Not Luxe ☼ Travel
  • ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL
  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
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  • Travel
  • Teaching ESL
  • Move Abroad
  • Travel Insurance
Not Luxe ☼ Travel
  • ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL
  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
  • Australia
  • Travel
  • Teaching ESL
  • Move Abroad
  • Travel Insurance

move to asia with no degree

    a girl stands in a market in Cambodia

    Move to Cambodia Without a Job | The Survival Guide

    by Nick & Raychel March 24, 2020

    How the *%$ did you gain the courage to move to Cambodia without a job? Yes, we are asked that often.

    Unlike some other countries in Asia such as China, Korea, and Japan, Cambodia is one of the many countries in which (at the time of writing this) it is very difficult to get a job unless you are physically
    in the country at the time of applying. This can be very nerve-wracking for first time travellers, oversea-ers, or even if you’ve done it in other countries a hundred times before, yes – it can be scary! Below, we’re just going to chat about how we gained the courage to move to Cambodia with no job prospects or having without ever even visited the country.

    So, here are the reminders we lived by (and the reminders you didn’t know you needed) for your move to Cambodia (without a job).

    There is a high demand for English teachers in Cambodia

    It’s true, especially if you’re in Phnom Penh. If you are a native English speaker, chances are you won’t have a hard time finding an English teaching job when you move to Cambodia. The demand for English teachers is high, and with more and more Cambodian citizens enrolling their children into English language schools, the demand keeps growing.

    At almost any time of the year, there will be expats leaving, ending contracts, and both old and new schools hiring new teachers.

    Cambodia is inexpensive to both visit and live

    So even with little savings, you can live comfortably for a while without having a secured job right off the bat. The cost of living in Cambodia is low, even Phnom Penh. With hostel prices as low as $3/night, you can give yourself some time to breathe and find an excellent English teaching position.

    Exploring jobs on foot can actually provide you with a better experience in the long-run

    This may be the last thing you want to hear when you’re simply looking for a job, but it’s true. As much as it’s fantastic to be offered a contract, a paid flight and lodging, when you come on your own terms you are not stuck to anything. 

    Take it from people who have done it, it is absolutely an advantage to be able to meet your potential employers, shake hands (or in Cambodia – bow), and talk about potential contract opportunities. It’s great to see the school, meet the staff, and decide if it’s a great fit for you.

    You have the power to choose your job. It will not hurt you to explore your options.

    Cambodia is right in the thick of South East Asia, so if you don’t like it, you can try another country

    Something that always put our minds to ease was that: if we didn’t find success in Cambodia, we could always go somewhere else. This may be hard to imagine when you’re still thousands of miles overseas, we know, although it was a fact  we constantly reminded ourselves.

    The surrounding countries like Thailand, Vietnam & Laos, as well as other countries like Myanmar and Indonesia, are also all filled with an abundance of teaching opportunities you can explore if you get there just to realize Cambodia isn’t *really* right for you. 

    And hey – they’re just a short bus ride (or cheap flight) away.

    You can skip the stress of looking for work on a tourist visa, and get an Ordinary Visa instead

    A huge perk of choosing to move to Cambodia, particularly, is that there is a visa that is designed just for this exact situation. Unlike many other countries – where your options are:  having a pre-existing job offer and/or work permit to legally start working OR risking the job hunt on a tourist visa (you’re not legally supposed to do this) – Cambodia has an option called an Ordinary Visa. 

    On the Ordinary (E-Type) visa, you’re legally allowed to move to Cambodia without a job & look for work for 30 days. We personally loved that this was an option and made arriving in the country so much easier on our mental health. To us, the ease of knowing that we were there legally and truthfully helped us gain the confidence to get out there with those resumes & start applying.


    So, are you ready to move to Cambodia? Find our step-by-step guide on How to Move to Cambodia & Teach English.

    Still curious about how much money you could really make over there? We have a write-up about how much money we were able to save while living in Phnom Penh here. 

    Prefer to watch, not read? Find our YouTube channel here.

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Nick & Raychel
Nick & Raychel

In 2018, we sold everything we owned and moved to Cambodia to teach English.

Let’s make this clear: this journey didn’t start with money. This journey started with a desire to see the world and to do something different for a change.

We’re not going to fool you with photos of floating breakfasts and private jets. We know what it’s like to be on a budget. Although we like to take pretty pictures, we aren’t going to wake up at an ungodly hour to give you unachievable travel jealousy. We aren’t going to censor ourselves or lie to you.

What we are going to do is stay in cheap hostels, find ways to make money, give the advice that we would want to hear, and share our experiences with you honestly.

Are you in?

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ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL

About Us Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, the Canadian travel couple behind the brand ‘Not Luxe’. Far before we were married (and on a mission to see the world), we were working…

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  • Full-time travel: rapid-fire answering the most common questions about having no fixed address (PART 2) 

* Language Barriers: English is our first language, but we learn key phrases before visiting a new country, use language apps, and rely (pretty heavily lol) on Google Translate for help.

*Bank Accounts: Our primary bank account is in Canada, and we open accounts in other countries if we stay for more than 6 months. We use WISE for fund transfers.

*Safety Overseas: Yes, we feel safe by using common sense, learning local laws, and staying informed about local news.

*Budgeting and Saving: We work on the road, choose affordable accommodations, and keep travel costs low.

*Routine: We’re still figuring this out, ngl. 

*Belongings: Sold everything in 2017, traveled with just a backpack, upgraded to a van, downsized AGAINA and now have a $100/month storage locker (!!!) 

*Handling Change: Honestly? Online therapy and staying connected to friends help, but we’ve learned to embrace the constant change of our nomadic lifestyle.

Any questions about living on the road? 
Drop ‘em here.

➟ follow @nickandraychel // slow travel & alternative living

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  • It’s official – we’ve quit our jobs once more as our journey takes us abroad again. Over the past 5 years, we’ve been travelling & working temp gigs along the way. 

With just 5 weeks until we touch down in New Zealand, we’ve checked off step 2 on our to-do list. Selling our trusty van, quitting our jobs, securing visas, booking flights, snagging travel insurance, updating resumes, job hunting, finding accommodation, packing our bags, and saying our goodbyes.

This marks our third move to a foreign land without ever setting foot there before. There’s no turning back now, but we’re ready for the adventure. 

So here’s to another wild ride.

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  • I think I’ve found my people on this side of the pond. 

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  • One of the biggest misconceptions about affordable travel is that it has to be uncomfyBUT there are ways to *actually* enjoy economy - so let’s chat about it. 

Here are our main tips for enjoying saving money on travel:
Follow @porterairlines and sign up to their email list (link in bio) to get first access to their biggest sale of the year so far.
Off season travel. Trust us. It doesn’t hurt the bank account and guess what - travelling in the off-season means shorter lines, more affordable accommodation and less crowds.
Add some spontaneity into your life & be flexible (if possible). 
Porter Airlines has had our backs as savvy travellers for YEARS and we absolutely love them for elevating economy air travel. 

If you haven’t had the chance to experience Porter’s Actually Enjoy Economy experience - Now is your chance.
 Free, fast WiFi (included for all on the new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft)
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  • Travelling in comfortable silence >>>

On long travel days, we love being together but we definitely don’t want to talk lmao. There is something amazing about being *with* your person, but not needing to say anything at all.

Anyone else?

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