This Blogger Gets Paid to Plan Dream Trips to Italy
• Originally broadcast October 13 2025 via email •
| 💡 Travel Blogging Tip of the Week 💡 How Kristine Turned Her Love for Italy Into a Service-Based Blog Business |
Blogging success stories are my absolute favorite.
Because they show what’s possible for all of us.
But when most people think of succeeding as a travel blogger and making money, they typically think about display ads (like Mediavine or Raptive) or affiliate marketing.
And don’t get me wrong..
Those are great ways to earn money from your blog.
But one blogger in our Scale Your Travel Blog community proves there’s another powerful way.
Paid services.
Meet Kristine, founder of Love Your Italy.
After years of general travel blogging, she sold her first blog and went all in on her true passion: helping travelers experience Italy on a deeper level.
In just over a year, she’s built:
- 600+ niche email subscribers
- A Facebook group of 10.1K members (started in February while recovering from a broken bone!)
- Services that pay her directly to review and plan Italy itineraries
Here’s how Kristine created her first service offer, what she’s learned, and how you can adapt her process for your own blog.
From General Travel to Niche Authority
Kristine blogged broadly for years before deciding to narrow her niche. And that was when things took off for her.
“I realized there’s nothing else I’d like to write about except Italy,” she says.
That focus not only sharpened her content but also positioned her as a go-to expert.
💡 Laura’s Tip: If you’ve ever felt “stuck” with your blog, ask yourself: what’s one topic you could talk about endlessly?
You don’t have to niche down to succeed, but having a clear focus can make you stand out as the go-to expert (especially if you’re offering travel itinerary planning).
Why Kristine Launched Itinerary Reviews
Kristine’s idea came from helping a friend.
She reviewed an itinerary for her dad’s friend who was traveling to the Dolomites. She loved the process so much that her husband encouraged her to offer it to readers.
Not long after, a blog reader reached out asking if she could check their trip.
That first client turned into a glowing testimonial, and her first official service was born!
Travel Reviews vs. Travel Planning
What’s the difference?
Itinerary Planning = Creating a full trip from scratch.
Itinerary Review = Reviewing what the traveler has already created, checking for efficiency, and making expert tweaks and suggestions.
Kristine chose to start with reviews because:
- They’re faster to deliver
- Clients already do some of the legwork
- They give her a natural upsell into full trip planning later
She even formats each review in Canva as a polished PDF, elevating it beyond just comments.
Pricing Lessons Learned
Kristine quickly realized that checking itineraries takes just a *little* less time than planning a trip from scratch, so the price shouldn’t be too low.
Here are some of Kristine’s quick tips for pricing:
- Don’t underprice yourself. Time = money.
- Use contracts! Protect your boundaries.
- Don’t overdo it. Go above and beyond, but not to the point where clients take advantage.
How Kristine Gets Clients
Kristine’s clients come from her blog posts.
Because her article was truly helpful, the reader trusted her expertise and reached out.
💡 Laura’s Tip: Your free content is one of your most powerful sales tools. Write for people first, not just Google, and the trust (and traffic) will follow.
Once that trust is built, make it easy for readers to take the next step. Add a quick blurb beneath your blog post intro that invites them to work with you.
You could include:
- A short description of your services + your email
- A simple contact form
- Or a link to a full “Work With Me” page
The easier it is for readers to reach you, the more inquiries, and clients, you’ll attract.
Who Buys an Itinerary Review?
You might think.. who would want this kind of service in the first place?
But you’d be surprised!
Here are just a few examples:
- First-time travelers to the region
- People who want validation on their DIY plan
- Travelers who feel overwhelmed by too much (or too little) in their schedule
These travelers want peace of mind that they’re spending their time and money wisely.
Kristine’s Bigger Vision
Kristine’s long-term goal is to evolve from “travel planning blog” into a travel planning business.
She’ll keep her blog running for steady, passive income, but offering travel planning services lets her do what she truly loves: connecting directly with people and helping them create unforgettable trips.
“I’m getting paid for doing what I really love! What can be better than that?”
Want to Build a Blog That’s Both Passive and Service-Based?
That’s what we focus on inside our #1-rated course and coaching program, Scale Your Travel Blog. From traffic and affiliates to offers and services, we help you design a business that lasts.
Right now, Scale Your Travel Blog is closed for enrollment, but we will be opening our doors to new students come January 2026!
>> Click here to join the waitlist to join us!
Huge thank you to Kristine from Love Your Italy for the amazing tips and insight!
Have a great week,
Laura
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