Following on from all that talk about pitching to editors in Notes from a Travel Writing Course part 1, the course tutor went into more detail about getting the most out of a travel writing commission without having to pay for things – or at least getting a heavy discount. Some might say freebies!

Here’s some of the notes:

Relating to members of the industry to get hospitality: Never Stop Networking!

You need to build a relationship with the industry, targeting tourist boards, shop owners etc everyone who provides something that travellers need
The annual World Travel Market event is often held at the Excel in London and is only open to press and industry professionals – you’ll get lots of commision offers here. Get yourself in by producing a business card that presents you as a travel writer/blogger – register as press, and behave like one to get published

How to ask

You can use a place you’ve travelled to before or planning to – you don’t need the actual story, just an idea around an angle and topic
Once you have a commission, contact the tourist board beforehand, let them know what you’re planning to do and have a copy of a tourist board letter or email to show when you approach business’ like restaurants…
Be specific. E.g “I’m planning to travel to XXX I have a commission for XXX magazine. Can you help with my research/ take me there? Ask the airline/tourist board/tour operator or whatever….

Tell them what they will get out of it – an editorial/a mention at the end of the article but not necessarily a mention in the main piece.

Helping you out, or paying for your hotel/travel/hospitality is cheaper than an advertisement which is usually around £20,000.

Tour operators – it costs them virtually nothing since the tour/excursion is already running, you’re just tagging along
You could also send a synopsis to a magazine whilst simultaneously pitching the idea directly to a tour operator – agree a commission and then contact the tourist board with this and go back to the magazine with the agreed commision.

Rates of pay 🧐

The Guardian – approx £310 per 1000 words

Conde Naste – £1 per word

Daily Mail – might pay around £600

Women’s Magazines – £200 – £300

University alumni magazines – very well paid

Note: This was in 2019

Other Things to bear in mind

Tourist boards tend to offer you the most, ie a car and driver – things that enable you to do your job. 🚗

Select which restaurants you want to write about and why. ✍️

If your time on the trip was spent wholly and exclusively on research for work, you can declare related costs in your tax return – like taxis. But if you’re having a holiday as well – be careful what you declare. 📈

Overtourism – speak to tourist boards and ask them to introduce an algorithm to veer people to alternatives.