The best things in life are free, and travelling the world is no exception.
Travelling the world is a fantastic adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life. You might be thinking that this is an expensive adventure. Certainly not. There are many inexpensive and even free ways to travel the world. Consider your global network of friends, relatives in other countries, couch surfing, and seizing every opportunity that comes your way. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to have an international adventure. All you need is some creative thinking, a lot of energy, the courage to keep going, and some ideas to get started.
Consider your options carefully.
Items that are suitable for travel
You don’t want to be lugging a large suitcase around the world and risk incurring extra baggage charges. Make use of travel-size hair dryers and other toiletries to save space and weight.
The hotel provides complimentary toiletries.
Take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary toiletries; they are small and will last you for the duration of your stay.
Plan for your phone
Make sure you have a phone plan in place that will not cost you the money you don’t have while you’re away. You want to be able to contact family or make additional travel plans at a low cost.
No foreign exchange fees on credit cards
If you’re going to use a credit card, make sure you’re not going to be charged for currency conversions. When travelling in places like Europe, where countries have different currencies, this can quickly add up.
Travel insurance is included with your credit card.
While travelling abroad, some credit cards provide free travel insurance. The annual fee may be higher than your current card, but it is likely to be less than the cost of insurance.
Guides to travel
Get a travel guide that is appropriate for the type of travel you want to do. You can find ones that list youth hostels and other low-cost or no-cost attractions.
Accommodation
House swap
House swapping is a fantastic way to get free lodging and a car while travelling around another country. House swapping websites exist, and this can be a very inexpensive way to travel in another country or city. Staying in a house has the advantage of feeling like you’re at home. You can come and go as you please because it is fully equipped with a kitchen and laundry.
House sitting
Many people do not want to leave their homes unoccupied while on vacation. Examine the websites and submit an application for a house sitting job. Many people require assistance with walking their dogs, caring for their pets, and watering their gardens. Free lodging in exchange for a few hours of work, and some people will even pay you.
Rent your home
Consider a short-term rental if you plan on travelling for a few months or years and own your home. Your travel expenses will be covered by the rental money.
Couch surfing
Many people all over the world are delighted to have someone stay on their couch for a few days while they travel.
Hostels
Take advantage of the low-cost lodging available in youth hostels and backpacker hostels all over the world.
Sleep on trains and planes
If you are travelling a long distance and there is a plane to train trip overnight, use this as your night’s accommodation.
Travel
Join the Peace Corp
Travelling to countries to help revitalise communities, villages, and towns can be a great way to see parts of the world that no one else does. The 27-month commitment may seem long, but you’re young and want to travel, so why not take advantage of the opportunities? Transportation to and from countries is free, medical and dental services are covered, food and lodging are provided, an intensive language course is provided, and any student loans may be deferred or even cancelled. You’ll also have 48 days to explore the country or region independently.
Teach English in a foreign country
When you apply to teach English in a foreign country and are accepted, you will be provided with travel and lodging. You can earn anywhere from $20,000 to $45,000 US per year. You will be required to stay for a specific amount of time, and by earning money, you will be able to travel at the end of your contract.
Students can travel to different parts of the world by applying for a scholarship to study and travel abroad.
College graduates can apply for a Rhodes or Marshall scholarship in the United States and other countries. Artists, journalists, students, and scholars, among others, can apply for a Fulbright Scholarship. These include lodging, food, transportation, and a few other services along the way.
Make a tour group.
Create a tour group and plan a vacation for 20 of your friends. All you have to do is book a vacation through a travel agency. Plan your flights, transfers, and lodging, and your trip will be paid for. You are not a tour guide; rather, you are the tour group organiser.
The crew of a cruise ship
Apply for a position on a cruise ship sailing the Pacific, Caribbean, or Mediterranean seas. You’ll need to be able to provide educational or entertainment services. Check with the cruise lines about how much free time you’ll have in ports to see the sights. This is a good option for short-term travel. Typically, you will sign up for the cruising season.
The crew of a yacht
Many large yachts cruising the world are looking for crew members who can do more than just sail. Apply to be a crew member if you have culinary, mechanical, engineering, or navigational skills. Yachts are frequently moved around the world by their owners to take advantage of favourable weather or fishing conditions, and the boat must be relocated. It’s never a bad idea to have an extra pair of hands-on hands.
Low-cost airlines
Budget airlines in Europe and North America offer low-cost flights, so take advantage of them if you need to travel.
