I've been traveling nonstop for 8 years, and I take on jobs along the way. These are my best 3 gigs to date — and the 3 worst ones.

10.01.2024 - 08:16 / insider.com

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Barnhart, a 32-year-old who left Tampa, Florida to travel, and work, around the world.

People often ask me what led to my incessant globetrotting over the past eight years, residing in locales from New Zealand and Hawaii to Puerto Rico and Italy. But my answer has always been simple: I want to see the world.

It all started when I was 21, working at a Fortune 500 life insurance firm. This job exposed me to the regrets people often had while on their deathbeds. For many, it was a longing to explore the world.

Coupled with the grief of losing my best friend two years earlier, this became a catalyst for my travels. In 2015, at 24, I set off for Australia.

I've lived and worked in eight countries and am now based in Hong Kong. Here are my three best and three worst jobs to date.

In 2017, I unexpectedly landed a full-time job in Hawaii while working at a Honolulu hostel. The neighboring property management company needed help, and I stepped in. I assisted tourist check-ins for condos and timeshares, earning $30 cash per check-in from my New Zealand boss.

My shifts involved welcoming guests, providing information, and handing out keys at nearby buildings. This flexible role had no fixed hours or set office location, and offered a relaxed atmosphere where I could connect with people from around the world. Earnings fluctuated but could peak at $3,000 per month, contingent upon the number of check-ins managed.

In late 2018, I spent six lively months in New Orleans, attracted by its unique history and vibrant Mardi Gras. After a solitary period in Seattle, I craved the city's social energy.

Working at a gay bar alongside other members of the LGBTQIA+ community, I embraced the community spirit and colorful culture. Amid the revelry, I learned self-discipline by resisting excessive drinking in a city that never sleeps.

Bartending paid around $2,000 per month, occasionally more during festive events like Mardi Gras, where I could earn over $1,000 in a night.

In April 2023, I ventured to Napoli, Italy, securing a role at a hostel for two months. Mornings amid the sun-soaked garden with espresso became routine, and it turned out to be my best job so far. Collaborating with a chef and an opera singer, my tasks — preparing breakfast, tending to housekeeping, and bartending — remained straightforward.

This stint in Italy highlighted the value of a cohesive community and well-outlined job roles. Despite being unpaid, the hostel provided me complimentary meals, drinks, and accommodation.

But not all my job experiences have been idyllic.

From 2016 to 2017, I worked at a winery in Blenheim, New Zealand, undertaking factory work as part of an adventurous