I was reading somewhere else about Press Trips, where places offer free trips to travel writers, but I'm wondering how do writers find out about these trips? Where can I learn more about this? I'm guessing that there must be some kind of requirement...
How can I find out about Press Trips?
(6 posts) (4 voices)
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Hi JuneBug - welcome back!
You're right about the requirements......most Press Trips (aka Media Trips) do have requirements that unfortunately disqualify most 'newbie' writers - most often they require that you have either a staff position with, or (if you're a freelancer) a documented assignment from, a publication with circulation above a certain number (often more than 100k in subscribers), or an assignment from an online publication with documented unique monthly site visitors above a certain number. Sometimes they will accept 'self-employed' writers (i.e. writers without an assignment) if they can document a high number of unique monthly website visitors to their own websites (now you understand why we strongly encourage all writers to have their own websites/travel blogs!).....it's very rare, but on occasion some smaller destinations, those that can't ordinarily attract a travel writer to come visit them, will open up their Press/Media Trips to *ahem* "less well-established (meaning 'newbie') travel writers.....
One way to find out about Press Trips and Media Trips is to belong to TravelWriters.com at a paid level of membership - or to belong to other organizations such as the IFWTWA (International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association) which sponsor their own Press Trips a couple of times each year (note: the IFWTWA also has a paid-membership model, but there are other benefits that we feel make it worth joining). The more writers' organizations you belong to, the more likely you are to hear about these trips.
Another way is to be on our eNewsletter Mailing List - we publish Press Trips as we become aware of them.
Keep in mind that in addition to having to "qualify" for consideration, there are often many more writers applying than there are available spots on the trip, so there are other factors that determine who gets to go - sometimes (if you're lucky) it's "first come, first served", other times it's based on who has the highest documented potential readers, etc. AND not all Press Trips are "100% free" - most times you pay your own airfare, then accommodations, meals, and activities are picked up by the sponsor.
With all that being said, Press Trips / Media Trips are a great way to travel for free so keep working towards the goal of qualifying and soon you'll be a member of "the Press"...
Posted 3 years ago # -
TravGirl
MemberWhat I've learned over the past few months is that it seems like most people are flocking to travel writing because they want to "travel for free" or to "get paid to travel"......and that isn't really how it works for most travel writers - unless you're already a well-known writer, with a few published books under your belt, or at least a regular byline in a major travel publication, no one is rolling out the red carpet with free trips.
And yet every other site out there about travel writing is hawking that as a reason to get into this. So aside from these "media trips" (which sound like they are tough to qualify for). what gives? How can everyone be screaming about "free travel" and "getting paid to travel" when that doesn't happen? Is there some big scam going on?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Hi TG! That depends - if anyone promises or guarantees free travel, or getting paid to travel, I'd be highly skeptical, and it very well may be a scam, because you're right - it's not a "perk" that you automatically get once you hang out your shingle as a travel writer. It can take years of hard work and perseverance to get to the point at which you can qualify for many (not all) press trips (as mentioned, some have much less stringent requirements)....
BUT all that being said, there are other ways to travel at little to no cost - just one example is to use a frequent-flyer-affiliated credit card (I use the USAirways Dividend Miles VISA) and put EVERYTHING on it that you possibly can (utility bills, groceries, gas, etc). By doing this I earn enough miles to get anywhere from 4 to 6 free tickets each year. If you are doing an article for a resort, they will often "comp" you a room and meals - combine this with your mileage award ticket, and you've just gotten a free trip (yes I know that you "paid" for your airline ticket by charging things on your credit card, but you were going to spend money on those things anyway, right?).....the days of free airfare are all but over, unless you have an assignment from a travel publication that will cover it.
But as Rebecca has pointed out in a number of her blog posts, you can enjoy free travel perks by working in the travel industry while you're establishing yourself as a travel writer who is worthy of those choice assignments!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Another good source for media trips is Media Kitty, and it's free.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Oooh yes! Media Kitty is a great resource - I follow them on Twitter......
Posted 3 years ago #
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