How To Make Money Traveling the World
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Are you seeking a day job that quenches your adventurous spirit while making you money? If so, you’re in for a treat!
Making money traveling the world is everyone’s dream. Thankfully, this isn’t wishful thinking anymore because people have blazed the trail and are making millions.
Imagine how awesome it would be to answer a work email while dipping your toes in the sand on a beach in Hawaii or receiving a Stripe or PayPal notification from a safari in Africa.
Starting the journey wasn’t easy because I was skeptical about a few things. My friends and family encouraged me to just go for it, but no one guided me on the how.
If you’re reading this article, chances are you have the same questions.
For starters, how much money do you need to finance your travels? Which destinations are ideal for earning money? And is it possible to earn money without a conventional 9-5?
Let’s find out!
How To Make Money Traveling the World
Making money traveling around the world is possible as long as you have a stable internet connection and a remote job.
Remote work gained popularity during the COVID pandemic because many companies needed to switch operations to accommodate the change.
That said, even typical 9-5 jobs have the option for online work. You simply need to choose a career path, gain the required skills, and voila!
There are many options, from blogging to vlogging and photography. Read on to find something that works for you.
1. Start a Travel Blog
Blogging tops the list of my favorite remote jobs and is also my primary source of income. I love blogging because it’s flexible.
You can connect and share ideas with readers and writers worldwide from anywhere.
Whether you want to travel domestically or explore international destinations, why not bring your audience with you through a travel blog?
Before you get discouraged because you think you lack the skills required to blog, let me assure you that anyone can blog as long as they have good communication skills and a profitable niche.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to start a blog:
- Choose a profitable niche
- Select a suitable hosting platform like Hostinger
- Pick a blog name and purchase a domain from Namecheap
- Customize your blog
- Create your first post
- Market your blog
Marketing is a crucial part of blogging that enables you to build a readership you can monetize. You can use social media and paid ads to attract new fans.
Also, create high-quality articles that resonate with your target audience. Once your blog gains substantial traffic, you can monetize it through:
- Affiliate marketing
- Paid ads
- Sponsored content
- Selling travel merchandise, like bags
Starting a blog may be challenging initially, but you can grow your revenue to over $10,000+ monthly with the right strategies.
You can also turn your blog into a passive income stream by outsourcing articles to ghostwriters. This way, you make money while you sleep.
Start your blog with Hostinger today and get a free domain name!
2. Start a YouTube Channel
Another way to make money traveling is by starting a YouTube channel. You can get paid to review hotels and different cuisines around the world.
You can also attract a different audience by exploring exotic places that most people haven’t visited. Some good examples include ancient cities and unique historical landmarks.
The best part is you don’t need to create hours and hours of videos or think outside the box to make money with your YouTube channel.
Deciding to tag people along on your ventures is all you need to do. From there, simply create high-quality videos, and your viewership will be high by the time you know it.
Some content ideas include packing videos, destination guides, and travel hacks. You can also document your stay in a foreign place and give it a catchy title like “A Day in The Life of a Digital Nomad.”
Gaining substantial subscribers isn’t easy, but you can gain them by partnering with influencers and running ads.
Once you have over 1,000 subscribers, don’t hesitate to apply to affiliate marketing programs and approach brands that sell travel-related merchandise, such as water bottles, backpacks, travel accessories, and getaway packages.
3. Offer Freelance Services
Freelancing is the best job if you don’t want to build a fanbase for a blog or YouTube channel from scratch.
Another perk of freelancing is that you can monetize any skill, and it doesn’t have to be travel-related.
For instance, working as a graphic designer enables you to work from anywhere, even your travel destination.
Other on-demand skills include:
- Freelance writing
- Bookkeeping
- Digital Marketing
- Virtual Assistance
- Data analysis
- Web development
- Translation
- Proofreading
The first step to making money as a freelancer is identifying an on-demand skill to learn.
Technological advancements have made numerous free resources available online, so you don’t need to pay to learn a skill.
Simply head to YouTube and search for beginner-level videos for the skill you’re interested in. You can also take paid courses on Udemy, Coursera, and MasterClass.
Once you hone your skills and are comfortable offering your services to people, create a portfolio with eye-catching, high-quality samples.
From there, scout freelance platforms like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, LinkedIn, and FlexJobs to find remote gigs.
I started as a freelance writer before becoming a blogger, and one thing that held me back was thinking I wasn’t ready to offer my skills to the world.
Don’t wait to become perfect before trying to monetize a skill. Sites like Upwork have entry-level jobs you can try as a beginner.
Furthermore, working on entry-level articles helps you gain expertise and establish your brand for when you’ll be ready to work with the big guns.
4. Print on Demand
Print-on-demand is another flexible, location-independent business you can venture into to make money traveling the world.
The most significant perk of POD is that a third party handles a good chunk of the business, leaving you to concentrate on customer service and establishing your brand.
