About Clanefly | Our Story, Mission & Team of Travel Experts

Q: How does Clanefly make money?

Clanefly generates revenue through affiliate partnerships (where we earn small commissions on bookings made through our links at no extra cost to you), display advertising, and occasional sponsored content. Our editorial team maintains complete independence — partnerships never influence our recommendations.

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Since 2020 Helping Travelers

Our Story

From a Backpacker's Dream to a Global Travel Resource

Clanefly was born in 2020 from a simple frustration: planning a trip shouldn't feel like a second job. Founder Sarah Mitchell had spent 15 years traveling to 80+ countries as a travel journalist, and she kept seeing the same problem — travelers wasting hours sifting through outdated blogs, overpriced tour packages, and generic advice that didn't actually help.

So she built Clanefly: a place where real travel experts share tested, honest, and practical advice. No fluff. No sponsored nonsense. Just the kind of guidance she wished she'd had when she first started exploring the world.

Today, Clanefly is trusted by over 1.2 million travelers monthly, with a team of 20+ writers, photographers, and travel specialists spread across 12 countries. We've helped readers save millions on flights, discover hidden gems most guidebooks miss, and plan trips they'll remember for a lifetime.

Sarah Mitchell Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Our Mission

To empower every traveler with honest, expert guidance that transforms ordinary trips into extraordinary adventures — making the world more accessible, one journey at a time.

— The Clanefly Team

Our Values

What We Stand For

Four core principles guide everything we do at Clanefly.

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Honesty First

We tell it like it is. If a destination is overrated, we'll say so. If a product isn't worth your money, we won't recommend it.

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Sustainable Travel

We promote responsible tourism that respects local communities, protects nature, and preserves cultures for future generations.

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Expert Depth

Every guide is written or reviewed by someone who's actually been there. Real experiences, not copy-paste content.

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Community First

Our readers are our family. We listen, we respond, and we build this platform together with your feedback.

Our Journey

Milestones Along the Way

From a one-woman blog to a global travel platform — here's how we got here.

2020

The Beginning

Sarah Mitchell launches Clanefly from her San Francisco apartment with a simple mission: make travel planning easier for everyone.

2021

First 100K Readers

Our flight booking guide goes viral, bringing in our first 100,000 monthly readers. We hire our first two writers.

2022

Going Global

We expand coverage to all 6 continents, launch the itineraries section, and grow our team to 8 travel specialists worldwide.

2023

Gear Reviews Launch

We introduce our honest gear review section, testing backpacks, cameras, and travel tech on real trips across 30+ countries.

2024

1 Million Readers

A huge milestone — 1 million monthly readers trust Clanefly for travel advice. We launch our weekly newsletter.

2025

Global Gems Collection

We launch our signature Global Gems section — highlighting 42 of the world's most extraordinary hidden destinations.

2026

The Journey Continues

Today, with 1.2M+ readers, 20+ team members, and 2,400+ guides, we're just getting started. The world is waiting.

Our Team

Meet the Travel Experts Behind Clanefly

A passionate team of writers, photographers, and adventurers spread across 12 countries — united by a love for exploration.

Sarah Mitchell

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Former travel journalist with 15+ years exploring 80+ countries. Leads our editorial vision.

80+ Countries

15 Years

Marcus Chen

Head of Flight Guides

Aviation expert and 1M-mile flyer. Decodes fare classes and finds the best flight deals.

1M+ Miles

65 Countries

Emma Rodriguez

Destination Expert

Specializes in Asia & Europe. Has lived in 6 countries and speaks 4 languages fluently.

45 Countries

4 Languages

David Park

Gear & Reviews Lead

Professional photographer and gear tester. Has reviewed 300+ travel products worldwide.

300+ Reviews

50 Countries

Priya Sharma

Solo Travel Expert

Solo female travel specialist focused on safety, cultural etiquette, and empowerment.

40+ Countries

6 Years Solo

James O'Connor

Adventure Writer

Mountaineer and adventure traveler. Covers extreme destinations and outdoor gear.

7 Summits

55 Countries

Aisha Rahman

Africa & Middle East Expert

Specializes in African safaris, Middle Eastern culture, and off-the-beaten-path adventures.

30+ Countries

8 Years

Tom Anderson

Budget Travel Specialist

Expert in traveling the world on $30/day. Hostels, street food, and smart money hacks.

60+ Countries

$30 Daily Budget

Why Trust Us

What Makes Clanefly Different

In a sea of travel blogs, here's why over a million readers choose us every month.

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Real Experience, Not Copy-Paste

Every guide is written by someone who's actually been there. We don't regurgitate other sites — we share firsthand knowledge from real trips.

