Freelance travel writing jobs – 259 publications that buy travel articles (2025 edition)

Updated January 30, 2025
Here’s a selection of publications, print and online, travel writers should know about. This list is not exhaustive, but if you’re starting a travel writing career or if you’re looking for publications that publish travel stories from freelance writers, this is, as far as I know, the best and most up to date list of magazines, websites and newspapers that publish travel stories in existence.
I’ve included fees and links to the writer guidelines where I could find them, though that wasn’t possible in every case. Close to 100 of the titles in the list pay $1 per word or more.
And I’ve also included publications that don’t pay at the ends of the list, as this can be useful for brand new beginner travel writers looking to build a portfolio. (It’s how I got my first travel story published)
Unless the guidelines state otherwise, it’s always best to write directly to the editor of the section your idea fits best, with most names and email addresses easily found these days with a bit of Googling or searching on LinkedIn.
Below is a selection of the list of 259 publications that are known to accept freelance travel articles. For the full list add your email below and it’ll land in your inbox immediately.
The full list covers these niches:
Adventure & Outdoor
B2B & Industry News
City & Regional
Culture & History
Family
Food & Drink
General
Inflight Magazines
Island & Beach
Luxury & High-End
Marine & Boating
Road & RV
Science, Nature & Sustainability
Unpaid (Byline only)
Full list (including nearly 100 titles that pay up to US$1 per word and more)
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A sample of the list
Adventure & Outdoor
TITLE | DESCRIPTION | PAY | WRITER’S GUIDE |
OUTSIDE MAGAZINE http://www.outsideonline.com | Focuses on adventure, fitness, and outdoor activities, offering expert advice on sports, gear, health, and environmental issues, along with inspiring stories about outdoor exploration. | $1 per word | https://www.outsideonline.com/contact-us |
ADVENTURE TRAVEL MAGAZINE http://www.adventuretravelmagazine.co.uk | Covers the world of adventure travel, providing insight into destinations, outdoor activities, and cultural explorations that challenge travelers to step out of their comfort zones. | $0.50 per word | http://www.adventuretravelmagazine.co.uk/index.php/about-us/contributor-guide |
ALPINIST http://www.alpinist.com | A magazine for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, providing gear reviews, mountaineering stories, and adventures in high-altitude landscapes. | $0.25 per word | https://alpinist.com/about-alpinist/submission-guidelines/ |
CANOE & KAYAK https://www.canoekayak.co.uk/ | Focuses on kayaking, canoeing, and outdoor adventure sports, with editorial guidelines for writers interested in these outdoor activities and water sports. | $0.25 per word | |
PADDLING MAGAZINE https://paddlingmag.com/ | Covers adventure stories, expert advice, destinations, and paddlesports news for kayakers, canoeists, and standup paddleboarders. | $0.25 per word | https://paddlingmag.com/contribute/ |
B2B & Industry News
THE POINTS GUY https://www.thepointsguy.com | Focuses on maximizing travel points and miles, offering tips on how to travel smarter, plus destination guides and credit card recommendations. | $0.32 per word | |
SKIFT https://www.skift.com | A travel industry news platform offering insights, trends, and analysis on travel tech, business, and consumer preferences. | $0.25 per word |
City & Regional
YANKEE MAGAZINE https://newengland.com | Focuses on the unique culture, travel destinations, and lifestyle of New England, offering features on food, history, scenic locations, and local communities throughout the region. | $0.50 per word | https://newengland.com/press-contact/submission-guidelines-writers-photographers/ |
101 HOLIDAYS http://www.101holidays.co.uk | Provides travel guides for holiday destinations, offering editorial opportunities for contributors focused on various global travel experiences. | $0.35 per word | https://www.101holidays.co.uk/submissions/ |
COCONUTS.CO https://coconuts.co/ | A media outlet focused on Asia, offering travel stories, cultural insights, and unique local experiences for adventurous readers and contributors. | $0.25 per word | |
DREAMSCAPES https://dreamscapesmagazine.com/ | A travel and nature-focused publication providing opportunities for contributors to share their stories of exploration, natural beauty, and cultural discovery. | $0.25 per word | |
NEW MEXICO MAGAZINE https://www.newmexico.org | Highlights the culture, history, and natural beauty of New Mexico, offering in-depth articles on destinations, local events, and unique travel experiences. | $0.25 per word | https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/contact/ |
Culture & History
THE ATLANTIC https://www.theatlantic.com | The Atlantic covers a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, and science, offering in-depth reporting and analysis. | $2 per word | |
