When I first started my travel blog, I did what most travel creators do: I looked into affiliate links. Platforms like Stay22, Viator, and Booking.com seemed like the obvious path. You sign up for free, get access to thousands of tours and stays, and share them on your blog or socials. In theory, it sounds simple: plug in the links and earn commission when people book.
But when I actually got into it, I quickly realised that this approach wasn’t the right fit for me especially when I saw people complaining over social media how companies were without warning removing links, changing commission rates and more!
The Reality of Affiliate Links
Affiliate networks are often promoted as “easy” income streams, but the truth is they’re not always as simple or rewarding as they look on the surface.
Yes, they’re free to join, but here’s what I found:
- Low commission rates – you need a lot of traffic to earn anything meaningful.
- Time-consuming – you end up juggling multiple accounts and dashboards.
- One-time earnings – you only get paid if someone clicks and books right then and there.
- No brand alignment – it felt like I was just throwing links out, without building something of my own.
It started to feel like I was working hard to promote other people’s businesses, rather than creating something sustainable for myself.
Why I Wanted Something Different
I knew I wanted more than just scatterings of affiliate income here and there. I wanted something that:
- Was all under one umbrella (instead of logging into ten different dashboards).
- Gave me residual income potential instead of chasing one-off clicks.
- Allowed me to genuinely help people travel, not just sell to them.
- Supported me in building a brand and community around travel.
That’s when I started looking beyond the usual affiliate networks.
The Travel Membership Model
Joining a travel membership just made more sense for me. Here’s why:
✨ Everything in one place – Instead of scattered links, I have one platform that covers hotels, experiences, flights, transfers and more.
✨ Better earning potential – The commissions and membership opportunities mean I’m not limited to tiny percentages from big brands.
✨ Residual income – Instead of starting from zero every month, I’m building a business that compounds over time.
✨ Aligned with my values – This isn’t just about selling; it’s about showing families and travelers that there’s a smarter, easier way to explore the world.
Building a Brand vs. Pushing Links
At the end of the day, affiliate links like Stay22 and Viator aren’t bad. They work for some people, especially if you already have massive traffic numbers.
But for me, the travel membership model offered something that felt bigger. It gave me tools, community, and resources that fit perfectly into my blog, podcast, and social media presence.
It’s no longer about just “monetising clicks.” It’s about building something sustainable that aligns with the lifestyle I’m creating.
Final Thoughts
I could have stuck with affiliate links and kept chasing clicks. But honestly? I’m glad I didn’t.
Choosing a travel membership has been a game-changer, it’s simplified my business, increased my earning potential, and most importantly, it’s allowed me to create something that actually feels like mine.
If you’re a travel creator weighing up Stay22, Viator, or other affiliate platforms, it’s worth asking yourself:
👉 Do you want to keep spreading your energy thin across different platforms for small returns?
👉 Or do you want to build something under one umbrella that can actually grow with you?
With affiliate links you are essentially chasing sale after sale. By sharing a travel platform which allows your readers, followers and fellow travel lovers to ALWAYS receive up to 70% off of all their travel you’ve not only helped them bag a deal on more than just one hotel but you have also earned yourself a residual income for as long as they remain an active member.
It’s also much easier to add to bios across all your socials, it’s useful for blogs and Youtube channels AND actually speaking to people. You’re out there travelling, you’re chatting to other travellers who are going to genuinely want to know how much you’ve paid, where you have booked etc and you can just give them one website, one link and you’ll have secured them cheaper travel for life too.
✨ If this sparks your curiosity and you’d like to know how it actually works, I’d love to chat with you. You can drop me a message on my IG here or you can send me an email at [email protected]
I look forward to chatting with you soon and don’t forget, this isn’t just a way to make money in an easier way and save others on their travel, you can save a tonne on YOURS too!
Francesca xoxo
P.s, have a fun video of one of my finer moments in Gran canaria 😉