If you’re an expatriate or independent traveler looking to break into travel writing, one of the first things you’ll want to do is research potential markets for publication. Here are ten magazines and websites that publish different types of travel writing. Before submitting to any of these sites be sure to spend some time browsing the sites, reading their articles and getting a feel for who their readers are.

Abroad View

Looking for: Travel narratives, personal essays, vignettes,
Audience: College students (print magazine)
Submission length: Varies by type of story
Payment: $25 for exclusive rights
Response time: Publishes in spring and fall, may not respond
Submit: editors [at] abroadviewmagazine.com
Guidelines: http://www.abroadview.org/submit/
Note: Looking for contributions for current students, recent alumni, study abroad professional and college faculty

Associated Content

Looking for: Informative, SEO-oriented travel articles and destination guides
Audience: People searching for travel information
Submission length: 350+ words
Payment: Varies, upfront pay + page view bonus / $8 per article (exclusive rights) for Featured Travel Contributors – Payment is by PayPal within one week of publication
Response time: 1 week
Submit: https://publish.associatedcontent.com/signup.shtml
Note: In order to publish, you must sign up and create an account as an Associated Content contributor. Each article you publish can be sold for non-exclusive rights, exclusive rights or display-only rights. If your travel articles are successful, meaning they garner page views, you can apply to be a Featured Travel Contributor. Then you can get paid $8 per article for 3 exclusive rights travel articles every month. Associated Content is not a travel magazine and creative writing/narratives are not eligible for upfront pay.

Go Nomad

Looking for: First person narratives, destination guides, women’s travel
Audience: Long and short-term travelers, expatriates
Submission length: 800 – 2000 words, aim for 1400
Payment: $25 by check – you must send an invoice by snail mail to get paid
Response time: Faster if you let the editor know you’ve promoted Go Nomad in your pitch/query letter
Submit: editorial [at] gonomad.com
Guidelines: http://www.gonomad.com/corp/writerguidelines.html
Note: Post photos to a Picasa Web album and include link

Go World

Looking for: Travel narratives, destination articles, eco-travel
Audience: Independent travelers, cultural travelers (50%+ of their readers have incomes of more than $50K)
Submission length: 500 – 900 words for department pieces, 800 – 1200 words for features
Payment: $35 – $50
Response time: May not respond due to high volume of submission
Submit: submissions [at] goworldpublishing.com
Guidelines: http://www.goworldtravel.com/ex/aspx/articleGuid.%7B14B31B4E-FDCC-472C-82A3-BDE7BFA4F667%7D/xe/article.htm
Note: Photos should be sent separately

In the Know Traveler

Looking for: Narratives and destination guides that “promote travel”, book reviews
Audience: Long and short-term travelers, adventure travelers, golfers & sports enthusiasts, eco-tourism travelers, food and wine enthusiasts
Submission length: 450-600 words
Payment: $10 per article
Submit: editor [at] intheknowtraveler.com
Guidelines: http://www.intheknowtraveler.com/submission-guidelines

Literary Traveler

Looking for: First person narratives combining literature with travel – non-fiction only
Audience: Travelers, expatriates and literary types
Submission length: 1500 – 2000 words
Payment: $50 for exclusive rights – paid 5 to 6 weeks after publication
Response time: 2 – 4 weeks
Monthly visitors: 80,000
Submit: submissions [at] literarytraveler.com
Guidelines: https://www.literarytraveler.com/contact/writers_guidelines.aspx

Matador Network

Looking for: Travel narratives, personal essays, destination guides, photo essays, travel interviews, reviews of travel gear
Audience: Long and short-term travelers, expatriates, volunteers/development workers, travel writers
Submission length: 800 – 1000 words, 1200 max for Brave New Traveler
Payment: $25 for First North American Serial Rights – paid by PayPal on publication
Response time: Up to 4 weeks
Unique monthly visitors: 720,000+
Submit: http://matadornetwork.com/contributors/
Note: Matador Network is made up of 11 blogs, each with separate editors and a distinct focus

Transitions Abroad

Looking for: Practical pieces to aid those who study, work, live or volunteer abroad / Cultural travel pieces
Audience: Students, expatriates, volunteers/development works, travel writers
Submission length: 1500 words max
Payment: $50 – $100 by check or PayPal for first rights (not to be published for 6 months)
Response time: Varies
Submit: webeditorial [at] transitionsabroad.com
Guidelines: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/writers.shtml

Wanderlust and Lipstick

Looking for: “inspirational, humorous, entertaining, educational and adventurous travel stories as told by women”
Audience: Female travelers
Submission length: 900 – 2500 words
Payment: None, although authors may be considered for an upcoming anthology with payment
Response time: ?
Submit: wanderlustandlipstick [at] gmail.com
Guidelines: http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/wander-tales/wander-tales-writers-guidelines/

World Hum

Looking for: First person travel narratives, lists, personal essays, news and humor, book reviews, cultural guides, travel interviews
Audience: Long and short-term travelers, expatriates, volunteers/development workers, travel writers
Submission length: 1500 words max (no multiple submissions)
Payment: Varies
Response time: Do not respond to every submission
Submit: dispatches [at] worldhum.com
Guidelines: http://www.worldhum.com/info/submissions/
Note: Published authors include Anthony Bourdain and Ralph Potts