Making money while traveling?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Personal courier service? (Just don't open the package...)

This

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Personal courier service? (Just don't open the package...)

I have done this. Not much work out there any more. The drawbacks were:

1) You need to live in an urban area where the Packages are flown out of.
2) No notice at all. I once got a job to go to Abu Dhabi, and was at the airport 2 hrs after the call. 10 hour layover at JFK on the return.
3) Quick turnaround when delivery is made. Go 1/2 around the world are lucky to get to spend one night.
4) You really get a lot of attention at security when you are carrying something like a box of bolts to hold on a Boeing 747 engine.
5) Sketchy details on who is to meet you and where they will be.
6) A lot of jobs don't pan out. Get a call in the middle of the night to see if you are available. Yes, I am. OK, we'll get back to you in an hour....Sorry, we didn't get the job.

[motion]

I wonder if I could parlay my fame as an AMA Pro Roadracer? harharharhar

[motion]

Originally Posted by MT930

Anthony Bourdain Type Gig.

Love that guy ! your a couple video cameras away. Seriously!

Video Blogger.

I really dig AB, too. It would be cool to do some type of travel show, but honestly, it sounds like too much work. I'm not really into working much, just working smart.

[LakeCleElum]

Be a driving instructor in China?

[motion]

Originally Posted by kevin993

Boutique travel concierge service. You go to interesting places and have more travel experience than most others. Sell bespoke trips to accompany travelers on their travels. You can take business that you want and reject business you don't want. You don't even need to accompany each client on their travels, so you might be able to consider some of your travels to be business-related research. You could also sell your services to clients to make the most of frequent flyer points and other travel programs. In either case, you can do as much or as little business as you like and work when you want to work. Your blog can be part of the business - advertising and travel tips for potential clients. You gain a legitimate business where your travel expenses are reasonably viewed as business expenses. Periodically, you can then self-publish travel diary type books (think more travelogues than trip guides). Realistically, you don't need to compete with Rick Steves or Fodors - you just need to have some low cost "what I saw when we went to XXX place" type books on Amazon. Self publishing is a lot more viable than it used to be and you just need enough to justify the travel expenses.

I think this is where I'm headed... I know that most people are terrified of new places and trying to deal with new locations, customs, currency, etc. Its why tour companies with big luxe buses are so popular. I hired a guy in Beijing to take me around the city and out to the great wall in his car for a day and it was fantastic. It was only like $100 and made all the difference in the world.

Little tips like this would be gold for most people. They could probably do enough digging on the internet to find the info, but who has time for that? I always buy a Lonely Planet Discover guide for places I go to, but the info is extremely limited, and in my opinion, doesn't really prepare people for the real experience.

Case in point: A buddy and I are traveling by high speed boat up the river from Saigon to Phnom Penh in a couple weeks. We know we have to have a visa for Cambodia, but we have no idea when we'll arrive at an immigration checkpoint by boat. All sorts of stuff could go wrong and we're going to have to find out on the fly. Wish I had that info before we get there.

[motion]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I have done this. Not much work out there any more. The drawbacks were:

1) You need to live in an urban area where the Packages are flown out of.
2) No notice at all. I once got a job to go to Abu Dhabi, and was at the airport 2 hrs after the call. 10 hour layover at JFK on the return.
3) Quick turnaround when delivery is made. Go 1/2 around the world are lucky to get to spend one night.
4) You really get a lot of attention at security when you are carrying something like a box of bolts to hold on a Boeing 747 engine.
5) Sketchy details on who is to meet you and where they will be.
6) A lot of jobs don't pan out. Get a call in the middle of the night to see if you are available. Yes, I am. OK, we'll get back to you in an hour....Sorry, we didn't get the job.

Yeah, that doesn't sound like my cup of tea

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by motion

. All sorts of stuff could go wrong and we're going to have to find out on the fly. Wish I had that info before we get there.

Travel forums can be very helpful on this sort of thing......TripAdvisor is just one of many.

[WPOZZZ]

I might have missed it, but why do you travel so much?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by motion

I think this is where I'm headed... I know that most people are terrified of new places and trying to deal with new locations, customs, currency, etc. Its why tour companies with big luxe buses are so popular. I hired a guy in Beijing to take me around the city and out to the great wall in his car for a day and it was fantastic. It was only like $100 and made all the difference in the world.

^^
This. When I first read the OP I thought, "What could someone who travels a lot do that I would pay money for?" and this is the strongest idea. The problem is, you asked about how to make money while traveling. You presumably already have a reason to travel. Do you have time to do this AND whatever else you're traveling for?

I'm doing the photography thing myself. I have a portfolio of photos of French pastries and pastry shops. I'm going to publish a coffee table book. I'll never make any money on it, but every dollar I lose is a few pennies earned when I talk to the tax man.

[motion]

I don't have any reason to travel, other than a bit of an obsession to see every spot on earth, LOL. When I arrive in a new place, my time is 100% my own.

[Seahawk]

One of the things I enjoy most about this place are the travel threads - I particularly enjoyed Dottore's since he, like you and others here, get off the beaten track.

If I was you I would learn to take competent photographs and video: You don't have to start your own travel blog, but you could. Also, since you get to places others are often unwilling, sell your photos, videos and impressions on well established blogs for profit.

There is a whole community of folks who do little else but: http://travelbloggeracademy.com/how-to-become-a-travel-writer/

It may not be for you, but the opportunity exists for you...you could write a whole blog on how to plan a trip. No kidding.

