Travel

Can You Be Paid For Traveling?

Everyone loves to travel… It’s hard to imagine traveling without the stress of connecting flights, delays and cancellations. The hassle of driving in traffic, renting cars, trying to figure out who is driving you, and wondering what the man is saying when you only asked “Where is the toilet?” Apart from all that, it’s amazing to be able to step out of your daily routine and take deep breaths. The hardest decision is whether you will eat steak or lobster. And your biggest concern is not having enough sunscreen. Traveling is about stepping out of our daily lives and putting ourselves in another culture. You see, breathe, eat, and dance to people from 10,000 miles away and think, “This is what you see on TV.” It’s then that it all becomes worth it… That’s what makes traveling so wonderful.

The little piece of green paper, or many of them, called MONEY is one of the biggest barriers to traveling. It doesn’t matter if you want to visit a friend or go with your wife to Bora Bora. All of these things cost money. It’s long past the days of Southwest “$49.00” fares. Even weekend getaways can put a dent into your wallet. While there are ways to save a few bucks here and there, it is still expensive to travel. Some people don’t have the luxury of a 6 or 7-figure salary that allows them to travel for 6 days or even weeks to Ibiza. Can you travel, and I mean truly travel, without getting paid? Is there a way to travel for free or get paid?

Travel is a $8 TRILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY. Yes, that’s correct… it’s Trillion. How can you get involved, other than the airlines, hotels and luggage manufacturers?

Let’s look at how you can TavelWith around the world and make a living.

Flying attendant: This is a great way for you to see a lot of places quickly. An average flight attendant earns $37,000.00 per year. Higher-level salaries can hover in the $75,000.00 to $90,000.00 range. Knowing more than one language is a plus. The daily per Diem is paid to flight attendants for meals. They also get flexible work hours, discounts on hotels, flights and travel expenses. It can be exhausting to travel to multiple cities within a 12-, 18 or 24-hour time period. The urge to see the sights or explore the city is replaced by the need to get to sleep in your bed when you have finally stopped to rest. You might be surprised to hear that you have not seen some angry, annoyed, or upset passengers on your plane. You should be ready to deal with rude customers during your 12–24 hour shift.

Commercial Airline Pilot: This is the same job as flight attendants but with a better work schedule and a higher pay. Depending on the company and jet size, you could make $121,000.00 per year. You can go to flight school if you have at least 250 hours flight experience. Make sure your vision and hearing are perfect. If you are interested in making this a career, you will be able to visit many cities around the country and even the world. However, you must be able to handle thousands of customers, weather problems, long hours, and all the stress that comes with flying so many people.

Agent for Travel: You may already be aware that travel agents are experts on the best places to visit. They act as intermediaries between travelers, hotels, airlines and tourism bureaus. They are often able to travel to these destinations and see the sights for themselves. That’s quite a perk. The average salary is between $25,000.00 and $35,000.00. They will most likely need to enroll in some type of training, usually with the Travel Institute.

Freelance writer or photographer: This is a great job! You’d travel all over the globe, meeting people from different cultures and learning about their lives. It’s truly “free” to share what you see, hear and experience with people thousands of miles away. The only problem is… it’s the one thing we mentioned earlier: MONEY. You won’t get paid until you reach these places. So make sure you plan ahead, get some green in your checking account, and learn how to express yourself with pen & paper, or the camera. To ensure that you have a large audience of people viewing and reading your content, try to build a “following”. You shouldn’t expect to be able to travel to India with just a few hundred dollars and an iPad in order to create a travel blog that will generate cash. It might be worth going to a local casino to play blackjack. You can do this job, and I congratulate you.

Now that we’ve covered a few travel jobs, you might be thinking, “Well, I like my job right here and don’t feel like flying across the country six times and only to stay in Des Moines for the night.” These are great options for those who are looking to travel the world, whether they’re just starting out in their careers or are already employed.

Do you speak English? You can speak English in any country. In exchange for your English proficiency and knowledge, some companies will offer you free accommodation. You can also find programs online that will help you connect with companies and countries in order to teach English. We now need to figure out how to pay for food and drinks.

Give Back: Do you feel charitable? You can join the Peace Corps or go on a mission trip with Habitat for Humanity International, or you could also volunteer at a church. Although this will not be as glamorous than sailing the Mediterranean or island hopping the Greek Isles; if you are looking to make a difference and feel good about helping others, sign up for a volunteer opportunity. There will be many people in places that don’t have running water or paved roads. After completing one these tours, you will feel a new sense of gratitude for giving the basic necessities we take for granted, such as food, clothing, shelter, to the less fortunate.

These are all great ways to travel, but how many people have the freedom to fly long distances or the courage to quit their job to become a commercial pilot. Everybody has a job to pay the bills and provide financial security. I don’t know if you are aware, but I am responsible to my wife and three (3) children. Taking the leap on the unknown is not realistic.

Let’s get back to the original question. How do you travel free of charge? When I say “travel”, I mean real travel… It means having a worry-free vacation, not having to worry about whether you can leave the resort for dinner or purchase extra sunglasses. Carefree travel means being able to do what you want, when and how you want, without worrying about paying the bill. Let’s look at some ways you can travel free or as close as possible to it. Or, even better: Get paid to travel!

These points can be used! : I knew that I would be grateful for all the money I spent on my credit cards. All those points I have amassed after I had racked-up all that debt! These points can be used to book a new flight, or pay for my stay at Bellagio in Vegas… where there is even more money! You are kidding! Kind of. When you’re looking for a new credit card, make sure to choose the one that provides the best rewards. Compare the interest rates for cash advances and charges, as well as the annual fees. Also consider the card that offers the most rewards. To earn miles, enter your frequent flyer number if you fly with a particular airline. You can earn points on bookings of flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars through travel websites that offer this option. This is what you’re already paying for, so why not earn more to go on your next trip?

Vacation Packages sold through a Resort or Company. This is very similar to selling vacation packages to customers. Instead of designing a custom travel package that is tailored to the customer’s needs, you sell a pre-packaged vacation at a particular resort/resort/meal route. These come in many sizes and can be very affordable (think: the hotel right next to Senor Frogs Cancun during Spring Break), and even the Rolls Royce type trip. There are many perks depending on which resort or company you work for. You can also get access to their locations with generous commissions. There are restrictions on the clientele. If you are representative of a resort or company with poor selections and reviews, it could put you in a difficult spot.

Direct Selling with a Travel Company: This gives you the chance to have the best of both worlds – travel the world cheaply (or even free!) Making money. People who get involved in this business usually have a full-time job. They are seeking a cheaper, more enjoyable way to travel and additional income. Although it can be very lucrative in terms of creating wealth or a residual income, many members just take advantage of the fact that they can make a few extra bucks every month and have access to premium resorts at wholesale prices. Direct-selling companies in the travel sector offer 5-star packaged vacations at two star pricing. They also provide access to their trip planning site that functions like Expedia and Travelocity. You can also earn points when you purchase vacations, flights, or their travel mall. These points can be used to get a free trip. Bottom line: Do your research… Choose a company with a great reputation, and ensure you have a strong support system. These companies are becoming increasingly popular as thousands of people realize the benefits of residual income and low travel costs.

You can see that traveling “free” is only possible for professionals poker players or children with large trust funds. It doesn’t matter if you want to build a cash reserve or fund an overseas trip, or if you want to try a new job on the plane or abroad. There are many ways to get paid to travel. You can also minimize your travel expenses through different companies and resources. It all depends on what you like to do and how much you have. You can make a difference in your life by traveling. No matter what you do, don’t take it too seriously. Have fun!

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

-Steve Jobs