by nate on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 | Attraction, Cruises, Places to Visit, Tips, Travel | No Comments

What if someone were to pay you to travel? That may sound like a fantasy, but it doesn’t have to be. Tour leaders, deckhands and travel writers are among those people who make money cruising the globe.

Below are 11 ways to get paid to travel:

Tour Leader

Beware, you’ll need patience and lots of it. Greener travellers will tug on your sleeve constantly. Personal privacy will soon become a distant memory. The job is best suited to people who are young, free, single and looking for new adventures. Although the pay is often lousy (starting salaries are as low as £30 a day) and the hours brutal, it sure beats the hell out of the office 9-5.

Ski Instructor

Working as a ski or snowboard instructor has many rewards. You’ll get fit, spend most of the day outside working on your tan and you’ll meet plenty of new people. You may even win gasps of admiration from the opposite sex as you pop 360 nose-grabs off a kicker.

There are other options. Ski companies are always looking for reps, chalet staff (so-called chalet bunnies), caterers, receptionists, tradespeople and even pool cleaners to work in resorts.

The Cruise Ship Worker

The job is tough and you’ll get the worst of the onboard duties to begin with. A cruise ship worker employed in the kitchen, for instance, could easily work 60 hours a week. But when you’re bobbing around on Caribbean waters with your shirt off, and getting paid to do it, it’ll all seem worth it. If you climb up the ranks to become skipper, you’ll be living the good life. You could be sailing rich people’s boats between Monaco and the Maldives.

The Deckhand

The hours are often punishing but, when the boat docks, you can explore foreign lands in your downtime. You’ll need your sea legs, though: even giant ocean liners hit stomach churning swells at times.

The Scuba Instructor

The Travel Writer

For many people, it’s the ultimate dream job: getting paid to travel the world and write about it. Dine at the finest restaurants, check in at the ritziest hotels – and bill it to your editor.

Sadly such scenarios are often a myth. Travel writing is financially unstable and ferociously competitive. Travel editors are swamped with copy; supply hugely exceeds demand. But if you do manage to glue an editor’s eyes to your pearly prose, travel writing can sure beat working for a living.

Tefl teacher

As a Tefl teacher, you usually don’t need to speak the language of the country you’re teaching in. Whether you end up in Tokyo or Taiwan, it’s likely to be an experience you won’t forget.

The Sport Coach

You might not dominate the tennis court like Rafael Nadal or swing a nine iron as lethally as Tiger Woods but with a merely human endowment of sporting prowess you could still work as a sports instructor overseas. Holiday companies such as Club Med need seasonal sports coaches all over the world.

The Chef

The hours are frequently unsociable but that might even work in your favour overseas. You could be whipping up culinary masterpieces by night at a ski resort and then going snowboarding before bed.

Tags: Cruise, English Teacher, Free Travel, Great Destination, Ship, Tips to Travel, Tour Guide, Tour leader, Travel for Free