Best Jobs for Travel

So you’re approaching the end of the academic year and you’re starting to think about how to spend your summer holiday. Maybe it’s a super long break between years at uni, maybe you need to relax after exams or maybe it’s the start of your gap year… Whatever your situation, the one thing that won’t change is that travel requires money, and unless you’re part of the tiny percentage of people whose parents will fund this, that means getting a job. From my experience there are definitely some jobs that are better suited to those who want to travel and I’ll be letting you know some of them here!

The main things when looking at getting a job that allows you to satisfy your wanderlust are:

• flexible hours (or zero hours)
• decent pay (I’d count this as being anything over about £6.50/hour but this can vary depending on where you live and also your travel goals)
• not too boring
• doesn’t require a huge amount of training
• low competition job

If travel is what you want to do (as opposed to just saving up some money for a weeks holiday over summer) then ideally you want  job that is flexible with your working hours so you don’t have to worry about using all your holiday days, pays enough that you don’t have to work for half a year to afford a fortnight away, and in reality, one that is easy to get and easy to leave. If you want to travel long term then a job that you can easily quit and then find work again when you’re home is ideal!

Job ideas:

• Waiting staff (working in a cafe/restaurant/ takeaway or fast food outlet)

Pros: Easy work to find with a short training period and opportunities for overtime. Can get tips.

Cons: Doesn’t always pay well.

• Lifeguard

Pros: Easy to find work. Flexible hours available. Plenty of opportunities to travel (e.g. resort work or summer camps).

Cons: Requires an NPLQ (~£300) and long training at the start (plus regular training to maintain qualification).

• Hospitality staff (working in a hotel/ resort or care home)

Pros: Easy to find work with a short training period. Potential to transfer skills into travel (e.g. working a ski season).

Cons: Doesn’t always pay well.

• Bar staff

Pros: Easy to find work. Can get tips. Evening shifts are easy to fit in around education or another job.

Cons: Often 18+ only. May require working antisocial hours.

• Childcare (babysitting/ nannying)

Pros: Flexible work. Transferable skills for season work (working in a kids club or creche abroad).

Cons: Pay can vary. May require some qualifications. Have to like children!

There are loads of other jobs that are suitable (often the best job is the one that will hire you!) so my main advice is to start looking asap. I like to use Indeed and also look in person for job adverts in your local area or ask family and friends!

Good luck with the job hunt! Do you have any ideas for jobs that fit around travel? Let me know 🙂

-Millie xox