If you’re dreaming about a life spent working mornings at the beach with your toes in the sand and afternoons surfing, swimming and exploring a new place, you’re not alone! This type of lifestyle is something I’ve always dreamed of but never knew how to make it happen. After a few years of travelling in between jobs and looking for work in new countries, I’ve finally cracked the code and found many ways you can make money while travelling. Let’s get into it!
Work at a Hostel
Not only are hostels a fun place to work where you’ll meet so many other travellers but it’s usually an incredibly easy job to get! There are almost always opportunities for those looking for work in exchange for a bed. If you’re looking to save up some cash to extend your travels, it’s not that difficult to find paying jobs if you have some relevant work experience.
- Hospitality – Hostels are always looking for receptionists to check guests in and out, bartenders (if they have a bar on-site) and cleaners (laundry, bathrooms, etc).
- Freelance services – If you happen to run a blog, work in marketing, social media or content creation, don’t shy away from contacting hostels ahead of time to offer your services. If you don’t reach out in advance, try to get to know the manager and see what work opportunities may be available that fit your skill level! It helps if you have a portfolio showcasing your previous work instead of carrying a CV on hand.
- Become a ‘rep’ – Have your friends ever referred to you as the ‘life of the party’? If so, this job is one of the easiest ways to make money while travelling! Many party hostels will hire people to get guests involved in games and create a fun atmosphere. Sometimes they’re only in exchange for a bed and meals but some are paid gigs. I saw many of these jobs all across Vietnam.
Get a Remote Job
Remote work is becoming increasingly popular (especially since everyone started working from home in the past year). There are endless remote work websites where you can either post your services or apply for part time, contract or full time remote jobs. Here are a few of my favourite platforms:
- Toptal – Toptal is the largest fully-remote global company with work opportunities in business, design, engineering, marketing, sales and more! They’re always hiring for new positions for it’s a great place to start looking.
- Remotive.io – Remotive will show you current remote positions and remote companies you can work for. You can search using keywords tailored to your work experience.
- AngelList – This platform offers a simple search bar to look for remote positions. Some are fully remote, while others will be listed as ‘remote possible’.
- 99 Designs – This is perfect for anyone who wants to work in the realm of graphic design. You can work with clients on a project basis.
Work Abroad
When you stay longer than a few weeks in one spot, you can find many other work opportunities. You may have to look into getting a working holiday visa beforehand to ensure you’re working legally but it’s usually fairly easy to do if you’re between the ages of 18-35. To find a list of countries you can live and work in, visit your home country’s government website.
Here’s a list of countries Canadian’s can do working holiday’s in!
Since there are many ways you can make money while travelling and living in a new place, you won’t run out of job options. Here are some of the best/easiest ways you get started while working abroad:
- Au Pair / Nanny – Anyone who’s a native English speaker will have no trouble getting a job as an au pair/nanny while living abroad. It certainly helps to have experience with children but many parents look for English speakers that their child can practice speaking with. You’ll often have your food and living costs covered on top of getting paid! There are many agencies that can place you, Facebook groups and websites where you can share a profile and get in touch with people seeking nannies.
- Teach English – Another amazing job for those who are native English speakers. After doing hours of research I discovered that Asia typically pays the best for English teachers. Other parts of the world such as South and Central America pay quite well too. All you need to get started is a TEFL Certificate. I did mine through a Groupon for LearnTEFL (150 hours) for about $40 USD plus another ~$70 USD to get the official certificate once completed. I had the intention of teaching English in Vietnam in 2020 but obviously, my plans changed no thanks to the pandemic 😒. . With that being said, I found it incredibly easy to secure a job that was about 20 hours/week paying a minimum of $20 USD.
- Tutoring – Tutoring is another amazing way to make money while travelling! I put up my profile on a few tutoring websites while living in Australia and ended up making $30 AUD/hour. It’s amazing because I was paid in cash and didn’t have to claim any of it when filing taxes.
- Workaway – For $44 USD/year you can find many work opportunities all around the world. Generally, it’s a few hours of work in exchange for accommodation and food but sometimes there are paid jobs as well!
Become a Digital Nomad
A digital nomad is someone who can work online from anywhere in the world! There are so many ways to do this and it’s not outside your reach. As long as you have a computer and access to wifi (which is pretty much everywhere these days), you’ll have no trouble working online.
Where to find work as a Digital Nomad:
- UpWork– UpWork is a widely used platform and a great place to search for online work. Think of it as LinkedIn for all kinds of remote jobs!
- Fiverr – Fiverr has been my freelance platform of choice and it’s what has allowed me to quit my job and work remotely as a copywriter! I personally prefer it to UpWork because you have clients approach you for work instead of having to apply for jobs. It’s 100% free to sign up and use, so why not give it a shot?
- Shopify Partners – A place where you can help merchants with their business or become an affiliate.
- Flexjobs – A job search portal for remote work. It has different pricing options, with a 3 month subscription costing $29.95 USD.
- Freelancer – This platform is similar to UpWork where you apply to jobs or bid on projects you’d like to work on as a freelancer.
- Writer Access – Apply for free as a freelancer and set up a portfolio. It’s also very similar to UpWork or Freelancer.
Some of the best digital nomad jobs:
- Teach a Language – VIP Kid, GoGoKid, QKids, Ef Education First, DaDa and Magic Ears are just a few online language learning platforms. Teaching English online can pay incredibly well, so don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
- Blogging – There are many ways bloggers make money. Some include ads, affiliate marketing, direct sales, coaching services and press trips. If you’re able to build a supportive audience you can do a lot with your blog!
- Copywriting – If you have a way with words, copywriting can be a very lucrative nomadic job. You can start with little to no experience on Fiverr and work your way up as you gain experience.
- Virtual Assistant – A great option if you’re just starting out. You can find many VA positions on freelancing sits or even start an Instagram account where you can network and find clients.
- Progammer – A more technical position but one that pays well if you know what you’re doing!
- Graphic Design – Practice your skills on freelancing platforms or search for your own clients. Don’t be afraid to reach out to brands!
- Voice acting – If you’re from a native English speaking country, you can find many voice acting jobs online. There are heaps of opportunities and it’s great for someone who’s starting out or not sure what they want to do.
- Data entry – Amazing for anyone with no experience. These jobs are always available on freelancing sites.
These are just a few of many different jobs you can have working as a digital nomad. Do your own research and look for positions that match your skills and passions.
What Are You Waiting For?
There’s no better time to look for remote work opportunities then now! Even if you aren’t travelling at the moment, don’t be afraid to start looking for remote jobs. You’ll either find a part time or full time position or begin freelancing and building up your client list. When you’re travelling there are many co-working spaces where you can meet others doing the same thing!
What else do you want to know about working while travelling? Send me a DM on Instagram or connect with me on TikTok for more travel tips!
Cheers,
Amy x
