How we make money — and how we make sure it doesn't bias us.
Plain-English version of our affiliate, advertising, and editorial-independence policies.
Last updated: May 2026
The short version
Travel2CN earns money in two ways: affiliate commissions from travel services we recommend (eSIMs, hotels, tours, VPNs, etc.) and display advertising on some pages. We donot accept payment to write articles or to influence recommendations.
What is an affiliate link?
When you click a link on Travel2CN that goes to a partner site (for example, Airalo, Klook, Booking.com, ExpressVPN, or Trip.com) and you make a purchase, the partner pays us a small commission — usually between 2% and 15% of your purchase. You pay exactly the same price you would pay if you went directly to the partner site. The commission comes from the partner's marketing budget, not from your pocket.
How we keep it honest
- We only recommend products we've tested. Every affiliate product on this site has been used by at least one member of our team.
- We rank by usefulness, not by commission. If the best eSIM pays a worse commission than a mediocre one, we still recommend the best one. We'd rather earn your trust than your one-time click.
- We disclose at the article level. Every guide with affiliate links has a disclosure box at the bottom (and a persistent disclaimer beside the affiliate cards).
- We disclose negatively. When a popular product underperforms, we say so — even if it has an affiliate program. See our VPN guide for examples (we explicitly recommend against several VPNs that would've happily paid us).
- We don't do sponsored posts disguised as editorial. If a brand pays for a placement, it would be clearly labeled "Sponsored". We don't currently run sponsored content at all.
Current affiliate partners
As of May 2026, we participate in affiliate programs with (but are not limited to):
- Connectivity: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad (eSIMs); Astrill, ExpressVPN, LetsVPN (VPNs)
- Bookings: Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda (hotels and trains)
- Tours & activities: Klook, GetYourGuide, Viator
- Visas & insurance: iVisa (visa applications); SafetyWing, World Nomads (travel insurance)
Your data and tracking
When you click an affiliate link, the partner site usually places a cookie that lets them attribute your purchase back to us. We don't see your purchase details — only an aggregate commission report. See our privacy policy for full details on what we collect.
Questions?
Email us via the contact page. We'll happily explain how any specific recommendation came about, including which (if any) commission relationships applied.