How to Make Money While You Travel the Globe
This is one for all you remote wanderers out there or for those who’d like to make some extra money while backpacking and traveling abroad.
Running out of money when you’re thousands of miles away from home, stranded in a foreign continent sounds like the beginning of a movie, but it happens.
Some of these suggestions could help you get out of a jam like that while others are just a great way to earn some money online when you have some time to spare, at the airport.
My personal favorite on this list is getting compensated for canceled, delayed or overbooked flights using the assistance of AirHelp.com. It’s free to use and if you’ve used an airline in the last 3 years you should check to see if your owed money. Payouts for flights that were affected can be up to $700! Takes only a few minutes and won’t cost you a penny.
These methods certainly won’t be able to fund your extravagant journey around the world but they will help inject a little extra money into your travel budget. Why not make money and travel at the same time?
From starting a blog to websites that can provide you with a quick cash infusion, here are some ways you can earn extra money while traveling the world.
1. Start a Travel Blog and Get Paid to Explore
Some, make money to travel but why not travel to make money?
Travel blogs have the potential to earn some serious cash. Grab your camera and document your adventures while writing blog updates now and then to let your readers live vicariously through you and your adventures.
Bonus: You’ll have a nice little diary of your travels to share with family and friends.
Starting a travel blog is an easy and low-cost way to make money while abroad. It won’t happen overnight but with time and consistent posting, you’ll eventually start to build a loyal reader base.
Remember to share your blog posts to social media so they can reach a wider audience.
Read our no-nonsense guide on how you can start a blog quick and easy.
2. Airport Time Killing Money Makers – Ways to Earn Online While Traveling
Alright, so that title was a bit of a mouthful but hear me out.
When traveling, waiting for flights or hotel check-ins is something you’ll have to get used to. Instead of mindlessly surfing Facebook, why not use that free time to make some cash online, instead?
Swagbucks is a website that will pay you to answer some surveys or complete a few menial tasks. It’s not going to make you rich but it will net you a few bucks online here and there. Connect your Amazon account and earn Swagbucks that you can exchange for cash directly to your Paypal account each time you make a purchase. Never underestimate the power of making easy money online, even if it’s just a few bucks here and there, it adds up over time.
Free Websites that Pay You to Complete Surveys, Watch Videos, Answer Polls and Shop Online
Pro Tip: Sign up For All 3 and Maximize Your Earning Potential. An Hour a Day Could Earn You a Couple Hundred Dollars or More Each Month. You don’t need to be a traveler to use these either, obviously. Anyone can make money online using these websites.
Sign up for a free account with Swagbucks
Get a free account with PrizeRebel
3. Sell Travel Guides and Online Courses
If you’re a seasoned traveler you could signup for an account with Teachable and create helpful online courses. Offer up your knowledge and sell courses that educate new travelers.
Online Course Ideas
- How to Organize Your Luggage
- How to Travel like a Pro
- Travel Planning and Budgeting
Use your imagination and come up with some useful courses you can create with teachable and sell them.
Sign up with Teachable to Promote and Create Beautiful Online Courses
4. Get Compensated for Delayed, Canceled or Overbooked Flights
Flying and traveling go hand in hand…duh. We’ve all had flights get delayed or canceled at some point but did you know you may be entitled to as much as $700 worth of compensation for a delayed, overbooked or canceled flight within the last three years? Three years! If you fly often, there is a pretty good chance you’ve at least had one delayed flight.
AirHelp.com is a fantastic website you can use to quickly check if an airline owes you money for a delayed, canceled or overbooked flight. It’s completely free to use and if you are owed money, AirHelp will facilitate the entire process and send you the money as soon as possible. They take their cute directly from your refund, so its essentially free money…or I guess money you never knew you had.
If You’ve flown in the Past 3 Years and had a poor experience, read our guide on how you can use a free eligibility checker to see if your due a refund from an airline.
5. Online Job Boards and Freelance Work
Craigslist
I’m not sure who Craig is, but his lists sure are useful.
Don’t knock Craigslist. It can be a great source for finding short term odd jobs while traveling. It might not be as good as it once was, now that job ad listings are no longer free to post but it’s still a useful website to find quick side jobs.
Craigslist operates in over 100 countries and it could get you out of a jam if you happen to run low on funds while traveling.
Have a look at this great article detailing how you should approach work on Craigslist for the best results. It could act as a useful strategy template that you can emulate.
Upwork
Upwork is a global job board where freelancers congregate to find work doing just about anything you can imagine. From web design to tutoring, you’re sure to find a job within your skillset.
With 170 countries supported, you’d have to be trecking through some pretty remote terrain not to be able to take advantage of this online job board.
I have used Upwork in the past to find writing gigs and it’s a reliable source of fast income.
Fiverr
If you find yourself striking out at Upwork, check Fiverr. It has a more relaxed atmosphere and you’ll be able to find someone willing to pay you $5 for a small task. This is a great option for those who want to make money whilst traveling who may not have a specific skill set.
Pro Tip: Apply to more than one job at a time. Fiverr can be flakey and this is a good way to weed out unreliable job posts.
$5 might not seem like a lot but depending on the country you’re, 5 bucks can go a long way.
