For many people, travelling is a way of living, and this is just as true for writing. If you ask a copywriter why they like to write, they might not be able to articulate it – and copywriters are good at it. It’s just that these two lifestyles mirror each other very well. And we call it a lifestyle for a reason. It is at the meeting of these two lifestyles that travel writing, or the creation of content about travel, is born.
But how does somebody become a travel writer? What skills are needed and can you really make a stable living from it? This article answers that. We show what career path a travel writer can take, what job opportunities exist and the practical steps to take to get started in this career.
What Does It Mean To Be a Travel Writer
The job of a travel writer is to turn their experiences, their discoveries and their experiences on the ground into text. These writings can be published in magazines, online portals, blogs or even in book form.
Travel writing isn’t a single genre—it encompasses various styles including travelogues, practical guides, food experiences, and cultural essays. Many travel writers work as freelancers and often take on additional writing assignments like PR content, blog posts, and advertising copy. If you want to break into the field with related experience, building a strong copywriter resume can help showcase your versatility and transferable writing skills.
What Skills and Qualities Does a Travel Writer Needs
The term travel writer sounds cool, because it’s a good thing when a person can do two things they love at the same time. Many people think that travel writers “just” travel and write. In reality, the job is much more complex and requires a wide range of skills. The following skills are particularly important to be successful in this career:
- Good writing skills: writing texts that are not only accurate but also enjoyable and expressive. They need to be accurate, accurate and accurate, and they need to be accurate and precise.
- Keen observation: noticing the little details – smells, moods, gestures – that give a text its real power. They are what distinguish clichéd descriptions from truly vivid stories.
- Cultural openness and respect: a good travel writer does not judge, but understands and presents. Moreover, people like to watch or read content where the traveler is sensitive and respectful of other people’s cultures, tries local things, or observes cultural practices. This content is quite lacking in the market.
- Photography and photo editing: many magazines or websites expect you to include your own photos with your writing, so readers can better imagine the places you’re writing about.
- Be open to adaptation: you know that not all travel is seamless. If you’re a writer, you need to be prepared for the most unexpected situations, whether it’s an unexpected rainstorm, a last-minute more expensive hotel, or anything that might disrupt your poetic inspiration. You need to move beyond these.
- Researching Skills: If you want to be a travel writer, you won’t just rely on your own experiences, you’ll read scientific facts, historical sources, browse statistics that will help you get to know the place as well as possible.
How to Start Your Travel Writing Career
Interest in travel writing often stems from a passion for travel, exploring new places and storytelling. But to get serious about it, the first step is a decision: you want to get serious. This doesn’t just mean writing down your experiences from time to time, but also consciously studying, practicing, publishing and developing yourself as a writer.
Then it’s just a question of where to start? Here are four key starting steps to help you kick-start your travel writing career.
1. Create your own blog or website
This is the first and most obvious step. Your own online platform is not only a publishing space, but also a portfolio of sorts. In your blog you can showcase your writing style, your topics and in the long run it can be the basis of your credibility.
Don’t just write about where you’ve been – write about why the place was special. What was your personal experience? What story did you bring from it? What useful advice would you give to other travellers? These are the aspects that will make you stand out from the crowd and move you away from classic ‘diary writing’ towards professional travel writing.
Tip: choose a specific focus – gastronomic tourism, family travel, cultural experiences, sustainable tourism, for example – to help position yourself as a unique voice.
2. Submit article ideas to magazines and travel sites
Many people think that writing is only worthwhile if you get paid for it. But one of the keys to professional development is becoming a published author. Smaller travel blogs, online magazines or regional newspapers are often open to writing from outside authors – especially if the article is well-edited and has a unique perspective.
You may not get paid for them initially, but in the longer term they can serve as a reference. A well-written article picked up by a well-known travel portal is worth a lot – not only in terms of prestige, but also in terms of networking.
Tip: when submitting an article, always write a pitch first. In it, briefly outline what the article would be about, why it would be of interest to the site’s readers, and how it fits in with their existing content.
3. Learn from others – and consciously improve
Travel writing is a craft that can – and should – be learned. Read a lot from the pens of other travel writers, observe how they structure their articles, what tone of voice they use, how they combine personal experience with useful information.
There are also online courses that focus specifically on travel writing – for example, MatadorU, Travel Writers Exchange, or even Coursera, where you can find relevant material. These often teach not only writing techniques, but also marketing, SEO, networking.
