Most people believe that in order to work abroad, one must first obtain an expensive work visa. While this is true for most types of professional employment abroad, rarely is it necessary for backpacker jobs.
Backpacker jobs are off the record cash in hand jobs, and can be found just about everywhere. While some backpacker jobs can be lucrative and painless, others can be backbreaking and pay next to nothing. Nonetheless, whatever the pay, they are sure to make for some awesome experiences.
In the following guide, you will find a list of various backpacker jobs ideal for actual runaways, intense budget backpackers, and even African immigrants.
1) Day Work On A Luxury Yacht
Like luxury cars, luxury yachts are always in need of cleaning and maintenance and who better for the task than your self. Pay is usually high in Europe, around 15 to 20 Euro and hour, and work generally consists of painting, polishing, cleaning and varnishing. Just head to any port, meander the docks at dawn, and simply ask if there is any day work to be had. For more information, check out How To Work On A Luxury Yacht.
2) Work In An Eastern European Hostel
Eastern European hostels are ideal for the runaway backpacker because more often than not, their business is run off the books. This means they are accustomed and more willing to hire wanderers like your self. Hostels generally look for people who can clean, bar tend, manage the books, and keep guests happy. Prepare to do a lot of drinking and partying. The pay is generally low but room and board is usually provided. To get a job in a hostel, just send your resume to one of millions of hotels listed on hostelworld.com.
3) Work The Yachts In Eilat, Israel
Israel is abundant with jobs for the migrant worker. And in the resort port city of Eilat Israel, almost every worker is an immigrant or backpacker. All you have to do to get a job is simply ask around. Since workers are constantly coming and going, you can almost always get a deckhand position aboard a party charter boat.
Although you receive free room and board, the rooms are reminiscent of slave bunks and the board is comparable to war rations. The work is grueling and the hours are long, and monthly pay is only around 300$. However, morning swims with wild dolphins definitely make up for it.
4) Work In A Hotel In The Middle East
There are quite a few privately owned budget hotels in the Middle East. You can usually find them around the buss and train stations of Istanbul, Damascus, Amman and Cairo. Though it is not common for foreign backpackers to work here, due to extremely low wages, you shouldn’t be turned down should you approach the manager. If you are hired, expect no more than a few hundred bucks a month. Work, not unlike hostel work, will generally range from acting as receptionist to cleaning toilettes. Talk about some serious cultural immersion.
5) Work On A Farm In Europe
Throughout history, the farm has always been a haven and source of employment for the nomad. And today, not much has changed. The best way of finding employment on a farm is by asking around. If you’re lucky, a friend of friend will own a farm and be in need of laborers. While some farmers in western Europe will ask for working papers, most will gladly turn a blind eye.
Farm work can include picking fruit, planting trees, erecting fences, or caring for animals. Though it depends on your arrangement, room and board is often factored into your paycheck. The most lucrative countries for farm work are those of Scandinavia, while pay in the rest of Europe is considerably less and can vary greatly by country.
6) Pick Grapes On An Italian Vineyard
If you enjoy fine wines, and eating fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and olive oil, picking grapes in Italy is the backpacker job for you. The best time of year to seek out work on a vineyard is during harvest, which in Italy is from late August through October. Pay will depend on how many grapes you can pick. So if you’re looking to save up, this will mean a lot of picking. No matter how much you make, the experience is well worth it.
7) Teach English
While you won’t be able to work at a proper school without papers, you can always teach English lessons privately. Believe it or not, craigslist is one of the best ways for students and teachers to connect. This is especially true in Japan, Korea and China, where there is a large demand for private English tutors. In East Asia, it is not unreasonable to charge anywhere between 15 and 50 dollars an hour.
8) Work Construction
Needless to say, most construction work is backbreaking labor and generally pays minimum wage. To find work in construction, just walk up to any construction site and ask to see the foreman.
Other and potentially higher paying day labor opportunities can be found with private contractors who are working on house construction. To get these jobs, simply be on the look out for houses under construction and inquire.
9) Work A Sail Boat On The Nile
All along the Nile river are beautiful working replicas of the ancient Egyptian sailboat known as the Felucca. While in the past these vessels were known to transport goods, today they primarily serve tourists.
If you don’t speak Arabic, getting a job aboard a Felluca will prove quite difficult. However, if you do manage to convey your intent and are hired, you won’t regret it. Though pay can be as low as 20$ a month, the experience of sailing the Nile, constantly surrounded by ancient Egyptian temples, and drinking tea with your shipmates is well worth it.
Conclusion: These are only a few of the countless backpacker jobs that lay waiting for you. For more guides on working abroad for the runaway and intense budget backpacker, check out my Work Abroad section.
Good luck & employment filled travels,
-Leif
This is a great alternative guide to the typical backpacking jobs you usually see being recommended Leif, thanks for putting this up. Could you possibly offer some further resources for farm work in Scandinavia, and even ideal times if you had the knowledge? It’s a part of Europe I’m looking forward to visiting and traveling, and infusing some farm work there would be a fantastic addition to the adventure. Thanks Leif!
Hey Brandon,
Glad you found it useful.
For farm work in Scandinavia, you just have to go and ask around really.
I have some Hungarian friends who just flew up to Norway, talked to someone in a pub in Oslo and then ended up working in the countryside staying with a family on the farm. Can be done, just need to have a hopeful outlook :)
please me and my girlfriend, are in italy looking for a place to stay and work for cash. on a discreet farm in italy spain portugal. hard work for hard cash. lots of experience and muscle. please contact me asap in italy rome where we are wasting away. lots of potential……JOE from canada
Hey Joseph, if I were you, I would check out workaway, woofing, or helpx. Aside from that, I would just ask around a lot. Good luck with it! Sorry I don’t know of anything more specific.
