How do I break into travel photography?

In high school I learned what I wanted to do with my life; photograph. Now I'm a college freshman and after taking three photography classes (still many more to come!), I finally figured out what kind I want to do; travel photography. How does one break into this type of photography? Can anyone direct me to some helpful websites and/or books that help me pursue this type of career?

Take a second major in school, and study journalism. Learn the magazine business inside and out. You need to be versatile in this type of job, not only taking the photos, but writing of your subject. Then you get an internship at a travel magazine, such as Conde Nast Traveller, and work hard, if you are lucky they will give you a chance.

Another option is to freelance, and submit photos and articles to various magazines and publications, and hope that they choose your photos.

You have picked the most competitive field there is.

Who wouldn't want to travel, take pictures, and make money? Millions want to do it and only a handful do.

Take a basic photo class, get hardware that is capable of making images big enough for magazines, travel, then submit your work.

Be sure that your hardware, vehicle and house are paid for. That will be a huge help.

All the travel photographers I know also write the copy that surrounds their images. The magazines budgets usually are so small, they cannot afford to send a writer AND photographer to cover the travel event.

your question reminds me of the guy that got into a cab in New York, and asked, how do i get to Carnegie hall from here?
the cab driver said,
practise, practise ,practise,
the same applies to you, if your interested in getting involved with travel business with photos. you must do a lot of travel to many many vacation spot and resorts, taking pictures of all hotels and restaurants everyplace you go give them your card, if they ask you who you work for, just say your a freelancer and request some financing or freee hotel and travel such as retal cars and such. keep all your bills and a book on all jobs. get a freind to see your work, and dont get angered if they dont care for it, its not for them get a photo editor program and play with the pictures add and subtract good and bad stuff. i would suggest you first get business cards made up,
give them to everyone that will take them from Cab driver to hotel staff and owners managers, introduce yourself as a freelance photographer and would like to set their resort in one of your travel programs, and if i were you always keep your camera in your hand. i caugh a picture of a famous movie star last year and sold it for 20K handing out card its just a another way of getting a little pocket money when your on the road, but if you get Lucky you will get a job with a travel magazine or a newspaper freelancer. Always get back to the people you meet anyplace you go and anyone you meet get your email Addy on the card and always get the people you meet in your address box. i have done well with this stuff, its not like it was work its great. good luck. PS keep a
journal of all your travels and contact me to let me know how you made out, its not overnight success but it sure is fun.