option for some affiliate marketers, especially considering there are better travel affiliate programs available.

  • Competitive commission rate
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Long cookie duration
  • Poor customer service
  • Relatively difficult approval process

Amazon Associates Affiliate Program

Amazon Associates is the world’s largest affiliate program thanks to over 1 million people with an active affiliate account. It allows website owners and bloggers to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products. Amazon sells millions of products, so there is something for everyone — including those in the travel niche — to promote. Travel bloggers can use text links, banners, widgets, and APIs to promote Amazon products on their travel blog, website, or social media channels.

The commission rate for Amazon Associates varies depending on the product category. Most categories have a commission rate of 4-10%, but some categories, such as books and electronics, have lower commission rates. You will earn a commission on any purchases that your visitors make within 24 hours of clicking on your affiliate link.

ProgramAmazon Associates
Commission4%
CategoryE-commerce
Cookie Duration1 day
Program OfferingsTravel Accessories

Our Verdict About The Amazon Affiliate Program

The Amazon Affiliate Program is a good option with a wide range of products and competitive commissions on some products. However, affiliate marketers and travel bloggers should be aware of the high competition and that they may have to wait up to 60 days to get paid for their sales.

  • Wide range of program offerings
  • Good marketing tools and resources
  • Trusted brand
  • Good support
  • Delayed payments
  • Short cookie duration
  • Very competitive

Viator Affiliate Program

Viator is a marketplace for travel experiences offering over 300,000 tours and activities in over 1,300 destinations worldwide, this includes sightseeing tours, food tours, and cultural experiences. They also offer outdoor activities such as tickets to attractions, sporting events, and concerts. The Viator Affiliate Program lets all the travel bloggers promote any of these tours and activities on their travel blog or social media platforms. 

The affiliate program pays a commission at a rate of 8% on all bookings. The cookie duration is 30 days, which means that you will get paid a commission on any bookings that your visitors make within 30 days of clicking on your link. Also, they offer payments via bank (monthly) or PayPal (weekly).

ProgramViator Affiliate Program
Commission8%
CategoryTours and Activities
Cookie Duration30 days
Program OfferingsTours and activities

Our Verdict About The Viator Affiliate Program

The Viator Affiliate Program makes payment easy through their weekly PayPal payouts, this is a good program for travel bloggers and website owners who are looking for more flexible ways to earn money from their English websites. However, there is a minimum withdrawal threshold of $50.

  • Competitive commission rate
  • Long cookie duration
  • Wide range of program offerings
  • Weekly payout
  • Only for tours and activities
  • Limited languages

Travelpayouts Affiliate Program

Travelpayouts is a pay-per-action (PPA) network. Affiliates need to understand what pay-per-action affiliate networks are and how they work before signing up for them. Travelpayouts allows you to promote flights, hotels, tours, and other travel products from over 100 brands including Omio, Tripadviser, and a few others mentioned here. It is arguably the most popular travel affiliate network in the world, with over 600,000 affiliates.

Affiliates may promote any of the travel products and services offered on Travelpayouts by multiple travel affiliate programs. Once you generate your affiliate links from the host affiliate program, you can access a guest affiliate program and promote it on your website or travel blog. Travelpayouts also allows social media and email marketing.

The commission rate for the Travelpayouts affiliate network varies depending on the travel product or service and the brand that you are promoting. For example, the commission rate for flights ranges from 1% to 1.5%, and the commission rate for hotels ranges from 4% to 5%. The commission is paid on any bookings that your visitors make within 30 days of clicking on your link.

ProgramTravelpayouts Affiliate Program
Commission5%
CategoryTravel
Cookie Duration30 days
Program OfferingsFlights, hotels, tours, car rentals

Our Verdict About The Travelpayouts Affiliate Program

Travelpayouts is a good choice for social media influencers, content creators, bloggers, vloggers, and others looking to earn from multiple affiliate programs. A diverse range of promo tools make marketing efforts across these channels effective.

