Do Travel Blogs Still Make Money in 2025? Here’s What I’m Seeing as a New Creator
It’s the question I googled a hundred times before launching and now I’ve got some honest answers.
The Big Question Everyone’s Thinking
Let’s not pretend this isn’t the first question you Googled after considering a travel blog in 2025:
“Do travel blogs still make money?”
I know I did, somewhere between planning our family’s slow-travel adventure through South America and wondering whether blogging was still a thing. After all, didn’t YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok make blogs feel… old?
But here’s what I found: the blogging world didn’t die, it evolved. The fluff is gone. The “post a cute photo and get a comped hotel” era is fading fast. And what’s replacing it? Strategy. Search intent. Niche authority. Real value.
And yep…still real income.
In this post, I’m breaking down:
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Why the old blogging model isn’t what makes money anymore
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How creators are still earning through SEO, digital products, and partnerships
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What I’ve done as a new blog builder (with zero hype)
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And whether you can still build a blog that brings in income even if you’re starting today
Spoiler: you can. But only if you build it intentionally. Let’s break it down.
We’re building this while prepping for a year on the road with two kids. If you want to support the journey, even just a little here’s how.
Let’s Be Real! The Travel Blog Landscape Has Changed
There’s no point sugarcoating it: you’re not going to get rich writing about your “top 5 cafes in Paris” anymore
Well at least not without a content strategy. The travel blog world is more competitive, more algorithm-driven, and (let’s be honest) more sophisticated than it was ten years ago.
But that’s actually good news because the blogs that do succeed now?
They’re solving real problems. They’re not just pretty pictures; they’re content hubs. SEO machines. Niches with a pulse.
Here’s what’s changed:
The “blogging as a diary” model is mostly dead unless you have a built-in audience.
Brands are savvier. They’re looking for bloggers with authority, not just reach.
Social traffic is unreliable. But Google still rewards helpful, niche content, especially long-tail search answers and guides.
Passive income still exists but it’s now powered by affiliate strategies, digital products, and long-form evergreen content.
In short: you can still absolutely make money with a travel blog in 2025. But only if you treat it like a business. That means choosing the right niche, creating content people are searching for, and knowing how you’ll monetise it from the start.
So, how are bloggers doing that today?
Yes, Travel Blogs Still Make Money, Here’s How
Travel blogs are still profitable they just don’t all make money the same way. The days of slapping Google Ads on a homepage and calling it a day are long gone. In 2025, the bloggers who are earning are doing it through a diversified content ecosystem.
Let’s break down the most effective monetisation models working right now:
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate income still makes up a huge slice of earnings for travel bloggers especially when it’s built into high-intent, SEO-optimized posts. Think:
Gear roundups (backpacks, strollers, travel tech)
- Email system
What I’m doing: I’ve started using affiliate links in packing lists, resource pages, and gear roundups (including for our Family Travel Kickstart Kit). It’s a long-term game but one that compounds.
2. Digital Products & Templates
This is one of the fastest-growing and most reliable income sources. Travel creators are selling:
Worldschooling calendars
Notion dashboards and SEO systems
I’ve launched my own Family Travel Kickstart Kit a paid template pack for parents prepping for long-term travel. It’s small now, but it’s mine and I can grow it over time without relying on platform changes.
3. Display Ads
Ad networks like Mediavine and Raptive still work but you need solid traffic (typically 50k sessions/month+). They’re best suited for bloggers with a content engine already rolling.
My current plan: I’m building SEO-friendly evergreen posts that can rank and bring in steady traffic. It may take months to reach ad-level traffic, but it’s a clear goal.
My first goal is to get approved b adsense, though not as easy as it used to be, they’re much more selective.
4. Sponsorships & Brand Partnerships
Brands still want visibility, they’re just being more selective. Sponsorships now often come to bloggers with a tight niche and loyal audience, especially in family, gear, or remote travel sectors.
What I’m testing: Strategic outreach. I’ve recently pitched Aeropress and a few travel gear brands with real-world use cases and content/photo offers. It’s not passive but it’s very doable when done intentionally.
What Top Creators Are Earning (With Real Examples)
Let’s zoom out. Are the big blogs still making money in 2025?
Short answer: yes and in some cases, a lot.
Here are a few standout creators and how they’re doing it:
Blog model: SEO content, affiliate links, their own digital courses (on SEO/blogging)
Reported income: They’ve shared income reports in the past ranging from $10K–$20K/month largely affiliate-driven.
Why it works: They’ve built a brand on teaching travel blogging alongside sharing nomad content, monetising both directions.
Blog model: Massive authority blog with heavy focus on budget travel, guides, and blogging resources.
Income streams: Books, courses, speaking gigs, affiliate partnerships, a membership community.
Positioning: He’s not just a travel blogger, he’s a travel business.
More influencer than blogger but still uses the blog as a content home.
Income likely comes from brand deals, licensing, YouTube, and major sponsorships.
Relevance: Proof that storytelling + family niche + visibility still earns but most of us will need more SEO.
While you may not be aiming for those levels (yet), they prove this simple point: travel blogs still work when built as platforms, not just passion projects.
What I’m Doing Right Now (As a New Travel Creator)
So here’s where I get real. TravelventureFour isn’t some high-traffic empire. We’re early-stage. But we’re building with a system one that doesn’t rely on luck, Instagram reels, or comped stays.
Here’s what I’m focused on right now:
Affiliate integration: I’m embedding product and gear links naturally into helpful posts.
Paid product creation: I launched the Family Travel Kickstart Kit with practical tools for parents prepping to travel.
Evergreen SEO: Instead of chasing trends, I’m writing for real questions people Google (“How to travel with kids on a budget,” “What gear do we actually need?”).
Niche edit outreach: I’m actively pitching my content to get backlinks from trusted travel and just landed a placement on Goats on the Road.
Long-form trust content: I’m not writing fluff. I’m writing posts like this one, that actually serve people and can rank over time.
I’m not making thousands a month yet but I’m building the foundation for that to happen. And that’s exactly how every blog that earns starts.
The domain might be a year old as of writing this (May 2025) but I have only been working on the blog 3 months and already seen great progres.
What I’d Tell Anyone Starting a Travel Blog in 2025
Here’s the advice I wish someone had given me when I started my travel blog:
1. Start with a niche
Don’t be the “all things to all travelers” blog. Be the go-to for one specific type of reader. So for example we’re aimed at family travel.
2. Build with SEO in mind
Your blog should answer questions people are actually searching. Keyword tools like KeywordsPeopleUse (see my guide [here]) are game-changers.
3. Plan monetisation early
Think about affiliate potential. Think about templates. Think about solving problems. Think about building your email subscriptions.
4. Build content with value, not vibes
Trends fade. Algorithms shift. Helpful content lasts.
5. Play the long game
This isn’t about going viral. It’s about becoming trusted, searchable, and sustainable.
If you do this right, you don’t need millions of views. You need the right people landing on the right post with something to click, buy, or share.
It’s Not Dead. It’s Just More Honest Now.
So… do travel blogs still make money in 2025?
Yes, but only if you stop blogging like it’s 2012.
You need strategy. Focus. Patience. A niche. And content that meets people where they’re searching. The good news? You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to build somewhere intentionally.
I’m building mine now, Also you’re welcome to follow along. If you want a head start, check out the Family Travel Kickstart Kit the exact system we’re using to prep for full-time travel while building a monetised blog from scratch.
The blog world isn’t dead. But the lazy blog? That one’s done. What comes next is smarter and it’s wide open for the people who are building with purpose.
Don’t create another dead travel blog.
