Are you potentially looking for an alternative way to see the world and travel, that doesn't involve backpacking? That was me, too.

I didn't think my decision was rash or spontaneous. Many of my university friends gained their degrees, obtained the biggest rucksack they could possibly find, crammed what essentials could fit and said their goodbyes, boldly trudging off with one-way tickets to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, or New Zealand.

For me, I couldn't think of anything worse than that. Not necessarily those travels in themselves - of course I'd absolutely love to see those places.

It was the feeling of utter uncertainty that I could never deal with. 'Open' plane tickets, lack of accommodation bookings. Not knowing necessarily where you'd even sleep that same night, or end up next. 'Fly by the seat of your pants' type living. Day-to-day on a whim.

One of my other biggest worries? People. Trusting that your hostels were safe, and didn't contain weirdos that would steal from you or hurt you.

Trusting that your hotels were decent condition, or even there at all.

Plus, what would happen if you run out of money??? And so on, and so forth.

Nauseating, in summary.

I'd also never fallen into cliques or groups the way others did, a pretty essential part of travelling in that way. Either people had close-knit friendship groups to go out and do it all together, or just better social skills than me to meet new people along the way.

All in all, the backpacking idea as a means of travel was pretty scary and off-putting for me when considering what to do with my life, especially after university.

I knew my ambition to travel or search for 'more' wasn't going to diminish though. If seeing more of the world was the end goal, but how others were doing it wasn't going to work for me, then I needed to reevaluate. See if I could make it happen in alternative ways.

This is where planning, trying to be sensible, and a little bit of faith came in.

Researching Travel Opportunities

I started brainstorming many different ways to get myself out there.

I researched everything from environmental volunteering with charities that save marine life in Sri Lanka, to joining groups with shared accommodations building housing in Costa Rica.

Articles about signing up to teach in English schools, where there's endless opportunity and roles worldwide.

I sourced endorsed qualifications, like chasing a scuba-diving certificate and jetting off to Mexico to be an instructor.

I scanned pages detailing permanent moves, like applying for strawberry picking in Australia and VISAs that could end with residencies.

The amount of animal sanctuaries I looked up too??? Ugh, I'd have flown to them all if I could.

Incredible ideas, and all worth the look into. I even still follow some of these organisations on social media.

For me, however, many of those opportunities still rooted me to just one place, which I wasn't overly keen on, and mostly without any major stability or income.

That's when I started to consider working abroad.

Planning How to See The World

It hit me behind my old desk at work - I was a part-time receptionist at a boutique hotel by the sea in my old university town in England.

It's not like I didn't love my position, or my life there. I did.

But something moved inside me that yearned for more, and especially to see the world at a point where it seemed easier to cut ties, experiment, or at least change up my life.

What would happen if I attempted to move to a similar job like what I already had, but abroad? Where I could spend time, especially days off, exploring incredible places where people might usually PAY to go???

And what if I could continue to get paid for that work myself??

It wasn't too long before my internet searches changed from broad research, and nosedived into potential job searches.

My computer overflowed with cabin crew flight applications, seasonal hotel vacancies, cruise line opportunities, and everything in-between. I sent my details to a handful, without large expectations, and simply waited to hear what came back.

I did hear from a few, and pretty quickly. One of them was a reputable English-based holiday company with some good travel opportunities, and the other was a famous cruise line.

But one that resonated and intrigued me a little more with their response was a European travel company, specialising in holiday package deals and hotels in destinations all over the globe. I had considered their airline too (which of course has its benefits), but ultimately decided working on the ground would enable me to see more in detail, immerse me more in culture, and likely challenge my potential more.

My Pathway to Paid Freedom

Within a few weeks and after a few extensive interviews, I got the role as an Overseas Destination Representative. I still couldn't believe my life was about to completely overhaul and change.

That role was going to train and ship me off to vacation spots to live in-resort for roughly six months, providing advice, support, and guidance to incoming guests who had booked with the company.

If all of that wasn't exciting enough, I was also lucky that the company would source my accommodation, flights, and most of my expenses too. Plus, I was even luckier that the all-inclusive hotels that I'd get to work with would (kindly) allow me to eat within their dinner times, so I rarely even had any outgoings at all.

I also had to do all the excursions for free, so I knew what I was talking about with guests... I mean, they practically forced me.

Dune buggies in Morocco.

Boat trips in the Caribbean.

Pasta-making in Italy.

Sunset dinners in Santorini....

Just, torture. (Wink wink).

The company also took care of most of my paperwork, VISAs, uniforms, and other administration that took a whole weight off my shoulders, which was a major bonus for me too.

Despite most of my upheaval being handled as much as possible for me, a lot of people still used to say, 'Wow, I could never have done that'.

It's true, I gave up my job, my favourite rental apartment, & (what would later be) my stable relationship, to follow my heart and pursue trying to see the world. But truly, I knew it was aligned, and I still look back now knowing it was the best thing I've ever done.

From the moment I decided to take a chance on myself and change my course, the rest is history.

If you've been reading this looking for an incredible alternative to backpacking, volunteering, or staying at home, and also want some kind of travel experience that doesn't involve spontaneity or heading one-way on a whim.

Then I can honestly tell you, it might be worth considering roles that will pay YOU to travel the globe.

If you're wondering how on earth you get paid to travel, what types of work there are, or where to even start with ideas, then I already made the article you need FULL of recommendations and opportunities that you can find right here -- and it doesn't just involve cutting ties with everyone or everything, I promise.

Don't be afraid to carve your pathway,

-fe