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- highest paid travel bloggers turned their dream of exploring the world into a profitable venture! Driven by the desire to travel and get paid, these creators have successfully transformed their passion into lucrative businesses. By mastering the art of monetising their blogs, they’ve made their dreams a reality.
- After mastering the art of monetising their blogs, these travel bloggers turned their dreams into reality. Now, let’s dive into the top 10 highest-paid travel bloggers who made it happen.
1. Matt Kepnes from Nomadic Matt
- Expected Yearly Income: Over $1,000,000
Regarding travel blogging, Nomadic Matt is a role model for many. His blog and best-selling books have become a trusted source for travellers everywhere.
But more than just an expert in the travel sphere, Nomadic Matt has transformed his love for travel into a successful business, making his blog one of the highest-earning sites online.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- In 2018, reports revealed that Nomadic Matt’s earnings as a travel blogger reached an impressive $750,000 yearly.
- Through multiple income streams, including affiliate marketing, ads, courses, and product sales, Matt’s earnings as one of the highest-paid travel bloggers have steadily increased.
- Thanks to his insightful travel advice, Nomadic Matt has established himself as one of the wealthiest in the travel blogging world.
- An interesting aspect of his success is that neither Matt nor his team gets paid to travel; instead, they share authentic personal experiences and travel plans.
- While reaching such earnings might seem daunting to some, Matt’s journey shows that with consistency and dedication, success in travel blogging is very achievable.
2. Kiersten Rich, The Blonde Abroad
- Estimated Annual Revenue: $1,000,000+
If you’ve been searching for travel tips online, you’ve likely come across Kiersten Rich, better known as The Blonde Abroad.
Kiersten is a trailblazing female travel influencer who has transformed her passion for solo travel into a flourishing business, earning over $1 million annually by 2019.
What makes her unique? By diversifying her revenue streams, she has successfully transformed her blog into a thriving business.
The Blonde Abroad isn’t just a top travel blogger and entrepreneur; she’s also a role model for solo female travellers, encouraging women worldwide to embark on their adventures and build their travel blogs.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- Kiersten has leveraged every possible avenue to generate income, from brand partnerships to earning through ads, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products.
- But she didn’t stop there. Kiersten also discovered innovative ways to monetise her expertise, offering consulting services and organising sought-after all-female travel tours.
3. Johnny Ward of OneStep4Ward.com
- Estimated Annual Revenue: $1,000,000+
Meet Johnny Ward, a former office worker who made the courageous decision to leave his job and became one of the highest-earning travel bloggers in the world.
Although Johnny didn’t initially set out to be a travel blogger, his deep passion for both travel and blogging led him to start his website in 2006. Since then, he has earned around three million dollars from his blog.
Despite facing several challenges along the way, Johnny now earns over $100,000 per month from his online endeavours, firmly establishing him as one of the most successful travel bloggers worldwide. (Some Bold Characters)
SOURCES OF INCOME
- In addition to earning through affiliate marketing and advertising, Ward generates income by sharing his experiences at public speaking events and organising group trips. Over the years, he has also acquired and monetised more than 250 websites.
4. Alex Jimenez, Travel Fashion Girl
- Estimated Annual Revenue: Over $1,000,000
In 2008, Alex Jimenez embarked on full-time travel and became frustrated with her lacklustre travel wardrobe. By 2012, she had found the solution and launched Travel Fashion Girl.
Her blog rapidly gained traction, earning her a seven-figure income annually, proving that travel blogging can be a lucrative venture with commitment and hard work.
Leveraging her experience in the fashion industry and her extensive travels, Jimenez built a brand that empowers women to pack efficiently and travel stylishly.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- Travel Fashion Girl earns a seven-figure income mainly through AdThrive and affiliate marketing with online retailers like Amazon and LTK. Alex Jimenez also sells digital products, such as packing ebooks, to help her audience pack like pros.
