7 Proven HARO Response Templates That Actually Get Travel Links

    Stop writing HARO pitches from scratch. These seven proven templates help travel brands earn editorial backlinks from Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic Traveller UK.

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    You see a perfect HARO query. It asks for travel experts to comment on sustainable tourism. You've run an eco-travel company for eight years. This should be easy.

    But you stare at a blank email for 20 minutes. What do you write? How long should it be? Should you mention your company?

    These seven templates solve that problem. Copy them, customise them with your expertise, and send them within 15 minutes.

    Why HARO Templates Work for Travel Brands

    Journalists receive 50-100 pitches per query. They don't read essays. They scan for three things:

    Relevant Expertise

    Do you actually know what you're talking about, or did you Google the answer five minutes ago?

    Ready-to-Use Quote

    Can they copy-paste your response straight into their article without editing?

    Clear Credentials

    Who are you and why should readers trust your opinion?

    Templates ensure you hit all three points every single time.

    Template 1: The Expert Opinion

    Use this when: The query asks for general expert commentary on travel trends, destinations, or industry changes.

    Template 1

    Subject: Expert Perspective on [Topic] from [Your Role]

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    I saw your query about [specific topic] and wanted to contribute. As [your role] at [company], I specialise in [expertise area] and have [credentials/experience].

    Quote you can use:

    "[Your insight in 2-3 sentences. Make it conversational and specific. Include a statistic or real example if possible.]"

    Happy to provide additional context if helpful. Please let me know when the article publishes so I can share it with our network.

    Best,
    [Your Name]
    [Title, Company]
    [Website URL]
    [Email/Phone]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: Expert Perspective on Sustainable Travel from Eco-Tourism Director

    Hi Sarah,

    I saw your query about sustainable travel trends for 2025 and wanted to contribute. As Director of EcoWander Travel, I specialise in carbon-neutral tour design and have organised over 300 sustainable trips across Southeast Asia.

    Quote you can use:

    "The biggest shift we're seeing isn't tourists choosing trains over planes. It's travellers demanding proof. They want to see carbon offset certificates, not just promises. Our bookings tripled after we started sending post-trip impact reports showing exactly how their £2,500 holiday funded reforestation projects in Thailand."

    Happy to provide specific data from our 2024 customer survey if helpful. Please let me know when the article publishes so I can share it with our 15,000 newsletter subscribers.

    Best,
    Michael Chen
    Director, EcoWander Travel
    ecowander.com
    michael@ecowander.com

    Template 2: The Data-Backed Response

    Use this when: The query asks for statistics, trends, or proof of claims. Journalists love hard numbers.

    Template 2

    Subject: [Specific Data/Statistic] on [Topic]

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    I noticed your request about [topic]. As [your role], I recently [specific achievement/research].

    Here's what our data shows:

    "[Share 2-3 sentences with concrete statistics. Be specific with numbers, percentages, and timeframes.]"

    I can provide the full dataset or additional examples if you need more detail.

    Regards,
    [Name & Credentials]
    [Contact]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: 43% Increase in Solo Female Travel Bookings – 2025 Data

    Hi James,

    I noticed your request about solo female travel trends. As founder of SafeWander, a women-only tour operator, I recently analysed our 2024 booking data across 2,500 travellers.

    Here's what our data shows:

    "Solo female bookings increased 43% from 2023 to 2024, with the 55-65 age group showing the largest growth at 78%. Morocco, Portugal, and Iceland were the top three destinations. The average trip length jumped from 8 days to 12 days, and 67% of travellers booked their second trip within six months."

    I can provide the full dataset broken down by destination, age group, and spending patterns if you need more detail.

    Regards,
    Emma Williams
    Founder, SafeWander
    safewander.co.uk
    emma@safewander.co.uk

    Template 3: The Tips List

    Use this when: The query asks for advice, recommendations, or how-to content.

    Template 3

    Subject: [Number] Tips on [Topic] from [Your Expertise]

    Hello [Journalist Name],

    I'd love to contribute to your piece on [topic]. As someone with [credentials], here are my top insights:

    1. [Quote-ready tip with specific action]

    2. [Another practical tip with an example]

    3. [Third tip including personal experience or data]

    Feel free to use any or all of these. Happy to elaborate on any point.

