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8 Ways to Get Paid to Travel for Free, A Solo Traveller’s Guide

Blog · Recent Posts · Solo Travel Tips · Volunteer Work Abroad

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Photo: Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

If you are reading this right now, it means you’ve been searching for different ways to save on your travels or looking for ways to fund your travels abroad, or both! I’m here to tell you there are ways you can travel for FREE, make money, and even get paid! All you have to do is look in the right places and be willing to be flexible with your time and the way you travel.

Many of us love travelling, but most of us simply don’t have the funds to travel as much as we like for an extended period of time. After calculating the costs of taking some time off work (not everyone gets paid for vacation time), then prepping for travel like buying travel gear, getting the proper vaccinations, paying for visa fees, etc., then researching and budgeting for flights, accommodation, travel insurance, entertainment, food and even the Uber ride to the airport can quickly add up to be extremely costly; and you haven’t even left the country yet!

When I was working at my 9 to 5 job, I would save money just to travel twice a year for two weeks at a time (and even try to squeeze in short weekend trips), then fly back home, work, save, then hop on a plane to another destination the next time I had vacation time. I did this consistently, which left me financially drained and unfulfilled. I had to figure out a way to either support myself as I travelled the world, get paid doing it, or find a job that would allow me to work remotely all while chasing my passions and dreams. Sounds impossible, right? While it may seem like an unreachable dream, I’m here to tell you it is entirely possible!

Table of Contents

Without further ado, let’s get down to some of the best ways you can travel for FREE :

1. volunteer abroad.

IVHQ Italy review volunteer abroad travel- solo

Volunteering abroad is a great way to learn about other cultures, help people in need, broaden your professional skills, and have a myriad of experiences you’d never get at home. The world is more connected than ever before, and spending time in other countries helps all of us gain a global perspective, which is valuable in every aspect of life.

Volunteering abroad is a much more comprehensive experience than just travelling through a country and seeing its sights. When you volunteer abroad, you get the opportunity to build genuine relationships with the community you’re serving, so you get more of a local authentic experience.

I’m a strong believer that everyone is born into this world with a special gift and everyone we meet in life is talented in some area of their life. We all have our strengths and unique skill-sets, so why not donate your time and knowledge in your area of expertise to organizations that need your help? Many social impact organizations and start-up companies simply do not have the resources in place to hire someone with your professional background, so they offer FREE travel expenses in exchange for your (usually) long-term work. In fact, according to research recently published by The United Nations, volunteers, especially those who are skill-based volunteers, play a major role in global development. This simply means you can help demolish one of the major barriers to progress, which is known as the “Talent Gap.”

ways-travel-free-get-paid-guide-UN-volunteers

Photo Credit:  UN Volunteers

Before I get into this further, I want to highlight the importance of   ethical volunteering . Ethical volunteering does not take jobs away from the local communities in which the organizations are located. Instead, it integrates and works alongside the local community, and volunteers are brought in to help build a system, pass on their knowledge, and train the locals to help them sustain their long-term goals long after they are gone.

Ultimately, volunteering shouldn’t just be a way to travel for free. You should aim to add value to those you are helping. It’s important to pick a cause you are passionate about to truly make a real impact through your volunteer work abroad.

Travel Grants

  • There are two ways to find volunteer organizations abroad:

→ Find your own opportunities

Take initiative, especially when it comes to finding volunteer opportunities abroad . You often have to research on your own and make a pitch to the organizations directly. Don’t just wait around for opportunities to be posted online, because most won’t be announced. Find organizations you feel passionate about that reflect your own personal values. Outline why and how you can apply your specialized skill-sets to contribute to the organization’s overall objectives and goals.

You may have to make a pitch for your idea directly to the decision-maker in whatever organization you’re applying to. Another good reason to contact the organization directly is that you can ask for referrals of people who’ve volunteered in the past. Contacting someone who already volunteered is a great way to get the inside information on a particular program you’re interested in from a volunteer’s perspective.

I strongly advise, especially if this is your first time, that you also look up well-recognized and credible organizations in your home country to see if they have any affiliate international offices or partner organizations that would allow you to volunteer at one of their locations. Non-profits are always looking for volunteers. Examples: Right to Play , Pencils for Promise . As a safety precaution, I do not recommend going to volunteer at organizations overseas that do not have an official affiliation with other legitimate international volunteer organizations.

→ Using third-party organizations to help you find opportunities.

Note that they may charge a small fee for their services, fees may vary depending on the organization. They work like recruitment agencies – they help you find work and may take a commission or charge a fee for helping you find a placement.

Here are some third-party volunteer placement organizations worth looking into that will provide FREE travel expenses in exchange for your volunteer work:

  • Moving Worlds  www.movingworlds.org

movingworlds opportunities volunteer abroad

Photo: Screenshot of my personal account from MovingWorld’s paid membership. Green icons illustrate postings of various organizations looking for volunteers offering free travel expenses in exchange for work (food, compensation, accommodation, other travel expenses. Free travel expenses offered differs depending on organization.

Moving Worlds is a for-profit Social Purpose Corporation with the aim of providing people opportunities to make a sustainable impact in the world. Moving World connects skilled volunteers with social impact organizations and projects. Volunteers must create an online profile, choose/pay for a membership level and then apply to a preferred program/organization. Offered organizations and projects can extend different benefits to their volunteers. In exchange for expert skills, some projects can cover everything from meals to travel, accommodations, and even provide a stipend. Other programs/groups may only cover a few expenses or none at all. There is a matching process during which volunteers and host organizations and programs are assessed to ensure a proper fit for both volunteer and project. Volunteers are only required to pay for one of three annual program membership level fees. Membership levels start at 250USD/year. Skills and expertise requirements can vary but generally speaking work experience, professional certifications, long term expertise or even hobby level practice will often suffice for projects/organizations.

NOTE: Costs for various membership levels do increase significantly and can become prohibitive for some, although the basic membership level can provide an acceptable level of resources.

  • Omprakash  https://www.omprakash.org/

omprakash volunteer abroad organization travel free

NOTE: Omprakash is one of the younger organizations, being operational since 2005. While their network is generally well vetted, it is important to keep in mind that this is a network of organizations and individual standards can vary.

united nations volunteers abroad travel free

NOTE: UN Volunteers is a reliable organization with well-funded projects and supporting resources. However, it is important to note that positions are very competitive, and the organization looks for highly skilled candidates.

united-nations-volunteers-abroad-travel-free

VSO is a non-profit organization with the express purpose of fighting global poverty. The organization provides skilled volunteers with opportunities to provide assistance in 24 developing countries in the work. VSO works with local partner groups to set up assignments and deploy volunteers. Volunteer requirements include at least 3 years in a relevant field, an academic degree or equivalent, clean criminal record as well as physical fitness standards for deployment. VSO assignments generally provide a basic living allowance, accommodations, medical coverage as well as training and support. The group also organizes work visas and return flights when applicable. Travel to assignments is usually covered by the volunteer. Volunteers look through a database of volunteer vacancies and send an application directly for the role they are interested in. Specific requirements and variables pertain directly to individual placement options. There are no major costs/fees to be paid to VSO for volunteer placement.

NOTE: Options are in developing countries and local standards can be difficult. Volunteers should make sure that they are physically and emotionally capable of handling such situations and locations. Pre-trip planning and training would be critical for many of these locations.

2.  GET YOUR COMPANY / EMPLOYER TO PAY FOR IT

credit suisse corporate volunteering abroad

Photo Credit: https://kazakh-tv.kz

You read that correctly – your employer might be able to fund your overseas trip!

A lot of employees don’t consider their employers or companies when looking for ways to travel for free. But a growing number of companies and employers are starting to see the benefit of international volunteering. Therefore, more companies are providing their employees with the opportunities to volunteer abroad.

Many companies like the idea of being sponsors for activities that showcase their corporate volunteer programs and efforts and/or their support for philanthropic missions. Your company may want to provide direct support for volunteer trips abroad. In fact, many large companies offer corporate volunteering programs or give their employees paid time off to volunteer.

Volunteering can add to an employee’s professional skills, it can be a great team-building exercise, it can aid in employee retention, it can strengthen ties to an overseas market, and great for the company’s overall involvement in social causes. Major companies like Salesforce, Timberland, Microsoft, Deloitte, Credit Suisse, Patagonia, IBM and PwC offer corporate volunteering programs or even pay employees to volunteer abroad — and they aren’t the only ones.

TAKE TIME OFF WORK, A SABBATICAL OR LEAVE OF ABSENCE:  There are several possible options for taking time off of work to be able to pursue other, important goals and engage in life activities that we otherwise cannot engage in due to our job commitments. Many companies these days understand the importance of work/life balance and are often willing to allow for special trips, projects and personal engagements. Although such options are not often advertised within a company, it is often a matter of asking that can lead to the time off and sometimes even direct support for the intended endeavour.

Options for time off could include a formal sabbatical, leave without pay, education coverage, or even direct project/trip sponsorship. An employee can check to see if any of these options are available to them by simply reaching out to Human Resources (HR) as a first step. Even if HR does not have any official options on the books any of the following options are still possible, it never hurts to ask!

Sabbaticals are traditionally known in the education sector and are generally a formal time period away from work for other pursuits. Eligibility requirements can vary for formal sabbaticals but some companies do allow for these set time off periods. Another option might be to request Leave without Pay for any extended period of time away from work. Leave without Pay is commonly used in the corporate sector for individuals needing a longer period away (more than 2 weeks at a time). In such instances, usually, a direct manager can approve this request. Employees should also check to see if the company has any formal educational reimbursement programs. In that case, a short course in the destination location you are interested in could be partly covered by the company if an employee can couple the trip with the educational course.

HOW TO PITCH TO YOUR COMPANY: If you are employed, you can check with your company’s HR department to see if the company provides resources for employees who would like to volunteer abroad. If not, why not take the initiative and start a program yourself? You can be the one to start the corporate volunteering trend in your company. You could develop the project in detail, outline exactly what they intend to do with every specific listed including locations, organizations, and costs, and then present the project to leadership. The project proposal should clearly explain why this would be good for the company and what the company will get from it. If the project and benefits clearly outweigh the cost for the company, they may be apt to fund the whole project/travel themselves.

3. APPLY FOR A TRAVEL GRANT / SCHOLARSHIP

volunteer-abroad-and-solo-travel-with-ivhq-Italy-rome-vatican-city

Photo: Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Although travel scholarships are mainly for students or professionals looking to improve or add practical experiences to their work, there are several travel scholarship grants for professionals who can receive stipends, grants and in some situations scholarships in certain situations.

Similarly, there are many writers’ and artists’ retreats that offer paid fellowships and opportunities to talented individuals. The Write Life recently published a list of 37 writer’s retreats to apply for in 2019 – and many of them offer scholarships, so be sure to contact the organizers and ask!

There are also many travel scholarships for volunteers, especially for volunteers with specific skill-sets. Some of these scholarships are for volunteers within a specific country, or for people who want to volunteer with specific organizations.

gofundme-fundraising-travel-free

You can set up a crowdfunding campaign on a site like GoFundMe and share it on social media. You could also organize a fundraising event such as a lunch or dinner where the proceeds go towards your travels. Ask your local communities, including your family, friends, co-workers, to help out!

If you have great reasons for travelling – for example, if you’re a volunteer – you could even approach companies and ask for sponsorship. Write them a formal fundraising letter explaining why you’re travelling and why you need money. If you could offer them something in return, like a shout-out on your blog or social media, it would be great to mention that.

travel-blogger-digital-nomad-travel-free-laptop

Another option is to start a travel blog and make an income from writing, photography, videos or even from having a Donate button on your blog so that your fans can donate directly to you. Many travel bloggers make a living from travelling the world. Travel influencers, can also travel for free, get paid or receive discounts in exchange for advertising their activities on social media. P.S. This harder than it sounds and takes a lot of dedication and time to build a genuine following to be able to receive free travel compensations!

As you travel, you can earn money from your laptop, wherever you may be in the world – all you need is a WiFi connection and a can-do attitude!

aupair-world-travel-world-free

Each family has their own requirements, so be sure to clarify these before committing to anything. You might have to have a driver’s license, first aid certification, or specific language skills to be hired by certain families. You’re usually expected to pass a criminal clearance.

If you’re interested in putting your nurturing skills to the test, AuPairWorld ,  Aupair.com and NewAupair are two of the many directories that link potential au pairs with host families.

WWOOF travel free organic farm volunteer abroad

These jobs are usually not difficult; they range from gathering herbs to sowing seeds, making cheese, etc. and the jobs are usually for a few hours, which means you’ll have a lot of time to explore the city. In exchange for these services, the farm owners pay for your accommodation and feeding. But you might need to cover the flight costs yourself.

8. COUCHSURFING

couch-surfing-travel-free-volunteer-abroad

Couchsurfing is an awesome way to connect with locals and get a bed/sofa for free! We can all appreciate a free bed for a night! “CouchSurfing is a hospitality and social networking service accessible via a website and mobile app. Members can use the service to arrange homestays, offer lodging and hospitality, and join events such as “Couch Crashes”. The platform is a gift economy; hosts are not allowed to charge for lodging.”

Check out 10 Reasons Why You Should Try CouchSurfing!

For more information on how to choose the right (ethical) volunteer organization for your needs, click here!

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Paid travel opportunities (pto) make travel accessible by taking away financial, logistical, and mental barriers that restrict many people start learning more about them:.

PTO (noun) : any program or opportunity that has an element of travel and is partially or completely funded, paid, or free to do. ( Read more and see examples here )

The PTO Dashboard is Packs Light's database of PTO. Through the dashboard (and our Weekly PTO Newsletter)  we curate information, application tips, and links for all of these incredible travel opportunities.

Do you have to be a certain citizenship to apply to job? In some cases. Packs Light's audience is 90% U.S. citizens, so the opportunities we share cater to them.

But remember: everyone may not be eligible for every opportunity, but there are opportunities for everyone .

No! There are many PTO that don't even mention age or student status as a requirement. You can be a 14-year-old high school student or 40-year-old mom and find a PTO that works for you.

Very few of these opportunities are scams, actually. You're usually trading your time and your story, or the company is getting aa tax break from offering the opportunity.

Learn more in our Finding Opportunities online course!

No. These are usually short-term, one-off opportunities that have an element of travel.

If you want to travel full-time, check out our resources on becoming a paid travel influencer , or finding a remote job and living as a digital nomad! (coming soon)

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How to find pto that fit your dreams, wants, and needs., not every pto fits every person. and even our pto dashboard doesn't have every single one out there so we're teaching you how to fish for your own opportunities.

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Rest easy: 99% of these PTO are not scams. But watch this short video with tips and things to look out for, just in case.

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Because of the immense requests we get daily, I can only do 1-on-1 consultations via booking ($180 for 30 mins). We have so many free and paid resources to get you started right on this page! Take advantage.

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Finding them is the easy part. actually winning that takes strategy., learning, finding and making big lists of pto means nothing if you don't actually 1) press submit and apply, and 2) win we can help you with that..

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Get paid to travel: 9 ways to make money on the road

In this article I'm going to share 9 ways that you can get paid to travel, being a digital nomad or not.

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Lauren Worldpackers Community

Dec 27, 2023

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The words ' get paid to travel ' sound crazy, right? How can you get paid for travelling around the world? Well, that's a good question, and I have the answers.

Today's world is better equipped than ever to allow for more flexible and remote working. We're doing away with the traditional 9-5, glued to office chairs and barely getting a glimpse of the outside - only to do the same 5 days in a row, constantly craving the weekend.

We're realising now that life needs to be lived! There is so much more to it than just working. We need to broaden our horizons, grasp the opportunities and experience the incredible variety of countries and cultures that we are blessed to have.

How to get paid to travel

If you've not had the chance to travel much in life, or are getting bored of your daily routine then maybe it's time to switch things up. Travelling the globe doesn't have to be expensive - it's much more accessible now thanks to work and lifestyle changes.

I'm going to share 9 ways that you can get paid to travel and even begin doing right now. Curious? Read these tips:

1. Become a video creator

travel for free and get paid

You don't have to be some amazing film producer to do this. In fact, as long as you have some form of filming equipment (can even be a phone) and the right attitude , then you're pretty much set. 

Video creation entails a wide range of genres, from lifestyle vlogs to intricate short films - what matters is finding your style and giving it all you've got.

If you're a natural at being in front of a camera and have a knack for talking to people then try vlogging and/or lifestyle videos about a topic of your interest. If you're more of a creative and prefer to be behind the camera then perhaps travel videos (very fitting) or short films is better suited. 

You're probably thinking 'okay I can do that, but where does the payment come from' -  I hear you. If you post videos to YouTube then you can monetise them, meaning you get a small amount of money per video after a certain amount of views. If you make it big you can earn a lot!

Other ways include freelancing to create videos for brands and companies such as advertising for a travel business. 

Also, in the Worldpackers platform there are a lot of places where you can volunteer making some videos in exchange for accomodation, such as these ones:

  • This hostel in Belem, Brazil is looking for video creator to help with social media promotion.
  • Help this NGO in Hanoi, Vietnam making and editing videos for educational courses.
  • Make videos for an aco-village in beautiful Hidalgo, Mexico .

2. Brand partnerships

travel for free and get paid

Speaking of working with brands, have you seen how popular brand partnerships have become?

If you really love a brand and you have an Instagram page , then you're already halfway there. A lot of this comes down to influencing i.e. having an online personality that people relate and look up to. This could be on social media like Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. 

What brands look for is someone who truly loves their product or service and is willing to shout about it all over the internet. If you can create a good online presence and are willing to reach out to brands then you too can be an influencer , like these travel influencers .

However, though it sounds simple, it will take a lot of initial work to get going. That said, once you're up and running, as long as you're invested in it, you could work from anywhere in the world and all from your smartphone!

If you master your social media skills, you'll have many opportunities for working in exchange of accomodation and save a lot of money while travelling :

  • Make tik tok videos for this hostel in Denver and stay for free.
  • Share your social media knowledge in this hostel of Jaisalmer, India .
  • Live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico while you manage the Instagram and Facebook accounts of a hostel.

More inspiration of fellow travellers:  Volunteering as a social media manager in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain .

3. Become a Fitness instructor or Yoga teacher

travel for free and get paid

Do you live and breathe fitness? Wish you could workout with others across the world and earn money from it? Well, you can!

If you're already a qualified fitness instructor or yoga teacher , with the right insurance, you can teach in other countries. 

A good way to start, or even an alternative to in person teaching is to teach online . YouTube has become the ultimate hub for fitness and wellbeing, with people teaching from all across the globe.

The best part is it's accessible and free for viewers, but you can make money from the monetisation !

Another option is to find studios that provide online classes and ask to teach for them, or if you're more of an entrepreneur you could set up your own online classes. 

Also, you can travel the world teaching yoga in exchange of a place to stay:

  • Teach yoga for guests of an eco-lodge in Estonia and stay for free.
  • This yoga school in San Diego is looking for certified yoga instructors.
  • There are many more volunteering opportunities as yoga teacher , check them all!

Keep reading: How to become a yoga instructor and travel the world

4. Get paid to travel and review hotels

travel for free and get paid

Okay this might be the best one yet and you did read that title right, yes you CAN get paid to review hotels. Whaat? Somebody pinch me. It's true though.

Have you ever seen those travel shows where people live it up in luxury hotels all around the world? Yep, they get paid to do that. 

But how? Some hotels will seek out travel bloggers and pay them to leave a review - think of it like being a hotel inspector. Aside from that, there are programs on sites like Trivago where people stay in hotels for free so long as they leave a review.

5. Create a digital product

If you're tech savvy and have a product idea in mind, you might want to think about selling it.

For example, if you're a fan of no-code (tools to create web apps without coding) then you can create your own no-code products on tools like Notion . Templates have become very popular on Notion and if you can create a nice one, you can sell it!

Another idea is creating travel guides or tutorials - the main goal is creating something that is timeless and makes people's lives easier. 

This allows you to have 'passive income', meaning once you've created a product and it's selling online, you've already done the work but will continue to generate income.

More ideas to get paid to travel 

6. do work exchange .

Do you dream of being by the sea and soaking up the sun? Or perhaps you want to wake up to the views of snowy mountains every morning. Well stop dreaming and start believing because this could be your reality.

Work exchange is a great way to "pay" for your accomodation and part of your meals. 

If you want to become a nomad or just save money in your vacation, this could be ideal for you.

You could spend up to 3 months working and living near the beach , go to a snowy mountain  and many other places . All you have to do if help your host a few hours per week.

Read what other travellers have experienced:  Traveling in the USA as a work exchanger  and  Backpacking in Central America as a couple and doing a work exchange for the first time .

7. Spread the word as a public speaker

If you know enough about a topic and can communicate well, then public speaking may be for you. Often large events (especially corporate) will look for public speakers to present a talk and generally shout out about their event. 

Take a tech incubator like CodeBase , for example, they are always on the lookout for tech, startup, and community-based people to speak at their events.

Top tip - whatever your industry is, make sure you're engaging with the wider community. This will open up more opportunities and hey, you could be invited to be a speaker at an event!

Some companies will only pay travel and food fees, but others will cover the costs of hotels etc, so be sure to check what you will get in return. 

8. Teach English Online

travel for free and get paid

If you're a native English speaker, or just very fluent, then you can teach English online through different agencies . This allows for you to have a lot of flexibility with your time as many of the agencies let you pick your hours of work, meaning you can work from any country! 

The money isn't necessarily the best however it's better than having no income at all. A job like this will provide you with teaching, communication and tech skills and are typically fairly easy to get in to.

As with other ideas that we have seen so far, you could also use this knowldege to exchange it for accomodation around the globe (in face-to-face classes, of course):

  • Become the English teacher of Cambodian kids . 
  • Teach English and enjoy your time in Puno, Peru .
  • Find more opportunities for teaching English as a volunteer .

More about travelling the world as an English teacher:  Teaching English and becoming part of an Italian family in Genoa . 

9. Freelancing

If you have skills in a certain field and are passionate about it, going freelance could be ideal for you.

It's easier than ever now to have an online freelancing business and work from anywhere in the world. Websites like Fiverr   allow people to market their businesses and skills to a wider audience who are seeking freelancers. 

As those who freelance will already know, this is not the easiest option. Setting your own prices and working hours is a blessing and a curse, as most freelancers tend to work extra hard in order to find new clients and keep a good online presence.

However, if you can gain a few trusting clients and grow from there, you have a good shot.

travel for free and get paid

Ready to get paid to travel?

So, now you've read this you're probably tempted to pack a suitcase and go to the airport right away, am I wrong? 

It's so exciting, the thought of having all these opportunities available to you! You can make travel your whole lifestyle if you wanted to, you just have to go out there and grab it. 

If you're already planning some trips ahead but are worried about money, then read this article on how to be a budget backpacker and see the world with little money . 

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

Lauren Mclachlan

Worldpackers Community

Hey I’m Lauren! I’m from a small town in sunny (I wish) Scotland and took on my first solo travelling trip after graduating in 2019 My experience was way better than I could’ve imagined – meeting wonderful people, seeing amazing things, great experiences and even teaching weekly yoga! I couldn’t have done all this without Worldpackers, I’m so grateful I came across the website. I think everyone should get to experience travelling at some point in their lives – wherever and whatever it may be! My advice if you’re thinking about it is – don’t think too much! Just do, you won’t regret it. Also, if you want 10% off your Worldpackers memberships you can use the code LAUREN10

Be part of the Worldpackers Community

Already have an account, are you a host, leave your comment here.

Write here your questions and greetings to the author

travel for free and get paid

Mar 22, 2022

Hello moon..i am able to work as valuntury in this association now..i have not your acceptance to be one of this organisation.. because i Will don in my ministry of éducation when i move to work as valuntury..i am teacher.. please answer me

travel for free and get paid

Lauren (Author)

Mar 29, 2022

Hi Majdi, I'm afraid I'm not able to help with volunteer positions but you can check them and get in contact with hosts on the opportunities page :)

May 10, 2022

Hello Lauren, am Nelly From kenya. I like travelling alot.Been volunteering here(I have a certificate). would like to know if you pay for tickets... As a volunteer either Europe or America.

May 11, 2022

Hi Nelly, that's amazing! I am not a volunteer host, but you can check out what's available on the volunteer opportunities page. Hope this helps :)

travel for free and get paid

Jul 01, 2022

Jul 26, 2022

Hey, can I build my own travel website using a no code platform like pathfndr.io? Share and monetize my itineraries on social media? Thoughts?

Jul 29, 2022

Hi Akshat, I say go for it! I work in tech and am a big fan of no code. Best of luck :)

Feb 09, 2023

After reading such articles I start wishing to quit my job and take a risk to get the best job ever. Though I understand it's not the easiest thing

Apr 24, 2023

It's not easy but sometimes it's worth the risk. Worth doing some research!

Apr 11, 2023

One such opportunity is through literature review writing service like https://writer-elite.com/literature-review-writing-service/ . These services require professionals to research and write comprehensive literature reviews on various topics for academic and research purposes. However, these reviews often require firsthand knowledge and experience in the field, which can be acquired through travel and exploration.

travel for free and get paid

May 09, 2023

Alberto Luiz

Aug 08, 2023

How can I apply to get free stays and giving reviews for trivago?

Aug 15, 2023

If you search on the volunteer opportunity page and then you can apply for hostels :)

Sep 09, 2023

Sep 18, 2023

I am interested travels

That's great! Message me if you need help :)

travel for free and get paid

Nov 21, 2023

Ainda estou bastante perdida. Trabalho numa universidade em BH e meu trabalho não está me satisfazendo mais. tenho 49 anos e quero achar um propósito na minha vida. Já pensei em pedir licença não remunerado do trabalho e fazer mochilão pelo mundo .Tenho interesse em alguns países da América do Sul ( região da Patagônia, Equador), leste europeu e sudeste asiático. Quero desenvolver projeto ou trabalho com turismo e sustentabilidade, projetos ambientais. O que devo fazer? Tem indicação de startups ou mesmo na Wordlpackers onde posso trabalhar com este tipo de projeto? Preciso de um direcionamento. Não pretendo ir sozinha. Quero um suporte, apoio. Não tenho coragem de viajar sozinha. Já fui para o exterior só acompanhada. O que mais me prende é o medo

Dec 08, 2023

Hi, you can try a travel buddy website to find someone to travel with and I recommend searching on the Worldpackers opportunities and filtering by NGOs/agriculture/charity work to find something that is suitable for you.

I wish you all the best :)

Olá, você pode tentar um site de companheiros de viagem para encontrar alguém com quem viajar e eu recomendo pesquisar nas oportunidades da Worldpackers e filtrar por ONGs/agricultura/trabalho de caridade para encontrar algo que seja adequado para você.

Desejo a todos o melhor :)

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travel for free and get paid

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As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.

Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.

Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.

Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.

If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.

Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.

Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.

Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.

If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on the WP Safeguard and our highly responsive support team!

After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.

With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.

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Courtney the Explorer

12 Ways to Travel the World for Free in 2021

travel for free and get paid

There is never going to be a perfect time or the perfect amount of money to travel. Truth is: you can travel the world for free. Whether it’s house-sitting in London or working on an organic farm in Ecuador, there are options for all personalities and lifestyles to travel the world for free.

In 2015, I booked a one-way ticket to Antigua, Guatemala. For two months I worked as a caretaker for an 86-year-old English woman named Annette. I lived for free comfortably in a spacious bedroom in her antique-style home. In exchange, I walked the dog, painted her nails, and helped organize her home.

It was during my time with Annette where I found my passion for free travel.

After my 8 month trip, the memories that stuck out the most were the people and moments that costed nothing.

I’ve compiled a list of 12 ways to travel FOR FREE. They require little-to-no experience.

Now, let’s jump right in!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use my links, I get a small percentage without costing you a thing. Thank you for using my links and supporting my blog! xoxo

1. Sign up for a work exchange (volunteer abroad)

workaway volunteer as a caretaker in Antigua, Guatemala

Work exchange is volunteering your time for 20 hours a week (or less) in exchange for food and housing. Some examples of volunteer jobs are yoga instructor, caretaker, English teacher, hostel worker, and more.

You can use websites like Worldpackers to find work exchange positions. Worldpackers requires a membership fee for their site (valid for one year). Once you’re in, you have access to thousands of work exchange opportunities around the world.

Click here for $10 off a Worldpackers membership or use discount code “courtneytheexplorer10” for $10 off!

How long are the volunteer positions? They can range from a week to a couple months. If you love your position, you can ask to extend. If you hate it, you can leave.

Who is work exchange right for? Work exchange is for anyone looking for a cultural immersion and unforgettable experience. There are so many opportunities, you are bound to find one that fits your personality. Worldpackers also offers an initiative program for writers and video creators who want to share their volunteer experience.

Workaway , Help X , Culture Gogo , and Working Traveller , are also websites in which you can find work exchange opportunities.

Related article: Ultimate Guide to Work Exchange: Travel for Free

2. Work on a farm for a month in the middle of no where

travel for free | working on a farm in Palora, Ecuador

WWOOF is a worldwide movement that links volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences. Its goal is to build a sustainable, global community. Much like Workaway, hosts provide housing and food in exchange for working on their organic farm.

One of my best friends WWOOFed in Italy for 3 months and loved it. My cousin also WWOOFed all around South America. Both have similar stories of hard hands-on work, hot and sweaty days in the sun, and unforgettable experiences.

Who is WWOOFing right for? I would only recommend this for people who like the outdoors, are interested in sustainable living, and are adventurous travelers. A lot of times things are chaotic, unorganized, and sweaty (like the picture up above.)

Tip: Make sure to check out reviews from former volunteers and always message your host with questions beforehand. My friend even skyped with hosts before she committed to volunteer with them. Never be afraid to ask questions!

Note: you can work on farms using other sites (like Workaway), but WWOOF is one of the most popular.

3. House sit your way around the world

travel for free and get paid

House sitting is when you take care of someone else’s home and pets while they’re away. You get a free place to stay and they get peace of mind knowing their home and furry friends are in good hands. Although house-sitting opportunities are most popular in Europe, you can find opportunities everywhere.

Who is house-sitting right for? House sitting is perfect for long-term travelers or digital nomads who like animals.

How long are house sits? The time period can be anywhere from a week to a couple months.

Related article: How To Housesit Around the World

4. Teach English for a year in Asia

travel for free and get paid

I taught English in South Korea in 2019-2020. English teachers are paid a monthly salary and given an apartment to live in. The job (in some cases) also includes free lunches, flight reimbursement, medical insurance, and paid vacation.

Teaching abroad is most popular and lucrative ($$) in places like Korea and China, but there are opportunities all over the world. I have met a lot of teachers who have paid off student loans and saved thousands of dollars. Even though some days are tough, it can be quite worth it in the end.

Who is teaching abroad right for? I only recommend teaching abroad for people who like kids and are patient, flexible, and adaptable. It’s a challenging and exhausting job. For the right person, it can be a rewarding experience.

Interested in teaching in Korea? Check out, How to Teach in South Korea .

Want to get TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified? Check out, The Best School for Your TEFL Certification .

Interested in teaching online for $22/hour? Check out, 9 Steps to Getting Hired with QKids

5. Au Pair for a family in Europe

travel for free and get paid

An au pair is a young person (18 to 30 years old) who goes abroad to live with a family and take care of their children in exchange for room and board. The main objective is to have a cultural exchange .

A friend of mine spent 3 months in South Korea traveling around Asia with a Swedish family with 2 small children. Her housing, food, and luxurious trips were all covered by the family. She stayed in a high-rise condo off the ocean with a private bedroom and bathroom. She worked during the week with nights and weekends off.

My friend found a rare (but possible) experience. Most au pair jobs are in Europe or Australia where you live with one family for a summer, a year, or maybe longer. It’s a great option if you’re single, want to travel, and LOVE children . (I repeat: must love children.)

How to become an au pair? You can use an agency ($$) or there are many websites where you can find opportunities ($). Below is an article with the top 10 websites that can help you find an au pair job in different regions of the world.

How much are you paid? The pay ranges, but in most cases the pay is low.

Related article: How to Become an Au Pair

6. Couch surf the world

travel for free | couch surfing in Guayaquil, Ecuador | courtneytheexplorer.com

Couch Surfing is one of my favorite ways to travel. Couch surfing is staying in someone’s home for free as a way to promote free and affordable travel as well as have a cultural exchange.

Couch surfing is super popular in Europe, but there are hosts all around the world. I couch surfed as a solo female traveler and while traveling with a partner in South and Central America.

You simply sign up for a membership (free) , create a profile, and start looking for couch surfing spots. Some people provide private bedrooms and bathrooms, others provide a couch hence the name.

Who is couch surfing right for? I recommend couch surfing for adventurous travelers looking to meet locals and learn the language.

Related article: Solo Female Travel Guide for Couch Surfing

7. Hitchhike

Travel for free | Hitchhiking in Mexico | courtneytheexplorer.com

Hitchhiking is simply asking someone for a free ride . It could be to the next town over or a days trip. Hitchhiking originated in the United States, then made its way to Europe and other parts of the world. Hitchhiking has been around forever, but became decreasingly popular in the 70s (in the states). The decrease was caused by a better economy, more access to cars, and the fear of trusting strangers. Hitchhiking has become illegal in most parts of the United States but in Europe and other parts of the world, it is still quite popular.

I met a few hitchhikers in Guatemala and although I was skeptical, I decided to give it a try. I ended up hitchhiking for the remainder of my trip, up through Mexico. It was some of the most adventurous and magical moments of my life . I met kind strangers and have some of the greatest stories to tell from those experiences.

If you are traveling alone, I recommend always hitchhiking with a friend or group of people. Always have a plan and know where you are going. I also recommend knowing the basics of the language.

Related article : Ultimate Guide to Hitchhiking

8. Sign up for free travel opportunities

Gabby Beckford from Packs Light , a blogger I follow, opened my eyes to the possibilities of travel opportunities for young people (mostly 16 to 30). There are plenty of opportunities to travel internationally for conferences, leadership programs, fellowships, internships, scholarships, grants, festivals, and etc. And almost all of them can be completely funded.

This option is mostly for students, but there are grants and free trips for writers, photographers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Gabby always says to apply even if you don’t 100% qualify. It’s worth the shot.

Some examples of current opportunities: Capetown Writer’s Retreat (5-day all expenses paid retreat), Holland Scholarship ($5,000 scholarship to study in Holland), Tinggly Blogger Accommodation (free stay for Bloggers/Creatives in Lithuania). Click here for a full list.

9. Become a travel blogger

travel for free | travel blogger in Teotihuacan, Mexico | courtneytheexplorer.com

Do you love to write, take pictures, and share your experience ? Start a travel blog. It’s never too late.

As a travel blogger or influencer companies will pay you (or give you free product/service/trips) to share an honest review and promote their brand.

Nowadays, companies are spending billions of dollars on influencer marketing. Travel bloggers receive gifted hotel stays, free tours, press trips, and etc., because of their influence and following on social media platforms.

Important Note: you do not need a huge following to get free stuff or get paid. My Instagram following is under 5K, I have under 500 subscribers on YouTube , and my blog numbers aren’t too crazy either and I have worked with brands.

Interested in learning more? Everything I Learned At Travel Con (one of the biggest national travel blogging conferences), Lessons from The Chicago Blogging Conference (7 tips and secrets)

10. Be a travel hacker

Travel Hackers strategically collect frequent flyer miles and points to travel for free. Most miles are earned without ever stepping foot on a plane. To be honest, this is not something I have done. But, I’ve seen friends reap the benefits, so I must share.

Who is travel hacking right for? I think travel hacking is a good option for travelers who book flights often, stay in hotels, and have good credit. With some credit cards you need to spend at least $5,000 in the first couple of months to get the mega rewards. Therefore, this is a good option for people with car payments or those who spend $$ every month. But, I think EVERYONE who owns a credit card should take advantage of points and rewards.

There are Facebook groups, books, and tons of blogs to help you step by step travel for free using travel hacking.

More resources: The Lazy Person’s Guide to Travel Hacking , follow @basictravelcouple on Instagram (they are the bloggers who originally opened my eyes to this form of free travel)

11. Crew a sailboat or work on a luxury cruise ship

travel for free | crew on a sailboat across the world

Sailing the world is both amazing and expensive. If you can’t afford to buy a sailboat, why not work on one? People who own sailboats and travel the world often hire (both paid and unpaid) help.

How to find opportunities? There are websites to match owners with crew. One popular site is crewseekers.net . There are also Facebook communities and groups. (Facebook groups are great for finding opportunities in general.)

You can also work on a cruise ship and travel the world. To find these sort of jobs, go to the cruise ship’s main website and search for employment. It’s an easy and adventurous way to save money while traveling the seas.

For more information: Check out, How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship with No Experience , How to Crew a Yacht

12. Join the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps

travel for free | join the peace corps or americorps | courtneytheexplorer.com

AmeriCorps is a government funded organization (like PeaceCorps) who supports non-profits in the United States. These are technically volunteer jobs, but they pay you a housing stipend. AmeriCorps salary ranges from $15,000 to about $27,000/year. At the end of your term, you are given an education award of $5,000 (max).

I volunteered with AmeriCorps for their summer program while I was still in school. I managed the volunteer program for a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Iowa. It was one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had . I trained new volunteers, created a volunteer guide, and recruited new volunteers.

AmeriCorps is a way to get away from your home state, go to a new city and live and explore for a year.

The Peace Corps is similar to AmeriCorps, but requires a two-year commitment. I applied for the PeaceCorps after University, but didn’t get accepted. The jobs are pretty lucrative, but I encourage you to apply if it feels fitting to you!

PeaceCorps accepts all ages (over 18) and is a two-year commitment. You must have a bachelor’s and be a US citizen to apply. Jobs range from English teacher (most popular) to environmental specialist to health educator.

For more information: AmeriCorps and Peace Corps

I hope one of these options feels like a good fit for you. Have you ever done a work exchange or been an au pair or even anything on the list? (or not on the list!) I’d love to hear your story! Share in the comments, e-mail me at he***@co*****************.com , or DM @courtneytheexplorer to chat! xoxo

Other resources: 6 Ways to Learn Spanish for Free , How to Quit Your Job to Travel , Tips for Solo Travelers

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Alla Ponomareva

I especially like your tip about Travel Hacking, it’s not very well known among the non-travelers. They think it’s cheating the system or having the need to accumulate millions of points in order to fly once for free. I’d say I fly free maybe every couple of years just from the points I acquire by doing/having everyday expenses.

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Great advice!

My partner and I have been using Workaway for a bit and were full time travel blogging when Covid hit. It was an incredible experience. Thank you for sending me to Gabby! We will definitely be looking further into this.

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ramahaj kaur

Hey, my name is Ramanpreet kaur and i am from India . I want to travel for free , now i am student and dont have money . please suggest me something

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Places to live in

Your love and respect for the places you visit and the people you meet shine through in your writing. It’s so refreshing to see.

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How Travel Chicago On a Budget

Adios chicago | february 2021 update.

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Home » Budget Travel » How to Travel FOR FREE: No Money, No Problems!

How to Travel FOR FREE: No Money, No Problems!

It’s something I’ve never been able to fully instil in my non-travelling friends back home:  just how cheap travel can be.  The myth is that travelling the world is expensive; the reality is that it’s often cheaper than being at home. Travellers don’t pay taxes, or electricity bills, or student loans. Travellers live cheap.

So what if we took it one step further? Today, we’re talking about how to travel the world for free!

The best things in life are free, or so it’s been told. Everything we need is right here. Maybe these things are true, I’m not sure. What I do know is…

Life is as simple as we choose to make it.

Nothing in this list of tips for travelling without money is complicated (except maybe frequent flyer miles – goddamn credit cards). Everything in this guide is easy and actionable – the more you apply, the more inexpensive your travelling will be. With enough practice and ingenuity, you may even find yourself spending  $0 !

Did anyone say  “Take a vacation for free” ? Yes, me, right now! Weren’t you listening? Well, you better start because I’m about to teach you…

How to travel for free!

Dis shit is gonna get cheap, yo!

A backpacker in India who knows how to travel for free

A Big, Sexy Disclaimer

A stop sign for the disclaimer on free travel

Folks, this article is not about how to travel the world like a dickweed. Anyone can travel for free if they take advantage of people along the way, lying, cheating, stealing, and being an all-round douchenozzle.

Similarly, though we’ll cover some of the more crusty methods of travel, as well as tackle that sticky topic of ‘begpacking’ , THAT’S not what this article is about either.

This article is about  learning how to live a low-cost lifestyle of travel. One that’s sustainable in the long-term as well as financially independent.  Travelling until you run out of cash and move back in with your Mum or Dad is cute in your early 20s, but that’s not what we’re about at The Broke Backpacker. That’s not what a broke backpacker is .

At The Broke Backpacker, we’re about teaching you how to live a lifestyle of indefinite travel in a responsible way – responsible to the world, yourself, and those who love you. Go out, travel, see the world, and do it for as long as you like, but do it right.

Don’t begpack, don’t abuse your privilege, and don’t ever expect a handout. Free travel is NOT about exploitation; it’s about travelling without burning through your savings in a way that’s more authentic and less insipid than simply blowing your funds on all the cheap booze and drugs .

Oh, and it shouldn’t have to be said, but, please,  don’t ever go travelling with literally $0 in your bank account. That’s just bloody stupid.

The Best Ways to Travel for Free

How to get a free vacation, how to travel when you’re broke, travel the world for free: is it possible, remaining tips for how to travel free, closing thoughts on free travel.

Let’s start by talking about how to travel for a living. These options for free travel mean exchanging your time and energy (i.e. working) for the freedom of being on the road. (And probably somewhere super-duper pretty too!)

Yes, ok, they aren’t all strictly ‘free trips’ but you’re away from home, not burning through your savings, and, potentially, maybe even saving some money too! If you disagree with my criteria, well, shush your face! Go travel the world for more than three years with your savings still intact like I have and then come back and we’ll argue semantics.

Still with me? Good because I want to travel the world for free and you should too!

Travel the World for Free Volunteering

Volunteering abroad for free – ahhh . This is where it all began for me and, sometimes, when it all becomes too much, it’s back with the hippies in the fields, shoes off and muddy, that I return to. For me, this will always be one of the most authentic and best ways to travel for free or otherwise.

The name of the game is simple: you work some agreed subset of hours, you get a place to sleep and food in return. Hopefully, a washing machine too!

Two travellers volunteering abroad for free

Travelling free by way of volunteering could mean a lot of things: hostel work, farms, working with kids, charities, construction, kitten sanctuaries (god yes). The only way to find out what’s out there is to get out there! (You could also start by reading this review/guide/informational post on Workaway .)

Interested in travelling the world for free volunteering? Here are some excellent platforms:

  • Workaway – The biggest in the game. Follow the link and sign up to receive an extra 3 months on your subscription!
  • HelpX – The oft-forgotten cousin of Workaway.
  • WWOOF – Exclusively for organic farm work.
  • Talking to people – In the 21st-century? Get outta my house!
  • Facebook and other platforms – Plenty of groups for this stuff but it’s best to search by the country or local area.
  • Worldpackers – Follow the link or enter the code BROKEBACKPACKER to get $10 off your subscription. We’ve also reviewed Worldpackers !

Note:  Most of the platforms have an initial subscription fee (nothing in life is  truly  free). It’s a small price to pay in exchange for a year of travelling and volunteering around the world for free.

Work and Travel for Free Teaching English

If you’re reading this sentence, then you probably speak English. Awesome! Step one complete! What’s step two?

Get your TEFL certificate. With that in hand, it’s time to discover another one of the best ways to travel the world. Didja guess yet?

Yup, teaching English!

Teaching English in China

There’s a whole host of ways to get involved teaching English overseas and what an experience it is! Impart wisdom, see cute Asian kids smile (yay), and learn how to travel abroad for free. Well, not free… you’re actually earning money – oh snap!

If you want to take it a step further, you can teach English online . You’re entering the realm of the digital nomad which is certainly a different way to travel but that’s ok because – BOOM, SEGUE!

Ditch Your Desk for a Different Way to Travel

Now entering the realm of the digital nomad . If you really want to learn how to travel more, nothing will give you quite so much geographical freedom.

Anywhere your laptop (and stable internet connection goes), your source of revenue goes. Living the vanlife? Easy.

Renting a nudists-only Airbnb by a beach somewhere? Making money online is best done while tanning your best bits.

Volunteering at a kibbutz in Israel? Now you’re actually travelling for free, costs covered, WHILE earning money. Level-up!

Learning how to travel the world for a living is a whole new ball game. It’s the holy grail for many travellers but beware of the ‘grass is greener’ syndrome: it’s a lotta work and a lot to take on and, at times, your brain will hate you. Is it awesome though?

Fuck yes it is.

Nic working on a laptop in Bohinj, near Bled in Slovenia.

So, yeah, this may be stretching the how to travel for free concept but it’s an important mention for anyone looking at opportunities to travel free and extend their already indefinite adventures. Theoretically, we all gotta grow up eventually and make some cash, right?

I dunno, don’t ask me. I’m still Peter Pan-ning it up over here.

Or Just Work for Inexpensive Travelling

If a job that glues you to your laptop isn’t appealing but adopting the low-cost travel lifestyle of a working traveller is, then maybe just get a job-job. You know, one that sounds better on your Tinder profile than “influencer” .

Backpacking around the world without money busking

What kind of job? Well, potential travel jobs is a long-ass list (which we conveniently have right here) , but if you’re starting from scratch and need to know how to travel the world with no money, here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Busker – Traveller-life and street performance go together like drugs and sex.
  • Bartender – A extremely internationally-transferable trade and lucrative too… if you know how to bat those eyelids just right.
  • Scaffolding and stage construction – Construction/labouring is good in general, but the stage construction and scaffolding industries are very international.
  • Picking/Trimming – Also a lucrative industry IF you’re fast.
  • Flight attendant – How to travel around the world for free 101.
  • Cruise ship work – The money can be good contingent on the company and you’ll always have the added bonus of copious amounts of drugs and sex!
  • Tuk-tuk races in Sri Lanka – I dunno; my cousin does them and he seems to be doin’ alright!

travel for free and get paid

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Free international travel is about to get hacked! Ready to hack? It’s time to hack with these hacks!

Did I say ‘hack’ too much? Righto, moving along.

These following ways to travel the world for free are more courtesy of the convenience of the 21st-century. And, that’s exactly where we like to be.

Being a “nomad” these days is very different from what it used to be. No longer do we have to hunt elk and forage for berries in the woods – now we can just order a pizza with UberEats!

Now, we have a whole host of tools and platforms to uncover and exchange free travel opportunities!

Catch Flights Right: How to Travel Overseas for Free

It doesn’t matter how cheap you live when you arrive, you’ll still have to pay for an expensive-ass flight to get there… right? Wrong!

Learning how to catch cheap flights is going to be integral to learning how to travel without money. Error fares, mega-discounts, turning on incognito mode… booking flights does my head in – truly. I just want to travel the world; I don’t have time for this humdrum!

I’d suggest reading the above-linked post because it’s really a whole other Pandora’s Box.

To take it one step further, you can sign up with airlines to earn frequent flyer miles. Accrue enough of these and you’re looking at a cheap or even free trip overseas. A travel rewards credit card is going to stack up points in much the same way until, eventually, you get a free trip.

Cebu Pacific Flight, Aeorplane, Airplane in Philippines

All of this credit stuff does my head in but the point is obvious. Do your research and find the best program to sign up in. Don’t you be wasting them points!

Or, if you’re like me and credit cards and booking flights gives you anxiety, just do what I do – overland it ! Planes are for fools; border crossings are where it’s at. And cheaper!

Apps and Platforms with Opportunities for Free Travel

Ok, now it’s really time to hack this open, right to the gooey, delicious centre. Oh, sorry, I made it weird, didn’t I?

No matter. It’s the 21st-century and now the smartphone has paved the way in much the same way that the wheel once did. These days, a lot of good platforms exist online that offer their own free ways to travel the world:

  • Couchsurfing – Where to go when you have no money… to a mate’s couch! Except now all your mates are strangers and internationally based. Check out our Beginner’s Couchsurfing Guide for more info but it’s basically a platform where travellers asked to be hosted by people with a sleeping space to spare.
  • Housesitting – You’ll need to build up a few references and pay a membership fee but then you can get all kinds of free accommodation… and in a private home too! Travelling by housesitting is a fantastic way to travel for free with the bonus of never having to share a hostel dorm with fatty, unshowered humans.
  • Fly and swap vacations – It’s kind of like housesitting except your swapping homes with someone. That means it’s a bit more nuanced – you need to actually have a home to swap away. HomeExchange and HomeLink are two platforms that cover this.
  • Au Pair – If you enjoy the company of miniature-monster-gremlins hiding in the bodies of children, then consider working as an Au Pair . Travel around the world for free, connect with a family and their spawn, and make some money too!

Yay, ok, my speciality! I may get anxiety from credit cards and fancy hotels but the broke-ass swashbuckling backpacker lifestyle is my answer to the emptiness of existence. Life gets simpler.

Real quick, these tips can be also found in our Budget Backpacking 101 article – some crossover is inevitable in the world of low-cost travel!

There’s a whole host of good advice in there if you’re not just specifically looking at how to travel for free but also at the cheapest way to travel the world. Yeah, these two posts may crossover a bit but hand-in-hand they make for some excellent reading (self-plug) if you’re dedicated to learning about how to backpack around the world with no money.

Consider this your Budget Backpacking Light.

Believe it or not, there is a lot of free food out there! The first and most common way (arguably) to eat for free is dumpster diving . People throw away a lot of perfectly edible food and useful stuff (half my wardrobe comes from late-night scores) and getting good at harnessing this awesome power of wastage is going to go a long way if you want to travel for free.

From the humble park trashcan up to the almighty power of the supermarket skip, free food is everywhere. Alternatively, you can acquire food before it hits the bin by asking for food wastage: bakeries, fruit and veg shops, food markets especially. Then there’s tablesurfing too – eating someone’s leftovers at a restaurant.

It’s an excellently fun game!

Dumpster bear

You’ve also always got food giveaways (we’ll touch on that tentative topic of begpacking in a moment) and religious shindigs too. The Hare Krishnas love, love, love feeding travellers for nothing or next to it.

I’ve eaten free Prasad in the streets of Varanasi and in Gurdwaras in Agra. There’s free food near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and free bread at every turn in Jerusalem (it might be for the cats…). Hell, there’s even an online platform dedicated to helping us intrepid raccoons find excellent freegan sources (urban fruit trees are shockingly common).

The point is if you’re travelling without money, there are still heaps of ways to fill your belly. You just gotta get creative!

This one is a pretty basic tip for free travel. I’ve already mentioned Couchsurfing but option two is to just sleep where you land . It’s a big, wide world out there with ample floor space!

For this, except for truly warm and rain-free climates, you’re gonna need a few things. In my personal order of importance:

  • A sexy-warm sleeping bag
  • Backpacking sleeping pad (the floor is cold)
  • A budget backpacking tent (you could get really nice tent but I’ve always found it to be overkill)
  • A sleeping bag liner
  • Or, alternatively to the tent and pad, a backpacking hammock

With a combination of these things, you can sleep free while travelling pretty much anywhere. Camp out in the woods, in urban environments, or if you think the cops will get funny about you pitching a tent, sleep under a bridge or in a bus station or abandoned building. As my dirtbag travel companion in New Zealand always said: we can sleep anywhere!

Low cost travelling abroad sleeping outside

This, however, is not a commentary on safety. I’ve never had an issue but also I’m a white man covered in tattoos that looks like he sleeps with a knife in his pocket. Be smart, be safe , don’t go past your limits, and learn what a good pitch looks like.

Pro-tip: No one goes into graveyards at night. Oh, and on that note, leave no fucking trace.

Travel Free

If we’re talking the most literal definition of the term, there’s only one way to travel for free that I can think of: hitchhiking. I love hitchhiking! It’s free travel to places, you meet local people – people you never would have met otherwise – and see many worlds from the inside (or outside) of many vehicles.

Best way to travel the world: hitchhiking

Hell, sometimes people invite you over, offer to let you stay the night, or to go on an adventure. I don’t do it as much as I used to but sometimes, when I’m just needing a holiday from the work and travel life, I take a break from the tech and hit the road.

I see who picks me up and sleep where I land – no schedule, no itinerary. Simplicity at its finest. Hitchhiking is grand! And to those who question if it’s ethical – I can assure you some of my best travel memories involve those that gave me a ride.

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I guess that’s the last big question:

How can I travel for free? Is it really possible? Teach me sensei that hasn’t bought a new piece of clothing in almost-three-and-a-half years!

Yes! It is. Buy a plane ticket on miles, choose a visa-waiver country, hitchhike from the airport to your volunteering gig, eat only the finest cuisine from the dumpster! It’s a free year long trip !

Ok, look, that may not be your ideal vacation (free or not), but it’s a portrayal of an extreme circumstance. This isn’t a strict guide to travelling the world for free; it’s a handbook. Take what works, when it works, and apply it at will.

Travelling the world without money overland border crossing

Practice makes perfect and pretty soon you’ll be finding that you’re having some pretty dope-ass adventures on some pretty low spendings. Hell, why not set up some passive income at home and then earn a bit while you’re volunteering abroad cheaply. (Or just Couchsurfing.)

I met a dude in New Zealand way back near the beginning and he said something very insightful.

“You don’t need a lot to travel. A plane ticket, $500, and you can be gone for a while.”

He was so right.

Why travel without money?

Because it’s fucking awesome!

Seriously, the stunning sunrises and sunsets I’ve seen only because my days hitching ended where they did. The adventures I’ve ended up on just because I was asking around for a spot of work. The things I’ve done because I was working for a bed and feed… I milked a goat once!

Sunrise at a farm while volunteering abroad

Learning how to start travelling abroad for free opens up a lot of doors, both in the world and in yourself. Pretty soon you start to realise that you’re pretty damn capable! That in all likelihood, you got dis.

And, on the off-chance you don’t, chances are there’ll be someone around to lend a hand.

Give it some time and you’ll start to find that there’s always somewhere to sleep and something to eat. There’s always a spot of work that needs to be done by a willing hand.

After a bit more time travelling the world without money, you may start finding you already have everything you need. If not the best, then at least some pretty insanely spectacular things are free, and, best of all…

Simplicity is so damn blissful!

“I want to travel but have no money.” – Voluntourism, begpacking, and tact.

I said we were gonna touch on this, yeah?

Voluntourism is one can of worms; one that I feel fewer people take issue with. There are some points against it, and some validity in these points, but nothing that I truly believe is able to undo the sheer amount of good that comes from people travelling through volunteering overseas.

Connections between local communities and travellers are made and something is returned while travelling around the world. It’s a symbiotic relationship – if you’re heart is equally in it for the work as it is for the free-living – and it works, usually for the best.

Travelling overseas delivering a wheelchair

Begpacking gets stickier – it’s a modern-day complaint against a style of living that has existed much longer. That, somehow, choosing to travel with no money makes you self-entitled and undeserving of the kindness of strangers. However, even the name “begpacking” itself stands as a bit of a misnomer.

I’ve never “begged” for something and I don’t know anyone who has. (However, travellers who do quite literally “beg” exist and they should promptly hand in their backpacker card).

I’ve hitchhiked but I’ve never even directly asked someone for a ride. I’ve never asked someone for a place to stay and certainly never for money. I have eaten at free food giveaways but only ones that were welcoming and warm to travellers and wanted me there (sometimes, with some volunteering on the side).

Usually, if someone wants to offer you something, then that’s a gift of kindness (except when ulterior motives may be at play). As a traveller, a long way from the comfort of home, a bit of kindness goes a long way.

I know there are people out there that abuse this kindness in their attempts to get a free trip. This is a reminder not to .

It’s about having tact and moving with grace; leaving places in the world better than when you arrived. Be a little bit of good in the world wherever you go. Considering all the places you’ll go, that’s a lot of good.

A low cost traveller delivering a wheelchair for charity

If you’re choosing to travel without money, then remember that’s your choice. A long way from home or not, no one owes you a hand, so be grateful when they lend it.

Before I tie up the ‘How to Get a Free Vacation Handbook’, it’s time for the final bonus tips. These may not individually rock your boat, but together they’ll groove it a bit for sure!

  • Don’t burn out – Always stressing about money, looking for the cheapest way to travel to your next destination, and racing against yourself: it can be exhausting. Don’t push yourself too hard. Take a rest sometimes, go slow, and remember that when travelling without money gets stressful, home is always waiting.
  • Every country is unique – Every country has its own nuances. What food is cheap, expectations on people volunteering abroad, even the hitchhiking hand signals! It takes time to learn a new place and mistakes probably will happen so cut yourself some slack, alright?
  • Mistakes do happen – On that note, so as much as free travelling around the world may be the goal, it pays to stockpile a little rainy day money. Unless you don’t mind calling in financial favours from the ‘rents.
  • There’s free food in more places than the dumpster – Many countries have food growing in abundance that isn’t privately owned (or in a bin). Learning edible plants and how to forage is pretty goddamn top-tier Broke Backpacking, but it’s certainly possible.
  • Know your rights volunteering – While it’s important to put the hard work in for your hosts when volunteering, it’s equally important that you aren’t being exploited either. Not all hosts are top blokes and some do seek to take advantage of backpackers. Remember that no one is doing anyone any favours: it’s an exchange.
  • You’re broke but you’re not poor – This is especially true when travelling in developing nations. It does get tiresome feeling like you’re being targeted as a tourist by touts and beggars, but you are a tourist. Travelling without money doesn’t bring you down to the level of the legitimately homeless and impoverished; one party chose to be there, the other did not. Just keep that in mind.

travel for free and get paid

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.

Oh, and one last tip… Get insured before embarking on your free travel adventure!

Yeah, ok, insurance isn’t free (or cheap) but when you’re lying in a hospital bed with some truly astounding food poisoning from the dumpster diving, at least your treatment will be! Seriously, travel insurance is a super important consideration for any journey.

Members of The Broke Backpacker team have been using World Nomads for some time now and made a few claims over the years. They’re an easy to use and professional provider that the team swears by.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

travel for free and get paid

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

You don’t need a lot of money to travel: that’s the takeaway! Maybe eventually you’ll need some money so leaving the country with $0 in the bank account isn’t necessarily smart. That said, I have a friend that got his working visa in Australia by photoshopping his bank statement, so, really, anything is possible!

Even if the low-cost world traveller game isn’t for you, I still think everyone should try it once. It changes your perspective a lot.

It changes your perspective on the idea of what you need and what you need to be happy; on what is possible. I have a friend that lost it all in Australia (a different friend) and spent months as a hammock-hobo in Melbourne. He says it was the happiest time of his life.

I can relate. My first experience travelling still remains some of my sweetest memories. It was free travel in New Zealand – a smelly backpacking vagabond volunteering, hitching, busking, dumpster diving, and sleeping in parks – and It taught me how beautiful life is. It taught me how kind people are and how simple things can be, should we so choose.

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

A dirtbag like any other travelling with no money

To close, I’d like to repeat what a friend said to me today as we bid farewell (at another hippy farm). He said:

“No, I won’t wish you ‘safe travels’ because everywhere you go, you are safe. You have a good heart and many adventures ahead. I wish you to be free because that is the most important thing.”

And I smiled because I understood (and because he’d just written my outro for me). That’s all it is: be free, travel the world with a good heart, and learn what joy there is in nothing. You don’t need anything to learn how to travel for free.

And you don’t need money to travel.

Some time later, the man still knows how to travel the world for free

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Ziggy Samuels

Ziggy Samuels

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16 Comments

Awesome article for traveller specially who has low budget. Wonderful Insight.

Hey, great blog, read it like 3 times already!!! One question though…do you also get jobs ‘under the table’ with tourist Visa? Cause everyone talks about working and traveling to finance their further travels, but nobody talks about Visa issues. Could I work for a bit of money (whatever crappy job) with a tourist Visa/Visa waiver? And would people actually accept my work for cash on the hand, or can you actually find people who would accept your work for them although it could cause trouble because of the ‘under the table’ issue? Cause Work and travel Visa is too expensive for a broke gal like me and one year a long time for one country. I’m talking more about the ‘getting a bit of cash for travel’ kinda thing. Answers would be so so appreciated. Greetings from germany Svenja

People find, and will continue to find all sort of ways to make it work, Svenja… and so will you I’m sure. Some countries do have very strong rules against this type of thing tho, so it may be better looking for other things to trade for, such as food, accommodation, transport.

Wonderful and surprising information, Thank you

What a blog! Very funny and different, I was delighted with this wonderful content.

😀 dumpster eating

Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with us! It is so appreciated and I would suggest you travel once to India

Hahah guess where that first picture of me in the tree is taken? Gokarna, baby! 😀

now i know how to travel, the next thing that is left is how to have guts to travel lol

Just do it, dude – you got this!!! All you gotta do is take the first step :)))

Is panhandling, begging/scamming arrogant rich backpackers and sneaking into peoples bushes/fields to sleep considered douchebaggery?

Scamming people is morally deplorable on every level.

As for sleeping in peoples fields and bushes, well as long as you remember the “leave no trace” principle.

Ziggy Samuels, it is very courageous of you to be able to travel like this. Besides, in the middle of the way, find good people to help you, even without asking. Good luck in this adventure that in a way is the best freedom.

Thanking you kindly, Sam – Perhaps it’s equal parts courage and stupidiity 😉 You’re 100% right though. There are good and kind people everywhere, and often, travel wouldn’t be possible (nor nearly as special) without them.

Last year i traveled for Australia for volunteering work and i can say it was one of the best experience of my life without any cost.

One good App for volunteering work is Workaway and it was that i used.

Interesting, I never thought that one can travel so easily without expenses a penny. But few ideas are really I think works like “volunteering the work” helps one to travel without any cost. I’m curious to check how this work. You shared some great ideas here to work on…Thank you for sharing such wonderful post.

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22 Fun Ways You Can Get Paid to Travel The World

Marc Andre, Contributor

  • Updated December 20, 2023
  • Co-authored by: R.J. Weiss, CFP®

There are more opportunities to get paid to travel than most people realize. While many online jobs let you work from anywhere, this article focuses specifically on jobs where travel is integral.

Below you’ll find 22 options, broken down into the following categories to help you find the ideal travel job:

  • Freelancer/digital nomad jobs : Work on your own terms, whenever and wherever you want.
  • Short-term jobs : Get paid to travel for a few weeks or a season, although the long-term potential is minimal.
  • Career track travel jobs : Make travel a key part of your professional development and long-term career goals.
  • Free or nearly-free travel opportunitie s: These are temporary and volunteer jobs that offer compensation for travel, room and board, or some combination of the two.

You can also click the menu button below to see a list of all the opportunities in this article and jump to the ones that you’re most interested in.

Table of Contents

Freelancer/Digital Nomad Jobs

The jobs in this section aren’t traditional jobs that involve working for an employer. In most cases you’ll be freelancing or running your own online business. If you’re looking for adventure and you want some control over your schedule, these jobs could be perfect for you.

#1. Travel Writer

Summary : As a travel writer, you’ll write articles, reports and reviews related to travel and tourism. Naturally, your work will involve visiting a lot of different locations in order to gain the experience needed for your writing.

How much it pays : According to Glassdoor, the average travel writer makes $52,930 .

How to get started : We’ll look at two different options below. If you want to start your own blog, you can refer to our guide “ How to Start a Blog And Make Money .” If you want to get hired by other publications, refer to our guide on how to become a freelance writer .

Freelance Travel Writer

Freelance writers work for a variety of different publications. Travel writers are hired by websites, blogs, magazines, guidebooks and other publications to produce articles and reports helpful to travelers. 

You might be assigned to review a particular resort or hotel, verify details of things to do in a specific city, or any number of different things. 

In most cases, you’ll be assigned to specific tasks and destinations, so you probably won’t be able to choose your own itinerary. You may be hired for a one-off assignment to write a specific article, or you might be hired for an ongoing assignment, like writing a new article each month.

Travel Blogger

If you want the freedom to travel wherever you want, whenever you want, start a travel blog. Instead of writing for clients, you’ll be writing for your own website, so you get to make all of the decisions.

Having a profitable travel blog is a great way to earn a living, but it will take some time and effort to reach the point where your blog income is enough to sustain you. Most blogs don’t make very much money the first year, so you’ll need some patience to make it through those first few months without giving up.

Potential avenues for revenue include brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, public speaking  and creating your own digital products to sell to your audience.

Where to learn more : If you want to see what it’s like to work as a travel writer, these two articles provide a lot of insight:

  • How We Get Paid to Travel the World (travel blogging)
  • What It’s Really, Truly Like to Be a Travel Writer (freelance travel writing)

#2. Travel Influencer

Summary : A travel influencer is someone with a large social media following hired by brands to promote a product or service.

How much it pays : According to a study done by TourismTeacher.com , the average income of a travel influencer is about $1,500 per month. This shows that it’s a side hustle rather than a full-time job for many people.

How to get started : This first step is to choose the platform you’re going to use. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are the most popular choices. Next, you’ll need to start growing your audience by regularly posting content that appeals to travelers, and also by actively engaging with other users.

Having success as an influencer is all about your following. Of course, having a lot of followers is helpful, but you also need to have loyal followers who genuinely care about you and your recommendations. Influencers with smaller audiences can still be extremely valuable to sponsors if their followers are highly receptive. 

Where to learn more : Check out our guides on making money on YouTube and making money on TikTok to learn more.

#3. Freelance Photographer

Summary : As a freelance photographer, you could get paid for photographs used by publications. You might be given an assignment to travel and photograph a specific location, or you could sell or license photos that you’ve already taken. Stock photography websites are a popular option for licensing photos.

How much it pays : According to PayScale, the average freelance photographer makes $44,219 per year.

How to get started : The easiest way to get started is by using the photos you already have. You can submit your travel photos to stock photography sites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock , or you can work with a stock agency to get more exposure for your photos.

Getting assignments where a client will pay your travel expenses and hire you to photograph a location is pretty rare today. That’s not to say that these opportunities don’t exist, but most companies don’t go that route because there are cheaper alternatives.

Stock travel photography makes it much more affordable for publications to get the photos they need, so they’ll often choose to license stock photos rather than hire a photographer for an assignment. 

Most freelance photographers use a few different revenue streams to generate their income. It might involve licensing stock photos, private licensing deals with companies, selling prints, leading workshops or tour groups, and the occasional assignment from a client. You could also combine it with a few of the other options we’ve already covered, like becoming an influencer or starting a travel blog.

Where to learn more : To learn more, read “ How to Become a Freelance Travel Photographer ” by Ilaria Cazziol.

#4. Remote Jobs

Summary : A growing number of jobs can be done remotely. While these jobs may not incorporate travel into your work, they do give you the flexibility to add as much travel into your lifestyle as you want.

How much it pays : The salary from a remote job will vary depending on several factors like the type of role, requirements of the job, location of the employer and more.

How to get started : There are several job boards ideal for finding remote jobs, including FlexJobs , Remote OK , JustRemote and We Work Remotely .

Finding a remote job is one of the best and most realistic options for many people. You may be able to continue in a job that’s very much like the one you already have, but with the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere. 

The downside to going this route is your travel expenses won’t be covered, so you’ll need to account for that in your budget. Most employees working full-time remotely outside the U.S. rent on Airbnb. A free option is a house sitting, though that restricts where you can stay.

Where to learn more : This article on Insider shares the stories and details of life as a digital nomad. After reading the article, you’ll have a better idea if this might be a good opportunity for you.

Short-Term & Limited Upside Jobs

If you’re interested in traveling for a short season of your life and not looking for anything to set you up for a long-term career, there are some additional options.

The jobs in this category can help you make some money or provide you a place to stay for a few months or even a few years. They don’t offer much in the way of long-term potential or career development, but they could be the perfect fit for someone who wants to travel for a while before moving on to a more career-oriented position.

#5. Play or Coach a Sport

Summary : If you have athletic abilities or the experience to work as a coach, you might want to consider using this as a way to travel. 

How much it pays : The income varies depending on the location, the level of league you play or coach in, and your skills. On the low end, your income might be enough to cover your living expenses or supplement other income. 

How to get started : Do some research to find opportunities in your sport. Find countries where your sport isn’t extremely popular and look for opportunities there. One World 365 is a good place to start.

The key to finding opportunities to play or coach in another country is to look for where your sport isn’t extremely popular. For example, your skills as a baseball player may not be enough to play professionally in the U.S., but you may be good enough to get paid to play in Europe. 

There are many lower-level pro teams or semi-pro leagues that are actively looking for players. The same can be said about various sports in other countries.

If your playing days are behind you, coaching might be an option. Or if you’re willing to do some coaching as well, you might be able to play and coach in order to make yourself more valuable. BaseballJobsOverseas.com shares the stories of several Americans who’ve found opportunities in European leagues.

Where to learn more : Six Star Pro offers some details for anyone interested in getting paid to play a sport abroad.

#6. Tour Guide/Trip Leader

Summary : If you enjoy being around people, leading tours or trips could be a great opportunity. You might be based in the U.S. and travel with groups, or you could live in a foreign country and lead tours for groups, families or individuals visiting the area.

How much it pays : ZipRecruiter reports that the average international tour guide makes $38,411 per year, but this can vary significantly from job to job.

How to get started : Tour companies like Contiki and One Life Adventures hire tour guides and trip leaders. Of course, with some research, you can find other similar jobs as well.

Working as a tour guide or trip leader can be a lot of fun, but it also comes with plenty of responsibility. You’ll be dealing with people from all walks of life and with different personalities, and need plenty of organizational skills. 

Depending on the job, you may get to travel to many different places or you may be in the same locations repeatedly. Of course, this will have a big impact on your experience with the job and will impact whether it’s a good fit for you.

Where to learn more : To get a better idea of what it’s like to work as a trip leader, read this article on Erin Outdoors : So You Want to Be an Adventure Trip Leader .

#7. Work on a Cruise Ship

Summary : The cruise industry relies on thousands of workers in various roles, many of whom are in it primarily for the travel experiences. 

How much it pays : According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a U.S.-based cruise ship worker is $48,404 .

How to get started : Most cruise lines have a jobs or careers section on their website that lists openings. Some examples include Carnival , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian .

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know it takes hundreds or thousands of workers to be able to support all of those guests 24 hours a day. This includes entry-level jobs such as dishwashers, bartenders and servers, as well as more specialized jobs such as chefs, photographers and yoga instructors. 

Generally, your room and food will be completely covered and many ships offer things like employee-only bars and activities.

The downside to working on a cruise ship is that you’ll probably work long hours, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for exploring the amazing places you visit.

Where to learn more : The popular travel blog Nomadic Matt published an interview with Wandering Earl about life as a cruise ship employee. It’s a very interesting read and Earl shares an overwhelmingly positive experience of working on cruise ships for 4.5 years. 

#8. Get a Seasonal Job at a Resort

Summary : The travel industry includes millions of seasonal jobs that won’t support you year-round, but they may provide the perfect way for you to spend part of the year in a beautiful location.

How much it pays : The pay will vary depending on a few factors, but most importantly the location of the resort. In many countries the salary might seem very low, but the cost of living will generally be lower as well. 

How to get started : Websites like CoolWorks and Wander Jobs are great places to find seasonal jobs. Alternatively, you could choose a destination where you want to go and research resorts in the area to find opportunities.

Seasonal jobs aren’t going to offer the highest pay, but if you’re looking for a way to travel and a job that earns enough money to get by, this is a possibility you might want to consider. Many seasonal jobs at resorts also provide housing for staff, and meals may be included as well (depending on the resort).

There are opportunities at beach resorts, ski resorts, mountain lodges and more. Although these jobs are seasonal, openings exist in all seasons throughout the year at different locations. If you wanted to, you could work multiple seasonal jobs at different times of the year.

#9. Do Research for Travel Guides

Summary : A job as a researcher for a published travel guide like Lonely Planet involves plenty of travel. It’s a challenging job that involves verifying tedious details, but you’ll get to see a lot of new places.

How much it pays : Most companies hiring for this type of research pay a lump sum. You’ll use that money to cover your travel expenses and keep whatever is left. The less you spend on travel and accommodations, the more you’ll keep.

How to get started : Lonely Planet ’s website offers information for anyone looking to contribute to their guidebook. You could also check the websites of other companies that publish guidebooks .

Travel guides like Lonely Planet provide valuable information for travelers, and they hire researchers to compile new data and verify details from past publications. 

This job involves plenty of travel and you’ll get to see and experience places you would otherwise never visit, but it’s a lot of work.

Simon Sellars, who worked for Lonely Planet said , “I feel one of the biggest misconceptions about Lonely Planet is that the company pays its authors to swan around on holiday and then do a bit of writing as an afterthought. The reality is that you are on your feet for twelve hours a day, during torrential rain or baking heat or whatever testing conditions you’ve parachuted into: coups; insurgencies; dealing with the horror of warm beer in Britain. There’s very little time for actual sightseeing. It’s actually hard work.”

While this job is not for everyone, it could be an ideal fit for someone who wants to visit as many places as possible without spending money out of pocket.

Where to learn more : The New York Times published an interesting article titled “ A Job With Travel but No Vacation .” In the article, you’ll read stories from several people who have held this type of role, giving valuable insight into what it’s really like.

#10. Deliver Cars and Boats

Summary : While it’s not the first travel career that comes to mind, delivering cars or boats might be the right opportunity for you. You’ll get to spend your days on the road, or on the water, rather than sitting at a desk. 

How much it pays : According to Zippia, the average “driveaway” driver makes $43,313 per year.

How to get started : Check the websites of companies in the relocation industry for job opportunities. Auto Driveway is one of the leaders for vehicle relocations and CruiseJobFinder provides information on yacht deliveries. 

It’s a pretty straightforward job and your primary responsibility is simply making a safe delivery. Trips will vary in length, depending on where the car or boat is being delivered to.

One of the nice things about this job is the variety you’ll get. Each trip will be to a different location, so it’s possible to see many new places. On longer trips, you may have time in the evenings or when you’re not driving to see and experience the places you’re passing through.

Where to learn more : CNBC published an article about retirees working as relocation drivers as a way to travel and see the county with low expenses.

#11. Be an Au Pair

Au pairs work as live-in childcare providers for a host family, typically working between 25 and 45 hours per week in exchange for room, board and a weekly or monthly stipend. 

How much it pays: The U.S. government sets a minimum pay rate, which is currently $195.75 per week before taxes. Host families may choose to provide additional compensation to their au pair.

If you’re looking to work outside the U.S., you’ll want to narrow your search to more developed countries, where the pay will be better. Expect to receive free room and board, as well as a small sum of pocket money each week. 

How to get started : Most au pairs are hired through agencies, which both screen applicants and then place them with a family. It’s best to narrow down your search to the countries you’d like to stay in, then find an agency that works within that country. 

Where to learn more : View VeryWell’s guide to the best au pair agencies .

Career Track Travel Jobs

These travel job qualifications, descriptions, compensation packages and career paths might be very similar to traditional jobs in your local area. The difference is that these jobs are done either in another country or involve frequent travel.

By pursuing the opportunities in this section, you won’t sacrifice long-term career opportunities for the sake of a job that involves travel. You also won’t need to have an entrepreneurial outlook, as these are all traditional employment opportunities.

#12. Foreign Service Officer

Summary : Foreign Service Officers are diplomats working for the Department of State. They’re responsible for promoting peace and protecting American citizens in foreign countries. There are about 8,000 FSO positions available around the world.

How much it pays : According to PayScale, the average annual salary for a Foreign Service Officer is $88,544 . How much you’ll make depends on your tenure as well as where you’re stationed.

How to get started : You must be a U.S. citizen to work as a foreign service officer. But one thing to note is that the Department of State hires FSOs of many different ages and career backgrounds. And yes, in many cases, your family can come along with you to your destination.

To be considered, the first step is to register for the Foreign Service Officer Test , which is held periodically throughout the year. The test is notoriously difficult, with an 80% failure rate. If you do pass, there’s an extensive, multi-step interview process.

The Department of State offers five different career tracks for Foreign Service Officers :

  • Consular Officers
  • Economic Officers
  • Management Officers
  • Political Officers
  • Public Diplomacy Offers

Your responsibility and role will vary greatly depending on which career track you choose. There’s an interactive questionnaire to help you to decide which track is right for you .

Where to learn more : Read through the Department of State’s FSO web page .

#13. Peace Corps Officer

Summary : The Peace Corps is a federal government agency that offers a variety of overseas positions (as well as volunteer opportunities). The career-track jobs are primarily in management or for medical officers, but volunteers — who carry out tasks like teaching and providing social services in some of the poorest nations on earth — are given living allowances as well as a lump-sum stipend after completion of the program (which is currently $10,000).

How much it pays : Peace Corps salaries are set by approved government-wide ranges and vary by position. Salary ranges are provided in each job listing. According to PayScale, the average Peace Corps employee makes $63,000 per year.

How to get started : Most of the opportunities available with the Peace Corps are for volunteer positions . If you’re looking to get paid a more regular salary, there are limited employment opportunities . Only U.S. citizens can be hired for overseas positions with the Peace Corps. 

Volunteer positions last for two years. Jobs with the Peace Corps are time-limited appointments and most employees are able to work a maximum of five years for the agency. As a result, working for the Peace Corps is more of a stepping stone than a long-term career move. 

However, a few years spent working for the Peace Corps will be valuable experience that’s likely to lead to other excellent opportunities in the future. For example, serving two years as a volunteer is a perfect choice if you want to become an FSO.

Where to learn more : The Peace Corps website provides information about positions, benefits, and more.

#14. Work for an NGO

Summary : Non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may provide travel opportunities for employees. Depending on the role and the organization you work for, you might be able to experience a lot of different cultures.

NGOs carry out many different tasks — from international economic development to democracy building and everything in between. Their name comes from the fact that they carry out many functions typically associated with government agencies, even though they’re independent organizations. 

How much it pays : The pay varies significantly depending on the position and the country you’re living in and the type of work you’re doing, but you should expect a salary that’s close to — but slightly below — the salary you would command in the private sector for similar work.

How to get started : Finding a job with a non-profit organization is much like any typical job search. You can use any of the major job search websites to find openings. Additionally, websites like DevEx and Idealist are excellent resources.

If you want to work for an NGO overseas, it will be helpful — and in many cases, necessary — for you to be fluent in a second language. 

Where to learn more : “ Put Your Skills to Work in Non-Profit Jobs ” shares some details about what it’s like to work with non-profits in foreign countries.

#15. Flight Attendant

Summary : Working as a flight attendant provides plenty of opportunity for travel. Unlike some other traveling jobs, you’ll also be able to enjoy many of the places you visit as a flight attendant.

How much it pays : According to PayScale, the average flight attendant makes $44,885 annually. 

How to get started : Airline websites are the best place to find job openings. Be aware that it’s extremely competitive and not easy to land a job in this field.

Of course, working as a flight attendant involves travel every day that you’re working. Although there’s plenty of work to be done during the flight, many trips will involve overnight stays — sometimes of more than one night — and you may have some extra time to enjoy the places you’re visiting.

In addition, most airlines allow flight attendants and other employees to fly for free on standby. That means you’ll need to have flexibility and you may not be able to get every flight you want, but when there’s room on the plane, you’ll be able to fly for free (or very cheap). 

One of the downsides to working as a flight attendant is the limited career upside that’s available. If you’re looking for a job that allows you to work your way up the corporate ladder, becoming a flight attendant is not the best fit. The skills and experience you build in the role aren’t directly transferable to other fields, and there’s no obvious “next step.”

Where to learn more : The article “ What it’s REALLY like to be a Delta Airlines flight attendant ” offers a glimpse into the life you might experience if you pursue this career.

#16. Traveling Nurse

Summary : As a traveling nurse, you’ll get the opportunity to travel to specific locations for a few weeks or a few months at a time. The education and requirements are the same as the requirements to be a nurse in hospitals and other settings.

How much it pays : ZipRecruiter reports that the average international travel nurse makes $85,075 per year.

How to get started : In order to work as a traveling nurse you’ll need to be a Registered Nurse (RN), a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Traveling nurses usually find jobs through agencies specializing in this field. The agency or employer will often provide housing or a stipend to cover your living expenses during the assignment.

Where to learn more : “ The Road to Becoming a Traveling Nurse ” from AllNursingSchools.com will give you all the information you need about this opportunity.

#17. English Teacher

Summary : There are positions available in many countries around the world to teach English. In general, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, but not a teaching certification.

How much it pays : According to GoOverseas , the top-paying countries for English teachers pay anywhere from $1,600 to $5,500 per month.

How to get started : The demand for English teachers in many parts of the world is greater than the supply. As a result, there are several businesses and organizations that place Americans in teaching jobs around the globe. Some of these organizations focus on a specific country and others offer placements in multiple countries. 

The best way to get started is to apply through an organization like:

  • JET Program USA (Japan)
  • Open Book (Thailand)
  • English First (China, Russia and Indonesia)

Those are just a few examples, but there are others that focus on opportunities in different parts of the world. In addition, many companies hire remote tutors to teach English online. See our article on the best online tutoring jobs you can do from home to learn more.

