Let’s admit it. All of us would like a full-time job as a writer working for the likes of National Geographic Magazine. While travel writing jobs likes this do still exist, for most of us mortals, such a dream job is just that.
Fortunately, we live in a time where an aspiring travel writer need not land such a travel-writing job to be a paid travel writer. In most reasonable countries, life on the road beings at around $25/day. Luckily, that’s what the starting rate of compensation for travel writers.
Thousands of travel writers scratch their itchy feet as freelance correspondents writing for various publications. I know this because I am one of them.
Starting out can be difficult, but the good news is that it gets easier. 
The key is not blanketing the Internet with submissions and queries. Long term success is about building strong relationships with editors of paying markets. The only way to do this is to maintain a high level of integrity and to consistently deliver quality work.
You wouldn’t pilot a space shuttle without reading the instruction manual, would you? Then do not submit to a publication without first reading the writer’s guidelines. When I was first starting out in this biz, I made the mistake of going for quantity over quality. Remember, your goal is to build positive relationships with editors. Disobeying the rules is no way to start that relationship. Different publications want you to approach them with queries and manuscripts in different ways. Read the guidelines to know what to send and how to send it.
There is nothing worse than not hearing back about a submission. Shame on these publications. As much as rejection sucks, silence is worse. So to aid your search for travel writing jobs, I have compiled a list of what I consider to be some of the best publications to approach for publishing your work. I have either published with them, or been rejected by them. Either way, each publication was good about reading my query or manuscript and getting back to me in a reasonable time frame.
Low Paying Travel Writing Jobs
The Expeditioner is a publication I will always be grateful to. For me personally, it illustrates the importance of developing a healthy relationship with an editor. In the end, you might just end up with a managing editor position, and a good friend. The Editor, Matt Stabile, frequently offers new writers feedback and responds to all inquiries. He’s a standup guy in this industry and his publication reflects that. Pay rate: $30/article
I appreciate the Literary Traveler because it combines two passions: travel and literature. Every post published here helps you answer that question, “What are you going to do with your English major?” Easy: You’re going to write and travel the world. Pay rate: $50/article
The Matador Network is the place I always refer aspiring travel writers looking to publish their first piece. They have a team full of editors who read everything that comes across their desk and are also there to work with writers on editing a piece to fit their needs. My experience over the years with Matador Network has been extremely positive. Pay rate: $25/article.
Go Nomad is a community of travelers interested in independent and alternative travel. They also are interested in destinations off the radar. That means you can publish a piece about that small town you’re from that no one else has heard of. Pay rate: $25/article.
Travel Thru History is a publication that is not on a lot of radars. But if you can nod your head at the words Traveler, Writer, and history buff, then this is a publication worth checking out. As their name implies, they are not just interested in places, but the histories behind those places. Pay rate: $10-30/article
Go World Travel is at the high end of the low end market. Their categories are wide, which makes them a suitable place for a variety of travel writing, from first person narratives to destination pieces. Pay rate: $35-50.
Mid-level Travel Writing Jobs
Alpinist Magazine is interested in articles related to climbing. But you do not have to be a climber yourself to write for them. From interviewing climbers, to profiling a place with geography conducive to climbing, this is niche market anyone can break into. Pay rate: $.25/word
National Geographic Traveler is a well respected print magazine. Publishing here is something all aspiring travel writers should work towards. It certainly does not hurt to query. Pay rate: varies.
If you are near a marina, odds are you are near a story that is appropriate for Cursing World. Talk to those yachties and find yourself a story. Pay rate: varies
High Paying Travel Writing Jobs
Adventure Cyclist is dedicated to publishing stories about bicycle travel and other recreational cycling subjects. Don’t stop reading this just because you are not a cyclist. You are a writer, remember. How often do you meet someone on the road who is biking from this coast to that coast? It happens every trip, right? So figure out if their story would make a good subject for an exclusive article. Pay rate: $.40 to $.60 per word
Archaeology Magazine is your chance to be more like Indiana Jones. Face it, you have not been acting enough like Indiana Jones lately. If you are traveling to a location where archaeology research is going on, you are in a great position to query Archaeology Magazine. Find out what is going on in your area. With today’s technology, archaeologists are more accessible than ever. Find out what stories are there and send these guys a query.
Costal Living is a lifestyle magazine for people who love the coast. From homes, destinations and activities, they cover all topics that have to do with the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf Shores, and the Hawaiian and Alaskan coastline. Pay rate: $1/word
Outside, according to their guidelines, wants publish articles about “people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and hardware of the outdoors.” They pay well, and are found on magazine racks all over the world. If travel and adventure are synonymous words for you, this is the droid you want to query. Pay rate: varies.
Wanderlust Magazine: is from our friends across the pond. They are interested in everything under the traveling sun: travel news, features, reviews, comments, jobs abroad. If you’ve got the wanderlust, and have it written down, check these guys out. Pay rate: £220 per 1,000 published words.
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Remember: In this industry, rejection happens more than acceptance. In this sense, it’s like dating in high school. If you are tenacious, this works to your advantage. Don’t take rejection personally. Learn from it. It’s not you, it’s them. If you are persistent and can shrug off those rejection letters, you will succeed.
