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Home » Budget Travel » How to Travel FOR FREE: No Money, No Problems!

How to Travel FOR FREE: No Money, No Problems!

It’s something I’ve never been able to fully instil in my non-travelling friends back home:  just how cheap travel can be.  The myth is that travelling the world is expensive; the reality is that it’s often cheaper than being at home. Travellers don’t pay taxes, or electricity bills, or student loans. Travellers live cheap.

So what if we took it one step further? Today, we’re talking about how to travel the world for free!

The best things in life are free, or so it’s been told. Everything we need is right here. Maybe these things are true, I’m not sure. What I do know is…

Life is as simple as we choose to make it.

Nothing in this list of tips for travelling without money is complicated (except maybe frequent flyer miles – goddamn credit cards). Everything in this guide is easy and actionable – the more you apply, the more inexpensive your travelling will be. With enough practice and ingenuity, you may even find yourself spending  $0 !

Did anyone say  “Take a vacation for free” ? Yes, me, right now! Weren’t you listening? Well, you better start because I’m about to teach you…

How to travel for free!

Dis shit is gonna get cheap, yo!

A Big, Sexy Disclaimer

Folks, this article is not about how to travel the world like a dickweed. Anyone can travel for free if they take advantage of people along the way, lying, cheating, stealing, and being an all-round douchenozzle.

Similarly, though we’ll cover some of the more crusty methods of travel, as well as tackle that sticky topic of ‘begpacking’ , THAT’S not what this article is about either.

This article is about  learning how to live a low-cost lifestyle of travel. One that’s sustainable in the long-term as well as financially independent.  Travelling until you run out of cash and move back in with your Mum or Dad is cute in your early 20s, but that’s not what we’re about at The Broke Backpacker. That’s not what a broke backpacker is .

At The Broke Backpacker, we’re about teaching you how to live a lifestyle of indefinite travel in a responsible way – responsible to the world, yourself, and those who love you. Go out, travel, see the world, and do it for as long as you like, but do it right.

Don’t begpack, don’t abuse your privilege, and don’t ever expect a handout. Free travel is NOT about exploitation; it’s about travelling without burning through your savings in a way that’s more authentic and less insipid than simply blowing your funds on all the cheap booze and drugs .

Oh, and it shouldn’t have to be said, but, please,  don’t ever go travelling with literally $0 in your bank account. That’s just bloody stupid.

The Best Ways to Travel for Free

How to get a free vacation, how to travel when you’re broke, travel the world for free: is it possible, remaining tips for how to travel free, closing thoughts on free travel.

Let’s start by talking about how to travel for a living. These options for free travel mean exchanging your time and energy (i.e. working) for the freedom of being on the road. (And probably somewhere super-duper pretty too!)

Yes, ok, they aren’t all strictly ‘free trips’ but you’re away from home, not burning through your savings, and, potentially, maybe even saving some money too! If you disagree with my criteria, well, shush your face! Go travel the world for more than three years with your savings still intact like I have and then come back and we’ll argue semantics.

Still with me? Good because I want to travel the world for free and you should too!

Travel the World for Free Volunteering

Volunteering abroad for free – ahhh . This is where it all began for me and, sometimes, when it all becomes too much, it’s back with the hippies in the fields, shoes off and muddy, that I return to. For me, this will always be one of the most authentic and best ways to travel for free or otherwise.

The name of the game is simple: you work some agreed subset of hours, you get a place to sleep and food in return. Hopefully, a washing machine too!

Travelling free by way of volunteering could mean a lot of things: hostel work, farms, working with kids, charities, construction, kitten sanctuaries (god yes). The only way to find out what’s out there is to get out there! (You could also start by reading this review/guide/informational post on Workaway .)

Interested in travelling the world for free volunteering? Here are some excellent platforms:

• Workaway – The biggest in the game. Follow the link and sign up to receive an extra 3 months on your subscription!
• HelpX – The oft-forgotten cousin of Workaway.
• WWOOF – Exclusively for organic farm work.
• Talking to people – In the 21st-century? Get outta my house!
• Facebook and other platforms – Plenty of groups for this stuff but it’s best to search by the country or local area.
• Worldpackers – Follow the link or enter the code BROKEBACKPACKER to get $10 off your subscription. We’ve also reviewed Worldpackers !

Note:  Most of the platforms have an initial subscription fee (nothing in life is  truly  free). It’s a small price to pay in exchange for a year of travelling and volunteering around the world for free.

Work and Travel for Free Teaching English

If you’re reading this sentence, then you probably speak English. Awesome! Step one complete! What’s step two?

Get your TEFL certificate. With that in hand, it’s time to discover another one of the best ways to travel the world. Didja guess yet?

Yup, teaching English!

There’s a whole host of ways to get involved teaching English overseas and what an experience it is! Impart wisdom, see cute Asian kids smile (yay), and learn how to travel abroad for free. Well, not free… you’re actually earning money – oh snap!

If you want to take it a step further, you can teach English online . You’re entering the realm of the digital nomad which is certainly a different way to travel but that’s ok because – BOOM, SEGUE!

Ditch Your Desk for a Different Way to Travel

Now entering the realm of the digital nomad . If you really want to learn how to travel more, nothing will give you quite so much geographical freedom.

Anywhere your laptop (and stable internet connection goes), your source of revenue goes. Living the vanlife? Easy.

Renting a nudists-only Airbnb by a beach somewhere? Making money online is best done while tanning your best bits.

Volunteering at a kibbutz in Israel? Now you’re actually travelling for free, costs covered, WHILE earning money. Level-up!

Learning how to travel the world for a living is a whole new ball game. It’s the holy grail for many travellers but beware of the ‘grass is greener’ syndrome: it’s a lotta work and a lot to take on and, at times, your brain will hate you. Is it awesome though?

Fuck yes it is.

So, yeah, this may be stretching the how to travel for free concept but it’s an important mention for anyone looking at opportunities to travel free and extend their already indefinite adventures. Theoretically, we all gotta grow up eventually and make some cash, right?

I dunno, don’t ask me. I’m still Peter Pan-ning it up over here.

Or Just Work for Inexpensive Travelling

If a job that glues you to your laptop isn’t appealing but adopting the low-cost travel lifestyle of a working traveller is, then maybe just get a job-job. You know, one that sounds better on your Tinder profile than “influencer” .

What kind of job? Well, potential travel jobs is a long-ass list (which we conveniently have right here) , but if you’re starting from scratch and need to know how to travel the world with no money, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Busker – Traveller-life and street performance go together like drugs and sex.
• Bartender – A extremely internationally-transferable trade and lucrative too… if you know how to bat those eyelids just right.
• Scaffolding and stage construction – Construction/labouring is good in general, but the stage construction and scaffolding industries are very international.
• Picking/Trimming – Also a lucrative industry IF you’re fast.
• Flight attendant – How to travel around the world for free 101.
• Cruise ship work – The money can be good contingent on the company and you’ll always have the added bonus of copious amounts of drugs and sex!
• Tuk-tuk races in Sri Lanka – I dunno; my cousin does them and he seems to be doin’ alright!

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Free international travel is about to get hacked! Ready to hack? It’s time to hack with these hacks!

Did I say ‘hack’ too much? Righto, moving along.

These following ways to travel the world for free are more courtesy of the convenience of the 21st-century. And, that’s exactly where we like to be.

Being a “nomad” these days is very different from what it used to be. No longer do we have to hunt elk and forage for berries in the woods – now we can just order a pizza with UberEats!

Now, we have a whole host of tools and platforms to uncover and exchange free travel opportunities!

Catch Flights Right: How to Travel Overseas for Free

It doesn’t matter how cheap you live when you arrive, you’ll still have to pay for an expensive-ass flight to get there… right? Wrong!

Learning how to catch cheap flights is going to be integral to learning how to travel without money. Error fares, mega-discounts, turning on incognito mode… booking flights does my head in – truly. I just want to travel the world; I don’t have time for this humdrum!

I’d suggest reading the above-linked post because it’s really a whole other Pandora’s Box.

To take it one step further, you can sign up with airlines to earn frequent flyer miles. Accrue enough of these and you’re looking at a cheap or even free trip overseas. A travel rewards credit card is going to stack up points in much the same way until, eventually, you get a free trip.

All of this credit stuff does my head in but the point is obvious. Do your research and find the best program to sign up in. Don’t you be wasting them points!

Or, if you’re like me and credit cards and booking flights gives you anxiety, just do what I do – overland it ! Planes are for fools; border crossings are where it’s at. And cheaper!

Apps and Platforms with Opportunities for Free Travel

Ok, now it’s really time to hack this open, right to the gooey, delicious centre. Oh, sorry, I made it weird, didn’t I?

No matter. It’s the 21st-century and now the smartphone has paved the way in much the same way that the wheel once did. These days, a lot of good platforms exist online that offer their own free ways to travel the world:

• Couchsurfing – Where to go when you have no money… to a mate’s couch! Except now all your mates are strangers and internationally based. Check out our Beginner’s Couchsurfing Guide for more info but it’s basically a platform where travellers asked to be hosted by people with a sleeping space to spare.
• Housesitting – You’ll need to build up a few references and pay a membership fee but then you can get all kinds of free accommodation… and in a private home too! Travelling by housesitting is a fantastic way to travel for free with the bonus of never having to share a hostel dorm with fatty, unshowered humans.
• Fly and swap vacations – It’s kind of like housesitting except your swapping homes with someone. That means it’s a bit more nuanced – you need to actually have a home to swap away. HomeExchange and HomeLink are two platforms that cover this.
• Au Pair – If you enjoy the company of miniature-monster-gremlins hiding in the bodies of children, then consider working as an Au Pair . Travel around the world for free, connect with a family and their spawn, and make some money too!

Yay, ok, my speciality! I may get anxiety from credit cards and fancy hotels but the broke-ass swashbuckling backpacker lifestyle is my answer to the emptiness of existence. Life gets simpler.

Real quick, these tips can be also found in our Budget Backpacking 101 article – some crossover is inevitable in the world of low-cost travel!

There’s a whole host of good advice in there if you’re not just specifically looking at how to travel for free but also at the cheapest way to travel the world. Yeah, these two posts may crossover a bit but hand-in-hand they make for some excellent reading (self-plug) if you’re dedicated to learning about how to backpack around the world with no money.

Consider this your Budget Backpacking Light.

Believe it or not, there is a lot of free food out there! The first and most common way (arguably) to eat for free is dumpster diving . People throw away a lot of perfectly edible food and useful stuff (half my wardrobe comes from late-night scores) and getting good at harnessing this awesome power of wastage is going to go a long way if you want to travel for free.

From the humble park trashcan up to the almighty power of the supermarket skip, free food is everywhere. Alternatively, you can acquire food before it hits the bin by asking for food wastage: bakeries, fruit and veg shops, food markets especially. Then there’s tablesurfing too – eating someone’s leftovers at a restaurant.

It’s an excellently fun game!

You’ve also always got food giveaways (we’ll touch on that tentative topic of begpacking in a moment) and religious shindigs too. The Hare Krishnas love, love, love feeding travellers for nothing or next to it.

I’ve eaten free Prasad in the streets of Varanasi and in Gurdwaras in Agra. There’s free food near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and free bread at every turn in Jerusalem (it might be for the cats…). Hell, there’s even an online platform dedicated to helping us intrepid raccoons find excellent freegan sources (urban fruit trees are shockingly common).

The point is if you’re travelling without money, there are still heaps of ways to fill your belly. You just gotta get creative!

This one is a pretty basic tip for free travel. I’ve already mentioned Couchsurfing but option two is to just sleep where you land . It’s a big, wide world out there with ample floor space!

For this, except for truly warm and rain-free climates, you’re gonna need a few things. In my personal order of importance:

• A sexy-warm sleeping bag
• Backpacking sleeping pad (the floor is cold)
• A budget backpacking tent (you could get really nice tent but I’ve always found it to be overkill)
• A sleeping bag liner
• Or, alternatively to the tent and pad, a backpacking hammock

With a combination of these things, you can sleep free while travelling pretty much anywhere. Camp out in the woods, in urban environments, or if you think the cops will get funny about you pitching a tent, sleep under a bridge or in a bus station or abandoned building. As my dirtbag travel companion in New Zealand always said: we can sleep anywhere!

This, however, is not a commentary on safety. I’ve never had an issue but also I’m a white man covered in tattoos that looks like he sleeps with a knife in his pocket. Be smart, be safe , don’t go past your limits, and learn what a good pitch looks like.

Pro-tip: No one goes into graveyards at night. Oh, and on that note, leave no fucking trace.

Travel Free

If we’re talking the most literal definition of the term, there’s only one way to travel for free that I can think of: hitchhiking. I love hitchhiking! It’s free travel to places, you meet local people – people you never would have met otherwise – and see many worlds from the inside (or outside) of many vehicles.

Hell, sometimes people invite you over, offer to let you stay the night, or to go on an adventure. I don’t do it as much as I used to but sometimes, when I’m just needing a holiday from the work and travel life, I take a break from the tech and hit the road.

I see who picks me up and sleep where I land – no schedule, no itinerary. Simplicity at its finest. Hitchhiking is grand! And to those who question if it’s ethical – I can assure you some of my best travel memories involve those that gave me a ride.

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We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

I guess that’s the last big question:

How can I travel for free? Is it really possible? Teach me sensei that hasn’t bought a new piece of clothing in almost-three-and-a-half years!

Yes! It is. Buy a plane ticket on miles, choose a visa-waiver country, hitchhike from the airport to your volunteering gig, eat only the finest cuisine from the dumpster! It’s a free year long trip !

Ok, look, that may not be your ideal vacation (free or not), but it’s a portrayal of an extreme circumstance. This isn’t a strict guide to travelling the world for free; it’s a handbook. Take what works, when it works, and apply it at will.

Practice makes perfect and pretty soon you’ll be finding that you’re having some pretty dope-ass adventures on some pretty low spendings. Hell, why not set up some passive income at home and then earn a bit while you’re volunteering abroad cheaply. (Or just Couchsurfing.)

I met a dude in New Zealand way back near the beginning and he said something very insightful.

“You don’t need a lot to travel. A plane ticket, $500, and you can be gone for a while.”

He was so right.

Why travel without money?

Because it’s fucking awesome!

Seriously, the stunning sunrises and sunsets I’ve seen only because my days hitching ended where they did. The adventures I’ve ended up on just because I was asking around for a spot of work. The things I’ve done because I was working for a bed and feed… I milked a goat once!

Learning how to start travelling abroad for free opens up a lot of doors, both in the world and in yourself. Pretty soon you start to realise that you’re pretty damn capable! That in all likelihood, you got dis.

And, on the off-chance you don’t, chances are there’ll be someone around to lend a hand.

Give it some time and you’ll start to find that there’s always somewhere to sleep and something to eat. There’s always a spot of work that needs to be done by a willing hand.

After a bit more time travelling the world without money, you may start finding you already have everything you need. If not the best, then at least some pretty insanely spectacular things are free, and, best of all…

Simplicity is so damn blissful!

“I want to travel but have no money.” – Voluntourism, begpacking, and tact.

I said we were gonna touch on this, yeah?

Voluntourism is one can of worms; one that I feel fewer people take issue with. There are some points against it, and some validity in these points, but nothing that I truly believe is able to undo the sheer amount of good that comes from people travelling through volunteering overseas.

Connections between local communities and travellers are made and something is returned while travelling around the world. It’s a symbiotic relationship – if you’re heart is equally in it for the work as it is for the free-living – and it works, usually for the best.

Begpacking gets stickier – it’s a modern-day complaint against a style of living that has existed much longer. That, somehow, choosing to travel with no money makes you self-entitled and undeserving of the kindness of strangers. However, even the name “begpacking” itself stands as a bit of a misnomer.

I’ve never “begged” for something and I don’t know anyone who has. (However, travellers who do quite literally “beg” exist and they should promptly hand in their backpacker card).

I’ve hitchhiked but I’ve never even directly asked someone for a ride. I’ve never asked someone for a place to stay and certainly never for money. I have eaten at free food giveaways but only ones that were welcoming and warm to travellers and wanted me there (sometimes, with some volunteering on the side).

Usually, if someone wants to offer you something, then that’s a gift of kindness (except when ulterior motives may be at play). As a traveller, a long way from the comfort of home, a bit of kindness goes a long way.

I know there are people out there that abuse this kindness in their attempts to get a free trip. This is a reminder not to .

It’s about having tact and moving with grace; leaving places in the world better than when you arrived. Be a little bit of good in the world wherever you go. Considering all the places you’ll go, that’s a lot of good.

If you’re choosing to travel without money, then remember that’s your choice. A long way from home or not, no one owes you a hand, so be grateful when they lend it.

Before I tie up the ‘How to Get a Free Vacation Handbook’, it’s time for the final bonus tips. These may not individually rock your boat, but together they’ll groove it a bit for sure!