  • Wide range of program offerings
  • Competitive commission rates
  • Long cookie duration
  • Trusted brand
  • Limited language options on some advertisers' websites
  • Individual affiliate programs have distinct rules

Criteria to Choose the Best Travel Affiliate Programs

Selecting the right travel affiliate program is vital for affiliate marketers to maximise their success. The choices available may be overwhelming, and making an informed decision is crucial. Choosing the best affiliate programs involves assessing factors like commission rates, payment methods, product diversity, and support. It’s about finding a program that aligns with your niche, audience, and marketing strategy.

1

Product Relevance and Quality

Affiliates should scrutinize the travel programs they consider, seeking products that resonate with their niche and provide genuine value to their audience. High-quality services and experiences not only enhance customer satisfaction but also lead to higher conversion rates and, ultimately, greater affiliate earnings. Selecting programs with relevant and superior offerings sets the foundation for a successful and trustworthy affiliate marketing venture.

2

Commission Structure and Rates

The commission structure and rates of a travel affiliate program directly impact an affiliate’s earnings. Different programs offer various commission models, such as cost-per-action (CPA), revenue share, or hybrid structures. These structures determine how you’ll be compensated for your promotional efforts. A program with competitive commissions, combined with an appropriate structure, can significantly boost income potential.

3

Marketing Resources

Affiliates should consider the extent and quality of these resources, as they will save time and effort in creating and optimising promotional content. Well-designed marketing materials can enhance the appeal of your affiliate promotions, increasing your likelihood of successfully generating leads. Programs that offer comprehensive support and guidance also help affiliates navigate the complex world of online marketing, making it easier to maximize their success.

4

Reputation and Credibility

An affiliate network associated with trusted and recognised names in the travel industry not only enhances your own credibility but also builds trust with your audience. A positive track record of timely payments and fair practices is essential. It’s advisable to research the program, read reviews, and seek recommendations to ensure it has a history of treating affiliates fairly. Trustworthy programs are more likely to provide consistent support, and contribute to your long-term success as an affiliate marketer.

5

Payment Methods

Affiliates should assess these options to ensure they align with their financial preferences and convenience. Consider factors like the minimum payment thresholds and payment frequency as well. The ease and reliability of receiving your commissions can significantly impact your overall satisfaction and financial efficiency as an affiliate. A program that offers payment methods that suit your needs will streamline the process of accessing your hard-earned affiliate earnings.

Travel Affiliate Program Conclusion

Successful travel affiliate marketing requires a thoughtful evaluation of the best affiliate marketing programs. It’s not just about promoting travel products and services; it’s about building trust with your audience by recommending high-quality, relevant offerings from reputable brands. Equally important is the compensation structure, which directly affects your earnings. If you need help with your marketing efforts, don’t forget that our experts at Revpanda are ready to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

A travel affiliate program is a partnership between affiliates and travel companies. Affiliates promote travel-related products and services on their platforms, earning commissions for each successful referral or sale generated through their unique affiliate links.

Earnings for travel affiliates vary widely. Some affiliates earn a modest side income, while others, particularly those with substantial traffic and strategic marketing, can generate substantial revenue. Commissions may range from a few dollars to hundreds per sale, depending on the program and product.

To find the best travel affiliate programs, consider factors like product relevance, commission rates, available marketing resources, the program’s reputation, and payment methods. Conduct research, read reviews, and choose programs that align with your niche and audience.

Yes, the travel industry can be lucrative for affiliate marketing. Travel is a popular and evergreen niche, and travellers often research and book online. With the right strategies and program choices, travel affiliate marketing can be highly successful.

To promote a travel affiliate effectively, create high-quality, informative content. Utilize SEO techniques to rank well in search engines. Use social media marketing, email marketing, and consider paid advertising. Leveraging the program’s marketing resources will also be beneficial.