20 Travel Blog Success Stories [2024]
If you are an avid traveler, you will agree there is nothing like arriving on a tropical island. The exotic creatures, clear oceans, palm trees, plenty of water activities, and cool weather are some reasons travelers choose tropical destinations.
Do you live on a tropical island? Or maybe you are a blogger looking for the next idea. How about starting a blog relating to tropical island destinations? You can mention all the fantastic sightseeing sites, water activities, and other fun activities available to travelers.
In this list, you'll find real-world travel blog success stories and very profitable examples of starting a travel blog that makes money.
1. TRVL MORE ($19.2M/year)
Raj Mahal, founder of PlanMoreTrips, came up with the idea for his AI travel app after founding his previous company, TRVL MORE, and gaining expertise in the travel industry. His deep knowledge of frequent flyer miles from his travel blog allowed him to monetize his content through affiliate revenue, and he later enrolled in a coding boot camp to develop the skills needed to create his own app. Despite facing setbacks with his previous startup, Raj's passion for travel and desire to inspire others led him to launch PlanMoreTrips and continue his entrepreneurial journey.
How much money it makes: $19.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 10
This case study follows the entrepreneurial journey of Raj Mahal, the founder of PlanMoreTrips and TRVL MORE, who bootstrapped TRVL MORE from $0 to $20,000,000 in annual sales and eventually launched PlanMoreTrips, an AI travel app that saves users money on flights and hotels.
2. CuddlyNest ($2.8M/year)
Ritesh Raj, the co-founder and COO of CuddlyNest, came up with the idea for the accommodation booking platform after years of traveling to over 100 countries and realizing the pain points of finding diverse types of accommodations. Alongside his co-founder, they decided to create a centralized platform that offers all kinds of properties for all types of travelers. Since its launch, CuddlyNest has raised over $14 million in funding and has plans for continued growth and expansion.
How much money it makes: $2.8M/year
How many people on the team: 72
CuddlyNest has become the only online travel agency that offers all types of accommodations in one platform, with inventory currently including over 4 million properties of all types in 80k+ cities, and is expecting to hire more than fifty new employees in the coming months.
3. Golf Trip Junkie ($1.98M/year)
Sean Petersen, the founder of Golf Trip Junkie, came up with the idea for his business while playing a game of golf. As a passionate golfer and traveler, he wanted to combine his two passions into a successful business. From the first successful vacation he planned, Sean realized that helping people enjoy life and de-stress through golf was his true motivation, and that fueled his drive to create a thriving business.
How much money it makes: $1.98M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 5
Golf Trip Junkie founder Sean Petersen shares how he turned his passion for golf and travel into a profitable business, with average monthly revenue of $165,000, by designing personalized golf vacations for middle-aged men and companies looking for a unique corporate outing experience.
4. Solo Female Travelers ($1.8M/year)
Mar Pages, along with her business partner Meg, grew Solo Female Travelers from a small Facebook group in 2015 into a million-euro travel platform by 2023. Despite launching their tours amidst the pandemic, their emphasis on women-led, women-focused travel resonated deeply, propelling them to 300 guests across 14 destinations with unwavering organic growth.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 1
"Read how Solo Female Travelers, a women-led tour company, grossed just over 1 million EUR in revenues in 2023 by offering tours in 14 destinations, empowering women through travel and contributing to more equitable tourism industries."
5. Nomadic Matt ($744K/year)
In July 2006, Matt set off on a global adventure. As an early travel blogger, he encountered backpackers who demonstrated that he didn't need to be tied down to a job or be wealthy to travel long-term on a budget. They showed him that millions of people did it every year. After this trip, he returned home with the idea of creating a website to teach people how to "travel better for less".
How much money it makes: $744K/year
Learn how founder Matthew Kepnes turned a global adventure into a profitable business with an average revenue of $62k/month, teaching millions how to travel for less through his blog, Nomadic Matt, starting in 2008.
6. Travel Blogging 101 ($660K/year)
Shelley, a former travel magazine editor, started a travel blog after leaving her corporate job.
In just two years, she became a six-figure blogger and taught others how to achieve similar success.
Through her courses and blog, Shelley has generated significant income and plans to continue expanding her business and creating more courses in the future.
How much money it makes: $660K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1
Travel blogger turns four profitable blogs into a six-figure business, increasing income by 3,113% from 2021 to 2022, and now teaches others how to scale quickly using her techniques.
7. Yolo Intel ($240K/year)
Yolo Journal is a travel lifestyle media brand that publishes a physical printed magazine three times a year and has a successful travel-focused newsletter, Yolo Intel, which is the most popular travel newsletter on Substack.
Yolanda Edwards, founder of Yolo Journal, came up with the idea after realizing there was a gap in the market for a travel magazine that focused on providing trustworthy and insider information. With her background in the magazine industry and passion for travel, she launched Yolo Journal and quickly gained success, with her weekly newsletter now bringing in $20k a month.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 1
Yolo Journal's founder, Yolanda Edwards, launched a travel lifestyle media brand with a magazine and newsletter that now generates $20k a month in revenue. Edwards' business success can be attributed to understanding the hole in the magazine market and creating trust-worthy insider information.
8. The Wayward Home ($240K/year)
In 2017, Kristin stumbled upon an article about Michelle Schroeder-Gardner's blog, Making Sense of Cents. In it, she learned that Michelle was making $100,000 per month through blogging.
This got her interested in the idea and she started researching more about it. As a former journalist, Kristin has always enjoyed writing and interviewing people.
Being in the media, she was aware that stories about alternative living were gaining a lot of traction and hence, she decided to start a website where she could interview nomads and publish articles about their lives, living in vans, buses, and boats.
Thats how she embarked on the journey of creating her own blog.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 0
This case study article is about Kristin Hanes, the publisher at The Wayward Home, who grew her website to make up to $28,000 per month during peak season but experienced a decrease in revenue due to a Google update, showing the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and the need to adapt and persevere.
9. Travel Mamas ($180K/year)
traditional methods of promotion like passing out postcards, handing out business cards, and sending press releases to traditional media outlets. However, I quickly realized that these tactics were not effective for growing an online business. Through trial and error, I learned the importance of SEO and how to optimize my content to rank higher in search engine results. I also discovered the power of social media in attracting and engaging with readers. Over time, I became more proficient in using these digital marketing strategies to grow my audience and generate revenue. Another valuable lesson I learned is the importance of persistence and perseverance. Building a successful blog takes time and consistent effort. It's easy to get discouraged in the early stages when you're not seeing immediate results, but I stuck with it and continued to create valuable content that resonated with my audience. This dedication has paid off as Travel Mamas has grown into one of the most popular travel blogs in the world. Overall, starting and growing my own business has been a tremendous learning experience. I’ve gained valuable skills in digital marketing, content creation, and business management. I've also developed a deep understanding of my audience and what they are looking for. These lessons and insights will continue to be advantageous as I navigate the future of my business and adapt to changing industry trends.
How much money it makes: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 1
TravelMamas.com founder Colleen Lanin shares how she turned a family travel blog into a business that generates $15K in monthly revenue through ad network sales, affiliate sales, sponsored posts, book sales, public speaking appearances, and media campaigns.
10. Rebel Book Club ($156K/year)
Ben Keene and Ben Saul-Garner came up with the idea for Rebel Book Club after realizing they both had a habit of buying books and not finishing them. They decided to create a book club where members would commit to reading one book a month, attending a meetup, and enjoying a custom cocktail inspired by the book. The club quickly grew, and now has 570 subscribing members and generates £10,500 in monthly recurring revenue.
How much money it makes: $156K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 0
Two friends started an online book club that now has 570 members and generates £10,500 MRR, by addressing the problem of 'Tsundoku,' charging a monthly subscription fee for one non-fiction book, one inspiring meetup, and one custom cocktail, inspiring conversation and community.
11. Not a Nomad Blog ($120K/year)
After moving to Germany, the individual in question decided to launch a blog to share her experience of living in Europe and provide some travel tips.
With time, she noticed that her blog's traffic was increasing, and she identified an opportunity to generate income.
To accomplish this, she enrolled in affiliate marketing courses and integrated affiliate links into her blog with the goal of earning a commission for any sales made through those links.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
Not a Nomad Blog, founded by Monica Lent, generates an average of $10K/month through affiliate marketing, with a yearly income of $120K/year since 2013, focusing on SEO strategies to drive traffic and revenue growth.
12. ANTHONYKDO INC ($120K/year)
Anthony's passion for filming and moving led him to create films that were appreciated by his audience. As he gained more recognition, he started receiving requests to create films for others. After his first successful client project, he was convinced of his entrepreneurial potential.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How many people on the team: 0
A nomadic Canadian filmmaker started their creative business six years ago and now has over two dozen loyal clients scattered across six different countries, earning between $7000-15000/month, with a website built on WIX and no traditional marketing approach, relying on word of mouth and social media, they operate like an agency these days aiming for more meaningful work.
13. The Gap Decaders ($90K/year)
Izzy and Phil had a mutual love for traveling and went on luxury vacations together for several years.
However, six months into their travels, the weather changed, and Izzy found herself in need of mental stimulation as the days grew shorter.
While browsing the internet, she stumbled upon some travel blogs that caught her attention.
The concept of sharing information online was new to her, but the more she read these travel blogs, the more fascinated she became with writing about the motorhome lifestyle and earning money through blogging.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
Learn how Izzy Nicholls grew The Gap Decaders from a simple blog to a thriving business making an average of $7.5K/month, using SEO and email marketing strategies to drive traffic and engagement.