• Don’t burn out – Always stressing about money, looking for the cheapest way to travel to your next destination, and racing against yourself: it can be exhausting. Don’t push yourself too hard. Take a rest sometimes, go slow, and remember that when travelling without money gets stressful, home is always waiting.
• Every country is unique – Every country has its own nuances. What food is cheap, expectations on people volunteering abroad, even the hitchhiking hand signals! It takes time to learn a new place and mistakes probably will happen so cut yourself some slack, alright?
• Mistakes do happen – On that note, so as much as free travelling around the world may be the goal, it pays to stockpile a little rainy day money. Unless you don’t mind calling in financial favours from the ‘rents.
• There’s free food in more places than the dumpster – Many countries have food growing in abundance that isn’t privately owned (or in a bin). Learning edible plants and how to forage is pretty goddamn top-tier Broke Backpacking, but it’s certainly possible.
• Know your rights volunteering – While it’s important to put the hard work in for your hosts when volunteering, it’s equally important that you aren’t being exploited either. Not all hosts are top blokes and some do seek to take advantage of backpackers. Remember that no one is doing anyone any favours: it’s an exchange.
• You’re broke but you’re not poor – This is especially true when travelling in developing nations. It does get tiresome feeling like you’re being targeted as a tourist by touts and beggars, but you are a tourist. Travelling without money doesn’t bring you down to the level of the legitimately homeless and impoverished; one party chose to be there, the other did not. Just keep that in mind.

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.

Oh, and one last tip… Get insured before embarking on your free travel adventure!

Yeah, ok, insurance isn’t free (or cheap) but when you’re lying in a hospital bed with some truly astounding food poisoning from the dumpster diving, at least your treatment will be! Seriously, travel insurance is a super important consideration for any journey.

Members of The Broke Backpacker team have been using SafetyWing for some time now and made a few claims over the years. They’re an easy to use and professional provider that the team swears by.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

You don’t need a lot of money to travel: that’s the takeaway! Maybe eventually you’ll need some money so leaving the country with $0 in the bank account isn’t necessarily smart. That said, I have a friend that got his working visa in Australia by photoshopping his bank statement, so, really, anything is possible!

Even if the low-cost world traveller game isn’t for you, I still think everyone should try it once. It changes your perspective a lot.

It changes your perspective on the idea of what you need and what you need to be happy; on what is possible. I have a friend that lost it all in Australia (a different friend) and spent months as a hammock-hobo in Melbourne. He says it was the happiest time of his life.

I can relate. My first experience travelling still remains some of my sweetest memories. It was free travel in New Zealand – a smelly backpacking vagabond volunteering, hitching, busking, dumpster diving, and sleeping in parks – and It taught me how beautiful life is. It taught me how kind people are and how simple things can be, should we so choose.

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

To close, I’d like to repeat what a friend said to me today as we bid farewell (at another hippy farm). He said:

“No, I won’t wish you ‘safe travels’ because everywhere you go, you are safe. You have a good heart and many adventures ahead. I wish you to be free because that is the most important thing.”

And I smiled because I understood (and because he’d just written my outro for me). That’s all it is: be free, travel the world with a good heart, and learn what joy there is in nothing. You don’t need anything to learn how to travel for free.

And you don’t need money to travel.

Ziggy Samuels

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16 Comments

Awesome article for traveller specially who has low budget. Wonderful Insight.

Hey, great blog, read it like 3 times already!!! One question though…do you also get jobs ‘under the table’ with tourist Visa? Cause everyone talks about working and traveling to finance their further travels, but nobody talks about Visa issues. Could I work for a bit of money (whatever crappy job) with a tourist Visa/Visa waiver? And would people actually accept my work for cash on the hand, or can you actually find people who would accept your work for them although it could cause trouble because of the ‘under the table’ issue? Cause Work and travel Visa is too expensive for a broke gal like me and one year a long time for one country. I’m talking more about the ‘getting a bit of cash for travel’ kinda thing. Answers would be so so appreciated. Greetings from germany Svenja

People find, and will continue to find all sort of ways to make it work, Svenja… and so will you I’m sure. Some countries do have very strong rules against this type of thing tho, so it may be better looking for other things to trade for, such as food, accommodation, transport.

Wonderful and surprising information, Thank you

What a blog! Very funny and different, I was delighted with this wonderful content.

😀 dumpster eating

Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with us! It is so appreciated and I would suggest you travel once to India

Hahah guess where that first picture of me in the tree is taken? Gokarna, baby! 😀

now i know how to travel, the next thing that is left is how to have guts to travel lol

Just do it, dude – you got this!!! All you gotta do is take the first step :)))

Is panhandling, begging/scamming arrogant rich backpackers and sneaking into peoples bushes/fields to sleep considered douchebaggery?

Scamming people is morally deplorable on every level.

As for sleeping in peoples fields and bushes, well as long as you remember the “leave no trace” principle.

Ziggy Samuels, it is very courageous of you to be able to travel like this. Besides, in the middle of the way, find good people to help you, even without asking. Good luck in this adventure that in a way is the best freedom.

Thanking you kindly, Sam – Perhaps it’s equal parts courage and stupidiity 😉 You’re 100% right though. There are good and kind people everywhere, and often, travel wouldn’t be possible (nor nearly as special) without them.

Last year i traveled for Australia for volunteering work and i can say it was one of the best experience of my life without any cost.

One good App for volunteering work is Workaway and it was that i used.

Interesting, I never thought that one can travel so easily without expenses a penny. But few ideas are really I think works like “volunteering the work” helps one to travel without any cost. I’m curious to check how this work. You shared some great ideas here to work on…Thank you for sharing such wonderful post.

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How To Travel For Free : 39 Smart Hacks

One of the biggest myths out there is that you need to be rich to travel. With these simple but life-changing hacks I’ll show you how to travel without money!

Let’s repeat that.

You do not need to be rich to travel.

In fact, a limited budget is a challenge that often results in funnier travel experiences and stories to tell. After all the best things in life are free… or at least cheap!

Here’s some simple life-changing hacks to travel more often with a smaller budget. Choose a category:  

Tips To Travel With No Money At All (Seriously!) >>

1 free walking tours.

One recent development in Europe is the advent of free walking (or even biking) tours. It’s a great way to get to know the place by the eyes of a local at a minimal cost. In expensive places like Stockholm free tours can be a great way to save money . Plus, you can meet loads of people too!

2 Stay in Hostels For “Free”

Paying with money is so last century. WorldPackers allows you exchange your skills for free accommodation in hostels worldwide.

So instead of paying, you can actually collaborate with your hostel. You can end up improving their website, painting a new wall or even bartending. Just be creative!

3 Seek Out Free Wifi

Finding WiFi abroad is becoming the Holy Grail for travellers nowadays. We all need to communicate, google some essential stuff or post some photos on Facebook to make everyone at home envious.

Start with booking accommodation with WiFi available. It’s convenient to communicate with people back home. While you are outside, mobile apps like WifiMagic make sure you are always grinding the networks nearby.

WWOOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms and is a network of national organizations that accept volunteers on farms around the world.

While you’ll need to get there by yourself, volunteers have a free room and meals. No prior experience required. A great way to combine work and travel on the cheap.

5 Look For Free Days

A simple yet so powerful tip. Museums and other tourist sights often have free days or discounted days. Before your departure, make sure you look on their website for this info.

In Barcelona for instance almost of all of the major museums are free on Sundays after 3pm. Vatican Museums in Vatican City have free admittance on the last Sunday of the month. And the Museum of Modern Art in New York City has a free entrance on Friday afternoon .

6 CouchSurf

Couchsurfing connects travelers with locals willing to let them stay with them for FREE.

Frequent users of this website never have to pay for accommodation all around the world. While you can’t afford to be picky – you might get an air mattress or a lousy couch – it’s always free!

7 Walk, Walk, Walk

For me nothing beats walking when I’m abroad. It keeps you active while allowing you to fully explore a new place. There’s no better way to get lost in narrow streets, experience the local cafés or talk with locals. Ah did I mention it’s FREE?

8 Get Paid To Be a Travel Mailman

Ever been asked to bring something from a trip? Now you can finally get paid to do it! Grabr is a peer-to-peer shopping and delivery network that connects shoppers and travellers all around the world, generating a win-win situation.

Shoppers get a quirky item from anywhere delivered wherever they want and travellers have an extra way to earn extra money to continue their travels.

It’s literally making money while you travel!

9 Land a Job Abroad

I know, who wants to work while you are on vacation?

But if your desire to wander away is stronger than a desire to build a career, you’ll need a way to fund your next adventures. On the plus side, you’ll be making friends and get a taste of the local culture.

You’ll be surprised by the amount of opportunities out there. WorkAway is a good place to start but there are specific jobs that are very remote-friendly, like for instance being a language tutor. On Preply you can be a paid tutor and give language lessons via Skype. From anywhere.

Here are other short-term jobs that don’t require a fancy background or loads of experience.

Short-Term Jobs Abroad To Make Money While You Travel

• English Teacher (requires a TEFL degree)
• Ski Resort Worker
• Farm Worker (see #4)
• Local Tour Guide
• Hostel Worker (see #2)

Ways To Lower Transportation Travel Costs >>

10 become flight search savvy online.

Using flight comparison websites like Skyscanner can go a long way to find the absolute best price for your upcoming trip. I always set up their email alerts to let me know whenever there is a good deal.

Hopper goes deeper and gives you insights on the price range of the flight you’re seeking, as well as the expected price evolution until your departure.

I’ve also written a full guide on how to find cheap flights online , full of flight hacks you can start applying today.

Pro Tip to find cheap flights online: Don’t forget to look up flight prices in the anonymous mode of your browser (or delete the cookies/history)!

11 Sleep While Travelling

When travelling a long distance by plane, train or bus, time your journey at night and in order to save a night’s accommodation. You might not get the top of luxury standards, but that one ticket is a “two per one” deal.

12 Use Public Transportation

Whenever the distance is too demanding, I choose to get around using public transports. Not only is cheaper than taxis, it’s a challenging and more authentic way to navigate around a new place.

Bear in mind 24-hour, 3-day or even weekly public transport passes are usually way better value-for-money deals than single tickets.

13 Go On A RoadTrip

I’m a big fan of road trips. I’ve road tripped Portugal a couple of times and my road trip through Croatia was memorable.

Not only a road trip allows you to explore a country at your own pace and rhythm and take more in, it can also be a budget saver in many ways. Journeys, trips and flights can quickly eat your budget.

14 Rent A Bike

Bikes are extremely cost-effective ways of getting around AND you’re keeping yourself active at the same time. After walking, it’s definitely my favourite way to move!

While not all the destinations are suited for this, you can easily explore a city or town for less than 10USD/day in Europe and less than 3USD/day in Asia. I’ve rented a bike for 2USD for an entire day in Ninh Binh, Vietnam !

Some hotels even offer bike rentals included in the room price. I’ll be staying in a Bed & Bike accommodation on my upcoming trip to Chiang Mai .

15 Be Flexible with Your Flight Dates

This is one of the golden rules to find a cheap flight online .

Flexibility on flight dates, hours and even airports can make you save BIG . Websites like SkyScanner have monthly and yearly overviews which are quite handy for this kind of analysis. Flying on unpopular hours – like early in the morning – also guarantees you a friendlier price.

16 Explore The World Of Rail Passes

If you’re planning to use train a lot on your upcoming trip, booking ahead of time can usually save you loads of money. About half the price to be exact.

However, rail passes are a better option if you don’t want to stick to a fixed schedule. Specially in Europe, these can be a real bargain. EuroRail website has got more info.

17 Learn The Right Tools to Buy Your Flights

Getting a good deal for flights online has a bit of a learning curve and much of it has to do with timings. Start probing prices as early as possible, but aim to buy your flight 10-14 weeks in advance .

For more info on this check my guide on how to find the best time to buy cheap flights and my comprehensive travel hacks to get you the cheapest flight possible to anywhere .

Tips For Lower Accommodation Travel Costs >>

18 try secret hotel rooms.

Secret or mystery hotel rooms are unsold medium-to-luxury hotel rooms and being offered at a reduced price (usually somewhere 20%-50% their usual list price). Hotels use these as an alternative way to get some money for the rooms left empty.

The only catch is you don’t know before hand which hotel are you booking your room. Weeeeell, technically there are some tricks you can use to find which hotel are you likely to be booking.

Curious? Check my full guide to find secret hotel rooms .

19 House Sit

Not familiar with the concept? House sitting allows you to “take care” of the house of someone else when the owner is away. This basically means free accommodation worldwide!

The bad news is that on the large house-sitting websites like Trusted House Sitters you’ll need to pay before you are able to contact the homeowners. Still, the membership fee is a small fraction of what you can potentially save in accommodation around the world!

20 Deal Directly With The Hotel

Websites like Booking have great accommodation deals but sometimes the best way is to go back to basics.

Call or email the hotel, hostel or guesthouse and ask about rates on their rooms. You might get surprised with special deals there are not online anywhere.

Ideas To Lower Food Travel Costs >>

21 visit local markets.

Market places are usually a great place to take a pulse on the vibe and energy of your destination. For instance, you can get crazy cheap deals while shopping in the street markets in Bangkok . Additionally, it’s home to some of the best places to eat authentic local food without spending too much.

22 Avoid Having Dinner Out

Restaurants often raise prices for dinner and have their best deals during the day. There is a reason why lunch special menus are so popular. You can eat the same (or more) for a fraction of the cost you’d pay during the evening.

Brunches are also great options as they merge two meals – breakfast and lunch – in only one bill.

23 Hit The Buffets

Keep your eyes open for all-you-can-eat buffets. They offer an unlimited amount of food for a decent cost, to say the least. Hitting a few of these places on your trip is a smart way to keep both your belly and your wallet full.

Pro Tip: If you are on hardcore budget, make yourself some sneaky sandwiches and save them for later.

24 Cook Your Meals

While there is the obvious downside of eating out and missing on the local food experience, you won’t ruin your trip to London if you decide not to eat out one day!

Cooking your own meals can be a true budget-saver, particularly in the most expensive destinations. Aim to stay at an apartment – via AirBnb – with free use of the kitchen. Oh and here’s FREE 35USD to get you started .

25 Avoid Touristy Places To Eat

Cafés and restaurants near the top tourist attractions are often overpriced and not good quality. You might end up paying more for something that is not authentic at all.

Sometimes all it takes is to go one block or street over to find hole-in-the-wall places in which you can have much better local meal tucked away from crowds.

Rome is a good example. In a city which such a rich food culture, it would be a crime if you sit to eat in the first trattoria next to the Colosseum . Explore the nearby side streets or go to Trastevere to find cheaper food and avoid tourist traps.

26 Indulge On Street Food

Street food can be delicious, cheap and against all odds, safe! You can actually see what’s being cooked fresh right in front of you. Pay attention to the busiest street food stalls where locals eat or just try asking someone local where do they go.

An example of a country where you should definitely try street food is Belgium . Belgian street food is cheap, delicious and highly caloric. Oh lord, I’ll never forget those frites !

Digital Tips To Lower Travel Costs >>

27 use reviews in your favour.

Reviews, reviews, reviews. We live in a world of reviews. With this crazy amount of information online, make sure you use it to make smart travel choices.

Apps/websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp are absolute great ways to learn about experiences of other independent travellers and locals on hotels, sights and restaurants. While online reviews have reached the point you can’t trust everything you read, as a whole they’re still useful to make well-founded decisions on your travels.

28 Avoid Roaming Fees

Try to rely on apps that allow VoIP communications like Skype or Whatsapp and if you are an iPhone user, make sure your “Send as SMS” option is disabled. Buying a local or international SIM card might also be an option.

For more details check my complete guide on how to stay online abroad .

29 Save On International Transfers

Sending money overseas can do some A LOT of damage to your bank account. That’s why you need to consider to use a cost-efficient option like HiFX . It allows to send money internationally from one currency to another at great foreign exchange rates and minimal fees.

30 Use The Right Apps

Even if you are not a geek like me or you like to travel “off-the-grid”, some travel resources out there are able to save you money just with a couple of taps on your phone!

Here is a small shortlist of the apps you should have installed on your phone.

List Of Must-Have Apps For Budget Travellers

• Airbnb – Everything from minimalistic rooms to luxury suites, rented directly to the owner. Can be a huge money-saver. Plus, here’s a 37$ voucher to get you started!
• Yelp – To find out the best nearby restaurants, cafés and other places. Filter by price to get budget deals.
• Hopper – Amazingly detailed insights about price flights.
• Whatsapp – Stay in touch with your friends and family by text messages… for free. For voice calls I prefer FaceTime or Skype .
• Booking – Simply the best to find cheap hotels and hostels.
• SkyScanner – Great search engine to find the cheapest flights anywhere.
• XE Currency Converter – Don’t lose money when exchanging money!
• Splitwise – Keeping track of trip expenses when you travel in a group can be a nightmare, right? Well, not anymore.

Also don’t forget to check my full list of resources to make you travel smarter .

Other Generic Tips To Travel On A Budget >>

31 educate yourself on your next destination.

Even if you’re not the planning type, some research is advisable. Get savvy on the price of things, exchange rates and tours. Learn the best way to get around and the cheapest areas to stay and to eat. This will make it much easier to budget your trip. A good guidebook could be of great help in this planning phase.

32 Use Credit Card Rewards To Get Free Flights

I usually don’t like to give out this tip.

Firstly, I’m far from being an expert on credit card rewards. I could be doing a much better job, but for some reason it just seems too complex . It’s even harder to get advice on how to get airline miles on european credit cards.

Having that said, educating yourself about credit card reward schemes is a good bet. Get it right and you could be having free (!) flights frequently without spending almost any extra money!

I recommend you start learning with the experts I’ve got bookmarked on my favourites: The Points Guy and Flyer Talk .

33 Avoid Expensive Countries

I know, this one is pretty obvious. But I often know people who get surprised by the costs of food and accommodation in some countries so I feel it should be on the list. Even though expensive places like Stockholm can be travel hacked and visited on a budget, there are way wiser options.

Angola , Japan , Iceland and Qatar are also amongst the most expensive in the world.

Do some research, plan your trip accordingly and spend more time in budget-friendly countries. Most of the countries in Southeast Asia , Africa and Eastern Europe are affordable.

34 Keep Track Of Your Expenses

This is key. Take note of your expenses abroad in a notebook, a memo on your phone or in an app. I usually do this once a day, when arrive the hotel at night. Yes, sometimes is utterly boring, but it creates more awareness than you think. It’s way easier to keep on budget if you visualize where your money is going.

35 Travel Off Season

Traveling off-peak season is one giant step to make your travel costs go down instantly. Flight prices in high season can be the double as compared to peak summer dates, not to mention the combined price of accommodation, restaurants and guided tours which will likely be inflated too.

Timing your trip to target shoulder season – when crowds are far from massive and weather is still acceptable – to save you loads of money.

36 Buy Travel Insurance

I know, it seems another drain on your money, but travel insurance is essential. You never know what can happen. And if you’re not insured in a foreign country, it could end up with a bill of hundreds of dollars!

Get a quote from the simple & flexible World Nomad’s travel insurance .

37 Follow The Disaster

While the rest of the world rules out destinations because of political issues or natural disasters, it’s your time to enter in scene. Right after one of these events, flight prices and accommodation are at a fraction of what they normally cost.

This period of grace can last anywhere from a few days to years. If you are smart about it, you can save loads of money!

38 Be Careful With Exchange Rates

You should try to take a good amount of money at a good rate even before the departure. Additionally, this helps budget your total spend.

When you’re abroad, use the rule of 3: always check three places before exchanging money to get the best deal. Usually airports and withdrawing money directly from ATMs are a bad choice.

Like mentioned in #30, XE Currency can be of great value.

Obviously this can only be done in some countries, but if you train yourself at it, you can save a respectable amount of money in each purchase. In places like Thailand and Indonesia , take the initial price as a suggestion only, even if it is advertised.

Check out this guide to haggling by Rick Steves .

Haggling pro tip: As a rule of thumb, try to pay less than 50% of the initial price.

Travel Without Money Is Not A Bad Thing!

Watching what you spend by any means does not mean less fun. In fact, it’s often the opposite. To travel without (almost any) money you need to do is to do smart choices!

Like everything in life, balance is key .

Now that you’ve saved literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars, loosen up a bit. Use your savings and splurge on that amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience that is both an unmissable opportunity and something normally out of your price range. Allow yourself some treats.

Help me find the tip #40! What is your biggest budget secret to travel without money and to lower your travel costs?

Note: This page contains affiliate links which means by clicking them and visiting or purchasing the website, I may get a small commission. Please note there’s absolutely no additional cost to you. Instead, it’s a win-win relationship: you get an awesome product/service and I get to keep this website going.

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How to travel for free: the secret that no one tells you

Want to travel the world for free? I've been doing that for a long time. In this article, you'll get an in-depth view of what I do, how I do it, and how you can do it too!

Ayla Life in Lala's Land

Dec 19, 2023

Of course I have seen people all over Instagram and Facebook living these incredible lives, getting to see amazing places all over the world. I must confess I always thought this was fake or that they were all rich people. But since I came across the answers of how to travel for free (that no one told me) it completely transformed my life.

The purpose of this article is not to simply give you a list of the options you have to travel for free. You can find that on the internet anywhere.

I’m here to give you real life proof of how I already travel the world for free , since I’ve been travelling and living the nomadic life since July 2019. I'm crazily excited to share this, knowing just how much of an impact it can make to a person's life.

Some people get a little sceptical before they really get what I do , which I completely understand. If someone I didn’t know told me I could travel the world for free, I would probably think they were trying to scam me or something. But I didn’t have anyone tell me about it. I found it myself , and now I want to help others do the same.

I knew I wanted to travel and quit my job to do it . That would mean no money coming in - an exceptionally tight budget. So, I found a solution to the problem:  free food and accommodation !

In this article I’m going to walk you through how to do that. You can travel the world doing activities you love and get free accommodation - and even get paid to do it!

You might also like :  14 TOP cheapest countries to visit as a Worldpackers volunteer

Travelling for free: how it all started

One day I woke up and realised just how much I hated my daily life . I was working a ludicrous number of hours to get a great paycheck each week, but I was miserable. I decided that I had to take it into my own hands and create a life that I enjoyed living. And for me, that means new discoveries and environments.

In February of 2019 I handed in my resignation with 4 months’ notice. This was mainly for me to know I finally had a date I would be escaping the rat race. By July of that year, I was on a one-way flight to volunteer in India with a backpack and a suitcase with everything I owned in them.

When I said goodbye to all my friends and family, they knew that I had no intentions of ever returning to Australia or the life I was so eager to leave behind. 

I had no idea of what I was going to do, how I would be making money travelling or being able to survive, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I had left behind a life that I didn’t want, in search of one that I loved.

It was then that I happened to stumble across the greatest life hack known to mankind – how to travel the world for free ! I have now been doing this and enjoying every moment of it.

I have the freedom to go anywhere I want in this world, and know that I am able to support myself. With a combination of these two life hacks that I will be speaking about here, I get almost all my food and accommodation paid for. 

I write for about two hours a day and I'm able to actually save a significant amount of money whilst I am travelling and experiencing the world.

How to travel for free: here's the secret

The number one best life hack that I have ever known is Worldpackers , hands down. 

Worldpackers is a platform that connects volunteers with certain skills or abilities to hosts who are looking for help in these areas. The method behind it is work exchange , where volunteers give their time helping out around the place in exchange for accommodation  and other benefits like meals, classes and tours.

It has provided me with numerous opportunities to travel through different countries on a tight budget, by not having to worry about accommodation and food. Not only that, but it has also given me an opportunity to build my name as an artist through both India and Sri Lanka .

As a girl who had a dream of travelling the world for free - with no idea of how to actually do it when I started - I am so lucky and grateful to have stumbled across Worldpackers!

Basically, you pay one fee of $49 USD which gives you access to all the hosts for a full year. To put that into perspective, $50 USD is likely A LOT less than you pay for one night of food and accommodation in most countries . And then you can spend 12 months with free accomodation and food wherever you want!

Seem’s crazy not to do it right? And what you give in exchange for the ability to travel for free, is often an experience you would be paying a hefty price for.  So really, it’s wins all around! You’re saving sooooo much money when you travel the world with Worldpackers.

Volunteer and travel for free

There are heaps of different options available when it comes to volunteer programs. So you’re sure to find something that calls to your heart. Some of them that I have chosen to work with are:

• Work in Schools
• Work on Eco projects
• Work with Hostel Administration 
• And primarily Art Projects

There are so many more options available , but these are the ones I have volunteered with so far. I typically look for art projects as I love painting. But other times I will apply for positions that pique my interest such as eco projects, because I am very much a save the world type of gal.

I have been very lucky to have had a range of volunteering experiences , mostly with painting. Mural painting is not something that I had ever even considered doing before.

I was so excited to do my first one and put my heart and soul into it, and surprisingly it was actually  not that bad. From there I was able to apply for more Worldpackers positions as an artist where I received free accommodation and all my meals for free.

This is a dream come true for someone who had been travelling for two months. I had no idea how to make any money and was just trying to spend as little as possible to stretch the money I did have as far as it could go. 

I’ve built great connections throughout communities doing this, and I’ve been asked to come back to a number of places, which is so heartwarming.

If you’re wondering how to travel for free, making an impact and giving more value to your contribution in this world , this is the secret. There are volunteer options that suit a range of different personality types and interests.

How to travel for free and also get paid

Although using Worldpackers covers almost all my expenses that I need to survive , there are still other things I need to pay for as I travel. Any flights, visas, sightseeing and going out with friends are costs that come out of my own pocket.

But someone I met at my first volunteer position provided me with a solution. I was only about two months into my travels at this point, when I explained to her my situation. She was blown away that I had no plan to balance working and travelling . In hindsight, it's a pretty crazy thing to do. Quit your job, pack your stuff and leave your own country without any means of income.

So, she introduced me to the world of  freelancing . This is something I had never heard about before then. She explained to me that there are many people that work remotely and get paid for it, which is what she does for a company she worked for back in Germany.

I told her that I wouldn’t be able to do it as I was absolutely terrible with technology and had no skills that would be of any value . She convinced me that I had everything I already needed: fluent English and a tablet I could write on.

She told me about some freelancing websites and I signed up to both Freelancer and Upwork . I then started applying for different positions but was not getting any luck. I had been trying for basic administration positions, which of course every other unskilled person was also applying for, so I was just getting lost in the masses.

Earlier in 2019 I had decided that I wanted to write a novel , which I am currently still working on, and this is something that I had shared with the girl who told me about freelancing. She saw me working on my novel all the time and motivated me to apply for some content writing positions . 

"The worst they could do is say no, and the best that can happen is you start getting paid to travel."

Eventually one company gave me a trial. Turns out they loved my writing style and offered me an ongoing position.

Becoming a digital nomad

The work I do could not be more perfect. It is incredibly flexible, I can ask for as much or as little work as I want, and it is something that I enjoy doing. 

I write content for businesses all over the world . Each piece might take me around 3 hours and will make me $50 USD. It’s not a lot, in fact, this job pays pretty terribly compared to the others I have now.

But depending on which part of the world I am, it pays for a LOT more than it would be back home. 

And I have such a different relationship with money than I did when working a ‘normal’ job. I am only interested in making enough money to cover my expenses from the previous month or to splurge on a vacation, such as a fancy resort somewhere.

Not only has securing a freelancing job been able to free me financially, it is such a different experience to be working on your own clock . Sometimes I might go a few days or a week without writing at all. Because I don’t have the need for money. But other times I might write for a full week and do nothing else. That is the beauty of freelancing.

Each week I decide how many projects I want, which generally is anywhere between two and 10. So that is a maximum of 30 hours a week if I really want to make some serious money, but I rarely have the need for that. So most times, I only work about 6 a week.

Combining this small amount of income with travelling the world for free with Worldpackers, I am able to save money while I’m travelling ! How crazy is that? I never would have thought that was possible.

An added benefit to freelancing is how much y ou learn about the potential of online work. I went from a non-tech savvy girl 15 months ago, to now having my own digital marketing agency . 

I do this by outsourcing all the work to the talented freelancers I’ve met along my journey . So whether you’ve got that business mind, or just want to work 5 hours a week to live as a digital nomad, it works for everyone.

Balancing freedom and motivation

When I was in Australia, I was a businesswoman. Always in a suit rushing around from meeting to meeting and under immense stress. Now I wouldn’t be recognisable to any of the people from my old position, or the clients that I worked with so closely. I am able to completely and freely express myself.

I now have blue hair and am starting to gather a collection of tattoos , and do you know what? It makes me so happy that I am able to live a life that is true to my own personality . Not to be living life restricted by the confines of society. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have responsibilities.

I have the freedom to now travel where I want, dress (country-specific of course) and later my appearance as I please. And all I need to do is work about 5 hours a day to make that happen. So on average, I would spend 1 hour a day working and another 4 volunteering.

Although it can be tempting to run out with my friends as soon as the volunteering is done, I just give myself a reality check. It’s one hour. And if I schedule my time well, it makes little difference to my day, but a big difference to my life.

For me, I found setting out schedules works best for me. Mine looks something like this: yoga, breakfast, work, volunteer, lunch, write my novel, then free time. Sometimes I find myself creating stress out of nothing , but finding my balance with a schedule and yoga always helps me to keep motivated.

What in the world are you waiting for?

Yes, there is a legitimate way to travel the world for free and get paid, if that is the kind of life you want to live. I do it myself, and I’m just your average everyday person. Sometimes I realize how lucky I am to live this life, and then remember that luck had nothing to do with it . I found this out through research and took a leap of faith.

Seeing new countries and experiencing new cultures has been eye opening for me. And this is not something I would have been able to do for so long if I hadn’t stumbled across this life hack so early into my trip.

But luckily for everyone reading this, I have found them so that you don’t have to go searching . So now that you know how to travel for free, what are you waiting for? Go see the world! 

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

Ayla Carlin

Life in Lala's Land

An Australian solo traveller who set out to find herself while discovering the world. My aim is to discover the untouched, make long lasting connections, and expand my mind through the new people I meet and places I discover. I want to inspire others through my experiences, showing just how important travel is for the soul, and how it can transform your life in the most positive ways.

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Already have an account, are you a host, leave your comment here.

Write here your questions and greetings to the author

Oct 15, 2020

You're living the life, girl! As an author myself, that's pretty much a dream come true. Traveling and writing. Thank you for your words. I wish you all the success!

Oct 22, 2020

I wanna thanks you for your loyalty, and probably encourage you gave too all committee, thanks for who you are

Ayla (Author)

Nov 02, 2020

Thank you beautiful girl!! You also do the same??

Unfortunately, I don't. Right now, I just write in my home country. But I was published by a small publisher this year and I'm working on getting better to write on the road one day

Oct 19, 2020

Wow you're ao cool

Oct 20, 2020

Thank you beautiful people! Let's keep sharing our stories and welcoming more people to the traveling the world for free community!

Amazing text 🤍🤍 thanks for that

Oct 24, 2020

Good job👍👍💐💐

Feb 26, 2023

Amazing. Great job. Good Luck

Thank you ☺️

Oct 31, 2020

Thank you so much❤️

You are so welcome girl! ❤️❤️

Wooaaaaahhh 🤩🤩🤩🤩

Nov 06, 2020

Nov 08, 2020

It's great, I am cherishing the trip like you, currently I am looking for an online job to have money for the trip but I still haven't found it. Please guide and share your online work experience and your itinerary. Look forward to your guidance. My email: [email protected]

Nov 10, 2020

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Nov 11, 2020

Welcome Morocco

Nov 12, 2020

Super inspiring! :)

Nov 25, 2020

Hi Ayla, your story is very encouraging and motivational. I’m a newly certified Health and Life Coach, my dream is to work from anywhere, I got lost and confused, meanwhile I’m working part time as a professional organizer and decluttering, my dream is to travel so I decided enough of waiting to do it so I signed up here. But I’m interested in knowing more about your Marketing Biz, would like to talk to you about my business. Please could you reach out to me, [email protected] Thank You!!!

Nov 27, 2020

Well articulated

Dec 01, 2020

wow i like it thank you so much for sharing this

Dec 03, 2020

Thanks for your inspiring words, keep it up! :)

Cool with patient and courage

Wow, I really needed to hear this. I'd love to chat with you deeper since I have so many questions! How can I contact you? Do you have Instagram?

Dec 04, 2020

Hey Linda, I'd be happy to help 😊 My insta is lifein_lalasland

Sent you a message there!

Dec 08, 2020

Hi there, I admire your courage, wish i can do the same, but i'm in a different situation. I loved your article, it's inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

Dec 09, 2020

Wow! This was such a good read.

Dec 13, 2020

World are amazing & I love Nature 🙏🏞️🌄🌎🌏🗺️🥰

Dec 17, 2020

Hi there we had a small conversation in Bangkok while Brushing the truth i am so glad to meet you cheers Appreciate it

Dec 22, 2020

And you have written a beautiful blog here 😊

Very inspiring after reading what you have wrote. Yes, the money for buying a ticket is really concerning for me to step out from my comfort zone, and was thiking a lot should I make this work with travel the world with FREE. ❤

Dec 29, 2020

Wer are you from

Jan 04, 2021

Thank you dearly, you have helped me and beyond, I have connections and so do they. Keep sprinkling more kindness, also free lol.

Jan 13, 2021

Thank you so much for all what you've shared am impressed good luck to you bye

Jan 17, 2021

I am very much inspired by your story, I have a account in freelance and upwork. But in freelance they ask me to pay security deposit first is it safe to do so .

Jan 18, 2021

Hi I want to travel world for free

Jan 19, 2021

click bait title and too long text which is a lot of filler text. could be shorter and to the point.

Feb 02, 2021

l am active now in France heading to Spain

Mar 26, 2021

Is this possible with two children?

May 16, 2021

مرحبا انا عندى سؤال هل انا بدفع مصاريف السفر صح ام لا وهل ينفع ان اعمل واخد مال ام لا

May 31, 2021

Such a priceless story that you can even describe with words🙏 I absolutely believe that hapiness can change this World. And when everyone starts to SHARE yourself for others - we will make a planet smile and blossom❤👋

P.s. Thank you for that motivation. I will try to spread around the love which I found here

Jul 23, 2021

Oct 09, 2021

great writing. I hope i can join this life soon enough

Hi Pretty I hope you are doing in good health, I am Asif fresh graduate from United Arab Emirates Dubai. i am interests travel to European countries. i am applying many volunteers position. If you are free then guide me which European countries best cheap for foreigner students. Respectfully thanks for your precious time.