Related: Get Paid to Participate in Online Studies and Local Focus Groups. Music Lovers: How To Get Paid Reviewing Music Online
6. ESL Tutoring
Have a desire to travel but don’t have the money? Why not take a job abroad teaching English as a second language and get paid to see new places and learn about new cultures.
I understand this option won’t be for everyone but many travelers earn good money this way. Packing up and moving to a new country, away from family and friends, is a big life decision. However, it can be a rewarding experience that leaves a lasting impression on you and those you teach.
Make sure you’re searching for the right tutoring jobs on legitimate websites.
Websites To Find ESL Tutoring Jobs Abroad
Teachaway
Plenty of new jobs are added every day and you can narrow down your search by country. Signing up is free and the ESL jobs advertised are guaranteed legitimate.
If you’re looking for an exciting career change or a bit of an adventure, and have good English speaking skills, you could consider moving to a new country to tutor children or adults. Not only will you experience a new culture but future employers will love seeing this type of work on a resume.
Other ELT Online Job Boards:
7. Get a Working Holiday Visa
Similar to teaching ESL in foreign countries, a working holiday visa allows people to live and work in a new country for up to a year. The conditions of a working holiday visa may differ from country to country, but in some cases, you are free to apply to any job position you’re interested in. That’s not a bad deal and a fantastic way to make money while traveling to new destinations on a short term basis.
8. Au Pair Jobs Abroad
If you’re good with kids and want to live in a family atmosphere, you could consider taking care of a family’s children abroad. Your responsibilities might include preparing food, helping with homework, transportation to and from school and in some cases providing English tutoring.
Not only will you be paid a salary but room and board are often included. This is a fantastic way to travel the world while making money. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore new places and see the sights.
9. Teach Other Languages
If you speak more than one language fluently you can find jobs tutoring just about anywhere. Visit local schools and community centers to inquire about posting a notice advertising your teaching services.
English teachers tend to be the most in-demand tutoring job but French, Spanish, Arabic, German, Portuguese and Japanese tutors are highly requested as well.
10. Photography
Even if you’re an amateur photographer you could get hired on a freelance basis to take pictures. Put together a portfolio of your work and apply to news publications, online blogs, and other websites that may have a need for original photographs. Photography jobs often provide opportunities to travel and explore new countries.
Alternatively, you could sell photographs online using stock image websites.
Websites You Can Use To Sell Your Photographs Online
11. Volunteer Work
Volunteer and charity work provides the opportunity for travel while helping others. Some volunteer abroad programs will pay for your travel and living expenses. These can be difficult programs to get into.
If you’re currently in college, consider visiting the campus resource center for information on summer volunteer programs abroad for students.
ProjectsAbroad is a safe and legitimate website you can use in your search to discover charitable causes in different countries. They challenge you to discover what you’re capable of and I think many college students could really benefit from programs like this during their summer breaks.
Not to mention, Employers really like to see this on a resume, so it’s a great way to boost future career prospects on top of being charitable and spreading positivity.
Here is a great list of the Best Volunteer Abroad Programs in 2019
12. Take Advantage of Local Marketplaces and Get Crafty
If you have a creative side you can head to local markets and sell your hand made goods. Many countries have marketplaces that offer stalls for rent and you’ll most likely run into other travelers doing the same as you.
13. Restaurant and Bartending Opportunites
Find some local restaurants that will pay for a single night’s work. Build some relationships with local business’ and drop in whenever you need a cash infusion.
14. Sell Items Online with eBay
eBay works everywhere and you can list items for sale while you travel. Focus on selling small items so you don’t have to lug around tons of heavy inventory.
When you make a sale, simply head to the nearest post office and ship it out. The money you make goes straight to your PayPal account and you can transfer the money as you need it. Keep in mind, PayPal transfer can sometimes take a few days before it reaches your bank account so plan appropriately.
15. Work at a Resort
Tourism is a booming industry and you can find tons of resorts looking to hire people from all over the world. From Carribean Islands to more remote destinations, there is bound to be a job out there that fits with your ideal work location.
16. Post Job Wanted Ads at Local Community Centers
Many community centers will have a news board where people can advertise services. Write up an ad offering your services for hire as a general laborer.
17. Rent Your House While You Travel
If your planning on traveling for longer than a month why not rent out your house using AirBnB for the duration of your trip. You can arrange bookings while overseas using their app and its an incredibly simple, low-stress way to make some easy money.
18 Rent Your Car
Like your house, your car might be sitting in your driveway unused for long periods of time.
You can use a peer-to-peer care rental app like Getaround to make money from renting your car while away. The best thing about this app, you don’t have to be there to hand your car off. The app unlocks the doors automatically and your keys will be left safely inside.
Bonus: Letting a car sit for a long time is actually not very good for it, mechanically speaking. By renting it out, you’ll not only make money but you might be avoiding some expensive maintenance work.
19. Get a Job on a Farm
Depending on the country you’re visiting you could get hired to work on a farm. Get paid to help with the crops, complete chores, and manual labor. Room and board can sometimes be included as well.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you found some of these suggestions useful. Traveling doesn’t mean giving up your income and you can use a lot of these methods to pay for your trip, earn while on your trip or help get you out of a low funds emergency.
A lot of these methods can be used at home as well. You don’t need to be jet setting all over the world to sign up for a Swagbucks account and make a little extra cash online each month.