Thrifty Traveler Editorial Guidelines
At Thrifty Traveler, we are laser-focused on one simple mission: helping everyone travel more for less … and we mean everyone. In the stories we publish daily, we carry that out on a foundation of solid journalism and writing that, above all else, keeps our readers – everyday travelers – at the forefront.
Here are our editorial guidelines: The three pillars supporting everything we publish here at Thrifty Traveler.
We make travel accessible and affordable for everyone by delivering straightforward advice that prioritizes your interests over profits.
We maintain complete editorial independence by purchasing our own travel, rejecting sponsored content, and holding the industry accountable.
Every story undergoes rigorous fact-checking and regular updates to ensure you always have reliable, current information.
Putting Readers First
We do our best to explain even the most complex topics clearly and concisely. Whether you’re just getting started or a diehard road warrior, everyone deserves to learn how to travel more for less.
We do what’s right by our readers, even if it doesn’t benefit our bottom line. If there’s a worthwhile credit card offer or service out there that doesn’t make us money, we’ll always let you know about it.
We cover stories that matter (or should matter) to the average traveler. No airport brawls, no airline industry inside baseball.
Using travel credit cards is key to being a thrifty traveler, but credit cards are serious business. Financial responsibility is important, and we share that viewpoint with our readers.
Fearless Independence
We’ll be upfront: We make money from a variety of sources, including credit card affiliate links, select products and onsite ad placements. But these financial relationships don’t shape or influence our coverage. We won’t recommend anything that we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Yes, we make money if you apply for and get a travel credit card through our site. But unlike many other travel sites, we aren’t wholly dependent on credit card revenue. That gives us the freedom to hold banks, airlines, and other travel companies accountable.
We also make money from onsite ads, but we don’t deal directly with any of the advertisers you may see here.
We don’t accept sponsored content or story placements from any company we cover in the travel industry.
We don’t take freebies, either. From top-dollar business class flights to $19 Spirit fares to hotels and resorts around the world, we pay for every review you see here out of pocket using our own money or points.
Commitment to Accuracy
Accuracy is paramount. To us, getting things right is more important than publishing them fast.
Every story is rigorously fact checked by our team of journalists and travel experts before publication.
But we are human – sometimes, we slip up. We commit to promptly correcting any errors and disclosing any and all corrections made after publication.
Travel changes fast. We make every effort to keep all our content fresh and up to date so you can rely on it, no matter when you’re reading.
