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How to Get Paid to Travel and Review Hotels

Posted by Onassis Krown on
travel guide

The Ultimate Guide on How to Get Paid to Travel and Review Hotels

If you’ve ever dreamed of making a living while gallivanting across the globe, lounging in luxurious suites, sipping cocktails by infinity pools, and writing about it—this guide is for you. Getting paid to travel and review hotels is one of the most desirable careers in today’s experience-driven economy. While the path is not easy, it is very possible with the right strategy, consistency, and creativity. This guide will walk you through every essential step—from building your brand to landing paid gigs—and will equip you with the tools to turn wanderlust into income.

1. Understanding the Industry: Myth vs. Reality

Let’s get one thing straight. This is not a paid vacation. While the photos might look glamorous, professional hotel reviewing is serious business. It's part journalism, part marketing, part influencer, and part hospitality critic. You’ll be expected to:

  • Provide in-depth and honest reviews.

  • Capture high-quality content (photos and/or video).

  • Adhere to deadlines and brand guidelines.

  • Maintain credibility with your audience.

If you treat this as a legitimate business—not a free holiday—you’ll set yourself up for long-term success.

2. Build a Personal Brand That Travels

In a crowded market, your personal brand is your currency. You are not just a reviewer—you are a storyteller, a voice, a trusted resource.

Choose a Niche

There are millions of travel blogs. But what sets you apart?

  • Luxury hotels

  • Boutique and hidden gems

  • Eco-friendly stays

  • Adventure lodges

  • Family-friendly resorts

  • Budget backpacker hostels

  • Romantic getaways

Choose a focus based on what you enjoy. This makes your content more authentic, and audiences can connect with your passion.

Design a Cohesive Identity

  • Create a memorable name (e.g., The Luxe Nomad, Hostel Hopper, Green Globe Explorer).

  • Design a logo and brand colors.

  • Use a consistent aesthetic for your blog and social media.

Your brand should reflect your travel personality and attract your target audience.

3. Set Up Your Platforms

Before you start requesting comped stays or brand deals, you need a digital presence.

Website or Blog

Your blog is your online headquarters. Use it to:

  • Host long-form hotel reviews.

  • Include a portfolio of past work.

  • Offer media kits and contact information.

  • Rank on Google for SEO terms like “Best hotels in Bali.”

WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix are user-friendly platforms for non-coders.

Social Media Channels

Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are key players in visual travel content.

  • Instagram: Best for dreamy visuals, Reels, and hotel collabs.

  • YouTube: In-depth hotel reviews, room tours, vlogs.

  • TikTok: Trending audio + behind-the-scenes hotel content.

Be consistent. Post regularly. Use relevant hashtags and tag hotels to get their attention.

Email List

Create a newsletter. This is your most valuable audience segment—people who want to hear from you. Offer exclusive hotel deals, destination guides, or personal travel tips.

4. Start by Reviewing What You Can Afford

Don’t wait for paid gigs. Start now.

  • Book stays using your own money (or loyalty points).

  • Review hotels on your blog and social media.

  • Document every detail: check-in experience, room quality, staff friendliness, food, location, cleanliness, amenities.

  • Use high-quality photos and videos—this builds credibility.

Pro Tip: Ask for a room upgrade in exchange for social media coverage. Many hotels say yes.

5. Create Killer Hotel Review Content

What separates a basic hotel photo dump from a professional review? Structure and value.

What to Include in a Hotel Review:

  1. Introduction: Why did you choose this hotel? What stood out?

  2. Location & Accessibility: Proximity to attractions, transport options.

  3. Check-In Experience: Friendly staff? Smooth process?

  4. Room Review: Size, bed comfort, views, cleanliness, Wi-Fi, storage.

  5. Bathroom Details: Water pressure, amenities, toiletries.

  6. Dining: Breakfast buffet? Room service? On-site restaurants?

  7. Facilities: Pool, gym, spa, beach access.

  8. Service: Staff hospitality and responsiveness.

  9. Vibe: Quiet and relaxing? Trendy and energetic?

  10. Who It’s For: Couples, families, solo travelers, business travelers?

  11. Final Verdict: Was it worth the money? Would you return?

Include honest pros and cons. Transparency builds trust.

6. Reach Out for Sponsored Stays

Once you’ve got 10+ solid reviews and a growing audience, it’s time to pitch.

Build a Media Kit

A one-page PDF that includes:

  • About you (your niche and mission)

  • Audience demographics (age, location, interests)

  • Website & social stats (followers, reach, engagement)

  • Previous brand collaborations

  • Services you offer (reviews, photography, shoutouts)

Find the Right Contacts

Look for:

  • Hotel PR contacts on their website.

  • Press contacts listed in travel publications.

  • General managers (they often handle marketing in smaller hotels).

  • Boutique hotel groups or chains open to influencer partnerships.

