Are you desperate to get out exploring but not sure where to start?
Do you want a job that allows you to have immersive travel experiences but don’t want to be on a boring cruise ship?
Maybe you would like a travel experience that is more hands-on and interactive. Or maybe, you would like to get outside your comfort zone and gain valuable experience as you travel. Learning in a different culture gives you a better impression of the world.
Well, the ‘Work & Travel’ concept is just the perfect thing for you! Check out five work, and travel experiences below that are sure to inspire a great experience guaranteed to be an adventure of a lifetime!
Teach and Travel Abroad
Why You Should Try Teaching while Traveling Abroad
Do you want to travel abroad and earn a qualification as you do so? Learning how to teach English overseas as you travel abroad is a unique way to explore whilst connecting deeper with the culture.
Furthermore, your work will be helping locals learn a key language skill that will benefit them later in life. Finally, it is one of the most rewarding ways to travel.
Experience-Sharing from a Fellow Teaching-Traveler
Oliver’s Story
Surrounded by new cultures and new languages in your daily life is a truly unique experience! This is what Oliver did when he traveled to Thailand. However, the most rewarding experience for him was discovering a new career in the teaching world, which he continued as he traveled. He even ended up teaching English in Vietnam!
For example, you could go on an adventure teaching English in Thailand. Can you imagine the adventure? Partnering with local teaching organizations and having paid teaching placements upon completion of the TEFL qualification.
Jacqueline’s Story
If you’re looking for a challenge, teaching will throw you in the deep end! We couldn’t believe it while reading Jacqueline’s inspiring story. Jacqueline was teaching English in a school with over 4200 students!
Luckily, she only taught 20 children in a class but was given a lot of autonomy which helped her to quickly gain confidence as she traveled.
Eager to test her abilities further, Jacqueline got her certified open water diver certification whilst living and teaching in Thailand. She is the definitive proof that it just takes stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit to really bring out a spirit of adventure!
How to Teach and Travel Abroad?
The Global Work and Travel Network offers teaching trips to participate in a 3-4 week class-based TEFL or TESOL course. You’ll learn how to teach English to foreign students.
The best part is that upon completion, you’ll be given an internationally recognized accreditation. It means you can teach English almost anywhere! So if you’re looking to earn as you travel, this is a great way to go about doing it.
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Global Work & Travel provides accommodation, transfers, and cultural activities during the course. In addition, it’s a great way to connect with like-minded individuals embarking on a similar adventure!
You’ll be fully supported on the ground to give you comfort as you travel. It’s great if you’re a first-time solo traveler to know that you have this support should you need it.
Teach & Travel Program Details
Most programs include a 2-week online self-paced training program to help you prepare before you arrive. However, the most unique about this style of trip is how you can travel and work.
Upon completing the course, you’ll travel around different parts of Thailand, working at multiple English teaching camps. You’ll spend 4 days in each spot and be provided with accommodation and food, as well as a small monthly stipend for your work.
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It’s a great setup for people who want to travel to the max as they work! We love teaching as you travel abroad because you receive a unique qualification that is internationally recognized by employers. It’s a great addition to your resume! Sounds perfect, right?
Volunteer and Travel Abroad
Why You Should Try Volunteering while Traveling Abroad
Volunteering abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences. If you’re looking for an experience where your impact is making a difference for the better, then this might be a great option for you.
Global Work and Travel also help to place Australians and Kiwis abroad in working holidays roles. It’s a great program for our down-under readers, and the places they offer are amazing! They also offer hands-on wildlife projects, one of our favorites being the South Africa Work and Travel opportunity.
Volunteer & Travel Experience-Sharing
Bianca’s Volunteering story certainly was a testament to this. After leaving her home country to travel to South Africa for six weeks, she decided to book with IWH for safety and support on the ground. As a result, Bianca could volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary she never would have found whilst searching independently.
Sometimes going through an agency works better than attempting to tackle a country on your own accord. Bianca’s story is a testament to this. They are so connected with bespoke and real opportunities that it might be hard to find self-scrolling online.
Even when Bianca made last-minute changes to her travel program, she had the full support of Global Work & Travel. They offered 24-hour support and adjusted seamlessly to fit Bianca’s needs. From switching airport departure spots to helping her find her guide when she was lost, Bianca felt safe and secure in their hands!
If it’s your first time traveling abroad solo for an extended period of time, then this is an example of the perks of going with an agency. Sometimes you need that security net to aid you in traveling. It doesn’t make you any less adventurous- it means you’re taking your long-term travel plans seriously!
Not only did Bianca gain valuable summer work experience, but she also met new people and made new friends that she will cherish for life. There’s something special about connecting with people in a new and foreign place. The friendships you forge are much deeper. You are joined together by a distinct mutual understanding.
It’s probably one of the most special elements of spending an extended period of time abroad.
How to Find Travel & Volunteer Experiences?
You can find work and volunteering opportunities all over the world, from the USA to Southeast Asia. There’s guaranteed to be a program to suit everyone.
However, sometimes the destination you think you might want to travel to might not actually be the right option for you. The key to finding the balance between work and travel abroad is open to new possibilities.
Here is how you can volunteer in Costa Rica
You never know what opportunity might stumble upon your way, but if it seems like a sign- jump at it!
Work, Travel & Practice a Language at the Same Time
How to Practice a Language while Traveling?
Are you concerned about working abroad when English isn’t your first language? Then you could also do it with Work and Travel. Actually, they offer many internships abroad.
Many programs are tailored to students who want to practice and learn another language besides English. For example, as most people would love to learn Italian or Spanish, you’ll find various opportunities in Italy and Spain.
