Who doesn’t love traveling? Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or just getting started, it’s safe to say that most of us have dreamed about seeing the world at one point or another. But what if you could make that dream a reality?
That’s where these jobs come in. These 15 jobs will allow you to travel the world and immerse yourself in different cultures while still making a living. You’ll have the chance to see some of the most beautiful sights on earth while building skills to help you land other jobs later in life.
Travel Agent
Travel agents help clients plan, book, and manage their trips. As a travel agent, you’ll assist them with everything from booking hotels and flights to arranging activities while they’re on their trip. To become a travel agent, there are several steps you need to take:
- Earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or other related fields.
- Pass the Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) exam the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) offers.
- Obtain your state’s required license.
Afterward, you can work as a sales agent in the travel industry for at least one year, gaining experience in all aspects of the business.
Cruise Ship Worker
Cruise ship work can be a fun and exciting way to travel the world. You’ll get paid to explore new places, enjoy food from around the world, and meet people from all over.
However, it’s important to remember that while your employer will cover all of your travel costs as part of their compensation package, they aren’t paying you to have an amazing time during work hours. Cruise ship workers must always be professional, maintain the ship’s reputation, and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Here’s how to start becoming a cruise ship worker:
- First things first – if you’re interested in working on a cruise ship, you’ll need to find out what kind of positions are available. Most cruise ships have multiple departments, such as housekeeping or entertainment, that are staffed by dozens of employees at any given time. Some positions may require previous experience or training; others may not have any specific requirements at all.
- Once you know what kind of position you’re looking for and what qualifications it requires (if any), it’s time to apply. Many cruise lines post their openings on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed – search “cruise line” along with whatever position interests you most.
- You can also check with your local travel agency or even hotels near where you live. Some hotels employ staff members who work on cruises when they’re not needed elsewhere.
Virtual Assistant/Freelancer
If you have a knack for organization and are good with people, becoming a virtual assistant might be your job. A virtual assistant is someone who performs administrative tasks for clients from their own home office.
These could include things like scheduling appointments, sending emails, updating social media accounts, and other administrative work. Virtual assistants often work remotely, meaning they do not need to visit an office daily to complete their assignments.
As long as you have strong organizational skills and experience using web-based tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, this position is ideal for you. In addition to these basic requirements, though, it’s important that you also have excellent verbal communication skills so that you can effectively interact with your clients over the phone or via email while working remotely or even on-site if necessary.
Once you’ve decided that this kind of career is right for you, there are plenty of ways to get started:
- Take classes at universities or online academies.
- Read blogs about freelancing or working as a VA.
- Join freelance platforms and social media groups.
- Take on small jobs as practice before tackling larger ones.
Working as a virtual assistant or freelancer is a great way to set yourself up for success in the future. It can help you gain valuable experience, build relationships with people who can help you advance your career, and earn money while doing what you love.
Pilot
Becoming a pilot may be a perfect choice if you’re looking for a job that allows you to fly to various destinations.
The job of a commercial pilot is exciting, fast-paced, and requires constant vigilance. In addition to flying planes, many pilots manage the airline’s flight staff or oversee aircraft maintenance or repairs.
Before you can become a commercial pilot, however, certain requirements must be met:
- You need at least 500 hours of flight time under your belt before being hired by an airline; this is generally accomplished through an advanced certification program like the Air Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP). On average, completing this training program at an accredited institution takes about six months.
- While most airlines will require 4 years of experience (though some may offer accelerated paths), these numbers vary widely depending on the aircraft type you’re working with and how large your company is.
- You’ll also need good vision (20/20), hearing (no obvious defects), and physical health — your doctor needs his and his employer’s approval before he lets you fly.
- Finally, if possible, you should live near where your employer is based because if anything happens during flight operations, it could take hours until help arrives from home base.
Educational Tour Guide
If you have a passion for travel and a desire to share it with others, becoming an educational tour guide could be the perfect job for you. In this role, you can work at a school or university, advising students on how to plan their own trips abroad. You also get to do some traveling yourself.
Another option is to work with cruise companies that offer programs that allow passengers to visit multiple destinations in one trip. For example, Royal Caribbean offers cruises that take passengers from New York City all the way around South America and up through the Panama Canal before returning home. It’s a pretty good deal if you want something new and exciting. The other half of your time will be spent onboard the ship as an educational tour guide.
