Wouldn’t we all love to travel for free? A love for travel is one of those things that we all seem to have in common. It is something that appeals to most people, no matter what their walk of life.
So why do people dream about travel but never take the plunge? The logistics, the planning, the lack of time, the responsibilities at work and home – there’s a plethora of reasons people have that prevent them from travelling the world.
But let’s get real, a major reason people give for not
BUT.. What if you didn’t need money to travel? What if you could travel abroad with the pitiful amount of money you have in your account right now? Perhaps travel exists beyond the extravagant all-inclusive beach resort.
Well, you’re in luck, my friend! Because if you open your mind (rather than your wallet), you can travel to every corner of the world even if you’re broke. It might take more planning, more effort, more balls – but it’s worth it!
There are many money-saving hacks and budget tips when it comes to travel. And the best part is that these cheap options will give you a richer experience of the city or country you are visiting.
The Best Tips and Ideas to Travel Abroad Even When You Are Broke
So let’s take a look at the options out there.
Check out all of our posts on budget travel and how to save money on your vacation or holiday:
Travel the World by House and Pet Sitting
This is our favourite way to travel for free!
If you have never heard of
Each site will charge you an annual fee (ranging from $20 – $119 USD/year) to use their services in order to connect you to home owners. There is a lot of competition on these sites and you will have more luck landing a gig if you have some experience. Consider house sitting near your hometown first in order to establish some credibility so you have a better chance of being selected when you are ready to house sit abroad.
The top five most popular international house sitting sites are listed below. Keep in mind that each country may have their own specific site that is more popular, so check online before planning your trip:
House Swapping Vacations
Also known as Home Exchange. Another dream way to travel for free. This is a unique idea where two parties connect and swap homes for a set period of time.
Have you ever seen the movie ‘The Holiday’? According to the film, if you house swap with someone you will fall in love with a beautiful and charming Brit – definitely worth it.
The big catch here is that you have to: 1) Have a home, and 2) Live in a desirable city that someone would actually want to visit. If that fits your description, this is a great option for you!
There are many sites dedicated to connecting house swappers. Here are some of the most popular:
Tips on Jobs and Working Abroad
If you are able to stay open-minded and flexible you will be able to find work in any country. Popular jobs abroad include teaching English, bartending, restaurant work, hostel or resort work, farm work, scuba diving instructor and working on a cruise ship or yacht. The bonus to working abroad is that you get unique exposure to the city you are visiting, you meet locals, get enveloped in the culture and learn the language.
There are almost endless jobs and resources online. Here are some popular ones:
- Go Abroad or Transitions Abroad or Jobs Abroad Bulletin (Teaching English and other jobs)
- Indeed Worldwide (For international jobs)
- Greenheart Travel (Impactful work abroad)
- Easy Expat (Jobs for skilled and unskilled workers)
- Cool Works (Seasonal, resort and outdoor jobs)
- Season Workers (A focus on seasonal jobs)
- Hostel Jobs (Hostel and resort jobs)
Volunteer or Work Exchange Abroad
Volunteer your time in exchange for room and board. Volunteer and work exchange programs are plentiful and exist in every country. These types of experiences give you a socially impactful experience and will teach you valuable skills you will take with you forever. These positions tend to be very flexible, allowing you to choose how long you wish to stay with them.
Most online companies that connect you to these experiences will charge you some travel, administrative and program cost fees. If you do not have the money to start up with these companies, you can always travel to your destination first and seek out local volunteer options once you get there.
Check out the sites below for a huge variety of opportunities:
- Helpx or World Packers (Work Exchange on farms, hostels, etc)
- WWOOF (Volunteer on an organic farm)
- International Volunteer HQ (Impactful volunteer placements)
- Plan My Gap Year (Medical, teaching, wildlife volunteer placements)
- Maximo Nivel (Latin America volunteer placements)
How to Make Money and Work Online While Traveling
The ultimate situation would be to work online and be able to live or travel anywhere. If you have the type of job that would allow you to work remotely, why not propose this to your boss? They might be willing to change your job description if they want to keep you. It’s worth a shot.
If you do not have the type of job that can function online, then get one! Today there are many ways to make money online. Keep an open mind and remember that you may not be making as much as you do at home. But even a small amount of money will help to fund and extend your travels if you stay smart.
