Writing opportunities

DiscoverYourTour is a growing travel marketplace connecting travelers with local guides, tours and authentic experiences. We are looking for experienced travel writers, bloggers, local experts and content creators who would like to contribute original, destination-focused articles to our platform. At this stage, we are currently accepting pitches only for the following destinations: Barcelona, Amsterdam, Florence, London, Paris, Prague, Lisbon, Porto, Rome, Kraków, Bucharest and Quito. Please do not pitch articles about other destinations for now, as our current editorial focus is limited to the cities listed above. We are particularly interested in writers with genuine first-hand knowledge of the destinations they cover. Suitable topics may include local travel guides, neighbourhood guides, itineraries, cultural insights, hidden gems, food and drink, practical travel advice and unique local experiences. You can view our existing travel content here: https://discoveryourtour.com/en/blog Selected contributors receive a published author byline, contributor profile and the opportunity to include a relevant link to their own website, travel blog or social profile. We are looking for original, useful and genuinely experience-based content rather than generic or AI-generated travel articles. When applying, please include: * A short introduction * Which of the listed destinations you know first-hand * Links to previous published articles * A link to your own travel blog or website, if applicable * Relevant social media profiles * 2–3 article ideas you would like to contribute We review every application individually and select contributors based on writing quality, destination expertise, originality and relevance to the DiscoverYourTour audience. More information about our contributor programme: https://discoveryourtour.com/en/contributors

Unpaid / Exposure

Longreads commissions original narrative nonfiction — personal essays, reported features and reading lists, typically 2,000–6,000 words — and regularly runs travel and place-based work (not a travel-exclusive market). Essays and personal essays start at $500, reported features at $0.50/word, reading lists $350; paid Net-60. Generative-AI-written or -edited submissions are explicitly refused. Pitch to hello@longreads.com.

USD 500 flat fee

International Living buys first-hand stories on living, retiring, working and travelling overseas across three routes — the print magazine, Daily Postcards (minimum ~600 words) and the website. Payment is upon publication, a one-time rate based on word count; they do not publish specific figures. Submit by email: magazine to submissions@internationalliving.com, postcards to postcards@internationalliving.com, website to digitaleditor@internationalliving.com.

Wander With Wonder publishes destination, food and experience travel stories (1,200–3,000 words, length assigned on acceptance). It is a paid contributor model — the page states it pays within 30 days of publication, with byline, photo and bio — but it does not publish a specific rate. Pitch (not a full draft) to editorial@wanderwithwonder.com with the subject 'WANDER PITCH: [TOPIC]'.

Go World Travel commissions first-person destination stories (850–1,600 words) — the people, customs and local spots behind a place, not service listicles. Pays $30–40 per published story or photo essay, upon publication, for non-exclusive online rights. Pitch by email to submissions@goworldtravel.com with the story title and destination in the subject line.

USD 30–40 flat fee

A rolling application to Sustainable Travel International's freelance-writer roster for future assignments. They assign blog topics (they don't take guest-post pitches); pieces typically 1,000+ words, paid per article via a brief. Apply via the on-page form.

Brand USA's official procurement page, where it sources supplier partners including content and video production. Individuals and agencies may respond; proposals go to rfpadmin@thebrandusa.com. Listings rotate — check the page for the currently-open RFP and its deadline before responding.

Lonely Planet's own writer route is an application-to-a-pool (not open pitches): you apply, and they contact you only when your skills match a commissioning need, then you complete writing assessments. Requires real publishing and travel experience.

Wanderlust (the paid UK print magazine founded 1993 — NOT the hyphenated guest-post site) publishes original long-form travel features with a strong sense of place. Reported baseline ~£220 per 1,000 published words — an unofficial figure, negotiable, so confirm the rate on commission. See their contributors page.

Sidetracked publishes adventure and expedition features. Pitch first (no unbidden full manuscripts), in English, unpublished elsewhere, with five low-res images. Submissions must be written entirely by a human — generative AI is explicitly banned. Paid (rate not published).

Intrepid's content hub The Good Times (Good Stories, Good Trips, Good Life, Good Ideas) takes pitches for original, unpublished ideas via an on-page form. Published pieces get a byline, headshot and bio — and are paid (rate not published; confirm on commission).

TravelAge West (a travel-trade publication for advisors) buys career/professional-development, trend, guide and first-hand review stories with a journalistic tone. Pays $250 for 500–800-word web pieces and $600 for print cover stories. See their 'Write for us' FAQ.

USD 250 flat fee

AFAR's own writer guidelines. Digital afar.com stories start at $0.50/word (mostly commissioned rather than cold-pitched); print features (1,500–2,500 words) start at $1/word. Feature pitches go to the named deputy editor listed on the page.

USD 0.50 per word

Matador commissions strongly-angled travel stories (~1,100 words) for a well-travelled, mostly US audience — no hotel roundups, family-travel or news pieces. Rates $200–300 per story (PayPal), depending on scope and research. Pitch via their form on Matador Creators, not by email.

USD 200–300 flat fee