Ever dream of traveling the world, or getting paid to travel to some exotic location? That dream could be a reality if you’re willing to put in the work, lead a nontraditional lifestyle, and maybe even be willing to spend extended periods of time away from loved ones.
LifeHack.com shared 12 interesting ways to get paid to travel, and we’d like to share a few with you.
1. Teach English. If you’re a native speaker, you’re qualified to teach others to speak English. Jobs are especially abundant in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, and you can live there for a year or two (or more!). Check out eslcafe.com and email your application to schools to get the process started.
2. Research for a travel guidebook. Lonely Planet and Fodor’s are always looking for travelers who like to see sites, but also have skills to compile detailed articles, reports, and maps. Computer skills are essential, but you’ll get to see the world and tell the world about what you’ve seen.
3. Join the Peace Corp. This volunteer opportunity could be the stepping stone to paid positions with private companies in need of employees with extensive, firsthand experience within a country.
4. Work for a cruise line. If you’re willing to trade free transportation to exotic locations for long hours and good-but-not-great pay, look into cruise line employment. Crew members have private facilities and are from all over the world, plus you can travel to different ports in different countries.
5. Start a travel blog. If you like to write and tell others about it, and have the skills to manage your own site development, marketing, and logistics while you’re abroad, you may just have what it takes to own a travel blog. You’ll have to invest your own money up front, and most travel bloggers report it takes about a year before they begin to make money. Still, you get to see the world, be your own boss, and cultivate an audience for all your interesting stories.
6. Be a freelance blogger. Freelancing isn’t just a side opportunity; it’s a full-blown industry. As long as there’s Internet, you’re good to go. This type of work is perfect for those who like to be free to move about the country or the world, and experienced bloggers can make up to $300-$400 per article. Don’t expect that in the beginning, though. The starting pay is about $20 per article, and you have to demonstrate your superb writing skills. Who knows though? You might be famous one day.
Can you think of any other ways to get paid to travel? Leave us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
Photo credit: Erzsèbet (Flickr, Creative Commons)