Making money while traveling is more accessible than ever, but it requires smart planning and the right approach.
In this post, I’ll explain one of the best ways to make money while traveling on your terms, the three key things you need to start, and how to deal with the challenges that come with it.
Before You Travel, Have a Plan
The very first thing you need is a good plan for how you will make money while traveling. The reality is that traditional employment rarely accommodates a traveling lifestyle. Unless you have a very flexible full-time job that lets you earn from anywhere you go, you’ll probably have to start freelancing.
Note that even if you had a full-time job, it might not suit the traveling lifestyle, assuming you had to work the traditional 40 hours a week.
Getting started with freelancing
Freelancing doesn’t have to be complicated, but you must prepare. The key is to approach it strategically. Think about how you plan to earn while you travel. What skills can you sell to clients? How and where will you get clients from?
Freelancing is one of those things that’s easier said than done. You need to understand the job market, expectations, work opportunities, and balancing habits, so it’s highly recommended that you read up before making the jump.
To help you navigate this transition, I’ve created comprehensive guides that walk you through every step:
- How to Become A Freelancer in 6 Easy Steps (While Keeping Your Job)
- How To Freelance (7 steps to get started today)
These guides will help you build a strong foundation for your freelance career, covering everything from finding your first client to scaling your income while traveling. Take time to study them before making any major moves.
Start building your personal brand
While freelancing offers immediate income potential, another powerful approach worth considering is building your own audience/brand to support your traveling lifestyle. This strategy can create more sustainable, long-term income streams that grow with your travels. Even if you have zero followers to start with, don’t worry; I’ll show you how to create content and a brand in the next section.
The foundation for this approach is detailed in my guide on becoming your boss–save this for future reading:
This guide will show you exactly how to transition from traditional employment to being your boss, with practical steps you can implement while still maintaining your current income. The strategies within have helped thousands of people build location-independent businesses.
Why You Should Try Making Money While Traveling (with a real-life example)
Almost everyone wants to travel more, and getting enough vacation days for all the trips you want can be challenging. So, wouldn’t it be perfect to make money while traveling instead of saving up for a year for your annual holiday?
While it’s not the same as a traditional vacation, this approach offers something potentially better: the freedom to explore the world while maintaining steady income streams. You still have all the excitement of travel but with the security of continuous earnings.
Take Annie and Emery, a couple with a combined income of $225,000 still stressed over vacation budgets and time off constraints. What started as a spontaneous trip to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon became an 11-day European adventure with a loosely planned $2,000 budget. Despite getting great deals like $60 seafood feasts in Lisbon, tension arose over small expenses like a $5 beer. This shows how traditional vacation constraints can overshadow what should be joyful experiences.
[00:02:14] Ramit: Nice. Okay. So you both went to Paris and Lisbon. How long was the trip in order for this budget to be 2,000 bucks?
[00:02:26] Annie: It was 10 days, 11 days.
[00:02:29] Ramit: Okay. Is this a common recurrence, like you pick a number and then you end up spending more than you had planned?
[00:02:35] Annie: We actually generally don’t even pick a number. We don’t really save for our vacation. That’s part of the problem. We usually spend as we go. We’re pretty frugal. I usually book hotels last minute, so it’s way discounted, and we take trains. We don’t really spend a lot of money in hotels.
[00:03:04] Emery: I thought that it was a reasonable budget, but it would probably be hard to stay within those confines. But I figured let’s give it a shot. If nothing else, it was a challenge, and let’s see if we can do it once we get there. Our commitment to the challenge tended to fade at times on both ends. We were there for a Taylor Swift concert.
[00:03:24] That’s the reason why we went to Lisbon to begin with, and so the trip wasn’t really in the budget anyway, but we had Taylor Swift tickets, so we’re like, well, I guess we’re going to Europe. But I think she brought it the point of the beer. So we’d order a meal, which you get a table full of fresh seafood for $60 in Lisbon. It’s amazing. And then I’d order a 5-dollar beer, and the 5-dollar beer was the thing that would later be mentioned.
[00:03:53] For me, that’s one of the themes of why we reached out to you on the show from my end, was there’s an inconsistency in terms of when we choose to feel tension and express tension to each other. And sometimes I just don’t know when it’s going to happen, and it comes out of nowhere, and it’s like, okay, I didn’t know that that beer or was that bottle of tequila we’re buying for this party going to be a problem? Sometimes I don’t know.
