Don’t Be an Influencer If You Want to Travel. Do This Instead:
If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your job and traveling full-time, you’ve probably thought: Maybe I’ll just become a travel influencer. Cue the beachy Instagram daydreams, drone shots, and brand deals. But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: becoming an influencer is one of the slowest, most exhausting ways to fund your travels.
Don’t get me wrong—content creators work hard. But you don’t need 10K followers, perfect lighting, or a paid partnership with a luggage brand to live abroad or travel long-term. You need a plan, not a platform.
So if you want to travel—and not wait five years for some algorithm to let you—start here instead.
Table of Contents
Travel-Friendly Jobs You Can Do Online (Right Now)
There are so many jobs that allow you to travel without posting a single Reel. You just need Wi-Fi, a skill, and the willingness to get started. Examples:
- Graphic designer
- Copywriter or blog editor
- Virtual assistant
- Online tutor (English, math, piano, you name it)
- Social media manager (for someone else)
- Tech support, QA testing, or coding gigs
Remote work isn’t just for influencers or tech bros. You can find entry-level roles, build your skills, and take your laptop anywhere.
TIP: Don’t only look for “regular full-time” work. Sometimes, a few freelance and side gigs can work too!
Jobs Abroad You Can Actually Get (No Influencing Required)
If you don’t want to work online—or need a faster route—get a job on the ground abroad. You’d be shocked how many countries have options for travelers:
- English teacher (with or without experience—just get a TEFL)
- Bartender or hostel staff (esp. in tourist hotspots)
- Au pair or nanny gigs (especially in Europe)
- Seasonal harvest jobs or event work (New Zealand, Australia, etc.)
- Cruise ships, resorts, scuba shops, surf camps—the list goes on
You don’t need to sell your life to strangers to afford one. You just need to be open to what’s already out there.
Working Holiday Visas = The Ultimate Travel Cheat Code
If you’re under 30 or 35, Working Holiday Visas are one of the easiest and most underrated ways to live abroad legally. Countries like:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- South Korea
- Japan
- Canada
Let you work and travel for up to a year (or more), no remote job or fame required. Want to fund your next backpacking trip by working at a ski lodge or picking fruit in the countryside? This is your move.
Traveling Doesn’t Have to Be a “Brand”
When travel becomes a business, it changes. You start optimizing your day for content, not for joy. And if you’re not careful, the thing you dreamed of becomes the thing you burn out from.
If you love content creation, great. But if you just want to see the world and live differently—you absolutely can. Without hashtags. Without brand deals. Without pretending your life is perfect. You can travel for you.
OH! And it’s a job where you won’t be making money right away either!
TL;DR: You Can Travel With a Job, Not a Following
You don’t need to “make it” as an influencer to live abroad. You need income—yes—but it doesn’t have to come from your face on a feed. There are dozens of ways to make it work, many of them faster and more sustainable than chasing clout.
So skip the ring light. Skip the algorithm. And go live the adventure—in real life, for yourself.
Work Abroad Info:
Read more about living and working abroad:
- 26 Digital Nomad Jobs: Best Remote Jobs for Travelers!
- 10 BEST Digital Nomad Jobs For Beginners
- 13 Easiest Travel Jobs So You Can Stay Abroad Longer
- 73 Travel Jobs—How to Make Money While Traveling!
- 20 Online Jobs With No Experience Needed!
- How to Start Freelancing for Beginners—Work Online & Travel!
- All Articles About Living and Working Abroad