Write the Perfect Pitch

Keep it short, sweet, and tailored.

Subject Line: "Partnership Opportunity: Feature on [Your Blog Name] + IG Reels & TikTok"

Body:

Hello [Name],

I’m [Your Name], a hotel reviewer and travel content creator with a focus on [Your Niche]. I’ll be in [City] from [Dates] and would love to feature [Hotel Name] on my blog and social channels.

I’ve worked with brands like [Past Collaborations], and my audience of [Demographic Info] is always looking for [Relevant Hotel Feature].

I’d be happy to offer a detailed review, professional photos, and promotion across Instagram, TikTok, and my blog in exchange for a complimentary stay.

Please let me know if this sounds like a fit. I’ve attached my media kit for your review.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Info]

7. Get Paid for Hotel Reviews

Once you’ve built a portfolio, it’s time to move from “free stays” to “paid campaigns.”

Types of Paid Partnerships

  • Sponsored Hotel Stays: You’re paid to stay and review.

  • Content Creation Packages: Hotels pay you for professional images or videos for their own use.

  • Affiliate Marketing: You earn commission when people book hotels through your referral links (e.g., Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia).

  • Brand Ambassador Deals: Long-term relationships with hotel chains, tourism boards, or hospitality brands.

  • Press Trips: Tourism boards or PR agencies pay you to promote a destination and the hotels involved.

Pro Tip: Always disclose sponsored content to comply with FTC guidelines.

8. Join Travel & Influencer Networks

These platforms connect influencers with brands, including hotels:

  • Travel Mindset

  • The Influencer Marketing Factory

  • AspireIQ

  • Heepsy

  • Fohr

  • BrandSnob

  • TRAVRL

Also, consider joining press programs such as:

  • Conde Nast Traveler’s Traveler Contributors

  • Matador Creators

  • Lonely Planet Pathfinders

9. Master Photography & Videography

Hotels don’t just want exposure—they want content they can repurpose.

Invest in:

  • A good camera (Sony ZV-1 or DSLR for pro photos).

  • A tripod or gimbal for smooth video tours.

  • Editing software (Lightroom, Final Cut Pro, CapCut).

Learn how to capture:

  • Aerial room shots

  • Sunset pool reflections

  • Moody lobby lighting

  • Before & after room clean-ups

Add storytelling to your visuals. Don’t just show the bed—show yourself arriving, lounging, ordering room service.

10. Maintain Professionalism & Ethics

Your credibility is your most valuable asset.

  • Be honest in your reviews, even when it’s sponsored.

  • Always meet deadlines.

  • Don’t ghost brands after the stay.

  • Follow up with a performance report (views, clicks, engagement).

  • Be kind to hotel staff—you’re representing yourself and your audience.

11. Turn This Into a Long-Term Career

If you're consistent and savvy, this can grow beyond freelancing.

Build Multiple Income Streams

  • Launch a travel course (“How to Become a Hotel Reviewer”).

  • Offer hotel consulting (how to attract influencers).

  • License your photos and videos.

  • Write a hotel review e-book or destination guide.

  • Launch your own travel merchandise or travel planner journal.

Think Bigger

  • Pitch a hotel review column to a travel magazine.

  • Host a travel podcast interviewing hoteliers.

  • Partner with airline or booking brands.

  • Create your own hotel rating app.

  • Become a luxury travel advisor with custom trip packages.

12. Success Stories to Inspire You

Here are a few names to study:

  • Kiersten Rich (The Blonde Abroad) – built a luxury-focused travel empire.

  • Tara Milk Tea – known for aesthetic hotel reviews and global campaigns.

  • Nadine Sykora (Hey Nadine) – transitioned from YouTube vlogs to professional reviews.

  • Daniel Wellington x influencers – while not a hotel brand, they created the model of mass micro-influencer collabs, which is now used by many boutique hotels.

Learn their methods. See what kind of content they produce. Watch how they interact with brands.

Final Thoughts: The Journey Is Worth the Jet Lag

Getting paid to travel and review hotels might just be the modern-day dream job. But like any career worth having, it demands hustle, professionalism, and creativity. You’ll need to invest time into content creation, branding, networking, and pitching. You’ll have to start small and often unpaid.

But if you stay the course and build your name as someone who provides real value—to both hotels and audiences—you’ll be able to turn your passport into a paycheck and your suitcase into a studio.

The world is waiting. So, pack your camera, open your laptop, and get ready to check-in—on your terms.

Bon voyage and best of luck!

Lateef Warnick is the founder of Onassis Krown. He currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Consultant in the Jacksonville FL area and is a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Counselor, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Know Thyself," "The Golden Egg" and "Wear Your Krown." He is also a former Naval Officer, Licensed Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Realtor, Serial Entrepreneur and musical artist A.L.I.A.S.

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