9 Tips To Become A Professional Traveler And How The Pros Do It

Traveling the world while earning money online sounds like a dream for most people. There are many different ways to make a living while checking off your bucket list of unique places to see.

More and more people worldwide choose to quit their 9 to 5 and become a professional traveler. This means being able to travel wherever you want, whenever you want, and of course, as long as you want while making a living.

But quitting your job and buying a one-way ticket to Thailand are not the only things you need to do if you want to learn how to become a professional traveler. Getting rid of all fixed costs from your home country will maximise what you can spend on traveling and is highly recommended. Fixed costs could include monthly cell phone bills, your health insurance, rent or car payments. Your regular health insurance usually only covers short-term vacations, so you should look for suitable full-time travel medical coverage. This article will answer the questions: what is a professional traveler, how to be a professional traveler and how easy it will be to become one.

" To become a professional traveler, you definitely need patience, and it most likely won’t happen overnight.
You need to get out of your comfort zone to overcome your fears and experience life as a full-time traveler to the fullest. "

Andrew Williams

Full time Digital Nomad

What makes a professional traveler?

A full-time traveler is someone who spends the majority of their time exploring new places without having a fixed home base. Most professional travelers earn money online in some way or live off of passive income, allowing them to travel full time.

Of course, there are two sides to every story, and being on the road permanently has its benefits and downsides. As a full-time traveler, you won’t be able to carry very many possessions with you, and all your belongings must fit into only a few bags. By living as a minimalist, you can only take the essential things and avoid having items with you that you barely use.

Many professional travelers struggle to have a social life while they travel, and being away from friends and family for long periods of time can sometimes feel lonely. This is something you need to consider if you want to learn how to become a professional traveler. Luckily, there are more and more ways to meet like-minded remote workers all around the world, including coworking spaces, Facebook Groups or traveler meetups.

The main benefit of being a professional traveler is, without a doubt, the flexibility it comes with. No two days are the same when you’re discovering a new place, and there are always exciting experiences while you travel. You can decide your own work routine while living in new places, while the majority of people might only be able to travel for a few weeks every year.

To become a professional traveler, you definitely need patience, and it most likely won’t happen overnight. Don’t be discouraged when you run into obstacles along the way. Instead, try to learn from every mistake. You need to get out of your comfort zone to overcome your fears and experience life as a full-time traveler to the fullest.

Take your time in each new place and try not to rush your journey. This way, you can experience places differently than somebody who is just there for a few days would. Instead of booking everything upfront, try to stay flexible and let yourself be inspired by the people you will meet on the journey.

How you can make money as a professional traveler

There are many different ways you can be a full-time traveler and earn a living at the same time. The jobs on this list are just a few examples of how you can get started as a professional traveler.

1. Photo sales on websites

If you are a passionate and skilled photographer, you can sell your pictures on different websites to generate passive income while you travel. Stock photo websites are gaining popularity and are always looking for new photographers to provide content to them.

To monetise your photos or video clips, check out Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, although there are plenty of sites to choose from. By selling the rights to your photo or video content, others will be able to use them for a fee, and you’ll be reimbursed a small amount every time they are purchased.

While photo sales on websites don’t tend to be incredibly lucrative, this is a great way to build passive income if you enjoy photography. Just keep in mind that most stock photo websites have strict requirements for the images they purchase, which might mean that not all of your content qualifies.

2. Teach something online

Teaching online is probably the most common way to start your journey to becoming a professional traveler.

To become an online English teacher, you will need the “Test of English as a Foreign Language,” also known as TOEFL, which is available online or in certain language schools. The test is accepted by language schools in most countries and by many universities from all around the world.

Especially in Eastern Asia, English teachers are in high demand, and wages can be considerable for the amount of work involved. The different time zones around the world can be a challenge, though, as you might be restricted during your travels to avoid working at night. Keep this in mind when choosing a company to work with.

Check out Learn 4 Good and platforms like Jobble or Upwork to start your first online teaching job as a professional traveler.

Teaching jobs focusing on a specific topic are also in high demand. Do you have any unique skills that can be helpful to others? Find your niche and start teaching things like photo editing, SEO writing, or even fitness and yoga online.

3. Writing / copywriting

There are several different approaches to writing for a living, including journalism, copywriting or becoming a blogger. A copywriter can create different types of content such as marketing texts, emails, blog posts or advertisements while journalists create articles for newspapers, magazines or websites. Many writers are active in different areas, which allows them to work remotely and become a professional traveler. The most important thing you need to become a writer is impeccable English skills. Start building a portfolio and gradually increase your rates to fund your travels. Job opportunities can be found on Upwork, in Facebook groups or by pitching to websites or writing agencies. Writing jobs tend to be very flexible and not constrained to time zones, allowing professional travelers to have as much freedom as possible.

