Last updated on October 5th, 2023 at 04:26 pm
Do you dream of having a travel writing job and getting paid to travel?
I understand that the idea of free trips, worldwide travel, and seeing your name under a byline sounds amazing, but travel writing jobs are hard work. It’s a hugely competitive field, and as with many writing jobs, you won’t earn very much in the beginning.
You must be willing to work when you feel like laying in the sun, submit your article on deadline — even if the power is out, and endure situations where many travelers would give up and leave. Travel writing can take all the joy out of traveling.
So be careful when you think that travel writing is your dream life. What is it they say about turning your hobby into your job … ?…
But I do love it.
8 travel writing gigs and how to apply for them
1. Become a writer for Lonely Planet
Each month, the Lonely Plant receives many applications from people who want to be guidebook authors for Lonely Planet. They read them all, then invite those with promise to submit a writing sample. Please note that they set the bar high. Just to give you an idea, it is not uncommon that from over 500 applications, they recruit eight new authors.
They have many skilled and experienced freelance authors working on guidebooks from Sydney to Senegal, and currently, their needs are met. If you’re interested in being an author for LP, visit their site each month for the latest updates, and if they’re recruiting for someone with your expertise, please drop them a line.
2. Pitch travel stories to Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure tells stories from around the world: stories that are big or small, visually driven or essayistic, first-person or as-told-to, or service-oriented. They are known to hire freelance travel writers for feature articles, destination guides, and more.
If you want to pitch a story to them, ensure your idea adds something to the conversation. They don’t want to have seen your kind of story elsewhere. They love stories about a place that is misunderstood or changing, stories about seeing the world in a new way, and especially stories by writers or photographers who bring a new voice to the conversation about a place or topic.
They have a terrific How to Write for ‘Travel + Leisure’ page with what exactly they want from your story pitch.
3. Be a freelance magazine travel writer for Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler is thrilled to receive travel pitches for CNTraveler.com. Condé Nast Traveler aims to inspire travel and inform readers about the world around us. They cover travel in a way that helps people travel better, smarter, and more safely.
They are committed to telling reported and personal stories about traveling, with inclusive coverage that includes BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled communities.
They have a great guidelines page with information about pitching digital stories for Condé Nast Traveler and Women Who Travel.
4. Try freelancing with Sierra Rec Magazine
Freelance writers are welcome at Sierra Rec Magazine. They accept both guest posts and professional article /story writers. If you are interested in producing exclusive editorial feature story/article content for Sierra Rec magazine or its special sections, please contact them directly at charliepankey@sierrarecmagazine.com.
Stories in Sierra Rec Magazine are written from personal experience and research. The magazine offers readers an authoritative, authentic look at the Sierra Nevada Mountain region. You do not have to live there, but doing a story based solely on web research is rarely enough to get a query accepted. They ask freelance writers to consider Sierra Rec Magazine’s structure and format when developing their ideas.
Visit the Sierra Rec Magazine’s writers’ guidelines page for more details.
5. Join the BootsnAll Travel Network
The BootsnAll Travel Network is a community of online travel guides and resources that connect and inspire independent travelers – reaching over 3.6 million travelers per month. Before you pitch any ideas, take a look at their Indie Travel Manifesto to see if your story seems like a good fit. If the story you had in mind doesn’t reflect at least one (and preferably more) tenets of the Manifesto, then BootsnAll isn’t the right forum for your travel writing.
When the BootsnAll Travel Network partners with writers, it intends to build a relationship with that writer. They have several different writing opportunities for those passionate about indie travel.
If you want to write for BootsnAll, visit their Current Writing Opportunities page for the latest updates and submission guidelines.
6. Write for Frodor’s Travel
Fodor’s tells travel stories that excite, inspire, and make their readers want to get out there. Whether they’re planning a trip, want to know more about the world around them, or just craving a little adventure from the comfort of their couch, Fodor’s is the go-to destination for unique, timely, and global travel writing.
If you want to write for Fodor’s, you’ll need to pitch stories beyond traditional travel features. Keep it fresh and timely—emerging trends and news, ever-changing pandemic protocol, and expert, up-to-date advice and recommendations. Make it entertaining—pitch them a story they’re dying to reshare.
If you’re interested in writing for Fodors.com, please email your pitch and writing clips to pitches@fodors.com, and check out their pdf pitching guidelines here. If you want to write for their guidebooks, contact them with your resume and some clips via the form on this page. They almost always hire writers who live in the destinations they cover. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.
7. Write for AFAR
AFAR aims to positively impact the world through high-quality storytelling that inspires, enriches, and empowers travelers. The AFAR print magazine publishes a range of reported features, including personal essays, opinion pieces, photo essays, illustrated features, short fiction, poetry, and shorter middle-of-book pieces. Instead of more traditional aspirational lifestyle travel stories, they tell the stories of a place and the people who live there.
AFAR.com publishes stories about air travel, cruises, culture, diversity in travel, food and drink, hotels, outdoor adventure, and sustainability, all under the idea that travel is a force for good. They also publish book reviews, e-commerce roundups, essays, evergreen stories, features, op-eds, and news stories. Most of their featured pieces are commissioned based on their current needs rather than accepted via cold pitch.
They have an excellent page covering how to pitch AFAR contributor guidelines here.
8. Write or work for Rough Guides
Rough Guides works with expert authors around the world, and they say they are always on the lookout for new writers and researchers to get involved.
If you think you have what it takes to join their writing team – in-depth knowledge of a destination, writing experience, reliability, attention to detail, resourcefulness – they invite you to send them your CV, a cover letter with your areas of expertise, and any relevant writing samples/links. Due to the high number of applications, they prioritize those writers with proven travel writing experience. But, for website articles, you can pitch relevant to their readership if they have not already covered the subject in another story.
Rough Guides has a very thorough “Write or Work For Us” page with current openings and ways to pitch stories.
Another way to look for travel writing jobs is to simply do a Google search of “travel writing jobs.” The top results will be a boxed listing of any travel writing jobs near you or offer remote work.
Please note that the availability of freelance opportunities with these companies may vary, and it’s important to check their websites and submission guidelines for the most up-to-date information on freelance travel writing opportunities. Additionally, consider pitching your travel stories and articles to travel blogs, local publications, and online platforms that accept freelance submissions, as these can be excellent opportunities to build your portfolio and gain experience as a travel writer.
Happy travel writing!
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Natasha von Geldern is a travel writer, editor, and blogger who is passionate about making the pages of the atlas real by traveling the world. She is a contributor to Travel Wire Asia, Wild Junket Magazine, Yahoo! Total Travel, and Travelbite. You can find her on her travel website and blog, WorldWanderingKiwi.
Note: Articles by Natasha may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.