Others’ transportation vehicles
People who relocate to another country do not want to transport their cars by train or truck. They will compensate you for driving the vehicle to their new location. Some car rental companies require a driver to return the vehicles after one-way rentals.
Carpool
If you plan on renting a car for your trip, see if you can find others to join you and split the costs. Alternatively, you can join a car travelling in the same direction as you and pay a portion of the fare. This is usually something that needs to be planned ahead of time. While you’re away, look at websites, bulletin boards, and hotels.
Hitchhike
In some countries, this mode of transportation is still quite safe, so don’t dismiss it.
Take advantage of lower rates during the off-season.
Travel during the off-season whenever possible. Rates are lower, and even if it isn’t the time of year you prefer, travelling a few weeks earlier or later will always save you money.
Weekdays are frequently less expensive.
On weekdays, it is often cheaper to travel within a country by train, bus, or plane because they try to fill all of the seats. Even international travel can be less expensive because most people plan their trips around the Monday to Friday workweek.
Casual work
Exchange labour for a place to stay
Some hostels will allow you to trade work for a place to stay. You should double-check the exchange rate because you don’t want to be working 12 hours a day for a night’s lodging.
Work in a bar or a hotel
Working as a casual in a bar or hotel allows many young people to travel the world. If you enjoy talking to people and have some hospitality skills, this could be the job for you.
Nanny on the Move
If you have babysitting experience, you can use it to travel the world. Many families with young children look for a nanny while on vacation. They may be travelling for business or pleasure, and you will have days off to explore the city or country. If you speak a second language, you may have an advantage in landing a job.
Nanny
Many families prefer to hire an international student or traveller as their nanny for a set period of time. You can earn money and travel at the same time this way.
Picking fruits and vegetables
Orchards and market gardens are great places to work during the summer, and some even offer to lodge. You can travel and earn money while following the seasons around the world.
Volunteering for charity work in other countries
Work on a development project in a third-world country as a volunteer. Some organisations will provide you with flights and lodging in exchange for 1 to 2 years of your time. Some companies seek people with specialised skills, such as construction and horticulture.
This organisation organises treks around the world to raise funds for developing countries. You raise sponsorship for the trek, which covers the costs of travel and other expenses. Cycling, sledging, rafting, and team challenges are among the various treks available. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Everest Base Camp were two recent treks.
WWOOF
This organisation provides opportunities on organic farms all over the world. In exchange for working on these farms, you are given room and board. Farms can be found all over the world.
Work away
This is a volunteer organisation that lists work opportunities in other countries. Accommodation and meals are provided while you teach English, assist in the reconstruction of a chateau, work on a construction or framing project, and more.
Volunteering with other organisations
Meals and lodging are provided by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation in Montana, USA.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association provides meals and lodging along the trail that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Washington, and Oregon.
Around the world, there are seventeen social and environmental projects. These projects aren’t all free.
Food
Free breakfast offers
If you’re staying in a hotel, look for places that provide free breakfast. This will save you approximately $10 per day.
The accommodation that is self-contained
This type of accommodation includes a fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to buy food at low prices from local fresh produce markets and prepare your own meals. This is significantly less expensive than purchasing meals in many countries.
Use the complimentary coffee, tea, and sugar.
Always keep a small thermos with you, and use the complimentary supplies in your room to make a warm drink to take with you throughout the day.
Free food in Italy
Italy is a country where you can eat free of charge in a cafe or restaurant. You won’t get drinks, but food will be provided to travellers under a law that requires all cafes and restaurants to provide a free meal to anyone who asks. You might be asked not to return, but there are plenty of other options.
Don’t be afraid to seek assistance.
Never be afraid to ask for help or a job to pay for your lodging or food if you find yourself stranded somewhere without money. Offer to work in a cafe for a couple of hours in exchange for a meal or to make beds in a hostel in exchange for a night’s stay. Most places will try to assist you or point you in the right direction for assistance if they can.
Participate in competitions
This may appear to be a crazy idea because you may never win, but these competitions must be won by someone. You could be on your way to a worldwide adventure with just a little of your time, the cost of a text message, and a little imagination. There are hundreds of contests that offer travel and lodging in various locations around the world. This could be the start of your round-the-world journey.
Conclusion
There are ways to travel and stay overseas for free or at a very low cost no matter where you begin your global adventure. Don’t put your adventure on hold just because you don’t have enough money to go. Examine all of the ways you can get free travel by volunteering or doing charity work. Save as much money as possible while travelling by being thrifty and taking advantage of complimentary offers and meals. Remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you may find that you enjoy volunteering so much that you continue doing it for years to come.
