International travel is easier today than it has ever been,
given enough money and time. Trouble is, most of us have a hard
time saving the money, and once we have that together we
struggle to find the time. It seems that only wealthy retired
people have enough of both to travel extensively.
Wouldn't it be great if we could afford to travel while we are
young and unfettered? Sure, some people in their 20's take
backpacking trips, but that type of travel isn't for everyone.
What happens if you get sick in the Middle East, or run out of
money in Timbuktu? Being sick or broke in a foreign country can
be a scary and dangerous experience.
Guess what? There is a better way to see the world for extended
periods of time without spending any money. You have to work,
but you'll be working in the playgrounds of the gods, and you
get paid very handsomely for being there.
There are a variety of paid travelers out there and others who
travel free. In addition, Since September 11, 2001 there has
been an increase in the number of people wanting to volunteer
their time. If you prefer to "give something back" while you
travel, here are some websites with information:
· AmeriCorps - www.americorps.org · Catholic Network of
Volunteer Service - www.cnvs.org · Habitat for Humanity -
www.habitat.org · Sierra Club - www.sierraclub.org · St. Vincent
Pallotti Center - www.pallotticenter.org
You may also wish to contact the International Association for
Air Travel Couriers at: Tel: (352) 475-1584, www.courier.org.
Truly enterprising folks might be able to get some "free" air
travel in on the way to finding a paid travel related job.
This article is directed at a much more specific target. It is
intended to introduce you to the idea of working aboard private
yachts. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind:
· You don't need a college degree to get started. · You don't
have to join any clubs. · You have the chance to see the world.
· You will meet some of the wealthiest and most famous people in
the world. · You will learn invaluable people skills. · You will
learn numerous practical maintenance skills. · Entry-level
positions often earn enough money to save $20,000 per year! ·
Charter yacht crews earn fantastic tips in addition to salary. ·
There is no overhead; no rent, no bills, uniforms and meals are
provided. · Your earnings are largely tax-free. · Most yachts
give four weeks paid vacation. · Not a lot of people know about
this industry, therefore there are never enough good people to
fill the available positions. · The trend among cruising yachts
today is toward larger and more luxurious boats, therefore more
crew positions are opening up all the time as brand new
mega-yachts leave the yards where they were built.
Don't worry about whether or not you have enough boating
experience to do the job. You will learn most of the skills you
need on the job, and "The Yachtie Bible: How to Get Paid While
Traveling in Style", (available at
http://www.booklocker.com/books/842.html), will show you how to
get the training and experience you need to secure your first
job. After that, if you enjoy the work, and you get along well
with your employers and crewmates, you can work your way up the
pay scale rapidly.
Before you say, "I couldn't do that, I get seasick," you need to
know that everybody gets seasick. "The Yachtie Bible" looks at
various remedies you can use until you get your "sea legs." The
important thing is to start working, which means:
· Getting to a place where there are yachts, · Getting to know
other people working on yachts, · Convincing those other people
that you are willing to work, and to learn, · Satisfying minimum
sea safety requirements by taking an STCW- 95 Basic Safety
course. (We'll cover the what, where and how of this shortly.)
The yachting community is very friendly and you will be amazed
to discover how small the world really is once you begin to
travel.
Yachting is a brilliant way to jump-start your life. Give it a
try!
About the author:
(c)2003, Kim Davis - www.kpdavis.com and www.yachtie.net Kim is
a writer and web designer who used to be a professional yachtie.
Her book "The Yachtie Bible: How to Get Paid While Traveling in
Style" has been called "the nonsense, no holds barred complete
information package about the world of yachting for a living."
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