Hidden costs of press trips — and why they matter

Last month, I co-hosted a press trip-focused AMA session with my fellow Substackers and travel writers Jill Schildhouse and Aly Walansky. It was packed with actionable content — even overflowing. So we’re rolling out digestible highlights biweekly.

First, a key reminder: We firmly believe that the ROI you get out of a press trip is directly proportional to the thought and care you put into your press trip planning and execution — and that’s why we’re sharing all this insider info!

And as we said in previous emails and sessions, we’re all very much aware that press trips definitely aren’t a free vacation. First, it’s not a vacation, it’s work (which can certainly be fun, too). Second, it’s not free: We sometimes (often) even lose money by attending due to the opportunity cost. And it often comes with ancillary costs in dollars, too.

As freelancers, there’s no one reimbursing random incidental expenses that pop up in connection with press trips. And there’s so many costs that come up along the way. Here’s what they are, so organizers can keep them in mind for planning the most successful trip that writers actually want to attend (and won’t drop out of).

TL; DR: The cost of a trip can be a major turn-off — or even a nonstarter — for the writers you hope to attract. This guide can help you organize a trip that avoids the hidden-cost pitfalls.