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Tips For Finding Work While Traveling

How to travel the world and make money too.

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For many people travel is something that they do because they’re passionate about it. But passion doesn’t pay the bills, or the costs of flights and hotels. That’s why many people choose to find work while they’re traveling. It allows them to get to know a place, stay for longer and fund the experience by working at the same time.

But finding work while traveling and making sure it’s the right kind of work can be tough. We’re going to talk today about some of the options out there, as well as some of the tips that’ll help you get this right. There’s lots to learn and lots for us to talk about, so read on now if you want to find out more about this.

Ensure You Find the Right Balance

First of all, you should take some time to think about the kind of working balance you want to create while you’re traveling. After all, you’re still going to want the time and opportunity to enjoy your travels, and it might be quite hard to do that if you’re constantly working. So be sure to find the balance and the number of hours that works for you, and try not to spend too much of your time working if at all possible. This is a question that only you can find the answer to because we all have different priorities.

Utilize the Specialist Skills You Have

When you’re trying to decide how you should go about earning money as you travel, one of the things you should take into account is the specialist skills that you already possess. If you have some skills that you think will be useful to other people, you might be able to utilize them as a way of making money. For example, you might find that people want to learn a skill from you, such as surfing or whatever else you’re good at and what’s possible to teach in your location.

Simply Ask Around

If you’re looking for quite simple and casual work, you’ll often find that the best way to find it is to simply ask around. Bars and restaurants will often be looking for extra staff either in customer-facing roles or in the kitchen. You can make the most of that if you’re in a tourist-centric destination. If you’re a native English speaker, that’s something that might be in demand in tourist areas where lots of English-speakers flock to. Ask around and see what you can find anyway; you might be surprised by what turns up. 

Look for Seasonal Work Opportunities

Looking for seasonal work definitely makes sense if you’re based in a location that’s busy during certain times of the year, such as the summer. You might find that hotels and other hospitality businesses are looking for extra employees at certain times of the year, and you should then be able to make the most of that. It’s one of the most common ways in which people earn money as they travel. And it tends to suit them as it’s short-term and they can move on once the job is no longer needed.

Work as a Digital Nomad

These days, more and more people are finding that they can do all kinds of work without needing to be tied to an office or even their home. You might find that you can carry on doing your old job or find freelance work by simply working from a laptop as a digital nomad as they travel around. It’s definitely something to look into if you have skills that can be harnessed in this way. It might not be possible for everyone, but it does afford a lot of worthwhile opportunities.

… lot of worthwhile opportunities.

One of the unique aspects of living as a digital nomad is all of the potential remote work opportunities available – from graphic design, content writing and online consulting services, there are an incredible variety of jobs out there to consider. Additionally, unconventional means of earning have even appeared! Social media offers limitless possibilities; for instance, foot pics wanted ads have begun appearing across various platforms where individuals can earn by selling pictures of their feet for profit. This shows just one aspect of its potential. Digital nomads who wish to remain location-independent will find that adapting and diversifying their skills and offerings is of great benefit. As technology and society shift, keeping an open mind and being innovative are keys to staying afloat while enjoying all the freedom that comes with being location-independent.

Be Clear On the Tax Implications

It’s important to consider the tax implications you’ll face when working abroad. You don’t want to end up on the wrong side of the law because you didn’t pay your taxes in the correct and proper way. Each country has its own set of rules with regards to short-term or temporary workers. But don’t just assume that you don’t have to pay taxes in the country just because you don’t work there. That might not be the case. Find out how much tax you will pay from overseas income when you get back home too.

If You Know the Location Well, Offer Tours

If the place you’re staying in is a location that you already know very well and have spent lots of time in before, you might want to think about offering guided tours to people. In cities that are popular with tourists and visitors, there’s always a demand for people who can show them the sights and offer some sort of unique and interesting perspective. It might be a themed tour or a tour focusing on certain aspects of the city, for example. That’s something for you to decide.

Be Open to a Range of Opportunities

You’ll find that you’ll discover the best and most interesting work opportunities when you make yourself open to a range of new experiences. There’s something out there for everyone, and you should try to make the most of that fact if you want to find work that engages you and offers an experience that you aren’t likely to forget. Be open to all of the possibilities in front of you and don’t judge an opportunity until you’ve tried it out for yourself.

Volunteer If It’s More About the Experience

If you’re not really interested in working while traveling for the money and you’re more interested in the experience that working might offer, you could consider volunteering. There are many ways in which this can be done, depending on where in the world you’re basing yourself. In some places, you can donate your time to help farmers with working the land or picking fruit. Or you could volunteer at an animal sanctuary and have an experience that you’re never likely to forget. There are so many great volunteering opportunities out there waiting to be experienced.

Consider Teaching

Considering teaching might be something that you want to do if you’re looking for a rewarding experience that also allows you to earn money while you travel. The most common way of doing this is by teaching English to learners, be they children or adults. There’s a big demand out there for people who can teach English as a foreign language, meaning that there’s always going to be this option for people who are native English speakers and who are looking to teach it to others.

Ensure Your Visa Allows It

Finally, it’s important to mention the importance of doing things by the rules and not landing yourself in trouble. Not every visa will allow you to work while you’re traveling in the country. You might need to apply for an extra work permit or visa that grants you permission to work for a particular period of time while you’re in the country. That’s something that you should research and find out all about before you go ahead and start trying to find work in another country.

So if you want to travel in a more financially viable way by working as you do so, be sure to make the most of the tips and ideas discussed above. It could be just what you need and it might give you the opportunity to spend a little longer in the destinations you choose to visit.

Filed under: Travel Guide

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3706 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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VBJ is currently in: New York City

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