Think about unlocking the secrets and techniques of the best way to journey the world without spending a dime.
Sounds attractive, doesn’t it?
For those who’re right here, it’s doubtless as a result of the spirit of journey tugs at your soul, however the pressure in your pockets holds you again.
Concern not! This information is your key to a world the place free lodging isn’t a dream, however your nightly actuality, the place transportation prices are a factor of the previous, and the place the worldwide smorgasbord of meals doesn’t include a test.
Feels like a fairy story? Consider me, it’s not. Be a part of us on this journey. In spite of everything, the enjoyment of journey isn’t simply within the locations, however within the freedom of figuring out that the necessities like meals and a spot to sleep are solely taken care of, with out costing you a dime.
Earlier than we begin, a phrase of to the sensible – you recognize that previous saying “there’s no such factor as a free lunch“? Nicely, for essentially the most half, we’ve got to agree that it’s true. Whereas we provide you with loads of hacks to get free journey right here, there’s virtually at all times a distinct worth to pay, whether or not it’s time invested in analysis and preparation, hours spent engaged on an natural farm in change for a spot to remain, or time spent working a job on the highway.
Now that we’ve sparked your creativeness, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of creating this free journey dream a actuality.
Journey the World for Free
We’re going to discover the magic of bank card and rewards factors, the potential of engaged on the highway, and the wealthy experiences provided by volunteering.
We’ll define methods to attain free lodging, transportation, leisure, and meals as you traverse the globe.
So buckle up, adventurers! It’s time to show the best way to journey the world without spending a dime from a whimsical notion into your on a regular basis life.
First up, let’s do a fast take a look at just a few fast methods to get free flights, lodging, meals, and leisure in your travels: utilizing factors, volunteering, getting a job as you journey, and even an uncommon tip we haven’t seen wherever else.
As soon as that’s performed, we’ll get into some actual, sensible ideas for touchdown free meals, lodging, flights and leisure as you trip across the globe.
Use your factors
Let’s begin with a tried and true strategy of many vacationers: redeeming factors for journey.
There are two foremost methods to do that, through the use of both:
- bank card factors, or
- rewards program factors, like AIRMILES
Utilizing factors for journey works effectively when you’ve got factors that you just’ve already earned, or when you’re touring six or extra months sooner or later, and might earn factors by spending within the meantime. It doesn’t work particularly effectively when you don’t have a lot cash to spend, or when you’re touring straight away (and don’t have any factors saved up).
Volunteer
I feel one of many largest myths in journey is you could journey for nearly free when you’re keen to volunteer. Sadly, it’s fairly darn onerous to get a volunteer gig without spending a dime. Most volunteer placements require you to pay to your personal airfare, and plenty of require a price for a volunteer placement. Some even require you to pay to your lodging.
That mentioned, there are just a few methods to volunteer on a funds, together with this one.
Do you belong to an area church or neighborhood affiliation? Church buildings generally ship volunteers overseas. You could get your bills paid, however you’ll undoubtedly want to spend so much of effort and time to lift cash and volunteer when you’re overseas.
That mentioned, volunteering could be a very rewarding approach to journey and provide you with an prolonged period of time working carefully with locals and studying what actual everyday life will be like in some nations. It will also be an effective way to study a language since a variety of placements are far-off from the vacationer path.
Be taught extra in our article Can You Volunteer Abroad Cheap or Free? The Real Cost of Volunteering Overseas.
Work Overseas
Whereas working is usually thought of the alternative of free, the truth is that not each facet of journey will at all times be paid for. So, get a job as you journey so you’ll be able to pay for gadgets you could’t get without spending a dime.
Whereas there are many jobs, these are our high picks.
Working Vacation Visa
For those who’re underneath 35 years of age, see in case your vacation spot nation gives a youth working vacation visa.
Many nations (together with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) have agreements that enable younger individuals to work on a working vacation visa for as much as one yr. Try Wikipedia’s record of working holiday visa programs.
Au Pair
An au pair or touring nanny place is a well-known approach to get free lodging as you journey, plus a wage. It’s solely an important gig when you like youngsters, although, and when you handle to get host household.
Educate English abroad
Instructing English overseas is an effective way to get spending money, and plenty of positions provide free lodging as effectively.
It’s additionally an effective way to satisfy locals (and fellow vacationers). China, South Korea, and Center Japanese nations are sometimes the very best paying nations. Some faculties even pay to your flight. You’ll doubtless want a TEFL certification, and also you’ll wish to analysis the variations in TEFL vs TESL vs TESOL.
