Travel Jobs: The Ultimate Guide To Finding Paid Work Around The World

Finding Travel Jobs

I’ve spent the last two years working around the world. From leading road trips across North America to working as a spring break host in Mexico or a pub crawl guide in Poland, I’ve lived, travelled, volunteered and worked in a lot of countries.

When people come across my blog or my Instagram, the first thing they ask me is “how do you afford to travel so much?”

When I explain that I work travel jobs or volunteer in exchange for room and board, people want know how I find these jobs or opportunities.

Well, here is how I do it!

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Google search phrases like “vacation host” or “tour guide jobs”

Just start googling. It’s a great first place to start and find positions that are currently open. It will lead you down differents paths to different travel companies and different job options.

But what do you google? Well I’m glad you asked.

Try searching any of the following phrases:

• vacation host job
• pub crawl guide
• tour guide job
• teach english abroad
• volunteer abroad
• au pair
• summer camp job
• resort job
• seasonal work
• ski season jobs
• tour leader job
• cruise ship job

Google search travel companies and see what positions they typically hire

If you are interested in working in the travel industry, it’s smart to get familiar with some of the big name companies out there.

Any company that offers trips needs people onsite making sure the vacation runs smoothly for their guests. And that’s where the whole “getting paid to travel” comes into play!

Read: 12 COMPANIES THAT PAY YOU TO TRAVEL- APPLY HERE FOR A TRAVEL JOB!

Check out these companies:

• Intrepid
• Topdeck
• Contiki
• BusAbout
• G Adventures
• One Life Adventures
• Smart Trip
• Expat Explore
• Stoke Travel
• Cosmos

Any festival or travel event will need extra workers!

Think about it- thousands of college students go on spring break each year and party in beautiful, tropical destinations. That means that travel companies exist and help facilitate this huge annual event. Which means they will need staff in these destinations to ensure things run smoothly. Perfect! Because that’s how you get a job living at a resort in Mexico for a month– swimming, going on sunset cruises and to nightclubs!

Another great example of this is Oktoberfest in Germany. With millions of people pouring into Munich each year, jobs are created onsite with the influx of people. Campsites pop up from a variety of travel companies that look to take workers onsite.

Anytime a large group of people are traveling to a destination, there are jobs created! So be sure to check out popular party towns or islands as well, especially ones like Zante in Greece. These party towns will take walk up employees for bartenders, shot girls.. you name it! And you’ll be living with all the other party-loving workers from around the world, so be ready for a hectic but fun summer.

Networking

Once you work one travel job, you will meet other people who are also working in the travel industry.

From there, just be friendly and outgoing 🙂 Ask around! Find out what other jobs people have worked then ask if they might recommend you.

While working as a spring break host in Mexico, I was one of the few people who mingled with workers from other spring break companies. By doing this, I was able to network and meet other people interested in working around the world.

One of the workers from a different company, recommended me to work for Krawl Through Krakow, a pub crawl job in Poland.

Later that year, I spent two months living in Poland working the pub crawl with my best friend and living in the free provided accommodation. We loved every minute of it!

Cool Works Jobs

Cool Works is another excellent resource for finding seasonal work in epic destinations. This site specializes in paid seasonal jobs at national parks.

Think you might want to spend a season in Alaska or work in the mountains in Montana? Cool Works can help you. Just browse their available jobs.

Read: HOW TO GET A JOB AT A NATIONAL PARK

VagaJobs

VagaJobs is another EXCELLENT resource. You’ll be able to search for fun seasonal positions in amazing destinations. You can easily filter it out by specific national parks or types of jobs. Whether you want to spend a season working at a summer camp in the mountains or as a zip line guide in Alaska, there are countless amazing opportunities.

The site lets you filter and search for jobs that provide housing and/or meals.

And you can refine your search based on which season you’re available and how much job experience you have. There is a “no experience” option so it’s a good way to find jobs that will teach you new skills!

Read: VAGAJOBS: YOUR RESOURCE FOR FINDING PAID TRAVEL JOBS!

Hostel Jobs

At any given time, the website Hostel Jobs will have over 2,000 jobs open that you can apply for immediately. Just create a worker profile (it’s free!) and start applying. You can work and live in hostels as you travel across the world.

“Travel around the world. Work in local hostels along the way.
Create your profile. Pack your bags and go travel!“

Read: HOW TO FIND HOSTEL JOBS & WHERE EXACTLY TO APPLY

Go Abroad

This site is a FANTASTIC resource for jobs, travel scholarships, volunteer and study abroad programs.

“Search for meaningful travel programs around the world, get expert advice, read real reviews, find scholarships, and discover the world! “

Go Overseas

Similar to Go Abroad, this site is a wonderful resource with over 17,000+ programs for you to discover!

They even offer internships abroad. This website is packed with reviews (over 46,000!) so you can get an honest idea of what each experience is going be like for you.

The site offers these different categories for going abroad:

• Study Abroad
• Volunteer Abroad
• Teach Abroad
• Gap Year
• Intern Abroad
• High School Abroad
• TEFL Courses
• Language Schools
• Tours & Tips

Working Holiday Visas

If you’re a citizen in the United States, there are 6 countries where you are eligible for a working visa– Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and South Korea.

That means as long as you fit the requirements (usually under the age of 30) you are eligible to legally work in that country and can apply for a wide selection of jobs.

Look into what working holiday visas your home country is able to offer it’s citizens! It varies by country.

Jobs on a superyacht

Another way to make good money while being paid to travel is by working in the superyacht industry.

This is different from cruise ship work because a superyacht is privately owned by a someone very rich. It could be a entrepreneur, celebrity etc.

