In 2017, the turnover of world tourism amounted to more than 1,186 billion euros, we let you imagine how much it could have increased today. In France, the turnover is expected to reach 35 billion euros in 2021(Source: Statista).
We give you one last figure to explain the size of this market. In 2018, Booking.com reported that it had revenues of €18 billion and that there will have been nearly 760 million room nights booked.
Now you’re thinking “okay, but why are you talking to me about an online rental site?”. Simply because if you are in the tourism theme, you can monetize your site through travel affiliation.
It works well with booking platforms, but it also works with rental agencies, specialized companies, etc.
In order not to lose you, we have gathered in this guide the best travel affiliate programs for bloggers.
Tired of affiliate programs that don’t pay?
Join Affilisting today and gain access to over 11,119 High Paying Affiliate Programs across 556 different niches!
Contents
Travel affiliation with online booking platforms
Online booking platforms are without doubt the sites that offer the best affiliate programs in the travel and vacation theme.
Indeed, today they include a little bit of everything, whether it is hotel rentals, airline tickets, car rentals and even for amusement parks.
1) Booking: the world leader in hotel reservations
Presentation
This first company is none other than Booking.com. This Dutch website has been active in the online rental market since 1996.
It is also the most popular e-tourism site in France. Between 2020 and 2021, 45% of people who booked a hotel or accommodation used Booking.com.
- Commission : from 25% to 40%.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: Does not use cookies, but a unique identifier (AID)
Specialty
Booking.com is one of the market leaders in online rentals. The website works by offering accommodation, flights or other, which come from other links. If you book on these sites through Booking.com, the company will receive a bonus.
Today, this company offers a lot of rental services (accommodation, flights, car rentals). You will even find a “Attractions” section, which allows you to book tickets for a museum, a sightseeing tour, etc.
Compensation
The money you will earn with this travel affiliate program will start at 25%. You will receive the 25% bonus that Booking.com receives on every booking. Here, it is not the price of the total rental.
The principle is simple, the more bookings you bring in, the higher your bonus. If the site manages to get more than 501 rentals thanks to you, your bonus will be 40%.
The advantages
✅ The commission rate is high from the start.
✅ Company present for a large number of years and leader in its market. Serious affiliate program.
✅ The website has several reservation sections.
✅ 1,550,000 overnight stays booked every day, big potential with a constantly growing market.
✅ Becoming an affiliate is very simple.
The disadvantages
❌ The big bonus is hard to get for small sites.
❌ No premium on cancellations which are common.
2) Expedia: for a leading white label in tourism
Presentation
Founded in 1996 in the United States by Rich Barton, Expedia is a leading travel booking site.
The online rental site has more than 60 million unique visitors every month. In 2013, its gross rental volume was close to $40 billion!
- Commission: 2% to 6%, $2 for travel.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 7 days
Specialty
Like Booking.com, Expedia is a kind of general travel website. The site has a wide range of services and products.
Hotels, flights, cruises, activities and more, you will have a great choice for your blog.
Compensation
Regarding the remuneration, it is not that high. In fact, revenues range from 2% to 6%. However, for flights they are $2.
The advantages
✅ Known and influential brand.
✅ A wide selection of products and services.
✅ Great support, giving access to good tools.
✅ Validity of cookies correct.
The disadvantages
❌ Low commission.
❌ No premium on cancellations.
3) Priceline: the American booking giant at your service
Presentation
Priceline is an American company founded in 1997. It connects customers and suppliers for services similar to others. You can even reserve a table in a restaurant.
Its name probably rings a bell, because it is the company that bought Booking. Today they are part of the same holding company, Booking Holding.
- Commission: 3% to 5%.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
Very well known in the USA, this company offers services such as hotel reservations, flights, cruises, etc.
Compensation
Promoting this site will earn you commissions ranging from 3 to 5%.
The advantages
✅ Platform that is owned by a large company.
✅ Relatively good cookie duration.
✅ Pretty low prices compared to the competition.
✅ Very intuitive site.
The disadvantages
❌ Low income for the affiliate blogger.
❌ Good awareness mainly in the US.
❌ Website available in English only.
4) TripAdvisor: the specialist in tourism reviews and advice
Presentation
TripAdvisor is a company that offers reviews and information on various tourist services. You can find restaurants, hotels, amusement parks, etc.
In addition, the website has tools that compare prices of different services to help you book.
- Commission : 50% minimum
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 14 days
Specialty
If you have one or more travel blogs, you should definitely sign up for the TripAdvisor affiliate program. It’s a very complete travel site that gives you access to a lot of resources (price comparisons, user reviews, etc.).
Compensation
Here, the remuneration is very particular. First of all, you will receive a 50% commission of what TripAdvisor will receive as a bonus.
