How to Start Generating Passive Income as a Brand New Travel Influencer or Content Creator

Dreaming of turning your travels into income? Whether you’re just starting your journey as a travel creator or simply curious about earning money while exploring the world, there are easy ways to start building passive income — even with a small following.

Picture this...

You’ve embraced the digital nomad lifestyle. You’re traveling full-time, sharing your adventures across social media, and building a community of fellow wanderlusters who love your content.

But something’s missing — income from your travels.

You’re putting time and creativity into your blog posts, Instagram Reels, and YouTube videos. You’re inspiring others to explore the world… but you’re not earning from that inspiration yet.

Here’s the good news: monetizing your travel content doesn’t require a massive following or fancy brand deals. By setting up a few key income streams early, you can start earning while you grow — creating long-term sustainability for your travel lifestyle.

So, let’s dive in!

Why Passive Income Matters for Travel Creators

Passive income is the foundation for a sustainable digital nomad life. It allows your content to work for you — even when you’re offline exploring temples in Thailand, chasing sunsets in Italy, or hiking volcanoes in Guatemala.

Starting early helps you:

• Build a foundation for future income growth.
• Create financial stability while you grow your audience.
• Fund future trips (and worry less about where your next paycheck comes from).

If you’re serious about growing your travel brand, check out my post on How to Build a Memorable Travel Brand for more foundational tips.

Start with Travel Affiliate Marketing Platforms

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest (and most flexible) ways to start earning passive income as a travel content creator. You promote travel tools, experiences, or brands you love — and earn a small commission whenever someone books or buys through your link.

Here are two of my favorite platforms for travel creators:

Travelpayouts

Travelpayouts is a digital partnership platform that connects influencers and content creators worldwide to trusted travel brands. When you join the platform for FREE, you gain access to over 60 potential travel-related affiliate marketing programs.

Travelpayouts Monetization Option 1: 

One way to monetize this platform is to sign up for specific affiliate programs that you will promote through your various channels and content. Without a large social following or massive amount of blog traffic, your options are limited but will expand as your influence grows.

One program you can get started with right away is WayAway, which is a free flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. They also have a paid plan — the WayAway Plus membership plan — which gives you cash back on flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, and more. Here's where you can get 10% off your WayAway Plus membership! They also offer a 7-day free trial!

Travelpayouts Monetization Option 2: 

Another way you can monetize this platform is to refer people to the platform. When new people sign up using your referral link, you're rewarded 7% of their earnings for the next 2 years! When they earn, you earn! And all you had to do was introduce them to Travelpayouts.

Quick Start Tips:

• Sign up for free and explore available programs.
• Start with simple links like flight deals or hotel recommendations.
• Add affiliate links to your destination guides, social media posts, or email newsletters.

Stay22

Stay22 is a travel tech company that offers affiliate revenue generation opportunities for events, ticketing and travel media publications. You can earn commission by embedding interactive maps into your website or blog where people can browse available accommodations through some of the most popular booking sites like Expedia, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Hotels.com. When they book an accommodation using a map or link that's tied to your account, you earn commission.

It's very easy to create a map with their tool, and you can put points of interest on the map that may be attractions people would be interested in staying near. You can also point people to specific accommodations that you recommend, especially if you set up a UCG deal with a hotel or Airbnb.

Quick Start Tips:

• Add a Stay22 map to your “Where to Stay” sections.
• Highlight points of interest or specific hotels you recommend.
• Share your map links on social media or in destination guides.

Ready to sign up? Click here! Plus once you reach 100 qualified bookings, you'll receive a $100 bonus from Stay22.

Niche Down with Brand-Specific Affiliate Programs

Affiliate platforms are great starting points, but don’t forget about direct brand programs — especially those that align with your travel style.

Think about what you already use and love during your adventures.

For example:

• Outdoor enthusiasts: hiking gear, boots, and backpacks
• Digital nomads: coworking memberships, VPNs, and travel insurance
• Travel photographers: tripods, editing tools, and camera accessories
• Frequent flyers: luggage, carry-ons, and travel essentials

For me, I love to hike, so I often promote hiking and outdoor gear I genuinely use. I also recommend The Foldie — my favorite TSA-approved weekender bag that compacts when I don’t need it and expands to become my long weekend companion.

Pro Tip: Choose products that genuinely improve your travel experience. The more authentic your recommendation, the more trust you’ll build — and the better your results.

Want to see the tools I personally use and love? Visit my Travel Creator Toolkit.

Become a Brand Ambassador

A brand ambassador partnership is like an ongoing affiliate relationship — but often with more perks. You might earn commission, get free products, or receive exclusive discounts for your audience.

When I first started, I partnered with Uptown Hippie because I loved their laid-back, wanderlust-inspired style. Now, when someone uses my discount code nomadicallyashley, they get 15% off — and I earn a small commission in return. 

Of if someone wants to start promoting their products and uses my referral link, I'll earn a small commission for that as well! Check them out and apply to be a brand ambassador yourself!

If you have a small following, start with smaller or niche brands. They’re often more open to collaborating with creators who genuinely align with their mission and aesthetic.

💡 Pro Tip: When you apply, share how your lifestyle reflects the brand’s values. Include examples of your content that fit their look or vibe.

You can find more programs like these on my Creator Tools & Resources page.

 

These income streams won’t make you rich overnight — and that’s okay. Building passive income takes time, consistency, and authenticity. But every small step adds up.

Focus on sharing the brands, tools, and experiences you genuinely believe in. As your influence grows, so will your income — and you’ll be building a travel lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and sustainable.

Every successful travel creator starts somewhere. Keep creating, keep sharing, and trust that the work you’re putting in now is setting the stage for something incredible.

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Special Note about Affiliate Marketing: 

Don't just sign up for just any affiliate marketing program. Make sure it is something that you like and think others will like or could benefit from. You want the content you promote about that item to be authentic, and the only way to do this is to be a user and believer in the products you are promoting.

*Note: this blog includes affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission with a qualified purchase.