How to Become a Professional Traveler [11 Tips to Make Money Traveling]

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How to become a professional traveler? It’s a question many travel enthusiasts might ask themselves. I see travel YouTube channels, watching individuals and couple travel the world and wonder how they do it! I finally figured it out and in this article, I’m going to share exactly how it works to make money as a professional traveler.

Becoming a professional traveler typically involves gaining experience and building a portfolio through travel writing, photography, or making travel videos. It is also important to have a strong social media presence and a good understanding of the travel industry. With this, you can monetize the content you create and make money as a professional traveler.

Networking with other travel industry professionals and developing a niche area of expertise can also be beneficial.

Additionally, many professional travelers monetize their experiences through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and consulting work.

I’ll also cover 11 tips to make money traveling. This is something literally anybody can do. It’s not easy but, it can be done, and faster than you might think.

Let’s get started!

Why become a professional traveler?

Becoming a professional traveler can be a rewarding and exciting career path for individuals who have a passion for travel and are interested in exploring new places and cultures. Some benefits of becoming a professional traveler include:

1. The opportunity to see the world and experience new cultures.
2. The ability to make a living while doing something you love.
3. The potential to build a portfolio of work and gain recognition in the industry.
4. The opportunity to network with other travel industry professionals.
5. The ability to inspire others to travel and share your experiences with a wider audience.

Additionally, being a professional traveler can also have personal benefits such as personal growth, gaining new perspectives, and developing new skills.

What jobs pay you to travel?

There are several jobs that pay you to travel, including:

1. Travel Writer: You can write about your travel experiences for newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs.
2. Travel Photographer: You can take photographs of your travels and sell them to stock photo agencies, magazines, or websites.
3. Tour Guide: You can lead groups of people on tours to different parts of the world and share your knowledge of the culture and history of the places you visit.
4. Travel Blogger: You can start a travel blog and make money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and advertising.
5. Flight Attendant: As a flight attendant, you’ll be able to travel to different parts of the world while working on an airline.
6. Travel Agent: As a travel agent, you’ll help people plan and book their trips, and sometimes you will be able to travel for free or at a reduced rate through familiarization trips.
7. Cruise Ship Employee: You can work on a cruise ship and travel to different parts of the world while working.
8. Travel Consultant: You can offer your expertise to companies and individuals looking to plan trips or events in different parts of the world.
9. Travel Vlogger/Youtuber: You can create travel-related videos and make money through ad revenue and sponsorships.
10. Travel App/website developer: You can help develop apps or websites that help people plan and book their travels, you may have the chance to travel to test and improve the product.

It’s worth noting that some of these jobs may require specific qualifications or experience, and the pay and benefits will vary depending on the employer and the role.

How much does a professional traveler make?

Professional travelers can earn a lucrative living but, not all pro travelers make a lot of money. This really boils down to the kind of job you work.

For example, travel bloggers can earn up to $40,000/month or more. This can come from one or more sources including:

• Advertising
• Sponsored partnerships
• Selling products and services

For example, travel bloggers Kara and Nate have shared in these income reports, earnings of up to $125,000/quarter!

But, cruise line employees may not earn such a lucrative living, as they are cruise line workers, making an average of $29,500/year, according to this source.

You can see how travel professional salaries can vary a lot.

The money can be tempting but, I recommend going after a travel career you truly love. As the saying goes, when you find something you love, you don’t feel like you’re working a day in your life!

That’s how I feel, running my business as a creator for the past several years.

Here are 11 of my best tips for making money traveling.

11 Tips to Make Money Traveling

1. Be patient

The first step is the hardest and that is figuring out what kind of career you want to pursue in life. If you’ve decided you want to work in a travel career, that’s already half the battle. Travel jobs can extend far and wide. I shared an example above of a travel blogger making up to $125K per quarter (or $30K+ per month) and a cruise line worker making about $30K/year.

My advice I hope you take to heart is to be patient with yourself.

There are so many different travel careers out there. Take your time figuring out which path your want to take in deciding the travel career for you. And, be patient throughout the process.

Even if you’re an entry-level professional travel worker at an entry-level salary. Be patient with your progress. It takes time to refine your skills and develop yourself professionally in the travel industry.

2. Network

Connect with other travel industry professionals and build relationships with people in the industry. This can lead to opportunities for sponsored content, partnerships, and collaborations.

