Entering the job market is often a choice between travel and work. But thanks to modern technology, remote working, and overseas opportunities, you can have both. Savvy individuals earn an income while enjoying sightseeing across the globe. 

This article explores some of these much-coveted travel jobs. We look at options that let you traverse continents and explore new cultures while earning an income to support it. 

Freelancer

Becoming a freelancer opens the door for an entry-level travel career. Working remotely as a translator, writer, or virtual assistant doesn’t always pay well, but it does give you near-perfect freedom of movement.

Most countries will let you stay between 30 and 90 days if you have a Western passport (from the U.K., U.S., Canada, or Australia). If you want to remain abroad longer, you can keep hopping from one place to the next.

Many countries also now offer digital nomad visas. These allow freelancers (and other roving professionals) to remain inside a country for longer (usually up to a year) before moving on to another or applying for residency.

Even so, freelancers should exercise caution. You will still require a reliable internet connection (and that’s not always available).

Event Planner

Becoming an event planner is another job enabling you to travel the world. This work often requires you to fly overseas to arrange venues and organise attendees.

As an event planner, you will help plan: 

• Music festivals
• Business conferences
• Academic meetings
• Expos and fan events
• Fun fairs
• Live concerts
• And much more

These events might happen in your home country, but they could take place globally (depending on the precise job you take).

Flight Attendant

Becoming a flight attendant is another way to see the world. While work-life balance might not be ideal, travel is free, eliminating financial limits on where and how far you can go. 

Flight attendants usually apply for one of the primary commercial carriers. These offer reasonable conditions and opportunities to explore destination countries beyond airports. Furthermore, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, American Airlines, and many others run training programmes to prepare you for the role.

The downside is the irregular hours and constant time changes. It can be challenging for your body to get used to the shifting rotas over the weeks and months.

Travel Blogger

As an entrepreneurial individual, you could also experiment with becoming a travel blogger. Touring the globe, you would introduce your audience to new destinations.

The desire for travel content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok is endless. Audiences want to explore far-flung destinations with you and get inspiration to go themselves. All you need to do is bring a camera and a laptop.

Of course, if you want to make money as a travel blogger, you require a strong online presence. Ideally, you should have tens of thousands of followers (depending on the platform) to support you full-time. If you don’t, you may need temporary jobs in destination countries while you build your audience.

Journalist

Often forgotten, becoming a journalist is another travel-driven career enabling you to see the world while you work. News agencies are always looking for people to join their teams and provide on-the-ground reporting.

To become a journalist, your writing skills need to be good (something that takes most people many years of practice). You will also need a strategy to take on the competition – thousands of people apply for the average journalism post. 

However, if you manage to land a career, the salary and benefits will be excellent, you won’t have to pay for work-related travel, and you can raise your profile. On the downside, you may need to spend time in war-torn regions.

Travel Photographer

Finally, becoming a travel photographer is an option. The pay is lower than other roles on this list, but it gets you into the field and close to subjects. (Unlike conventional work., you aren’t stuck in a small apartment like a freelancer, or confined to the airport, like some flight attendants).

Numerous companies hire travel photographers for jobs across the globe. Travel blogs and magazines often pay them to get unique shots of destinations they want to cover. News organisations also leverage their skills, asking them to photograph city skylines, war scenes, research centres, company premises, people, and animals. Photographers focus on composition, lighting and storytelling – the words their images convey.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, travel-driven work is the most cost-effective way to see the world and in many cases, your employer pays. While spending all your time abroad isn’t always the best career advice, it can help you enjoy your working life more than the average person.