How I Make Money in the Travel Industry (Without Sugarcoating It)

How Do People Actually Make Money Working in Travel? You’ve probably heard of travel influencers, bloggers, and travel agents. But how do these people actually make money? Is this something worth pursuing, or just a pipe dream?

After years of travel blogging and building a travel-focused Instagram account, I took the next step and joined a travel agency: Fora Travel.

I’ve already written in detail about whether becoming a Fora travel advisor was worth it. After publishing that article, I started getting a lot of questions like, how do you get clients? Can you actually make real money? And how did I even get started?

With so much interest, I figured it was time to write a more in-depth piece that answers all of those questions.

But just a heads-up: this isn’t some sugar-coated post meant to convince you to quit your job and dive into the travel industry. 

This is an honest account of my own experience. I highlight what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what you should know if you’re thinking about walking a similar path.

How (and When) Did I Start Working in Travel?

Like most people reading this, I was obsessed with travel. It wasn’t until about nine years into that obsession that I began seriously considering whether I could actually make money doing it.

That was in 2019. And to be honest, I’ve always felt like I got started a little too late. That’s because what worked in the travel industry even five years ago has changed completely.

Back in the early days of Instagram, if you had a public account and some consistency, you could grow fast. Now? It’s a whole different ballgame. Algorithms shift constantly, and strategies evolve almost daily.

I started with a blog and Instagram, and I found both incredibly challenging to gain any real traction with. I spent about four years pouring time and money into both, with zero return. In hindsight, I can see exactly why. And I’ll get into that, because it might help you avoid some of the same mistakes.

It wasn’t until 2022 that I started earning a very small income from affiliate links and a few brand partnerships.

And yes, I was still working a full-time job during all of this. That’s important. I wouldn’t feel right telling anyone to go “all in” unless they have another source of income to support themselves. 

For me, building a career in travel has been a very slow burn.

Where to Start If You Want to Work in Travel

One of the biggest things I didn’t do well in the beginning was getting super clear on my why. And who I was actually trying to help.

I wrote a lot of generic blog posts like “where to stay” or “great restaurants to try.” And while that content has its place, I was treating my blog like a hobby instead of a business.

So here’s your first assignment: get specific. Really specific. What do you want to talk about, and who do you want to help?

The goal isn’t to appeal to everyone. The goal is to appeal to a very specific group of people who value your insights. If you’re leaning toward travel planning instead of content creation, you need to know your destination inside and out.

You have to offer experience and knowledge that people can’t just Google or find in a Facebook group.

How Do You Actually Make Money in Travel?

Now that you know how I got started and what I wish I’d done differently, let’s talk about the part everyone really wants to know…how does the money come in?

Affiliate Marketing – How It Works, How You Earn, and Realistic Expectations

Affiliate marketing sounds easy…but that has not been my experience.

The idea is simple: you recommend something (like a hotel, tour, or product), someone clicks your special link, and you earn a small commission if they book or buy. But here’s the truth: before you can make money with affiliate links, you need an audience that trusts you.

When I first started experimenting with affiliate income, I used Stay22, a free tool that lets you earn from hotel recommendations without becoming a travel agent.

This works in the example of you want to recommend places to stay in Lisbon, Portugal. You can’t just drop links and expect people to click.

First, you have to build content that shows why you are the go-to person for Lisbon travel advice. Have you been there multiple times? Lived there? Explored beyond the tourist spots?

People need to see you as a trusted resource for that destination, whether that’s through a blog, a YouTube channel, a niche Instagram account, or even a dedicated Facebook group (this $9 course shows you how to create one). Once people consistently come to you for advice, then affiliate marketing starts to make more sense.

When that trust is there, I recommend signing up for platforms like Travelpayouts, which partners with brands like Booking.com and GetYourGuide. That allows you to share affiliate links for hotels you genuinely love or tours and excursions you’ve actually taken.

But again, this only works if you’re creating useful, trustworthy content first. Without that foundation, affiliate marketing is just a bunch of links that no one clicks.

Brand Partnerships: What Brands Look For, How I Got My First One, and What to Watch Out For

Let’s talk about brand partnerships. This is one of the most common questions I get when people want to understand how travel content creators actually make money.

Here’s the reality. Brands are not just looking for huge followings anymore. What they really want is someone with a clear niche, strong engagement, and most importantly, trust. They want to see that your audience listens to you, values your opinion, and responds to what you share.

My first brand partnership came from a luggage company that I genuinely loved and was completely obsessed with. I had been using their products for years and sharing them in my stories just because I wanted to.

When they finally reached out and offered a partnership, it felt natural because I was already a true fan. That authenticity showed in my content, and it’s probably why they were interested in working with me in the first place.

That experience taught me something really important. Brands notice how you communicate. They pay attention to how you tell stories, how you engage with your audience, and whether or not you can make something feel real and relatable.

It’s less about the perfect aesthetic and more about whether you can connect with people in a meaningful way.

That said, be careful. Not all brand partnerships are a good fit. Especially in the beginning, you might get offers that sound exciting, free gear, discount codes, or small payments. But you need to ask yourself whether the brand actually aligns with your values and whether you’d recommend it even if you weren’t being paid. Your audience can sense when something feels off or inauthentic.

