Is the Global Work and Travel Dream a Scam?

Every other entrepreneur and influencer today promotes the global work and travel dream: see the world and get paid big bucks along the way! But what exactly does that mean? What opportunities await you in far-off lands? And, most importantly, is it all just a big scam to get you to spend money chasing a pipe dream?

Let’s look at the different avenues of the global work and travel dream, and then you can decide what’s worth exploring for you.

Global Work and Travel: Working for an Abroad Company

Getting paid while travelling sounds so alluring that literally hundreds of millions of people do it every year — seriously! In 2019, there were 169 million international migrant workers in the world and they constituted 4.9 per cent of the global labour force in the destination countries.

Blonde woman in yellow dress stands on left side of doorway while blonde man in blue polo shirt stands on right side. Both wave at the viewer as if ushering you inside.

Now, obviously there’s a difference between taking a three-month working holiday and actually migrating to a country in hopes of finding better work opportunities. So, if you’re not looking to permanently relocate somewhere — you’re looking at a working holiday.

But, let’s be clear about one thing right from the get go:

Global work and travel is not an influencer gig.

Woman with long brown hair wearing white dress stands on a beach looking out at the horizon. Remember that when you take a global work and travel job, you’re not being paid to be a travel influencer.

Unless you come equipped with a social following of 50,000+, brand sponsorships, or a high-ticket offer — your chances of being paid to simply show up places is pretty low. But hey, don’t let us crush your dreams! You could do it!

What we’re talking about here is actually working a job in another country!

Working holidays can be anywhere from 3 – 12 months, with the most common types of roles being:

Hotel / hostel workers
Au pairs (nannies)
ESL teachers (English as a second language)
Farming labour

There are a lot of other roles out there if you look, but these are the most common for people looking to make a buck while experiencing a new place!

Young students sitting at a long table doing schoolwork, with a young black boy in a green shirt sitting at the front.

Now, keep in mind that most (if not all) of these opportunities are ones that require pre-planning. We typically can’t just walk into a Thailand elementary school and ask for a job.

The best way to approach this is to find a company that helps you get everything sorted (travel Visas, accommodations, employers) before you go.

Here are a few to get you started on your search:

So, let’s say one of these types of jobs sounds fun to you and you’re ready to start the process — cool! What are some potential downsides you should be aware of?

Don’t expect to get rich off of a work vacation.

If you’re hungry for a work abroad experience, we’re assuming that wanderlust is what’s fuelling your fire. However, if you’re under the impression that working somewhere else for a little while is the solution to your financial problems — you should probably do a little more recon.

Woman wearing sunglasses, burgundy coat, and large scarf holds a bunch of shopping bags while looking up. Remember that a global work and travel abroad experience usually does not mean making a ton of money!

Working while travelling is a great way to not go broke while seeing the world — but teaching English in Thailand is probably not going to set you up for life. What’s more likely to happen is you’ll make a liveable wage — comparable to the average wages in North America — and will save on living expenses. That being said, you’re probably not selling your apartment over a three-month trip, so be mindful of the fact that you’ll likely be paying rent at home and covering living costs at your new destination.

In short: you could come back with some money in your pockets, but this’ll depend greatly on your lifestyle choices.

Make sure to read all fine prints and understand what you’re committing to.

Close-up shot of a pair of black glasses sitting on top of documents. Make sure to read contracts carefully before agreeing to global work and travel opportunities.

Sometimes the excitement of an adventure makes it hard to look at things logically. I personally found that, when I did my six-months abroad, my first few days there were a rude awakening to say the least.

Even if you’re not a self-proclaimed “planner,” you need to plan a little bit here. Ask yourself…

Am I willing to stay in this country for six months, even if the job sucks?

What kind of daily hours am I signing on for, and is there any flexibility?

What happens if I hate the job or the city? Do I have any outs?

If you’re not the wing it! kind of person, try to get a really clear picture on what you’re in for because trying to get out of a contract and find new employment while in a foreign country might not be the adventure you want.

