How I Make $100,000+ Each Year With A Travel Blog

Do you want to learn how to turn your passion for travel into a six-figure business?

Travel blogging is an exciting and flexible way to earn money while exploring the world. You get to share your experiences, inspire others, and create a business that fits your lifestyle. But how do you go from just writing about your trips to actually making $100,000+ per year?

Today, I’m excited to share the story of Jessie Festa, a successful travel blogger who started her blog, Jessie on a Journey, with the goal of helping travelers. Jessie went from earning nothing to building a six-figure travel blogging business.

In this interview, I ask Jessie questions about how to start a travel blogging business, like:

• How much money can a travel blogger realistically earn, and what are the main income streams?
• Is there still room for new travel bloggers to succeed in such a competitive niche?
• Do you need to travel frequently to maintain a successful travel blog, or can you blog about travel without being on the road constantly?
• What tools and equipment are important for running a successful travel blog? Do beginners need to invest a lot to get started?

Plus more!

If you’ve ever wondered how much money travel bloggers really make, how they get paid to travel, or how to start your own travel blog, this interview with Jessie is for you. She’ll break down her journey and share tips on everything from affiliate marketing to working with brands and tourism boards.

And, if you’re ready to turn your love for travel into a thriving business, Travel Blog Prosperity is the perfect resource for you. Created by Jessie, this membership offers 100+ courses and workshops, and a supportive community to help you grow your blog into a profitable venture. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to scale, Travel Blog Prosperity provides the tools and strategies to make it happen.

Technically, the doors are closed, but if you use my affiliate link, you can join right now. You can also use coupon code “MAKINGSENSE9” to get your first month for just $9. After that, it’s $49 per month to stay a member, and you can cancel at any time – even before your trial month is over.

Please click here to learn more about Travel Blog Prosperity.

Let’s dive into how Jessie makes $100,000+ each year as a travel blogger, and how you can get started too.

How I Make Money With A Travel Blog Business

Recommended reading: How To Start a Travel Blog and Make Money

1) Tell me your story. Who are you, and what inspired you to start your travel blog?

Hi, my name is Jessie Festa, a travel blogger, photographer, and blog coach from New York. 

I started my first travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, in 2011. At the time, there weren’t many resources online for solo travelers, and after going through the challenging process of planning a 3-month solo backpacking trip through Europe, I wanted to help others more easily plan their own solo trips.

Additionally, I wanted to create a business that would allow me to continue traveling. 

I graduated with my BA/MA in Communication during a recession, so jobs were scarce. While it was a scary and uncertain time, it also gave me the space to pursue travel blogging and see where it could lead me. 

Within about a year I was able to begin earning a steady income from it, and today it’s my full-time job. Along with Jessie on a Journey, I own the websites Epicure & Culture (sustainable tourism and culture blog) and NYC Photo Journeys (my photo experience site that gets most of its booking through the blog).

2. How much money do you make as a travel blogger?

I’m proud to say I’ve been able to create a 6-figure business for myself through blogging—which I attribute mainly to treating it like a business, which I share more about below in question #5.

I also try to diversify my traffic and revenue streams as much as possible to help protect my business. 

Additionally, I monitor what is working—and what isn’t—so I can adjust my strategies accordingly. 

Finally, I automate and streamline as much as possible, such as by creating sales funnels to sell my digital products.

3. Why did you decide to become a travel blogger?

Ultimately, it was my love of travel. I was determined to find—or create—a job that would allow me to earn a living from anywhere so that I could keep exploring the world.

Funny enough, I didn’t really know what blogging was before I started mine. Again, this was 2011, and blogging as a career wasn’t common yet. I’d always assumed a blog was just an online journal.

But, I saw other travelers—normal people who weren’t celebrities—doing it and actually making money writing about their travels on their websites. I told myself that if they could do it, so could I. So I did!

4. What do you enjoy most about running a travel blog?

The ability to be my own boss, get paid to be creative, and travel the world. 

Running a travel blog means getting to create my own schedule based on goals I’m passionate about and projects I’m excited about. Additionally, I can work from anywhere in the world—or choose to take time off, because I’m the one approving vacation time.