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If you’re wondering how to make passive income while traveling, you’re likely dreaming of more than just seeing new places—you want to maintain financial freedom while doing it. Whether you’re planning to start a digital nomad journey or simply looking for ways to earn money while on the move, this guide is here to help you discover how to make money work for you.
As exciting as the idea of full-time travel sounds, the financial challenges of maintaining it can be daunting. Many travelers struggle with inconsistent income streams, the stress of working long hours from different time zones, and the fear of running out of savings. The solution? Finding passive income sources that keep generating money, whether you’re on a plane, hiking in Patagonia, or sipping coffee at a quaint café in Italy.
After years of living a nomadic lifestyle, I’ve explored various ways to generate passive income that allow me to travel without constantly worrying about my bank account. From affiliate marketing with platforms like Stay22 to monetizing a blog through ad networks, I’ve developed several passive income streams that keep my travels going.
Whether you’re already a digital nomad or just starting your journey, this guide is perfect for anyone looking to balance their wanderlust with stable income. My goal is to make passive income accessible and achievable, even if you’re new to the world of online business.
I’ve been right where you are. The uncertainty of balancing travel and income used to weigh me down too. But after finding the right mix of passive income sources, I’ve unlocked a lifestyle where I can travel freely without financial stress.
8 Ways How To Make Passive Income While Traveling
1. Affiliate Marketing with Stay22
If you’re a travel blogger or content creator, there are several ways to make passive income while exploring the world. One of the most straightforward methods is through affiliate marketing, particularly by promoting accommodations you’ve personally stayed in.
In the past, this would mean joining individual affiliate programs, generating links for each specific booking site, and hoping for conversions. But here’s the thing—Stay22 makes this process so much easier.
Stay22 offers an embedded script that automatically converts your links into affiliate links. Even if you weren’t using affiliate links before, their technology retroactively applies affiliate tracking to your existing links. It saves you from the hassle of manually setting up each link through the major affiliate programs including Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com.
Before I used Stay22, I wasn’t making much from hotel bookings, but after embedding Stay22’s script on my blog, it’s become one of my best-performing affiliates. Plus, now I can simply grab the regular link from the booking website and their script automatically converts it, which is a huge time-changer while writing posts.
What sets Stay22 apart is how they continuously innovate. One of their coolest features is the Let Me Allez (LMA), which uses AI to recommend booking sites that your readers are most likely to book through. Instead of randomly offering booking options, Stay22’s AI optimizes the experience for your audience, which means more conversions—and ultimately, more commissions for you. It’s a passive income dream for bloggers!
What I love most is that Stay22 is genuinely invested in the travel blogging community. They’re present at all the big blogging conferences, always eager to support bloggers, and they’re constantly listening to feedback to improve their tools. It’s not just a faceless company—they care about helping creators like us succeed.
Bottom line? Stay22 makes affiliate marketing one of the most passive, profitable forms of income for travel bloggers. If you’re not using them yet, you’re leaving money on the table.
2. Making Passive Income with Ad Networks
Another great way to generate passive income with an online website while traveling is by using ad networks, which place display ads on your website. Every time a visitor lands on your site or interacts with an ad, you earn revenue. The best part? It’s completely passive once the ads are set up. But, to really see good returns, you need a solid amount of page views.
Premium ad networks like Mediavine and Raptive (formerly AdThrive) are where the real money is made due to their high RPMs (revenue per thousand impressions). For instance, Mediavine requires a minimum of 50,000 sessions per month to qualify—this was a big goal of mine, and I was thrilled to hit it in 2022. Once I did, it became a fantastic and stable source of income.
Not only do they offer some of the highest RPMs in the industry, but Mediavine also goes above and beyond to support the blogging community.
However, you don’t need 50,000 sessions to start earning with ads. You can begin with Google AdSense right away, but I wouldn’t recommend it as the earnings are very low. You’ll want to look at mid-tier networks like Ezoic, SheMedia, and Monumetric, which don’t require as many sessions but offer better RPMs than Google AdSense.