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Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

How to Travel with No Money and Love It

October 4, 2021 by Janice Waugh

No money for travel? Here are some great tips that will take you places for free.

Sometimes my need to travel exceeds my financial resources. I suspect I'm not the only one.

The need can be visceral. It may be called itchy feet by some but I experience it in my chest. It may sound weird but that's where, in my body, I feel an agitation to travel. The feeling is palpable.

Fortunately, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every place I've traveled. It may be the history or the music scene. It could be many things that are enjoyable but, amongst them, is always the people. People are fascinating no matter how much you have in common or how little.

For me, it's not where to go that is the issue; it's how.

How can you travel with little or no money? Read this How to Make Solo Travel Affordable, Cheap and Even Free and read on.

Table of Contents

Trip Planning Is the Key to Free

When you want to travel and you have no money you need to get a bit creative. You need to reach out and make connections with people who just might be able to help you. It's also important to do so safely. But, with the right people on your side, you can really go places.

• Grow your network. If you have zero dollars to spend it can be worthwhile to reach out to people you know. Perhaps they can't help you but maybe they know someone who can. Perhaps they know someone going across the country who wants company. Perhaps they know someone who needs their house cared for while they are gone. And, if they don't, perhaps their someone's know someone. Seven degrees of separation is a real thing. There's a debate as to whether it's just six degrees. The point is, we're all connected and you can likely make those connections work for you. Start early.
• Earn some goodwill on the resource sites you plan to use. If you plan to use Couchsurfing or Women Welcome Women WorldWide , both of which are organizations that can help you with free accommodation (they have small annual fees), it's best to be a participating member well before you leave. Be a host. Participate in local meetups. Develop a good reputation and earn some goodwill before you go. Both are great for making connections and meeting locals, whether or not accommodation is involved.
• Be realistic about money . You will have expenses as you travel just as you would at home. The thing is, you likely won't have an income. So plan to save a bit before you go. Read How to Save Money for Travel: Top Tips to Help You Save .
• Set a budget, even if it's ridiculous . You need to plan how to spend what little money you have so that you don't come home in debt. Read How to Plan Your Solo Travel Budget – on Any Budget .
• Making money as you travel is an option . If you have enough time on the road, and in some cases, even if you don't, there are ways to make money while you're away from home. Read 14 Ways to Make Money As You Travel: Long and Short-term .
• Exchange your labor for your travels . Research volunteer opportunities before you leave and plan your travels based on those opportunities. Read more below in the accommodation section.

World Travel with No Money: Transportation

This is the toughest travel budget category to get for free. But there are some options to get you where you want to go.

• Free road trip with car delivery. There are sites where you can sign up as a driver and get a gig delivering a car to its destination. Check out Canada DriveAway and Cars to Florida . These are often seasonal opportunities as people move their cars south in the winter and north in the summer but the jobs come up for other reasons as well.
• Share the driving. This is where that network you set up before your trip comes in handy. Reach out to your connections to look for a drive sharing opportunity.
• Don't forget walking and cycling . Your feet are a mode of transportation as well, whether they are walking or peddling. Both modes of transportation are absolutely free and a joy unto themselves. You don't have to go to the extreme that Andrew Siess did when he walked around the world. Watch the doc about his trip here .
• Get the dream job as an air courier. I know no one who has this job but, apparently it is possible. Here's one site to explore. If you have any experience with this, please leave your advice in the comments.
• Try the “Everywhere” button . Skyscanner's “Everywhere” button doesn't come up with free flights but it will give you a list of flights from your airport listing the cheapest first. Match the cheap flight with your free accommodation and you'll do well.

Traveling Without Money: Free Accommodation

Accommodation is typically one of the most expensive budget items for travel. Fortunately, it is also something that you can often get for free. There are so many ways to save on accommodation and they often come with some serious perks.

• House sitting for family or friends . Scan your family, friends, and extended network for people who would like a reliable house sitter for when they are away. This often involves caring for pets which, for many people, is a bonus. Read:  16 Tips for Successful Solo House-Sitting .
• Try a home exchange . Home exchanging (also known as house-swapping) is trading your home with that of another traveler. You stay in their home while they stay in yours (some services also work on a points system in case both parties don't want to swap at the same time), essentially rendering your accommodation costs for your trip nonexistent. You can find someone through your own contacts, or sign up for one of the home exchange websites, such as  Home Exchange . 
• Use social networks of free accommodation. Use communities like  Couchsurfing  (which has grown up a lot since it first started) or  Women Helping Women WorldWide . With both, accommodation isn't guaranteed but there is the possibility as well as a community of locals for information and, maybe a cup of coffee.
• Volunteer and get free accommodation (and sometimes food). Volunteer work when traveling typically requires you to pay to get to the destination and, sometimes, requires you to pay for your stay as well. But this is not always the case. WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), for example, offers the opportunity to work and stay in 130 countries around the world. They say, “As a WWOOFer, you will participate in the daily life of your host, help on the farm, learn about sustainability, experience a new culture and meet new people, and receive free room and board during your stay.”

No Travel Money? Free Things to Do

Once you're at your destination you'll want to explore. Fortunately, there are many ways to do so with no money.

• Free walking tours. Most major cities have free walking tours but that's just the beginning of free.
• Free apps for self-guided tours . GPSmyCity is one of the best for this with tours of over 1,000 cities. For some cities there are many tours for special interests.
• Take membership benefits with you . Look at memberships you have at home as they may offer opportunities as you travel. Are you a member of an international organization? If so, you will likely have contacts around the world. But that's an obvious opportunity. There are many more subtle ways that your associations can help get you free stuff as you travel.
• New York City

Eating Cheaply As You Travel

The final major expense category for travel is food. This is an expense that you will have whether you're at home or on the road. It will take some money. But there are ways to keep your costs down.

• Volunteer where meals are provided . As with WWOOFing, there are volunteer opportunities that include meals. Accessing these opportunities requires research before you go.
• Picnics and parks. Eating al fresco is a wonderful, enjoyable dining experience. Picking up food at a grocery store that will not perish in your pack and eating in a park is a low-cost food option.
• Make one restaurant meal count for two. Take reusable food bags and containers on your travels. Restaurant servings are often more than one needs. Pack the extra away in your reusable containers. Yes, the restaurant could probably provide a take out container but why create the waste?
• Food trucks and street food .
• Safe water, no cost, no plastic waste . Bring your water bottle along on your travels and fill it every day to avoid the high cost of bottled water and the environmental damage it causes. If you're not sure of the water, use a purification system like GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier. It deals with viruses, bacteria, protozoa, chemicals, and heavy metals. All the reviews I read were great.
• More ideas . For many more ideas read Travel, Eat Well and Save on Food .

Sharing is caring!

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

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10 Ways to Travel the World For Free in 2023

Sustainable travel expert, adventure seeker

Chicago, IL, USA

5-star resorts, private shuttles, and business class have conditioned us to think that travel is always going to break the bank. Of course there’s space for budget-minded travelers, but have you ever pondered how to kick it up a notch and really save money — perhaps by spending hardly any? With some creative spirit, there are plenty of ways to travel the world for (nearly) free.

Most of these are for the adventurous soul, so prepare to exit your comfort zone and enter that money-saving mode. From sleeping in airports to crashing on random couches, there’s no shortage of ways to cut costs. Try one of these 10 ways to make it work:

See the world for free by joining a work exchange platform

Can you pick fruit all day? Clean a questionably nasty bathroom? Wash piles of dishes? If the answer is yes and you’re willing to do it, you can find an opportunity for these types of jobs (and a handful more) by joining a work exchange platform. Participating travelers provide their labor in exchange for a free place to stay, with occasional bonuses like food or drinks, depending on your setup. With opportunities all over the world, this is one of the most common methods to get a free place to stay on the road.

How: Some of the more popular platforms include Workaway and Worldpackers .

Work in a hostel, earn free accommodation

For those who gravitate towards the backpacker lifestyle, working in a hostel gives you a cost-free place to hang your hat, cultivate a community, and have fun while doing it. Many hostel jobs are posted on the aforementioned work exchange platforms, but cold emailing is another useful tactic. Most hostels will ask for several days per week of work in exchange for a free dorm bed — and don’t be surprised when you receive free drinks, either. It almost makes up for the moldy shower that you now call yours.

How: Check out Hostel Jobs to find your new home.

Hack your hotel budget by becoming a house sitter

Enter house sitting: a far more comfortable way to be a total cheapskate. Studies have shown significantly lower volumes of snoring bunkmates and moldy showers by taking this avenue. It’s a bit more competitive — but not impossible. General duties include making sure that no one breaks in, occasional care for pets, garden tending, and any other upkeep that requires a traveler’s touch.

How: Aspiring house sitters can check out House Carers and Mind My House . Word of mouth is fairly popular with this option, but the magic of the Internet can pull through too. Either way, references are a big help. And, if you have a home of your own, check out HomeExchange : a unique, mutually beneficial way to share your home in exchange for a stay in someone else’s.

Save cash for future travel by Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a global network of travelers and gracious hosts opening their homes (and often hearts) at zero cost. That’s right—it’s 100% free, and often an awesome social experience.

How: For social butterflies who embrace unpredictability, Couchsurfing is a one-of-a-kind way to make connections across cultures and stay for free all over the world.

Score a free stay while WWOOFing

No, it doesn’t have to do with dogs (sorry). World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is a database filled with international organic farms that offer once-in-a-lifetime volunteer opportunities for those who wish to explore their green thumb. You can earn a free stay and learn about local life, all while contributing to sustainable practices.

How: Visit wwoof.net to register and find farms in your destination of choice. Membership costs a small fee, but it pays for itself, especially if you plan to travel long term.

Make bank by teaching english abroad

Teaching English abroad can take many forms: TEFL certified teaching positions, online teaching, or a less formal arrangement. The good news is: this option can actually be quite profitable, especially if you’re living somewhere in Southeast Asia where the cost of living is dramatically low.

How: Paid jobs usually require TEFL certification , which can be achieved through a variety of in-person or online classes. The uncertified can still volunteer their knowledge of the English language by participating in a volunteer program in exchange for room and board. Diverbo and Culture Go Go are online resources to jumpstart your experience.

Earn free travel opportunities by living on a boat

Have you ever said screw land and lived on a boat? If you haven’t, it’s time to consider it. Cruise lines and yacht companies are always looking for crewmembers, especially during the high seasons for tourism. Whether you have experience in hospitality, cleaning, kitchens, or entertainment, the available positions vary greatly.

How: Carnival and Royal Caribbean are the biggest companies, offering seasonal positions and year round options. For yacht opportunities, try out Crew Seekers .

Cut transport costs with ride shares

While there’s no guarantee of safety for this one, there are several countries in the world where hitchhiking is both acceptable and common. HitchWiki breaks it down by country, so you can be the judge of your own chances. Proven fact: hitchhiking builds character, so stick out your thumb and hope for the best.

How: If you prefer a tad bit more of an organized process, try out an arranged rideshare. These long-distance carpool services can be incredibly cheap, despite the lengths traveled. Blablacar is worldwide, and Ridesharing.com is popular in the U.S. and Canada. And hey, it’s good for the environment too!

Travel the world for free by becoming an au pair

Think babysitting, but instead of your childhood suburb, it’s a beautiful coastal town in the south of France. Au pairs are in high demand in several countries, and it’s a formidable way to learn about a different culture, and also live for free. There are both English and non-English speaking opportunities, but knowing a foreign language opens up more doors. France, England, and Australia are three of the more popular destinations for au pairs, but the opportunities are worldwide.

How: Visit AuPairWorld or AuPair.com to connect with families around the globe.

Save money on travel by signing up for airfare alerts

Okay, okay, it’s not completely free, but it can still save tons of money when you play the cards right. There are a few budget airlines worth keeping an eye on. Sales and promotions are common, and if you can hop online when they go live, there’s a great chance at scoring a major deal.

How: A few to keep in mind are Ryan Air , Air Asia , Jetstar , and Virgin Australia . In addition to the airlines themselves, fare finders like Scott’s Cheap Flights can send you alerts based on the latest and greatest deals. There’s no guarantee for legroom, but who needs it anyway? You’ll be on the beach in a few hours.

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How To Travel For Free – NO MONEY NEEDED (Expert Guide)

Introduction

Traveling is a dream that many people have, but one factor that often holds them back is the cost. However, what if I told you that it’s possible to travel for free, without needing any money? Yes, you read that right! With careful planning, strategic choices, and some clever hacks, you can embark on incredible adventures without spending a dime.

In this expert guide, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of how to travel for free. We’ll share valuable insights, tips, and resources that will help you make your dream of a cost-free journey a reality. So, if you’re ready to explore the world without breaking the bank, let’s dive in!

Plan for a life-changing adventure where money is no obstacle. By mastering the art of finding free accommodation, transportation, food, and activities, you can enjoy the thrill of exploration without worrying about your budget. It’s all about being resourceful, open-minded, and willing to explore alternative options.

Now, you may be wondering how it’s possible to travel without money. The truth is, there are numerous opportunities available for those who are willing to think outside the box. We’ll cover various methods such as volunteering, work exchange programs, utilizing rewards programs, and more. By leveraging these strategies, you can minimize expenses and maximize the incredible experiences that come with traveling.

It’s important to note that while it’s possible to travel for free, there may still be some costs involved. For example, you may need to cover visa fees, travel insurance, or personal expenses. However, by following the advice and techniques shared in this guide, you can significantly reduce the overall cost of your trip.

So, if you’re ready to embark on a budget-friendly adventure of a lifetime, let’s get started with our expert guide on how to travel for free!

Planning Your Trip

Planning is the foundation of any successful trip, and when it comes to traveling for free, it becomes even more important. Here are some essential steps to take when planning your cost-free adventure:

1. Set a Clear Goal: Determine the purpose of your trip and what you hope to experience. Whether it’s exploring historical sites, immersing in different cultures, or enjoying nature’s beauty, having a clear goal will help you focus your efforts.

2. Research Free Destinations: Look for destinations that are known to offer free or low-cost activities. Some cities have abundant free attractions, such as museums, parks, and walking tours. By choosing these destinations, you can save a significant amount on entertainment expenses.

3. Plan Your Itinerary Wisely: Create a detailed itinerary to maximize your time and minimize your expenses. Group activities in the same area to reduce transportation costs and consider visiting during off-peak seasons when prices are lower.

4. Utilize Online Resources: There are plenty of websites and apps that provide valuable information on free or discounted activities, accommodations, and transportation. Take advantage of these resources to find the best deals and opportunities.

5. Budget and Saving Strategies: Even though you’re aiming to travel for free, it’s essential to set a budget for incidental expenses and emergencies. Use saving strategies like cutting back on unnecessary expenses, selling unwanted items, or taking on side jobs to fund these incidental costs.

6. Networking and Contacts: Reach out to friends, relatives, or acquaintances who live in or have visited your desired destination. They may provide valuable insights, tips, or even offer a place to stay.

7. Document and Verify: Keep track of all important documents, including passports, visas, and travel insurance. Ensure they are up to date and valid well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

Remember, the key to planning your trip is to be flexible and open-minded. Embrace spontaneity and be willing to explore alternative options. By investing time and effort in the planning stage, you’ll lay the groundwork for a successful and cost-free adventure.

Accommodation

Accommodation can often be one of the most significant expenses when traveling, but there are various ways to find free or low-cost places to stay. Here are some options to consider when it comes to securing cost-free accommodation:

1. Couchsurfing: Couchsurfing is a global community of hosts who offer free accommodation in their homes to travelers. By joining this network and building connections, you can find locals who are willing to host you for a few nights. It’s a fantastic way to experience authentic local hospitality and make new friends.

2. House Sitting: House sitting involves taking care of someone’s house while they are away. In exchange for your services, you get to stay in their home for free. Many websites connect house sitters with homeowners looking for reliable individuals to watch over their property and pets. It’s a win-win situation as you get free accommodation, and homeowners have peace of mind.

3. Volunteer for Accommodation: Many organizations, such as hostels, farms, and eco-villages, offer free accommodation to volunteers in exchange for their help. By volunteering a few hours a day, you’ll enjoy a place to stay without any cost. Websites like Workaway and HelpX are excellent resources for finding these opportunities.

4. Overnight Transportation: If you’re traveling on a tight budget, consider taking overnight transportation such as buses or trains. These modes of travel often have designated sleeping areas or reclining seats, allowing you to save money on accommodation for a night.

5. Hospitality Exchanges: Hospitality exchange platforms, like BeWelcome and Hospitality Club, connect travelers with locals who are willing to offer a spare room or a place to sleep for free. It’s another way to experience genuine cultural exchange and receive free accommodation.

6. House Swapping: House swapping involves exchanging homes with someone else for a certain period of time. You can list your home on websites like HomeExchange and arrange to stay in someone else’s home in your desired destination. It’s an excellent way to eliminate accommodation costs while enjoying the comforts of a home away from home.

Remember to read reviews, communicate clearly with your hosts, and follow any rules or guidelines they may have. It’s essential to respect your hosts’ space and be a responsible guest.