- Additionally, Alex launched her product line, Compass Rose Travel Accessories, and acquired Women’s Travel Fest, an annual conference that empowers women through travel and community. She also uses her travel blog earnings to invest in real estate.
5. Glo Atanmo, The Blog Abroad
- Estimated Annual Revenue: $1,000,000+
This solo female travel entrepreneur has been earning seven figures since 2020.
With 259k followers on Instagram, a widely visited website, and a YouTube channel, she proves that success is achievable with the right mindset and a solid understanding of passive income.
She also provides an answer to the question: How much do Instagram travel bloggers make? The answer is, a lot, as Glo stands among the highest-paid travel bloggers on Instagram.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- How did she achieve such incredible success in travel blogging? Curious about how travel bloggers earn seven figures? It all boils down to multiple income streams.
- Glo Atanmo now generates revenue from seven to eight different sources. She has mastered the art of creating sustainable passive income through academies, masterminds, affiliate marketing, digital products, and more.
6. Dave & Deb of The Planet D
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL REVENUE: $800,000 – $900,000
The dynamic duo behind The Planet D has perfected the art of brand building, creating one of the highest-earning travel blogs.
Since launching their site in 2008 to document and monetise their travels, they’ve expanded their audience to over one million monthly readers and continue to grow.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- This couple generates a high six-figure income annually by employing smart monetisation strategies and diversifying their revenue streams.
- According to their blog income reports, they earn $20,000-$40,000 per month from affiliate marketing, $30,000-$35,000 monthly from display ads, and up to $50,000 per campaign from brand partnerships.
- The Planet D adventure travel blog also monetises a loyal email list, digital products, public speaking engagements, and YouTube. Now, the question is answered: How much do travel bloggers make on YouTube?
7. Shelley Marmour of TravelMexicoSolo.com
- Estimated Annual Income: $600,000+
Meet the Affiliate Marketing Queen, Shelley Marmour — that’s me! After earning just $8,490 in 2021 as a travel expert, I grew my blog to six figures by the end of 2022, including a $52,000 month!
If you want to learn how to make money as a travel blogger, I can help you with my affiliate keyword and blogging courses.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- With nearly 300k sessions, I’ve leveraged my affiliate marketing expertise to generate a remarkable $20k-$30k monthly from affiliate sales alone.
- But that’s not where it ends. My local travel blog focusing on Mexico generates an additional $8k-$10k per month through display ads. Digital products like my ebook, along with my loyal email list, provide further streams of income.
- I’ve expanded my affiliate success by launching multiple niche sites. Each of these sites generates both affiliate and ad revenue, solidifying my position as one of the most successful travel bloggers in a relatively short period.
8. Dariece and Nick from Goats on the Roads
- Estimated Annual Income: $200,000 – $400,000
In 2012, Dariece and Nick set a goal to earn $1,500 a month to travel and live abroad full-time, not just for short vacations. By 2022, the duo behind Goats on the Road was making $15k–$30k monthly from their travel blog.
Over the last decade, they have become experts in making money remotely while exploring the world, living by their motto, “Turn travel into a lifestyle.” Their journey proves that it is possible to get paid to travel.
From blogging and freelancing to various online work methods, Dariece and Nick have consistently shown that living and working while travelling is entirely achievable.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- Dariece and Nick earn money from their blogs through affiliate marketing, ads, and partnerships. But their monthly income doesn’t stop there.
- They also offer three courses for travel bloggers and have built a substantial email list through their freebie opt-in “101 Ways to Earn Money and Pay for Travel.“
9. Lia & Jeremy from Practical Wanderlust
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL INCOME: $300,000–$500,000
In 2016, this adventurous pair left their office jobs to travel the world and share their experiences online. Although they used to share their monthly income in 2018, they don’t do that anymore. However, they openly discuss making over six figures from their blog, allowing them to sustain their lifestyle.
They’re open about making a living and earning over six figures from their blog. It’s their way of life.