Try our article on the Best Countries to Teach English Abroad.
In search of extra nice concepts for getting a job as you journey? Try these articles for useful ideas:
Enter contests
I don’t typically hear anybody point out getting into contests as a approach to get free journey. Whereas your possibilities of successful a significant lottery are virtually zero, you may very well have an opportunity to win a smaller contest on a model’s social media web page.
Years in the past I received a brief haul flight with Aptitude Airways (then known as New Leaf Airways) on a contest via their electronic mail record.
To search out contests with journey prizes, try Instagram and Fb, or you’ll be able to look into contest selling web sites. Whereas greater firms typically have greater contests, the percentages of successful are sometimes a lot decrease so search for smaller run contests with much less individuals signing as much as enhance your odds.
get free lodging whenever you journey
Prepared to show your goals of free lodging into actuality?
As an skilled traveler, I can let you know it’s not as elusive because it may appear. On this part, we share sensible ideas and tips that will help you safe the coziest corners of the world with out loosening your purse strings.
From swapping properties to browsing couches, and from volunteering at native communities to working in change for a mattress, we’ve received you lined.
Stick with us, as we navigate the thrilling panorama of free lodging, making the best way to journey the world without spending a dime your new regular. It’s not simply concerning the journey or the vacation spot – it’s additionally about discovering a house wherever you go, with out it costing you a dime.
Right here arr our high concepts for getting a free place to remain as you journey.
Housesitting
Websites like Trusted Housesitters allow you to swap housesitting without spending a dime lodging. Most housesits contain taking good care of pets and vegetation, along with sustaining the home and property so be sure to issue that into your timeline when agreeing to any keep.
Home swap
Dwelling Trade and Love Dwelling Swap are nice decisions when you occur to have a house already. These websites allow you to swap a keep at your property with another person in a distinct space. If your property is in a fascinating space, you’ll have higher luck discovering a home you discover equally interesting.
Couchsurfing
That is one thing we’ve by no means performed, as a result of we wish to be extra … comfy as a household.
As a feminine traveler, crashing at a stranger’s home simply makes me uneasy, nonetheless there are literally thousands of individuals who swear by couchsurfing. We’ve additionally stayed at associates and have family and friends stick with us so we think about it’s one thing like that.
Free lodging in change for work
Worldpackers, Workaway, or WWOOF (Worldwide Alternatives on Natural Farms) all provide time-tested methods to get free lodging in change for time serving to your host. Meals is usually included as effectively and, because you’re typically working with produce day by day, you recognize it is going to be freshly picked.
Use your private connections
In search of someplace free to remain? Go old-fashioned, and crash on a relative or good friend’s (or good friend of a good friend’s) sofa. Have prolonged household you barely know? Possibly it’s time to achieve out. We’ve heard nice tales of individuals assembly household from generations again that have been welcomed in with open arms.
Trade work for lodging
Typically, you’ll be able to luck in on a approach to become profitable as you journey, by doing an odd job for a hostel or small lodge. We helped clear a hostel for a few weeks in change for a free double room in Adelaide, Australia and it was just a few hours a day of labor. Saved us just a few {dollars} and gave us a cause to stand up sooner than we might have so helped maintain our nightly bills down too.
Camp without spending a dime
Tenting on Crown land in Canada is free, and tenting on Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) land within the USA is free, however there are limits on how lengthy you’ll be able to keep in a single spot. There are comparable legal guidelines you could find across the globe. You can even use apps like iOverlander to search out free spots exterior of free public land.
Make the most of free nights whereas flying or driving
Make the most of in a single day ferries, night time buses and red-eye flights to get a free night time’s lodging. When you won’t get the very best nights sleep, it’s a great way to save lots of versus having to pay for 1 extra nights keep.
Press journeys or free nights at a lodge via running a blog or influencing
This one’s not for everybody. To get free lodging as a YouTuber, blogger or influencer, you’ll want a sizeable variety of followers, or an important natural engagement in a selected area of interest, to qualify for press journeys or free nights lodging. Simply be warned that press journeys contain a variety of work writing and posting on social media, and also you’ll want to stay to the organizers (typically exhausting) schedule.
At all times be well mannered right here, and be sure to really provide a profit to the corporate you’re reaching out to, as a variety of firms are (rightfully) uninterested in being hit up without spending a dime stuff.
College or highschool pupil change applications
College, school, and highschool pupil change applications can allow you to go to one other nation, stay with an area household, and get your training on the identical time.
Language Exchanges
Look into websites like Lingoo, that provide language change holidays and homestays or stick with a instructor.
get free meals whenever you journey
It’s time to embark on the tastiest a part of our journey – the search without spending a dime meals.
As an skilled traveler, I can guarantee you that eating out doesn’t at all times imply digging into your financial savings.
On this part, we feed your wanderlust with a buffet of methods (see what I did there, lol) to eat without spending a dime.
From looking down free samples in bustling native markets to celebrating your birthday with a feast on the home, we’ve received your plate full. We’ll delve into the world of zero-waste apps and supermarkets the place you’ll be able to fill your bag with out emptying your pockets, and discover low cost meals apps that make eating out a delight slightly than a drain in your funds.
Tip: Most of those concepts work higher within the USA and Canada, however your mileage could differ in Europe or different elements of the world.
Free samples
Supermarkets typically provide free samples within the grocery store aisles, and Costco nonetheless gives samples (even after slowing down a bit after the pandemic). You’ll find free samples in native espresso outlets, bakeries, delis and extra. When you received’t get full, they do make an important free snack.
Free meals in your birthday
Many eating places nonetheless provide free meals in your birthday (you normally have to indicate ID right here, nevertheless it’ll assist for 1 out of one year). Some chains and eating places additionally provide a reduction that may work for the week and even the month of your birthday so it’s not a foul approach to save.
Join a supply app
Join a meals supply app to get the introductory coupon. For those who’re cautious, you may get a $15 coupon, and order $15 of meals, making your meal free. Simply don’t be an a$$gap, and spend a few bucks to tip the hard-working driver.
Free meals for downloading a restaurant’s app or rewards applications
Search for apps that provide a free meals bonus only for downloading the app. That is truly fairly frequent to get a small meals merchandise like a free donut (thanks Krispy Kreme) or free Blizzard (thanks Dairy Queen) when you obtain the app or join their rewards program.
Forage
An alternative choice is to forage for meals on public land, or politely ask householders or farmers when you can harvest further fruit or veggies from their property. Providing to simply seize the fallen fruit or the too overripe to promote produce is your finest wager. Simply don’t steal and at all times ask for permission first.
Turn out to be a thriller diner
These are aggressive gigs, and also you’ll typically must pay out of pocket to your meal, write the assessment, and get reimbursed later.
Search for zero-waste supermarkets and apps
Many of those work with pay-what-you-feel distribution facilities, which regularly allow you to volunteer to work within the warehouse as fee as a substitute of money.
You can even search for zero-waste apps to search out free meals. Apps like Olio join you to see who has extra meals gadgets.
Pancake breakfasts
In search of a free breakfast? Relying on the time of yr, and the place you’re positioned, pancake breakfasts at church buildings and through some occasions (just like the Calgary Stampede) could also be choice. Search for festivals and upcoming occasions on the place the place you’re heading to see what’s on the menu.
Dumpster diving
It is a fairly excessive choice, to make certain, however higher than going with out meals. I haven’t tried this myself, however I’m guessing the very best time to do that can be at closing time. Some bakeries and produce facilities even provide them out free to closing clients.
Free lodge breakfasts
If it’s important to pay for a hostel or lodge, search for one that gives free meals. Some solely provide free cookies and occasional, however others provide a full breakfast, and nonetheless others provide supervisor’s completely happy hours with loads of nice meals available.
Examine your receipts
Examine your receipts for surveys that provide a free meals bonus for taking a buyer satisfaction survey.
Discounted meals apps
Obtain a reduced meals app like Flashfood.
Meals isn’t free on these apps, however it’s closely discounted. Flashfood is free to obtain – check out this helpful Flashfood review here.
Trade work for meals
Not having a lot luck? Contemplate exchanging work for meals, by working in a restaurant or grocery store that provides you some meals without spending a dime as a perk of your employment.
get free transportation whenever you journey
It is a powerful one. Transportation may simply be the toughest journey value to get without spending a dime.
On this part, we’ll rev up your journey sport with just a few methods to hit the highway, sail the seven seas, or fly the skies without spending a dime.
Whether or not you’re a pupil on the lookout for the very best reductions, an airline worker able to reap the benefits of these well-deserved perks, or a social butterfly who loves the concept of carpooling, we’ve received the tickets to your subsequent journey.
In spite of everything, the enjoyment of journey isn’t simply within the vacation spot, but additionally within the thrill of getting there with out breaking the financial institution.
Get a job with an airline
We have now a good friend who used to work with Air Canada effectively over a decade in the past. He nonetheless has a number of family and friends passes that allow him and a visitor journey wherever on this planet Air Canada flies without spending a dime. I’m undecided if all airways provide this perk to staff, or even when it’s nonetheless accessible at Air Canada, nevertheless it’s among the finest methods to get free flights I’ve ever heard of.
Get free transit passes as a toddler, pupil, senior, or when you’ve got a low revenue
Relying on the place you’re visiting, and for the way lengthy, you might be able to get discounted or free public transportation. You might also be eligible when you’ve got a incapacity.
Bicycle (or e-bike)
When you’ll must pay the upfront value for a motorbike (or e-bike), you’ll get loads of train, and by no means need to pay for gasoline when you journey by bike.
Working as a yacht crew
We volunteered as yacht crew for night cruises on the yacht membership in Brisbane and located the membership and captains to be pleasant and open to our assist.
Relying on the place you volunteer, you might be able to get a experience across the harbor for a day, or embark on a crusing journey all over the world.
Carpool
Have a good friend who’s touring? Ask them when you can change some driving time for a experience. Be sure you make clear who’s paying for gasoline right here – many individuals will anticipate carpoolers to separate the price of gasoline (or no less than pitch in).
Share your experience sharing refer-a-friend code
A number of experience sharing apps (Uber and Lyft) provide a refer-a-friend bonus when you refer somebody who creates an account, and makes use of the service, together with your refer-a-friend code.
Transport a automobile to its closing vacation spot
There are websites the place you’ll be able to join as a driver and get a gig delivering a automobile to its vacation spot. Automobile and RV dealerships or automobile rental firms generally rent individuals to drive vehicles to a distinct vacation spot.
There aren’t any ensures with these, however you simply could luck out with websites like Canada DriveAway, Vehicles to Florida, or HitTheRoad.ca.
Work on a cruise ship
There are many jobs accessible on cruise ships, from entertainers, to cooks, to housekeepers, to virtually something you’ll be able to think about.
These jobs are higher suited to single individuals, as you’ll be on the highway a bit.
You’ll additionally journey to unique ports of name, however you’ll doubtless solely keep for lower than a day, and return to the identical port. The one exception listed below are repositioning cruises, the place you’ll crew a ship on a a method journey to a brand new vacation spot port.
Work on a cargo or container ship
Whereas not as glamorous as engaged on a luxurious cruise liner, engaged on a container ship could be a extra leisurely approach to see the world. Staff typically act as lookouts and carry out upkeep like portray and sustaining containers. You’ll want a highschool diploma and plenty of deckhands have coaching via trade or labor union faculties.
get free leisure whenever you journey
Let’s set the stage for essentially the most enjoyable a part of your journey – scoring free leisure.
Whether or not you’re a pupil in the hunt for cultural enrichment, an airline worker seizing these further perks, or a savvy traveler able to faucet into the native scene, we’ve got the keys to unlock a world of leisure. In spite of everything, journey isn’t merely about transferring—it’s about creating recollections, and they’re each bit as treasured once they come with no price ticket.
Volunteer at Occasions
I’m stunned how hardly ever I see this tip, however most festivals and occasions provide their volunteers free tickets (and generally further perks) in change for volunteering. Certain, it’s important to do some work to get the free tickets, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a fairly candy deal. You’ll have higher luck with smaller native occasions, and fewer luck with enormous festivals like Coachella or Burning Man however even these positions must get crammed by some means.
Attend free occasions
Most cities have loads of free occasions, that are simply an web search away. Some are surprisingly top quality, starting from free yoga lessons, to theater and late night time films on the garden occasions, to festivals, to free sporting matches!
Make the most of free nights
Many museums and artwork galleries provide free nights for admission. They’re normally evenings or weekends (although not at all times). We’ve visited museums all over the world on their free entry days. Most weren’t that costly however when touring with 4 of us these prices can shortly add up.
Do free issues
Fortunately, there are many free issues to do for enjoyable whenever you journey. You possibly can wander via town heart (or take a free strolling tour), go to native parks or the seashore, go to the library, hike, take within the structure, or individuals watch.
journey the world without spending a dime
Are you prepared to rework your adventures into priceless moments, all whereas on a decent funds?
Bear in mind, the world is your oyster and it’s filled with treasures which can be there for the taking.
The subsequent step? Make the leap, let go of these monetary reins, and embark in your journey to journey the world without spending a dime. In spite of everything, the best adventures you ever take may simply be those who value you nothing, however enrich you in methods past measure.
So, right here’s to free journey and the infinite recollections it’s going to deliver! Secure journeys fellow nomads.