Also, partnering with a brand is not as simple as just posting a picture and tagging them. There are often contracts, deliverables, deadlines, revisions, and metrics to report. If you are not clear on your own boundaries or rates, it can quickly feel like you’re doing a lot of work for very little return.

If you want to attract the right brand partnerships, focus first on building your identity. Be clear about what you care about and who you are speaking to. Keep showing up with consistency and honesty. When you do that, the partnerships that come your way will feel a lot more aligned and worthwhile.

Travel Planning and Travel Advisor Commissions: How It Works and Where Fora Fits In

If you came to this post from my article about Fora, this section is especially important. One of the most common questions I get is, how do you actually get clients? And more specifically, does Fora give you clients?

The short answer is no. Fora, like most travel agencies, does not hand you clients. What I appreciated about Fora was that I could book my own travel and earn commissions on it, but that alone is not a strong enough reason to join.

What really sold me on Fora was how well it supported the kind of travel business I wanted to build. I host and curate small group trips, which is something Fora made even more appealing and seamless.

Over time, I’ve built a community of travelers who want to travel with me. These trips serve two purposes. First, I earn commissions on the hotels I book for the group. But more importantly, these trips create future clients.

Once someone travels with me, they’ve experienced the quality and attention to detail I put into every aspect. That builds trust, and from there, they often come back to work with me on planning their own trips.

Now, let’s talk about how commissions actually work.

When you book travel for clients as a Fora advisor, you earn a commission on hotels, cruises, excursions, and even international airfare in some cases. Typically, hotels pay around 10% commission on the total booking.

Fora splits that commission with you—you keep 70%, and they keep 30%. As you grow your business and hit certain sales milestones, your commission rate increases to 80%.

Fora does have an annual membership fee, which helps cover your access to their platform, training, support, and preferred partner programs. If you’re considering joining, you can save $50 using this link.

And if you haven’t yet read my full article on whether joining Fora is worth it, you can check that out. Is Being a Fora Travel Agent Worth It?

Content Creation (Blog and YouTube): The Long Game of Building Traffic and Monetizing Through Ads or Sponsorships

This was the hill I was dying on for a long time. I was desperately trying to make ad revenue my main source of income. I poured so much time and energy into writing blog posts with the hope that traffic would eventually equal money. What I learned is that relying on ads is not a safe bet.

The internet is changing fast. Platforms like ChatGPT and AI-driven search tools are now giving people direct answers to the kinds of questions blogs used to rank for. That means fewer clicks, less traffic, and in turn, less ad revenue.

If your main goal is to make money from a blog, you need to be prepared for that kind of volatility. Even when you do get accepted into an ad network, it can take a long time and a lot of traffic to see consistent returns.

For me, the shift in how people search for travel info kind of forced me to pivot. And honestly, it turned out to be a blessing. That’s when I started focusing on small group trips. There is no better way to build a real community than to create a trip and actually meet your people in person. That changed everything for me.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I would personally rank making money from ads as the lowest priority.

If your goal is to turn travel into a business, I’d encourage you to focus on more direct revenue streams, working one-on-one with clients, hosting something like a trip or a workshop, or creating something of value that you can sell. I’ll talk more about that in the next section.

Digital Products and Services: Creating Value from Your Unique Perspective

This is my final suggestion for how to make money in the travel industry, and honestly, one of the most rewarding. You have a unique perspective.

No one sees or experiences travel exactly the way you do, so use that to create something that actually helps people.

One great place to start is with itineraries. You can use platforms like Travefy to build beautiful, custom itineraries for clients. If you’re already doing travel planning, this can add value and elevate the client experience. If you want something more hands-off, platforms like Rexby let you host your itineraries directly on their site, set your own price, and sell them as digital products to anyone interested.

You can also offer travel consulting. Maybe you’ve lived in a specific destination, or you’ve traveled extensively in a region that most people only scratch the surface of. You can meet with someone one-on-one to share that insight and help them plan a better trip.

Sometimes people just want to talk to someone who’s been there before booking everything themselves. That kind of real-world experience is incredibly valuable.

The key here is to stop thinking you need a massive following to make an income. What you do need is something specific and helpful, built around what you already know and love. Start there, and grow from that place of real value.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, accountant, or licensed business advisor. The information shared in this article is based on my personal experience and is intended for informational purposes only. Selling travel services, whether through planning, hosting trips, or offering consulting, may require specific licenses, permits, or legal structures depending on your location. Laws and regulations vary widely by country, state, and even city. Before offering paid travel services, it’s important to research the requirements in your area or consult with a legal or business professional to ensure you’re operating compliantly.

What I Hope You Take Away From This

There are a lot of ways to make money in the travel industry, but none of them are instant or guaranteed. Whether you’re creating content, planning trips, working with brands, or selling digital products, success comes from consistency, clarity, and a genuine desire to help others travel better.

My path has been slow, winding, and full of trial and error. But it has also been meaningful. I’ve built something real by staying curious, staying patient, and staying true to what I love.

If you’re thinking about getting started, just know that you don’t need everything figured out. You need a starting point, a point of view, and a willingness to keep going even when it’s hard.

This work takes time, but it’s worth it. Focus on building trust. Focus on being helpful. The rest will come.

And if you’re looking for support, want to learn more, or just have questions, I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned.