How to Earn Money While Travelling
If you want to roam the world while you’re still in your prime but lack the means to ditch work for good, get a job you can take along with you! See below for eight careers that let you earn money while travelling…
1. Photographer
Not so long ago, this field was pretty limited because you had to not only lug around heavy bags of expensive equipment, you had to get the picture right the first time or trash it. Now that digital photography and Photoshop techniques have evened the playing field, just about anyone with a good eye and steady hand can capture images that have potential marketplace value.
By signing up for services like The Travel Photographers’ Network you can study up on what images are hot, who’s looking for what and how to get your photos – or videos – into the right hands. Whether you focus on photographing people, places or products you can either copyright and sell you work yourself or develop a clientele that assigns you to shoot for specific projects.
2. Nurse
Certified nurses who want a flexible lifestyle can find plenty of opportunities to practice their profession while visiting dream destinations. As usual, getting all of the paperwork in order is the biggest hurdle, but services like The Travel Nurse walk you through the steps necessary to get the right type of visa and hook you up with the appropriate agencies.
You can seek out temporary work in your desired location or look for opportunities to serve as a travel companion for convalescing patients. Physical therapy and massage skills are also welcomed world wide and often pay handsomely, sometimes with accommodations provided as part of the enticement package.
3. Seasonal jobs
If spending every day at the same profession while you travel doesn’t strike your fancy either, you can look into temporary gigs in shops, restaurants or bars. Carpenters, landscapers and cleaning services also look for assistance during busy seasons and advertise for local temporary help on internet bulletin boards like Craigslist.
You can also consider one of the many placement programs that will help you find simple labour positions – sometimes complete with room and board. Backdoor Jobs asks that you donate some volunteer time, but most positions have a modest income and you can line up opportunities along your travel route.
4. Selling online
This often-overlooked mobile gold mine is not as tricky as you might think, especially if you do the research to find what people are buying from the areas you plan to visit. The potential for establishing a nice cash flow is substantial as long as you plan your accommodations so you have access to the internet and shipping services.
Pay attention at the local markets for specialty food items, indigenous crafts and location-specific services that you sell and promote online. See how to operate a profitable small business using Ebay to begin with, and start earning money without getting tied to any one location.
5. Instructor
For those blessed with certifiable experience in endeavors that require instruction like scuba diving, mountaineering, windsurfing or even aerobic activities like hula hooping – attracting a clientele wherever you choose to travel is easier than you think.
After obtaining any necessary local permits, you can work with equipment rental companies to promote their products and hopefully have them refer interested clients for your instruction. The internet is a great tool for broadcasting your current location to potential fun-seekers all over the globe, especially if you sign up with services like the divers’ NASE that will list your availability wherever you may land.
6. Teacher
Chances are that you have knowledge that is valuable to others, so your challenge is to find the right subjects to match your destinations. If you know a foreign language, tutouring lessons can earn you some decent spending money. Teaching English as a foreign language is a popular choice for Brits, Americans and Aussies.
Certified teachers can sign up with an international job placement service like Transitions Abroad to find appropriate gigs that match qualifications. Computer skills are also a hot commodity for all ages, and with the help of online translation tools it is easier than ever to work around language barriers.
7. Entertainer
Love to perform in front of an audience? Even if you are not a virtuoso at your chosen mode of expression, you might be surprised how many people would love to see you do what you do and pay you for the privilege. From musicians to acrobats to dancers to magicians, all cultures embrace the site of someone enjoying what they do.
Whether you want to perform in the concert hall or street corner, with the proper promotion you will find an audience to match your enthusiasm and reward your talents. Join a travelling company’s entertainment team – say, as part of the show crew on a cruise ship – and you’ll receive meals, accommodation and transportation between destinations as part of the package.
8. Writer
Can you write engaging articles packed with useful information that holds readers’ attention? Then you will find that your skill is in ever-increasing demand as magazine, newspaper and website editors are turning to freelance writers to submit stories rather than sending reporters into the field. From personal travel memoirs to investigative research, dining tips to walking tour guides – the trick is to find your niche and develop an audience.
Of course, you have to develop the discipline to document your discoveries, write engaging copy and meet deadlines. With the advent of self-publishing, the possibilities become unlimited for talented writers to promote their skills via a blog and earn money with pay-per-click advertising revenue. The Travel Writers’ Exchange provides links to the top ten ways to earn money from writing as you travel.
Planning to work while you travel? Save money on accommodation by searching our worldwide map of cheap hotels, and compare flights.
Words: Lela Lake
Flickr images, with thanks: 1 2 3 4 5
Are you making money while you travel? Tell us how in the comments…