Here’s how POD works in a nutshell:
- You choose a niche and create printable designs
- Partner with a POD manufacturer, like Printify, to handle production and shipping
- Market your designs through social media platforms like Pinterest
- Engage with potential clients
- Close a sale and pass the baton to the POD supplier
I’m sure by now you’re wondering how to venture into POD if you’re not good at graphic design. You can learn how to draw from scratch or use templates from Canva.
Pinterest also has millions of inspos you can use to make your first designs. You can print your designs on several items, including:
- Hoodies
- Mugs
- Caps
- Tote bags
- T-shirts
The fact that POD doesn’t require you to store inventory makes it one of the best options if you’re a business-oriented person who likes to travel.
It also saves you the trouble and finances of setting up and maintaining a conventional brick-and-mortar store.
5. Launch an E-commerce Store
The advent of e-commerce was one of the most revolutionary events in the business world. E-commerce allows you to sell physical and virtual items to people worldwide.
Whether you like hand-making craft items like furniture or digital products like printables, e-commerce exposes your business to a global audience.
So, why is e-commerce on this list?
Having an online store enables you to work from anywhere. Why stop your travel plans because of your business when you can take your store with you?
Some common places to launch an ecommerce store include:
- Etsy
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
- WooCommerce
- Amazon
Some hot-selling items on these platforms include the following:
- Jewelry
- Craft Supplies
- Pet accessories
- Home Decor
- Artwork
While you can work from anywhere, selling physical products while on the go may be challenging because you’d still need to organize for shipping.
A good alternative is selling digital products instead. Some of the most popular digital products to sell online include:
- Printables
- Digital art
- Stock photos
- Ebooks
- Online courses
Getting started is easy. Simply create your products and list them on your chosen ecommerce platform. Remember to optimize your listings and profile for SEO to increase your chances of making sales.
Also, compare different platforms before committing to ensure you land the best deals concerning listing and seller fees.
6. Photography
If you’re passionate about photography, it’s you and your camera against the world. Photography is among the most profitable and fulfilling ways to make money traveling.
Start by choosing a niche to establish your brand and cater to a specific target audience. There are many options, including:
- Travel
- Food
- Fashion
- Wildlife
- Nature
- Street photography
You can travel the world taking photos of cuisines and fashion from different cultures. You can also venture into wildlife, especially if you want to explore Africa.
Once you select a niche, you can use social media to grow your fanbase. From there, visit places and let your audience see the world through your photos.
Once you amass a substantial following, you can make money through affiliate marketing and partnering with brands to test their products.
Another way to make money as a photographer is by selling stock photos on:
- Getty Images
- Adobe Stock
- Shutterstock
- Unsplash
- iStock
7. House Sitting
This may come as a surprise, but house-sitting is another way to make money traveling. Most people see it as a way to save money, but it also lets you visit new places while getting paid.
People always hire house sitters when they travel for work or vacation. Your job as a house sitter would include:
- Cleaning the house
- Taking mail
- Answering phone calls
- Paying utility bills
- Caring for pets
- Caring for plants
Whether you want to travel within the country or outside, insufficient funds for accommodation shouldn’t limit you. House sitting offers you free accommodation and food in addition to getting paid.
You can also maximize your income by renting out your home on Airbnb while you’re away. A cozy house can fetch $50-$200 per night, depending on location and size.
If you’re interested in traveling as a house sitter, consider signing up on House Sit Search, MindMyHouse, and Trusted House Sitters. The hourly pay can go as high as $50, depending on the location..
8. Organize Group Tours
I have a friend who is the CEO of a traveling agency that makes thousands of dollars monthly.
He organizes group tours and team-building activities and accompanies his clients to their destinations.
If you’re still seeking a way to satisfy your adventurous spirit, organizing group tours is an excellent idea.
Start by organizing a small getaway for your friends as you create a portfolio to attract more clients. Ensure your customer service is top-notch because such ventures gain a lot from referrals.
You can offer a range of packages, from budget travel to writing retreats, to appeal to a broad audience.
Organizing group tours may be tedious because of the nitty-gritty of booking flights, accommodations, and sightseeing.
However, with the right strategies, you can make millions from this venture. Depending on the destination and overall costs, you can make anywhere between $2000 and $15,000 per trip.
9. Create Online Courses
Here’s another favorite venture that lets you make money while you sleep.
Creating an online course is a lot of work, but the best part is that you can earn from it years after its creation.
For instance, I came across a blogging course by Brad Merill on Udemy. It’s priced at $74.99, and over 54,000 people have taken it, translating to over $4 million dollars.
Don’t skip this venture because you think you don’t have what it takes. After all, you just started learning that skill, right?
You can still make money from an online course, even as a beginner. Think about all the challenges you’ve gone through trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Think about all the mistakes you’ve made that led to restarting and restrategizing a fresh from scratch.
You can compile that information, resources, and relevant advice to guide other beginners who feel stuck.
From there, incorporate videos and worksheets in your online course to make it more engaging and relevant to your target audience.
Next, sign up on Thrivcart and upload your course. Remember to compare different platforms to get the best deals.
10. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Many people like Pinterest because of its therapeutic nature. Furthermore, its resourcefulness is helpful in matters of home decor, art, food, and lifestyle.
Many businesses, bloggers, and companies are incorporating Pinterest into their marketing strategies to tap into its broad audience.
Like any other social media platform, managing Pinterest is a lot of work, so many companies tend to outsource.
If you’re interested in this venture, you can offer your Pinterest VA services as a freelancer and work from anywhere and on your own schedule.
You’d be required to do the following as a Pinterest virtual assistant:
- Scheduling pins
- Creating pins
- Coming up with marketing strategies for Pinterest
- Engaging with your client’s audience
- Creating and maintaining Pinterest boards
- Tracking trends and analytics
The first step to landing a job as a Pinterest VA is learning how to navigate the platform and creating a portfolio. From there, scout for gigs on LinkedIn, Upwork, or Fiverr.
You can also send cold emails with your portfolio to companies you think would benefit from a well-managed Pinterest presence.
11. Become a Social Media Influencer
Do you often scroll through social media looking at other people’s travel adventures, wishing it was you? Well, this is your sign to become a social media influencer.
Almost everyone in this age uses social media. Hence, businesses and companies are incorporating it into their marketing strategies to attract more clients.
Pick a platform you’re comfortable with, such as Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, or Pinterest. Then, create an account and start growing it. This account will work as your portfolio when applying for jobs.
Working on several platforms at once may be challenging. Consider starting with one and then progressing to the rest as you gain more footing.
Once you create an account, create content immediately to attract and maintain followers. You don’t have to travel to expensive destinations before you start earning.
You can start by reviewing hotels and restaurants or exploring historical sites within your area. When you feel ready, apply for affiliate marketing programs or cold-pitch your ideas to companies you’re interested in working with.
12. Tutor English
Are you fascinated by languages and would like to travel to other countries to learn them? Well, you already have a secret weapon: English.
Consider tutoring English remotely or traveling to a foreign country to experience its culture as you teach English.
You can travel to numerous countries like France, China, Spain, and Vietnam. Some countries, like Vietnam, require an international TEFL license to land a good-paying job.
You can also tutor English remotely on platforms like Preply, VIPKID, and Upwork. This option is more flexible since you can work from anywhere, not just one country.
According to Indeed, you can make about $54,633 annually as an English tutor.
13. Become an Au Pair
If you’re between 18 and 30 and looking to travel to immerse yourself in a foreign culture for a significant amount of time, becoming an au pair is a fantastic option.
As an au pair, you will not receive a salary but a weekly stipend of up to $200, depending on the program and contract with the host.
You may also receive benefits like free accommodation, paid language learning sessions, and transportation.
Generally, an au pair travels to a foreign country to stay with a host family. Some common responsibilities of au pairs include:
- House chores
- Caring for kids
- Participating in activities organized by the host family
Tips for Making Money While Traveling the World
Now that you have a few ideas for making money while traveling the world, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Stack several options: Remote work is flexible in schedule, so you don’t have to spend the whole day on one job. That said, you can combine different options to maximize your income.
- Acquire relevant skills: Your success as a freelancer on platforms like Upwork usually depends on client ratings. Ensure you acquire the required skills before taking on a task.
- Market your skills: Whether you’re venturing into business, social media, or freelancing, marketing is essential. Employ effective marketing strategies to put your brand on the world map.
- Rent out your home: If you’re planning to be on the road for a significant period, renting out your home on Airbnb is an excellent way to increase your income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Travel Influencers Get Paid?
Yes, you can make money as a travel influencer by creating sponsored content and collaborating with brands to test their products.
You can work with airlines, hotels, and tour operators to recommend their products and services to your followers.
While becoming a travel influencer is profitable, you must invest time and effort in growing your fanbase before the money starts streaming in.
Which Career Is Best for Traveling?
If you want to make money traveling, you have many options. You must determine your passions and interests before choosing something that aligns with your needs.
Some of the best careers for traveling include:
- Photography
- Becoming a social media influencer
- Tutoring English
- Becoming a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
- Launching a tours and travel company
- Travel blogging
How Much Do Travel Bloggers Make?
Your income as a travel blogger depends on factors like your readership, target audience, content, marketing skills, and ways of monetizing your blog.
Your income as a travel blogger can range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands annually. You only need to play your cards right and establish a loyal fanbase.
Remember that you may not make anything within the first months you try blogging. However, you can increase your income to millions annually with determination and consistency.
Final Thoughts
I hope by now you’ve realized that you don’t need to stretch beyond your capacity to make money traveling the world.
Simply find a skill you can monetize remotely and start job hunting.
Blogging and freelancing are my best recommendations because they let you choose your working hours and be location-independent.
I recommend launching an e-commerce store if you’re passionate about entrepreneurship.
However, if you’re just looking for a good time and a few dollars, becoming an au pair or house sitter may be a good option.
Looking for other money-making ideas? Check out these options:
