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Traveling the world and making money at the same time might sound like a dream, but it’s a reality for many digital nomads. Here are 10 creative ways to make money while traveling that you probably haven’t considered.
As a digital nomad who’s explored every corner of the gig economy, I’ve discovered that making money on the road doesn’t always mean staring at a laptop in a café. Beyond the usual jobs like freelancing or teaching English, there are some easy means to earn an income on the go. Here are ten unconventional ways to fund your travels that you might not have thought of – some quirky, some creative, but all potentially lucrative.
1. Virtual Plant-Sitting Consultant
As a Virtual Plant-Sitting Consultant, you provide remote plant care advice to clients while they travel. You offer virtual consultations to assess plant health, provide customized care instructions, and monitor progress via video calls. This niche service appeals to plant enthusiasts who want to ensure their plants thrive even when they’re away. The virtual nature of the job allows you to work from anywhere.
- How It Works: As a Virtual Plant-Sitting Consultant, you offer remote guidance on plant care while clients travel. This includes virtual consultations to assess plant health, providing care instructions, and monitoring plants via video calls.
- Why It’s Unconventional: Unlike traditional pet or house sitting, this niche service focuses on plant care, allowing you to work remotely from anywhere. It offers a unique way to monetize plant expertise while giving clients peace of mind that their plants will thrive in their absence.
- Potential Earnings: $50-$100 per consultation, or $500-$2000 per month with regular clients
2. Travel Gear Tester and Reviewer
As a Travel Gear Tester and Reviewer, you collaborate with brands to test and review travel gear in real-world conditions. You use products like backpacks, tech gadgets, or outdoor gear during your travels, then provide detailed reviews through blogs, videos, or social media. This role allows you to earn money and potentially keep the gear, reducing travel expenses.
- How It Works: As a Travel Gear Tester and Reviewer, you test travel gear in real-world conditions during your trips. You provide detailed reviews through blogs, videos, or social media, often collaborating with brands to evaluate their products.
- Why It’s Unconventional: This role integrates seamlessly into a nomadic lifestyle, allowing you to earn money while traveling. It’s a specialized niche, providing authentic feedback that benefits both brands and fellow travelers, and often includes the perk of keeping the gear, reducing travel expenses.
- Potential Earnings: Free gear plus $100-$500 per review, or $1000-$3000 per month with consistent work
3. Tour Guide for Hire
If you’re knowledgeable about a particular city or region, you can offer your services as a freelance tour guide. Many travelers prefer personal, customized tours over the standard group offerings, and they’re willing to pay for an insider’s view.
- How It Works: Advertise your services on platforms like ToursByLocals or create your own website offering personalized tour experiences. You can also reach out to local hotels and hostels to see if they need guides.
- Why It’s Unconventional: This job lets you share your passion for a place with others while making money and connecting with fellow travelers.
- Potential Earnings: $50-$200 per tour, or $100-$500 per day for private tours
4. Freelance Photography
If you have a talent for photography, there’s a market for travel photos that goes beyond selling to stock photo websites. Many businesses and publications are looking for unique, high-quality images from around the world.
- How It Works: Sell your travel photos directly to clients or through platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Alamy. You can also offer photography services to local businesses or other travelers.
- Why It’s Unconventional: While stock photography is common, finding niche markets for your specific travel photography can lead to higher earnings and more personalized work.
- Potential Earnings: $100-$500 per shoot, or $1000-$3000 per month with regular clients
5. Travel Blogging With a Twist
While travel blogging itself isn’t unconventional, the way you monetize it can be. Instead of relying solely on ads and sponsorships, consider creating a travel niche that offers unique value—like travel itineraries for niche markets, or specialized travel guides.
- How It Works: Focus on a specific niche (e.g., sustainable travel, luxury travel on a budget, travel for artists) and build a blog around it. Offer digital products like itineraries, eBooks, or travel consulting services.