The internships are focused on the intention of putting travelers in placements that will improve their target language. You can check out a range of positions here.
We love most about these programs because they offer profile checks, CV/Resume preparation before your departure, so you feel comfortable and to ensure you are qualified to work. Moreover, such career and CV/resume advice us a qualification you can keep for life too, which will make you wonderful for future work abroad opportunities.
The support they offer is world-class, based on the participants’ reviews.
Rafal’s Experience as an Intern
Having a job speaking Spanish was one of Rafal’s favorite aspects of working abroad. The internship he got helped him to develop his future career skill and offered a lot of fun at the same time. After the internship, he perfectly understood how it really is to teach someone, inspire and engage in the world of knowledge.
Kinga Cichewicz – Unsplash
His assignment and daily tasks were enjoyable, and thanks to my boss, he didn’t feel any pressure. That made him more creative and kept his experience at the highest level!
If you are ready to experience similar endeavors, don’t think twice and go for it! 🙂
Other Work and Travel Programs
Work & Travel in hospitality
Go Overseas connects travelers with meaningful work abroad opportunities worldwide. With over 18,000 programs, it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to start. But the platform is full of community reviews to help you decide which program is the best fit for you. In addition, we love how you can search the programs by category.
It means you can quickly cut down on sourcing the important programs that are of the biggest interest to you, without the hassle of endless scrolling! For example, they have a category dedicated entirely to hospitality experiences.
A great company that specializes in hospitality experiences is Scotia Personnel. Their hospitality program helps travelers gain experience in hotels, restaurants, or kitchens. It’s great for people interested in going into tourism or hospitality! The agency connects you with some of the finest hotels in the UK!
Also, many hotels around the world also hire volunteers. e,g, THIS HOTEL IN INDIA hires volunteers where people can learn organic farming and learn more about village life in Indian Himalayan region all while staying as a volunteer
Whitney’s Review about “Go Overseas”
One of our fondest stories comes from Whitney, a Canadian who traveled to the UK after graduating. She had a one-year contract in Oxford as a Food and Beverage Assistant. Fast forward two and a half years later, she was still in Oxford.
She loved working there so much! One of Whitney’s favorite elements of living in Europe was that she could take a flight for less than two hours and be in a completely different country as a result. She traveled to over 15 countries during her time in Oxford… talk about a work-life balance! We love her travel wanderlust.
Sourced from Shutterstock
Perhaps most special about this story is that Whitney met her husband by living in Oxford for her work travel program! Furthermore, she worked her way up the career ladder to manage her own Ski Chalet in Austria for the winter season. She reflects on her experience with Scotia Personnel as an epic, adventurous, and life-changing experience… Are you ready for your own?
If you want to work in hospitality in America, it’s necessary to complete a SERVESAFE course. Whilst these typically cost up to $200, traveling with an agency allows you to complete this at a cheaper rate. In addition, it’s a world-recognized catering course, so it’s a great qualification to add to your resume when you return home.
Adriana’s Experience about “Work & Travel”
Adriana worked in hospitality abroad at Yellowstone National Park. She was spending days working as a waitress in a restaurant within the resort. As a non-native speaker, it was a great way to practice the language.
It’s also a pretty special job because you meet so many explorers as you work. Hearing other people’s travel stories is one of the most fascinating parts of traveling. It inspires you to go even further!
By working with the National Park, she was given a free pass for any of the excursions going on in the park if there was a spare seat left. Some of these cost up to $100, and she would get these for free!
Working in hospitality abroad is a great way to interact with new people. In fact, Mustafa referred to this element as the biggest love of working and traveling abroad. As he said, “it’s the people that make the place,” and his time abroad so memorable.
Work and Travel with an NGO
Traveling abroad with an NGO can be a great way to immerse yourself into a new culture whilst doing good. CIEE is an NGO that works with local agencies to provide on-the-ground support whilst you’re in a new country.
We love the safety that comes with CIEE. They let you embark on your own adventure and be totally autonomous but provide 24/7 emergency assistance.
Anna’s Experience with CIEE
One of our favorite CIEE stories comes from Anna, who chose to teach English abroad in China. She wanted to learn more about herself by experiencing a totally disparate culture, going completely out of her comfort zone.
Teaching in China influenced her to continue to pursue the teaching job she still has today. Communicating and understanding children’s needs with a different language and culture has made her more patient as a teacher today. It’s one of the most valuable takeaways.
Emma’s Review with CIEE
We also found Emma’s story very inspiring. Travelling post-covid is certainly a daunting thought. Doing this for a long period is even more disconcerting! But this didn’t stop Emma. She traveled all the way to Ecuador to work at a whale and marine conservation center. Could you imagine anything more freeing?
To be outdoors in nature, in a totally different country after so much time spent indoors. Was it worth the risk? Absolutely! It only took one day for Emma to fall in love with Puerto Lopez, the town of her volunteer center.
She spent her free days sampling delicious local seafood gastronomy and boho-beach shack restaurants watching the sunset over the horizon. So well deserved after a day’s work!
Final Thoughts about the Best Work & Travel Experiences
So now that you’ve heard some inspiring stories of travelers who have taken the plunge and gone that extra mile, working as they travel! Combining work and travel gives you the freedom to travel for even longer periods of time. Who could say no to that?
The opportunity to immerse yourself even more into a unique culture by living there for an extended period of time is such a special opportunity. So now you’ve seen that it’s possible, and not that hard to arrange through our guide of experiences, what are you waiting for! The perfect work and travel experience is out there waiting for you to grab it!