- VIPKid or iTalki (Teach English online)
- UpWork or OutSource or Fiverr (Freelancing)
- Amazon Mechanical Turk (Micro jobs and short tasks)
- Click Worker (Data entry)
- Appen (Search evaluator jobs)
- Transribe Anywhere (Transcription work)
- Start a blog or YouTube channel
If you are planning a trip this year, check out our travel planning posts to ensure a successful vacation:
- ‘How to Save Money Every Day So You Can Travel More’
- ‘How to Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling’
- ‘The Best Travel Planning Resources for Your Next Trip’
Get Paid While you Travel With Gig Work
While you are travelling there are tons of little jobs you can pick up along the way in order to make some extra cash. You can take on short-term contracts or just complete a quick task for someone. No matter what your level of experience or skill, there’s a gig out there for you. Check out:
- Craigslist (look under ‘jobs’ and ‘gigs’)
- TaskRabbit
- Gumtree
Don’t be a fool, and travel like a pro! Travel can be exhausting, overwhelming and stressful – so make sure you bring along the right gear! Make sure you read our post Top 10 Must Have Items for Long Travel Days and carry along these items to help improve comfort and sleep, and reduce anxiety and stress:
- J-Pillow Travel Pillow – Our FAVOURITE Travel Pillow
- Hydro Flask 32 oz. Water Bottle
Physix Compression Socks – Don’t forget about your travel health- Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask
- Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones – Great quality & on budget
How to Find Free Lodging and Accommodation While Traveling
Many websites have popped up to support the community of ‘couchsurfers’. Members of this community offer lodging in their home for free. The lodging could be a private room, an air mattress or a couch, but it’s always free. Taking part in this type of exchange will give you an authentic local experience and you will get invaluable information of the city you are visiting.
Remember, if you take advantage of couchsurfing while you travel, make sure you pay it forward and offer out your couch to travelers once you are home.
Travel More for Less by Collecting Travel Miles
While you’re at home going about your daily business, why not take advantage of the credit card companies and start earning points toward your next trip? All major credit cards have an option to collect travel reward points and you can accumulate points with every purchase you make. Many companies also give away huge sums of points just to switch over to them. Look into what your card can offer or if there is a better company to hook up with. If you do it right, your flight costs will be covered.
There is a whole strategy to this. Learn all you need to know about accumulating points fast from the ‘travel hacking’ expert himself – Nomadic Matt.
Travel on a Budget by Overlanding and Road Trips
I talk a lot about overland travel in other posts because I believe it is one of the best ways to travel. If you have a car or camper of any kind, driving yourself to your destination is one of the cheapest ways to travel and will come at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional travel. You’ll find ways to save money every day by finding free campsites, being able to cook your own meals and saving money on transportation costs and tours.
Read our post about all the benefits of overland travel here.
Save Money by Traveling at Home
Why not explore the world outside your backdoor? We tend to dream of far away places but there is so much to discover right at home. Be a tourist in your home town or visit neighbouring cities, states or provinces. This way, you won’t have to spend much on transportation, you can support your local economy and you will learn more about your own history and culture.
Crowdfunding for Your Vacation
If you have a great cause, charitable or social goal for your travels, crowdfunding can be a great tool for you. Simply state your case online and hopefully you will find like-minded individuals who will help to fund your mission.
Some popular sites that support personal fundraising are:
Tips and Hacks to Save Money at Your Travel Destination:
Once you’ve made it to your destination, there are plenty of ways to save money and extend your vacation. Remember that the cost of living in many parts of the world (Latin America, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe) is much lower than what you are used to spending in North America, Western Europe or Australia. You can really stretch your travel time by taking advantage of free and budget travel hacks.
- Check out sites like Airbnb, VRBO, and Homeaway to find cheap forms of lodging like private rooms, apartments and entire homes.
- Vayable.com is a fantastic community built site to help you find free and cheap activities to do in the cities you are visiting. The posts are put up by locals and experienced travelers so you know you are getting the best insider tips.
- Carpooling and ridesharing sites like BlaBlaCar helps to connect drivers who have an extra seat in their car with travelers looking for a lift. Many sites exist that help you get around within a city, or to get you from one city to another, for free or at least at a very minimal cost.
- Cook your own meals rather than eating out. If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen in your vacation rental, hotel or hostel, take advantage and save a huge amount of money by avoiding expensive tourist restaurants.
- Most major cities offer free walking tours. This is a great way to explore and learn more about the city you are visiting. Websites like FreeTour allow you to search cities worldwide for free and cheap walking tours.
- If you are up for it, look into staying at hostels. The cheapest bed will be in a large dorm room, which means you will be sharing a bedroom and washroom with about 4 to 8 other people. If you are the type who does not need much privacy, hostel life is a great way to save money on lodging.
Do you have any other tips on traveling for free or on a budget? Comment below!
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