ANTHROPOCENE http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org | Explores the intersection of humanity and the environment, focusing on how human activities shape the planet’s ecosystems, climate, and social structures. | $0.50 per word | |
THE GUARDIAN https://www.theguardian.com | Offers news and analysis on a range of topics, including travel, culture, and global events, with an emphasis on thoughtful commentary and independent journalism. | $0.35 per word | https://www.theguardian.com/info/1999/nov/22/contributors-guide-and-contacts |
ATLAS OBSCURA https://www.atlasobscura.com | Focuses on hidden, unusual, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, offering a space for writers to share their exploration of lesser-known travel spots. | $0.25 per word | https://docs.google.com/document/d/148yIs0J9bsmN3guV9arbundXjvZAL_OLUk4BywX9tm4/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.6kqoq0drsdxn |
CULTURE TRIP https://theculturetrip.com | Offers destination guides, travel stories, and cultural insights, providing opportunities for contributors to explore art, history, and local traditions. | $0.25 per word | https://theculturetrip.com/freelance-jobs/ |
Family
PARENTS https://www.parents.com | Parents offers trustworthy advice and a supportive community for parents, helping caregivers raise confident, compassionate children. | $1.50-$2 per word | |
FAMILY TRAVELLER https://familytraveller.com | A family-oriented magazine offering advice on parenting, relationships, home life, and wellness, with a focus on helping parents navigate everyday challenges with practical solutions. | $0.25 per word | https://familytraveller.com/work-with-us/ |
Food & Drink
SAVEUR https://www.saveur.com | Saveur publishes food journalism that celebrates diverse cultures, unearths hidden food traditions, and presents thoughtful perspectives on culinary topics. | $1 per word | https://www.saveur.com/culture/pitching-guidelines/ |
FRESH CUP MAGAZINE http://www.freshcup.com | A publication about coffee culture, offering opportunities for contributors to share their experiences with coffee, cafes, and the broader coffee industry. | $250 per article | https://freshcup.com/resources/write-for-us/ |
EDIBLE COMMUNITIES: http://ediblequeens.ediblecommunities.com | Focuses on food, community, and culture, with editorial content that highlights local flavors, seasonal recipes, and sustainable food practices. | http://ediblequeens.ediblecommunities.com/contributor-submission-guidelines | |
WINE TOURIST MAGAZINE http://www.winetouristmagazine.com | Covers wine tourism and experiences, offering editorial opportunities for contributors interested in wine, vineyards, and travel. |
General
T: THE NEW YORK TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE https://www.nytimes.com/section/t-magazine | The New York Times Style Magazine focuses on fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and design, offering insights into trends and luxury living. | $2-$3 per word | |
NAUTILUS https://nautil.us/ | ON Nature covers environmental issues, conservation, and natural history in Ontario, offering thoughtful, region-focused storytelling and perspectives. | $0.50-$1 per word | |
BBC TRAVEL http://www.bbc.com/travel | Offers global travel stories, destination features, and cultural insights with a focus on deep, enriching experiences and how travel shapes our understanding of the world. | $0.50 per word | https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20160106-bbc-travel-author-brief |
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS http://www.bhg.com | A home and lifestyle magazine that offers content on home décor, gardening, cooking, and crafts, as well as tips on family life, organization, and DIY projects. | $0.50 per word | https://www.bhg.com/better-homes-and-gardens-editorial-policy-and-standards-5537160 |
BUDGET TRAVEL https://www.budgettravel.com | Aims to make travel accessible to all, offering budget-friendly tips, destination guides, and expert advice for travelers looking to explore the world without breaking the bank. | $0.50 per word | https://www.budgettravel.com/contact-us |
CNN TRAVEL https://edition.cnn.com/travel | Offers global travel stories, tips, and destination guides, with a focus on the cultural, environmental, and personal impact of travel experiences. | $0.50 per word | |
EARTH http://www.earthmagazine.org | Covers geology, natural sciences, and earth sciences, offering insights into the latest research and how it impacts our world. | $0.50 per word | |
FATHOM https://fathomaway.com/ | An online travel magazine focusing on inspiring stories and practical advice. | $0.50 per word | https://fathomaway.com/editorial/ |
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/topic/national-geographic-traveller-uk | Known for its groundbreaking reporting on nature, science, history, and culture, National Geographic offers readers compelling stories that explore the planet’s most fascinating aspects. | $0.50 per word | https://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/about/guidelines_w.html |
THE TELEGRAPH https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel | Focuses on destination features, luxury travel, and cultural exploration, offering advice on the best places to visit, including cities like London and destinations in Europe and beyond. | $0.50 per word |
Inflight Magazines
HANA HOU! (HAWAIIAN AIRLINES) https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/hawaii-stories/hana-hou | Hawaiian Airlines’ in-flight magazine, showcasing Hawaiian culture, travel destinations, and the island lifestyle with a focus on local stories and travel experiences. | $0.50 per word | |
HIGH LIFE (BRITISH AIRWAYS) https://bahighlife.com/ | British Airways’ in-flight magazine offering luxury travel tips, destination features, and cultural insights into global travel. | $0.50 per word | |
TIGER TALES (TIGERAIR) https://www.tigerairtw.com/en/welcome-on-board/inflight-magazine | Focuses on Asian travel, culture, and lifestyle, with editorial content offering destination recommendations and insights for the modern traveler. | $0.25 per word |
Island & Beach
HAWAII MAGAZINE http://www.hawaiimagazine.com | Focuses on Hawaii’s culture, travel, and lifestyle, offering articles on local destinations, Hawaiian traditions, and insider tips for both tourists and residents alike. | $0.50 per word | https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/contact-us/job-openings-freelance-guidelines/ |
ISLANDS https://www.islands.com | A travel magazine focused on island destinations, offering travel stories, guides, and tips for those seeking tropical vacations, island culture, and remote escapes. |
Luxury & High-End
BAL HARBOUR MAGAZINE https://www.balharbourshops.com/magazine/ | A luxury lifestyle title published by Bal Harbour Shops, a luxury shopping destination in Florida, covering design, art & photography, celebrity, fashion, and lifestyle topics. | $1.50 per word | |
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER http://www.cntraveller.com | Offers luxury travel guides, destination features, and expert tips, focusing on cultural experiences, upscale travel trends, and insider insights into global destinations. | $0.50 per word | https://www.cntraveler.com/info/how-to-pitch-conde-nast-traveler |
DEPARTURES https://www.departures-international.com/ | A luxury lifestyle magazine focusing on high-end travel, fine dining, culture, and exclusive experiences, offering expert recommendations on everything from luxury vacations to bespoke services. | $0.50 per word | |
LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE https://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com | Covers luxury travel destinations, high-end accommodations, and exclusive experiences for discerning travelers looking for unique and sophisticated travel options. | $0.50 per word | https://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/about-us/contact-us |
JETSETTER https://jetsetter-magazine.com/ | A multi-medium luxury travel lifestyle platform that includes a quarterly print magazine, a comprehensive website, and an informative bi-weekly newsletter. |
Marine & Boating
CRUISING WORLD https://www.cruisingworld.com | Cruising World informs sailors with practical advice, cruising stories, and destination features, targeting experienced boat owners and adventurers. | $1,000 per article | https://www.cruisingworld.com/cruising-world-guidelines-writers-andphotographers/ |
SMALL BOATS MONTHLY http://smallboatsmonthly.com | Specializes in small boat adventures, providing sailing stories, gear reviews, and travel tips for enthusiasts of small craft and water sports. | $0.25 per word | https://smallboatsmonthly.com/editorial-guidelines/ |
YACHTING https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/ | Covers the world of yachting, marine life, and luxury boating, offering editorial opportunities for writers to contribute articles on sailing, destinations, and maritime culture. |
Road & RV
ROAD & TRACK https://www.roadandtrack.com/ | Road & Track offers automotive enthusiasts a deep dive into the world of cars, featuring reviews, performance tests, and exclusive stories. | $1 per word | |
TRAILER LIFE MAGAZINE http://www.RV.com | Focuses on RV living and travel, offering tips, product reviews, and destination guides for RV enthusiasts, covering both practical advice and the joys of life on the road. | $700 per article | https://www.rv.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RV-Editorial-Guidelines_090417.pdf |
Science, Nature & Sustainability
SIERRA https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ | Sierra Magazine publishes environmental and social justice stories, focusing on topics related to sustainability, equity, and the planet’s future. | $1 per word | https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/editorial-guidelines |
BIOGRAPHIC https://www.biographic.com | bioGraphic showcases environmental stories, exploring nature, sustainability, and innovative solutions to global challenges through engaging journalism. | $0.75-$1.50 per word | https://www.biographic.com/submissions/ |
AMBROOK RESEARCH https://ambrook.com/research/ | An agriculture website focusing on the business of farmers, but also publishes culture and sustanability pieces occassionally that could fit. | $0.50-$1 per word | https://ambrook.com/research/writing-for-us |
I was under the impression CNN no longer paid.