With these accommodation options, you can significantly reduce or eliminate the cost of staying overnight, allowing you to allocate your budget to other travel expenses or extend your journey without worrying about high accommodation costs.

Transportation

Transportation costs can quickly add up, but with some smart strategies, you can minimize or even eliminate these expenses. Here are some tips for finding free or low-cost transportation options:

1. Hitchhiking: Hitchhiking is a popular and cost-free way to travel from one place to another. While it may not be suitable for everyone or every destination, it can be a thrilling and adventurous way to meet locals and save on transportation expenses.

2. Ride-Sharing: Ride-sharing services like BlaBlaCar allow you to split the cost of a ride with someone traveling in the same direction. It’s a great way to reduce your transportation expenses while also meeting new people.

3. Public Transportation: Utilize public transportation systems such as buses, trams, and trains. Many cities offer affordable or discounted passes for tourists, allowing you to explore the area without breaking the bank. Some cities even have free or donation-based transportation options.

4. Walking and Cycling: Take advantage of walking and cycling as a means of transportation, especially in cities or areas with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also have the opportunity to explore at your own pace and discover hidden gems along the way.

5. Petrol Stations and Rest Areas: In some countries, petrol stations and rest areas offer free or low-cost camping facilities for travelers. These areas often have bathrooms, picnic tables, and even showers, making them a convenient option for budget-conscious travelers with their own vehicles or camping gear.

6. Utilize Travel Rewards: If you have accumulated travel rewards or credit card points, consider redeeming them for free or discounted flights, train tickets, or rental cars. Take advantage of loyalty programs and credit card perks to maximize your savings.

7. Work for Transportation: Some transportation companies, such as cruise lines or private boat owners, offer opportunities for travelers to work in exchange for free or heavily discounted transportation. This can be an exciting way to travel while gaining unique experiences.

Remember to plan your transportation in advance, taking into consideration the distance, time required, and any safety concerns. Research local transportation options and explore innovative ways to reduce costs, allowing you to stretch your travel budget further.

By adopting these cost-effective transportation strategies, you’ll be able to navigate your way to incredible destinations without breaking the bank and have more funds available for other aspects of your journey.

Food and Drink

Food and drink expenses can comprise a significant portion of your travel budget, but there are several ways to enjoy delicious meals without spending a fortune. Here are some strategies for finding free or low-cost food and drink options:

1. Cook Your Own Meals: If you have access to a kitchen, consider preparing your own meals. Visit local markets or grocery stores to buy fresh ingredients at lower prices compared to eating out. Cooking your own meals not only saves money but also allows you to experience the local cuisine in a unique way.

2. Street Food and Local Markets: Street food stalls and local markets often offer affordable, delicious, and authentic meals. Explore the local culinary scene by trying street food specialties, which are not only budget-friendly but also provide a genuine taste of the culture.

3. Take Advantage of Free Meals: Some accommodations, especially hostels, offer complimentary breakfast or even dinner. Take advantage of these free meals to fill up and reduce your food expenses for the day.

4. Food Sharing Communities: Join food sharing communities, such as Olio and Too Good To Go, where individuals and restaurants offer surplus food for free or at discounted prices. It’s an excellent way to reduce food waste and enjoy tasty meals without spending much.

5. Local Events and Festivals: Research local events and festivals happening during your visit. Many of these events offer samples of traditional food and drinks for free or at a minimal cost. It’s a great opportunity to savor local flavors and immerse yourself in the cultural festivities.

6. Volunteer for Meals: Some organizations or restaurants offer free meals to volunteers. Look for volunteering opportunities that include food provisions as part of the experience. Not only will you enjoy a meal, but you’ll also contribute to making a positive impact on the community.

7. Tap Water and Refill Stations: Instead of buying bottled water, carry a reusable water bottle and fill it up at tap water stations or ask at restaurants if they offer free refills. Many countries have safe tap water, and this simple switch can save you money while reducing plastic waste.

Remember to be open to trying new and local dishes, as they are often more affordable compared to international cuisine. Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culinary scene and enjoy delicious meals without straining your travel budget.

By applying these food and drink strategies, you can satisfy your taste buds without emptying your wallet, leaving you with more funds to allocate towards other travel experiences.

Activities and Sightseeing

Exploring new destinations and experiencing exciting activities is an integral part of any travel adventure. While some attractions come with a hefty price tag, there are plenty of free or low-cost activities and sightseeing options available. Here are some strategies to make the most of your trip without breaking the bank:

1. Free Attractions: Many cities have a wide range of free attractions, such as parks, public gardens, historic sites, and viewpoints. Take advantage of these offerings to explore the local culture, architecture, and natural beauty without spending a dime.

2. Walking Tours: Join free walking tours led by knowledgeable guides who provide insights into the city’s history, culture, and landmarks. These tours are often tip-based or run on a donation basis, allowing you to choose a contribution that fits your budget.

3. Museum Free Days: Research if museums and galleries in your destination have designated free admission days or hours. Take advantage of these opportunities to visit renowned cultural institutions and soak up the art and history on display.

4. Outdoor Activities: Engage in outdoor activities that don’t require hefty entrance fees, such as hiking, cycling, swimming, or exploring nature trails. Check out local parks, beaches, and lakes that offer free access and ample opportunities for adventure and relaxation.

5. Cultural Festivals and Events: Keep an eye out for local festivals, parades, concerts, and cultural events taking place during your visit. These lively celebrations often feature music, dance, arts, and delicious street food, providing a unique glimpse into the local traditions and customs.

6. Free Classes and Workshops: Stay on the lookout for free classes or workshops that may be offered in your destination. Local community centers, libraries, or cultural institutes often host language classes, cooking demonstrations, or art workshops, allowing you to learn and engage with the local culture at no cost.

7. Explore Off the Beaten Path: Venture away from tourist hotspots and explore lesser-known areas of your destination. You’ll not only encounter fewer crowds but also have the chance to discover hidden gems and unique experiences that are often free or budget-friendly.

Remember to do thorough research before your trip to find out about any free attractions, events, or discounts available during your visit. Take advantage of online resources, local tourist information centers, and recommendations from fellow travelers to plan your activities and sightseeing accordingly.

By embracing these cost-effective options, you can immerse yourself in the local culture, gain unique experiences, and make incredible memories without straining your travel budget.

Travel Hacks and Tips

When it comes to traveling for free, having some insider knowledge and smart strategies can make a world of difference. Here are some travel hacks and tips to help you maximize your cost-free adventure:

1. Travel in the Off-Season: Consider visiting your desired destination during the off-peak season. Not only will you avoid crowds, but you’ll also benefit from lower prices on accommodations, flights, and activities. Take advantage of shoulder seasons or less popular travel periods to stretch your budget further.

2. Use Incognito Mode: When researching and booking flights or accommodations online, use your browser’s incognito or private mode. This prevents websites from tracking your search history and potentially raising prices based on your browsing behavior.

3. Travel Light: Pack efficiently and travel with a carry-on bag to avoid checked baggage fees. Additionally, packing light provides flexibility and saves you time at airports. Consider taking versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched for different outfits.

4. Opt for Public Wi-Fi and Communication: Instead of purchasing expensive international data plans, rely on public Wi-Fi networks or apps that allow free texting and calling over Wi-Fi. This way, you can stay connected without incurring hefty roaming charges.

5. Use Travel Apps: Make use of travel apps to find the best deals on accommodations, transportation, and activities. Apps like Skyscanner, Booking.com, and Tripadvisor can help you find affordable options, compare prices, and read reviews from fellow travelers.

6. Earn Cashback and Discounts: Sign up for cashback websites or credit cards that offer rewards for travel-related spending. This way, you can earn money back or accumulate points that can be redeemed for future trips, saving you more in the long run.

7. Utilize Travel Forums and Communities: Join travel forums and online communities to connect with like-minded individuals who share tips, hacks, and cost-saving strategies. These platforms are a treasure trove of information, and you can find valuable advice on specific destinations, budgeting, and more.

8. Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations: If you have some flexibility in your travel plans, consider being open to alternative dates or destinations. By booking flights and accommodations during sales or opting for lesser-known or underrated locations, you can snag great deals and save money.

9. Embrace Volunteering and Cultural Exchange: Engaging in volunteer activities or cultural exchange programs not only provides free accommodation and meals but also allows you to connect with locals, learn new skills, and make a positive impact on the communities you visit.

10. Stay Positive and Embrace Challenges: Keep a positive mindset and be prepared to face challenges along the way. A cost-free journey requires adaptability and resourcefulness, but the experiences and memories you gain are priceless.

By implementing these travel hacks and tips, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to navigate your way to a rewarding and budget-friendly adventure.

Volunteer and Work Exchange Programs

Volunteer and work exchange programs offer a unique opportunity to travel for free or at a significantly reduced cost. Not only do these programs provide free accommodation and sometimes meals, but they also allow you to contribute to meaningful projects and immerse yourself in the local culture. Here are some options to consider:

1. Workaway: Workaway is a platform connecting travelers with hosts who offer accommodation and meals in exchange for a few hours of work per day. Opportunities can range from helping out on organic farms to assisting with language teaching or participating in community development projects.

2. HelpX: HelpX is another website that facilitates volunteer and work exchange experiences. You can find a variety of opportunities, including farm stays, hostel assistance, and eco-projects. In exchange for your work, hosts provide you with food and accommodation.

3. WWOOF: WWOOF (WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms) provides opportunities for travelers to work on organic farms in exchange for food and accommodation. It’s a fantastic way to learn about sustainable farming practices, connect with nature, and experience a different way of life.

4. Peace Corps: The Peace Corps offers long-term volunteer opportunities where you can contribute to community development projects in various countries around the world. While these programs require a more significant commitment, they provide comprehensive support, including travel and living allowances.

5. Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity offers volunteer opportunities to help build affordable housing for families in need. By participating in their projects, you can not only contribute to a worthy cause but also receive accommodation and meals during your volunteering period.

6. Cultural Exchange Programs: Some countries offer cultural exchange programs where you can stay with a host family, volunteer in local schools, or assist with community initiatives. These programs allow you to experience the local traditions and customs firsthand while giving back to the community.

7. Conservation Projects: Many organizations focus on environmental conservation and offer volunteer opportunities in wildlife reserves, marine conservation programs, and national parks. These projects often include free accommodation and meals, allowing you to contribute to protecting our planet’s biodiversity.

Before embarking on a volunteer or work exchange program, thoroughly research the organization, read reviews, and understand the specific responsibilities and expectations. Have an open mind and be ready to embrace new experiences and challenges. Keep in mind that these programs can be competitive, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance.

Engaging in volunteer and work exchange programs not only allows you to travel for free or on a low budget but also gives you the opportunity to make a positive impact, forge meaningful connections, and gain a deeper understanding of the local community and culture.

Traveling with Rewards Programs

If you’re a frequent traveler or a savvy shopper, you can take advantage of rewards programs to earn points, miles, or cashback that can be used to offset travel expenses. Here are some tips for maximizing rewards programs and traveling for free or at a discounted rate:

1. Frequent Flyer Programs: Join airline loyalty programs and earn miles for every flight you take. Over time, you can accumulate enough miles to redeem free or discounted flights, upgrades, or other travel-related benefits. Take advantage of credit cards that offer bonus miles for signing up or spending in specific categories.

2. Hotel Rewards Programs: Sign up for hotel loyalty programs and earn points for each stay. These points can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, or other perks. Consider booking accommodations through credit cards that offer bonus points for hotel spending.

3. Credit Card Rewards: Choose credit cards that offer travel rewards and sign-up bonuses. These cards allow you to earn points or cashback on everyday spending, which can be redeemed for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, or car rentals. Research the best credit card options that align with your travel goals and spending habits.

4. Dining and Shopping Programs: Many rewards programs partner with restaurants or shopping websites, offering points or cashback for dining out or making purchases. Link your credit cards to these programs to earn additional rewards whenever you spend at participating establishments.

5. Online Travel Agencies: Use online travel agencies that offer their own rewards programs. These platforms allow you to earn points for booking flights, hotels, and activities, which can be used for future travel or other benefits such as discounts or free upgrades.

6. Trip Planning Portals: Some travel portals, like Expedia or Booking.com, have their own rewards programs that provide exclusive discounts, perks, or access to special offers. Explore these platforms and consider booking through their portals to maximize your rewards and savings.

7. Cashback Websites: Utilize cashback websites that offer rebates on travel-related purchases. These websites give you a percentage of your spending back as cash, which can be deposited into your bank account or used towards future travel expenses.

Remember to read the terms and conditions of rewards programs and understand how to maximize your earning potential. Be mindful of any annual fees associated with credit cards and assess whether the benefits outweigh the costs based on your travel habits and spending patterns.

By strategically utilizing rewards programs, you can earn points, miles, or cashback that can significantly reduce or even eliminate travel expenses, allowing you to travel for free or at a fraction of the cost.

Traveling for free may seem like a distant dream, but with the right strategies and mindset, it can become a reality. By implementing the tips and techniques outlined in this expert guide, you can embark on a cost-free adventure and explore the world without breaking the bank.

From careful planning and leveraging rewards programs to embracing volunteer and work exchange opportunities, there are numerous avenues to cut down on expenses and experience incredible destinations without spending a dime. Whether it’s finding free accommodations, securing low-cost transportation, enjoying budget-friendly meals, or participating in free activities, there are plenty of options to suit every traveler’s needs.

Throughout your cost-free journey, striking a balance between resourcefulness and flexibility will be key. Embrace the opportunity to discover alternative paths, immerse yourself in local cultures, and connect with fellow travelers. Remember, the value of your travels goes beyond monetary expenses. It lies in the meaningful connections you make, the experiences you have, and the personal growth you undergo.

However, it’s important to note that while it is possible to travel without money, there will still be some costs involved, such as visas, travel insurance, or personal expenses. Nevertheless, by implementing the advice shared in this guide, you can significantly minimize these costs and make your travel budget stretch further.

So, if you’re ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime without the burden of financial constraints, put these expert tips into action. Plan your trip strategically, explore accommodation and transportation options creatively, embrace volunteer and work exchange opportunities, and take advantage of rewards programs. By doing so, you’ll be well on your way to traveling for free, making incredible memories, and expanding your horizons.

Remember, travel is not reserved for the privileged few; it can be accessible to all with careful planning and a sense of adventure. So, go ahead, pack your bags, and embark on a cost-free journey that will not only enrich your life but also inspire others to pursue their own travel dreams.

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Purses & Planes

How to Travel the World on a Budget (or free) in 2024

To travel on a budget or even for free in 2024 seems like an impossible task, doesn’t it?

However, it can be done! And frankly, it’s my favorite way to travel.

I remember when I first began traveling and I would google things like this. My Google searches would come up with articles on how to be an Au Pair, Teaching Abroad , or even Working on a Yacht .

Or sometimes more unachievable occupations, like becoming a travel influencer. Easier said than done!

While all of these options are true – you get to work and travel the world for free, many of them require thousands of dollars in schooling start-up costs or training. Additionally, I didn’t want to invest all this time and money just for the opportunity to travel.

I needed a quick and easy way to travel for months at a time for very, very cheaply.

Honestly, I debated on writing this because I feel like what I’m about to share with you is somewhat of a top secret you learn from backpacking.

Even after I did extensive research before I left for my first backpacking trip, I never came across these resources on the internet.

I only began to learn how to travel for free, after I had already been traveling for quite some time.

Let’s Talk Money

Depending on your location and the duration you are looking to travel, you will likely need some money.

Even if you don’t technically need much, it’s always important to have money stashed away for travel emergencies.

I can’t tell you how much money you need to get by. That just really depends on who you are, where you are going, and what kind of experiences you are looking to have.

How to Travel the World on a Budget or Even for Free in 2024

This guide is essentially broken down into 2 sections, flying and lodging – which are largely the most expensive parts of traveling.

My top two favorite resources for traveling on a tight budget are Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) and Worldpackers.

These two resources are fantastic options if you want to travel, but don’t want to spend a lot of money. I can guarantee if you implement one or both of these resources into your travels, you will save thousands of dollars.

What is Going ?

Going is the top industry standard cheap flight subscription service.

Let me tell you, I am not a fan of subscription services generally. I pay for my Spotify premium and Going and that’s about it. So, I understand if you may be hesitant. Luckily, when you sign up for a Going premium subscription, you get a 14-day free trial and are welcome to back out if you feel like it’s not for you.

How Going Works

There are few different subscriptions to sign up for on Going, the free version (limited), premium, and Elite. When I upgraded from the free version to Premium, is when I really stated to score insanely cheap flights.

With whatever subscription you choose, you will customize your chosen airports that are closest to where you live. These can include domestic or international airports.

After you sign up, you will receive highly discounted flights sent straight to your email. I have been part of Going for almost 10 years now, and have never paid more than $400 for a round-trip flight to Europe.

Booking the cheap flights

When you get your flight notification, it will look a little something like this –

In the flight notification email, there will be detailed instructions on how to book your flight.

The only tricky thing about these flight deals is they are often very temporary – only lasting for a couple of days, and in some rare cases – only a few hours.

This means you must be ready financially and physically to book your flight FAST. The great part is, the flights are often months or even a year down the road. So it’s not like you have to jump on your flight to Spain tomorrow, you have plenty of time to prepare for your dream vacation.

Why are the flight deals so temporary?

Going’s system is designed to catch errors in the airline systems, immediately. This is something called an error or “ mistake fares ” meaning there is either a system or human error mixed up with the costs of the flights.

The airlines fix these errors after a day or two, which is why you must act quickly.

How to sign up for Going.

You can start your free trial by clicking below.

Workaway is one of my most favorite ways to explore the world. I’ve watched fireworks in front of the Budapest Parliament building, climbed the world’s largest wooden staircase, and I’ve hiked the mountains of Norway – all while traveling through Workaway.

Workaway is an online platform that allows members to arrange homestays and cultural exchanges. It does cost a small fee to be a member, but it’s completely worth it, especially if you are backpacking.

Essentially, you work somewhere abroad for a few hours a day in exchange for free accommodation. In some cases, food is included as well.

The Pros of Workaway

As I said, Workaway is my favorite way to travel. The experiences you have are simply more enriching when you are living with locals abroad. Also, you bond with other Workawayers who come from all over the world.

Pros: Immersive cultural experiences, free accommodation, free food (sometimes), opportunity to build lifelong friendships.

The Cons of Workaway

Like anything, there can and will be some obvious cons to participating in a Workaway program.

I think you can avoid a lot of these cons by reading reviews and choosing your location carefully.

My two Workaway experiences were both very different. One was on a remote island in Norway and one was in the city center of Budapest. My experience in Norway was like a dream – I lived in a beautiful hotel on a fjord with lots of other Workawayers. While the stunning location of this Workaway was one of my favorite parts, it was very isolating.

Think about what kind of person and traveler you are, and what kind of experience you are seeking.

Another tricky thing about Workaway is, it really only works if you are traveling for an extensive period of time. Not always, but most of the time Workaway hosts are looking for a minimum 2 week – 1 month stay but would ideally keep you for even longer if your schedule allows.

Cons: Working while on holiday, locked in one place for a long period of time.

Overall, Workaway is totally worth it in my opinion.

Couchsurfing

If you are well versed in the travel world, you probably have heard of couchsurfing.

Couchsurfing is a website and app that allows travelers all over the world to crash at someone’s house for free. It works similar to services like Airbnb and Workaway – where travelers and hosts have a review system to keep everyone accountable and safe.

I personally have never used Couchsurfing, but I’ve met lots of travelers who are big fans. Couchsurfing is ideal for backpackers who don’t particularly like planning in advance and are just traveling around on a whim.

Pros: Free accommodation with no strings attached, short-term stays, meeting locals.

Cons: Short-term stays, last-minute arrangements.

How to Travel on a Budget (or free) in 2021 – Ebook Guide

If you’ve made it this far, congrats! I know this is a super in-depth guide, but I wanted to give travelers a detailed look on how to actually travel for free that wasn’t a bullcrap answer like “start a blog” or “be an influencer!”

If you’d like a visual list and even more detailed guide, subscribe below to get my free Ebook set straight to your inbox.

And that’s all I have for you! I hope you found at least one of these resources or tips helpful to kickstart your budget friendly traveling adventure. Please comment below if you have any questions.

Also, if you have used any of these resources before, I’d love to know in the comments how they worked out for you.

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10 Comments

Some of these I hadn’t heard of like Workaway. What a great concept. I’ve heard of a few cheap flight places but not Scott’s Cheap Flights so that’s another I’ll have to renege to look at in the future. Great tips

Thanks Emma!

This was very interesting. I was introduced for the first time to SCF. Great time. And it was good to hear you experience with Workaway. I wonder if what kind of work you do and is it mainly for young people or have you seen retirees do it?

Hi Karen, In my experience with Workaway, there were people ranging 16-30s. However, I’ve seen many listings that actually prefer older people and I know for a fact people of all ages do it! There’s really no norm, I think anyone can do it and have a great experience 🙂

So many great tips here for people travelling on a budget! I try to save as much as possible when I’m travelling so this will really come in handy for me.

I can so use this! Hopefully we will be able to travel soon and I may never stop!

I absolutely love this guide! I have done workaway once before and loved it! I want to use it so much more once the world opens up again 🙂

I’m so glad you had a chance to have a workaway experience! I also hope to plan to do it as well once it’s safer to travel!

These are some great tips! I’ve heard mixed reviews of Workaway but it does sound like a great way to travel on a budget! Thanks for these tips!

These are some great budget tips! I love finding cheap flights. It’s always a fun challenge to see what kind of ridiculous deals I can find.

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Budget Travel Guides , Free Travel

How to travel for free: a woman’s guide to traveling the world for free.

First of all, I want to debunk the myth that travel is expensive.  Travel can cost a lot of money, but it doesn’t HAVE to.  There are lots of ways to save money while travelling, and even plenty of ways to travel without spending any money at all!   So, for those of you like me, who love to travel without the hefty price tag, there are some fabulous ways to travel for free, or at a very low cost.  Check out my epic guide to travelling for free, and you’ll learn how to travel for cheap and how to travel for longer!

This website contains sponsored and affiliate links. If you click through the links on this page and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. [Learn more]

Travelling For Free Safely

Before we get into it how to travel for free, I want to talk about travelling safely while still being on a budget.

As a solo female traveller, safety is one of my main concerns.  In this list of tips for travelling for free, I have deliberately left out some suggestions that I have seen some male backpackers recommend, such as sleeping on a park bench or in a phone box because I would not personally do that, or recommend anyone to do that, least of all a woman travelling on her own.

However, I have done my best to include tips for those of you who want to try hitchhiking and Couchsurfing for example.  Your safety should be your priority, but with these budget travel tips and recommendations, I believe that it is possible to travel safely on a budget without resorting to “begpacking”, stealing or any other inappropriate ways to get money!

Now that is out of the way, let’s talk about how to travel with no money, including free travel opportunities for everyone from students to seniors and everyone in between!

Free Accommodation While Travelling

Sleep while you travel.

For cash-strapped travellers, spending the night actually travelling saves a night on accommodation, although you will probably have to sacrifice several hours of sleep.  Red-eye flights and overnight buses and trains are a great idea in theory, as you wake up in your destination and are ready to go.

However, check the arrival times into your destination, as some overnight flights arrive early in the morning so you would have to get a taxi from the airport instead of public transport, which makes that part of the trip more expensive. 

Wild Camping

Depending on where you are in the world, wild camping in a tent or campervan (or car) could be an option to save you lots of cash.  I wild camped for a few nights in my campervan , although I usually prefer the comfort and security of a campsite.

Check the rules of your destination regarding wild camping.  It isn’t usually permitted in England, although it is in some places in Scotland for example.  General guidelines include arriving late and leaving early, camping away from people’s homes so you are not disturbing them, and of course to leave your campsite in the same (or better) condition than you found it, taking all litter home with you.

For campervans and motorhomes, you can often park up for the night in a pub carpark as long as you have something to eat or drink in the pub.  Campervan apps such as Park4Night and iOverlander have hundreds of places where you can spend the night in your camper. 

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing can be a great way to get to know local people, by staying in their homes without paying any money.  Couchsurfing used to be completely free, but now you have to pay to have an account, and your stays are free of charge. 

The whole idea of Couchsurfing is that locals let you crash on their sofa, or in some cases in a spare room, in exchange for chatting, cooking a couple of meals, and essentially having a cultural exchange . 

I love this idea, although I admit have used it sparingly – mainly due to concerns over safety about staying the night in a stranger’s home.  There are frequent complaints that some male hosts use the app as a hook-up. so many female couch-surfers prefer to only stay with female hosts.

Before you stay, check reviews of the person first, exchange a few messages and see if you get along before agreeing to stay.  And be prepared to do your bit, don’t treat your host’s home as a hotel, it might be free but don’t take liberties.

Servas is an international organization created shortly after the 2 nd World War with a view to creating peace and understanding between different cultures.

There is a small membership fee, and in order to join ideally you should apply before you travel, as you will have an interview before being allowed to join, and the process usually takes three to four weeks.  It is a reciprocal arrangement, so you will be expected to host visitors in your home in order to be hosted elsewhere.

Once joined, you will be sent a list of potential host members in the country you plan to visit, at which point you can contact them to arrange a stay, a maximum of two nights per stay.  The site seems more formal than Couchsurfing, but I have heard some excellent recommendations of the site, and the interview process should keep out the creeps!

Volunteering & Cultural or Work Exchanges

Work exchanges.

Work exchange programmes provide a way for backpackers and budget travellers to share their time and skills while saving money. 

Work exchange sites like Workaway , Worldpackers and various others offer a platform for local people, businesses and organisations to advertise for help they need.  Potential volunteers sign up to the websites to search for suitable hosts and volunteer placements in countries all over the world.

The type of work placement available varies from working in hostels to teaching, cooking, cleaning, helping with eco-projects and everything in between.

In exchange for working part-time for their hosts, volunteers get free accommodation in dorms, private rooms or tents, and usually some meals too.  Volunteers may also get other benefits like free tours or language lessons, as well as a cultural exchange by spending time helping local people with their projects. 

You will usually need to commit at least a couple of weeks to each volunteer work placement, so if you are backpacking long-term this is a great option for you to save some cash and stretch your budget.

Save 20% on Worldpackers Membership

Save $10 on a year's membership with Worldpackers with the discount code TALESOFABACKPACKER   (that's 20% off a Solo Membership).

PLUS register with Worldpackers before 30 April 2024 and be in with a chance of winning one of 3 flights worth $500!

CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT

I also have a lot of articles all about work exchanges to help you choose the best option for you, check them out for more information, or browse all of my work exchange articles .

Work Exchange Programs: Are They For You?

6 of the Best Work Exchange Sites Compared

Which is Better – Worldpackers or Workaway?

How to Travel for Free by Volunteering Abroad with Worldpackers

Free Accommodation in Exchange for Work as a Hostel Volunteer

Volunteering on a Farm

WWOOF or Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms does what it says on the tin – working in a similar way to the work exchange websites but solely for placements on organic farms.  Each country has its own WWOOF network, and you have to pay for registration for each country’s network which tends to be $20 – $30. 

The farms offer excellent opportunities to experience rural areas of your chosen countries, but by their nature tend to be more isolated from city centres and offer more basic accommodations than you expect to find in hostels or destinations where tourists are. 

I love this idea as it makes me think of the film “The Holiday”, but of course you do need your own home to exchange.  Swapping homes with someone on the other side of the world could be a great way to experience another culture while they do the same in your home, without having to pay for accommodation.

There are various websites that act as an intermediary to help you find a suitable swap, try Home Exchange to get a feel for what is available (there is a membership fee to actually do an exchange, but you can browse for free)

Housesitting or Petsitting

Everyone’s dream: staying at someone’s luxury villa for a week’s holiday with all perks included!  House-sitting is a wonderful way to get free accommodation, although it is generally for more mature travellers – would you want to let a party backpacker into your home unguarded?  It seems to be a harder network to crack into, simply for this reason.

Often people will have pets to look after, and their primary concern is having someone responsible and caring to look after their beloved animals, and of course their home.  Once you have a couple of references under your belt the game gets easier, although it is always best to have a skype call with your potential homeowners to check you will be a right fit, and vice versa. 

One of the largest house-sitting sites is TrustedHousesitters the fees are just under $10 per month for a year’s membership.  They have a large number of sits in Europe, Australia and North America, and are growing steadily in other countries.  I have just started using TrustedHousesitters and am working on a review for you!

How to Get Free Transport While Travelling

Hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking is not my favourite activity, especially as a female solo traveller, but some people swear by it.  I have tried it a few times when I’ve been with a friend, and I must admit that there is nothing quite as liberating as flagging down a pick-up truck and leaping in the back to get to the next town. 

Once I had a lift from a family in their truck, and on another occasion, my friend and I got a lift from a guy who we got on well with and offered to take us out for a drink later – although I’m pretty sure he was already drunk when he was driving which is another risk to bear in mind!

I don’t recommend doing it alone, or at night, or doing anything that may put you at unnecessary risk.  I am a budget traveller, yes, but sometimes it is worth spending the money on a bus or taxi fare. 

If you do want to try hitchhiking, do some research on the destination to make sure that hitchhiking is common, and find out where is a good place to do it.  Make a note of the number plate of the vehicle and text it to a friend – and let the driver know you have done it.    

Get Paid to Drive

What’s better than travelling for free?  Getting paid to travel, that’s what!  In the USA, you can apply to become a driver for Auto Driveaway which hires people to drive their clients’ vehicles from one place to another.  Usually, the trips are one way, so you’ll need to find your own way back – unless there is a request to take a vehicle back the same way! 

It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t expect to take lots of time on a leisurely road trip – in most cases, you will be given a deadline so may not have time to see the sights along the way. 

Toronto Driveaway run a similar service in Canada, and there may be an equivalent in Europe, but I haven’t come across it yet.

Offer Someone a Lift on Bla Bla Car

If you’re driving your own vehicle and want some help with the petrol costs, put your trip on Bla Bla Car .  You advertise your trip, how many spare seats you have, and how much you want to charge for the trip, and people travelling part or all of the same journey can book a seat in your car. 

The money is all paid via the website and you can check reviews of passengers (and drivers) before accepting them.  You get all or part of your petrol paid for, and you can meet new and interesting people.  Bla Bla Car is a great way to save money while travelling, especially with the price of petrol these days!

Self-Powered Travel

Having your own transport means you don’t need to pay someone else to take you anywhere.  Having my own campervan has given me a lot more freedom than I ever had when I relied on public transport, and I love being able to go anywhere I want, whenever I want!

If you are driving, you’ll need to pay for petrol of course, but walking or cycling are free and better for the environment too!  I love to walk around a destination to explore, but for hiking and walking trips you save a lot of money just using your own two feet.

For longer journeys, bikes offer even more freedom.  I met several people who were travelling around South America on bicycles, which is a challenge but a great way to explore on a budget.  You’ll need to plan carefully to take into account breakdowns and be able to carry everything you need on your bike, but bikepacking can be an incredible adventure if you’re fit and don’t mind a sore bum!

Free Stuff in a Destination

Free activities.

Once you have arrived in your destination, you can enjoy many activities and experiences without spending a penny.  I love walking around the streets, visiting local markets and watching the local people just go about their daily business. 

Free walking tours are a great way to get your bearings in a new city, whilst learning about the culture and getting tips for other places to see or restaurants to dine at.  Although the tours are ‘free’, remember to tip your guide for their time.

There are always parks to enjoy for free, landmarks to admire, and more often than not there are free museums to visit too.  In addition to things that are always free, check out the local newspapers and Facebook pages for free events, music performances and festivals. 

Many destinations also have certain days of the year when museums are free to visit, perhaps on bank holidays, Sundays or other special dates. 

Check out some of these blog posts for inspiration and ideas for free things to do in cities around the world:

Free Things to do in Las Vegas

Free Things to do in New York City

Free Things to do in Vancouver

Free Things to do in Toronto

Free Things to do in Venice

Free Things to do in Edinburgh

Free Things to do in Barcelona

Free Things to do in Budapest

Get Free Wi-Fi

Phone roaming costs can be extortionate, so to avoid the hefty fees try to rely on free wifi whenever you can.  I turn off data roaming and search for free wifi in hostels, accommodation, even in Starbucks or McDonalds if needs be.  Even if the wifi isn’t strong enough for a WhatsApp call, you should be able to send messages for free.

The WiFi Magic app is a useful (if cheeky) way to access as much free wifi as possible during your trip.    Users upload the access passwords for wifi networks in shops, hotels, cafes and other places where you are usually required to be a customer.  I usually prefer to find open wifi signals wherever I can, but in emergencies this app could come in very handy.

Before leaving home, make sure you have an offline (or paper) copy of everything you need for your journey – flight/transport details, the address of your accommodation and directions for how to get there. 

Maps.me is another very useful app which allows you access to maps of your destination while you’re offline, so download the app before you go and download any maps you might need. 

I love foraging for free food, but I mainly stick to blackberries which grow in abundance during late summer in the UK.  I don’t know enough about picking mushrooms or wild herbs to go all out with free food but buying a foraging book for your destination could be useful.  The food available will vary depending on the season but being able to pick your own free food is such a good feeling! 

The Falling Fruit website has some spots where you can pick your own food from public land, as well as places where you can go ‘dumpster diving’ for food which is thrown away by supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. 

I haven’t done this myself, but if you have then please let me know how you get on!  As a middle ground in supermarkets, I always trawl the reduced section to find discounted food to eat that day, which can still save a bunch of cash, although sometimes the discount is negligible so compare the original price with the discount offer.

I’ve also enjoyed plenty of free meals while doing work exchanges , as at least some meals are usually included in placements, and may also be offered for other volunteering or work abroad programs. 

In smaller, rural communities you may also find that people leave out food like fruit or vegetables that they have harvested from their garden and can’t eat themselves.  In those cases, make sure to follow the instructions and leave some money in the honesty box if requested.

Use Your Friends and Family

Heritage travel.

If you are travelling to learn more about your heritage and family history then you may be able to do it for free.    

These programs are usually geared towards young people who stay with host families and have an educational trip to better understand their cultural identity.  In some cases, a portion of the airfare may be covered too.