Best of all, the yachting industry pays well and you have virtually no expenses while living onboard the ship. So it’s a great way to save a lot of money or pay off debt in a short amount of time.

Plus the work is seasonal which allows you to do 3-6 months of work at a time then go and travel on your own with some of that money you just saved up!

Read more about life as a worker on a superyacht here.

I recommend this complete guide on finding work on superyachts. It covers how to write your CV, easy to read contact information for crew houses and crew agencies, where to do your courses, which doctors do the ENG1, all of the useful online job boards and facebook groups and more!

Teach English Remotely From Anywhere In The World

Check out programs like VIP Kid that let you teach English to Chinese children remotely. You could travel and live anywhere in the world while teaching lessons so long as you have wifi!

Another great option is Palfish. You can teach English lessons to kids right off your smartphone. You have zero prep work for the lessons because you follow simple, easy-to-use lesson plans.

Read a fellow Girls Gone Working blogger’s post: How to teach online with Palfish?

HOW TO LAND A TRAVEL JOB

So you found the job you want to apply for… but now what? Depending on the job, you may need to send in a cover letter and resume. It’s also common for travel companies to ask for your social media as well.

If you have a travel blog you can include that on your resume. I also attached some smiley, travel photos to given them a more clear idea of my personality and to put a face with the resume!

Travel Resume- Show Your Personality and Stand Out In A Fun, Positive Way!

I had to really fluff my resume for my first travel job application. So I highlighted my experience in theater because it showed that I was outgoing, comfortable talking to large groups and expressive. I talked up my experience working retail part time in college because it showed I had good customer service skills- something any travel company would want!

Travel jobs often put you in direct contact with guests who book trips or are staying at a property. Companies want to know they are hiring someone who will keep a positive, professional face with guests.

Sometimes showing that you have a friendly, positive personality is more important than previous work experience.

So what did I put on my travel resume?

“Outgoing, hard-working customer service worker with a fun-loving personality, theatre arts background and a passion for travel! Great interpersonal skills, excels at multitasking and putting a positive spin on everything. Always ready for an adventure or an exciting trip abroad, the perfect trip leader or tour promoter!“

Core Qualifications

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Creative problem solver
• Excels in communication and task management
• Strong sales background-years of experience meeting sales goals
• Over 7 years of charming and happily assisting patrons in customer service
• Social butterfly and the life of every party!

By highlighting that I was outgoing, a social butterfly and enthusiastic but still responsible, I was able to show travel companies I had personality and the type of positive attitude that would be ideal for dealing with guests on vacation.

People pay their travel companies A LOT of money. They don’t want to be dealing with grouchy, unkind customer service people while on the trip of a lifetime. If you’re going to lead a tour or host spring break, your attitude can really make or break a person’s whole trip.

And how they perceive you is how they will perceive that travel company. So often, companies are looking for the right type of person over tons of experience!

You won’t get accepted for them all, keep applying!

When I was first starting out, I was applying for travel jobs I knew were “out of my league.” And while I didn’t get every job, I landed several of the ones I considered to be way above my experience. Never overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself.

Keep applying. Like I said, most companies would rather train the right person even if they have less experience. You’re not applying for an office job.

It’s your strong interpersonal skills that will really set you apart here!

Start as a volunteer to gain experience

If you’re unable to find a paid travel job like tour leading right away, be sure to consider volunteering in exchange for room and board.

After all, if you aren’t paying for accommodation- it’s much easier to keep your costs low while traveling extensively.

Check out the following travel volunteer programs.

Workaway

The most popular site for travel volunteer gigs, Workaway has thousands of listings in countries all over the world. Not only is there huge variety on where you can volunteer and live for free but the types of jobs vary immensely.

If you’re handy with tools, you might be fixing up a hostel. Maybe you like animals so you help out on a ranch.

If hiking and outdoor adventures are more your style, you might help lead excursions for an adventure hostel.

Maybe you’d like to look after children in France and do a homestay to improve your French language skills as well? The options are endless!

You can browse the options for free but to contact a host, you will need to pay a small yearly fee.

Watch my TikTok about Workaway here:

@thewanderlustrose

Check out #Workaway to #volunteer anywhere in the world 🌍 #traveltheworld #bucketlist #fyp

♬ Anywhere – Rita Ora

Woofing

Similar to Workaway, WWOOF hosts provide volunteers with food, accommodation and the opportunity to learn about organic farming. In exchange, volunteers give hands-on help around the property while learning new skills and a sustainable way of living.

Hosts can be found in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania.

“WWOOF organisations connect people who want to live and learn on organic farms and smallholdings with people who want to share their lifestyles, teach new skills and welcome volunteer help.“

Volunteer Your English Skills with Diverbo, Speak or Angloville

These programs are an awesome way to volunteer for a short stay in a country! If you’re a native English speaker, you can stay at a resort abroad and participate in an English-immersion program.

Your accommodation and meals will be covered as you chat with non-native speakers looking to improve their English.

If you’re not an extrovert and a social butterfly, I don’t recommend applying. You will spend all day talking and getting to know people!

However if you do love meeting new people, it can be a really fun and rewarding experience. I volunteered in Germany on my first trip to Europe and am still friends today with the people I met at the program!

Read: HOW TO GET A FREE ALL INCLUSIVE STAY IN EUROPE

Watch my TikTok on Diverbo here:

@thewanderlustrose

Volunteer with Diverbo, Angloville, Speak or Vaughantown! #traveljobs #voluntourism #volunteerwork #diverbo

♬ Anywhere – Passenger

Let me know if you have any questions on how to find or apply for travel jobs in the comments. Best of luck in your search!

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