Where to learn more : “ 10 Things to Know Before Teaching Abroad ” provides some insight that might be helpful if you’re considering this option.

#18. AmeriCorps Teacher

Summary : AmeriCorps is a government agency offering a wide range of services and programs, including some initiatives related to education. You could work as a teacher and benefit by getting assistance with student loans.

How much it pays : According to Indeed , most AmeriCorps teachers make about $1,400 to $1,500 per month. However, that does not include benefits related to student loan forbearance while you’re working, or assistance paying off your student loans.

How to get started : The Urban Teachers website provides additional information about the opportunity.

Working as an AmeriCorps teacher won’t allow you to travel internationally, but it will almost certainly involve living and working in a part of the U.S. that you’d never experience otherwise. For example, Urban Teachers is an AmeriCorps program that places teachers in urban schools throughout the country.

AmeriCorp teaching assignments usually last for 10 to 12 months and can be done as you’re completing your education. You’ll receive a stipend that’s intended to cover your living expenses, and you’ll get assistance with your student loan debt (more than $12,000 over two years). 

Where to learn more : Study.com offers information about the AmeriCorps Inspired Teacher Certification Program .

Bonus: Get Free (or Nearly Free) Travel

The opportunities in this section won’t come with a regular paycheck, but there can be some perks like free accommodations.

#19. Mystery Shop at Resorts

Summary : Free stays at luxury resorts might seem unrealistic, but it’s actually possible through some mystery shopping jobs . 

How much it pays : The details vary depending on the assignment and the company you’re working for. Typically, your expenses are reimbursed and you may receive modest additional pay for your time. The primary benefit is free travel and free stays at great resorts and locations.

How to get started : You can apply for work with companies like Coyle and Kantar that offer mystery shopping in the travel and hospitality industry.

Mystery shopping is a popular way to earn a little bit of extra money. Gigs in your local area may be fun as a side hustle, but many people don’t realize there are opportunities to travel as a mystery shopper.

It’s important to note that these jobs are in high demand and they’re not easy to get. As you can imagine, it’s not hard for companies to find people interested in working as a traveling mystery shopper.

Your job will involve observing the conditions and service provided by the hotel or resort staff, and writing a detailed report. It doesn’t involve working around the clock, so you’ll have free time to enjoy the places you stay, but it is work and it does require some responsibility. 

Where to learn more : Be sure to check our guide: Mystery Shopper Jobs: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Secret Shopping . The article provides an excellent introduction to the role of a mystery shopper and some specific companies in the industry, including Coyle.

#20. Work on Organic Farms

Summary : If you’re interested in experiencing life in another part of the world, you could work on an organic farm. Depending on the arrangement, you may or may not be paid.

How much it pays : With World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), no money is exchanged between the workers and hosts. You’ll get a place to stay and food to eat, but you won’t be paid and you’ll need to pay for your own transportation and personal expenses.

How to get started : The WWOOF website lists opportunities throughout the world. Transitions Abroad also provides information about similar roles.

Working on an organic farm could be the ideal way to learn something new while getting free room and board in another country. Farmers obviously need help, and organizations like WWOOF make it easy to find opportunities around the world.

Where to learn more : WWOOF’s website provides plenty of information about the program, how it works, and what to expect.

#21. Staff Festivals Across Europe

Summary : There are countless festivals across Europe, and they all need workers in order to function. Most of the opportunities in this category compensate in ways other than cash.

How much it pays : Typically, you’ll be compensated with a free place to stay (probably a tent), as well as free food and free drinks. You’re certainly not going to set yourself up for early retirement with this job, but for something short-term, you might be sold on the free drinks.

How to get started : Stoke Travel and Hotbox Events both provide details about some opportunities. Of course, you can find more possibilities by researching specific festivals or other companies that provide staffing.

If you love to meet new people and have fun, working at a festival may be a good choice. While free drinks might sound amazing, you’re not going to be able to pay bills (including the cost of traveling there) with them. Unfortunately, this isn’t the right opportunity for anything other than a short period of time, unless you’re able to land one of the paid jobs to work as a festival organizer. 

However, if you’re already traveling across Europe, you may want to look into opportunities to work at festivals as a way to get the perks. If you have an interest in attending festivals anyway, working can be the perfect way to get the experience at no cost.

Where to learn more : You can read more about what it’s really like to work at festivals in “ How to Get an Epic Job at Oktoberfest .”

#22. Volunteer

Summary : There are many opportunities to volunteer your services in order to see and experience new places. If you’re in a position where you can afford to have no income for a while, volunteering can be fun, educational and rewarding.

How much it pays : Nothing. You’ll be a volunteer, so you won’t be paid. However, in most cases you’ll have a host to provide you with a place to stay at no cost.

How to get started : Workaway.info is the perfect place to start, with over 50,000 opportunities listed. HelpX is another great site where you’ll find volunteer opportunities.

What do you love about traveling? If meeting new people and experiencing other cultures (in a way that tourists don’t) are at the top or your list, volunteering may be an ideal fit for you. Many volunteer opportunities are in places that tourists don’t usually see or experience.

You’ll provide some sort of work to the host in exchange for accommodations. The work will vary depending on the arrangement, but there are a wide variety of opportunities available.

These arrangements are typically short-term, which means you’ll get to experience a new place for a while, and then move on. 

Where to learn more : The Wokaway.info blog publishes traveler stories that can help you get a feel for what the experience of a volunteer is like.

Get Paid to Travel: Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to make money while traveling. If you love to visit new places and meet people from other cultures, there are legit options available.

However, not all travel-related jobs offer the same perks and not all of them are appropriate for the same type of people.

Be sure to consider things like:

  • Your long-term career goals.
  • Your strengths and weaknesses.
  • The level of flexibility that you want.
  • The travel frequency that would be ideal for you .
  • The amount of money you need to make.

Based on these details, you should be able to identify the options from this list that would be the best fit for you.

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Pure Travel

Ways You Can Travel for Free or Get Paid to Travel as a Career

  • September 3, 2021

travel for free and get paid

Those who have a love of traveling often wish they could do it more, or at least get paid for it. It may come as a surprise, but there are several ways that you can travel and have your expenses paid for you, or even travel as a part of your job!

Travel for Free

If you’re just simply looking for a way to travel for free, there are several programs out there that allow you to travel with all (or most) expenses paid, in exchange for doing volunteer work or something similar.

This is a disaster-relief program, where volunteers are sent to various parts of the world where a disaster has struck to help provide relief for the victims and the environment.

Americorps is a type of volunteer program that focuses more on social issues (e.g., poverty) around the world, as opposed to environmental issues or disaster relief. This is also a long-term volunteer program, with members usually serving for one year, but shorter terms are available. In return, volunteers receive training, housing, food, healthcare, and childcare.

This program allows groups of volunteers to travel around the world to help restore and maintain natural environments, such as farms, and also help out on sailboats, bed and breakfasts, and hostels.

Student Conservation Association

This association is more student-focused, allowing students to travel to different parts of the world to help restore marine sanctuaries and national parks in exchange for all expenses paid. 

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

WWOOF is similar to Help X, except that it’s more focused on plants and animals. Volunteers help out on farms in exchange for housing, food, and education.

Get Paid to Travel

There are several jobs that allow you to travel , or require you to travel. Some jobs that come to mind are flight attendants, cruise ship workers, and travel agents. However, there are other, nontraditional jobs that allow for the same opportunity to travel around the world.

Seasonal Jobs

Like the name suggests, these are jobs that you work at certain times of the year. Not to be confused with seasonal retail jobs, but these seasonal jobs allow you to travel either for work or when you’re not working. Some examples would be summer camp jobs, ski resort jobs, construction jobs, and even teaching jobs.

Adventure Jobs

These are the touring types of jobs that require more exploring and physical activity, as opposed to hospitality. Types of adventure jobs include tour guides, wilderness specialists, outdoor educators, water guides (canoe, kayak, rafting, fishing, and sailing), land guides (horseback, safari, cycling, trail, and zipline), and mountain guides (climbing and skiing).

Teaching English

There are teaching jobs that allow you to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) in non-English speaking countries. This can either be done online, or you can travel to another country and teach in person. A college degree is not usually required; all you need is a TEFL certificate and to be fluent in English to teach.

Babysitting

Babysitting abroad is known as an au pair job. Au pairs live with a host family for up to a year, receive free room and board and a weekly salary in exchange for babysitting the host family’s child/children. A key part of this job is a cultural exchange. The host family learns about the au pair’s culture, and the au pair learns about the culture of the host family. Au pairs are also required to be young adults (under the age of 30), nonmarried, and must not have any kids of their own.

Safety When Traveling

It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings and travel safely— especially when traveling alone. There are countless stories of kidnappings and even criminal incidents during transportation services , so it’s a good idea to have a traveling partner or to regularly let friends and family know of your whereabouts.

Traveling doesn’t have to be just a hobby or something you do for fun. It can also be the way you earn money or help make an impactful difference around the world.

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21 Ways to Get Paid to Travel

Written By: The Planet D

Digital Nomads

Updated On: February 9, 2024

What? You can get paid to travel? Yes. You can travel the world and get paid! We are living proof that you can make money traveling.

We have been traveling around the world for the past 11 years. Working in travel is our full-time job and we get a lot of questions about how we make money. In this post, we want to peel back the curtain so you can benefit from our knowledge and start on the path to making money while traveling. The first half starts with how we make money traveling and then we branch out to different ways to make money in travel.

Table of Contents

Get Paid to Travel the World

Over the years of being professional travel bloggers , we have learned what works and what does not. What I know for sure is that working in travel is not a “get rich quick” kind of career. There is a lot that goes into building a business and brand that allows you to get paid to travel .

  • If you want to get right into it becoming a travel blogger we have provided this quick reference for you: learn How to Start a Travel Blog

How we fund our travels

When we first started out by cycling the continent of Africa , we had no idea of how we were going to make money. We had a travel fund saved of $20,000 from working in the film industry and this is what we used for the first year to pay for our travels.

We made a base in India where we could stretch our dollar while building our expertise in travel. It was easier to grow our social media channels and blog views by constantly traveling to new and exotic destinations that didn’t break the bank.

Once our flights were bought to Asia, we travelled on a very cheap budget. For example 4 months into our travels, I remember sitting at a cheap guesthouse in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. We only had 2 months left in our travel budget and were worried about having to go home.

But since we had been updating on social media and writing blog posts every day, we had a small audience and a few days later we sold our first ad. They bought 4 ads at $40 a month for 12 months. We suddenly had nearly $2000 to fund our travels for another 2 months! After that, we sold more ads and as we travelled, we paid for them through our blog.

Today, most of our travels are funded through tourism boards, tour companies, and brands or destinations that want us to promote their regions or products. They will take care of our travel expenses including things like our hotel room, meals, flights, and activities.

  • How to find free accomodation around the world  – Think you don’t have the means to travel? Be inspired by Thailand blogger, Petz who shows that even with a limited budget, you can travel the world.
  • Tips for getting started as a house sitter – Professional The Travelling House Sitters Brit and Jay share their top reasons why you should start house sitting right now!

Ways We Make Money Traveling

Our income in 2020 took a nosedive in the travel space, but we still made a six-figure income. That is because we have multiple sources of income. Even though travel bookings ended, we had several ways to continue earning a comfortable living. In this post, we share pre-2020 numbers and posts. We feel confident that in time, we will be back to where we ended.

Note: Some blogging income streams are only available to you once you reach a certain traffic threshold on your website but most of them you can apply early on. The takeaway here is to focus on building your brand and expertise and do what you love. As you grow organically, the money you make grows with you.

1. Affiliate Marketing 

Affiliates marketing has become a larger part of our income in the past couple of years. You can start this at any time, but its success is dependent on a loyal audience and search traffic.

What is affiliate marketing?

Basically, when you click on the link to a product or service that we recommend and then make a purchase, we receive a small commission. This is at no cost to you and we always only recommend products and services that we believe in. This can range from booking websites for hotels like Booking.com or TripAdvisor to products that we like on Amazon or renting a car at Rentalcars.com.

Income: Monthly affiliate income ranges from $20,000 to $40,000 depending on the time of year.

2.  Display Advertising

If you are just starting out, Google Adsense is a great place to get your feet wet with display advertising. But there are many Ad Networks that bloggers work with.

What is Display advertising?

Display advertising is where a product or service is advertised on our website through visual images like banner ads and videos on our website. Display ads are easy to implement and you get paid a small amount of money each time someone clicks on the ad. It may not be a ton of money at first, but as you build your website it can be quite lucrative.

Once you have built your readership you can apply to work with an ad network where you can get a better price for your ad space Currently, we work with AdThrive who pays us out by the number of visitors that come to our website and see their banner ads. We make a fixed dollar amount per 1000 impressions.

Income: With display advertising, we make between $30,000 to $35,000 per month

3. Destination Campaigns 

Destination campaigns used to be the main way we made money traveling when we were on the road full time. But we still do many destination campaigns each year.

What is a destination campaign?

A destination will invite us to visit their region and cover all of our expenses. They also pay us a fee to help them promote their destination through social media, creating videos, writing blog posts, and creating photography content.

If you are just starting out you may be able to get your part of your trip subsidized or even all of it paid for. But, to charge a fee for the services you need to have built an audience and offer tangible value to the destination .

Income: Destination Campaigns can range anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 per campaign. One-off social projects and smaller destination packages range from $500 – $5000.

4. Brand Partnerships 

We work with brands and tourism companies that we believe in and feel confident recommending.

What is a brand partnership?

These are usually year-long contracts where we discuss what the client’s needs are and what type of coverage we will give them. It can include social media coverage, blog posts, videos, T.V. appearances, speaking at conferences, or participating in ad campaigns. You are only limited by your imagination.

These are great if you have a brand or company that you already use and want to work with them. We have worked with brands like Allianz Global Insurance, UnCruise, American Express, Intrepid Travel, and British Airways, to name a few.

Income: Brand Partnerships can range anywhere from $5000 to $50,000 per campaign depending on length and deliverables.

5. Photography Sales

We license our photos for advertising and editorial use to Destination Marketing Organizations, (DMOs) magazines, books, and brands. This is always part of our larger packages with brands and when we do destination campaigns. We also sell prints to the general public through gallery shows and online.

Income: Print Sales can account for up to $10,000 per year. Photo and video licensing can range from $300 to $10,000 depending on the terms

6. Public Speaking

Once you build up your authority you can apply to speak at different conferences. We have traveled the world doing speaking engagements which usually offer free trips before or after a conference.

You don’t have to speak about travel to speak at conferences, think about what your expertise is, and create a session about it. Be it inspirational, informational, or about a particular subject, conferences are always looking for experts.

Public Speaking can account for up to $10,000 per year. This can range from $300 to $3,000 per engagement depending on the terms

7. Digital Products

Another way we monetize our travel blog is to make and sell our own digital products. Since we get a lot of traffic to different destination pages we decided to make downloadable travel guides . The creation of these can take a bit of time but it is one of those things that I look at as “passive income”. Once you make it once, it just needs to be updated once a year and it provides income all year long.

  • We know people that strictly make money selling through Amazon and their store. They don’t use a blog and instead leverage Amazon for sales.

Income: From our City Guides we make $300 to $500 per month.

8. YouTube and Travel Videos

While making travel videos is always a part of our package when working with brands and destinations, we also make an income from YouTube and Roku advertising.

It takes a while to see money come in from YouTube, but once we built a solid base and subscribers list, we now make a decent monthly income off of videos. And, now companies find us on YouTube and offer to purchase video licensing and offer sponsorship which can add up quickly.

  • YouTube: $1600 – $2000 per month
  • ROKU – $200 – $400 per month

9. Freelance Writing and Photography

We accept freelance writing contracts a couple of times a year. And you can still pitch travel writing to many publications around the world.

The prices can really fluctuate. When working on a branded campaign for a publication we can make thousands of dollars for one project. But when writing an article for a publication, it can be just a couple of hundred dollars. As you gain expertise, you’ll be able to approach publications with confidence, and soon, editors will be approaching you.

  • Freelance Writing: 5k – 10k per year
  • Freelance Photography: 10k per year

The Planet D travel blog Revenue

Pre Pandemic we earned a very high 6 figure income. In 2020 even with travel plummeting, we still made 6 figures and bounced back to above 2020 income by Mid 2022. Having our hand in many revenue streams has helped us through these times. We never just focused on SEO, Social Media, or partnerships. We focused on them all.

By having several income streams, we have been able to weather the storm. We never put our eggs in one basket and that has worked well for 15 years. We suggest if you want to make money as a travel blogger or influencer, you focus on having several streams of income.

You have to remember this didn’t happen overnight and it is a ton of work.

I think if you are prepared for the monthly fluctuation in income, love traveling, writing, being creative, and are dedicated enough to be your own boss you too can get paid to travel.

Other Travel Jobs to Pay You to Travel

The ways we make money above is certainly not the only ways that you can make money traveling. We know plenty of other bloggers who do other things that we don’t. These are all great ways to add diversity to your income stream.

10. Teach English Online

We have met many full-time travelers that were doing just that. They make an hourly wage from $15-$20 per hour just by letting people practice their English over Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet.

If you are living abroad in a country that is cheap to travel to, this is an excellent way to supplement your travels and even live if you are staying in the right place where it is cheap to travel. Check out QKids and VIPKID to get started. Read Our full guide on How to Teach English Online

11. Teach English Overseas

If our travel blogging career didn’t work out, we were going to teach English overseas. If you have a college degree, you can make huge money teaching English. I know many travel bloggers started out teaching English overseas. When they had days off, they would go out and explore, write about and share their experiences and grow their audience. TEFL is a good place to start. read more: Fancy Teaching English Abroad in 2021? – Consider TEFL

12. Work on a Cruise Ship

I (Deb) have actually done this. I was a singer on a cruise ship and it was an amazing way to get paid to travel. There are many opportunities on a cruise ship from being a bartender, a waitress in the bars and restaurants blackjack dealer (I have done that as well and it’s a fun job) chef, barista, fitness coach, event coordinator. The possibilities are endless! The pay isn’t huge, but your room and board are covered and you will get to travel long term without breaking your wallet.

13. Work at a Resort or International Hotel

Looking to find a job in travel? Check out resorts where you can bring in your expertise. Get an education and you can work as hotel staff and management around the world! Whenever we visit high-end hotels, the staff is always international and constantly moving around. From teaching snowboarding (our Prime Minister of Canada did this for a season) to working in restaurants, being a part of the entertainment staff or fitness.

14. Spa Staff

Dave and I love to go to the spa and whenever we do, we notice that the staff is very international. Become a massage therapist and the sky is the limit. Resorts, cruise ships, and private spas are always looking for reliable staff.

15. Creating and Running your own Tours

We have many friends in the travel blogging and photography world who have designed and run their own tours for their readers. This can be quite labour intensive at the beginning but it can also be quite lucrative. The key to making this successful is to be an expert in the area that you want to focus on.

Once upon a time, only National Geographic Photographers and Lonely Planet or Travel and Leisure writers could get paid to travel the world. Now, the possibilities of getting paid to travel are endless.

16. Yoga Instructor

Many people are offering Yoga Instruction online. Use your time in isolation to become a certified yoga instructor and then look for schools around the world to apply. People go on yoga retreats all the time and this is an excellent opportunity to travel and get paid while doing it.

Unique Ways to Get Paid to Travel

17. travel nurse.

Do you have a medical, or a nursing background – take your business abroad.

18. Social Media Assistant

Do you have Social Media skills? – become a social media assistant, virtual assistant or consultant. We have a Pinterest manager and we used to have someone help schedule our tweets and Facebook updates.

19. Website Developer and Maintenance

Know web development? – offer your expertise to help businesses and bloggers with their website maintenance.

20. Deliver Cars or Boats

Many people hire others to drive their car home from a vacation in the south or when moving across the country. If you have a licence, be a car delivery person and take a road trip!

Repositioning of boats is also popular . If you have sailing experience, you can captain a sailboat to its next port of call.

21. Work on a private yacht

I’ll never forget meeting Bobby in Nepal. He was an American working as a first mate on a private yacht in the Middle East. For his vacation, he decided to trek to Everest Base Camp. He said he made a lot of money as staff.

Do you know of another way to make money from traveling? We’d love you to share your ideas in the comments. 