The programs I’m aware of are: Birthright Israel , Heritage Greece , ReConnect Hungary , Birthright Macedonia , Birthright Armenia and CubaOne , although there may well be more. 

Stay with Friends or Family

One huge benefit of travelling is meeting people from around the world.  If you keep in touch with friends from previous trips, they may well offer you a place to stay or at least show you around some of their favourite haunts. 

Don’t forget to check with relatives for contacts in the area too, a lot of people will be happy to welcome you into their homes – but don’t outstay your welcome! 

Birthday, Christmas, and Wedding Gifts

If travel really is a priority for you, then for Christmas, birthdays, and other celebrations you can ask for money towards your next trip, gear to take with you, or for activities to do while you’re there. 

The best-known ‘free’ holiday is a honeymoon of course, that’s a huge perk of inviting everyone you know to the wedding – a better chance of having a dream trip all paid for!

Want More Travel Gift Ideas?

• The Best Travel Gifts for Travellers
• The Best Backpacking Gifts to Buy This Year
• Awesome Hiking Gifts for the Hiker in Your Life
• 16 Gorgeous Personalised Travel Gifts
• World Map Gifts for Map Lovers
• Campervan Gifts for Motorhome Owners
• Gift Experiences to Give Travel Lovers
• Beach-Themed Gifts for Beach Lovers
• Small Travel Gifts & Stocking Stuffers

Work to Travel

Grabr delivery of stuff.

How would you like to earn money every time you travel, just by delivering something?  And no, it’s not drugs, and yes, it is legal!  In countries all around the world, people want to buy things that aren’t available in their country.  Grabr allows people to request orders from people who are travelling who purchase the item for them and deliver it to them, without having to pay expensive postage and import costs. 

Upload your travel plans to Grabr to see requested orders on your route.  Choose the order(s) you want to deliver and arrange the details with the shoppers.  The shopper pays Grabr, who hold the payment.  You buy the item with your own money and deliver it in person to the shopper, then Grabr will release the funds to you.

It all sounds pretty straight forward, although I haven’t tried it myself, I know people who have.  Next time I set off on a trip I’m definitely going to check it out!

Language Exchanges

I only recently heard about this but am interested to give it a try.  Companies such as Pueblo Ingles and Angloville run language exchange holidays where volunteers get a free stay at one of their holiday centres in Europe.  You pay for your flights to the country, and any accommodation before the program officially begins, then everything is covered by the company.

The catch?  Speaking with the language exchange students for up to 12 hours a day.  You don’t need any teaching qualifications; you simply have to chat.  This type of program is not suitable if you want some relaxing alone time, but if you are a chatty person who has plenty of stories to share from your travels and day to day life this could be a great fit!

Student Working Holidays

Students and young people are often eligible for different visas to allow them to work and travel more freely than the rest of us, so if that’s you, take advantage of it while you can!  When I was studying at University I (as a British person) worked in the USA one summer using the J1 visa exchange program. 

I joined BUNAC’s Work America program which helped me to find a job and arrange the visa I needed to spend the summer working on a ranch in Wisconsin.  I didn’t earn a huge amount of cash, but it was enough to cover my costs for the trip and I had a great time.  It was my first solo trip and it was one hell of an adventure!

BUNAC has been running since the 1960s and can help you arrange working holidays in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, America, Germany and the UK, as well as arranging volunteer opportunities in various countries too.

Become a Digital Nomad

There are hundreds of jobs that you could do online, and work from anywhere in the world.  Even jobs which were traditionally office-based are becoming more flexible, and you can even become a digital nomad without any experience with some beginner-level online jobs.

Working online will of course require a good internet connection, so travelling while working can be a challenge in some countries.  Many digital nomads prefer to find a base for a month or two (or more), so they have a fixed base with reliable internet before moving on to the next destination.

I work full time on my travel blog which means I can work from anywhere, but you don’t need to start a blog to do that.  Writers, web designers, virtual assistants, English teachers, video editors, digital marketing, social media managers can also do that, and there are hundreds of other freelance and permanent jobs which can be easily done 100% online.

Work Abroad

Working in another country obviously isn’t a way to travel for free, but if travel is part of your job, or if your job is in another country, you can still get to travel! 

Working abroad may require a special visa, depending on where you are from and where you are travelling to, so make sure you check what is required and arrange any visas before you travel.  If you want to work with kids, you will also require additional background checks.

You can apply for a permanent job abroad, although some countries often have rules in place which give preference to people from that country, so do some research before applying.  Temporary or seasonal work may be easier to get.

A lot of temporary work abroad is in the tourism industry and can be great fun.  It is still a job though, so you will be expected to start on time, complete all the required tasks and be somewhat professional.  However, after hours, workers have chance to let their hair down and have a great time!

In days off you can explore the area and get to know the local people and culture much better than you would in a ‘normal’ trip.  Some jobs will provide accommodation, whereas others may require you to rent your own room nearby, so check on the costs for that before you accept the job. 

Some jobs are seasonal, others might be full time over the year.  You may choose to work a summer job in one place, then head to the mountains for a ski season over winter. 

There are lots of options for this type of job, you just need enthusiasm and some inspiration!

Here are some ideas for jobs you can get abroad to allow you to travel.

Teach English Abroad

Teaching English abroad is a great way to see the world.  For most teaching positions you will need a TELF (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification, which will give you the training and skills needed to get started.

Organisations like TEFL Org have online and in-person courses and access to job boards and other resources to help you find a job once you are qualified.  As well as placements in specific destinations, you can also teach English online from anywhere in the world.

If you enjoy working with children, getting a job as an au pair could be a great option for you.  Au pairs usually live with a family and look after the children, perhaps taking them to school, doing some housework and cooking some meals for them.  Au pairs are typically younger people from 18-26 years old as they are often eligible for student or exchange visas.

Applying for au pair jobs through an agency is probably best, as they offer more safety and security for you and the families looking for an au pair.  Check out the British Au Pair Agencies Association         in the UK or the Department of State Au Pair program in the US as a good place to start.

Work as a Tour Guide

Travel companies who run tours around the world need tour guides.  Some prefer to have guides who are locally based, so you could guide in your local area or your own country, while others have opportunities to guide tours abroad too.  Overland tour companies such as Intrepid Travel , G Adventures and Oasis Overland are a good place to start.     

Crew a Yacht

Not recommended if you suffer from sea-sickness, but if you are fond of water then working on a yacht can bag you a free adventure on the open sea.

Bar work means long hours and can be very busy and noisy.  But if you’re prepared to work hard and play hard this could be a great choice for you, especially if you can earn extra cash in tips.  

Work on a Campsite

There are various jobs on campsites that you could do – receptionist, cleaner, entertainer or kids club worker among others.  I worked on a campsite in France for the summer after I finished University and had a great time!

Work in a Hotel or Hostel

I’ve done this in several different countries, and I love it.  There are various roles you can apply for from wait staff to receptionist and more.  Speaking other languages is useful for customer-facing roles.  Learn more about working in a hostel by reading about my experience as a hostel volunteer here .

Theme Park Attendant

Theme parks, water parks and funfairs all take on extra staff for busy holiday periods.  Be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors!

If you prefer the cold, then head to the mountains to work a ski season.  You don’t even need to ski as you can also find jobs as cleaning staff, a chalet cook or working in bars and restaurants too.

Diving Instructor

If you are a diver or are thinking about getting your PADI certificate, build on your training to become a divemaster or instructor so you can get a job in one of the hundreds of diving schools around the world.  Take a look at the PADI website for more information and inspiration to see what you could do.

Travel Hacking

If you’re a savvy shopper and always looking out for the best deals and travel hacks, then these are for you.  You’ll need to spend some money in order to get rewards in return, but it can be worth it if you find the right deal!  Travel hacking is not my forte, but here are some ideas to get you started!

Travel Credit Cards 

Generally, credit cards in the USA have much better points programs than in the UK, but it is worth doing some research.  If you can earn points by spending your day-to-day expenses on a credit card, then it really is a no-brainer, as long as you only spend what you can afford to pay.

Popular options for credit cards with great rewards include Chase Sapphire and other Chase cards in the USA, but I am not a financial advisor and am not responsible for your personal finance so be sure to do your own research before signing up for any credit card.  Remember,  don’t spend money on it if it would mean you end up in debt at the end of the month!  

Airline Rewards

If you are a frequent flyer, for example, due to your work, then airline rewards points can provide you with free flights!  You usually need to take a lot of flights to finally earn enough for a free flight, but if you can earn airline points on your credit card as well then you could end up earning enough much sooner!

Other rewards cards offer benefits such as airport lounge access which can bag you free food and drink at the airport or an upgrade.

Loyalty Programs

Similar to credit card rewards, some loyalty programs award free night stays and other benefits.

As I use Booking for all of my hotel stays I am a Genius member and also get access to special offers for up to 30% discount on rooms and other perks like free breakfast or room upgrades for some bookings, so if you travel regularly that comes in handy! >>>READ MORE ABOUT GENIUS DISCOUNTS

FIND CHEAP HOTELS  

Hotels.com offer the 10 th night free whereas large hotel chains have their own rewards cards which work in a similar way to airline points.  Even car rental companies have their own rewards programs! 

In theory, you may as well sign up for as many loyalty programs as possible but check the rules and benefits of your favourite brand’s program.  Remember that some credit cards may offer points on hotels, flights and car hire which could work out better than signing up for the individual programs as you can earn points quicker.

Cashback Websites

This isn’t exactly a way to travel for free, but it will give you free money to use towards your next trip, so why not?  Cashback websites such as QuidCo (UK) and Rakuten (USA) give you money back on purchases made via their website, which seems like a no-brainer to me. 

Search for cashback websites in your region to find a local equivalent. However, make sure you can’t find what you’re buying cheaper anywhere else before you purchase. 

Volunteer for Bumping

Flight companies assume that a certain percentage of people booked on a flight won’t show up, so they often sell more seats than they actually have available.  This means that popular routes are often over-booked, and when the people all show up and want to fly, the airlines ask for volunteers to be bumped to another flight.

If you are in a rush to get somewhere then this isn’t for you, but if you have time on your hands and a flexible itinerary, volunteers are usually offered vouchers as a thank you for giving up your seat, in addition to putting you on the next available flight.  Use your vouchers to buy a free flight next time, but accept that there is no guarantee.

A good time to try this is over peak times such as Christmas and other holiday periods.  At the gate, hang out close to the boarding gate desk so that you’re at the front of the queue when they ask for volunteers. 

Final Thoughts on How to Travel The World for Free

I truly believe that everyone should be able to travel if they want to, so I hope that these free travel tips will help you to follow your dreams and all you to travel abroad for free, or even explore your own country if you prefer.  I’ve got lots more articles on budget travel and how to travel cheap so browse the site or comment below if you need more help or advice about travelling for free!

You might also want to check out:

How to Save Money for Travel

How to Make Money While Travelling

Like this post?  Pin it to read later:

Hi! I'm Claire Sturzaker, a 30-something foodie traveller who loves to enjoy the best of a destination without breaking the bank. I'm here to help you and all women backpackers to plan their best budget travel adventure. I am an avid supporter of female solo travel, and took my first solo trip 20 years ago! I love to write about travel, hostels, backpacking and van life.

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Ask Me Anything: 12 Ways to Travel the World for Free

Home » Ask Me Anything » Ask Me Anything: 12 Ways to Travel the World for Free

I like to share common questions I get not only because it helps you but it saves me time in responding to emails and messages throughout the day. I do this in my “ask me anything” series. Click over to see more questions I’ve answered. I get this question a LOT about how to travel the world for free:

“I don’t have much money, I just break even paying my bills but I want to travel! How did you save? How can I start traveling, just get up and go with NO money?”

Ermm… it’s not that easy! But with some planning there are a few steps you can take to get on the path to traveling and help you see how to travel with no money. First up, remember to check out the articles I’ve already written on budget:

•   9 ways to save money for travel
• 13 ways to spend less money while you travel
• 14 ways to EARN money abroad

How to Travel with No Money / Ways to Travel the World For Free

1. couchsurfing.

Make your Couchsurfing profile as soon as you start thinking about how to travel the world with no money. It’s a website that helps connect travelers and hosts. You stay for free and the host will show you around their town most likely. Start hosting people who come through your town.

Even if you are in a small town, people might come through. Make a full post & follow these 9 safety tips for couchsurfing . You can go to “Couchsurfing meetups” to make friends in the community to give you references. Once you build your profile, reach out to hosts and set up free accommodation in the places you want to go. You truly can stay for free every night of your trip abroad. Always remember to give back to the community as much as you take; this platform will only enrich your experiences with locals and see a place the best way possible!

Sign up and create you profile so that you seem like a safe candidate to hosts. You can use this to sign up – it’s free.

2. Research what’s free in the places you are going

Usually cities offer free walking tours which are a great way to see the city. Literally google “what can I do free in  insert city name” and see what pops up. Whether its museums, hikes, public pools, or cool parks, there are an abundance of activities to do for free.

3. Start trying to save at least a little / Earn money online

You have to get a plane ticket. No one is going to give you that for free! You need to save money. It’s not possible to be dead broke and start a round-the-world trip (even if blogs makes it seem that way). Here are some tips to start saving money that actually work and tips on how to stay on your budget .

You could get a free flight potentially with travel hacking , but you have to spend money to earn points so this may not be an option for you if you’re broke. But if you’re using your card to pay bills online, why not earn points on that toward a flight or upgrade?

Earn money online: You can find odd jobs on Fiverr  even if you don’t have graphic design skills, for example holding a sign about a company up in a pretty place and taking a photo: $5 in your bank account. Crazy. I totally recommend signing up! As a blogger, I hire people on here all the time.

For more on my blogging tips:

• How I Make Money from Travel Blogging
• Best Blogging Tools for Productivity & Earning a Higher Income
• 10 Fail-Proof Ways to Up Your Travel Blogging Game

4. Travel somewhere less expensive

Your money will go further in Kuala Lumpur than in London . You have to pick a budget destination. Think Southeast Asia , India , Nepal , or Eastern Europe . This might be the most important step. A good idea is to use Kiwi’s anywhere or radius tool to “fly to the cheapest place” from your base and see what pops up. Next, you can see which of those places is affordable to travel. Now you’ve got a cheap ticket to a cheap place.

5. Travel to that less expensive place at the least expensive TIME

Traveling off-season has saved me bundles of cash. Everything in Goa is 1/2 off in monsoon ! You’ll find great deals and have fewer tourists around. The best time to go is just before or after a destinations “peak season” or you might get caught in too rainy of weather. Here are 11 ways to save on offseason travel . You can find all the best hotels deals online ahead of time for the monsoon seasons of the world.

**  Get $35 credit toward your first room!!* 

THE BEST DEALS are going to be people’s homes who are on vacation since locals leave in the off season. Check airbnb and get a gorgeous villa cheaper than a hotel. Sign up now on this link and get $35 off your first booking! It doesn’t expire.

6. Stay in rural areas

Sometimes staying away from the cities can save you huge amounts of money. In India for example, you’re going to spend more in Delhi and Mumbai than if you go even 45 min outside the city.

7. Consider hitchhiking or car sharing

I am not saying it’s safe, but I have done it in a number of countries. It saves bucket loads of money. If you feel like it’s too dangerous, that’s fine. It’s just one way that’s helped me. There’s a lot of websites offering car sharing now like Bla Bla Car  or you can join Facebook groups, for example, in Goa, there is a Goa car sharing group and people go to the airport together.

8. Volunteer

Many volunteer programs charge a hefty fee, but there are some that will give you a free place to stay and food if you work for them. You’ll be helping the community, learning more about the locals, and not have to spend much money at all. Sites like Work Away can help you find gigs but it does cost money to sign up. I can best speak to volunteering in Goa , so check that post out for tips.

Another option,  WWOOF stands for worldwide opportunities on organic farms. You can work on farms and in return get free lodging and food. Some people do this as a way to get a working visa into a country and then stay longer after working to explore. WWOOF isn’t the only way, and some jobs like this do pay. I met a girl who made minimum wage in Aus picking tomatoes and working on their farm from the break of dawn.

Just be careful you’re not veering into voluntourism , which can be detrimental to the community!

9. Cook in or eat local

If you’re really broke you won’t be able to dine out all the time, so this is imperative. Buying pasta and cooking it in the hostel will save you cash. Eating street food will also save you bundles. Even choosing take away rather than eating in (you can drink your own drinks and won’t have to pay luxury/sitting taxes many places have to eat in).

10. Camp or sleep in overnight transportation

You can camp if you take your own sleeping bag and tent. I haven’t done this because it’s a lot of work. I do tend to travel on overnight buses and trains instead of during the day because it saves on a nights’ accommodation.

11. Do your own laundry

Instead of paying someone to wash your clothes, wash them yourself! Here’s a guide on how to do laundry while traveling.

12. Housesitting instead of Couchsurfing

You can sign up for sites like Trusted Housesitters  and just babysit people’s houses as you go. You might have to take care of their pets but in return, you could get a great villa in middle of nowhere countryside! Typically you don’t get paid for this. Here are some tips on how to start housesitting .

PS it does cost money to sign up but is worth the investment. I’ve seen some bloggers perfect this and share the incredible mansions they stay in!