Of these, I’ve tried a few, and Monumetric was by far the best experience for my niche site. Their customer support was helpful, and their RPMs outperformed the other networks. However, I recently switched that site to Journey by Mediavine, which is for websites with at least 10,000 sessions. They don’t provide the same level of personalized support that full Mediavine clients get, but the setup was easy for me to do.
Ad networks are a great way to make passive income while traveling once you hit those traffic milestones. If you’re just starting out, focus on growing your traffic—hitting those session targets will open up much more lucrative ad opportunities.
3. Create and Sell Digital Products for Passive Income
Creating and selling digital products is one of the best ways to generate passive income while traveling. These products can range from eBooks, travel guides, to printable templates, allowing you to monetize your knowledge and expertise.
With digital products, you can create something once and sell it endlessly, making it a scalable way to earn income. Whether it’s an eBook on how to start the digital nomad lifestyle, a travel photography guide, or city-specific itineraries, digital products are a fantastic option for passive income.
One fantastic platform for travelers looking to sell personalized travel guides is Rexby. Rexby offers a streamlined way to build and share unique, insider travel recommendations. Their platform simplifies the process of creating and selling personalized travel guides.
I started with a travel guide about Newfoundland, designed to complement the content on my blog about Newfoundland. Now, I’m working on a Puerto Vallarta guide, which will offer insider tips, itineraries, and recommendations based on my time living in the area.
The best part is that once the guide is created, it continues to sell without much ongoing effort—making it a perfect fit for generating passive income while you’re on the go.
Beyond just travel guides, Rexby also enables you to offer additional services like customized itineraries and travel planning consultations for destinations you’re an expert in. While this isn’t a passive income stream, it’s a flexible way to earn extra income from anywhere in the world.
4. Investing in Stocks, Shares, and Crypto
Another effective way to create passive income while traveling is by investing in stocks, shares, and cryptocurrencies. It’s an excellent option for travelers because it doesn’t require a physical presence or continuous management.
I started investing in my early 20’s with the guidance of a financial advisor, focusing on a mix of dividend-paying stocks and index funds for stability.
For me, the beauty of investing in stocks is the long-term growth and dividends. When you invest in companies with a track record of paying dividends, you earn passive income from their profits, even if you’re not actively working. These provide consistent returns and help smooth out the volatility of the stock market.
You can also buy individual stocks and mixed funds using platforms like WealthSimple (for Canadians), which means you aren’t paying high fees to a financial advisor. However, you’ll want to spend more time researching what you’re investing in.
Cryptocurrency is another area where I’ve dipped my toes. While more volatile than traditional stocks, it offers the potential for significant growth. I started with Bitcoin and Ethereum, but have also explored other altcoins that seem to have long-term potential. Crypto is definitely riskier, but because I’m investing with money I can afford to lose, it’s a great way to diversify my income streams (and some of the returns have been insane).
The key takeaway here is that once you’ve invested, it’s largely hands-off. You don’t need to babysit these investments daily, making it perfect for generating passive income while you’re out exploring new places.
5. Passive Income from Real Estate and Airbnb (or Rental Arbitrage)
One of my favorite ways to generate passive income while traveling has been through real estate, specifically with Airbnb. Last year, I purchased my first property in Puerto Vallarta because I knew the city had a strong vacation rental market (and I love living here).
It’s a popular tourist destination, which means there’s constant demand for short-term rentals, especially in the high season. Given the market conditions, I was confident it would perform well on Airbnb—and it has.
Owning property in a vacation hotspot like Puerto Vallarta has been a game changer. I rent out my property whenever I’m traveling or not using it, turning it into a reliable and passive source of income.
The beauty of owning a vacation rental is that, once set up, it just takes a couple of hours a week to manage, if any. And you can always use a property management company if you want to be completely hands-off. I can be halfway across the world and still manage my bookings, communicate with guests, and collect income—all from my phone.
Ultimately, buying my first property here has allowed me to travel freely while knowing that I have a stable income stream waiting for me. It’s one of the best decisions I made for financial independence while living the digital nomad lifestyle.
For those who don’t own property but want to get into the game, rental arbitrage is a great alternative. Essentially, you rent a property long-term and then list it on platforms like Airbnb to cover your rent and earn a profit. It’s a smart strategy if you’re not ready to buy property but still want to take advantage of the booming short-term rental market.
