Top 10 Travel Markets

by Sharon Pettis

Now that school’s out and summer is finally here, I’ve put together a list of markets to take with you on your vacation, or maybe even help you plan one! Look forward to some cool savings, as some of these magazines pay your expenses while on assignment. I’ve narrowed the list down to mostly high-profile travel markets (and because summer is the time for excess, I've included an extra one.) Enjoy!

ATTACHÉ MAGAZINE
Pace Communications
1301 Carolina St.
Greensboro NC 27401
Phone: (336)378-6065
Fax: (336)378-8278
E-Mail: attacheedit@attachemag.com
Editor: Lance Elko
Published Monthly

This market is known as the crème de la crème of inflight publications. They are not easy to break into, but pay very well. Attache is distributed to travelers on U.S. Airways and is a great way to get into writing for other inflight magazines. They look for very tight writing, an unusual angle, and a focus on “the best of something.”

See website for queries, query with published clips via email or mail (include SASE for snail-mail). Allow 6 weeks for reply. Buys first global serial rights and sometimes pay expenses of writers on assignment. Pays $1/wd for non-fiction, $500-2000 for columns on acceptance.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
1716 Locust St.
Des Moines IA 50309-3023
Phone: (515)284-3044
Fax: (515)284-3763
Website: www.bhg.com

Editor-in-Chief: Karol DeWulf Nickell

While very little information was available for this market, with a circulation of over 7 million, this one is great to put in your portfolio and will definitely put some food in your fridge. You may want to renegotiate with this magazine before selling all rights. If you do sell all rights, your rate of pay should be much higher than normal magazines.

Query with published clips via mail (include SASE and direct to appropriate editor), they buy all rights.

COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE
Affinity Group, Inc.
2725 Vista Del Mar Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: (805)567-4100
Fax: (805)667-4217
Website: www.coastresorts.com

Editorial Director: Valerie Law
vlaw@affinitygroup.com

Published 8 times a year

Coast to Coast is given to members of Coast Resorts. The readers are mostly RV (Recreational Vehicle) owners, so make sure you cater your technical and new product articles to those people. This publication REQUIRES clips to be sent with queries, or else they will not even be considered.

Guidelines are available by SASE. Query with published clips via email, mail (include SASE), and FAX.

For a response, allow 6-8 weeks for queries, 1-2 months for manuscripts. Buys 1st American serial rights, and does not pay expenses on assignment.

Pays $75-1,000 Nonfiction, $150-400 for columns.

ISLANDS
Islands Media Corp.
P.O. Box 4728
Santa Barbara, CA 93140-4728
Phone: (805)745-7100
Fax: (805)745-7102
E-Mail: editorial@islands.com (Features)
jdunn@islands.com (Horizons section)
Website: www.islands.com
Horizons Editor: Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr. (Contributing Editor)
Published 8 times a year

Islands is more likely to give features to big name writers. However, they recommend breaking in through the Horizons section. The Horizons section also pays for ideas/concepts, and “short-shorts” They may ask for writing samples via snail mail if they accept your e-query.

Guidelines available online. Query with published clips via email, mail (include SASE), and FAX or send manuscript. Responds in 2 months for queries, 6-8 weeks for manuscripts. Pays expenses sometimes for features only (Proposed cost estimate should be sent with query) Buys all rights. Pays $750-3,500 for nonfiction, $25-1000 for columns.

LAKE MICHIGAN TRAVEL GUIDE
Trails Media Group Inc.
PO BOX 317
Black Earth WI 53515
Editor: Nick Wood
Website: www.crwmag.com/LMTG/lmtg.html
Email: nwood@wistrails.com

Published annually

This website features all magazines published by Trails Media Group, and includes guidelines for all of them. This particular publication is looking for articles on the following areas:
Michigan—Upper Peninsula: Menominee to Mackinac Island, Northwest: Mackinaw City to Ludington, West Central: Pentwater to Holland, Southwest: Saugatuck to New Buffalo
Indiana—Michigan City to Whiting Illinois—Chicago to Winthrop Harbor Wisconsin—Southeast: Kenosha to Milwaukee, East Central: Mequon to Manitowoc, Northeast: Two Rivers to Marinette, including Door County.

Guidelines available on website. Email (do not refer to website or attach clips, but send resume as Word or .rtf file) or mail query (for mail, include SASE, resume, intro letter and clips).