Would love any work painting in homes or on boats .a season to help homeowner or hotel hand or garden work
Leif I hope you can patch this one through
Nanc
Hey Nancy, if I hear of something I’ll let you know!
Hey Lief!
I love your homepage, and i have got so many ideas from it!
I am planning to travel to Thailand in a couple of months, I saved a bit of money, but not a lot.
I hope to find a job when i get there by asking different places. I speak fluent English, and Scandinavian – and since there is a lot of Scandinavian tourists in Thailand i was thinking that it might be possible. You probably get a lot of questions, but i hope you have some time to answer!! :-)
I do not really know where the best place is to start? Which city is the easiest to get a job in, I was thinking Phuket? And where is it good to meet other travelers?
Hey Linn, Phuket definitely get’s the most scandinavians and is probably a good bet. I think you might have some luck in Hua Hin as well. I remember there being a few swedish restaurants. The best time to come is going to be from december to march. This is the time when tourism picks up especially with scandinavians. Good luck!
Hey Lief,
I know this is an old post, but your articles are really bringing the adventurous and wild side of me, I just can’t help it. LOL XD By the way I’m from Philippines particularly in Davao City it’s known as #4 safest city in the world. Let me know if you need a place to stay I can make arrangements for you, it’s for free so don’t worry. I’ll also bring you in one of the best island around ;) Hope you stop by.
Hey Laila,
Sound great! I hope to visit the Philippines this fall! I will definitely take you up on that :)
I’m extremely interested in getting involved with this. How do i sign up for this amazing experience?
Hey Scott, you only have to sign up with yourself!
Last year, I ran away from home too and traveled round half of Southeast Asia. I had 150$, none of it left after the first week. I twice did hostel work, taught English and another one you might want to add in your list, work as au-pair/housekeeper. Survived 4 months on the road!
Hey Carm, that’s awesome! I know what you mean about the money going fast in the beginning. I spent 1000$ in 1 week when I first left. But once it ran out, I became really resourceful and started figuring out way to make money. Good on ya! Glad you got in touch.
Hey Leif
You have created an awesome site here, I’ve been suffering through exams daydreaming about backpacking and reading through this site almost daily….so thanks very much for writing it!
I was wondering how you go about accessing your money whilst on the road as I would expect cash machines to charge a huge travelling fee?
Cheers again
Euan
Hi Euan, thanks, I appreciate it. Glad I could be some help. Yea, cash machines can be a killer, usually around 5 bucks a transaction. I generally try and use my banks atms or just take out the maximum limit each time. Cheers, Leif
I just found your site and already think it’s great. I’d love to teach English privately – I’m currently in Tokyo. Any advice on how to set that up?
Thanks
Jodie :)
Hey Jodie, thanks! Your best bet is to do some networking. Talk to shop keepers and stuff and let them know your offering english lessons. You could also check out GaiJinPot.com. They usually have listings of Japanese people looking to improve their english skills.
Hi.I am now officially in love with this website.Can I ask you something?When you first run away did you have any money saved or did you earn some on the way?
Best, Bianka :)
I saved up 1000$ but it was gone within a week ><
Hey Leif,
All this sounds good and possible, thanks for the info!
I’m from Costa Rica and I’m looking to travel/backpack around Europe with my boyfriend (since I’m kind of afraid to go by myself). I know both English and Spanish fluently and I’m looking to go to Italy, although with this economy I heard it was better somewhere like the Netherlands. I want to know how much do you think each of us could save up to get there and survive while we get a job? Also, what are the chances of getting one in the Netherlands? Don’t really know where to start but any and all information would be greatly appreciated! Basically, we just want to travel and get to know the world a little more, we’re practical so I think almost anything would work us. I’m just a bit concerned of getting there and not knowing where to look for a job or a place to crash for a while. Or, in case of an emergency, where to go!
I’ve been thinking about teaching English; however, I don’t have any type of certification or such. Been looking into TEFL, but it’s quite expensive. If we decide to travel it would be until the last quarter of 2013 maybe. So I guess there’s time. :)
Looking forward to a response or advise!
Thanks in advance!
Hi Carol,
Sounds like a great Idea.
If I were you I would try to save up about 1500$ each to be safe.
I think you could probably find a job there pretty easily.
It won’t be the best job or pay very well though.
In the Netherlands, they don’t really need English teachers cause everyone speaks very well.
If you were to teach english, I would say to do it in Spain.
Let me know if you have any more questions,
Best,
Leif
Where is this nonsense coming from.??Who put this bullshit together.??.A good excuse for a few adverts that may capture the eye of some gormless unwitting wannabe gap year simpleton who thinks that he is Marco Polo.The jobs mentioned are few and far between.Wake up and be more discerning folks.
haha, hey. I have done all these jobs aside from the most common, the Italian vineyard. I assure you that all of them are possible. More, I hardly make any money from the 3 plugs I have in the sidebar. Stop being so cynical brother.
Hi Leif, I really love your site! I just came across it today and have been reading through all of your posts! I am currently teaching English in Thailand and about to hit up the Philippines…do you have any advice about starting a Travel Blog like yours? I am interested in how you can make a possible income as a newbie blogger. Keep livin the Dream! :D
Hi Lauren,
I’m glad you have enjoyed the site! Thanks for the compliments.
That’s sweet that your teaching english in Thailand!
I would be glad to help you set up a travel blog.
E-mail me at therunawayguide@yahoo.com and I will help you as best I can.