A friend of mine also does short teaching stints.

He plans vacations around it and it is all tax deductible and available all over.

Guest Lecturer. Don't laugh. Another friend of mine who is a retired two star admiral used to contact colleges, universities and businesses in his travel areas and sold himself as a lecturer on specialty, military history. He no longer does it but he had a nice little website touting his expertise and would send the link along with his correspondence.

It worked amazingly well, especially in small countries since he didn't charge much.

What in your background is "lecturer" worthy? I bet a lot more than you think.

Have you ever been a speaker at a professional conference? I speak at a lot of conferences on unmanned systems and plan on hitting the overseas circuit in a few years.

[vash]

if i could do life over again, i would be a food/travel photographer.

[creaturecat]

Export Africa Twin motorcycles to the USA.
There is a big demand. No supply.
Fill a container with bikes and spares.
Martin, at Motofeirme could probably line up a few bikes, for a more than reasonable fee.

fwiw: my TRX powered XTZ 750 is worth twice as much here, as what I paid for it, in Europe. Guys chase me down the road, trying to buy it. Dualsport guys line up at gas stations, to take a picture.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

Export Africa Twin motorcycles to the USA.
There is a big demand. No supply.
Fill a container with bikes and spares.
Martin, at Motofeirme could probably line up a few bikes, for a more than reasonable fee.

fwiw: my TRX powered XTZ 750 is worth twice as much here, as what I paid for it, in Europe. Guys chase me down the road, trying to buy it. Dualsport guys line up at gas stations, to take a picture.

Great idea Creature - I saw lots of Africa Twin on 2 Europe trips last year; could be huge in the US....To expand a bit. Also think about importing Scooters and parts/spares. U could do this from Asia or Europe. The US could be a huge market. I know a guy that got around the Vehicle Import Reg for vehicles by a partial dis-assembly and shipping "parts"........

[motion]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

One of the things I enjoy most about this place are the travel threads - I particularly enjoyed Dottore's since he, like you and others here, get off the beaten track.

If I was you I would learn to take competent photographs and video: You don't have to start your own travel blog, but you could. Also, since you get to places others are often unwilling, sell your photos, videos and impressions on well established blogs for profit.

There is a whole community of folks who do little else but: http://travelbloggeracademy.com/how-to-become-a-travel-writer/

It may not be for you, but the opportunity exists for you...you could write a whole blog on how to plan a trip. No kidding.

A friend of mine also does short teaching stints.

He plans vacations around it and it is all tax deductible and available all over.

Guest Lecturer. Don't laugh. Another friend of mine who is a retired two star admiral used to contact colleges, universities and businesses in his travel areas and sold himself as a lecturer on specialty, military history. He no longer does it but he had a nice little website touting his expertise and would send the link along with his correspondence.

It worked amazingly well, especially in small countries since he didn't charge much.

What in your background is "lecturer" worthy? I bet a lot more than you think.

Have you ever been a speaker at a professional conference? I speak at a lot of conferences on unmanned systems and plan on hitting the overseas circuit in a few years.

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Paul. I'm not sure I have anything worthwhile to say, but I believe I've led a fairly interesting life. I've been self employed since I was 24 years old, and have become an expert (if you assume more knowledge than 99% of the population) on several topics, including entrepreneurship, real estate investing, motorcycles, roadracing, travel, frequent flying, etc. There might be something there to talk about. But, I doubt it

[motion]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Great idea Creature - I saw lots of Africa Twin on 2 Europe trips last year; could be huge in the US....To expand a bit. Also think about importing Scooters and parts/spares. U could do this from Asia or Europe. The US could be a huge market. I know a guy that got around the Vehicle Import Reg for vehicles by a partial dis-assembly and shipping "parts"........

I had thought of this and its on my list... I remember a day about 15 years ago when a van full of Brits pulled up to my house and bought 3 sets of 6 and 7 fuchs from me. They were driving all over the USA buying them up, then shipping back to Europe in a container for BIG profit.

Japan is chock full of two stroke motorbikes that are dirt cheap, and are worth triple here in the USA. The Africa Twins are another example. I could go on purchasing journeys around the world, buying up stuff that I know well, and then refurbishing & selling back in the USA. Its a lot of work and red tape, though.

[motion]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I know a guy that got around the Vehicle Import Reg for vehicles by a partial dis-assembly and shipping "parts"........

This is the key. I'd have to have a local partner.

[group911@aol.co]

Last time I went to Cambodia, the visas were done online from the government website- a lot of imposters out there. Have you looked around the Travelfish website?

Originally Posted by motion

I think this is where I'm headed... I know that most people are terrified of new places and trying to deal with new locations, customs, currency, etc. Its why tour companies with big luxe buses are so popular. I hired a guy in Beijing to take me around the city and out to the great wall in his car for a day and it was fantastic. It was only like $100 and made all the difference in the world.

Little tips like this would be gold for most people. They could probably do enough digging on the internet to find the info, but who has time for that? I always buy a Lonely Planet Discover guide for places I go to, but the info is extremely limited, and in my opinion, doesn't really prepare people for the real experience.

Case in point: A buddy and I are traveling by high speed boat up the river from Saigon to Phnom Penh in a couple weeks. We know we have to have a visa for Cambodia, but we have no idea when we'll arrive at an immigration checkpoint by boat. All sorts of stuff could go wrong and we're going to have to find out on the fly. Wish I had that info before we get there.