Here are some ideas for networking within the travel industry:

• Attend travel industry events: Attend trade shows, conferences, and networking events to meet other professionals in the travel industry.
• Join travel industry associations: Join professional associations in the travel industry such as the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA) or the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
• Join online travel communities: Join online communities such as travel bloggers, photographers and vloggers groups on social media, or forums to connect with other professionals in the travel industry.
• Reach out to other travel professionals: Contact other travel writers, photographers, and bloggers, and offer to collaborate on projects or share ideas.
• Collaborate with other travel professionals: Collaborate with other travel professionals on projects such as group tours, travel guides, or e-books.
• Reach out to travel companies: Contact travel companies, tour operators, and hotels, and offer your services as a writer, photographer, or content creator.
• Leverage social media: Use social media to connect with other professionals in the travel industry and to promote your own work.
• Volunteer to work on projects: Volunteer to work on projects with other travel industry professionals to gain experience and make connections.
• Participate in travel industry groups, online or offline: Participate in groups or meetups of travel professionals in your area, this can be a great way to network and get to know other people in the industry.
• Be open to opportunities: Be open to any kind of opportunity that comes your way, you never know where a chance encounter or a new contact can lead.

Networking is a continuous effort, and it may take time to build meaningful relationships in the travel industry. But with persistence and effort, you can establish a strong network of contacts that can lead to new opportunities and growth in your career.

3. Monetize your content

If you’re a travel blogger, photographer, or vlogger, you can make money through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and advertising.

There are so many ways to monetize your content:

• Brand partnerships: You can partner with brands to create content or promote their products or services.
• E-books: You can write and sell e-books about your travel experiences or travel guides.
• Online courses: If you have expertise in a specific area of travel, you can create and sell online courses about the topic.
• Print on Demand: You can create and sell your own travel-related merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases using print-on-demand platforms.
• Consulting: If you have a niche area of expertise, such as adventure travel or sustainable tourism, you can offer consulting services to companies and individuals looking to plan trips or events in that area.
• Stock photos: If you’re a skilled photographer, you can sell your photos to stock photo agencies, magazines, or websites.
• Social media sponsored posts: You can get sponsored by brands to post on your social media accounts, like getting sponsored on Tik Tok.

It’s worth noting that monetizing your travel content can be challenging and it may take time to build a sustainable income stream.

To be successful, it’s important to have a strong audience, consistently produce high-quality content, and be strategic in your monetization efforts.

4. Sell your photos

If you’re a skilled photographer, you can sell your photos to stock photo agencies, magazines, or websites. Even, if you’re not a skilled photographer, as an amateur you can still capture stunning, breathtaking photos of what’s around you. People want to see the places you visit and photography is the perfect opportunity to share that.

Videography is another opportunity here, too. You can see photos and videos as stock. Making money with stock images/videos can be a passive income stream for you to pursue as a pro traveler.

5. Offer your expertise

If you have a niche area of expertise, such as adventure travel or sustainable tourism, you can offer consulting services to companies and individuals looking to plan trips or events in that area.

This could be as a:

• Tour guide
• Coach
• Consultant

Use what you’ve learned about an area and about travel in general to help and educate others. Other than the in-person opportunities listed above, if you want something more remote, you could look at paid online speaking opportunities or creating your own money-making blog.

6. Work Remotely

If you have a job that allows you to work remotely, you can take advantage of that flexibility to travel and make money at the same time.

If you work in a career or a job that lets you work from anywhere, this can be the perfect opportunity to travel! Work from an Airbnb in Mexico, work from a beach in Italy, work from a coffee shop in Cuba, etc.

There are plenty of remote jobs that let you work remotely.

Some favorites include:

• FlexJobs
• WeWorkRemotely
• Remote
• Remotive

7. Be creative

There are many ways to monetize your travels, from writing e-books to selling your own travel-related products. Monetize your creativity. Here are some ideas…

• Sell digital prints on Etsy
• Photography or videography
• Travel planning services
• Blogging
• Vlogging
• Travel influencer

8. Save money

When traveling, you can save money by staying in budget accommodations, cooking your own meals, and avoiding expensive activities. Saving money is something to keep in mind while traveling. You don’t want to find yourself in a pinch and low on funds.

Prepare for the unexpected, budget, and look for money-saving opportunities:

• Stay in a hostel
• Plan your trip
• Cook your own meals
• Use public transportation
• Use discount resources/sites when traveling
• Avoid tourist traps
• Get travel insurance
• Be flexible

9. Look for opportunities

Be open to different opportunities and be creative in finding ways to make money while traveling. This is where flexibility comes into play.

For example, if you could save a few hundred dollars traveling to one destination during a specific week in the month compared to other weeks, take advantage. If you see ways to save or make money while traveling, use those opportunities to your benefit. There are many ways you can take advantage of opportunities around you that can aid in your quest to make money traveling.

10. Sell an online course

You can create and sell online courses on travel-related topics such as budget traveling, solo traveling, or backpacking. I sell my courses on Teachable. You can use other platforms like Thinkific or places like Udemy or Skillshare exist, as well.

11. Housesitting

Signup for housesitting sites and apply for global opportunities to housesit. This can be a way to make money, get free room and board, or both! Trusted Housesitters is an example of a housesitting site you can sign up for.

Is a professional traveler a real job?

A professional traveler can be considered a real job, but it is not a traditional 9-5 job with a fixed salary and benefits.