    Best,
    [Name, Title, Company]
    [Contact Info]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: 5 Budget Tips for Japan During Cherry Blossom Season

    Hello Rachel,

    I'd love to contribute to your piece on budget Japan travel. As a travel blogger who spent 90 days in Japan last year, here are my top insights:

    1. Fly into Osaka, not Tokyo. Hotels during cherry blossom season cost £150/night in Tokyo versus £60/night in Osaka. You'll see the same cherry blossoms and save £600 on a week's accommodation.

    2. Take night buses between cities. A Tokyo-Kyoto shinkansen costs £100. The overnight bus costs £25 and saves a hotel night. You arrive at 6am when temples open.

    3. Buy a 7-day JR Pass before you leave the UK. It costs £215 but pays for itself after two long-distance train journeys. Don't wait until you arrive in Japan—it's 30% more expensive.

    4. Eat at convenience stores for breakfast. Lawson and FamilyMart sell fresh onigiri, coffee, and fruit for £3 total. Restaurant breakfasts cost £12-15.

    5. Visit smaller towns like Kawaguchiko and Takayama. They have spectacular cherry blossoms, zero crowds, and hotels that cost half what you'd pay in Kyoto.

    Feel free to use any or all of these. Happy to elaborate on specific destinations or provide photos.

    Best,
    Tom Harrison
    Travel Blogger, BudgetBackpacker.co.uk
    tom@budgetbackpacker.co.uk

    Template 4: The Personal Story

    Use this when: The query asks for first-hand experiences, mistakes made, or lessons learned.

    Template 4

    Subject: [Specific Experience/Result] – Personal Story on [Topic]

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    Your query about [topic] caught my attention because [brief personal connection].

    Here's my experience:

    "[Tell a specific story in 3-4 sentences. Include what happened, what you learned, and the outcome. Make it relatable.]"

    Happy to provide more detail or photos if this fits your article.

    [Name]
    [Title/Blog]
    [Contact]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: How Missing a Flight Taught Me Travel Insurance Actually Matters

    Hi David,

    Your query about travel insurance mistakes caught my attention because I learned this lesson the expensive way in 2023.

    Here's my experience:

    "I missed a connecting flight in Istanbul due to a three-hour passport control queue. My £800 flight to the Maldives left without me. I'd skipped travel insurance to save £45. Rebooking cost £1,200. Even worse, my resort charged £300 for the first night I didn't use because I couldn't cancel within 48 hours. That £45 saving cost me £1,500."

    Happy to provide the full timeline of what happened or tips on what coverage actually matters. I now buy travel insurance for every trip, even weekends in Paris.

    Claire Bennett
    Travel Writer, SoloAdventures.co.uk
    claire@soloadventures.co.uk

    Template 5: The Comparison

    Use this when: The query asks about "A versus B" or choosing between options.

    Template 5

    Subject: [Option A] vs [Option B] – Expert Comparison

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    I saw your query comparing [Option A] and [Option B]. As [your credentials], I've worked with both extensively.

    Here's the key difference:

    "[Explain the main distinction in 2-3 sentences. Give specific scenarios where each option works best. Include costs or metrics if relevant.]"

    Let me know if you need more specific comparisons or examples.

    [Name & Credentials]
    [Contact]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: Airbnb vs Hotels for Family Travel – Expert Comparison

    Hi Sophie,

    I saw your query comparing Airbnb and hotels for family travel. As a family travel consultant who books 200+ trips per year, I've worked with both extensively.

    Here's the key difference:

    "Hotels win for trips under four nights because of breakfast, daily cleaning, and amenities like pools. Airbnb wins for week-long stays because you save £60-80 daily by cooking meals, plus kids have separate bedrooms for better sleep. The break-even point is usually night three—if you're staying longer, Airbnb saves money. If it's a quick trip, hotels offer better value when you factor in the time saved."

    Let me know if you need more specific comparisons for different destinations or family sizes. I have cost breakdowns for popular European cities.

    Lisa Thompson
    Family Travel Consultant, FamilyWanderlust.co.uk
    lisa@familywanderlust.co.uk

    Template 6: The Warning/Mistake

    Use this when: The query asks what to avoid, common mistakes, or warnings.