4. Investing / Stock trading

Investing in the stock market is a highly effective way to build a passive income and earn money on the side. However, without prior financial knowledge, this is also a very risky profession and losing money is common. There are lots of online classes to choose from to educate yourself on trading and how it can help you become a professional traveler. Proceed with caution and keep in mind that you will need some form of capital to get started with trading and investing. If you are an expert at the stock market, you can also consider teaching others how to build the perfect portfolio.

5. Create (digital) travel guides

A travel guide is a detailed guide on a certain destination or a form of travel. If you have lived in a place for a long time, you probably have a lot of insider tips that most tourists might miss out on. You do not necessarily need your own travel blog to sell travel guides, although it can certainly help give you credibility. Another great option is to advertise your guide books on your social media account and publish them through the Kindle service on Amazon. Most successful travel authors have a large platform that builds trust with their audience and causes their travel guides to be extremely popular. The competition in this field is definitely high but so is the reward if you manage to become a professional traveler.

6. Partnership with brands, hotels and travel brands

A great way to save money while traveling is to partner with brands, hotels or even airlines. If you have an active social media following, you could consider working with brands as an influencer which allows you to be paid to promote services or products. This involves reaching out to tourism boards or hotels in places you plan to visit, which can be time-consuming but very effective for a professional traveler. Finding a niche and working with companies that align with your values is significant in this case. However, becoming an influencer is not the only way to partner with hotels or travel brands. Take marketing photos or videos for them or write content for their website, for example.

7. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant provides customers with administrative, creative, or even technical support. Working as a virtual assistant or VA is an easy way to start your remote work journey since the demand is high and the barrier to entry is low. To get a virtual assistant job, you need to find a niche to specialise in, making finding clients much easier. There are many different online VA courses to choose from that last from a few days to a few weeks, are not too expensive and will qualify you for many virtual assistant jobs. Platforms like Fiverr, Flexjobs or Guru are just a few out of many to find your first VA job. Slowly build your portfolio and upgrade your skills as you gain experience. Working as a virtual assistant is highly flexible, and your potential to earn money as a professional traveler is high.

Learn from the best - Top Professional Travellers on the Internet

Nomadic Matt

Matthew Kepnes, which is Nomadic Matt’s real name, is often considered one of the most well-known travel bloggers in the world. He has been traveling since 2006 while building his brand constantly and inspiring millions to do the same.

He started a travel blog, which grew rapidly and over the years has been featured on sites like the BBC, National Geographic, Lonely Planet and many more. Besides working as a blogger, he also sells different destination guidebooks and is teaching others how to become better bloggers and writers. He is a New York Times bestselling author and is best known for his critically acclaimed book How to Travel the World on $50 a Day.

2. Drew Binsky

Drew Goldberg, or Drew Binsky as he is known online, is a travel blogger and content creator who recently completed his quest to travel to every single country in the world. He has a considerable social media following and inspires his followers with fascinating stories of his journeys to remote places and the people he meets along the way.

He also sells travel-based courses, NFTs, and his own merchandise called Just Go, which has become his motto over the years. Drew Binsky is a fantastic storyteller, and his videos take you on unique journeys which go far beyond beautiful beaches and palm trees.

While Drew Binsky is one of the biggest names in the industry, he still tends to travel on a budget and prides himself on staying down to earth while he creates content.

3. The Blonde Abroad

Kiersten, or The Blonde Abroad, as her travel blog is called, is a traveler from the United States who focuses on inspiring solo female travelers to explore the world. She has traveled to more than 70 countries over time and shares her adventures on her blog and social media.

Kiersten’s mission is to prove that everyone can travel and that some of the best trips happen unexpectedly. She sells photography presets and has several other passive income streams that allow her to finance her life on the road.

Last words on becoming a professional traveler

Traveling for a living sounds like an ideal lifestyle for many people. If you’re interested in learning how to be a professional traveler and how to become location independent, you need to create an online income stream.

Most well-known full-time travelers work in several different areas, which might include content creation, blogging, or trading. While exploring new places while you work is a very flexible way of life, it can also be isolating, and it might not be for everyone.

Luckily, the benefits far outweigh the downsides, and learning how to be a professional traveler might inspire you to try it for yourself.