To get started, follow these steps:
- Get certified – If you want to be a professional tour guide, you have to have credentials. You can get them from several institutions, from local community colleges to national organizations like the National Tour Guide Association (NTGA).
- Take some classes in nature study – Even if you’re not planning on being an all-purpose guide — if you want to specialize in birding or hiking — you’ll need some basic knowledge of the natural world. The NTGA offers classes in everything from birding and botany to geology and history. And suppose you want more specialized training before entering the field. In that case, plenty of organizations offer training specifically for travel guides, from local historical societies to national parks.
- Join the NTGA or other professional organizations – As a member of one of these organizations, you’ll be able to network with other professionals and improve your skills by attending workshops and conferences where industry leaders share their experiences and insights with you.
Writer/Journalist
Do you have a passion for words? Do you love reading and writing about other cultures or travel destinations? If so, becoming a travel writer could be your perfect job.
Travel writing is an exciting way to earn money while traveling, allowing you to explore new places and make your own schedule. You can choose from a wide range of opportunities – from freelancing for magazines, newspapers, or online sites to working with tour operators, getting paid by hotels and resorts in exchange for reviewing their facilities and services, receiving assignments from tourist boards, or even finding work with cruise lines, if this sounds like your cup of tea).
Travel writers often work out of their own homes — or wherever they choose — which makes it easy to move around when needed. They may spend only short periods of time at one location before moving on again.
The truth is, anyone can become a writer – you just have to start! Here are some tips for getting started:
- Start writing about what you know. If you love sports, write about sports. If you love fashion, write about fashion.
- Write every day, even if it’s just for five minutes at a time. The more you write, the better your writing will get.
- Read as much as possible — it will help inspire you when the need to write strikes.
Au Pair
If you’re looking for a job that gives you the flexibility to travel, consider becoming an au pair. This position allows you to live with a host family and care for their children in exchange for room and board. Au pairs are often from abroad but need not come from your destination country — they can be from anywhere in the world.
Au pairs are specifically prohibited by law from engaging in childcare or housekeeping tasks. They can only work on child-related duties such as entertaining the children with arts and crafts activities during their free time, taking them to school or extracurricular activities like soccer practice or piano lessons, helping with homework assignments when needed, and making sure that they eat healthy meals, which might mean cooking some of them.
The first step to becoming an au pair is to find an agency. Many agencies can help match you up with families in your area, and even more, if you’re willing to travel. Once you’ve found an agency that sounds good to you, make sure they do background checks on potential families before making any matches.
Archaeologist or Anthropologist
If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones or think archaeology is fascinating, this could be your dream job. Archaeologists are responsible for studying the past and learning about different cultures. They can travel to remote locations worldwide to excavate historical sites and study artifacts from thousands of years ago. In addition to excavating, archaeologists also research the remains of prehistoric humans to learn more about their origins and how they lived.
Anthropologists are similar to archaeologists; what sets them apart is that they study human behavior rather than objects or ruins from the past, although an anthropologist might do some digging. These scientists might take a closer look at society today by exploring things like why people make certain choices or how new technologies affect us as individuals or groups. They might also learn more about what makes us unique as humans—our biology, our culture, etc.—by observing different groups around the globe and documenting their customs over time.
English Teacher
Teaching English as a second language is an excellent way to see the world and make money. You can teach privately or choose to work for an agency. Depending on where you want to teach and how long you want to stay abroad, many different types of jobs are available. If you’re interested in teaching children, look for positions through organizations such as AFS Intercultural Programs or World Teach-USA; if you’d prefer working with adults, check out companies like EF Education First or i-to-i TESOL Training Center. You’ll find that most large cities will have agencies offering opportunities as well: London has several options; Paris has two; Barcelona has one; Rome has two; Tokyo has six (and counting).
You don’t need formal qualifications if you want to teach ESL classes on your own time—but if you want more structured employment and higher paychecks, it pays off! Some employers require TEFL certification courses, while others don’t care which one(s) they hire.
Geographer
A geographer is an anthropologist who studies human activity and its relationship to the environment. Geographers help governments, research institutions, and businesses decide where to build or expand.
Some geographers work for government agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, which maps out resources like minerals or oil to determine their value for businesses and government use. Others work at universities or other research institutions that study climate change—or even may have travel jobs that allow them to study different world regions.
