The Talking Suitcase

I know you want to find out how to travel for FREE.  There are a ton of great ideas out there, but we’re going to look at usual jobs to travel for free.   While it isn’t often you can travel completely for free, there are some wonderful ways to make it happen.

Keep in mind some of these are true life changes that enable travel to be commonplace and included in part of your life.  Others are simply methods you can work toward providing your family with a great fun filled free vacation.

You’ve probably heard that working on a cruise ship is a great way to combine work and travel.  It is and many people choose this path.  It didn’t seem that unusual to me, so it’s not on the list.

I also didn’t include teaching English abroad. There are a ton of great programs around the globe that will allow you to travel to a foreign country while making a living.

Now that we’ve got those 2 jobs out of the way, lets move on to the more unusual.

Unusual Jobs to Travel for Free:

Become a trucker.  This one may seem unlikely to work, but you would be surprised at how many individuals enjoy seeing the country simply by getting behind the wheel of a truck making deliveries.  This is something that is a huge life change, but can work for many individuals, couples and even families.   Packing the kids up and homeschooling on the road is also an option that allows families to see new places while making a living.

Obviously, this career choice can have many drawbacks.  Long separations between the driver and family can be difficult for everyone including a marriage.  If you have a young kids, this likely isn’t the job for you.  You also have to be okay with the solitude that comes from being on the road for extended periods of time.

Become an RV park caretaker.  There are tons of RV parks nationwide that are looking for individuals to live and work in the park.  You bring your RV and get free hookups in exchange for running the front desk or doing a few maintenance jobs here and there around the park.  You can stay in one place for a few months, then move on to another location that is in need.

Become a hotel reviewer.  Just like many restaurants look for critics, so do hotels.  Start searching online for hotel review programs, or join a media group that gives you discount or free stays in exchange for photographs and reviews.  These vary from hotel to hotel, but they are a great usual job to travel for free.  Look for the PR or media contact at the hotel chains you want to consider and let them know you are looking to do reviews of their facilities.

Sometimes they want to know if you have a social media following, website or other publication that could reach more potential customers.  Other times they simply need and want reviewers for one and two night stays in various locations.

Work vacations around business travel.  This is one hidden trick to traveling for free that takes a bit of planning but can easily be managed.  If you often travel for business purposes, you can easily combine things like a 2-3 day business trip with exploring a new city.  Choose travel locations you haven’t been to and enjoy the non business or work related hours to explore, take in local culture and learn something new.  Many times you can negotiate staying an extra day if you have a cheaper flight option, or if you pay for that extra night in the hotel yourself.

Do road tests on vehicles.  If you have mechanics experience or an engineering background, many car manufacturers will pay you to take their vehicles on road trips to test out their performance under various conditions.  They often have some required skills, and sometimes this is only open to full time employees for the car company, but it is a great industry to look into for single individuals who don’t mind driving long distances under various conditions for testing purposes.  Not a great idea for couples or families to do.

Transport RV’s across country.  Almost every RV manufacturer has a program that allows you to pickup an RV and drive it to a different location for delivery.  If you live near cities where RV’s are manufactured, this could mean a free trip for you.

You will have to consider the costs of food, gas and your return trip, but a discounted sight seeing RV trip can be a great choice for many families.  Just ensure that the company allows you to bring along your spouse or family.

These usual jobs to travel for free are great for many individuals and families to look into.  Traveling is a thing that many are passionate about and is easy to incorporate into daily life when you think outside the box.

What other jobs ideas can you share?

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