Buys First, one-time rights that last to 160 days after publication. Some expenses are reimbursed upon submission. Pays $300-650 for features, $50-350 for columns.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER
1145 17th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 (Can submit ideas through website)
Send to Query Editor
Website: www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/

It goes without saying that this would be a good one for your portfolio. National Geographic is a travel magazine that focuses on adventures available to everyone. They cover an equal number of national and international places of interest. Their website is an excellent resource to learn about them, and there is a link to their guidelines on the homepage.

Guidelines are available online, as well as the ability to submit ideas. They buy all rights, and the copyright is transferred back to you in 90 days.

OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
Editorial Department
400 Market St.
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Editor: Hal Espen
Senior Editor: Michael Roberts
Website: www.outsidemag.com

This is an outdoor magazine dedicated to the outdoorsman. Make sure your queries involve adventure-like vacations. Check the website for examples, but most involve hiking, camping, boating, etc. This is a high profile magazine and rates should be high. Mail queries and three clips.

PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINE
Panoff Publishing
4517 NW 31st Ave.
Wingate Commons
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33309-3403
Phone: (954)377-7777
Fax: (954)377-7000
E-Mail: jlaign@ppigroup.com
Website: http://www.porthole.com
Contact: Jeff Laign, Editorial Director
Published Bimonthly

The editor is looking for detail-rich stories that include dialogue. Don't send a recount of your whole cruise; liven it up a bit. Because this magazine is only about cruises, it definitely gets a lot of generic queries. Read the magazine, and make yours stand out.

Email for guidelines. Query with published clips via mail (include SASE), email, fax

Allow 6 weeks for Queries or manuscripts (faster via email). Buys First international serial, second serial, electronic, pays expenses of writers on assignment.

Pays $400-1200 for assigned, $250-1000 for unsolicited nonfiction. Wil negotiate for reprints.

SPA MAGAZINE
Healthy Living, Travel & Renewal
Islands Media
6309 Carpinteria Ave.
Carpinteria CA 93013
Phone: (805)745-7100
Fax: (805)745-7102
Website: www.spamagazine.com
Editor-In-Chief: Liz Mazurski
Email: mazurski@spamagazine.com
Published Bimonthly

Spa Magazine is a new market that looks promising. Keep in mind the title, so all your articles should relate back to this theme. You might want to subscribe to newsletters for sample style. The magazine does NOT want general articles on spas you've visited. Remember, this is a popular topic, so you must really be vigilant in presenting unique angles on this.

Query with published clips mail (include SASE). Allow 6 weeks for Queries or manuscripts (faster via email) Buys all rights or 1st North American Serial Rights. Pays $1125-2500 Nonfiction, $100-500 for Columns.

TRAVEL + LEISURE
American Express Publishing Corp.
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212)382-5600
E-Mail: tlquery@aexp.com
Website: http://www.travelandleisure.com/
Published Monthly

This market is probably one of the highest paying out there. They are not likely to use new writers for features, but writing several short pieces could land you big money in the end. In addition to the magazine, they have two regional editions (East and West), and several departments to break into (your best bet is the front and back sections). Be sure to address your query to the appropriate editor, as there are several contacts at the magazine. You can check out their masthead at the website.

Guidelines available online. Query with published clips via email or mail (include SASE for snail-mail).

Allow 6 weeks for Queries or manuscripts (faster via email). Buys 1st world serial rights, and pays expenses for writers on assignment.

Pays $4000-6000 nonfiction, $100-500 for columns.

WASHINGTON FLYER MAGAZINE
1707 L St., NW
Suite 800
Washington DC 20036
Fax: (202)331-2043
E-Mail: michael@themagazinegroup.com
Website: www.fly2dc.com
Editor: Michael McCarthy
Published Bimonthly

The magazine is for travelers at the Reagan National and Dulles International airports. The editor is ONLY looking for articles about destinations that have NON-STOP flights out of these two airports. The “Mini-Escapes” column features destinatinos that are less than a four-hour drive from Washington, D.C. Their remaining 2003 magazines have already been planned, but they will be releasing a new editorial calendar by fall. Their editor stressed the fact that most queries are not right for the magazine because the writer has not done their homework.

Guidelines available via email. Query with published clips via mail (include SASE), email (preferred)

Allow 10 weeks (less via email)for response. Pays $500-900.

Sharon Pettis is a freelance writer and graphic designer in Northern Virginia. She has written a variety of articles for the web, and is a nonfiction slush pile reader for Writer Online. She specializes in customized marketing communications solutions for small business. Email her at slpettis@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.geocities.com/slpettis.