To become a geographer, there are several things you can do:
- Take classes about geography at school or online.
- Join clubs or organizations that teach about geography.
- Go on field trips with geographers to see how they work in real life.
Flight Attendant
As a flight attendant, you’ll help passengers enjoy a safe and comfortable flight. This includes everything from ensuring that passengers are seated safely to ensuring their luggage is properly loaded on the plane. Flight attendants also ensure that passengers have adequate food and beverages during their flights to get to where they’re going safely and comfortably.
To become a flight attendant, you must be in good health and have at least a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Since your job works around the clock, it’s also important for you to be well-rested when working so as not to put yourself at risk for fatigue-related incidents due to lack of sleepiness at work.
Flight attendants must pass several tests before being hired. They must pass an initial medical exam, undergo training, pass drug tests, complete background checks, undergo personality assessments, receive clearance from security agencies, and receive clearance from other government agencies depending on what country they want their airline company license through.
Armed Services
Working in the military can give you much free time to explore and travel while you are stationed in completely different places. However, this job requires that you go through extensive testing and training before being able to work as an actual soldier. You will have to be away from home for long periods of time and may face danger on the job.
The pay is excellent, and you will have great benefits. The job can be very stressful at times, but if you are up for it, it could be a great career option for you.
You can make a lot of money as an armed forces member. You will have to undergo extensive testing and training before being able to work as an actual soldier. The job can be very stressful at times, but if you are up for it, it could be a great career option.
Foreign Service Officer
A foreign service officer is an employee at the U.S. Department of State who helps American citizens as they travel, work, and study abroad. Officers are responsible for ensuring that all Americans receive assistance when traveling outside the country. They also oversee other government-sponsored programs aimed at promoting education outside America.
You can get a foreign service officer job by obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field from an accredited school. Once you’ve graduated from college, apply to become an FSO by submitting an online application. Then, participate in one of two written tests – the Foreign Service Officer Test or The Accredited Recruitment Panel Test.
If you pass either test with flying colors, your name will be put forward for placement on the register. A list of potential candidates who wish to become officers in the Foreign Service overseas service but haven’t yet been offered positions as such will allow them to continue their candidacy process while waiting patiently for their chance at working abroad!
Travel Photographer/Videographer
If you’re creative and passionate about photography and/or videography, this is the job for you. Travel photography is a great way to make money while seeing the world. You can capture stunning images of landscapes, architecture, cityscapes, and people worldwide.
Travel videographers follow in the footsteps of their photography colleagues by capturing footage that can be edited into promotional videos or documentaries. This type of work requires skills in both video production and editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Elements. A travel blogger combines travel writing with photographs and short video clips to create an online magazine that shares information about travel destinations around the globe with readers interested in visiting those places someday.
Some great travel blogs are out there, but they don’t get written by anyone. It takes a lot of research and writing to produce a quality blog post that people want to read. If you have the time, patience, and passion for traveling, this is an excellent opportunity to generate some extra income on the side.
Travel Blogger
Travel blogging is a great way to make money and travel the world. However, it’s not as easy as posting photos from your vacation on Instagram or Facebook. You have to write about your experiences to attract readers who will then see the ads on your site and click on them.
This can be hard for newcomers who may not know how to write consistently, but plenty of resources can help you improve over time. Don’t worry; if you’re good at writing but haven’t had any experience yet, there are also jobs out there looking for writers like you.
Writing for a blog or website can be an easy way to make money from home. If you’re interested in learning how to write for the web, many resources are available, including websites that teach you how to blog for free. You may also want to check out some of the sites below where you can find writing jobs:
- Forbes
- eHow
- WriterAccess
- Compose.ly
- Problogger
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a stable career with room to travel, consider the many opportunities available in the travel industry today. Several jobs allow you to do so and don’t require much training or education, making them ideal choices for people who want a new adventure. If you think this might interest you, check out each of these careers today!
Angeline Licerio
Angeline Licerio is the blogger behind Dollarmize.com. After working online as a writer and SEO strategist, she decided to start this blog to give advise to people who would like to earn money online. She is also the founder of SEO Tutorials for FREE, a Facebook community that helps aspiring freelancers and SEO specialists to kickstart their work from home journey.
