How to travel the world and get paid (how I did it for a decade)

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12 Jan 2024

For the last ten years, I have been able to travel the world and get paid.

Sure, the pandemic has put a dent on my travel plans for the last year or so, and I’m not the only one.

But with most countries now open for travelers and even Australia looking likely to open its borders in the new year, I thought now would be a good time to share with anyone interested in doing the same, exactly how I did it.

I have no interest in keeping this information to myself. In fact, I will even show you the exact emails I send to hotels and tourism boards when I want to stay for free.

As someone who grew up in a small town and had high hopes for travelling the world solo, I am not only excited to share with you how I made travel my full-time job, but feel a sense of duty to make this sort of thing more accessible.

So with that, here goes nothing!

The author, in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania

I started in 2012

I started my blog, World of Wanderlust, in 2012.

The internet was different back then and social media was still in its early days.

Instagram had been around for two years, but only really became popular in April 2012. It was around this time a few fashion bloggers dominated Instagram. Celebrities had barely started using the app, with many of them not creating accounts until the following year and beyond.

This was a time before influencers, as they are now known.

There were a handful of fashion bloggers building audiences on the app. These included the likes of Tuula Vintage, Gary Pepper Girl and The Blonde Salad, to name a few that come to mind. These fashion bloggers were jetting around Europe staying in swanky hotels and attending fashion shows, everywhere from Milan to Paris. They were snapping their outfits candidly on the streets by day, attending fully hosted Dior dinners by the evening.

But I loved following these accounts for a different reason. As someone who grew up in a small town in Tasmania, at the bottom of Australia, the glitz and glamour of the fashion world was beyond me.

I saw an opportunity.

I followed these fashion bloggers travel across Europe for fashion weeks and summer vacations, but was more interested in the background than the clothes they were wearing.

So I decided I would start my own Instagram account, focusing on the destinations rather than Dior.

One of the first photos as World of Wanderlust

World of Wanderlust was born

While I started my blog in December 2012, it didn’t become an immediate success. Nothing ever does. But the truth is, it probably took a lot less time than you’d imagine.

For the next year, I traveled on and off between completing my last year at university. I went from being a full time enrolled student to becoming a distance education student, so I could travel throughout the semester. I embarked on a handful of trips that year – to Vietnam, Bali and Europe.

I paid for my flights to each of these destinations, but my accommodation was sponsored. Yes! In my first year as a blogger, I already had hotel sponsorships for all of my adventures.

I’m sure you’re wondering, how? Why? Why would anyone want to sponsor a little known blogger (in fact, I’m fairly certain it was just my friends and family reading my blog at this time).

Three words: return on investment.

Each of the hotels that hosted me in my first year as an amateur writer and photographer saw an ROI (return on investment). Instead of asking for something from them, I told them what I could do for them.

I listed my expertise in writing and photography, my experiences traveling, and what I would provide for them in return for a free night at their hotel. I would be specific. I would outline the number of photos I would take, the length of the blog post, and the instant exposure they would gain by featuring on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

And they said yes.

Sure, a lot of hotels and marketing executives said no. In fact, I’d say only 1 in 4 hotels even bothered to return my emails. But the ones who did were encouraging and at least half of them said yes. It was all I needed to get my foot in the door.

The early days of travel blogging and influencers

A lot has changed since then. Travel blogging and influencing has become a full fledged career.

Back then, it was different.

What I was doing was considered extremely different – a real change to the status quo. There were a handful of travel bloggers already getting paid to travel, but it looked a lot different back then. Travel blogs were more focused on lengthy blog posts, which were word heavy with a few photos dispersed throughout the text for reference.

So, what did I do differently?

I combined the fashion bloggers’ approach to Instagram (beautiful photos) with a traditional travel blog (feature articles) to create an aesthetically pleasing corner of the internet that would inspire adventure of your own.

Then I sold this idea to companies – the likes of Apple, GoPro, Samsonite, Four Seasons hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, to name a few.

What did I sell them? A direct link to my audience. Rather than throwing advertising dollars at a magazine feature, they were throwing advertising dollars at me. This kept me traveling longer, which kept me in the game of creating content.

It was a triple win situation.

I got to travel the world full time. My readers got to live vicariously through my adventures to plan their own. Brands got immediate access to an engaged audience.

So the secret?