[00:04:18] Ramit: All right. What’s the problem?
[00:04:22] Annie: Well, now we’re over budget.
Their story goes deeper than just budget concerns. Annie’s perspective shifted dramatically after seeing her father get sick before retirement and her 34-year-old sister-in-law face cancer. These experiences made her realize the importance of traveling now rather than waiting for “someday.”
[00:56:29] Annie: My dad got sick before he could retire, so he is not even able to use any of the money that he put into investments. And I guess that’s part of the reason, like, well, if we have this money, we can use it now, but obviously still keep some for later because I could live until I’m 90.
[00:57:04] But my sister-in-law just got diagnosed with cancer, and she’s 34. So these health things that’s going on around me made me think I need to do things now. I need to travel now rather than wait till I’m old and can’t move as much.
[00:57:30] Ramit: I’m sorry your dad and sister-in-law and maybe others have gone through that. I think when people around us get sick, we start to realize mortality is real, and sometimes it comes out in different ways for different people. The traveling makes perfect sense to me. You have the money. You want to enjoy life. Now I get that. I have no problem with it. You can afford it. How else do you think that seeing family illness has affected your view of money?
[00:58:12] Annie: Honestly, I don’t find, I guess, future retirement as important.
Emery and Annie’s story perfectly illustrates why the freedom to work while traveling can be so valuable. Instead of stressing over vacation days and strict budgets, you can focus on creating meaningful experiences while maintaining your income–allowing you to seize opportunities for adventure without sacrificing financial security.
How to Create Content While Traveling
Creating content while traveling is the best way to build your own audience/personal brand. The beauty of this approach is its natural synergy–you will already be experiencing new adventures every single day, so why not document them?
Choose your content format
There are two main ways to document your travels, both of which can be easily leveraged into a full-time money-making gig:
Video/Travel Vlogging
Video and travel vlogging offer a dynamic way to share your experiences with your audience. By showcasing your activities visually, you can create a more immersive and engaging connection with viewers. This format also allows for authenticity, as expressing yourself on camera often feels more personal and relatable.
However, it’s important to note that this type of content creation comes with additional costs. You’ll likely need to invest in high-quality tools, such as cameras, microphones, and video editing software, to produce polished videos. If you’re an extroverted individual who enjoys talking and connecting with others, vlogging might be the perfect creative outlet for you.
Writing/Travel Blogging
Writing and travel blogging offer a straightforward way to begin sharing your adventures. All you need to get started is a laptop, an internet connection, and a website to host your blog. This format is ideal if you prefer a quieter, behind-the-scenes approach, as it doesn’t require appearing on camera. Writing also allows for more depth and detail, making it a great choice for creating comprehensive travel guides and tips. If you can write consistently and enjoy diving into research, travel blogging can be a rewarding and informative way to share your experiences.
Both formats have unique advantages; your choice should align with your natural strengths and comfort level. The key is consistency–whether you’re creating videos or writing blog posts, regular content creation will help you build an engaged audience that trusts your travel expertise and recommendations.
Both formats have unique advantages; your choice should align with your natural strengths and comfort level. The key is consistency–whether you’re creating videos or writing blog posts, regular content creation will help you build an engaged audience that trusts your travel expertise and recommendations.
Leverage social media
You can also combine both by sharing your travel experiences on social media. It’s really easy nowadays to whip up your phone, post a story, and write captions about your day-to-day life while traveling. Whatever it is, document your travel experiences in some way or another.
Consider your existing habits and strengths: If you journal your trips, you could write blog posts about them. If you already post a lot of short-form content, it’s worth leveling up into longer-form vlogs to build an audience on YouTube, too. There’s no right or wrong way; choose the methods that work for you.
Build a deeper connection with your audience by sending them to your email list
When you have an audience, even if small, building a more exclusive connection with them is crucial. You can do this by funneling them to an email list. Offer your audience a useful travel-related guide to subscribe to your email newsletter.
Audiences you have on social media platforms are not yours, so it’s key to get them on your newsletter, where you can continue to interact with and nurture them for the long term. This direct connection with your audience becomes invaluable as you grow your travel-focused business.
If you want to dive deeper into creating content that truly stands out and resonates with your audience, I’ve created a comprehensive resource that will help. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Remarkable Content, where I’ll show you exactly how to write content that attracts thousands of readers and builds your authority:
Other Ways to Make Money While Traveling
While vlogging and blogging are the most obvious choices for those wanting to make money while traveling, they’re not the only paths available. Here are several alternative approaches that might better suit your skills and travel style.
1. Work remotely with your current job
While this isn’t a common perk for full-time jobs these days, it is possible. However, it may not be a long-term sustainable lifestyle beyond the location flexibility, and assuming you don’t have time flexibility (if you have to take meetings in your original timezone, you might be working midnight hours, for example).
The key to making this work is starting with a solid plan. Discuss remote work possibilities with your employer, emphasizing how you’ll maintain productivity. Consider proposing a trial period to demonstrate your ability to work effectively while traveling. Most importantly, invest in reliable equipment and backup solutions to ensure you can always fulfill your work responsibilities. Success in remote work while traveling comes down to proving you can be even more productive than when you’re in the office.
2. Freelancing and consulting
If you’re experienced enough and have transferable hard skills, work for clients as freelancers or consultants in your niche. The key advantage here is that you can leverage your existing expertise while building a flexible schedule that accommodates your travel plans.
Start by identifying your core professional skills, whether writing, design, marketing, or programming, that can be offered remotely. Build a portfolio showcasing your best work, and consider starting on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to gain initial clients. The beauty of freelancing while traveling is that you can scale your work up or down depending on your travel schedule and income needs.
3. Teaching English
You can look for companies looking for freelance English teachers, or you can work as an independent teacher. This option is particularly viable in many countries where English teachers are in high demand.
Getting started requires some preparation: obtain a TEFL certification, research reputable online teaching platforms, and consider specializing in business English or test preparation for higher rates.
Regardless of your choice, remember to document your experiences from making money while traveling–you don’t need to earn millions to teach others how to do the same. In fact, other beginner freelancers may find you authentic and inspiring when sharing your journey.
Be transparent about your successes and challenges, and share specific examples when possible. Your journey of building a location-independent income can become valuable content that helps others while building your own authority in the digital nomad space. What starts as simple documentation can evolve into a powerful personal brand that opens up even more opportunities for income and growth.
You Only Need These 3 Things To Make Money While Traveling
Success as a traveling professional doesn’t require countless tools and resources. In fact, you can build a sustainable income stream with just three key elements. Of course, you’ll likely pick up more tools on the road as the need arises, but here’s what you need to get started.
Best apps and sites for a working traveler
Before you start your journey, make sure you have these essential digital tools set up:
- Professional LinkedIn Profile: This is essential for freelance and remote workers. Make it a dynamic representation of your skills and experience–showcase your remote work capabilities and highlight your international experience.
- Freelancing Platform Accounts: Set up profiles on Upwork or Fiverr. Optimize your presence with compelling service descriptions and competitive rates matching your expertise.
- Communication Tools: A Google Voice or paid Skype account keeps you connected with a U.S. phone number for verification and client calls, maintaining your professional presence regardless of location.
- VPN Service: Tools like NordVPN help you access work platforms and circumvent geo-restrictions. However, don’t try to escape your work policies with a VPN (e.g., tell your boss you’re working within the country but then traveling abroad). You’ll probably get caught, and it’s not worth risking your income source.
Properly setting up these digital tools before you start traveling will ensure you can hit the ground running and maintain professional relationships from anywhere in the world.
Banking and payment solutions for you to make money
Wise stands out as the best banking app for those who want to receive money while traveling. Its advantages extend beyond just receiving payments–it’s excellent for holding different currencies and maintains low fees for international transactions. The platform’s multi-currency accounts can save you significant money on currency conversion and international transfer fees.
For United States citizens, Charles Schwab offers one of the best investment and checking accounts because it refunds all ATM fees. While traveling, it’s a nice perk because you won’t have to worry about excessive fees eating into your earnings when withdrawing money abroad.
You should also travel with at least one to three credit cards. If you travel a lot, you should look into good travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum, designed for luxury travelers.
When traveling and living abroad, don’t put all your eggs in one basket and rely on one checking account or credit card. If something gets stolen or lost while traveling, you want a backup within easy reach.
