Is Travel Blogging Worth it in 2025?

Is travel blogging still worth it in 2025?

It’s a question I’ve asked myself more than once — usually after a Google update, a dip in traffic, or a particularly late night catching up on blog tasks after the kids are asleep.

I’ve been travel blogging for a few years now, and while it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just before the first Helpful Content Update, I’d finally reached Mediavine — a milestone I’d been working toward for years. And then? My traffic tanked, income plummeted, and it felt like everything I’d built had vanished overnight.

Some bloggers walked away. I stayed.

Because for me, blogging isn’t just about pageviews or ad revenue. It’s about sharing the travel tips and stories that help other families plan their adventures. It’s about being able to walk my kids to school, chaperone a class trip, and not miss an after-school cross-country meet because I was stuck at a job I couldn’t leave. It means not having to stress over whether I can miss work when they’re home sick. It’s about building something flexible, creative, and something I truly love doing.

So if you’re wondering whether travel blogging is still worth it — I’ve got some honest answers for you.

What Travel Blogging Really Looks Like in 2025

Travel blogging sounds like a dream — getting paid to explore new places, share photos, and write about your adventures. And sometimes, it really is as wonderful as it sounds.

But the reality? It’s also deadlines, algorithm updates, writing late at night, and wondering why a post that took you hours suddenly lost all its traffic. Especially in the last year or two, travel blogging has become less about glamorous trips and more about strategy, resilience, and adapting to constant change.

The truth is, travel blogging in 2025 isn’t dead — but it has definitely changed.

There’s more competition, more noise, and more platforms pulling for attention. What worked in 2019 doesn’t always work now. You can’t just post a few photos and expect readers to find you. You have to think about SEO, content clusters, affiliate funnels, site speed, and user experience. You have to create content that’s helpful, original, and based on real experience — especially if you want to stand out in a post-HCU world.

And yet, for those who stick with it? There’s still space to grow. Still readers looking for honest advice. Still families who want to know how to plan their trip to Costa Rica, the best things to do in Prague, or how to keep their kids entertained on a long flight or road trip.

My Own Blogging Journey

When I first started blogging, I had no idea how much it would teach me — about writing, SEO, resilience, and myself.

In the beginning, it was just a way to share our family’s travels. I loved writing and documenting the places we explored, especially the little details that helped make trips easier for other families. And slowly, the blog started to grow. I figured out how to optimise for search, started earning affiliate income, and eventually applied to Mediavine — a milestone many travel bloggers work toward.

I’ve had some big wins (like hitting Mediavine) and just as many setbacks (hello, HCU). But through it all, I’ve learned more than I ever expected — not just about monetisation and strategy, but about resilience, adaptability, and what success actually means to me.

I’ve learned that traffic doesn’t always equal value. That algorithm updates can shake your confidence, but they don’t have to take away your purpose. And that building something meaningful — something that genuinely helps other families travel — is still worth doing, even if it’s not trending in search results today.

These days, I make income through a mix of ad revenue, affiliate links across a few sites, and a handful of small digital products. But I’ve also found value in the flexibility it gives me as a parent, the creativity it allows, and the connections it creates.

And maybe that’s what makes it all worth it — even when the numbers aren’t perfect.

Is Travel Blogging Still Profitable?

Short answer? It can be — but probably not in the way most people think.

There was a time when throwing up a blog post with some dreamy travel photos and a few affiliate links could bring in decent income. These days, success takes more intention, more strategy, and a lot more patience. The landscape has changed, and passive income is rarely as passive as people hope.

For me, income comes from a few different sources: ad revenue (on one site), affiliate income across three sites, and a handful of small digital products. Each stream looks a little different from month to month, and some definitely outperform others. But together, they create a foundation that feels sustainable — and that’s the key.

Is it enough to retire early on? No. But is it a real, meaningful income stream that fits around family life? Absolutely.

The truth is, travel blogging probably won’t make you rich quickly. But it can support your family, fund your travels, and give you the freedom to work in a way that feels good. And if you’re willing to stick with it — even when growth is slow or traffic dips — it can absolutely be profitable.

The Real Benefits Beyond the Money

Travel blogging has given me more than just an income — it’s given me something that’s a lot harder to quantify: freedom.

I can walk my kids to school in the morning, be home when they’re sick, or join their field trips without having to ask for time off. I can work early in the morning, late at night, or during soccer practice. The flexibility is unmatched — and for a parent, that’s everything.

But it’s not just about time.

I love that I get to share our travels with others in a way that’s useful and real. That I can help another parent feel more confident booking a trip, packing for a destination, or finding something fun to do with their kids. And my kids are part of it too — from making maps and uploading photos, to sharing their opinions and suggestions for what we should include in a post. They know this is something I built from scratch — and they’ve helped shape it along the way.

It’s creative, fulfilling, and still fun — even when it’s hard.

If I had to choose between a steady 9–5 and this? I’d choose this, every time.

Who Shouldn’t Start a Travel Blog

Let’s be honest: travel blogging isn’t for everyone.

If you’re looking for a fast path to passive income or hoping to “go viral” on your first post, you’re probably going to be disappointed. This isn’t a get-rich-quick model — it’s a long game, and it takes time to build trust, traffic, and authority.

If you hate writing, or the idea of learning SEO and updating old posts sounds painful, you’ll likely struggle to stay motivated. It’s not all press trips and Instagram shots — it’s content calendars, keyword research, and often answering the same travel questions ten different ways.

And if you give up easily when things don’t go as planned — well, blogging will test that.

But if you’re okay with slow, steady growth… if you genuinely enjoy sharing stories and helping others… if you’re curious and open to learning — then travel blogging might just be the perfect fit.

But If You’re Still Wondering… Should You Start a Travel Blog?

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of path. But if you’re still reading, there’s probably a part of you that’s curious — and maybe even excited — about the idea of starting a travel blog.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do you enjoy writing or storytelling?
  
• Are you willing to stick with something even when the results take time?
  
• Do you genuinely want to help others by sharing your experiences?
  
• Are you open to learning the tech and SEO side (even if it means Googling things at 11pm)?
  

If you’re nodding along, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.

And if you’d rather not try to learn everything through trial and error, the Start Your Travel Blog course is a great way to begin. It helped me finally put all the pieces together and start making real progress — and it might do the same for you. You can check out the review I wrote about the course to see if it’s the right fit for you. 

Final Thoughts: Is Travel Blogging Worth It?

If you’re asking whether travel blogging is still worth it — I get it. The landscape has changed, the algorithms have shifted, and the road isn’t always smooth.

But for me? It’s absolutely been worth it.

Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s always profitable. But because it gives me freedom, purpose, and the chance to build something that matters — both to me and to the families who read it.

If you’re serious about it, willing to learn, and okay with playing the long game, travel blogging can still be one of the most rewarding things you choose to do.