Show companies you are their means to an end. Show them what they’ll get from you, rather than the other way around. Use data and a carefully crafted media kit to show a return on investment. And don’t be afraid to put your own skin in the game to get started.

If you want to join my full course on becoming a travel blogger, sign up here.

If you want to purchase my email templates to approach hotels, tourism boards and brands, you can see them here.

For most of my twenties, I was in a relationship with solo travel. Throughout my twenties I visited Europe as a solo traveler more times than I can count. From walking along the River Seine solo as the sun sets in Paris to blissfully riding my bike home in Amsterdam, being solo in Europe as a traveler has been a favourite pass time of my most formative years.

As a solo traveler, you have the freedom to set your own itinerary, try new foods, and meet new people. You may find yourself making unexpected connections with locals or other travelers, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet of solo exploration whilst walking through the Louvre.

While traveling alone can be daunting, it’s also a chance to challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and create unforgettable memories. With so many great destinations to choose from, solo travel in Europe is a wonderful way to explore the continent and discover new things about yourself along the way. These are the best cities to travel solo in Europe and more importantly, why you should visit them.

The best cities to travel solo in Europe
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Known for its beautiful canals, world-class museums, and vibrant nightlife, Amsterdam is the ideal city to start your solo adventure. Despite being a large city, much of the Amsterdam we have all come to know and love (the canals district) is small enough to be explored on foot.

Amsterdam is also full of many great museums to explore, which are a great place to seek refuge in the colder months like December and January. Once you’re tired of walking the city, if you’re feeling brave enough, rent a bike for a day to explore the city like a local.

Berlin, Germany

As the capital of Germany, Berlin is a fascinating city with a rich history and a thriving cultural scene. There are plenty of museums, galleries, and restaurants to explore, and the city’s public transportation system makes it easy to get around. While a handful of the main attractions around Alexanderplatz can be viewed on foot, you will need to rely on public transport if you wish to see all this city has to offer (as it is sprawling to say the least!)

Once you’ve seen the highlights in Mitte (the centre of town), be sure to venture out and explore the neighbourhoods of Berlin. Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, and Neukölln are all known for their artsy and vibrant atmosphere, with plenty of great cafes, bars and food markets to explore.

Barcelona, Spain

With its beautiful architecture, delicious food, and sunny beaches, Barcelona is a great destination for solo travelers. There’s always something to do in the city, whether you’re interested in art, history, or just soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere. Some of the best attractions not to be missed are La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, La Rambla, a busy shopping street, and Park Güell, a breathtaking park overlooking the city.

Prague, Czech Republic

This beautiful city is known for its stunning architecture, historic landmarks, and charming cobblestone streets. It’s a great destination for solo travelers who want to immerse themselves in European culture in a city that is big enough to explore, but small enough to do so on foot.

Once you have explored the Old Town and visited the Prague Castle, be sure to step off the beaten path and experience some of the more local attractions. One of my favourite finds in Prague was a little vegetarian restaurant named Lehka Hlava, which remains one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world in my humble opinion!

Copenhagen, Denmark

As one of the happiest cities in the world, Copenhagen is a great place for solo travelers who want to experience the Danish way of life. The city is full of cozy cafes, beautiful parks, and stylish shops, and it’s easy to get around by bike in the warmer months.

While the city is best enjoyed in the warmer months, that doesn’t mean you should completely write off a winter visit. In fact, both of my visits to Copenhagen have been solo during winter, which gives you a great excuse to stay indoors and enjoy the hygge lifestyle.

Lisbon, Portugal

With its beautiful architecture, delicious food, and sunny beaches, Lisbon is a great destination for solo travelers. The city is known for its friendly locals and relaxed atmosphere, and there are plenty of museums, galleries, and historic sites to explore. Some iconic experiences include exploring the now famous Alfama district on foot, taking a tram through the city, and taking a short trip out to Belém for a famous Pastéis de Belém (Portuguese tart).

Budapest, Hungary

With its beautiful architecture, thermal baths, and vibrant nightlife, Budapest is a great destination for solo travelers. The city is divided by the Danube River, and there are plenty of beautiful bridges and parks to explore.

Home to the famous public bath houses, Széchenyi Bath and Gellért Bath are two of the most famous to experience. Of course take a long walk along the Danube River to get a feeling for the scope and size of this city, then be sure to take in the views from Buda Castle.

Over to you – which are your favourite cities to travel solo in Europe? Let us know in the comments or follow us on Instagram to stay up to date.