Co-working spaces (or at least a place with good internet connection)
Co-working spaces usually have good WiFi, working desks, coffee, and tea, and you can meet other digital nomads. But they offer more than just a place to work–they become hubs for networking, collaboration, and community building. These spaces often host events, workshops, and social gatherings that can lead to new opportunities and friendships.
Co-working spaces can be an excellent place for those traveling alone who want to do some networking but don’t want to work alone all the time. The professional environment helps maintain productivity, while the social aspect provides valuable connections in new cities. Many successful traveling professionals find that the slightly higher cost of co-working spaces than working from cafes is justified by the networking opportunities and reliable infrastructure they provide.
You need a good internet connection, at minimum. If you’re working from home, you need to be connected at all times. A minimum download speed of 10 Mbps is usually sufficient, but you may need faster speeds if you’re video chatting.
How To Pre-Emptively Deal With Common Challenges When Making Money While Traveling
While traveling and working simultaneously offers incredible freedom, it also comes with unique challenges that require careful planning. Let’s explore the most common obstacles and how to overcome them before they impact your work and travel experience.
Dealing with unreliable internet
Having a stable, consistent internet connection is one of the biggest obstacles to making money while traveling. It’ll limit some of the places you go that don’t have good internet access. As long as you’re not going to too remote places, WiFi should be available wherever you go. However, always have a backup plan–consider getting an unlimited data plan for your phone to use as a hotspot when needed.
The internet requirements for your work will also shape your travel decisions. This also depends on the type of content you want to create. For example, bloggers won’t need as fast and reliable internet as travel vloggers who need to upload large video files regularly.
Managing different time zones
Time zone management requires strategic planning and clear communication. If you’re still working at your current job, negotiate flexible hours that don’t require you to be online in a fixed time zone.
For freelancers, be upfront with your clients about your working hours and availability. Set clear expectations about response times and meeting schedules to avoid confusion or missed connections.
You should also utilize time management tools to maximize your efficiency across different time zones. Apps like World Time Buddy or Every Time Zone can help you visualize overlapping work hours, while Calendar.io allows you to schedule meetings that automatically adjust to everyone’s local time.
Handing international payments (and taxes)
If you’re a freelance worker or handling your payments, it’s crucial to diversify your payment methods. For example, in the United States, you should have multiple payment options: Wise, PayPal, CashApp, ApplePay, and Venmo. This redundancy ensures you’ll always have a way to receive payment that’s convenient for your client, even if one system experiences issues.
Make sure to be clear about your tax status with your employer (if applicable). Tax obligations can become complex when earning money across borders, so consult a tax professional who understands international income if you need clarification on your financial situation.
Financial security and emergency planning
Have a reliable financial cushion before embarking on your journey. A 3-6 month emergency fund will cover you on days when income is low and also give you the flexibility to choose a working lifestyle without needing to be glued to your laptop 24/7. This buffer provides peace of mind and prevents you from taking on work that doesn’t align with your travel goals.
Here are some further tips for maintaining your financial safety net while traveling:
- Calculate your average monthly expenses in your target destinations.
- Add 20-30% extra to your emergency fund for unexpected travel costs.
- Keep funds in both your home currency and the currency of your main destination.
- Consider travel insurance that covers work equipment and emergency repatriation.
- Set up automated savings transfers to maintain your emergency fund
The key to financial success while traveling is planning for both the expected and unexpected. Create systems that handle various payment methods, tax obligations, and emergencies. This comprehensive approach will give you the freedom to focus on your work and travels without constant financial stress.
Maintaining work-life balance
For some, traveling itself can feel exhausting enough, let alone trying to juggle it while making money. The key is to start small and scale up gradually. Don’t quit your job to be a digital nomad from the start.
Instead, dip your toes into working while traveling by taking a week or two to work in a new place. See if this is a sustainable long-term lifestyle for you, and don’t worry if it doesn’t fit your circumstances–everyone’s Rich Life is different.
Successfully making money while traveling comes down to creating an efficient and sustainable routine, even on the road. Some people thrive on constant movement, while others prefer staying in one location for extended periods. The best thing about working and traveling is you have a lot of freedom. You can build a routine and life that allows you to flourish under any conditions.
It’s one of the best things I’ve published (and 100% free), just tell me where to send it:
