If you’ve been running a travel blog for a while, you’ve probably dabbled in affiliate marketing. It’s one of the most popular ways for travel creators to earn an income from their work — and for good reason.
But if you’re still stuck manually adding affiliate links from programs like Awin, there’s a more efficient, often more profitable way to do it: link switchers.
Additionally, they help when brands close the official programs (like Booking.com recently) or close their account in traditional networks, like TripAdvisor and Expedia did in Awin, to name a few.
In this post, we’ll break down what link switchers are, why they work well for travel bloggers, and how Travelpayouts and Stay22 compare to traditional networks like Awin.
What Is a Link Switcher?
A link switcher is a tool that automatically turns regular outbound links on your site into monetised affiliate links — without you having to insert affiliate parameters every time manually.
For example:
- You write, “Check out this great hotel in Barcelona on Booking.com.”
- Your link switcher automatically transforms that Booking.com link into an affiliate link tied to your account.
- You get paid when a reader books — without lifting a finger after publishing.
It’s set-and-forget monetisation.
Why Link Switchers Work So Well for Travel Blogs
Travel content is full of outbound links — to hotels, tours, attractions, airlines, and travel insurance providers.
Doing manual affiliate linking for every single one is time-consuming and error-prone. Link switchers:
- Monetise all your links automatically (including older posts)
- Work across hundreds of merchants instantly
- Capture missed opportunities when you forget to add an affiliate link
- Help avoid broken affiliate links if a program changes its URL structure
Travelpayouts — The Travel Affiliate Hub
Travelpayouts is an affiliate network built for the travel niche. Its link switcher (called Auto Links) automatically monetises links to 100+ travel brands, including Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Viator, Agoda, and Rentalcars.
It is the one we use in this blog, and it helped us right away with the Booking.com issue.
Pros:
- Travel-focused — all merchants relevant to your audience
- Auto Links switcher covers most major travel brands
- Transparent dashboard for clicks, bookings, and revenue
- Extra tools like white-label search forms and widgets
Cons:
- Commission rates vary by partner (some may be lower than direct programs)
- Payout thresholds are slightly higher than some networks (only if you choose bank transfer)
Best for: Bloggers heavily focused on hotels, tours, flights, and travel services.
Stay22 — Location-Based Affiliate Linking
Stay22 takes the link switcher concept a step further — their tool not only monetises links, but also offers interactive maps showing hotels, Airbnbs, and activities near a location.
They also have SmartLinks, which auto-detects and monetises relevant travel links, even from user-generated content.
Pros:
- Visual, map-based booking widgets increase conversion
- SmartLinks monetise a wide range of travel brands
- Strong with both hotel and Airbnb bookings
- Transparent, real-time reporting
Cons:
- More hotel/accommodation-focused — fewer flight or tour partners than Travelpayouts
- Requires some styling to blend map widgets into your site design
Best for: Destination guides, accommodation round-ups, event or festival travel posts.
Other Link Switchers
Skimlinks
- Type: General affiliate link switcher
- How it works: Automatically monetises links to 48k+ merchants across multiple niches, including some travel brands.
- Pros: Huge coverage, one account for thousands of programs.
- Cons: Commissions are often lower than joining programs directly; less travel-specific reporting.
VigLink (now Sovrn Commerce)
- Type: General
- How it works: Similar to Skimlinks — turns outbound links into affiliate links automatically.
- Pros: Large merchant base, hands-off once set up.
- Cons: Less focus on travel; payment terms can be slower.
ThirstyAffiliates (WordPress Plugin)
- Type: WordPress-based affiliate link management (not a network)
- How it works: It lets you cloak, manage, and insert affiliate links quickly. Not automatic across all links, but can be semi-automated.
- Pros: You control the links and relationships; good for bloggers who want manual oversight.
- Cons: Doesn’t “discover” links automatically — you still have to add them.
Geniuslink
- Type: Smart link switcher for global audiences
- How it works: Routes users to country-specific store pages (Amazon, iTunes, etc.) and can monetise with multiple affiliate programs.
- Pros: Great for global travel audiences; avoids sending a UK visitor to a US-only link.
- Cons: Best for retail/product-heavy blogs, not always ideal for hotels/tours.
How They Compare for Travel Bloggers
| Tool | Travel Focus | Automation | Multi-Merchant | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelpayouts | ✅ | ✅ Auto Links | ✅ | Broad travel monetisation |
| Stay22 | ✅ | ✅ SmartLinks | ✅ (hotels & Airbnb heavy) | Accommodation-focused |
| Skimlinks | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Multi-niche blogs |
| VigLink/Sovrn | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | General affiliate automation |
| Geniuslink | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Global audience redirection |
| ThirstyAffiliates | ❌ | Semi | ✅ | Manual control for WP sites |
Awin — The Traditional Network Approach
Awin is a massive affiliate network with thousands of merchants, including some travel brands (TUI, lastminute.com).
But unlike Travelpayouts or Stay22, Awin is not automated by default. You have to:
- Apply to each merchant individually
- Wait for approval
- Create links manually for every mention in your content
Pros:
- Huge variety of merchants (travel and beyond)
- Potentially higher commission rates if you work directly with brands
Cons:
- No built-in link switching — everything is manual unless you add third-party tools
- More admin overhead: approvals, compliance checks, link management
- Links can break if a brand leaves the network or changes tracking
Best for: Multi-niche sites or bloggers who want specific brands not covered by travel-focused networks.