How to Monetize Your Travel Blog in 2026

I started travel blogging in 2016, and at the time, I genuinely had no idea that people made a full-time living from blogging. For me, travel blogging began as a hobby and an online diary — a place to document trips, memories and a growing epiphany I wanted to share with others: travel is possible on almost any budget. I wasn’t chasing brand deals, income reports, or viral growth. I was simply writing. Fast forward to 2026, and while travel blogging has changed dramatically, that core belief hasn’t. What has changed is that I’ve learned how to monetize my platform in a way that supports the work — without compromising my voice or values. No, I’m not a full-time travel blogger or content creator because I have a full-time career in medicine, but I do earn a small income from my passion project. Since I get the question fairly often, I wrote this article to break down how travel bloggers can monetize in 2026, how I personally do it on Adventures from Elle, and how I try to strike a balance between income and authenticity.

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1. Display Ads: The Quiet, Background Income

In 2026, ads reward search-driven, long-form evergreen content far more than short-lived trends. Display ads were one of the first monetization tools I added — long after I started blogging consistently. I currently use WordAds, Automattic’s ad platform for WordPress sites. What I like about WordAds: it has very simple setup and integration, it’s truly passive income once enabled, there is zero pitching, negotiations or management, and it works well for evergreen travel content. I’ve held a Premium plan with WordPress.com since 2019 (before that, I was on the free site) which costs only US$5.50 per month, yet I earn up to 8 times that in ad revenue per month with around 20,000 monthly site visits.

However, I’m not implying that WordAds is the best ad platform either. There are many limitations to be aware of such as: lower earnings compared to premium ad networks, limited control over ad placement and it requires consistent traffic to scale. For me, WordAds functions as a baseline income stream — not flashy, but dependable. With WordAds income, I am repaid for my website at least four times over each year. So, if not WordAds, what other platforms are out there? As traffic grows, many bloggers move on to platforms like: Mediavine and Raptive (formerly AdThrive). These platforms require more investment of resources and time which I am not currently able to commit, but they pay more so go for it if you’re able.

2. Affiliate Marketing: Recommending What I Use

Affiliate marketing is one of the monetization methods I feel most comfortable with because it mirrors how I’ve always shared travel advice. I’ve never been interested in promoting everything under the sun, especially not products and services I don’t already use. I focus on tools and services that naturally fit into how I travel. Affiliate income is slow at first, but it compounds and becomes passive income, especially when your content stays relevant year after year. I currently promote affiliate links for:

1. GetYourGuide: provides tours and experiences I already reference in itineraries. GetYourGuide has a 8% commission rate with a 31-day cookie lifetime. They also allow you to take FREE trips in exchange for content; what could be better than that?
2. SafetyWing: offers flexible travel medical insurance I genuinely recommend. SafetyWing has a 10% commission rate with a 30-day cookie lifetime.
3. Travel Payouts: allows you to compare flights on CheapOair, hotels on Booking.com, eSims and other general travel bookings. Commission rates and cookie lifetimes vary widely; not every brand they partner with pays well, so browse and decide which brands are a good fit.

These are platforms I’ve used long before becoming an affiliate partner, which make affiliate links easy to weave into destination guides, travel resources, and practical posts — not forced into unrelated content. P.S. Using these links helps support Adventures from Elle at no extra cost to you. I also love that these platforms are available to creators WORLDWIDE, including those like myself who are based in the Caribbean, Jamaica to be exact. We tend to have fewer monetization opportunities compared to our North American and European counterparts, no offense.

What Works for Affiliates in 2026:

• Writing content with clear search intent
• Adding personal context (why I chose it, who it’s best for)
• Disclosing affiliate relationships transparently
• Thinking long-term — not quick conversions

3. Creating Products: Turning Knowledge Into Assets

Creating my own products was a mindset shift. Unlike ads or affiliates, you fully own the income stream– well, ish. In 2022, I began monetizing through books available on Amazon, which allows me to share deeper insights beyond blog posts, reach readers globally and create passive income from work I’ve already done. My books are a natural extension of my blog — focused on practical travel guidance and experience. Four years later, I still get royalties every few months. You can create digital and physical products too– travel journals, scrapbooks, guides, you name it. If you list your products on Amazon (like I did), Etsy or other online marketplaces, they take a chunk of the profit but will handle the heavy lifting like ensuring your products are printed and shipped.

4. Sponsorships: Selective and Values-Aligned

Sponsorships are often seen as the end goal of travel blogging, and for good reason as they are most visible and pay better than the options listed above. In the past, I’ve done paid collaborations with brands such as: WayAway.io, Mastercard, Tropicana, Samsung Caribbean, Tourism Enhancement Fund, car rental companies and a few hotels. These partnerships worked because they aligned with my audience and existing content — not because I reshaped my platform to fit a campaign.

An Honest Note on Pitching

I’ll be transparent though: I don’t pitch often, and I haven’t had a particularly successful pitching track record. All of my brand partnerships so far have come through inbound opportunities, not cold outreach. Pitching is a skill — and not the only path to monetization. However, if pitching is something you want to focus on in 2026, here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

• Research the brand before reaching out
• Pitch a specific content idea, not just yourself
• Clearly show audience alignment
• Keep pitches concise and professional
• Focus on mutual value, not just payment.

Monetization vs Authenticity: The Balance I Aim For

Some people view monetization as disingenuous — and I understand why. When content exists only to sell, audiences feel it immediately. To protect my authenticity, here’s the approach I’ve settled into over time:

• I only promote what I genuinely use or believe in. I have rejected brand deals before for this reason; if I don’t use or support the product in question e.g. casinos, substances– I reject it.
• Monetization supports the content — it doesn’t drive it.
• I prioritize trust over short-term earnings.
• I’m upfront about ads, affiliates, and sponsorships.

That philosophy traces all the way back to 2016 — when this blog was simply a space to say, “If I can travel on a budget, maybe you can too.”

Wrap Up

Travel blogging today isn’t about chasing virality or constant brand deals. For me, it’s about building something sustainable: ads for background income, affiliates for thoughtful recommendations, products for ownership and depth and sponsorships that actually make sense. That being said, there’s no right or wrong way to travel blog. Choosing to monetize or not to monetize is perfectly OK. On what side of the spectrum does your travel blog lie? Sound off in the comments section below!

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