I know most people addicted to travel would love to find a way to get paid to travel. Some people have found their niche in the travel world as tour guides, pilots, boat captains, buskers or photojournalists among many other professions. The most popular type of travel job seems to be writing.
Figuring out a profitable way to travel and make money is difficult obviously, otherwise loads of people would be doing it already. I believe the best way to get paid to travel is to find out what other people are doing is to model the idea and then try it yourself. For those interested in travel writing, here are some links of interviews or website of people who get paid to travel and their very wise and realistic advice on travel writing.
Ricks Steves interview on being a travel writer in Transitions Abroad.
Rolf Potts offers advice on how to become a travel writer.
Jen Leo offers tons of advice for travel writers on Written Road.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
There are plenty of ways you can make money on the road. I’m a journalist and have always managed with writing, but when that wasn’t possible I tried my hand at other jobs, some with significant success.
My first choice would be teaching English overseas. If you’re English-mother tongue and speak your language well, millions of people are looking for English lessons or tutoring. There’s hardly a country on earth where you won’t be able to find a job teaching English.
A more innovative type of job might be a cruise line. Thousands of young people are hired each year in jobs ranging from waiting on tables and cleaning rooms to dealing blackjack in the casino – it all depends on what you can do. The contracts can be short – as short as three months – and you get to travel and earn money at the same time. Hard to beat!
Then there’s the Internet. A range of professions can be handled from anywhere in the world. So if you’ve already got the skills or experience, you can find work as you travel in these areas, for starters: proofreading, editing, translation, website building, design, layout… take your pick!
Actually, loads of people are doing it already – I did it for three years on the road, and ran into many others doing the same thing. It’s mostly a question of setting yourself up properly before you go!
There are travel jobs in the healthcare field as well; Nursing and Laboratory professions. A year ago, I felt stuck and miserable in my hometown. Now I get paid to live in new cities and work in hospitals anywhere from 3 months to a year. I couldnt be happier. Of course, its not exotic or international (but nurses CAN get international gigs)….but Ive realized my dream of getting paid to travel. And Im not nailed down. I hope to take my savings, and use them to visit the places Ive dreamt about such as Antilles and Australia.
So the traveling jobs aren’t just in writing or cruiselines.
Scribe and K~ You both seem to have jobs that you are really happy with and allow you to travel at the same time! You’re so fortunate! So many people want to have jobs that they get to use their skills and talents while traveling and not just any ol’ job will do. Scribe you have a lot of good ideas! And I love your blog. K~ I hope you get to realize your dream to live in Australia or the Antilles! Both are amazing!
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