Self hosted WordPress is likely going to be your best bet as it gives you the most control.
Companies that you are looking for freebies from will typically want to know your audience (Google analytics), socials (probably care more about instagram than others even though instagram is terrible for driving traffic to your blog).
You can also make money from ads (but not much unless you have lots of traffic), or affiliate marketing, or selling stuff after you build an audience.
There about a million and one other travel blogs out there to compete against so if you want to get any kind of audience you really need to define your niche. That could be an area, a place, a specific kind ofa activity or travel, etc. But you'll have a lot more success building an audience and authority in Google's eyes if you have a niche and authority within that niche.
Google is where you will most likely get the majority of your traffic so you will have to research keywords and write with SEO in mind. Pinterest is very good for some bloggers as well.
The heydey of "write a blog, get traffic, and free stuff", has passed a bit. You still can, but it's a lot of work and you're competing against full time bloggers.
You need a variety of skills from tech knowledge (setting up hosting platform, etc), marketing, photography or videography, marketing, SEO, not to mention writing.
I am not a super successful travel blogger as I do it as more of a hobby and beer money, but have a bit of window into what it takes, and like I said, at least I make beer money and have received a few free products.
It's also a nice feeling when random people message you saying that your advice was great or your photos are beautiful, etc. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Source: Have Travel Blog.
www.zentravellers.com
Travel blog
