Slow travel after 40 becomes much more realistic when there’s a steady paycheque coming in, and teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is one of the most flexible ways to fund those longer stays. It’s not just about working abroad, it’s about creating a rhythm of life that blends earning, exploring, and belonging wherever you go.
Why Slow Travel Makes Sense After 40
Something shifts in your 40s. Holidays stop being about ticking off countries and more about how you feel while you’re away. The best trips start to be the ones where you know the street names, and where you can follow the quiet routines of local life instead of city‑hopping with a guidebook.
Slow travel lets you sink into a place at your own pace. You might join a weekly yoga class in Portugal, learn to shop at the local markets in Vietnam, or take morning walks through a neighbourhood now feels familiar. These are the experiences that short trips can rarely offer.
Longer stays also tend to be friendlier to your wallet. Renting an apartment by the month, shopping where locals shop, and relying less on transport or restaurants can cost significantly less than a two‑week blitz through multiple cities. You’re not chasing sunsets in five countries, you’re building a temporary life in one.
Perhaps most importantly, slow travel gives you time to rest, reflect, and reconnect. At 25, the thrill was all about the next stamp in your passport. At 45, it’s more about mornings without alarms, learning to order coffee in another language, and finding a sense of balance that everyday life rarely allows.
How TEFL Funds Longer Stays
TEFL turns you from a visitor into a part‑time local with an income. With a recognised TEFL qualification, you can:
- Teach online from your apartment in Lisbon, Chiang Mai or Córdoba.
- Teach in‑person in language schools or companies in your host city.
- Blend the two, keeping online students when you move on.
For over‑40s, this can be a bridge between full‑time office life and full retirement – a way to keep earning, keep your brain engaged and still have time to explore. Many slow‑travelling teachers structure their week around a few regular classes, leaving long, open days for markets, walks, and long lunches.
It’s also a brilliant side hustle if you have a busy life: TEFL is so flexible you can teach online in the evenings or weekends alongside a day job, or during school hours if you have kids, and you can take it abroad whenever you’re ready.
Is TEFL Realistic After 40 (Or 60)?
Yes, thousands of people start TEFL in midlife or later. Your age can even be a plus: you bring life experience, empathy, and often better organisation than your 20‑something self. Mature students are often popular with adult learners and business clients who value professionalism.
There are a few practicalities to keep in mind:
- Some countries have upper age limits tied to work visas or retirement ages.
- Health insurance and access to care matter more now than they did at 25.
- You may want more comfort and stability, which slow travel supports better than constant backpacking.
That’s why many over‑40 TEFL teachers mix online teaching (location‑independent) with countries that are relaxed about age for in‑person work.
Choosing a TEFL Course You Can Trust
If you’re going to rely on TEFL to part‑fund your life abroad, your course provider matters. A solid, accredited course makes it easier to find work and gives you the confidence to walk into your first class without imposter syndrome.
Some reputable options to consider are:
- The TEFL Institute (teflinstitute.com): A global brand popular with UK and South African students, offering flexible, internationally recognised TEFL courses that work well if you’re planning to move between regions or combine online and in‑person teaching.
- The TEFL Institute of Ireland (tefl.ie): Widely recognised as Ireland’s leading TEFL course provider, with strong accreditations (including Ofqual‑regulated qualifications) and excellent student feedback, ideal for Irish and wider European learners looking for a trusted name.
- Premier TEFL: A strong choice for US graduates and career‑changers, known for integrating practical teaching modules and mentorship so you feel job‑ready rather than just “certified on paper”.
All three offer globally recognised TEFL courses, which is crucial if you want the freedom to slow travel and work in multiple destinations over the coming years. Choosing a good TEFL course is important, that’s why we recommend reputable companies like The TEFL Institute, The TEFL Institute of Ireland, and Premier TEFL when you’re planning a long‑term, slow‑travel lifestyle.
For extra support with resources, course options and job leads, TEFL.ai can connect you with TEFL information, tools and opportunities in one place.
Designing a Slow‑Travel + TEFL Life
Once you’re certified, think in seasons rather than city‑hops. For example:
- Spring in Spain or Portugal: Rent an apartment for three months, teach online to Asian time zones in the morning, spend afternoons exploring, then wander to your local tapas bar in the evening.
- Autumn in Central or Eastern Europe: Teach business English in‑person a few days a week, learn the local language slowly, and use long weekends for nearby train trips.
- Winter somewhere warm: Base yourself where the cost of living is lower, keep your online students, and enjoy a gentler pace while everyone at home is scraping ice off their windscreens.
Because TEFL work is so portable and adaptable, you can dial it up or down to fit family commitments, health, or caring responsibilities, from a couple of lessons a week as a side hustle to a near‑full‑time income during a year abroad.
If you’re over 40 and dreaming of longer, deeper trips without draining your savings, pairing slow travel with a TEFL paycheque lets you test‑drive new countries, stay as long as visas allow, and build a life that moves at your own pace, one carefully chosen course and one new student at a time.