Their freelance outlay has been reduced in the last year, but they do still use freelancers, especially on the travel side. I’ve done three pieces for them myself in the last couple of months.
Excellent list, thank you for compiling it! I found it was just not worth it to pitch travel articles, made more money blogging and selling advertising. Now I focus on freelance and the money is more in business writing.
But I do wish I had this list when I was in that world, excellent and very comprehensive, very nice of you to take the time to compile it.
Hi Molly – travel writing can be a tough and thankless job, that is true. But the perks can also be great! Business writing I do know can be much better for the wallet. It’s been a while since I was in that world, but I seem to recall that US$1 a word was standard… in travel it’s like finding a golden truffle.
Thanks for putting together this really useful article. I liked how you have organised it depending on rates paid. This has saved me a lot of time, great job 🙂
I am working on compiling my own list so this is a real bonus and saves me masses of time!! Thank you sooooo much!!
SO USEFUL! Thanks so much for sharing!
Useful info, James, and shrewdly organized to boot. Thanks!
That was really nice of you to compile that list. Thank you! I wrote for Hemispheres, Continental (before the merger) and American Way for many years they used to pay between $1-$2/word. When did they get so cheap?
Those you mention are in my ‘unknown fees’ section – so they could well pay those fees, I just wasn’t able to verify. If you know they do, please let me know and I’ll move them into the correct section.
Great article. Thanks for sharing! I’m really curious for European company’s too and would love to review your book when it comes out. I’m sure a lot of Dutchies would be interested!
Thanks Kim! Make sure you’re on my mailing list and you’ll be among the first to hear when it comes out – I’ll be giving away a few review copies.
You can also pitch for us at Wanderful! http://www.sheswanderful.com/write
What an awesome and very helpful list!
Now it’s time to write some more and send pitches.
Many thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks also from Australia. This is very generous of you. And useful!
Thanks for this list, James, and for this blog. You’ve inspired me to work smarter at getting published in travel publications. I was aware of many of these publications, and have pitched some of them in the past, but it’s great to have an updated list.
Some publications will not take anything if the writer has had any freebies, like meals, accommodation, etc., but it’s pretty hard to do some of the travel all on your own dime. So it’s good to check out the guidelines and see what the policy is.
By the same token, some publications don’t want your “vacation” stories, so I always try to find angles they may be interested in when I’m on vacation.
I have quite a few travel articles on my blog that I use as writing samples but I don’t try and send those as they have been “published.”
It’s time to look at those again and see how I can rework them to fit the pubs you’ve listed.
Thanks again for this.
Cheers,
Christine
You’re welcome Christine! And sure, why not revisit old stories and give them a fresh look? There may be a couple of nuggets hiding there you could use to angle pitches and even whole stories.
Whoa Nelly, what a great list! Kudos for compiling this James! It’s given me an idea actually, to try to pitch the lot over a number of weeks. I’ll let you know how I get on, assuming I don’t get disheartened too quickly!
Good to hear Jools, def let me know how it goes. I should try to do the same, but it may take longer than a few weeks…!
Thank you so much for such a useful post ! I’m getting into freelance writing and this is so helpful. I have a question concerning pictures – do you supply the photos yourself ? If yes how much do you charge ? Thanks for your help.
Hi Violette, glad you find my blog useful. I actually wrote a post about sourcing or providing pictures here: https://travelwriteearn.com/heres-freelance-writers-source-photos-editors/.
I argue that freelancers need to get used to sourcing pictures themselves, because it will help you become a valuable contributor to your editors. If you’re a good or even great photographer then you should ask for a fee too, yes. I’m not, so I never do! And you have to bear in mind that many online editors these days don’t have extra budget for pictures. In general, if someone provided their own pictures to me with their article, I would sometimes bump the fee up by US$50 or 100. But only sometimes.
This is a great list. Thanks for sharing this on your site!
Your website is like gold mine of information. Thank you so much for helping out newbies.
I wish I could find relevant contacts for Indian sites/magazines as well. Finding right person for each source is becoming a challenge.
You’re welcome Manisha! Hope it helps.
Never seen as much as a comprehensive list!
Maybe it needs an update? something of the links are broken.
Ask and you shall receive – just updated with double the number of titles and more. You may need to add your email again to receive it…
This post was super helpful! Thanks for providing such valuable information.
Very welcome Addy.
This is an amazing list, James, thank you so much for compiling it!
You are welcome. Will we see you inside the 100 pitch challenge now? 😉