6. Make Money Selling Your Travel Photos and Videos
If you love photography or videography, selling your travel photos and videos can be an excellent way to make passive income while on the road. Platforms like Shutterstock, Envato, and Adobe Stock allow you to upload your best shots, and every time someone downloads them, you get paid.
The best part? Once your photos or videos are uploaded, they keep generating revenue without much additional effort, making it a truly passive income source. This method is a perfect fit for digital nomads because you can continually build a portfolio of work as you travel, turning your memories into a steady stream of income.
However, it’s important to note that competition is high, so you’ll need to upload high-quality, in-demand content to stand out. The more unique and professional your work, the more likely it is to sell.
Another great way to earn passive income from your travel photos is by protecting them from unauthorized use. Believe it or not, you can make money from people stealing your photos. Platforms like Pixsy allow you to upload your images, and they automatically search for copies of your photos online. If they find your work being used for commercial purposes without your approval, you can submit a claim to have it removed or request compensation.
This is something I’ve just started doing, but I’ve heard from other photographer friends that they get a minimum of $300 per photo when their claims are successful. The best part? Pixsy handles most of the legwork for you, including the legal process of submitting claims and recovering lost revenue.
7. Earning Passive Income from YouTube
Another potential passive income source is YouTube, and while I’m not on YouTube yet, I’ll be starting a channel soon focused on traveling with dogs.
Over the years, I’ve spoken with many successful YouTubers, and one thing is clear—it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. You need to put in a lot of time and effort upfront. To monetize your channel, you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months. Even then, to make a decent income solely from ad revenue, you’ll likely need millions of views.
It’s also important to note that how much you make from YouTube depends heavily on your audience’s location. The U.S. is one of the most lucrative regions for ad revenue, so if your audience is primarily based there, you can expect higher CPMs (cost per thousand impressions).
However, YouTube doesn’t have to just be about ad revenue. Once you have a following, there are many ways to monetize, including affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and selling products or services.
Even though it requires significant effort to get started, once you have a solid audience, the ad revenue becomes completely passive. If you’re passionate about making travel videos, it can be a fantastic long-term income stream.
8. Earn Passive Income with Online Courses
Creating and selling online courses is a fantastic way to earn passive income while traveling. Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and Teachable make it easy for anyone to build a course and reach a global audience.
For travelers, this could mean teaching anything from travel photography and language lessons to destination-specific guides. Once the course is created and uploaded, it can generate sales indefinitely, providing a steady stream of passive income.
While I haven’t ventured into online courses yet, it’s a lucrative option that many bloggers and digital nomads use to share their expertise while earning money.
The best part is that the content only needs to be created once. After that, it’s all about marketing the course and allowing the platforms to handle the rest. These platforms also offer built-in audiences, making it easier for your course to gain traction if marketed well.
Creating a successful online course starts with choosing the right niche. This could be based on your expertise or something you’re passionate about.
Although I haven’t created an online course yet, it’s on my radar for the future. If you’re looking to build a more passive income stream, especially in the educational space, online courses can be incredibly rewarding.
Final Thoughts: Building Passive Income While Traveling Is Achievable
If you’re dreaming of a lifestyle where you can travel freely without worrying about finances, creating passive income streams is the way to go.
From affiliate marketing with platforms like Stay22 to using ad networks and selling digital products, there are multiple ways to earn money while you’re on the move. Each method comes with its own benefits and challenges, but the common thread is that once these systems are set up, they can generate income with minimal ongoing effort.
As a travel blogger, I’ve explored many of these options—some more successful than others—and have found ways to turn my passion for travel into a sustainable income. Whether through investing in real estate with my property in Puerto Vallarta, selling stock photos, or exploring new platforms like Rexby, the key is to diversify and find what works best for your personal strengths and interests.
You don’t need to be an expert in all these areas right away. Start small, focus on growing your traffic, building valuable content, and gradually implementing different income streams. As your online presence grows, so will your opportunities for passive income.
Ultimately, financial freedom while traveling isn’t just a dream—it’s completely achievable with the right strategies.
