Do you want to become a travel writer but just don’t know where to start? At the beginning of my professional travel writing journey, I was totally stumped. I knew that people got paid to write about travel (what a dream!), and I knew that I had plenty of ideas. But still, I had a question: Where do you pitch a travel writing story?
I thought editor emails and pitch guidelines were a big secret, only available if you had a friend in the industry or had graduated with a fancy journalism degree. But the truth?
Anyone can pitch a travel story and become a professionally published travel writer. You just have to know where to look.
There are countless travel publications out there, but I don’t want to overwhelm you (does anyone else freeze when they’re faced with a bunch of good options, or is that just me?). So I’ve pulled together a list of outlets that pay for publication. Have fun!
Xx Denae
Travel Writing Pitching Tips
- Read the publication you want to pitch.
- Get a feel for their headlines, verticals, and storytelling style so you see how your story might fit. Editors want to know how your story will resonate with their audience. Also, it just shows respect.
- Check that your story hasn’t been covered recently.
- This is a huge time saver. Just a quick Google search will show you if your publication has published something similar. This way, you can Also, it shows editors that you do your research.
- Make your portfolio easy to find and access.
- It’s good practice to include a few samples of previous writing work (called “clips”) with your pitch, especially if you haven’t worked with an editor before. These bylines will give the editor an idea of your writing style. I normally include one or two relevant clips (including the name of the publication) and then link to my portfolio. If you don’t have any professional bylines yet, perhaps look to personal writings, like a blog, Substack, local paper, etc.
- Disclose any gifted/press/FAM (familiarization) trips.
- Transparency is key! Plenty of publications allow stories from gifted travel, they just ask that you let them know. If it comes out later that you didn’t disclose a collaboration, they won’t want to work with you again.
- Keep track of your pitches.
- I like to record my pitches in a spreadsheet for multiple reasons:
- It helps me track my successes/rejections.
- It helps me keep track of dates so I know when to follow up with an editor or move on to another publication.
- It helps me keep my copy in one place so I can quickly revamp a pitch and send it elsewhere.
- I like to record my pitches in a spreadsheet for multiple reasons:
What Makes a Good Travel Writing Pitch?
- Timely Angle:
- Why now? Is there a new flight route opening to your destination? Does your story align with a season or upcoming holiday (e.g. you want to write about haunted hotels and Halloween is coming up)? Is there a relevant current event or trend (for example, a TV show like White Lotus is premiering and now people want to explore the host country)?
- Personal Angle:
- Why are you the right person to tell this story? Serious publications don’t want parachute journalism (e.g. you just vacationed somewhere for a week or two). Why do you have a uniquely positioned understanding of the place or culture? Or do you have unique access to a relevant source/interviewee?
- Simplicity:
- Editors are busy and have overflowing inboxes, so keep it brief! Make it easy for editors to read your pitch and get an idea of your angle. Add some suggested headlines (Heds) and subtitles (Deks) that are click-worthy, but not clickbait.
Travel Writing Pitch Example
I wish there’d been more examples of successful pitches out there, so I’m including one of my own! This pitch turned into a Fodor’s article: “I Was Sick of Dating Apps, So I Tried Ireland’s Wild 60,000-Person Matchmaking Festival.” Take a look at how it started!
Travel Publications Accepting Pitches
1. Fodor’s Travel
Travel stories from around the world with a service angle. Great for interesting/kooky finds or travel trends. Turn your first-person experience into something helpful for readers, with a story only you can tell.
- Fodor’s Pitch Guide
- Rate: $300-$350 for ~1000 words
2. Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure reports on tasteful and expansive experiences all over the globe. Lean into luxury! And remember–don’t just pitch a “what”. Why is this particulary story relevant?
- Travel + Leisure Pitch Guide
- Rate: Flat rate (some writers report $.20-$1/word, according to web search)
3. Afar
Experiential storytelling that goes beyond the who/what/where of a destination. Find travel stories that connect to broader themes, ones that shine a light on our shared humanity. Afar is more open to personal essays, as well, if you can find the right angle.
- AFAR Pitch Guide
- Rate: $.50 per word (according to web search)
4. Condé Nast Traveller
CNT has made its name as a high-end legacy publication that publishes elevated experiences from around the world. Bring your best angles on luxury experiences!
- Condé Nast Traveller Pitch Guide
- Rate: $300 for ~600 words (according to web search)
5. Time Out
Time Out is famous for having its finger on the pulse of the cities it covers. Upcoming events, classic tourist attractions, and hot takes on beloved cities are all newsworthy here. They’re all about providing hyper-local, in-the-know tips. They cover over 300 cities, so check if your city belongs to a local editor or if you should pitch the general travel inbox instead.
- Time Out Pitch Guide
- Rate: Word rates vary by destination
6. Matador Network
Matador Network is an adventure-loving travel publication (they’re also dear to my heart, as this was the publication that commissioned my first-ever press trip). They’ve actually written an incredibly helpful guide on how to pitch them successfully.
- Matador Network Pitch Guide
- Rate: $200-$300 per article, according to web search
7. Business Insider
However, be aware that they don’t publish stories that came from gifted trips.
- Business Insider Pitch Guide
- Rate: $240 for ~600 words
8. Eater
Do you consider yourself a foodie? Have you noticed a way that food has shaped a trip or destination? Eater has a whole vertical dedicated to the way food intersects with travel. Cook up your best food travel stories from the U.S. and around the globe. Eater also has regional pitch inboxes for specific cities.
- Eater Pitch Guide
- Rate: ~$0.30/word (according to web search)
A Note on Rejection:
Learning this earlier in my travel writing career would have saved me a lot of stress. Rejection is inevitable, and pitching really is a numbers game. If your pitch is rejected (or never gets a reply), please don’t take it personally. I used to think I was a failure as a writer because I couldn’t get placed. True, there’s always room for improvement in your craft, but there are multiple reasons why an editor might reject you: Maybe they received a similar pitch, maybe your angle doesn’t fit with the current issue, maybe your pitch was good, but there was another that was slightly more relevant. Don’t let rejection stop you! In fact, embrace it, and watch what fearlessness grows!
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