Read Next More Ideas on how to live your dream

  • How to Travel the World – The Ultimate Travel Resource
  • Our best travel tips from years on the road
  • How to Start a Travel Blog in 11 Easy Steps
  • How to Be a Professional Travel Blogger – 12 Steps to Financial Freedom
  • Discover Your Passion – How to Find Your Path to Success
  • Travel Resources
  • How to Make Money Blogging
  • 7 Common Travel Mistakes First Time Travelers Make

We make money traveling through our ads and affiliates on our travel blog, as influencers on Instagram & YouTube, and as brand ambassadors. But there are many other ways to make money traveling.

We make a comfortable 6 figure income annually through these income sources.

As a travel blogger, you can earn money traveling by selling e-books or courses, freelance writing, affiliate income, and more.

Disclaimer: We do receive an affiliate commission from the books and courses mentioned. If you click through there is no extra cost to you. 

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

  • Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
  • Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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120 thoughts on “21 Ways to Get Paid to Travel”

Very Impressive…. Thanks for the post.

Every travelers has the same dream. But, very few make it to the lists.

Hello!!! I am Amy G. Despaigne and my passion is travelling and culture. I create content for Local Educational Tours/Facebook and you have been very inspirational for me. I just want to say THANK YOU! The article 20 Most Beautiful Carribbean Islands to put on the Bucket list is representative of all the diversity in our tourism. Colorful, varied and brief… just love it!

Lots of inspiration! Thanks. Look forward to following your travels and insights.

Great article!

Congratulations, guys! I’m a travel photographer and considering doing travel blogging. Thank you for sharing such a very informative guide.

Stay safe and cool!

It’s really an awesome and informative blog. We’re not just providing desert safari dubai but also providing city tours, water adventure tours and much more activities.

These job ideas were so helpful!! Teaching English online or overseas sounds like something that I would love to do. Working on a cruise ship also sounds like a dream and something I would love to do. Thank you again for the amazing ideas!!

This was really a helpful article to become a travel influencer

Great Article. lots of information use for all time with high strategy. great work with great content. Awesome work.

Hey Dave and Deb,

Great post about how travel bloggers make money through blogging. The point you make about earning huge amount of money through travel blogging resonates well, because it details that bloggers can earn profit in their travels through advertisement, photography, content writing, and even public speaking.

Thanks for sharing those amazing tips. I find that very helpful. I am trying to implement afiliate soon. I got advertisement covered for now.

I have found out that there is no sure way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.

I’ve been following your blog since 2017. Over the years, you blog gain lot’s of fame. No doubt you’ve guys have done the hard work. It’s not easy to achieve what you have done. I also received so many inquires on my blog but mostly asking for free links >))P

Thanks for sharing the information and that is good idea to earn the money.

goodness, you visited awesome places everywhere throughout the world, I truly need to travel all around the globe.

I do agree with Dave Statment

Agreed on Dave and Deb Statement.

If you are passioned about about to Travel Around the world, You’ll never lose hope and Try to Do something different than others. hey The PlanetD Team you guys are really awesome in sharing such great photos. Thanks Regards, Umaymah

Recently, we wrote something similar: https://www.museuly.com/blog/highest-paid-travel-bloggers/

I appreciate how you were honest about the diminishment of the affiliate earnings because of the past couple of years. I hope you get it back in the groove!

Making money online is a beautiful labor of love, especially if you’re doing something that’s passionate to your heart. 🙂

Outstanding article…Hope to get paid to travel someday as well….

wow, i wish the same to be paid of my travel by others . btw nice article thanks

Wow! There’s so much to take in here! I think this is going to take a few sessions to digest. Thanks so much for the information though, so helpful xx

Thank for sharing this type of tips, really it was very helpfull to us .

well planet D you have done the right job at the right time well written article thanks for sharing with us

An amazing detailed article, you guys are amazing. Love from Dubai.

Very helpful guide for people who want to become a real travel blogger!!!

wow, you visited wonderful places all over the world, I really want to travel all around the world.

Hi Dave & Deb, great tips! Thankfully more and more companies realize nowadays that remote working can be a huge advantage, and there are sites like Upwork or Fiverr where people can easily find any type of freelance work.

Keep up the awesome work with this blog! 😉

Thanks a lot for sharing such valuable information!

Blog is perfect! Very good pic.

I always follow your articles, and you write terrific but this post get paid to travel is fantastic. Keep writing like this, keep working keep going I also have an excellent blog about travels and mystery lovers.

What an amazing compilation of tips! This is really good post for everybody starting an online business and a life of travel to realize it is possible to achieve dreams! Dream travels!

Travel blogging has become a very hot profession these days. What could be better than making some good money while staying in 5-star hotels, enjoying food, having best local tours? Very nice insights.

Hi Dave and deb, we will glag to offer yoy free desert safari trip whenever you visit to Dubai. thanks Dubai Adventures

So much information about traveling the world and getting paid for that on a single page. It has been a great pleasure to read your story and the videos and pics are excellent…… I hope someday I will be able to travel the world the way you have been travelling… very very inspirational indeed

This is very comprehensive list having great ideas.

Great article guys. It does take time and we are slowly getting there. It is great to know that we are on the right track. Look forward to seeing and listening to you at #TBEXEurop2017. You guys are such an inspiration.

Do what you know and perception is converted into character.

You guys clearly haven’t heard of the world’s coolest travel club. It also gives the opportunity to travel and get paid. After reading this, i’m more convinced that what i’m doing is the best way to get paid by traveling, ever.

We haven’t heard of the coolest travel club. But I am so glad that you have found a way to travel and get paid for it! 🙂

Very good way to deliver the ideas.

good article.

Thank you. It was awesome, I get to know lot of new things through this article. You guys are really doing a great job by sharing your personal experiences.

Thanks Tamal! All the best to you.

Great Post! It was very knowledgeable for me. Thanks for sharing.

Very useful tips. Excellent for the beginners.

That’s a full-blown list of possibilities to earn money whilst traveling. And they do work, I can imagine.

I was wondering if the travel on itself is considered as a holiday, working whilst on holiday is gonna be hard. It mainly depends on the mindset of course. It would get boring if every day was spent traveling only. And it would be tricky to travel without money later on, so eventually, the mind-shift should happen.

Thanks for sharing the great ways to earn money whilst traveling. Have a wonderful time. Hopefully, it’s not raining where you are right now.

New social networks becoming progressively more prominent. In short, you’re open to a lot of opportunities that I didn’t have

Very good advice, I have been dreaming of being a full-time blogger since long, just did not get anough coarage to start it. The main reason is my day job is very strict in timing and I became exhausted by the tie I finish it and do not have much energy to work at home. But in the other hand I am not sure will it ok to quit my day job first as I have Kid and wife that depending on me.

Overall its good advice, I have a blog also and i am getting good value through. You guys are awesome 🙂

thanks for sharing this information.and it was the great opportunity for travel lovers

Hire me!!! Lol I want to travel and work more then anything

Very interesting read.. .thanks for sharing..

I was lucky enough to work in the travel industry for various airlines, for 25 years +, which was a great way to see the world for free or low cost. There are still good travel concessions to be had if you work in the airline/travel industry, and there are lots of opportunities apart from being a flight attendant. I am still learning my trade as a travel blogger though, as no internet media existed when I first started travelling. I guess that means I have to re-visit lots of countries, which is great, and I am beginning to do that.

Thanks Dave and Deb. All my questions got answered. Wonderful and informative article.

My God!!! This blog is perfect! All happiness in the world!

I love to travel

Ohhhh this blog is perfect for the trip lovers, yours trips it´s very very crazy….I´m love trip.

Great list of info a resources! I think what is lost on most people searching this topic is, no matter what route you go, it boils down to putting in the work.

very intresting post! very helpful, thanks for share with us

Glad we could help! Cheers.

As a travel lover person I always used to think about I can get such money. truely, I was also very depressed at the present time. But this tips are really great for me and for the persons like me. Thanks for the great help.

Well thanks alot for these great tips, One of the biggest problem is how to make all the money for exploring the world, It would be best if we start earning while travelling, what a great advice, Thanks alot …

thanks for all the tips! very helpful, detailed & informative. happy travels!

Love it! You two are good!!

I’ve been going through your blog, FANTASTIC! What you two are doing is exsctly what my husband and I are working towards. I just started our blog and am SO inspired by you. Thank you! I traveled overseas as a child and have been missing it terribly, is been a growing hunger in my heart and soul. My best friend is my better half, we work together (he owns his own sign company), lately we’ve been in that rut and getting out and leaving is becoming more of a necessity for our sanity. I so glad to have found your blog and all your inspiration to push us along in our goals. We’ve been using kids and material things as excuses to hold us back from doing what we REALLY want to do with our lives. I will be signing up for the travel blog success courses and following you more closely (now that I’ve found my inspiration). Once again thank you, I hope to meet you both some day and exchange stories and laughter.

Thanks Tammy, so glad we could inspire you. Before we started ThePlanetD we were constantly scouring the Internet and magazines for inspiration, so I’m glad to see that we are doing our job of keeping the inspiration going. It’s great to see another couple that works together. If you already do that at home, you will settle nicely into blogging together. Plus it sounds like you are already quite artistic with running a sign company. I’m sure we will meet one day, you’d be surprised at how many people we’ve talked to online and then met somewhere out there in the world. In the 21st century, the earth is very small. Thanks for the comment and all the best to you!

Just wanting to let your readers know that they can find out what their rate of pay would be in Australia, if they are considering working while travelling to this part of the world. Thank you. http://www.workinaustralia101.com/2015/07/what-would-your-pay-rate-be-in-australia.html Safe travels, Sharon

Thanks for sharing, that’s some valuable information that I’m happy to leave on here 🙂

We saved $40,000 last year – just by 1) renting our Montreal condo, 2) Spanky continuing her job from a distance, 3) living overseas. And we got to ‘live’ in the Czech Republic, Thailand, and Croatia with lots of little side trips. And it wasn’t just about saving the money. It was about breaking that 9-5 home-work routine that drains the life out of everyone. It also made us realize just how darn expensive Canada is. We’ve spent the last month in Montreal catching up on admin stuff and will be leaving in a couple of weeks for Year 2 of our travels. Frank (bbqboy)

Very good job you always write very interesting articles and we can admiral amazing photos and video.

I really admire you for quiting your job, traveling and making money. I believe that this is what we all want to do, but very few of us have your courage to do it. Great post! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for your tips. I have a question… I have a 7 year old son but I would still like to have a job traveling. How often do you come across someone with a small child with them in their adventures?

I like most of your ideas …… my feeling is like in all these occasions, the initial days are going to be the most challenging ….. i think travel blogging, freelance writing and looking for part time jobs while traveling are the best ways to do it…

Have you encountered any stories/problems with your carry-on luggage during all your travels?

Not really no.

Thank you for such a wonderful post. Your stunning photos and informative posts keep on bringing me back to your blog again and again. All the best for upcoming journeys. By the way, another way of making money while travelling is to draw and paint your way across the world 🙂 (Candace Rose Rardon). Opportunities are endless. ~Gaurav (India)

Thank you for the kind words. Thanks for mentioning Candace! We know her and I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I appreciate you sharing. And you are so right, the possibilities are endless!

I love reading such posts where we talk about money-making to be able to travel. It’s always encouraging and helps us to think as to how we can spread our wings and look for newer ways to make money. Thanks so much for this post!

Thanks Renuka. It’s great to share stuff like this to help get the creative juices flowing. We always need a little motivation ourselves. Even we are always searching for something new to try. Thanks for the comment!

It’s my first time here and I love your blog!! and thanks so much for sharing your hints and tips on managing a travel blog :):) I’ve been working as a wedding photographer for the last few years and have fallen out of love with weddings! I’ve recently (in the last few weeks) started a travel and lifestyle blog as I love shooting travel photography and have travelled quite a bit over the last 20 years and have a 6 month trip to SE Asia coming up in November so seizing the moment. I have a VERY long way to go yet though until I gain some interest! Keep up the amazing work and happy travels 🙂

Best of luck to you Nicola. You are going to love South East Asia, it is a photographer’s paradise. Keep us posted on how things go!

@Shane, yes! Thank you, will look at this with my gf when she gets back to the room! Excited just to read about it!

I’ve just started blogging and working out my ways to facilitate both traveling and making money.Posts like these throw the light and show the ways to newbie’s like me!

Way to go! Bookmarking it NOW

Thank you Reshma, and glad we could give you some resources. Sometimes all we need are a few suggestions to get the creative juices flowing.

@Scott This isn’t a mega yacht but this yacht captain sent us this ad last week: http://www.jobsabroadbulletin.co.uk/cookhousekeeper-deckhand-for-luxury-private-motor-yacht/ . The position is a volunteer one but it might be a way to get some experience along with a free cruise around the Greek islands.

One another of our sites we interviewed a superyacht stewardess: http://www.the-working-traveller.com/worldwideworker-katie-wilter-superyacht-stewardess/ , while these agencies might also help with your research: Dovaston Crew, Silver Swan Recruitment, Super Yacht Crew, YPI Crew, Camper & Nicholsons International, Luxury Yacht Group, Bluewater, WilsonHalligan, Northrop and Johnson.

Thanks for sharing Shane, that’s really valuable information. I appreciate it!

Dear Deb and Dave, Sorry to be a bit negative, but why is erverybody always sharing those absurdly coloured, filtered pictures on Instagram? I find them horrible. Am I the only one? I hope, I didn’t offend you. But if a great picture on Instagram means to apply such a filter on a before normal picture … Well then, I might have lost touch with this world. 🙂 Maybe I should register for a therapy until I like such pictures? Best regards, Charles

No worries Charles, it’s definitely not for everyone. Our Instagram photos are quite different from what we post on our website. I look at Instagram as a form of artistic impression. I love looking at saturated colours and seeing what creative ideas and concepts people come up with. That’s the great thing about art and photography, it’s subjective. But you are right, we don’t put our Instagram shots on our website. Our photos on ThePlanetD are more true to life, crisp and real to the eye. But we like playing with both. And no, you haven’t lost touch with the world. I think it’s the people that bury their noses in their cell phones 24/7 liking and commenting on Instagram are the ones that have lost touch with the world…literally. They need to look up and explore the beauty around them, not only the things happening on the screens of their iPads and phones.

Being an au pair is a great way to not only travel the world but to completely immerse into other cultures. I spent 2 years in the US and 1 year in Germany. Thanks to that I could slowly discover the countries and cultures and not worry about paying bills or renting a house. I could definitely recommend it to anyone! My brother actually became an au pair too, because he got jealous of all the travelling I’ve done wiith my host families and friends.

Thanks for sharing Marta. Yet another way to get paid to travel. I love it! I had heard about that, what an amazing way to travel. And I am assuming that the people who can afford an Au Pair are quite wealthy, so you most likely get to travel and live in style!

@Noel – It’s definitely a win if you can make money in your home currency. @judykarwacki – Whaaaaat? I wanna work on a MegaYacht!

I think the crazy thing is like @shane said, there are so many opportunities and the more you travel the more you discover them. It’s a bit liberating to realize travel isn’t super expensive, and there are becoming more and more abundant opportunities. Again MegaYacht – will research this!

You are so right, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many ways to make money while traveling now. It’s an exciting time to explore the world. Good luck with the MegaYacht research.

Great ideas, I think if you can take a profession that can travel abroad in the currency you make, then that really works well to your favor, along with scaling back or downsizing to afford this type of lifestyle.

That’s a great point too. Living remotely does offer that opportunity. A lot of people can be paid in their own currency while working abroad. Put that money into a lower cost of living and it’s win win! Thanks for sharing Noel.

Thank you for the wonderful ideas. I will follow some of the tips but others may not be applicable to mine. I have travelled 13 countries already but still I am using my own money for the travel expenses. I wish I can do what you have done. More travel to you soon.

Best of luck to you! It sounds like you are well on your way to a great travel career. Dave and I didn’t start really getting into travel until our 30’s, you’re probably well ahead of us already!

What an amazing place. It would be perfect to take my luxury car rental company over there

Thank you for the shout-out! Essential oils really changed my life, although I had been traveling 17 years before that. I think if there is a will to travel, there is always a way to make the money to do it.

Thanks for the inspiration at TBEX Katja, You looked so happy and content. Wow! 17 years of traveling amazing! I guess what I meant was that you weren’t focusing on a travel blog like us, you had an entirely different business model and made it work. It’s impressive! And I forgot to mention that Tom Cruise featured your product on Oprah. I must go and add that in!

thanks deb and dave as always! before we’ce learned about travel blogging my fiance and i are doing massage therapy and english teaching from asia to latin america.. would love to share story or tips on how to be a massage therapist on the road.. can i guest post on planetd since you’ve already mentioned it above!:)

Definitely send us an email. We’d love to share your story of how it goes!

these are all great tips! thanks for sharing! im thinking of freelance writing just dont know when to take the leap!

Good luck to you. Take it from me the sooner the better. As someone who didn’t know what I wanted to do for a very long time, I wish I figured it out earlier. But at the same time, you have to take the leap when you are ready, too soon can be overwhelming. Just follow your instincts.

Hi Deb and Dave,

This is good. Really good…..

I’ve been doing research on travel blogging and I love the suggestions you’ve provided on generating revenue.

I clicked the link for the inspiration series but the content of the page doesn’t load. https://theplanetd.com/inspiration-series/ Maybe it’s just an issue with the browser I’m using.

Again, thanks!

Thanks for the heads up, I’ll see what’s happening. I noticed it’s not loading either. We’ll get that fixed lickety split!

It’s working now, Cheers!

This is such a great and informative post. I’ve been working on getting more into freelance stuff, and eventually want to try out a couple more of these methods! Thanks for putting it all together

Thanks Dave, best of luck with your freelancing! There is still lots of work out there. I actually think there is more work than ever with the Internet opening up. It’s not a closed door mentality anymore. It used to be overwhelming trying to figure out how to get published, now there are many opportunities! Cheers!

What an amazing compilation of tips! This is really good post for everybody starting an online bussiness and a life of travel to realize it is possible to achieve dreams! Happy travels!

Thanks again for another instructive post Dave and Deb!

Travel bloggers who make a name for themselves can also become brand ambassadors, do consulting work for destinations and brands, attract sponsors, etc. There’s a variety of other ways to make money, especially if you become known for your niche. I always recommend that newbie bloggers develop a niche. Otherwise, it’s much harder to rise above the noise. Cheers, see you tonight!

I worked on a yachting tourism study in Antigua a couple of years ago and learned about a dream travel job that I wish existed when I was in my teens/20s. It is working on megayachts. It’s better than cruise ships because they are small so you work with a family and small group. A lot of the work is around supporting the guests in recreation such as snorkeling, SUP, fishing, picnicing, etc. Long hours but very good pay, especially tips, and lots of time off. The people I met were having a ball doing it. Caribbean during the North American winters and Mediterrean postings during the summers. Hiring generally occurs in Florida.

I can’t believe I didn’t include that! We have a friend of ours that is working on a Mega Yacht right now! We met Bobby in Nepal in 2010 and he is still travelling the world and working on yachts. Excellent advice, thanks Judy!

There are so many ways to get paid to travel: DJing in the Alps, managing a campsite in France, guest clergy onboard cruise ships, immersive English teaching in Germany or Spain, sea kayaking instructor jobs in Alaska, crewing a private motor yacht around the Greek islands, cleaning and readying a canal boat in the UK, becoming a dive instructor, holiday rep, airport transfer driver, or artist in residence, leading school tours or gap year programmes, driving an overland truck through Africa, looking after disabled holidaymakers, working for summer camps in America or winter camps in Switzerland, enticing customers into bars in Kavos, waiting tables in an Amsterdam comedy club, hairdressing on Europe’s waterways, volunteer surf instruction in Nicaragua, working in expat bars, picking strawberries in Denmark, advising holidaymakers on the best methods to avoid sunburn in Spain, kitchen jobs in Portugal, tour leading in Vietnam, catering stewards in Dubai, managing a hotel in the Falkland Islands…

Thanks for helping to spread the world about working abroad. I highly recommend a book called Work Your Way Around the World (written by a Canadian). I never did any of the things listed above, instead finding my own way to afford to travel, but this book helped me to realise it was possible to travel even when you have little money.

Thanks for sharing Shane. You are right, the possibilities are endless. People just need a little nudge to start thinking outside the box. So many people think that they can’t get paid to travel and yet, you can do anything.

Dear Dave and Deb: Always wonderful to learn from your experience, and appreciate that you are always willing to share your secrets. Wishing you the best for future travels. .. Prasad from India

Thanks Prasad. We thought it was a good idea to give people a one stop shop to build their travel careers.

also thanks for sharing and giving the response

It was really helpful for those who love to travel.

travel for free and get paid

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Get Paid to Travel: 20 Jobs That Pay You To Travel

Looking for “get paid to travel jobs”? You're in luck.

