Looking for a travel affiliate program that actually pays well? Trivago’s affiliate program offers a 40% commission on click-out revenue and access to over 5 million accommodations worldwide.
But here’s the thing—high commissions don’t automatically mean high earnings. After reviewing dozens of travel affiliate programs, I’ve learned that platform integration, cookie duration, and payment reliability matter just as much as the rate itself.
So is Trivago worth your time?
What Makes Trivago Different as an Affiliate Partner
Trivago operates as a hotel metasearch engine, not a direct booking platform. You’re earning commissions when users click through to partner sites like Booking.com—not when they actually book a room.
This distinction matters more than you’d think.
The advantage? Lower friction. Users don’t need to complete a full booking for you to earn. They just need to click through to see rates on partner sites.
The challenge? Your earnings depend on what those partner sites pay Trivago, not on the actual booking value. Some affiliates find this unpredictable compared to direct booking commissions.
From what we’ve seen with travel affiliates, this model works best if you’re driving high-volume traffic to comparison content rather than promoting specific hotels. Think “best hotels in Barcelona” rather than “book the W Barcelona.”
Commission Structure: The Real Numbers Behind That 40%
Let’s break down what you actually earn:
Commission rate: 40% of click-out revenue Payment timeline: Within 60 days after click-out Cookie duration: 30 days Minimum payout: Varies by payment method
Here’s where it gets specific. Your minimum payout requirements change based on how you want to get paid:
- Bank transfer (USD/EUR): $400 or €400
- PayPal: $50
- WebMoney: $10
Want my take? That $400 minimum for bank transfers is steep if you’re just starting out. Most affiliates I know opt for PayPal initially, then switch to bank transfers once they’re consistently clearing a few hundred dollars monthly.
Pattern we see repeatedly: Affiliates who build comparison content around specific destinations convert 2-3x better than those who just drop generic hotel search widgets into their sidebar.
The Travelpayouts Platform: Your Dashboard for Everything
Trivago runs its affiliate program through Travelpayouts, not in-house. This actually works in your favor.
You get access to Travelpayouts’ full toolkit, including detailed analytics that show exactly which destinations, search queries, and content types are converting. No more guessing which articles are actually making you money.
The platform also offers an affiliate link generator that lets you deep-link to specific hotels or destinations. This is huge for creating targeted content that matches user intent.
Plus, you can promote other travel programs through the same dashboard—Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak—without juggling multiple affiliate accounts. It streamlines your entire travel affiliate operation into one place.
Who Actually Succeeds with Trivago’s Program
Here’s what separates successful Trivago affiliates from those who earn $50/month:
Volume matters. Because you’re earning on click-outs rather than bookings, you need significant traffic to see meaningful income. We’ve found that affiliates generating under 10,000 monthly visitors rarely break $200/month with Trivago.
Content type matters more. Comparison articles (“5 Best Hotels in Tokyo Under $150”) consistently outperform general travel guides. Users searching for specific accommodation options are already in comparison mode—perfect for Trivago’s format.
Mobile traffic converts differently. Desktop users browse multiple options and click through more frequently. Mobile users tend to make faster decisions with fewer comparisons. If your audience skews heavily mobile, you might see lower click-out rates.
Sound familiar if you’re already in travel affiliate marketing?
The Honest Pros and Cons You Need to Know
Let’s be real about both sides of this program.
What works in your favor:
The 40% commission rate is genuinely competitive. Most travel affiliate programs hover around 25-30%, so Trivago’s rate gives you a real edge if you can drive volume.
Trivago’s global brand recognition means users trust the platform. You’re not asking people to book through an unknown site—they’ve seen Trivago’s ads, they know the name. This trust factor increases click-through rates noticeably.
That 30-day cookie gives you breathing room. Users can research for almost a month before clicking through, and you still earn the commission. Compare this to programs with 7-day cookies, and you’ll appreciate the difference.
The support team actually responds. When you run into tracking issues or have questions about commission calculations, you get answers within 24-48 hours typically. Sounds basic, but plenty of affiliate programs ghost you.
Where this program falls short:
The travel affiliate space is brutally competitive. You’re fighting for the same keywords as thousands of other affiliates, travel agencies, and booking platforms with massive budgets. Breaking through takes time and smart SEO.
Those 60-day payment delays test your patience. If you’re used to monthly payouts, waiting two months for your commissions feels slow. Budget accordingly when you’re planning cash flow.
The click-out model means you have less control over final conversion. Even if you send qualified traffic, you only earn if users click through to partner sites—and you have no visibility into what happens after that click.
Bottom line: Trivago works best as part of a broader travel affiliate strategy, not as your sole income source. The commission structure and cookie duration are strong, but the competitive landscape and payment timing require patience.
How to Actually Make Money with Trivago
Stop dropping hotel search widgets randomly into blog posts. That’s not a strategy—it’s hope. Here’s what actually works:
Build destination-specific comparison content. Create articles that compare 5-7 hotels in specific cities, filtered by budget ranges. “Best Budget Hotels in Prague Under $80” outperforms “Best Hotels in Prague” every time. Why? Users searching with budget qualifiers are deeper in the decision process.
Use SEO strategically, not randomly. Target long-tail keywords with specific intent: “family-friendly hotels near Disneyland with free breakfast” rather than “Disneyland hotels.” Lower competition, higher conversion intent, better click-out rates.
Leverage social media for time-sensitive content. Share last-minute hotel deals, seasonal promotions, or destination-specific tips during peak travel planning seasons (January-March for summer travel, September-October for winter trips). Social traffic converts when you time it right.
Test different link placements. We’ve found that in-content links after comparing 2-3 options convert 40% better than sidebar widgets. Users want to click through when they’re actively comparing—not when they’re just browsing your navigation.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Booking.com Affiliate Program
Global reach with massive inventory of hotels, apartments, vacation rentals and travel offerings. Affiliates can earn commissions by linking users to Booking.com; tools include search boxes, banners, deep linking. Good for high-volume travel blogs or sites, especially with international and multi-currency audiences.
Expedia Affiliate Program
Expedia affiliate program offers affiliates access to hotels, flights, car rentals, vacation packages. Strong brand recognition helps conversions. Provides marketing materials, APIs and detailed tracking of bookings. Suits websites or content creators that cover full travel planning, not just lodging comparisons.
HotelsCombined / Price Comparison Engines
A hotel metasearch engine that aggregates many hotel offers, allows affiliates to embed comparison widgets, search boxes, and earn from clickouts or bookings. Because it’s more about comparison than direct booking, it’s similar in spirit to Trivago and works well for publishers focused on helping users compare deals.
Kayak Affiliate / Partner Program
Travel search engine for flights, hotels, car rentals, often combining multiple providers. Affiliates can earn by sending traffic to Kayak’s comparison tools or by integrations. Strong for travel sites that cover different trip components (not just stays) and want variety of content.
TripAdvisor Affiliate Program
Known for user reviews, travel content, plus comparisons and booking features. Affiliates can leverage its high trust factor, incorporate review content, list attractions, hotels, restaurants etc. Good for content sites, review sites, or influencers wanting to merge content and travel deals.
Should You Join the Trivago Affiliate Program?
Here’s the honest answer: It depends on your traffic volume and content strategy.
Join Trivago if you’re:
- Already generating 10,000+ monthly visitors to travel content
- Creating destination-specific comparison articles regularly
- Comfortable with the 60-day payment cycle
- Looking to diversify beyond direct booking platforms
Skip Trivago if you’re:
- Just starting with under 5,000 monthly visitors (focus on building traffic first)
- Creating primarily aspirational travel content without comparison angles
- Need faster payment cycles for cash flow reasons
- Focused exclusively on luxury travel (direct booking programs often work better)
Trivago’s 40% commission and 30-day cookie are legitimately strong compared to most travel programs. The Travelpayouts platform handles the technical side well, and brand recognition does improve click-through rates.
But you need volume to make it work. If you can consistently drive 25,000+ monthly visitors to well-targeted comparison content, Trivago can generate $500-2,000+ monthly. Below 10,000 visitors, you’ll likely see under $200/month—decent supplemental income, but not a primary revenue stream.
Bottom line: Trivago deserves a spot in your travel affiliate mix if you have the traffic and right content strategy. Just don’t make it your only program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should join the Trivago affiliate program?
Travel bloggers, destination guides, comparison site owners, and influencers who regularly create hotel-related content. You need consistent travel-focused traffic to see meaningful earnings.
Is there a fee to join the Trivago affiliate program?
No. Applications through Travelpayouts are completely free. You’ll never pay to join or maintain your affiliate account.
Are there any minimum requirements to become a Trivago affiliate?
Trivago doesn’t publish specific requirements publicly, but they typically look for established websites with travel-focused content and engaged audiences. Brand-new sites with zero traffic rarely get approved.
How much is the commission on Trivago?
You’ll earn 40% of click-out revenue when users click through to partner booking sites. This is calculated on what Trivago earns from the referral, not the booking value itself.
Can the Trivago program be combined with other affiliate programs?
Absolutely. Trivago actually encourages affiliates to promote complementary offers. You can run Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor programs simultaneously—many affiliates use multiple programs to match different content types.
