The travel industry continues to grow, creating strong opportunities for affiliate marketers. Whether you run a travel blog, niche comparison site, YouTube channel, or deals newsletter, promoting the right travel affiliate programs can generate consistent commissions throughout the year.
In this guide, we’ll review the best travel affiliate programs in 2026, compare their commission structures, and help you choose the most profitable options for your audience.
Why Promote Travel Affiliate Programs?
Travel remains one of the most profitable affiliate niches because:
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High average order value (flights, hotels, tours, packages)
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Strong seasonal and year-round demand
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Global customer base
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High mobile booking rates
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Opportunities to promote multiple services per trip
Travel traffic is highly transactional. Users searching for “best hotels in Paris” or “cheap flights to Bali” are often ready to book, which increases conversion potential.
1. Booking.com Affiliate Partner Program
Best for: Hotel and accommodation-focused websites
Key details:
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Commission: 25–40% of Booking.com’s commission
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Cookie duration: Session-based
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Coverage: 220+ countries
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Inventory: Millions of properties worldwide
Advantages:
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Strong global brand recognition
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High conversion rates
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Extensive accommodation inventory
Disadvantages:
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Session-based cookie
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Commission tiers can be complex
This program works especially well for destination guides, hotel roundups, and comparison articles.
2. Expedia Group Affiliate Program
Best for: Full-service travel content
Key details:
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Commission: Varies by product (hotels, flights, car rentals, packages)
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Cookie duration: Up to 7 days
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Portfolio includes multiple major travel brands
Advantages:
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Diversified travel inventory
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Suitable for bundled bookings
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Recognized global brand
Disadvantages:
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Selective approval process
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Variable commission rates depending on product
This program is ideal for websites covering complete trip planning.
3. Tripadvisor Affiliate Program
Best for: Review-driven travel websites
Key details:
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Commission model: Paid per hotel booking referral
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Cookie duration: 14 days
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Extensive global review database
Advantages:
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High user trust
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Strong performance in hotel-related searches
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Effective for high-intent SEO traffic
Disadvantages:
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Click-based or referral-based payout model can limit earnings per visitor
This program works best for content such as “Best Hotels in Rome” or “Top Resorts in Maldives.”
4. Airbnb Affiliate Alternatives
Airbnb discontinued its public affiliate program, though limited partnerships still exist through select networks.
Why it matters:
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Strong brand authority
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Popular among digital nomads and younger travelers
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High average booking value
Affiliates can instead promote competing short-term rental platforms available through affiliate networks.
5. GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
Best for: Tours and activity-based content
Key details:
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Commission: Around 8%
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Cookie duration: 31 days
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Offers thousands of activities globally
Advantages:
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Long cookie duration
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Excellent fit for city guides
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Strong mobile conversion
Disadvantages:
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Lower commission percentage compared to digital products
This program performs well in articles like “Best Things to Do in Barcelona.”
6. Skyscanner Affiliate Program
Best for: Flight comparison content
Key details:
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Revenue share model
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Global flight inventory
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API access available
Advantages:
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Established authority in flight search
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Good fit for SEO-focused flight pages
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Broad international reach
Disadvantages:
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Earnings depend heavily on click quality and user intent
Ideal for ranking pages such as “Cheap Flights to Thailand.”
7. Travelpayouts Travel Affiliate Network
Best for: Affiliates who want access to multiple travel brands in one platform
Key details:
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Access to 100+ travel brands
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Covers flights, hotels, insurance, and car rentals
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Provides widgets and tracking tools
Advantages:
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Centralized dashboard
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Multiple monetization streams
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Beginner-friendly setup
Disadvantages:
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Commission rates vary by partner
This network is suitable for new affiliates who want to test several travel offers without managing multiple accounts.
How to Choose the Best Travel Affiliate Program
When selecting a travel affiliate program, consider the following factors:
Commission structure
Compare flat CPA offers and revenue share models. High-ticket packages often generate stronger returns than low-cost bookings.
Cookie duration
Longer cookie periods increase the probability of earning a commission.
Geographic coverage
If your traffic is international, ensure the program supports global bookings.
Content alignment
Match programs to your content format. Hotel-focused blogs perform well with accommodation programs. City guides benefit from tour and activity offers. Deal websites often convert better with flight comparison tools.
SEO Strategy for Travel Affiliate Websites
To rank for competitive keywords such as “best hotels in Paris” or “cheap flights to Bali,” focus on:
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Targeting long-tail keywords
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Building destination-based content clusters
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Creating in-depth comparison articles
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Implementing structured data markup
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Optimizing for mobile users
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Strengthening internal linking between related travel guides
Developing destination hubs (for example, Europe → Italy → Rome → Hotels, Tours, Flights) helps build topical authority and improve rankings.
Final Thoughts
The best travel affiliate programs depend on your audience intent and traffic source. Hotel-focused SEO websites often perform well with Booking-style programs. Activity-driven travel blogs benefit from platforms like GetYourGuide with longer cookie durations. Beginners may prefer networks that provide access to multiple brands within a single dashboard.
Travel affiliate marketing remains one of the most scalable and evergreen niches in 2026, especially when supported by strong SEO and high-intent content strategy.