14. My Curly Adventures ($48K/year)
Jessica, the founder of MyCurlyAdventures, came up with the idea for her business after realizing that there was a demand for travel destinations close to home that could be visited on a weekend getaway. By showcasing these unique and lesser-known locations in Texas through her blog and social media, she was able to attract a growing audience and monetize her platform through advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate income. With her income steadily increasing and a constant focus on creating high-quality content, Jessica's future looks bright as she continues to inspire others to explore and travel.
How much money it makes: $48K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Learn how Jessica started a niche travel blog and quit her 9-5 job, earning a living wage through Instagram advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate income, while traveling 3-4 times a month and increasing her website traffic from 400 to 25k page views in a year with Pinterest and Instagram growth tactics.
15. Points Panda ($45.6K/year)
Freddy Lansky, the CEO of Points Panda, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the value of transferring points to airlines for discounted business class flights. He started by offering award booking services to friends and family before turning it into a full-fledged consultancy business. Through consistent content creation and strategic partnerships, Points Panda has steadily grown and aims to expand its team in the future.
How much money it makes: $45.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
Points Panda is a points & miles travel blog/award booking consultancy business that helps people maximize their points; the business began after CEO Freddy Lansky realized he could turn his passion for booking award flights for small “hassle fees” into a thriving business.
16. Frugal and Frills ($36K/year)
After becoming a mother for the second time and wanting to find a way to combine her financial background with her everyday life as a mother, Asia Crawford decided to start a blog. Despite having no prior knowledge of website design or blogging, she taught herself everything through YouTube tutorials. In just two years, Asia has grown her blog to 18.5K Instagram followers, 1.2 million monthly viewers on Pinterest, and 12.5K monthly blog pageviews, generating between $1,500-$3,000 in extra income every month.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How many people on the team: 1
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
17. PubClub.com ($24K/year)
Kevin Wilkerson came up with the idea for PubClub.com while in Amsterdam with a friend, realizing the importance of knowing not just where to go in a city, but when to be there. He started the lifestyle website to provide information on travel, nightlife, food and drink, festivals, and sports, and has since expanded it to generate approximately $2,000 a month from advertising with around 25k users per month. Through his background in journalism and PR, he has been able to publish quality content and attract partnerships with tourism boards.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How many people on the team: 1
PubClub.com, a lifestyle website with information on travel, nightlife, food and drink, festivals, and sports around the world, generates approximately $2,000 a month from advertising and has approximately 25k users/month to its website, with founder Kevin Wilkerson starting the company in order to provide a unique concept for a tourism guide site.
18. Etramping ($12K/year)
Agness and Cez, the founders of Etramping, started their business in 2011 as a personal site to share budget travel hacks for backpackers. Their passion for travel and their own experiences of backpacking on a tight budget drove them to share their knowledge and help aspiring adventurers explore the world. Since then, Etramping has grown into a thriving community, offering unique itineraries, travel hacks, budget tips, and buying guides for travel gear. With consistent content, strategic partnerships, and a focus on their audience's needs, Etramping has attracted and retained a loyal customer base.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows the journey of Agness and Cez, founders of Etramping, as they started a personal travel site in 2011 and grew it into a thriving business, sharing budget travel hacks, unique itineraries, helpful tips, and buying guides, attracting half a million page views in a month and earning up to $2,000 in monthly ad revenue through Mediavine and affiliate marketing.
19. SOS Romance Planning Service ($12K/year)
Danielle Price, the founder of SOS Romance Planning Service, came up with the idea after realizing the lack of excitement in her own relationship and her passion for event planning. Through strategic partnerships and hiring a business coach, she has been able to attract and retain customers, leading to a successful business despite a slow start. She is now focused on expanding her business, protecting her brand, and increasing revenue.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
SOS Romance Planning Service's Founder, Danielle Price, shares how she started her company to help couples create fun, romantic experiences with services like Suite Experiences and Deluxe Picnic Dates, all with the goal of changing the narrative that marriage is dull and "saving marriages" being her ultimate aim.
20. Theresa Healey ($12K/year)
Theresa, the owner of the blog DIY Lifestyle, started her blog as a way to share useful information about gluten-free, vegan, and healthy recipes, crafts, and travel tips. Over time, she realized she could monetize her blog by selling handmade products through her small business called "With Love From T to You." With her blog and Etsy shop combined, Theresa now makes an average income of $700 a month.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $350
How many people on the team: 1
DIY Lifestyle blog owner, Theresa, turned her passion for crafting and writing into a side income source, attracting hundreds of thousands of global visitors, with her blog generating $400-$500 a month and her online Etsy store bringing in an additional $200-$300 a month, showcasing her unique, all-natural, one-of-a-kind polymer clay earrings, home decor, and huts inspired by Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, reading and home decorating.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
