If you ask most people what’s stopping them from living out there dreams of travelling the world, the most common answer you’ll get is their job. Most careers limit you to a set office space, strict working hours and only a few weeks of holiday leave a year, but this just isn’t the dream for us travel addicts alike.
If you have a serious case of wanderlust and don’t want to choose between your career and a life of travelling, here are the best jobs that give you the best of both worlds:
Travel writer/blogger – Travel bloggers live the dream job of working for themselves, on their own schedule and in their own place, however the competition is extremely high and it might take years of hard work with little pay to gain recognition. The best place to start is creating your own travel blog and submitting articles to travel websites and magazines.
Flight attendant – Imagine jet setting around the world, spending a few nights in a new city and waking up to do it all again.A career as a flight attendant might include crazy hours and some not-so pleasant turbulence, but provides amazing travel benefits and discounts for yourself and family members. Short flights won’t include much time outside the airport, but for long layovers in exotic destinations you can work for airlines that offer long haul flights.
English teacher- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) provides opportunities all over the world to meet new people and explore new places. The job is in high demand and the qualifications only take a few weeks to complete.
Travel photographer / filmmaker – Not only do you need a creative eye for a good shot, but also a lot of patience and hard work to turn this hobby into a full time paid job. If you want to travel the world with a camera in your hand, you’ll need a fresh perspective and diverse style that stands out from other photographers.
WWOF- World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farmsoffers travelers a chance to give back in an ethical way while making money. It includes volunteering a few hours a day doing organic farming and you’ll receive food, accommodation and a unique insight into local life in places around the globe, such as banana plantations in Costa Rica, rice farms in China and eco-villages in Swedish Lapland. Visit Wwoof find host destinations around the world.
Cruise ship crew– Sailing the seas and visiting new destinations port by port sounds like a dream. Cruise ships offer a wide variety of jobs from from entertainers to bartenders, musicians, beauty therapists, and hospitality. Most companies include your accommodation and food costs so you’re basically travelling the world while saving up money.
Tour leader– Who wouldn’t want to work for the likes of Contiki or Topdeck and meet new amazing people while adventuring through the travel hotspots? If you have the leadership skills, travel experience and a fun and adventurous spirit this might be the perfect job for you.
Interpreter - If you have fluency in at least two languages and a language degree you can work all over the world in various roles, for business and political matters, international conventions and global companies.
Au pair – Working as an au pair can provide opportunities all around the globe, and is a wonderful chance to immerse yourself in another culture and learn a new language. Au pairs live with a host family in a foreign country and assist with child care, tutoring and home duties while making a small salary as well as board. Visit InterExchange to learn more about global opportunities as an au pair.
Travel agent – If you’re a travel fanatic and can handle the jealously of booking holidays for others, being a travel agent has the amazing perk of cheap flights and accommodation deals. You’ll be encouraged to travel to popular destinations to give honest expert advice to your clients.
Journalist/reporter – As a journalist you might be lucky enough to work overseas reporting on international stories as a foreign correspondent. It’s especially helpful to know another language and be qualified with a degree in journalism or communications.
Bartender –One of the most popular jobs for travellers is bartending. It’s an easy job to get all around the world if you’ve got the skills and experience, and all you’ll need is a working visa. Many bartending jobs across London and Europe also include pay in accommodation if they have an apartment upstairs.
Ski/surf/scuba instructor– Fancy half a year in Canada teaching snow sports and the other half diving in the warm exotic oceans of the Gili Islands? There are many seasonal jobs around the world suited to the climate of your choice, you can find international opportunities at SeasonWorkers.