When their blog Practical Wanderlust reached 100,000 monthly sessions in 2018, they earned $11,000 in their best-performing month. Since then, their blog traffic has more than doubled, significantly increasing their income. This illustrates the typical journey of a travel blogger.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- They generate income through multiple channels, including ads, affiliate sales, paid press, sponsored posts, selling products and courses, placing affiliate links (marked as no-follow), and even freelance writing on the side.
10. Katie and Ben from Two Wandering Soles
- Estimated Annual Income: $350,000 – $500,000
Since launching their blog in 2014, this adventurous duo has continued to thrive, with no signs of slowing down. Although they stopped sharing their income details in 2019, they were previously making an impressive $25,000 a month from their blog.
What started with a focus on van life, budget travel, and nomadic living has now evolved into a comprehensive resource for eco-friendly and sustainable travel. Their blog offers valuable insights for all types of travellers, including families, digital nomads, van lifers, and scuba divers.
SOURCES OF INCOME
- Their reports initially focused on affiliate and advertising earnings, which were already impressive. Over the years, however, they’ve significantly expanded their income streams. They’ve tripled their sources of revenue, now including digital products, brand collaborations, email marketing, and courses like Blogging Bootcamp and Van Conversion Academy.
Three Ways to Make Money Travel Blogging
- Now that we’ve explored the top-earning travel bloggers, let’s quickly dive into how you can start earning money with your blog.
- Here are some simple tips on how travel bloggers make money. There are endless opportunities in this field. You can explore a detailed guide on how to become a Travel Blogger and Make Money, packed with great advice for aspiring bloggers, including insights on the best-paying blogging gigs.
- This guide offers some of the best tips for travel blogging, ensuring you no longer have to wonder how much travel bloggers earn. Plus, you’ll discover the highest-paying jobs in the travel blogging industry.
- Soon enough, you’ll understand how to start earning money through travel blogging. Keep in mind that the most successful travel bloggers use almost all of these methods, not just one.
- Ready to learn how to become a travel blogger and start earning? Try out these top three favourite methods for making money through blogging!
1. Advertising
To earn money from your travel blog through ads, consider signing up with popular ad networks such as Mediavine, AdThrive, or SheMedia. However, these networks typically require a minimum amount of traffic before you can join.
Focus on creating engaging and valuable content about your travel experiences to attract more visitors to your site. The more traffic you generate, the more revenue you can earn from ads.
Ad income can be substantial, depending on the type of content you produce, such as luxury travel or family trips, and your geographic location.
So, keep producing quality content and growing your audience to maximise your earnings from ads on your travel blog.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Unlike ads, affiliate marketing offers a faster way to earn money from your travel blog. You don’t have to wait for a specific number of visitors to start generating income. This is why affiliate marketing is so popular for making money with travel blogs.
The best part about affiliate marketing is that there’s no limit to how much you can earn. I make more than half of my income through affiliate marketing.
In my course on finding affiliate marketing keywords, I teach bloggers how to identify keywords that can drive substantial income through affiliate sales. You can explore more about my course in this article, which highlights the best courses for travel bloggers.
Like the travel bloggers featured here, you can earn money by joining affiliate networks such as Viator and Booking.com.
Affiliate marketing is a simple and passive way to generate income. Travel bloggers earn commissions by recommending products through unique links, and they receive a commission when readers make purchases using those links.
So, how do they make money? They promote products using these special links, and every time someone buys through those links, they earn a commission! This strategy is also integrated into their social media efforts.
3. Products (Digital & Physical)
That’s where digital products come in! E-books, printables, photo gifts, and courses are all excellent ways to earn money with your travel blog.
With some initial effort, you can create products that continue to generate income long after they’re launched.
Digital products provide a consistent income stream for your travel blog, allowing you to share your expertise with your audience.
You have full control over the pricing, branding, and distribution of your products. Digital products are a fantastic option if you want to start earning from your travel blog right away.
And this is just the beginning. To dive deeper, check out my comprehensive guide on How to Become a Travel Blogger and Make Money.
