Road Trips of America may occupy a small corner of the internet, but I still have standards in my writing. I’m committed to high-quality, trustworthy content that helps you plan road trip adventures and epic vacations.
All articles on Road Trips of America are written from first-hand experience by the author. Although the articles will almost certainly include online research, the article will only be based on something other than that research. In other words, no articles exist on this website based solely on couch surfing the net.
Every article includes a byline. If the byline is Jason Barnette, then it was written by me. If the byline is anyone else, the name will be a link to their author profile page. That page includes information about them, external links to their other work, and a list of other articles they’ve written.
Articles also include a date. The date indicates when the article was most recently updated with new information. When I transferred the articles from Road Trips & Coffee to Road Trips of America, I kept the original date the article was last updated. That means some dates on articles are older than the website.
I strive to use only photos I’ve captured during my adventures. However, if I use photos from Digital Marketing Organizations (DMOs) or federal agencies like the National Park Service, credit will be given to the copyright owner. Photos will never be downloaded from social media or used without proper permission.
I correct factual errors after I’ve verified the information. I keep articles updated with current information, such as operating seasons and location info.
Sources
All articles are written from first-person accounts using verified information from primary sources. These primary sources include the business owners, newspaper and magazine publications, and interviews with locals.
Unnamed or anonymous sources are strongly discouraged. Quotes will always include a last name, at the very least. I want all quotes and information to be transparent to the readers.
Press Trips
People always tell me that my “life is like living a vacation.” If that’s true, can you imagine how much it would cost to live on vacation permanently?
Press trips are a vital component of the work model for travel journalists. We rely on DMOs “hosting” us on press trips. These trips include free lodging, meals, admission to events, museums, and attractions, and sometimes include stipends to cover travel expenses to and from the destination. But another critical part of the press trip is access to local business owners, interview opportunities, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Unlike many other travel writers, I do not accept payment in exchange for articles written from a press trip. 1-3 articles per day of the trip is an equal exchange for the money the DMO invested in hosting me.
Articles always include a disclosure if it is written by me or a guest author resulting from a press trip.
Learn more about how I get paid as a travel writer.
Sponsored Posts
I only accept payment for placing an article on this website when a DMO or marketing agency hires me to write the article specifically for Road Trips of America. These articles follow all the editorial guidelines – written from first-hand experience using primary sources.
Sponsored posts include a disclosure at the top of the article after the introduction. The disclosure includes a link to the DMO benefiting from the sponsored post.
Additional links throughout the sponsored post lead readers to the DMO’s website. For example, a link may lead readers to the DMO’s page on local hotels and B&Bs, a list of local restaurants, or an article published on the DMO’s blog.
The DMO or marketing agency paying for the sponsored post has no editorial control. Although the DMO or marketing agency can determine the article’s subject, the content is entirely written by the author.
Learn more about how I get paid as a travel writer.
Product Reviews
Along the same lines as press trips, I cannot buy every product I want to test to create a product review. I do accept free products in exchange for reviews.
However, there are some essential things to understand about these product reviews.
Just because I am given a free product does not guarantee a positive review. I will review the product as thoroughly and honestly as if I’d bought the item.
The product’s manufacturer or marketing agency has no editorial control. They cannot suggest the subject of the review or request changes to the review. I allow the reviews to be read before publication so the manufacturer can address shortcomings or point out mistakes made during the review process.
I receive an affiliate commission on some (but not all) of the products I mention on Road Trips of America. The commission is paid through Amazon, Booking.com, Expedia, Rakuten Advertising, or AvantLink.
However, I cannot always generate an affiliate link to a product. For example, I cannot use affiliate links for federal agency purchases or app downloads. Even if I cannot generate an affiliate link, I will always include a direct link to the manufacturer for purchasing the product.
Learn more about how I get paid as a travel writer.
How I Get Paid as a Travel Writer
There are a hundred different ways travel writers are paid. And I’m also sure I’m not doing it quite the same as anyone else. But the important part is that I earn a living as a travel writer to follow my passion for road trips while earning paychecks ethically and morally.
I am disclosing these methods for complete transparency so you understand how I get paid and how this does not affect the opinions expressed in my writing.
There are five ways I get paid as a travel writer:
- Freelance Writing – I’ve written articles for publication on DMO blogs and publications like Matador Network and AAA Magazine. I am paid a one-time fee for writing the article and sometimes reimbursed for my travel expenses.
- Website Advertising – This website features advertising from Mediavine in all articles and pages. Every time an ad on any page is loaded in a web browser, I am paid a set fee. I am not paid different amounts for different pages or articles. Road Trips of American Pro members enjoy an ad-free experience.
- Road Trips of America Pro – I despise website advertising. I refused to incorporate ads into my website for the first 11 years of travel blogging despite fellow bloggers insisting I was “leaving money on the floor.” So, frequent visitors can pay an annual fee to join the Pro version of the website and enjoy an ad-free experience – in addition to several other perks.
- Sponsored Posts – I accept payment from DMOs and marketing agencies in exchange for writing an article highlighting their destination. Sponsored Posts are valid for one year from publication date unless the DMO or marketing agency pays an additional fee to continue the sponsorship.
- Affiliate Links – I include affiliate links for products whenever possible. When a user clicks one of the links and makes a purchase, I receive a small commission. The user is not charged any additional fee for my commission.
Now that you know how I earn an income as a travel writer, I hope you understand that none of these sources influence the content on Road Trips of America.