Blurb are popular but, as others have said, quite pricey.
If you are comfortable using Adobe InDesign look up digital printers in your area and have a chat with them. My local place can do five copies of an A4, 64 page saddle stitched booklet for the equivalent of about US$50 but they have a much wider range of options.
I also do postcards, greetings cards and posters with them.
The examples you have posted look more like a fashion shoot for a teen magazine, not what I would consider travel photography. Those kids are paid models, if that is what you are after then most major cities will have model agencies that may be able to help.
Otherwise
how often are locals willing to do things like this?
It very much depends on where you go. In some places kids, and even adults, will fall over themselves to get in front of your camera, in others they are more reserved. In the case of the former you will probably find it is a bit like trying to get cats in formation. If you are hiring from agencies though, you will get people who have a bit of modelling experience.
Do you have any experience of travel? Have you been to any of the places where you think you would like to work? Perhaps you should narrow that down a bit and then look at what options are available.
I want to pursue editorial travel photography with a mix of street and documentary.
You will need a nose for a good story. Because the first question an editor will ask when you present you pictures is “What’s the story?”
My one and only time doing arial phography was from a microlight in the Himalayas. Even that was US$120 per hour Nepal prices about 15 years ago