10 ways to make a living while travelling

Street drawing

My attempts at street art: Copenhagen, 1987

As increasing numbers of people seek a life of eternal travel free from the worries and troubles of domestic life, the ways in which they finance themselves while on the road become ever more varied.

Intended as an off-beat list of some of these money-making strategies, here are 10 methods by which a traveller might pay for his nomadic lifestyle. Many of these jobs are more suited to male travellers (some more so than others).

1. Street artist

Juggling, knife-throwing, fire-eating: all tricks that anyone can learn and that can bring in a handsome reward on the streets of any European capital. The ability to work a crowd into a frenzy of excitement is a must.

2. Bar singer

Good singing ability is optional here – in fact it can sometimes be a disadvantage. More important is being able to secure a decent rate for the night (preferably cash in advance) and to have the presence of mind to avoid the flying glasses that will come your way.

3. Unofficial tour guide

Hang around long enough at any major tourist site and you will soon know much more than the arriving tourists. If you are a quick learner and a even quicker talker you can soon be showing visitors around the Taj Mahal or the Pyramids armed with a smile and a story or two that you’ve overheard from other guides.

4. Driver

If in Delhi or Hanoi for a while, why not buy yourself a tuk-tuk? For only a few hundred dollars you too can toot your horn at any passing tourist and negotiate a good price for a city tour, perhaps even securing a business partnership with a prestigious jewel shop or carpet seller.

5. Interpreter

So many foreign visitors find the inability to communicate with the local people intimidating. Be on hand to help them with your fluent command of their native language. With a little craftiness your inability to master the local tongue shouldn’t be discovered until your work is done.

6. Barman

If you’re a good listener, this is the job for you. Find a quiet seedy joint where the punters come to drown their sorrows and be there to hear their tales of woe. The wages may not be great but the tips you’ll receive as a friend in need will more than make up for this.

7. Beach Lifeguard

Everyone has at some point wanted to be part of the Baywatch set, and nothing’s stopping you from joining the club. Patrol the white sands in your swimwear and keep a close eye on your chosen sun worshippers, while all the while hoping you won’t actually need to get wet.

8. Official tour guide

If you’re not sly enough to make your dollars touting for tourists at the palace gates, you can always sign up with a local tour agency and take organised groups around the sites of your temporary home. A quick crash course in local history and your perfect English should be enough to see you through the interview.

9. Gigolo

Depending on where you are (and who you are) the personal services of a young male traveller are often in demand. Whether it’s locals or wealthy tourists, you’re sure to get well rewarded as a result of your efforts. Once home you’ll have stories (true or concocted) to share with your envious friends for many years.

10. Travel writer

Ok, it’s here that this list starts to get ridiculous, so it’s probably a good place to stop.

Author Information

Freelance travel writer

12 Responses to “10 ways to make a living while travelling”

  1. Andy I’m ROTFL,
    Like your first idea. There is a Circus School at Tour & Taxis here in Brussels. Here a lot of beggars come with a cup while you are waiting at traffic lights. At one junction there are jugglers who wait for the lights to change and perform their act in front of waiting cars. I always give them money. Its great to be entertained while waiting for the lights to change. At night they juggle torches.

    November 24, 2010 at 1:27 pm
  2. Andy the roving gigolo, so now we know, so that’s how you’ve got so many miles under your belt then! lol Travel writer? Yes, stretching credulity a bit there!
    I’d like to start a business of unreliable tour guides. ‘I think there’s some shit over there, just past the big rock, just look it up on google maps. Aligators? Ah, their bark’s worse than their bite’

    November 24, 2010 at 5:35 pm
  3. John, the jugglers’ school sounds exactly what I need. I have trouble catching a ball so learning to play with fire could be interesting. Have you been tempted? :-)

    Jools, getting a bit old now to work as a gigolo. I’m sure young good-looking men like yourself will have far more success in that department. As for the crap tour guide job, I think I might be a natural fit for that role – I’ve been spinning such stories to my wife on our travels for many years. I reckon I’ll sign up with your company once you get it started.

    November 24, 2010 at 7:27 pm
  4. If anyone decides to buy a tuk tuk and start driving it around some Southeast Asian metropolis, please let me know – I’ll be on the first plane out.

    November 25, 2010 at 1:45 am
  5. Andy… can only assume you know that ‘the personal services of a young male traveller are often in demand’ because you’ve been approached several times?!

    And here we were thinking you the innocent travel blogger :)

    November 25, 2010 at 10:20 am
  6. Sadly Sally, those types of stories seem to happen to all my friends but never to me. Otherwise do you really think I wouldn’t have given the experience at least a blog post or two ;-)

    Jasmine, the tuk-tuk idea is tempting. Have you heard of the Rickshaw Run? It’s a charity event where competitors buy a tuk-tuk and travel across India. Sounds completely crazy, but a pretty wild adventure.

    November 25, 2010 at 11:09 am
  7. Cam #

    I’m thinking Gigolo, but the wifey isn’t as keen. She’s leaning more towards bar singer…

    November 25, 2010 at 7:04 pm
  8. I think the gigolo life is not an easy one. I think bar singer is easier (or even knife-thrower) :-)

    November 25, 2010 at 9:14 pm
  9. Nice ideas :))
    I might try some of them – might even get away with it! Except for that gigolo part… too woman and too old for that. Although, you may never know. Some people can be really tolerant.
    As Joe E.Brown says at the end of “Some like it hot” – nobody’s perfect!

    November 28, 2010 at 11:48 am
  10. I love this post – have you ever done any of the suggested money-makers? Erm, I suppose you may not admit to being a gigolo uh … LOL

    November 30, 2010 at 12:42 pm
  11. Yes, the gigolo part. I think I’d have more success as a fire-eater ;-) My most successful attempt at any of the above is no.1, as seen in that incriminating photo (£6 and a packet of biscuits I seem to remember)

    November 30, 2010 at 2:22 pm

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