However, their affiliate program tells us that there is no need for the consumer to book for you to get your bonus. The affiliate will be paid per click.
The amount obtained for each click is not fixed. It depends on factors such as partners, season and duration.
The advantages
✅ Commission per click. It can also be high in some cases.
✅ World famous site.
✅ Platform that has millions of reviews on lots of products and services.
✅ Also contains price comparators.
The disadvantages
❌ Fake reviews of certain products.
Travel affiliation with affiliation platforms
In this second part, we’re going to tell you about the best travel affiliate platforms. These sites bring together the largest affiliate programs from different sites. Perfect for bloggers who want to do affiliate marketing!
5) TravelPayouts: over 100 brands available for you
Presentation
Considered as the best affiliate platform, TravelPayouts offers its affiliates more than 100 affiliate programs only on the travel theme.
This is the ideal site if you want to monetize your blog. The platform includes more than 300,000 partners and has paid them more than $32 million in incentives since 2011.
- Commission: Up to 70%.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: Depends on the program chosen.
Specialty
TravelPayouts only offers travel affiliate programs to its affiliate bloggers. You can find companies like Trivago or Rentalcars for example.
Compensation
As for the remuneration and the duration of the cookies, we can’t give you precise figures. Indeed, these points depend on the affiliate program you choose.
Each site offers a different and unique program.
You can find nuggets that can earn you up to 70% commission.
The advantages
✅ Over 100 affiliate programs.
✅ TravelPayouts is very popular in the travel and vacation industry.
✅ Transparent and accurate reporting and sales statistics.
✅ The site has its own tools and widgets at your disposal (advertising banner).
✅ Great selection of banks to withdraw your money.
The disadvantages
❌ Admission to a few programs under certain conditions.
6) Kayak: the leading travel comparison service in the US
Presentation
Kayak works like a search engine. This site allows you to find different services related to travel with a personalized search.
This price comparison service, created in 2004, allows your readers to travel at low prices. The company has over 2 million partner locations worldwide.
- Commission: Up to 50%. Bonus per click as well.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
The Kayak brand is present all over the world. Its affiliate program also includes other brands like HotelsCombined, Momondo and Cheapflights.
Compensation
For commissions you will be paid according to either clicks, bookings or revenue generated for each rental. These bonuses can be as high as 50%.
However, the price and timing of the bonus depends on Kayak’s partners.
The advantages
✅ White label solution for your site.
✅ Large affiliate network. Very popular platform.
✅ Per click commission from your affiliate links.
✅ Several brands are available under the same program.
✅ Provision of widgets.
The disadvantages
❌ Partner-dependent bonus and award.
❌ Minimum threshold required to be paid within 45 days.
Travel affiliation with rental agencies
Travel rental agencies operate differently than the platforms seen above. These do not redirect you to a third party site during payment.
This does not prevent them from providing, for some, a powerful search engine. This will allow you to customize your search while staying on the same site.
7) Agoda : the travel agency based in Asia
Presentation
Agoda is an online rental agency belonging to the Booking Holding group(again, them). The site offers mainly rentals located in Asia-Pacific.
On this platform, you will find mainly flight and accommodation offers.
- Commission: between 5 and 7% of the sale.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 24 hours
Specialty
Agoda has accommodations all over the world. But she has made Asia her specialty. There are more than 10,000 accommodations in Bangkok, 26,000 in Bali for example.
What makes the strength of this rental agency is also the prices offered. The company will refund the difference if you find lower prices on other sites.
Compensation
The premium will not exceed 7% of the total sale, which is already a very good thing.
The advantages
✅ The company provides tools such as banner ads, text links, etc.
✅ Agoda regularly offers special deals to customers.
✅ The website is very easy to use.
✅ This is a well-known platform in the industry.
The disadvantages
❌ Requirement to have a website.
❌ Very short duration of cookies.
8) Opodo : for turnkey stays
Presentation
Opodo is a travel agency that was created by the association of several airlines. The site offers various services for rent. The basics, but also services such as stays or shuttles.
The platform also includes a price comparison tool similar to Kayak.
- Commission: Specific premium depending on the purchase.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
Opodo is a general rental agency that offers a wide range of services. It is mainly present in Europe.
Compensation
For your remuneration everything depends on what the visitor will buy. There is no fixed remuneration. But according to the Awin platform the rates are as follows: Flights 1.3%, Flight+hotel 3.5%, Car rental 5.5%.
The advantages
✅ Attractive banners and custom creation available.
✅ Europe’s leading flight retailer.
✅ Wide range of services.
✅ Correct cookie duration.
The disadvantages
❌ Income is relatively low.
9) Lastminute: the world leader in travel agencies
Presentation
Lastminute.com is an online travel agency based in London. It generated revenues of €291 million in 2018.
The company works with 9,000 tourism experts. It has become the essential site for low cost and last minute travel.
- Commission : from 7 to 50€. 4% for gift cards.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
This platform is a specialist in last minute travel, perfect for people who are undecided.
But it also offers flash sales and sales with big discounts. This site allows you to travel for cheap.
Compensation
The site’s affiliate program is available at Awin.com. Remuneration for the type of services consumed. Prices range from 7 to 50€ and the commission is 4% for gift cards.
The advantages
✅ Low prices.
✅ Flash and last minute sales.
✅ Leader in Europe, so quality platform.
✅ Wide range of products and services.
✅ Unique affiliate program with rewards and challenges.
The disadvantages
❌ Fixed price commission, regardless of the amount of the sale.
❌ You have to act fast on last-minute offers.
❌ Restricted destinations on these.
Travel affiliation with specialized companies
For this last part, you will find companies specialized in travel, but in their field. In other words, these are the perfect websites if you have blogs in these niches.
10) Travala: for trips paid in crypto
Presentation
Travala is the new generation booking platform. Indeed, this one relies on blockchain technology and its crypto-currency to charge for its services.
The particularity is that the premiums for clients and hosts are less important.
In addition, the company has set up partnerships with big companies like Agoda, Expedia and Crypto.com.
- Commission: 5% on each reservation.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 90 days
Specialty
Travala is one of the only online rental platforms that accepts payment by crypto-currencies.
Compensation
Joining the Travala affiliate program will give you a simple remuneration, 5% on all sales.
The advantages
✅ Payment for customers with more than 50 crypto-currencies.
✅ Several methods of compensation for the affiliate account.
✅ The site also has a referral program.
The disadvantages
❌ The site is only available in English.
11) Eurail : the specialist in train travel
Presentation
Eurail is an online booking platform specialized in train travel. It includes 600,000 travelers, with over 40,000 destinations.
- Commission: 3% on all sales
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
The company differentiates itself from the competition by offering only train travel.
Compensation
Being affiliated with Eurail will allow you to have a unique 3% bonus on all sales. This is low especially if the final amount is not very high.
The advantages
✅ Recognized site for its specialty.
✅ Large number of travelers and destinations.
✅ Implementation of tools (banners, assistance).
The disadvantages
❌ Low commission.
❌ Site not available in French.
12) CruiseDirect: the leader in cruise travel
Presentation
CruiseDirect is considered one of the leading online booking companies for cruise travel.
The site offers special deals designed with the most popular cruise lines.
- Commission: 3% on gross sales
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 45 days
Specialty
Just like Eurail, CruiseDirect has its own speciality, the online booking of marine cruises.
Compensation
The commission rate is the same as the previous platform, 3% on all gross sales.
The advantages
✅ Affiliate Management Team.
✅ Newsletters containing bonuses for affiliates.
✅ Provision of multiple widgets.
✅ Good cookie duration.
The disadvantages
❌ Low Commission
❌ Not a great looking website = less conversion
13) HostelWorld: for hostel stays
Presentation
HostelWorld is a leading online travel agency focused on the hostel market, inspiring adventurous spirits to discover new places.
It includes over 36,000 properties in 179 countries.
- Commission: $0.02 CPC. Up to 40% premium.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
Perfect if you have a blog for nomadic people who are used to renting rooms in hostels.
Compensation
The data comes from the TravelPayouts platform. The cost per click is 2 cents and commissions can be as high as 40%.
The advantages
✅ Commission per click + good rate
✅ Site specialized in its niche.
✅ Large panel of facilities in many countries.
The disadvantages
❌ Restricted offerings by destination.
❌ Often prohibited to minors.
14) Viator : to combine activities and stays
Presentation
Viator is a website that allows travelers to easily find and book activities.
The platform has nearly 200,000 activities. No more waiting in line!
- Commission: 8% on all products.
- Revenue share : No
- Available in France : Yes
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Specialty
Specialist in online reservations of activities during your trips.
Compensation
The premium is quite attractive, 8% on all products of the site.
The advantages
✅ Good commission.
✅ Specialist company in its sector.
✅ Large range of products available.
The disadvantages
❌ Not well known in France
We sincerely hope you enjoyed this guide to the best travel affiliate programs!
If you want to stay in touch with the Makers community, we invite you to fill out the form below.
This will allow you to receive an email to know as soon as a content of this kind has been published on the site. Don’t worry, you won’t get any spam and we won’t sell your email address to anyone!
As a bonus, you will receive many exclusive tips on how to launch your first online business and earn your first money on the Internet.
Join 10,000+ makers and get all our latest tips for making a living from Blogging and Affiliate Marketing.
