Working Your Way Around the World
By Josh March 25, 2008
Maybe you have a large inheritance or you invented YouTube or are a really skilled poker player. Probably not, though. If you were, you wouldn’t be reading this. You’d be busy buying stuff. For the non-trust fund babies among us, travel is a major investment. There have been times in my life when I’ve worked for four months so that I could save to take a seven day trip.
It took time for me to realize that I didn’t have to be a slave to the routine of working a lot and traveling a little.
Working to pay for your travels while you are on a trip is easy (sometimes). Here’s my two cents:
1. Teach English. If you are reading this, then chances are you have a decent command of the English language. Teaching English has to be the number one job for travelers out there. In many countries, there are few (if any) qualifications for native-speaking teachers. A month long TEFL course might help land you something with a bit more pay.
2. Write. Easier said than done, right? Not these days. Travel communities are springing across the web. Some (like Cosmotourist) pay for guidebook style articles from travelers. Granted it’s not great pay, but enough to keep you on the road for a few months longer than you budget might previously have allowed.
3. Telecommute. Most countries have decent enough internet connections nowadays. If you are lucky enough to find a job where you can send you work in (web designer, programmer, plenty of other tech related jobs), you can keep the paychecks coming.
4. Hospitality. Most lower end tourist industry jobs are reserved for local residents. However, travelers can sometimes find their way into specialty jobs. The beaches of Southeast Asia are littered with dive shops looking for SCUBA diving guides, surfing instructors, even yoga teachers. Many resorts and hotels employ expats as chefs and as management personnel.
5. Join the Navy.
6. As with anything in life, the more trained you are, the better off you’ll be. There are oodles of consultants, diplomats, and journalists out there living the dream of traveling the world while getting paid. If they can do it, why can’t you?
Topics: Budget Travel Tips, Work Vacations |
One Response to “Working Your Way Around the World”
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you 6th point made me sigh longingly. ANy advice on how to become a journalist without lots of money or without focussing your life on trainning?(I feel I could do it if just given the chance, no need for a degree!)