Six Ways You Can Get Paid To Travel

Believe it or not, it is possible to travel the world and get paid for your efforts. There are dozens of fun and exciting jobs that allow you to get paid to travel, but these six are some of our favorites.

Get Paid To Travel

1. I'm on A Boat!

If boats are your thing, then you have a couple of different ways to work on one and get paid to travel the world. Cruise lines are always looking for new talent, either as stewards and cooks or as entertainment and customer relations professionals. If you have a specific skillset, like masseuse or videographer, even more opportunities are available to you. For something smaller, consider working on a luxury yacht as part of a small staff of professionals serving the top 1% while they vacation. Although you’ll be doing plenty of work in both jobs, you’ll also be able to visit some of the most beautiful places in the world.

2. WWOOFing

While you may not be familiar with the term, this travel trend is increasing in popularity and is a fantastic job if you want to get paid to travel. Volunteers travel to farms and other agricultural businesses around the world, trading their labor or expertise in return for food, lodging, and sometimes pay. We wouldn’t call this a career choice exactly, but it solves the problem of not having enough money to travel the world. Be sure to check out our travel insurance options before you leave home though; you never know what can happen on a farm!

3. Au Pair

Those who love kids will also love working as an au pair in some of the most amazing places on the planet. An au pair is a nanny who works for and lives with a family, taking care of their kids and sometimes simple household chores. While not for everyone, the job does provide the chance to learn about new cultures in a very personal way and to make some great money in the process. Be sure to do your research beforehand though, and consider using a professional agency for your placement.

4. Tour Guide

The perfect job for the outgoing and fun loving extrovert, there are a lot of travel options if you want to be a tour guide. One option is to specialize in your dream city – Paris, London, Bangkok – and become an expert freelance tour guide leading tourists around in the city of your dreams. You could also work for a larger tour company and lead groups around the world, sharing your expertise with eager travelers. No matter which option you decide on, there’s no doubt that this is a great way to get paid to travel.

5. Photographer

Just as many dream of living the life of a globe-trotting travel writer, even more daydream of being a jet setting photographer. First you must have a natural inclination towards photography and it’s important to spend a few years developing your skills and earning a reputation. Once you do though, you’ll enter into an elite group of professionals traveling the world capturing amazing places and moments on film. You’ll be able to either work on staff for a company or publication or, more likely, as a freelancer taking assignments for a variety of publications, destinations, and companies.

6. Travel Guide Writer

Although this career choice has been scaled back in recent years, there are still opportunities for writers to work for travel guides both large and niche. The job involves a lot of research both confirming details in older versions as well as adding new elements for future guides. The best guide books involve as much time traveling to the destination as possible, experimenting with different itinerary ideas and of course checking out the best hotels and restaurants around.

What are some other ways you can get paid to travel?

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Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.