Sample Travel Magazine and Webzine Travel Writers' Guidelines

There are hundreds of outlets for travel stories, so this list of guidelines is only a sampling. Follow the standard advice: find a compelling story angle, study the publications to find a good match for your idea, and send a brief query.

These are broken into categories. Tier 1 publications have a high circulation, pay well, and are highly competitive. Feature stories go to writers they have worked with in the past, so query on shorter pieces to break in. In most cases, editors will expect an impressive array of published clips to see your writing background. As the Wanderlust guidelines say, “Realistically, you have a one in 800 chance of a manuscript or photograph being accepted for publication.”

Transitions Abroad is not endorsing any publication on this list, only providing guidelines as a springboard for your own research. - Tim Leffel

Backpacker
www.backpacker.com/guidelines/

British Columbia (Canada)
www.bcmag.ca/guidelines/

Caribbean Travel & Life
www.caribbeantravelmag.com/writers_guide.jsp

National Geographic Adventure
www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/about_writers.html

National Geographic Traveler
www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/writer-guidelines.html

Outside Magazine
outside.away.com/system/guidelines.html

Sierra
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/guidelines/writers.aspx

Travel & Leisure
www.travelandleisure.com/contact

Wanderlust (UK)
www.wanderlust.co.uk/writing-guidelines

Tier 2 publications have a lower circulation and pay less, but are easier publishing targets for those without stacks of clippings already, provided you follow their guidelines carefully.

Literary Traveler
www.literarytraveler.com

Northwest Travel
www.northwestmagazines.com

Outpost Magazine (Canada)
www.outpostmagazine.com/contributor-guidelines/

South American Explorers
www.saexplorers.org

Sunset (Australia)
www.sunset.com

Things Asian
www.thingsasian.com/writers-guidelines

Transitions Abroad (6,000,000+ visitors a year)
www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/index.shtml

Travelers Tales
www.travelerstales.com/guidelines

Tier 3 publications listed here are web-only and either pay a token sum or nothing at all. This is the best place for beginning writers trying to build up a published clips history. These are also good spots for authors who want to publicize their book or drive traffic to a specific web site. There are hundreds of such sites on the web, but here are some of the most established ones.

BootsnAll
writers.bootsnall.com

InsideOut Travel
www.insideoutmag.com/contribute.htm

JourneyWoman
www.journeywoman.com/writers_guidelines.html

Oriental Tales
www.orientaltales.com/guidelines.html

Matador Travel
www.matadortravel.com/travel-writing/guide

TravelMag
www.travelmag.co.uk/cat_index_16.shtml

Trips and Journeys
www.tripsandjourneys.com

Wanderlust and Lipstick
wanderlustandlipstick.com/wander-tales/wander-tales-writers-guidelines/

Many large city newspapers still also accept freelance travel stories, even as many newspapers are closing their print business in favor or an online presence. Dig around in the library to find contact names.