How To Make Money While Traveling (2024)

Instead of waiting until you’ve saved enough funds and accrued time off from a traditional full-time job, there are ways you can make money while traveling, no matter where you go. Every day, people find jobs to make a steady income while exploring new places. They are entrepreneurs, remote workers, caretakers, and more. While their jobs may vary, their goals are all the same: to see the world and earn money while doing it.

If you want to crack the code on a travel lifestyle while having financial freedom, consider these creative ways to make money while traveling.

Here are 10 ways to make money while traveling:

1. Find a full-time remote position

Remote work lets you keep your day job and travel at the same time. Whether you’re an experienced writer, software engineer, or contract lawyer, if your role doesn’t require being on-site, you can do it away from your home country. There are currently more than 40 countries that offer digital nomad visas for those who want to travel and work remotely. With a reliable internet connection and a spirit of adventure, your home office can be 1,000 miles from home.

Look for full-time jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn that specify they’re remote, and check whether the company has legal limitations on where you can live and work. Even with remote positions, companies often require that you file taxes in a particular country or state.

2. Look for seasonal jobs

Places where tourism supports the local economy often have seasonal jobs during peak travel seasons. Resorts, lodges, and camps often hire new staff yearly to meet visitor demand. Many of these facilities also offer accommodations as a part of their employee contract. If you have experience in the service industry, you can often find opportunities at summer camps, hotels, or restaurants in tourist hot spots. You could alternatively earn money as a ski or surf instructor if you have experience with those sports.

These jobs are often great side hustles for college students who have open schedules during the summer and winter. You can find seasonal job openings on websites such as coolworks.com.

3. Take on freelance assignments

Freelancing is an option if you like choosing the projects you want to take on and working at your own pace. Join freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr to search for jobs that suit your skills and interests.

Common freelance roles include content writing, graphic design, data entry, web design, and video editing.

4. Become an au pair

Au pairs usually live with a host family and help take care of young children and the household. In return, au pairs receive room and board and a stipend. There are legal limits on how long au pairs can stay in a host country, and agencies can help place au pairs with families looking for child care.

Look for a trusted au pair agency that has connections in the country you wish to travel to. Ask about what protections they offer au pairs, how they screen families and handle potential conflicts, and their fees and costs.

5. Work as a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants earn money by providing administrative services such as scheduling appointments, making phone calls, responding to emails, and booking travel for their clients.

This is a good role if you’re efficient, organized, and enjoy multitasking. Experience with Excel or Google Sheets, data entry skills, and strong written communication skills will likely help you land such roles. You can look for virtual assistant openings on platforms like Upwork.

6. Start a travel blog

Catalog your memories and create a new opportunity for income by starting your own travel blog. Travel bloggers share their experiences with their readers, earning money through ads on the site and paid promotions from companies looking to attract customers. You can even earn passive income by selling digital products, like a guide to a specific country that includes customs to be aware of, useful words to know, and must-see locations.

To start a travel blog, create your own website and write about destinations you’ve visited in the past or hope to see in the future. Include high-quality photos of what you see and try. When people plan their own trips, they research things to do, foods to try, and local businesses to patronize. Documenting these details in a blog can bring engaged readers and attract companies for brand partnerships. Building a following and making enough money to support your lifestyle with a travel blog can take time, but it's a way to supplement other income streams while doing something you enjoy.

7. Become a content creator

Content creators produce digital content for their social media accounts and leverage their personal brands to promote products and services they endorse. Videos, photos, and podcasts are all forms of digital content you can monetize through brand partnerships, sponsorships, and ads.

Create content about your life, niche skills, sports, hobbies, or expertise to build a specific audience and eventually earn income from companies looking for influencers to advertise their products and services. Traveling to and posting about interesting locations can keep your content fresh and make your brand appealing to companies looking for partnerships.

8. Work on a cruise ship

If you want to be in a new place every day while making money, you can work on a cruise ship. Not only do cruise ships let you see the world and make a living, but these jobs also offer free accommodation so you can save money and reduce your travel expenses.

Job opportunities on cruises include:

Entertainment hosts
Dancers, musicians, and other entertainers
Assistant cruise directors
Bartenders, chefs, and kitchen workers
Staff photographers
Housekeepers
Managers and event coordinators

9. House sit

House sitting in different locations lets you visit new cities while earning extra cash. Ditch paying for short-term rentals and get paid to stay at someone’s home instead. Duties as a house-sitter may include watching pets, watering plants, organizing the mail, cleaning the house, and keeping the homeowners informed of any maintenance issues.

Not only does this option save money on accommodations, but you can also experience how a local in the area truly lives.

10. Teach English

Working while traveling doesn’t mean you have to constantly move from place to place. Some nomads take the approach of slow travel and stay in one location for months, even years. If this sounds appealing, making money as a teacher could be the perfect solution.

To teach English abroad, find a program that hires international, native speakers. Many countries have government programs and private institutions that sponsor international workers. You may need to get some credentials to apply for these positions: TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) are two commonly asked for certifications, but requirements vary and are usually less stringent for private organizations as compared to state-run schools.

How to make money while traveling FAQ

How do people make money while traveling?

You can earn money while traveling through self-employment, full-time remote work, and contracted roles. Some examples include travel blogging, teaching, working as an au pair, house sitting, or being a virtual assistant.

Can you get paid to travel?

Yes, you can get paid to travel if you're a travel blogger, content creator, or influencer who documents and reviews their travel experiences on social media platforms or your own blog. If you have a large and loyal following, you may be able to secure brand partnerships with companies like hotels, airlines, and fashion brands to use, review, and promote their products while traveling.

Do travel influencers get paid?

Yes, if you're a travel influencer who promotes and reviews products on your social media account, you may be able to earn money through brand partnerships.

How To Make Money While Traveling