Understand how Visas work and what type you need for your trip

What type of travel Visa you’ll need is going to depend on where you’re going and how long you’ll be there for. Many countries allow visitors to enter Visa-free as long as they have a return ticket booked for within 30 days of arriving. However, the last thing you want to do is find out that you don’t have your travel documents in order once you’re already on route!

Man holding laptop wearing backpack stands in an airport. Remember to have your travel Visa documents in order before embarking on a global work and travel adventure.

A good rule of thumb here is to confirm with people on both ends: where you’re leaving from and where you’re arriving to.

For example: when I went to Thailand in 2015, I had my documents from my ESL agency, my passport, my return ticket home (for six months from then), and was already one airport away from home. At 11:30pm, I was called to the gate and told that I would not be allowed to board because I was entering on a 30-day tourist Visa, yet my return ticket was for April.

Turns out, a new legislation had been introduced in Thailand, stating that ESL teachers could enter the country on a tourist Visa and switch it over once they had the official documents from the school. However, these airport staff members were not aware of that change — so it took 30 minutes of sweating and yelling and making calls to get me on that plane (which I was within 12 minutes of missing).

By getting verification from both your abroad employer and perhaps your local embassy, you’ll be able to avoid this stressful process.

Remember that work is going to compete with your wanderlust.

Envision yourself sitting in a beach lounger, sipping something cold, and listening to the sounds of the waves rolling up on the shoreline. It’s really easy to imagine that a working holiday will be paradise.

Well, you’re thinking of a vacation, not a working vacation.

Depending on the type of role you take, you need to mentally prepare yourself that you are going there to work a (usually) full-time job.

Asian woman sitting in front of her laptop, biting a pencil in stress. Remember that when you’re pursuing a global work and travel dream, you are going to sacrifice some travel days in order to work.

This sounds obvious — but when you’re about to take a trip, it becomes very easy to mentally visualize yourself in vacation mode.

In my experience, I knew I was going to Thailand to teach — but I didn’t know just how hard that would be some days. The hours were long, the school was not air conditioned, the weather was 40 degrees (C), and I would have given anything to be on the beach with friends instead of in a classroom of 35 screaming six-year-olds.

But, I was there to work — and I spent five months like this until I got my month of backpacking freedom.

This brings us to the other type of work abroad opportunity: working as a digital nomad.

Global Work and Travel: Working for Whoever from Wherever

Woman with brown hair and floral shirt sits next to a window with her laptop and a cappuccino in front of her. If you’re looking for a global work and travel opportunity, are you looking for full-time employment or a digital nomad role?

The digital nomad life is becoming the buzz worthy term of the decade. Why? Because the COVID-19 pandemic made working from home more accessible than ever.

A report from 2022 showed that 26% of U.S. employees work remotely, 36.2 million American employees expect to be working remotely by 2025, and 16% of U.S. companies are now fully remote.

So, does this mean you’re totally free to hop on a plane and continue your work from abroad? Well, not exactly.

There are some big variables to consider here.

Are you a full-time employee, and do you need a higher-up’s permission to take off?
Are you a consultant with clients that you maintain regular contact with? Are you willing to take meetings at 3am if you have to?
Is the country you’re going to nomad-friendly? Some countries want to know if you’re entering with the intent of working because that’ll impact what type of Visa you’ll need.

Time changes, Internet connectivity, and unforeseen working conditions are all things to consider before you pack up your laptop and assume you’re good to go.

Thankfully, there are some great resources available today that make planning a digital nomad adventure more accessible than ever. Digital Nomad World provides free resources on what certain countries are like to work in, including entry requirements, average Internet quality, neighbourhood suggestions, and more!

So, is the global work and travel dream a scam? In short, no. There are plenty of opportunities out there for you to board a plane and make money while abroad. If there’s one thing you take away from today’s read, let it be this:

Do your research, ask the dumb questions, and understand that every opportunity comes with learning curves and cons. Any time someone is selling you a do this to get rich quick offer, just remember that you are being sold to.

If you want more information about some of our favourite work from anywhere gigs, check out this blog here!

If you’re interested in making money online, but have no idea how — you are an inspired idiot!

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