It’s spring, which means it’s time when people start planning their summer vacations. Make the most of this time! With the right travel affiliate program, you can earn commissions by helping travelers book accommodations, flights, car rentals, and activities.
Below, we rank the top 10 best travel affiliate programs based on their profitability and benefits.
1. Discover Cars
- Niche: Car rentals
- Commission Rate: 70% of rental profit; 30% of full coverage revenue
- Cookie Duration: 365 days
- URL: Discover Cars Affiliate Program
Discover Cars stands out due to its “double” commission structure, allowing affiliates to earn both from rental profits and full coverage services. Additionally, the one-year cookie duration makes this program highly profitable, as affiliates continue earning long after initial visits.
✅ Pros: Banners, text links, widgets, landing page generator, XML API integration, dedicated account manager
🚫 Cons: Minimum payment threshold of $200
2. Tripadvisor
- Niche: General travel (hotels, activities)
- Commission Rate: Starting at 50% of Tripadvisor’s commission
- Cookie Duration: 14 days
- URL: Tripadvisor Affiliate Program
Tripadvisor offers one of the highest commission percentages in the travel industry. Affiliates earn a commission when users visit a hotel’s website via their referral link, making it easier to generate income even if users don’t complete bookings.
✅ Pros: Various linking options (text links, logos, banners, badges, widgets)
🚫 Cons: No commissions on restaurants, activities, or flights
3. Booking.com
- Niche: Hotels, flights, car rentals, attractions
- Commission Rate: 25 – 40% of Booking.com’s commission
- Cookie Duration: Session-based
- URL: Booking.com Affiliate Partner Centre
Booking.com is a well-known travel brand, making it easier for affiliates to drive conversions. The commission structure is tiered, with higher earnings for affiliates who generate more bookings.
✅ Pros: Trusted brand name, promotional tools
🚫 Cons: Payouts only after $109
4. Expedia Group
- Niche: Accommodation, flights, car rentals, cruise lines, activities
- Commission Rate: Up to 4%
- Cookie Duration: 7 days
- URL: Expedia Group Affiliate Program
Expedia is one of the largest travel brands, ensuring high conversion rates. While the commission rate is lower than others, its extensive inventory makes it a worthwhile program.
✅ Pros: Different affiliate tools (Creator Toolbox, trackable links, search widgets, banners)
🚫 Cons: No commissions on canceled bookings; payouts only when the customer’s trip is completed
5. Agoda
- Niche: Hotels, vacation rentals
- Commission Rate: 5%
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- URL: Agoda Affiliate Program
Agoda’s program is particularly beneficial for travel bloggers due to its high commission rate and 30-day cookie duration, giving ample time for visitors to convert.
✅ Pros: Hotel power ads, text links, promotional tools
🚫 Cons: Only open to website owners, no social media influencers
6. GetYourGuide
- Niche: Tours and excursions
- Commission Rate: 8%
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- URL: GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
GetYourGuide is ideal for affiliates specializing in travel experiences. Its competitive commission rate and user-friendly booking process make it an attractive option.
✅ Pros: Frequent promotions, last-minute bookings, lowest price guarantee
🚫 Cons: Niche-specific focus
7. Skyscanner
- Niche: Flights, hotels, car rentals
- Commission Rate: Up to 20%
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- URL: Skyscanner Partners
Skyscanner’s extensive partnerships and user-friendly interface make it an excellent option for affiliates with a strong web presence.
✅ Pros: Different integration tools (widgets, banners, links)
🚫 Cons: Requires website traffic of at least 5,000 unique monthly visitors
8. Amazon Associates (Travel Category)
- Niche: Travel essentials (luggage, accessories, clothing)
- Commission Rate: 1% – 4% (varies by category)
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours
- URL: Amazon Affiliate Program
While not a traditional travel affiliate program, Amazon Associates allows affiliates to earn on travel-related products like luggage and accessories, making it a useful supplementary income source.
✅ Pros: Trusted brand, huge product range
🚫 Cons: Short cookie duration, low commission rates
9. World Nomads
- Niche: Travel insurance
- Commission Rate: 10%
- Cookie Duration: 60 days
- URL: World Nomads Affiliate Program
World Nomads is a solid choice for affiliates focusing on travel safety, with a generous commission rate and extended cookie duration.
✅ Pros: Strong brand recognition, extensive integration tools
🚫 Cons: Travel insurance content is harder to rank for
10. Viator (by Tripadvisor)
- Niche: Tours and activities
- Commission Rate: 8%
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- URL: Viator Affiliate Program
Viator’s affiliate program is a great choice for travel bloggers focused on activities and experiences, with a reasonable commission rate and a vast selection of tours.
✅ Pros: Large selection of travel experiences
🚫 Cons: Lower commission compared to direct bookings
Conclusion
The best travel affiliate program for you depends on your niche and audience. If you specialize in car rentals, Discover Cars is the most profitable. Tripadvisor and Booking.com are great for hotel affiliates, while Expedia provides a well-rounded option for all travel needs. Amazon Associates and World Nomads are excellent for supplementary travel income.
Choose a program that aligns with your content strategy to maximize your earnings in the competitive travel industry!