Tip: join different groups or writers’ forums where you can learn with others. Such communities can not only inspire you, but also lead to new opportunities.
4. Prepare for the challenges of freelancing
The vast majority of travel writers work as freelancers. It’s a flexible but often unpredictable lifestyle where you have to be a writer, self-manager, marketer and finance professional all at the same time.
That’s why it’s a good idea to start self-managing from the beginning: keep a diary, keep track of your projects, manage your income, learn to quote and communicate effectively with clients.
In the beginning, you may only have a monthly income from small assignments and side jobs. However, if you are persistent and consciously build your professional credibility, this income can stabilize – and in time you may even be able to make a living as a full-time writer.
Tip: open a separate bank account for your freelance work, keep track of your income and expenses, and find out about tax options in your country.
Job Opportunities As a Travel Writer
Travel writing can take off in many different directions. There are classic journalism jobs, but there are many more opportunities in the online space.
Travel magazines and online publishers
There are print and digital magazines that specialise specifically in travel (e.g. Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveler). These are often looking for new authors, especially if you can write about specific locations or alternative routes.
Content creation for travel companies
Booking sites, airlines or tourist boards are also looking for writers – whether for brochures, web texts, guides, blog posts. (If you’re interested in what a copywriter does, you can read about it here: [what does a copywriter do].)
Guest blogging and collaborations
Popular travel blogs often seek guest authors or collaborate with brands. This can be useful if you already have an established style and following – so companies are more likely to work with you.
Writing books, travel guides
At an advanced level, you can also write books: travel guides, memoirs or experiential novels. This is a longer-term project, but a successful book can also generate passive income.
How Does A Travel Writer Makes Money Online
Travel writing doesn’t always mean a steady salary – but it can be made up of a variety of income streams.
Paid articles: Editors or companies may pay for an article – it can be a one-off assignment or a longer-term partnership.
Sponsored content: If you have your own blog or a large following, companies may pay for sponsored posts or product launches.
Affiliate marketing: You can also earn money by placing referral links – for example, for booking accommodation, insurance or travel products. This can also generate revenue in the longer term.
Image marketing: You can also sell your own photos: to stock photography sites, magazines or travel agencies.
Lectures, workshops: If you have several years of experience, you can also run workshops or be an invited speaker to share your knowledge on travel topics.
How In Demand is Travel Writing Today and What The Statistics Show
The explosion of the digital world has opened up new opportunities for travel writing. Although the travel industry declined dramatically during the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the World Tourism Organization, international tourism in 2022 is up 63% from the previous year and the trend is still upwards.
This has been accompanied by an increase in demand for travel content. According to Google data, search terms “travel blog” and “where to travel” reached pre-pandemic levels again in 2023. Content producers and marketers have also become active again, especially on social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
According to statistics from the US career portal Zippia, the average travel writer earns between $60 000 and $80 000 per year, but successful authors with their own blogs and collaborations can earn several times that amount. There is also a growing demand for multilingual, authentic travel content in Europe.
Many people dream of becoming travel writers – but it’s worth being aware of the reality. It’s a career where enthusiasm is not enough to succeed – you need to constantly evolve, adapt to the market and it can take a long time to secure a steady income.
Nevertheless, many inspiring stories show that it is possible. For example, Nomadic Matt, one of the best-known travel bloggers, started his blog in 2008 and now has millions of readers, book publications and his own courses. But many smaller bloggers have also made a steady income, for example by focusing on niche areas such as backpacking, family holidays or content specifically based on a particular country.
The key: credibility, consistency and building a relationship with the reader.
Is It Worth Taking The Risk and Becoming a Travel Writer?
Travel writing is a unique and diverse career path. It is not easy, nor is it predictable. But if you’re passionate about travel, if you’re happy to share your experiences with others, and if you’re willing to learn, grow and patiently build yourself up, it’s indeed within your reach to make a living from it in time.
It is important to understand that this is not a profession where success comes overnight. In the beginning, you may only reach a few readers with your articles. You may have to wait months for your first paying assignment. But every text you write, every new publication, brings you closer to a sustainable writing career.
The most important advice: start writing today. Don’t wait for someone to discover you. Instead, discover yourself. Find the subject you really want to show the world and write it down. Your first article may only reach ten people, but those ten people can be the first step on a much longer and richer journey.
This time, however, it’s not plane tickets that will get you there – it’s your words. Use your words boldly and step out of your comfort zone.
