How to Use Social Media to Get Free Travel Perks
Imagine booking a hotel room and getting a surprise free upgrade to a suite, scoring complimentary meals at a five-star restaurant, or even snagging a free night’s stay at a luxury resort—all thanks to your Instagram or TikTok account. Sounds too good to be true? Think again.
Social media has changed the travel game, and whether you have 10,000 followers or just 500, you can leverage your online presence to score incredible travel perks. The best part? You don’t have to be a full-time influencer to do it. You just need the right strategy.
Ready to turn your social media into a free travel hack? Here’s how.
1. Why Do Brands Give Freebies to Travelers?
Before diving into the strategies, let’s address the big question: why would a hotel, airline, or tour company give you something for free? Simple—exposure and marketing. In today’s digital world, brands are shifting their marketing budgets away from traditional ads and focusing more on social media engagement and word-of-mouth recommendations. Even if you’re not a mega-influencer, companies value authentic content and genuine recommendations.
2. Optimize Your Social Media for Travel Perks
Before reaching out to brands, your social media should look professional and travel-friendly. You don’t need thousands of followers, but your profile should be engaging and visually appealing.
Step 1: Build an Attractive Travel-Focused Profile
Use a clear, high-quality profile picture.
Your bio should mention travel (e.g., “Exploring the world one budget trip at a time ✈️”).
Post high-quality travel photos or videos (no blurry, low-effort shots!).
Write engaging captions—tell a story, give tips, or ask questions to boost engagement.
Step 2: Stay Active and Engaging
Post consistently (2-4 times per week is ideal).
Use Instagram Stories & TikTok to showcase real-time travel experiences.
Engage with other travel pages, hotels, and brands by liking and commenting on their posts.
3. How to Score Free Perks Using Social Media
Now, let’s get to the fun part—actually getting those free upgrades, discounts, and experiences.
1. Tag & Mention Brands for Free Upgrades
Hotels, airlines, and restaurants love when customers mention them online. The more visibility you give them, the more likely they are to reward you.
How to do it:
Post a great photo of your hotel, airline, or restaurant and tag them in your story or feed.
Use travel-related hashtags (e.g., #LuxuryTravel, #VisitParis, #TravelDeals).
Engage with the brand before your trip—comment on their posts, share their content.
💡 Pro Tip: If you have an upcoming hotel stay, message the hotel beforehand, mentioning how excited you are and that you’ll be posting about your stay. Polite enthusiasm + social media presence = potential perks!
2. Reach Out to Hotels & Tour Companies for Collabs
Even if you’re not a big influencer, you can offer something in exchange for a free stay or tour—such as a social media post, a blog review, or user-generated content.
How to do it:
Find smaller boutique hotels or local tour companies (they’re more likely to collaborate than large chains).
Send a polite, professional message via email or Instagram DM.
Offer something valuable—e.g., “I’d love to feature your hotel on my Instagram and TikTok in exchange for a complimentary night’s stay.”
💡 Pro Tip: Show them an example of your previous content so they see your quality of work.
3. Leverage Instagram & TikTok Challenges for Freebies
Many travel brands run contests and challenges that reward participants with free stays, flights, or experiences.
How to find them:
Follow major travel pages like @TravelAwesome, @NomadicMatt, @VisitEurope.
Search hashtags like #TravelGiveaway, #WinATrip, #TravelChallenge.
Participate in airline social media contests (e.g., “Post your best beach photo for a chance to win a free flight!”).
4. Travel Hashtags That Boost Your Reach
Using the right hashtags can increase visibility and improve your chances of brands noticing you.
Best Travel Hashtags to Use:
#TravelDeals
#WanderlustWednesday
#LuxuryForLess
#BudgetTravelHacks
#HotelGoals
#TravelWithMe
#CheapTravelTips
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid generic hashtags like #Travel. Instead, use location-specific hashtags (e.g., #VisitBali, #NYCHotels) to get noticed by brands in that area.
5. Real-Life Success Stories: People Who Got Free Travel Perks
Case Study 1: Scoring a Free Hotel Upgrade
📍 Location: Santorini, Greece
Traveler: @WanderWithMia (3,500 followers)
Strategy: Posted a stunning sunset photo tagging the hotel & left a glowing review.
Result: The hotel offered her a free extra night and a welcome drink on her next visit.
Case Study 2: Free Tours in Exchange for Social Media Content
📍 Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Traveler: @NomadicAlex (2,000 followers)
Strategy: DM’d small tour companies offering an Instagram post & video review.
Result: Received two free day tours worth over $150!
Final Thoughts: Start Scoring Free Perks Today
You don’t need millions of followers to use social media for free travel perks. With smart tagging, a bit of engagement, and the right strategy, you can land upgrades, discounts, and even free stays just by posting about your travels.
Quick Recap:
✅ Tag brands & hotels in your posts for potential upgrades.
✅ DM hotels/tours for collaborations, even if you’re not a big influencer.
✅ Engage with travel brands before and during your trip.
✅ Use the right hashtags to increase visibility.
✅ Join travel challenges & giveaways for free trips and experiences.
So next time you travel, don’t just snap a pic—turn your social media into your secret travel weapon! 🚀✈️
Have you ever scored free travel perks using social media? Share your experience in the comments! And if this guide helped you, tag a friend who needs to read this!