Getting paid to travel? It’s a thing. A huge thing, in fact. 

The travel industry is huge – and the opportunities to get paid for a living and make money while traveling are even bigger. 

If you want to learn about jobs that pay you to travel, keep reading.

Table of Contents

Can You Travel For a Living? 

Yes, absolutely! Whether you have a job that pays you to travel, or a job that allows you to travel, the answer is yes.

There are so many different ways to travel for a living, you’re not limited to just one kind of job! There are so many possibilities for travel jobs for anyone – even with no experience. 

In this article, we are diving in to jobs that pay you to travel. For more ideas on how to make money while traveling, check out this article. 

How to Get Paid To Travel Jobs

Depending on the type of travel job you choose, there may be training required. The training may be provided or it may be up to you to train yourself! 

It all depends on the type of job. Some of these jobs may require experience and references, and some may be entry level (like resort work). 

While many travel jobs may require some experience or training, working for yourself doesn’t! If you have the drive and ability to learn new things online, you could have a job that you can do from anywhere as a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner. That being said, let’s get into it! 

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Jobs That Require Travel 

These travel jobs not only require you to travel, they pay you to do so. The travel jobs listed here are a really fun and unique way to see the world… and get paid while doing it! 

Work on a Cruise Ship

travel for free and get paid

Working on a cruise ship has to be one of the coolest travel jobs in the entire world. You get paid to be on a gigantic, luxurious ship. Not only that, you get to interact with people from around the world, all while traveling to bucket list destinations! 

Cruise ship jobs can be anything from working as a cashier, server, housekeeper, or even on the entertainment staff. The days and hours can be long – but if you want to travel and get paid… it’s totally worth it!

Even though you work long hours, you still get time off. And you can use that time to explore the different ports you stop at, or just relax!

If cruise ship jobs interest you, check out these websites: 

  •   Cruise Ship Jobs 
  • All Things Cruise
  • Cruise Job Finder
  • All Cruise Jobs

Work as a Flight Attendant

travel for free and get paid

Do you like flying? If so, has working as a flight attendant ever crossed your mind? Flight attendants get paid to travel all over the globe!

Becoming a flight attendant can be kind of a rigorous process, but once you make it past the initial phases, it’s smooth sailing. Or should I say smooth flying?

Skills like the ability to speak foreign languages or being CPR certified will look very good on you when applying to be a flight attendant. 

As a flight attendant, you’ll be ‘based’ out of a certain city, even if you are rarely ever there. You’ll also receive free or discounted flights for yourself and family members.

To find and apply for flight attendant jobs, look at each different airlines’ website. Flight attendant jobs are typically posted on their websites, and you can find information for becoming a flight attendant as well. 

Work on a Superyacht

travel for free and get paid

A superyacht is exactly what it sounds like: a huge, luxurious yacht typically owned by a billionaire. There are tens of thousands of superyacht crew positions all over the globe. 

Superyacht crew positions range from working on deck, in the galley preparing food, as a steward or butler, and more. 

Working on a superyacht can have long and tiring days, but it can be a really fun and high-paying travel job. 

You don’t have to pay rent when you work on a yacht and you also don’t have to buy yourself food either. So, your main living expenses are covered, plus you’re being paid.

You can save the money you’d typically be spending on rent and food and use it to live off of during the off-season!

Crew on superyachts can make between $2-$3,000/mo for the lower positions and as much as $6,000 per month for the more experienced positions. On charter trips, you can expect tips to be divided among the crew, too. 

If you want to learn more about working on a superyacht, check out this article. This article talks about positions, salary, how to get superyacht jobs, and what it’s like to live a day in the life. 

Drive a Tour Bus/Travel Coach Driver

Driving a big rig isn’t as scary as one might think… and if you’re already used to it, transitioning into a tour bus driver would be easy! Get paid to travel and drive tourists around.

You can apply for tour bus driver positions all over the world and get paid to drive people all over the place. Doesn’t sound like too bad of a gig to me!

Travel Nursing

travel for free and get paid

If you’ve never heard of travel nursing, it’s for registered nurses who want to work in different locations for shorter periods of time. Travel nurses help fill gaps in hospitals when there are shortages, and they get to travel and see many different places while doing so. 

A popular method of travel for travel nurses and their families is in an RV. This allows for bringing your entire family along and having a stable home along the way. Much better than staying in hotels!

Requirements for being a travel nurse are that you are a registered nurse and have at least 2 years of nursing experience. If you want to learn more about travel nursing, check out this article. 

Work as a Tour Guide

travel for free and get paid

Tour guides work in the travel industry, giving tours to visitors and tourists. You can work as a tour guide in a variety of locations, which makes this a pretty cool travel job. 

You can do location tours, city tours, eco tours, and more. 

Tour guides are experts of their areas and as such, you should expect to have to do a lot of research before applying for the job.

Other requirements include being a people person, of course! Being a great storyteller is another trait that will help you find success as a tour guide. 

If you want to learn more about becoming a tour guide, check out this article. 

Work at a Hostel

travel for free and get paid

Working in a hostel is a popular job for travelers. This job gives you the opportunity to not only find paid work in a new location, you often get housing (and sometimes food) covered, too. 

Hostel jobs can range from reception, housekeeping, food prep, and more. If you want to learn more about working in hostels as you travel , check out this article from Hostel World. 

Work at a Resort

travel for free and get paid

Whether it’s a ski resort, a national park lodge, or a huge luxury resort in the caribbean, resort jobs are plentiful at varying times throughout the year. 

You can get any kind of job at a resort: as an instructor, in retail, in food and beverage, in housekeeping, and more. 

Check out the currently open lodging and resort jobs here on Coolworks.

Work with Kids Abroad as an Au Pair

travel for free and get paid

As an Au Pair, you have the ability to travel and stay with a family as a live-in caregiver for their children.

This gives you the chance to experience another country, culture, and language – while having most of your living expenses taken care of. 

The difference between an Au Pair and a nanny is that an Au Pair jobs are typically short-term and compensated by living accommodations, cultural exchange, and a small wage. 

To learn more about traveling and working as an Au Pair, check out this article. 

Teach English Abroad

travel for free and get paid

Did you know you can get paid to travel by teaching english abroad? What a cool way to travel! 

To teach english abroad, you’ll want a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate which you can obtain online.

TEFL isn’t required everywhere, but it will definitely make you more appealing as a teacher. Some countries may require you to have a college degree, but many do not. 

You don’t have to have teaching experience, either, but being good with kids and people is definitely a trait you’ll want to have for this job. 

Here’s an article about the 9 best places to teach English abroad.

Traveling Yoga Teacher

travel for free and get paid

If you’re a Yoga teacher or interested in becoming one, working as a traveling Yoga teacher is a thing! You can fill in at studios or host your own Yoga workshops and retreats around the world. 

There are a lot of possibilities for being a traveling Yoga teacher. Check out this article to learn more. 

Jobs That Allow You To Travel

We’ve went over some of the best jobs that require you to travel… now how about some jobs that allow you to travel?

These jobs don’t require travel… in fact, they don’t require you to be in any specific place. Which is what makes them so great for a traveling lifestyle! 

Travel Blogging

travel for free and get paid

Travel blogging is writing about different locations – as a “things to do” guide, a review of a place like a restaurant or hotel, or just your personal experiences. 

You can work as a travel blogger on your own website or as a freelance travel writer and write for publications. 

This job lends well to traveling because it’s best that you experience the locations themselves! And if you’re writing a review on a particular place like a hotel, restaurant, or experience, it’s possible to get free admission or meals from the location.

Travel blogging pays really well if you learn how to do it properly.

You get paid in the form of advertising, affiliate marketing, creating your own products, and more – if you’re blogging on your own website. 

If you’re working as a freelance travel writer, you get paid by the company. And, you could always do both blogging for yourself and for companies!

Blogging in general is a great job to have as a traveler – you don’t even have to be writing about travel, since blogging can be done from anywhere. 

Learn more about how to start a blog here. 

Travel Vlogging

travel for free and get paid

A great addition to a travel blog or great on it’s own, travel vloggers make videos about the locations that they visit. I’m sure you’ve seen them all over YouTube! 

There is no barrier to entry to becoming a travel vlogger other than the limits of your own mind. 

You can start with something as simple as your phone camera and go from there.

In order to keep your subscribers interested and coming back for more, you have to travel and make videos about awesome places! It’s a type of job that forces you to live an awesome lifestyle. 

Become an Influencer

travel for free and get paid

Whether on social media, from a blog, vlog, or a combination of any of them – becoming an influencer is a great way to make money while traveling. 

You might be thinking influencers happen by accident or by going “viral”… and why that is certainly the case with some influencers, the vast majority of influencers are self built. 

There is a method to becoming an influencer – and it’s just learning marketing, creating engaging content, and growing a following. That’s it! 

You don’t have to have hundreds of thousands of followers to be an influencer, either. A nano influencer has between 1,000 – 10,000 followers.

A micro influencer has between 10,000 and 50,000. Mid-tier is 50k – 500k, macro is 500k-1mil, and mega-influencers have 1 million + followers.  

You can still get brand deals and sponsorships as a nano or micro influencer – not to mention you can monetize your audience in many other ways. You can get paid to travel as an influencer in many ways. If you want to learn more about becoming an influencer, check out this article. 

Travel Photography

travel for free and get paid

Got a knack for taking awesome photos? You can make money as a travel photographer! There are many ways you can make money as a traveling photographer. You can sell your photos – on your own website or stock websites. 

You can also host photography classes in different locations (or online), start a Patreon, start a photography blog, sell photography related products, and more. 

If you want to learn more about making money as a traveling photographer, check out this article. 

Teach English Online

travel for free and get paid

You already know that you can make money by teaching English abroad, but did you know you could also teach English online? 

I’ve met many people who work as online English teachers and they travel all over the place. If you’re traveling abroad to teach English, you can get locked into one location for a bit of time.

But, if you teach online, you’re free to go where you want when you want. 

The requirements for teaching English online are a little more rigorous than the requirements for teaching English abroad. For example, you need to have a 4-year college degree – but it can be in any field or major. 

A popular website for teaching English online is VIPKID. Learn more here. 

Work as a Freelance Virtual Assistant

travel for free and get paid

Working as a freelance virtual assistant is the easiest way to get into making money while traveling. 

I have been working as a freelance virtual assistant since 2017 and I started with absolutely zero experience. 

What does a virtual assistant do? Many things! There are hundreds of different services you can offer as a virtual assistant in many different industries. That’s what makes this job such a great job for beginners. 

You can start where you are with the skills you already have. Examples of a freelance VA might be: a social media manager, an SEO manager, a blogger’s assistant, an administrative assistant, a freelance bookkeeper, a freelance customer service agent, and so much more. 

Virtual assistants are paid really well and can work as many or as little hours as they choose. You set your pay rates and your schedule. 

I have a lot of information about becoming a virtual assistant on my website, and I also have a low-priced course that teaches you how to get started as a virtual assistant for beginners. 

Become a Freelance Writer

travel for free and get paid

Freelance writing is also something I’ve been doing since 2017 and it’s my favorite way to make a living. I classify my freelance writing services under the term “virtual assistant”, but it’s worth mentioning on it’s own. 

If you like writing or are already a blogger, freelance writing is right up your alley. Everything on the internet is content, and businesses will pay to have that content created for them. 

Freelance writing pays really well – getting paid $200 for a 1,000 word article is pretty much industry standard for many niches. This is a great way to get paid to travel!

Become a Traveling Programmer

travel for free and get paid

Do computers, websites, and software interest you? Learn to code! 

There are so many places online where you can learn to code… even websites where you can learn for FREE. 

If you’re patient and detail oriented – this could be a great job for you. As a coder, you can choose to be an employee or work as a freelancer or entrepreneur.

This opens the door up to many job and salary possibilities – but also, the ability to work from wherever, whenever. 

Jobs in web development pay VERY well. If you want to learn more about being a traveling programmer, check out this article. 

Work a Remote Job

travel for free and get paid

Finally we have the ol’ standby – getting a remote job. A remote job opens up the possibilities in your life. Sure, you could work from home… but that gets really boring after a while! Why don’t you hit the road? 

There are remote jobs for literally every job position you can think of, from entry level to advanced. Want to learn more about getting a remote job? Check out this article. 

20 Jobs That Pay You to Travel Web Story

travel for free and get paid

Carrie Wilder

travel for free and get paid

Get Paid To Travel: 5 Ways To Travel While Making Money

G etting paid to travel might seem like some kind of idyllic fantasy, but it may be more within your reach than you realize. The line between working in travel and getting paid to vacation is a thin one, but there are a few creative ways to get paid to travel. While there’s still no such thing as a free lunch, these opportunities offer the best chance to see the world while earning some dough in the process.

Read: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

Get Paid To Travel: 5 Best Ways

Sometimes daily work can be difficult, but when the globe is your office, you may feel like you never worked a day in your life. Here are five amazing ways to get paid to travel:

  • Work as a travel blogger
  • Teach English
  • Become a social media influencer
  • Work on a cruise ship
  • Organize a group trip

Whether you enlist in a full-time travel job or are just looking to do some traveling long-term, you can play to your strengths on the road and get paid to travel the world.

1. Work as a Travel Blogger

If you have skills with a camera or the written word, you can look into how to publish some of the blog posts you create as a digital nomad. Not only can you earn money by following your passion for travel blogging but you could also get access to some top-of-the-line VIP packages offered by hotels and resorts across the world. 

You can start by researching companies that align with the style of your content. Try to reach out in a personal way — generic contact forms are great but they don’t usually set you up for a payday success.

2. Teach English

Becoming an English teacher abroad is another way to earn a salary while immersed in a foreign culture. If you don’t mind public speaking and are confident in your communication skills, the fastest route to a teaching job is obtaining a certificate. Look for one of the following programs:

  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
  • Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

These certificates can be obtained by taking a short course. Here are some key takeaways to know:

  • Although you can teach with a basic certificate, to earn a professional accreditation, you’ll need to complete at least 100 hours of in-class instruction as well as 6-20 hours of live classroom practice. Getting an accreditation will help you get more opportunities and higher pay.
  • There are other teacher preparation certifications, but TESL/TEFL are the most universally recognized and accepted around the world.
  • You should also expect to invest anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a basic certificate to a few thousand for a complete certification.
  • For your time investment, a complete certificate can take up to a year to complete. 
  • When you’re considering what country to teach in, make sure to take into account the salary expectations. You should compare this to the local cost of living, which can vary widely by region. 

3. Become a Social Media Influencer

This one might be easier said than done. Influencers typically have thousands of social media followers, primarily on Instagram or YouTube. Tourist destinations and hotels often court them with free travel, with the expectation that they’ll share their experiences with their audience. Here are some things to consider:

  • For influencers with large followings , these brands will also pay for content creation on top of providing free travel. 
  • You can partake in affiliate marketing to post links to booking websites, hotels and more. Doing this will get you paid directly from companies for your experience and audience reach.
  • Individual rates for sponsored posts vary dramatically. If your favorite Instagrammer has 100,000 followers, you can expect they’re making in the neighborhood of $800 to $1,000 per sponsored photo. On the other hand, someone with fewer than 1,000 followers is likely to earn $100 or less. 
  • It may sound like easy money, but it can be hard work. Photographers and content creators can spend hours setting up and editing the perfect shot or video. There is also a lot of effort that goes into writing blogs and graphic design to further engage audiences.

4. Work on a Cruise Ship

What jobs will pay you to travel the world? Many jobs in the travel industry will have you constantly on the go, but cruise ships have one of the lowest barriers to entry. It’s a great job if your goal is to see the world for free.

Here are some key takeaways to know about working on a cruise ship:

  • Once hired, employees typically complete training courses for up to 13 weeks that cover various aspects of crew life, including safety and customer service.
  • Contracts generally last for up to nine months, with the option of taking a six- to eight-week break during that time.
  • Crew members also get time off between cruises, and often have the opportunity to visit different ports or enjoy crew-only amenities on the ship.
  • Pay starts at an average of $24 per hour, with many crew members earning significantly more when gratuities are factored in.

5. Organize a Group Trip

While travel agents have become an underappreciated profession, they’re still out there offering valuable travel tips and more. For anyone interested in a job in the field, a great way to dip your toes in the water is to plan a group trip for your circle of friends. Here’s how to start:

  • Some tour companies will discount your trip as the leader if you get a certain number of friends to register with you. 
  • The best of the bunch will actually comp your trip and pay you a commission on top of that. 
Get Paid To Transport Goods While on a Trip One way to travel while making cash that’s gaining in popularity is transporting items along the way. Grabr, a peer-to-peer marketplace, connects travelers with shoppers looking to acquire items abroad or items that are too expensive to ship. Users make requests for specific products they want and anyone traveling to that country can accept the job. Earnings will vary depending on what you’re transporting and how far, of course.

Final Take To GO 

There are many options if you want to travel but also want to get paid. If you are about to embark on a trip anyway make sure to research what part-time or full-time money-making opportunities are out there.

  • Virtual assistant for varying companies
  • House sitting abroad
  • Social media influencing
  • Working on a cruise ship
  • Yes, you can win trips to travel if you know where to look. For example, being a brand ambassador and enticing new users to opt into email lists are important for the travel industry, and trip giveaways are a popular way to do so. While there are usually different entry requirements and prizes, at the most basic level, there are two different types: sweepstakes and contests. Sweepstakes are random drawings, whereas contests are skill-based, often focused on writing, video or photography.
  • Though they technically don't pay, exchange programs are a great way to see the world without having to pay for airfare, room and board or local transportation.
  • If you are a travel blogger or social media influencer, certain hotels or tourist destinations will pay you to travel to visit them. In exchange for the trip, you will have to document your trip and promote the services to your followers.

Lauren Monitz  and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of Aug. 24, 2023. 

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Get Paid To Travel: 5 Ways To Travel While Making Money

Theme travel public transport. young woman standing with back in dress and hat behind backpack and camping equipment for sleeping, insulating mat looks schedule on scoreboard airport station

How to Travel For Free: Discover Exciting Paid Travel Opportunities Worldwide

Are you curious to know if it’s possible to travel the world for free and even get paid for your adventures? Discover exciting paid travel opportunities as we delve into how to travel the world for free and get paid.

No matter if you’re a student, a would-be digital nomad, or looking for ways to travel for free with credit cards. Allow us to lead you through the strategies and tips that will make your travel dreams a reality.

Key Takeways

  • Paid travel opportunities exist for students, digital nomads, and credit card users.
  • Work remotely as a freelance writer, software developer, virtual assistant, or online English teacher.
  • Seek seasonal jobs abroad in resorts, farms, or summer camps.
  • Take advantage of overbooked flights for potential savings. Flexibility is key.
  • Travel for free through couch surfing, house sitting, or utilizing credit card rewards.

Is It Possible to Travel For Free?

Traveling the world for free may seem like an impossible task, but rest assured, there are plenty of paid travel options waiting to be explored.

Many have successfully funded their globetrotting adventures while enjoying unique experiences and cultural immersion. We bust the myth that travel is for the privileged few and show you how to turn your travel dreams into reality.

How to Travel the World and Get Paid

Work remotely.

travel for free and get paid

Discover the freedom of working from anywhere while experiencing the thrill of new destinations.

Some examples are:

  • Freelance Writing : Craft articles, blog posts, and travel guides for online publications while exploring the world. Average salaries start at $22.11/hour.
  • Remote Software Development : Contribute your programming skills to exciting projects from anywhere in the world. The median hourly rate is $15-$30 per hour.
  • Virtual Assistance : Provide administrative support to professionals and entrepreneurs remotely. The pay range starts at $27/hour.
  • Online English Teaching : Teach English to students worldwide through online platforms.

Get a Seasonal Job Abroad

Combine work and travel by seeking seasonal jobs abroad. These include:

  • Resort Employment : Work at resorts around the world, offering services and hospitality to guests while enjoying the beauty of exotic locations. Pay ranges from $14-$21 per hour.
  • Farm Work : Experience rural life and agricultural practices by working on farms, vineyards, or orchards in different countries.
  • Summer Camp Jobs : Work at summer camps, guiding and mentoring campers while exploring new destinations. Average pay is $16/hour.