Being a professional traveler typically involves making a living through a variety of income streams, such as writing, photography, and video production, as well as through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and consulting work. It is also often considered a freelance or self-employed job.

However, it’s worth noting that the travel industry is a competitive field and becoming a successful professional traveler can be difficult. It requires a combination of skills, experience, and a strong online presence, as well as the ability to monetize your content and build a sustainable income stream.

It’s also important to note that being a professional traveler can be challenging and it may take time to build a sustainable income stream. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication, as well as the ability to adapt to the constant changes of the industry.

So, while being a professional traveler can be a real job, it’s not for everyone and it’s important to be realistic about the challenges and expectations of this career path.

Pros and cons of becoming a professional traveler

Pros of professional traveler jobs

• The opportunity to see the world and experience new cultures.
• The ability to make a living while doing something you love.
• The potential to build a portfolio of work and gain recognition in the industry.
• The opportunity to network with other travel industry professionals.
• The ability to inspire others to travel and share your experiences with a wider audience.
• Personal growth, gaining new perspectives and developing new skills.
• Flexibility and autonomy in your work schedule.
• The ability to earn income through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and consulting work.

Let’s break it down.

First, seeing the world and experiencing new cultures is amazing! It’s something everybody doesn’t get the chance to do. It can help you become more well-rounded as a person, appreciate different things and new cultures and truly become well traveled.

Next, making money doing something you love is the ultimate goal for everyone I think. That doesn’t mean you have to be in love with travel to work as a professional traveler but, if you enjoy:

• Seeing new sights
• Traveling to places
• Making money exploring

Then, a professional traveler job might be a good career path to pursue.

Brand-building perks like gaining recognition, building a portfolio, and becoming a professional traveler and travel expert are great. A flexible work schedule is something a lot of workers crave. Working from the beach or from a local cafe or coffee shop is a desire many workers behind a computer wish for and this is possible in a professional traveler job.

You’ll get the chance to make money through various channels, widen your perspectives and grow more as a person with travel.

Cons of professional traveler jobs

• The travel industry can be competitive and it can be difficult to break into.
• Constant travel can be tiring and can take a toll on your personal and professional relationships.
• The uncertainty of income and financial stability.
• The pressure to constantly create new and exciting content.
• The need to be constantly on the move, which can make it difficult to maintain a stable home and personal life.
• The need to be always online and connected in order to market yourself and your work.
• Traveling to some areas of the world can be dangerous and require specific health and safety precautions.
• The need to be self-motivated and disciplined, as working from the road can be isolating.
• It’s not a traditional 9-5 job with a fixed salary and benefits
• It’s not a guaranteed job, it’s a constant effort to keep up with the trends, audience, and the industry, it may require to be adaptable.

There are drawbacks, as you can see.

First, the travel industry is incredibly competitive. Everyone that tries to break into travel doesn’t make it. Just look at how competitive becoming a flight attendant for a commercial airline is.

Did you know that of over 100,000 Delta Airlines flight attendant applications received, less than 1% get the job as a flight attendant?

Examples of Professional Travelers | Professional Traveler Job

Here are examples of professional traveler jobs you might want to check out:

• Travel bloggers: Travel the world and make money through blogging. Blogging can earn you a very generous salary. It’s not the same for everyone but, you can earn income actively and passively with blogging, through multiple income streams like ads, sponsored posts, and more.
• Flight attendants: Flight attendants can earn around $50K to $60K per year on average and get the perks of flying the world! This is a sought-after position that many people go for.
• Travel nurses: Travel nursing is extremely lucrative, I just learned. According to this source, travel nurses in Texas make an average of $127,000/year.
• Tour guides: Give guided tours of the places you’re staying. If you know the are well or want to take the time to learn, this could be a fulfilling and lucrative career. New York City tour guides can make around $35K to $50K per year, for example but, if you own your own tour guide business, the sky’s the limit!
• Travel vloggers: This is like blogging but, with video. YouTube is the ideal platform to pursue this. An example of successful travel vloggers are Kara and Nate, who make $30K to $40K per month, according to their income reports.
• Travel consultants: These are professionals who provide advice and assistance to individuals and organizations planning business or leisure travel. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for travel agents in the United States is $43,180, with the top 10 percent earning more than $64,320 You can also work independently as a solopreneur travel consultant and potentially make a lot of money!

Bottom line

There are plenty of different travel jobs you could pursue as your career.

The bottom line is, you can do anything you put your mind to. If becoming a professional traveler is something you truly want to do, go for it! It’s not all fancy hotel rooms and room service. There will be times when your flight gets canceled, your reservations get canceled, the Wi-FI sucks, and other drawbacks but, no career is perfect.

To be totally location-independent, getting into a travel career is one of the best paths to pursue. I personally think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and for the traveler at heart, becoming a professional traveler is worth it!

Which pro traveler career will you be pursuing?