- Why It’s Unconventional: The key is finding a niche that isn’t saturated and offering something that others aren’t—whether it’s highly specialized content or unique travel services.
- Potential Earnings: $500-$5000 per month, depending on blog traffic and sponsorships
6. Remote Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping doesn’t have to be limited to your hometown. Many companies hire mystery shoppers to evaluate customer service in stores, hotels, and restaurants around the world.
- How It Works: Sign up with international mystery shopping companies like Market Force or Secret Shopper. You’ll be assigned tasks at different locations, where you’ll assess the customer experience and report back.
- Why It’s Unconventional: This is a great way to get paid for tasks you’d likely be doing anyway, like dining out or staying at hotels, while traveling.
- Potential Earnings: $10-$100 per assignment, or $500-$2000 per month with regular work
7. Language Tutoring On-the-Go
If you’re fluent in more than one language, you can offer language tutoring services as you travel. Many people around the world are eager to learn new languages, and they often prefer one-on-one lessons over formal classes.
- How It Works: Advertise your services on platforms like AmazingTalker, iTalki, Preply, or even locally at hostels and community centers. You can offer in-person or online lessons, depending on your travel schedule.
- Why It’s Unconventional: Unlike traditional teaching, this allows you to set your own schedule and meet students in diverse locations, offering a truly global classroom experience.
- Potential Earnings: $15-$50 per hour, or $1000-$3000 per month for full-time tutoring
8. Online Arbitrage
Online arbitrage involves buying products in one market and selling them at a higher price in another. As a traveler, you’re in a unique position to discover products that are in demand elsewhere and turn a profit.
- How It Works: Use platforms like Amazon FBA or eBay to sell products you find during your travels. Look for items that are cheaper or more unique in your current location and sell them online.
- Why It’s Unconventional: This method leverages your constant movement to find opportunities that others who stay in one place might miss, turning local finds into a profitable business.
- Potential Earnings: $500-$5000 per month, depending on capital invested and market knowledge
9. Rent Out Your Skills
If you have a specific skill, such as yoga instruction, cooking, or playing an instrument, you can offer workshops or classes wherever you go. Many travelers and locals are eager to learn new skills from experienced practitioners.
- How It Works: Partner with local businesses like yoga studios, cafes, or community centers to offer workshops or classes. You can also promote your services through social media and local expat groups.
- Why It’s Unconventional: This allows you to monetize your hobbies or passions while meeting new people and immersing yourself in the local culture.
- Potential Earnings: $20-$100 per hour, or $1000-$5000 per month, depending on the skill and demand
10. House Sitting and Pet Sitting
House sitting and pet sitting are becoming increasingly popular ways to earn money while traveling. Homeowners looking for someone to take care of their property or pets while they’re away often turn to trusted house sitters. In return for your services, you can enjoy free accommodation and sometimes even a stipend.
- How It Works: Sign up on house sitting platforms like TrustedHousesitters or HouseCarers. Once you’re matched with a homeowner, you’ll get to stay in their home for free while taking care of their property and pets.
- Why It’s Unconventional: Not only do you save on accommodation costs, but you also get to experience life in different parts of the world like a local.
- Potential Earnings: $25-$100 per day, or $500-$2000 per month for longer-term sits
Conclusion
Making money while traveling doesn’t have to be limited to the usual paths like freelancing or remote work. These unconventional methods offer unique opportunities to fund your adventures while engaging more deeply with the places you visit. Whether you’re house sitting, tutoring, or setting up a pop-up shop, there’s no shortage of creative ways to earn an income on the go. The key is to think outside the box and leverage your skills, experiences, and the local environment to create opportunities wherever your travels take you.
I’m Ethan, a 42-year-old digital marketer and dad of two, living in Dublin. My passion is planning adventurous family vacations that combine cultural immersion with outdoor activities. With my kids growing into their teenage years, I’m dedicated to creating experiences that they’ll remember for a lifetime. ExploreWorkTravel is my platform to share tips, stories, and insights to help other families make the most of their travel experiences.