    Template 6

    Subject: Biggest [Topic] Mistake I See Travellers Make

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    Your query about [topic mistakes/warnings] resonates because I see this problem constantly. As [credentials], here's the biggest issue:

    The mistake:

    "[Describe the common mistake in 1-2 sentences, then explain the consequence, then provide the solution. Make it actionable.]"

    Happy to share more examples or explain the right approach in more detail.

    [Name]
    [Title]
    [Contact]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: Biggest Currency Exchange Mistake I See Travellers Make

    Hi Mark,

    Your query about currency exchange mistakes resonates because I see this problem constantly. As founder of TravelMoneyPro, a currency comparison site, here's the biggest issue:

    The mistake:

    "Travellers exchange money at airport kiosks because it's convenient. Those kiosks charge 8-12% worse rates than you'd get from your bank or a pre-ordered currency card. On a £1,000 holiday budget, that's £80-120 lost to poor exchange rates. Instead, order currency online 2-3 days before travel, or use a fee-free travel card like Revolut or Wise. You'll get rates within 0.5% of the actual market rate."

    Happy to share specific rate comparisons for popular destinations or explain the right approach in more detail. I track exchange rates across 40 providers.

    Alex Morrison
    Founder, TravelMoneyPro.co.uk
    alex@travelmoneypro.co.uk

    Template 7: The Trend Prediction

    Use this when: The query asks about future trends, predictions, or what's coming next.

    Template 7

    Subject: [Topic] Trend Prediction from [Your Role]

    Hi [Journalist Name],

    I noticed your query about [future trends]. As [credentials], here's what I'm seeing:

    The trend:

    "[Describe the emerging trend in 2-3 sentences. Back it up with current data or early indicators. Explain why this matters for travellers/the industry.]"

    I can provide more data points or specific examples if this direction interests you.

    [Name & Title]
    [Company]
    [Contact]

    Real Travel Example

    Subject: 2025 Travel Trend Prediction from Luxury Tour Operator

    Hi Jennifer,

    I noticed your query about 2025 travel trends. As Director of Heritage Luxury Tours, here's what I'm seeing:

    The trend:

    "Multi-generational travel is exploding. Our bookings for trips including grandparents, parents, and grandchildren increased 156% from 2023 to 2024. Families are spending £15,000-30,000 on villa rentals in Tuscany or Croatia where three generations can stay together. The trigger is grandparents in their 60s and 70s realising they're healthy enough to travel now but might not be in five years. They're funding these trips as 'living inheritance' experiences rather than leaving money in wills."

    I can provide more data points on average spending, top destinations, and booking lead times if this direction interests you. We're seeing 8-12 month advance bookings for summer 2025.

    Rebecca Foster
    Director, Heritage Luxury Tours
    heritageluxurytours.co.uk
    rebecca@heritageluxurytours.co.uk

    How to Customise These Templates

    Replace Brackets with Real Information

    Don't send a pitch with [Journalist Name] still in brackets. Replace every placeholder with actual details. Use the journalist's first name, not "Dear Sir/Madam."

    Write the Quote First

    Start by writing your quote. Make it 2-3 sentences that a journalist can copy-paste directly. Then build the rest of the email around it.

    Keep It Under 200 Words

    Journalists don't read long emails. Your entire pitch should fit on one screen without scrolling. The examples above are maximum length.

    Match Your Expertise to the Query

    Only use these templates for queries where you actually have experience. Don't pitch a sustainable travel query if you've never thought about carbon offsets.

    Respond Within Six Hours

    Templates save time. Use that time to respond fast. Queries get 50-100 responses. Journalists pick from the first qualified answers. Speed matters.

    Want More HARO Strategies?

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    HARO Template Questions

    Start Using These Templates Today

    These seven templates cover 90% of HARO queries you'll see as a travel brand. You don't need to write from scratch anymore.

    Copy the template that matches the query type. Replace the brackets with your actual expertise. Send it within six hours.

    A 20-30% success rate means one placement for every 3-5 pitches. That's 4-8 high-authority backlinks per month from publications like Forbes Travel, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Telegraph.

    Download our complete HARO blueprint for advanced timing strategies and pitch analysis. Or explore our link building services if you'd prefer we handle HARO pitching for you.

    Templates turn HARO from a time-consuming gamble into a repeatable system for earning editorial backlinks.