Work at a Hostel

Working in a hostel is an important part of the tourist community. Your responsibilities will include:

  • Welcoming guests
  • Providing local advice
  • Organizing social events
  • Ensuring a clean environment and creating a friendly atmosphere

In return, you’ll receive free accommodation, meals, and the chance to network with fellow travelers from around the world. The pay rate starts at $14.59/hour.

Become an Instructor

If you have a talent or expertise, why not share it while exploring the world?

You can be a Yoga Instructor, Fitness Instructor, Snorkel or Diving Instructor, Spa Therapist or Ski or Snowboard Instructor.

Sites like Season Workers and Yoga Trade can help you find job openings and opportunities in different countries around the world.

Salaries can range from $15/hour to THB 30,000/month depending on the location and type of work.

Work as a Tour Guide

travel for free and get paid

Want to get paid to travel? Delve into the realm of tourism and become a tour guide.

These travel jobs require an outgoing personality, a sense of adventure, and a thirst for new experiences.

Work as a tour guide with companies like Busabout , Contiki, or Topdeck . Or become a festival worker with Festaff or a tour guide with Trek Travel .

From leading trips to parties across Europe, these opportunities offer coverage for expenses, room and board, and a salary of around $21.97 an hour, according to Indeed.

Teach English Abroad or Online

Tap into the global demand for English education and embark on a journey as an English teacher abroad or online.

You don’t have to be a certified English teacher to make money while helping others learn a language. Programs such as Pueblo Inglés provide room and board in exchange for English classes in Spain or Germany.

Certification can increase your salary. Online English courses are a lucrative option for digital nomads. Platforms such as VIPKid pay $14 to $18 an hour for flexibility and travel funding.

Discover more teaching opportunities at TEFL and ESL Cafe . In-person or online, teaching English allows you to combine your command of the language with a fulfilling travel lifestyle.

Do a Working Holiday

Employers often offer free housing in exchange for work, known as a work exchange. WWOOF offers opportunities to live and work on organic farms around the world.

Hosts are not required to pay their WWOOFers, but some hosts may offer small stipends or payments in exchange for their work. The payment amount varies from landlord to landlord but is usually around 10-20 EUR per day.

Likewise, hotels are looking for workers and offer free lodging and meals, some with stipends, according to Hopperjobs .

Check out HelpX , HelpStay , and Workaway to find great opportunities around the world for free nights in exchange for your services.

Work on a Cruise Ship

travel for free and get paid

Even if you can’t tell the difference between a slipknot and a half-Windsor doesn’t mean you can’t be a crew member on a ship.

Cruise ships require crew members with skills in everything from cooking to safety to communication. The average cruise ship job pays around $49,000/year.

But working on cruise ships is not for everyone. Some of the cons are homesickness, seasickness, and a lack of privacy.

It’s best to be aware of the risks before embarking on this venture.

How to Travel For Free Around the World

Now that we’ve explored the various paid travel options, let’s dive into some more strategies for traveling the world for free. These include:

Couch Surfing

Couchsurfing lets you experience the true essence of hospitality. It’s a community of locals who generously open their homes to travelers, offering them couches or guest rooms.

Couchsurfing allows you to connect with these hospitable hosts for cultural exchange and to forge lifelong friendships.

House Sitting

Imagine being able to live in a foreign city like a local while taking care of someone else’s home and pets.

House sitting gives you the chance to live in someone’s home for free, and in return, you get to care for them while they’re away. Platforms like Nomador connect homeowners with eager housesitters.

It’s a value exchange based on trust. When it works, it makes for a satisfied homeowner and an elated sitter.

Utilizing Credit Card Points and Rewards

Certain credit cards offer the opportunity to earn free airline tickets through rewards programs.

In addition to the popular choice of using credit card purchases as rewards, many travel rewards cards offer other benefits. For example, with the Capital One Venture Rewards card, you can convert your miles to your choice of 15 travel loyalty schemes.  

Sign-up bonuses, like those offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , can be lucrative.

You can also get the most rewards by paying for your flight with a credit card, because some credit cards and partner airlines offer double or triple rewards.

Volunteering with an Organization

image showing a man working as an organization's volunteer

Combine your passion for travel with volunteer work by joining organizations that offer free accommodations in exchange for your time and skills.

  • Long-Term Volunteering

The Peace Corps provides rewarding, multi-year engagement in communities in need of dedicated volunteers.

While this requires a 27-month commitment as well as giving up certain amenities, it provides a living stipend to cover necessities.

  • Short-Term Volunteer Opportunities

For short-term volunteer opportunities, explore options such as Go Overseas and Idealist for global volunteer opportunities.

They provide opportunities to work internationally in fields like infrastructure construction and English teaching.

House Swapping

Why pay for housing when you can trade your home with someone else?

Swap houses with Barcelona residents during your visit to the city, and they can live in your home in San Francisco.

It’s mutually beneficial: experience local life without worrying about your house being unoccupied.

Well-known home exchange sites such as Love Home Swap , HomeLink , and HomeExchange offer transparency and security through vetting and authentication.

Benefit from Overbooked Flights

You may have been in this scenario before: The airline announces that the flight is overbooked and offers a free flight coupon, starting at $400, until it’s too much to resist.

You may need to spend a few hours at the airport, but the savings potential is huge.

But there are instances where pressing commitments may prevent you from taking an offer. And sometimes it’s not worth the inconvenience.

The cheapest way to travel long distances is by bus if this option is available. It’s also a great way to see the countryside. But it is slower than other modes of transportation. Here are some more tips for long-distance travel: -Book tickets in advance. This usually gives you a better chance of finding a good deal. -Be flexible with your travel dates. You can often find cheaper fares if you travel during off-peak times.

Immerse yourself in the local culture, mingle, and visit off-the-beaten-path locations if you don’t want to come across as a tourist. Enjoy the regional cuisine, customs, and traditions while attempting to understand the local culture. Avoid tourist traps and look for real experiences that capture a place’s character.

Last-minute trips can sometimes offer discounted prices, particularly if airlines or hotels have unsold inventory. But these discounts depend on several factors, such as destination, season, and availability, so it’s essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages rather than leave your travel budget to chance.

Booking a trip typically requires some form of payment, such as a deposit or full payment upfront. But some platforms or travel companies may offer options like “book now, pay later” or installment plans, allowing you to secure your booking while spreading out the payment over time. It’s important to review the specific terms and conditions of your booking and understand the payment requirements before finalizing your travel plans.

  • Packing Tips For Travel To Help You Pack Smarter and Faster
  • Essential Travel Safety Tips
  • Best Trip Planning Apps

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Enoch Omololu is a traveller, culinary tourist, and money expert. He is the co-founder of Only Earthlings and established the popular Savvy New Canadians platform. Enoch has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, Best Life Online, GOBankingRates, Penny Hoarder, Globe and Mail, Yahoo, and CBC News.

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How To Travel For Free And Get Paid In 2024

Emily Morgan

How To Travel For Free And Get Paid

Travelling is something I enjoy the most. Over the years, my feet have landed on every continent in the world, except Antarctica. In fact, I would have explored Antarctica too, had not foul weather typical of that southernmost, ice-capped continent wrought havoc on our planned cruise.

The above statement would definitely impart an impression that my coffers are loaded with money and I am immune to visa regimes that exist around the world. Therefore, I will clarify that I earn decent pay from my work and for my citizenship, visas are needed to travel to almost every country on this planet.

There were several times when I simply couldn’t afford to travel anywhere- not even to the nearest suburb, because I didn’t have the necessary fare for a train or bus ride.

So how did I pull this off, you might wonder.

Actually, there are several hacks, or, we could call these as tips and tweaks that I deployed to travel free to various countries around the world. Smitten by the travel bug, I was willing to accept anything that would take me to the shores of distant and exotic lands, whose names I knew only from my school atlas.

If you’re also bitten by the travel bug and wish to explore the world, continue reading. In this article, I will provide some of my tips and tweaks on how to travel for free in 2024 and beyond.

Before I tell you these tips and tweaks, it’s important to know some basics of international travel. These can often depend on your nationality and the type of passport.

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Basics of International Travel

Anyone will tell you that travelling to international destinations or foreign countries often requires a passport and sometimes, a visa. Also, you will require airline tickets to travel to the destination and back.

The third most basic need for travel is some accommodation at the destination. Obviously, you can’t sleep on a sidewalk or in a park.

Other basics include sufficient money to cover your trip. Next comes medical insurance. As a matter of fact, several countries require you to carry your own medical plan while travelling to their country as a tourist, even if your stay is for a couple of days.

Finally, you will require some knowledge about the destination you’ve chosen to travel. That’s very important nowadays because a lot of countries are affected by domestic strife and cross-border conflicts that make it dangerous for tourists.

Then we have a high incidence of crime in certain countries or an unaffordable cost of living. Such countries are best avoided.

Now that you’re aware of some of the basic requirements to travel, I will explain in detail, how to travel for free in 2024 and beyond.

how to travel the world for free in 2024?

The first thing that travel anywhere requires is to find out what type of experience you want from any specific destination. Some travellers look for culinary experiences, meaning they’re interested in tasting local food.

Others wish to explore the culture and heritage of people in a foreign country. Then we have a large category of travellers of all ages that wish to visit a destination merely to unwind or rest and relax.

That’s not all, some tourists are interested in exploring the history of a place and visiting places of historical importance in the countries they visit. Next, we have folks who are interested in adventure tourism that involves activities such as deep-sea diving or mountaineering among others.

Regardless of what’s your interest, I encourage you to try these few tips and tweaks to travel free in 2024 and beyond.

1. Work as an Onboard Courier

Work As An Onboard Courier

An onboard courier is a woman or man who carries precious or important packets from one place to another. These packages could contain anything from live human organs for transplant to extremely pricey jewellery or gemstones, important documents or just about anything else that needs to be personally delivered at some foreign address.

There are several companies in the US and abroad that hire onboard couriers. This means you will shuttle between your place and a foreign city quickly to deliver the stuff.

However, in most cases, you will get a small stopover at the foreign or domestic destination due to flight schedules. This stopover allows you to do some sightseeing and other activities. You get paid for such trips too and stays are free.

2. Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities

There are several organizations in the US and elsewhere that offer paid volunteering opportunities. However, these would largely depend on your age, education and skills. These volunteering opportunities are available worldwide. Some common types include English Teaching, Health and Hygiene, Agriculture, Caregiving and Animal Welfare.

Finding volunteer opportunities that pay can be a bit difficult since there’s always a heavy demand. I suggest that you register on some of the websites that pay you for volunteering. That way, these organizations could contact you whenever they have a suitable volunteering program. Then there are other volunteer programs where you have to pay but these can prove expensive.

3. Cruise Jobs

Cruise Jobs

If you’re a musician, entertainer of any sort or even have bartending or other skills, apply for jobs with cruise companies. Cruise job is one of the best travel jobs where you get paid to travel and work. Americans are very fond of cruises and several cruise companies operate from various US ports.

While some have cruises that take people to various US cities renowned for beaches, others cover islands and countries in the Caribbean and South America.

There are certain strict criteria to work on cruise liners. These include background checks, health checks and lots more. Some cruise companies might also ask you for certain kinds of certifications that are fairly easy to get.

Explore part-time and full-time jobs on the various websites of cruise companies and apply for those you find interesting and are qualified for. This could be your chance to travel to several countries for free.

4. Missionary Work

Missionary Work

For those of you with a religious and spiritual bent of mind, travelling abroad for free is possible by working as a missionary. Usually, missionaries work for large international organizations that proselytize in different parts of the world, especially Africa, Asia and South America, to name a few places.

However, to work as a missionary, you would have to be committed to furthering the religious ideology of these groups based on the tenets of their scriptures.

Let’s get one thing very clear. Missionaries don’t merely go around spreading the word of God or preaching their religion to the uninitiated.

They also take on board several other duties such as providing free medical check-ups, midwifery, babysitting, adult care, setting up hygiene and water supply infrastructure or even building low-cost housing. Some skilled missionaries help in setting up small plants to generate electricity from the sun and wind.

5. Musician

Musician

Did you know that hotels and resorts around the world look for musicians and music bands from the US to work with them for short periods? These terms range between three months and six months, depending on the location of the hotel and the type of music you play.

Pianists are in demand around the year. If you’re part of a music band, explore opportunities where you could get opportunities to play at hotels and resorts abroad.

Broadly speaking, there are agencies that provide solo musicians and music bands to hotels around the world. That’s because hotels and resorts need professional type musicians and agents select you after thorough vetting processes.

However, once you make your mark as a musician that’s played abroad, you can expect many such short and long-term assignments in future and also earn good money while travelling for free.

6. Student Exchange Programs

Student Exchange Programs

Not all student exchange programs come free. You might have to pay for basics such as airfare, food and accommodation while travelling on a student exchange program to some foreign country. However, there are quite a few student exchange programs that are sponsored by some educational foundation or other organizations.

In such cases, they pay for your air tickets, food and accommodations while paying a small amount of money for your expenses at the destination.

Enquire with your high school or college whether they’re aware of any such student exchange programs that are funded by various organizations. You can contact these organizations directly too.

To get selected, you will generally need a superb academic record, superb socializing skills, an ability to get along with persons from different nations and cultures and a broad understanding of foreign educational systems. These are superb programs and participating in one can work wonders for your future.

7. Travel Writer

Travel Writer

Yes, travel writers usually go around the world free of cost. Their airfares, food and stay, sightseeing and shopping are all paid by their employers such as airlines, travel companies or travel magazines and websites.

This is a very specialized job and you will have to prove your travel writing skills. Additionally, you might also require advanced skills in photography and videography since some clients will not hire two persons to cover a destination.

While this is a highly specialized job, it’s worth remembering that travel writers also were fresher at one time. They started by writing about their own travel experiences and soon fine-tuned their skills to become superb travel writers.

Others are journalism graduates who enter the travel writing field. To become a professional travel writer, college degrees aren’t really needed. All you need is an eye for detail, a taste for the exotic and the courage to explore new places.

Also Read: Make Money Writing: 16 Ways to Get Paid to Write ($20 Per Hour)

8. Sports Coach

Sports Coach

Sports coaches are in high demand around the world. It depends on the sport you play and the level of knowledge in that particular field. Additionally, you will require superb coaching skills and a good track record of players or teams that are successful due to your coaching.

Educational institutions including high schools, colleges and universities around the world often hire sports coaches from foreign countries. That’s because they want to have winning teams and are willing to invest in the players by providing them with superior coaching.

As a sports coach of a high school, college or university team, you get to travel within that country too. That’s because such teams participate in tournaments with their counterparts in different locations in a country.

Having a sports coach certificate would generally prove very helpful. If you don’t have one, promote your skills through freelance platforms and say that you’re available to work in foreign countries or other places within the US.

Other Ways to Travel for Free

I’ve heard of some persons who’ve managed to travel for free simply by using their accumulated loyalty points from credit cards or frequent flyer programs. It is claimed, they had tens of thousands of such points that were enough to pay for their airfare and hotel accommodations. This could be true for some individuals who’ve done extensive paid travel earlier.

Another way to travel for free is to look for foreign scholarships. There are various cultural organizations worldwide that provide scholarships to foreign students who wish to learn the native language of their country or its native culture.

Such organizations sponsor students to come to their countries and learn. The main purpose of such sponsorships and scholarships is cultural exchange and promotion, which is an important part of global diplomacy.

The United Nations has several organizations that often require volunteers in the field of their work. These include volunteers in medicine, agriculture, education, scientific development, skills development and several other fields.

Similarly, organizations such as Medicines Sans Frontiers or Doctors without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent also require volunteers to work in various places within the country and abroad.

While it’s possible to travel for free in 2024 and beyond, also remember that it has some flipsides. One of them is the rising number of global conflicts and hostility towards certain nationalities. Two, free travel such as volunteer duties could severely limit your freedom to explore a place.

Emily Morgan

Emily Morgan is a personal finance blogger dedicated to providing practical advice on managing personal finances, budgeting, and achieving financial goals. With a commitment to continuous learning, Emily empowers readers to take control of their money and make informed financial decisions. Through her relatable and friendly writing style, she has helped numerous individuals transform their financial lives. In her spare time, Emily explores investment opportunities, researches financial technologies, and enjoys discovering budget-friendly ways to travel and experience new destinations.

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  1. 15 Ways to Travel the World for Free (or Even Get Paid)

    Learn how to travel the world on the cheap or for free by working abroad, looking for work exchanges, house-sitting, volunteering, or using rewards credit cards. Find out the benefits and limitations of each strategy and how to apply them to your travel plans.

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    If you're a nurse, you can go mobile and travel for free to places like Florida or Hawaii — and get paid for it. The site TravelNursing.org offers opportunities around the country, with ...

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    5. Start Freelancing. Writing, coding, videography, and photography skills are just a few examples of freelance gigs you can get to start earning money for travel without being chained to one location. Freelance work, like remote work, gives you the freedom to work from anywhere with internet access.

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    Many travel bloggers make a living from travelling the world. Travel influencers, can also travel for free, get paid or receive discounts in exchange for advertising their activities on social media. P.S. This harder than it sounds and takes a lot of dedication and time to build a genuine following to be able to receive free travel compensations!

  7. How To Get Paid to Travel: 9 Options [Updated For 2024]

    There are plenty of options, such as teaching English online or overseas, working with cruise ships, resorts, and hotels, getting a job at a spa, blogging, creating and running tours, and more. According to a study by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for a travel guide was $15.96 per hour.

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    Simply sign up (most come with an annual membership fee of around $50 to $100), select the locations and industries you're interested in, and start contacting hosts. There is some variation ...

  9. Paid Travel Opportunities: Get started here!

    PTO 💸🌍. No, not paid time off... paid travel opportunities! The term I invented to encompass all of the funded programs, scholarships, remote jobs, student grants, contests, and more that pay you to travel. We bring awareness to paid travel opportunities that help you travel for school, for work, for fun—for free. GO TO THE DASHBOARD.

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    5. Create a digital product. If you're tech savvy and have a product idea in mind, you might want to think about selling it. For example, if you're a fan of no-code (tools to create web apps without coding) then you can create your own no-code products on tools like Notion.

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    6. Couch surf the world. Couch surfing host, Henry (middle) in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Couch Surfing is one of my favorite ways to travel. Couch surfing is staying in someone's home for free as a way to promote free and affordable travel as well as have a cultural exchange.

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    The first and most common way (arguably) to eat for free is dumpster diving. People throw away a lot of perfectly edible food and useful stuff (half my wardrobe comes from late-night scores) and getting good at harnessing this awesome power of wastage is going to go a long way if you want to travel for free.

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    Freelancer/digital nomad jobs: Work on your own terms, whenever and wherever you want. Short-term jobs: Get paid to travel for a few weeks or a season, although the long-term potential is minimal. Career track travel jobs: Make travel a key part of your professional development and long-term career goals.

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    This could be a great way to get paid to live in another place. 3. Teach English or another language. Teaching a language to new language learners can be a great opportunity that pays you to travel. There are online and in-person teaching positions available in many locations across the world.

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    Babysitting. Babysitting abroad is known as an au pair job. Au pairs live with a host family for up to a year, receive free room and board and a weekly salary in exchange for babysitting the host family's child/children. A key part of this job is a cultural exchange. The host family learns about the au pair's culture, and the au pair learns ...

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    16. Yoga Instructor. Many people are offering Yoga Instruction online. Use your time in isolation to become a certified yoga instructor and then look for schools around the world to apply. People go on yoga retreats all the time and this is an excellent opportunity to travel and get paid while doing it.

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    Crew on superyachts can make between $2-$3,000/mo for the lower positions and as much as $6,000 per month for the more experienced positions. On charter trips, you can expect tips to be divided among the crew, too. If you want to learn more about working on a superyacht, check out this article.

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    Online English courses are a lucrative option for digital nomads. Platforms such as VIPKid pay $14 to $18 an hour for flexibility and travel funding. Discover more teaching opportunities at TEFL and ESL Cafe. In-person or online, teaching English allows you to combine your command of the language with a fulfilling travel lifestyle.

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    3. Cruise Jobs. If you're a musician, entertainer of any sort or even have bartending or other skills, apply for jobs with cruise companies. Cruise job is one of the best travel jobs where you get paid to travel and work. Americans are very fond of cruises and several cruise companies operate from various US ports.

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    Pros: Get paid to party on one of Europe's best pub crawls, free housing in Krakow, make friends from all over the world, free entry into nightclubs, free drinks, flexible schedule to travel Poland while living there, close proximity to easily travel to other European countries, easy to take nearby trips to Auschwitz, Warsaw and Zakopane.