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100% Honest Reviews

We buy most products ourselves and never accept payment for positive reviews. If something sucks, we'll tell you. Period.

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Always Up-to-Date

Travel changes fast. We review and update our content quarterly to reflect current prices, opening hours, and regulations.

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Global Perspective

Our team spans 12 countries and 6 continents. We bring diverse viewpoints and local insights you won't find elsewhere.

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Community-Driven

We listen to our readers. Many of our best guides started as reader requests, and we continuously improve based on your feedback.

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Expert Credentials

Our team includes former journalists, certified travel specialists, professional photographers, and industry insiders with decades of experience.

Reader Love

What Our Readers Say About Us

Don't just take our word for it — hear from the travelers whose trips we've helped plan.

★★★★★

"Clanefly's 14-day Europe itinerary was a game-changer. Every restaurant, every train, every hidden spot — perfectly planned. Best trip of my life!"

Jessica Thompson New York, USA

★★★★★

"I saved $1,200 on flights to Tokyo using Marcus's booking strategies. The flight guides alone are worth bookmarking. Absolutely brilliant content."

Michael Roberts London, UK

★★★★★

"As a solo female traveler, Priya's safety guides gave me confidence to explore Southeast Asia alone. I've now visited 8 countries thanks to Clanefly."

Laura Martinez Barcelona, Spain

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you want to know about Clanefly — answered honestly.

What is Clanefly? +

Clanefly is a travel website founded in 2020 that provides expert travel guides, flight booking tips, destination reviews, and ready-made itineraries. We help travelers plan smarter, save money, and discover hidden gems around the world. Our content is created by a team of 20+ travel experts who've collectively visited over 150 countries.

Who founded Clanefly? +

Clanefly was founded by Sarah Mitchell, a former travel journalist with 15+ years of experience exploring 80+ countries. She started the site to share practical, honest travel advice that she wished existed when she was planning her own trips. Today, she leads a team of 20+ travel specialists spread across 12 countries.

Is Clanefly's content free to use? +

Yes, all of Clanefly's travel guides, itineraries, flight tips, and gear reviews are completely free to read. We generate revenue through affiliate partnerships, advertisements, and sponsored content, which is always clearly disclosed. You'll never hit a paywall or be asked to subscribe to access our core content.

How does Clanefly make money? +

We generate revenue through three main channels: (1) affiliate partnerships where we earn small commissions on bookings made through our links at no extra cost to you, (2) display advertising, and (3) occasional sponsored content that's always clearly labeled. Our editorial team maintains complete independence — partnerships never influence our recommendations or reviews.

Can I contribute to Clanefly as a writer? +

We occasionally accept guest contributions from experienced travel writers and photographers. If you're interested, send your pitch to [email protected] with the subject "Writer Application". Include your travel credentials, writing samples, and areas of expertise. We review all applications monthly.

How often do you update your content? +

We review and update our core content quarterly to reflect changes in prices, opening hours, regulations, and new discoveries. Our "Best of" lists are refreshed annually. If you spot outdated information, please let us know via our contact page — we appreciate reader feedback and act on it quickly.

Do you offer custom trip planning services? +

We're currently developing a custom trip planning service, which we plan to launch in 2027. In the meantime, all our published itineraries are fully customizable templates that you can adapt to your needs. For specific questions about adapting an itinerary, our team is happy to help via our contact page.

How can I partner with Clanefly? +

We work with select travel brands, hotels, airlines, tourism boards, and gear companies that align with our values and audience. All partnerships maintain our editorial independence. If you're interested in collaborating, please email [email protected] with details about your brand and proposed collaboration.

Your Trusted Travel Companion Since 2020

From a Backpacker's Dream to a Global Travel Resource

What We Stand For

Honesty First

Sustainable Travel

Expert Depth

Community First

Six Ways We Help You Travel Smarter

Destination Guides

Flight Booking Tips

Travel Tips & Hacks

Ready-Made Itineraries

Gear & Hotel Reviews

Weekly Newsletter

Milestones Along the Way

The Beginning

First 100K Readers

Going Global

Gear Reviews Launch

1 Million Readers

Global Gems Collection

The Journey Continues

Meet the Travel Experts Behind Clanefly

Sarah Mitchell

Marcus Chen

Emma Rodriguez

David Park

Priya Sharma

James O'Connor

Aisha Rahman

Tom Anderson

What Makes Clanefly Different

Real Experience, Not Copy-Paste

100% Honest Reviews

Always Up-to-Date

Global Perspective

Community-Driven

Expert Credentials

What Our Readers Say About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Explore the World Smarter?