Travel + Leisure: Market Spotlight
Established in 1971, Travel + Leisure is a monthly travel magazine that focuses on both worldwide travel and leisure, whether on the road or at home. In addition to the print magazine, Travel + Leisure also offers website and social opportunities for freelance writers to pitch.
(Nonfiction Markets for Writers.)
The editors say, “We celebrate travel and provide service and inspiration at every point of your journey, from trip ideas to nitty-gritty logistics. We cover small towns and big cities, hidden gems and tried-and-true destinations, beaches and lakes, mountains and valleys, national parks and outdoor adventures, road trips and cruises, fine-dining experiences and secret hole-in-the-wall establishments, and everything in between. And because, above all, our goal is to help our readers make the most of their invaluable free time, we’re not afraid to lean into the second half of our name—leisure—and cover all the ways to enjoy life at home, too.”
This market pays competitive rates.
What They’re Looking For
The editors of Travel + Leisure want stories on travel and leisure for the print magazine, website, and social channels. For the magazine, the editors are usually thinking at least three months (and sometimes up to a year) ahead of schedule, so it’s not the place to pitch late-breaking news; the website may be better for those types of pitches. For social, they’re looking for Instagram takeovers and TikTok vlogs/series.
The editors say, “If you want to pitch a story to us, make sure your idea adds something to the conversation. We don’t want to have seen that story elsewhere. We love stories about a place that is misunderstood or changing, stories about seeing the world in a new way, and especially stories by writers or photographers who bring a new voice to the conversation about a place or topic.”
How to Submit
Potential writers can submit pitches via email to the correct editor as listed on their submission page, whether you’re submitting for the print magazine, website, or social channels. Pitches should include the topic and angle, scope of the story, why Travel + Leisure should cover, why you’re the writer for the job, whether you’ve traveled yet, and what editorial support you’d need for travel expenses if you haven’t traveled yet.