**Most importantly, travel slow & safe**

The longer you stay in one place (especially a free one) the more you save on transportation. When you’re on the road, that’ll cost you the most so this might be the most helpful tip of all. When you travel slow , you can also pick up work. Start your travels in your own country, figure out how to earn money online or another way (remember that article I linked above with 14 ways to earn while traveling?) so you can stay on the road longer!

You’ve got to be safe while you travel as well. The most important thing you can do is get travel insurance before your trip so you don’t have crazy bills abroad if you end up sick from the water, fall of your scooter, get an IV for food poisoning, or anything else.If you can’t afford that, you probably should wait for your trip!

Now that you’re doing all this to save up, spend less, and travel for free, you need to take the tips linked above to earn some money. Once you combine them all, you can shift to taking nicer transport and staying in cozy hotels with room service, right? ;)

But really, it’s a slow process. If you are dead broke I can see how it seems unreachable and could be. I don’t know your life, ya know? But when I think back to leaving for Europe the first time, after booking a plane ticket I didn’t have much more than 1,000 bucks and an emergency credit card. It was 6 years ago and I lived on baguettes and lettuce from the supermarket. You have to be able to rough it if you’re broke but if travel is your goal you WILL find a way to make it happen!

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45 Comments

Sleeping on overnight transport is my number one top tip for saving when backpacking. On my first couple of trips I made the mistake of wasting a couple of days on long bus journeys that I could easily have done overnight. Plus you save the money you would have spent on accommodation. I even enjoy most overnight buses – or at least I did in South America – as they’re quite comfy and they show hilarious movies :)

a movie would be nice! some volvo buses in india too, but they are VERY loud bollywood movies and i hate it lol

HI Rachel, nice summary indeed! Although it seems like these things are for free, they are indeed not. You always give back something to do community, just in a different form. House sitting is on my to-do list for next year, and I also want to try workaway.com project. I’ve been following you for some time, thank you for being so inspirational! Now I finally had enough courage to create my own travel blog – http://www.nextstopabroad.com I hope to be as successful as you are one day :)

I’m sure you will overtake me ;) good luck with your blog & thanks for sharing your thoughts

Great tips! We’re planning our long-term travel now and I completely forgot about WOOfing! Thanks for the reminder :)

awesome, have fun

Travel is like the comment that I made the other day about staying healthy; if it is a priority, then you will find a way to make it happen, if it is not, you will find excuses. That being said, there are plenty of ways to save money for a trip in addition to being frugal WHILE traveling. Here are my ways that we save PRIOR to traveling so that we can travel as much as possible! (Some of them are quite extreme, but hey, like I said, it is a priority to us, so we’ll make it happen!) http://www.economicalexcursionists.com/save-for-a-vacation/#.VbdmxPmqqko

sometimes extreme measures must be taken :)!

Great list… and add on season work! Its got me round the world for four years non stop… great because the company give you everything AND you get a wage. Think ski seasons, summer camps, yacht jobs…. I’ve even been a cowgirl in the outback! :)

great advice!! being a cowgirl sounds totally cool

Before kids, I did the Eurorail trip & always took night trains as it was cheaper -India is good for night train travel too. Will have to venture into camping with kids now! Great story & website! Keep adventuring!

that sounds like it’ll be fun!

Great tips Rachel. I’d agree with travelling slower and not trying to rush through every destination in just 24 hours unless you’re only going to visit a little part LOL and of course, go to cheaper destinations like Asia & Eastern Europe. Not only do they cost pennies, but you’ll find the locals more approachable and the experience more worth-while, since “everyone” hasn’t been there already LOL! Also, save a little and don’t try to leave your home country without some savings as you never know what might happen along the way!

great advice. you’re right you have to try and have some savings, i think it’s so important!

Wow Rachel…. It so much excites me that you are staying in Goa… I belong to near province of UP.Currently working in Malaysia. I myself miss my food. and language.. But have seen generally beaches in Thailand and Bali etc. very beautiful. What made you stay there so long?

Also… I would like to know …as night parties in Phuket,Pattaya etc.are so lively, how did you decide to stick in Goa.. Just m curious…:)

My boyfriend works in India, so we chose to live in Goa.

I also always think about sitting more on the one place as transportation really takes significant part of the budget (even at such comparatively cheap countries as India and Vietnam), but I am always getting bored so soon when sitting on the same place for more than several days..

Great tips!! I am just starting to blog and I am slowly saving for a month long trip to Thailand and I was pricing all the flights to travel throughout the country and it was adding up quickly. When I repriced with doing overnights trips on trains instead of flights it was dramatically less. Thank you!!

Awesome, happy to help!

no body has mentioned Africa yet. I traveled as a tour leader for an overland company for 3 years round Eastern and Southern Africa. Getting paid to see and do some amazing things. Overland companies often advertise for staff in Wanderlust magazine or online. You don’t have to drive trucks or buses either you could be a camp master and look after the catering and finances. I now enjoy overland trips round Europe and the UK in my VW caddy van. Vacations are the way to go! Happy trails folks.

That should say vancations not vacations. Sorry

OMG! THis is the best blog I have ever read! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

Great tips! Especially about travelling to places that are historically less expensive. Your money can go a lot further in a place like Indonesia than it can in the United Kingdom, or France.

Yes! I was just in London and couldn’t get over the high prices! ahh

Hi Rachel How’s Goa compared to other places you had stayed as per cost of living.

I have a excellent suggestion one can contact by email the marketing head of state tourism departments and large travel companies usually they offer a all free stay especially to greatly dedicated bloggers with high follow rate like yours…

Omg! Thank you very much for these tips.

I’m only 15 years old, but I’m interested in travel. I can’t wait to grown up and to visit the world. Is one of my deep dreams. I save money since now, because I think people waste money on unnecessary things. So, for travel is worth it.

P.S. I’m sorry if my English is a little bit stupid, but I try to speak better everyday. Thank you again!

That’s awesome you know you want to travel at such a young age- so did I! It’s always smart to start saving young.

I think, it’s great to dream about your future, also it’s a good idea to save some money – it’s allways helpful) You can also “travel by google map” using streets’ sights or use some tips like to-do things to plan your trip. Good luck

I have never heard of couchsurfing, but it sounds really cool. It would be cool to host it too, I think people would love to go hang out in my little town.

You should totally sign up! I loved hosting when I lived in Charlotte.

You’re absolutely amazing Leanna! Truly, I have done the same things as you traveling wise but only in America. It makes me want to go across seas to Ireland and Rome like I’ve always wanted! Thanks for that extra push reading this made me feel like I’m not so alone in the World. Peace be with you Love. :D <3

Some great tips. I’m a travel hacker fan but appreciate it isn’t for everyone. Where in Goa are you?

I stay in North Goa near Anjuna!

Thank you Rachel For tips, tricks, hacks and insights And above everything thanks for showing the possibilities

I want to volunteer abroad so badly! I haven’t done it yet because I need to do a ton of research before I go – I have to fully trust the initiatives of the company and be sure that it’s making a positive impact on the surrounding community! Great tips here though, done quite a few of them myself

Yes that’s the problem it’s really hard to trust these companies because so many are cheating the people who need help.

Very good ideas here! Thanks for the post!

A very informative article to travel the world, save money and make some money to stay on the path we are following, not easy indeed, but possible – Hi this is Adam.

I love this post, always refer to it. Great advice. Everyone should be able to save a small amount to travel initially. There are so many travellers who start in Australia as the working holiday visa is easy to obtain and actually the money is much better than even in the home town. I had 2 friends from France who worked for 3 months and then traveled the whole Australia for another 3 and still had savings from their farm work to open a photography studio in Lyon. Australia has great programs for young travellers. Plus its a beautiful place (Im bias ) ;) Plus Australia is close to Asia and many travellers also do the South East Asia route after seeing Australia as its pretty cheap to get there. I’ve started a new section See Australia where I’ll give visa info and other backpacking advice for young travellers wanting to see Australia. http://www.eatstaylive.com/category/see-australia/

Hi Rachel, Interesting article, although I feel the title is a little misleading. Only 6 things on this list are actually free, the rest are good budget options. I also wanted to comment on ‘free’ walking tours. While this is how they are advertised, most ‘free’ walking tours ask for a tip at the end of the tour. While this tip is optional, it is also the only wages that the tour guide gets paid! So it’s important to encourage people to leave a good tip that represents the value of the tour, or else many of these tours may cease the exist. The only exception is free walking tours organised by the local council/government where the tour guide is a government employee (but these kind of tours are rare). Anyway, love your blog, keep up the great work.

Nice article it inspired me im totally fed up with this daily routine my wish i have to left everything and bag pack up travel the beutiful world like u rachel.

Thanks for suggestions Rachel. It has great info regarding start of travel though with less bucks having in pocket. I ll take these inputs and thanks for being inspirational

Great ideas! I will definitely take a look at Fiverr. Personally I am also a big fan of doing work exchanges with Workaway.

I am also planning to go somewhere, my tricks are inspired from your suggestions like travel with local bus with my friends and stay in normal good hotels which are not so expensive, Thanks for your help.

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Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Cheap Holiday Ideas: 8 Budget Vacation Deals

While many of us dream of traveling the world (or at least taking a few months off from work in pursuit of adventure), it’s not always feasible — even for those with the best of intentions. A lot of things can get in the way.

I frequently talk about long-term travel and round-the-world trips , but I know that realistically, not everyone can take those kinds of trips — or wants to. I don’t think traveling the world as a digital nomad is hard , but I also know that what I do isn’t for everyone.

Some people just want to go on a cheap vacation for a few weeks. Not everyone has the time or interest in taking an extended trip.

And that’s perfectly ok!

So, what do you do when you only have a short amount of time and a limited budget? What are some budget vacation ideas that  aren’t about traveling the world?

Even if you don’t want to backpack Cambodia for three months or walk the Camino de Santiago , there are many ways to get on the road and see the world without breaking the bank!

Here are eight cheap travel ideas if you are cash-strapped and/or time-poor:

Table of Contents

1. Be a Local Tourist

2. travel regionally, 3. go to national (and regional) parks, 4. book a last-minute cruise (or book far in advance), 5. think outside the box, 6. book a last-minute tour, 7. become a house sitter, 8. grab a cheap flight, want more cheap vacation ideas.

We’re all guilty of this. It took me five years to see the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok (even after living there), and I’ve still never been to Bunker Hill in Boston despite spending the first 24 years of my life there.

We always put it off until tomorrow , because when we live in a city, we think there is always a tomorrow.

We get so caught up in our daily lives we forget that we can have a cheap vacation in our own city. We don’t have to go anywhere!

If you’re short on time and money, there’s no better way to spend some free time than to wander your own city. No matter what its size, it has a number of wonders that you’ve never seen or even known about because you just haven’t explored it like you would somewhere far-flung and “exotic.”

Explore your city the way you would explore it if it were half a world away. Be a traveler in your own town and look at it with new eyes. You might just be surprised!

Check and see what unique activities you can do that you wouldn’t do otherwise. To see what fun activities are available near you, check out Get Your Guide .

EatWith can also be found in cities all around the world, offering unique, locally-created culinary experiences. You’ll get to try new food and meet new people — all while staying in your own backyard!

Additionally, check and see if there are any walking or cycling tour companies in your city (or nearby cities). Take Walks runs fun, detailed, and insightful tours in cities all around the world. I always book a tour with them when I want to get beneath the surface of a destination!

Moreover, if you live in a large city, be sure to go to your local tourism office and get a city tourism pass. These cards allow you to see a wide range of local attractions for free or reduced prices and can be your way to see your local sites on a budget. They aren’t just for outsiders!

Important Tip: When you become a local tourist, check out of your house and into a hotel, hostel, or guesthouse. It’s important to get out of your familiar environment because if you stay home, you’ll find something to do around the house and create excuses for why you can’t sightsee.

To find accommodation, Booking.com is the best place to start. It has an easy-to-use interface and generous cancellation policies should you change your mind.

Moving to a different location can help give you that feeling of adventure, excitement, and unfamiliarity.

LEARN MORE :

• Staycations: 5 Ways to Embrace Your Next Holiday at Home
• How to Find Cheap Accommodation in 7 Easy Steps
• My Favorite Hostels Around the World
• How to Find the Perfect Airbnb

But I could say the same thing as my Aussie friends.

I grew up in Boston , and from there, I could road-trip New England and visit New Hampshire, the woods of Maine, the bed-and-breakfasts of the Berkshires, or the farms of Vermont. New York was a four-hour car ride from home.

How often did I do that? Not often enough!

Exploring your own region is an underrated and often overlooked aspect of travel. It gets the occasional lip service in magazines, but driving across the United States made me realize how much our own countries have to offer us and how often we overlook that for some foreign place.

There’s something special about being a stranger in your homeland and realizing you really don’t know as much about it as you thought.

We think because we’re born in a place we understand it but every country has regional differences that make it unique and, unless we travel to see and experience them, we’ll never fully understand the place we call home.

Driving across the US taught me a lot about this . It gave me a deep appreciation for the country, the people, and the diversity within its borders. It broke down stereotypes and misconceptions I had about the different regions in the US.

My time exploring my own backyard was just as important to my growth as any trip to a foreign country.

If you’re on a limited budget, can’t afford a flight or a trip to exotic lands, or just want to do something different, don’t forget that you can always travel around your own country. It can be just as powerful as going abroad.

Budget-friendly bus companies like FlixBus can help you travel your region on the cheap. They have routes around Europe and the US, with tickets starting at just $5 USD!

• The Great American Road Trip: A 4 Month Itinerary
• How to Road Trip Across the USA on a Budget
• A 21-Day Road Trip Itinerary Around the Deep South
• A 7-Day Southern California Road Trip Itinerary

In many countries, particularly in Europe (especially Scandinavia), you can camp on public lands for free. In the United States, you can camp on undeveloped BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands for free, provided the spot you choose is a sufficient distance from established campgrounds and you follow local restrictions.

Additionally, you go camping stocked with all your own supplies and accommodation (i.e., a tent), so you don’t have to worry about spending lots of extra money once you have the gear. Your food bill can be whatever you spend on groceries and nothing more. Just be sure to leave no trace of your stay at your campsite and pack out anything you brought with you.

You don’t need to love camping to spend time in the national parks, either. Personally, I hate camping. I’m not the camp-in-a-tent kind of guy; I need toilets, beds, and hot water. Luckily, many parks provide cabins for rent. While hiking the Grand Canyon, I stayed at a national park lodge at the bottom. I had a room in a dormitory, but for a few nights, it was the cheap accommodation I needed.

And while national parks are impressive, state or provincial parks can be just as spectacular, but with fewer crowds, and easier to access. There’s almost always a park nearby and spending a few days with nature is not only good for your wallet but also good for your mental health.

Looking for a more unique experience? Campspace is a website that lets people camp in someone’s backyard, garden, parked camper, or private land for a small fee. It’s like Airbnb but for unique camping spots.

Want to do a mini road trip around your region? Use RVShare to rent an RV from a local for cheap!

And if you’re looking to rent a car, use Discover Cars to find the best rental car prices.

• Hiking the Grand Canyon
• The Girl’s Guide to Hiking Solo
• How to Plan a Successful RV Trip

But, if you’re the last passenger running onto that ship, you can find some sweet deals.

Cruise lines always offer incredible last-minute deals. No cruise company wants to leave with half the cabins empty. If you wait until a few weeks before departure, you can usually find some really amazing deals as cruise lines scramble to find passengers. Plus, cruise operators always throw in some onboard amenities, free upgrades, and cash vouchers to sweeten the deal.

The website CruiseSheet often has cruises as low as $50 per day! (It’s the best cruise booking website in the world!)

Conversely, if you book over a year in advance, cruise lines also offer amazing low fares for early birds.

Cruises are the one form of travel for which I recommend visiting a travel agent if you’re part of a big group. They have wonderful working relationships with the operators and can score better packages than booking online.

After you book, keep an eye out on prices, because if they drop, you can often call your travel agent or the cruise company itself to get a partial refund or vouchers to use for dining and alcohol on the boat.

The cruise industry was drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cruise lines lost billions of dollars, which means there are some amazing deals out there if you’re looking to plan a cruise.

That said, lots of passengers ended up stuck in quarantine on cruise ships as well. Cruise ships, while fun, can easily turn into floating petri dishes, so make sure if you book a cruise that you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers cruises in case you get sick.

• How to Find a Cheap Cruise
• The Best Cruise Travel Insurance
• The 20 Best Tropical Islands in the World

The list goes on and on. There are countless cheap alternatives and budget destinations around the world!

Travel counter to the prevailing trend.

Zig when everyone zags.

If people are going in the summer, you go in the spring or winter. Skip the popular destinations and head off the beaten path a bit.

Contrarian travel will save you a bundle of money. It’s like reverse commuting. While others heading into the city in the morning for work are stuck in traffic, you breeze the opposite way hassle-free. The same is true for travel.

The more you are a contrarian in where — and when — you go, the better off your wallet will be. Plus, you’ll enjoy destinations more because there will be fewer crowds. No one loves a crowd!

LEARN MORE : 

• 10 Destinations to Visit on a Budget
• Cheap Places to Visit on the US Dollar

Why are tours so cheap last-minute? Well, think about how people plan vacations. You get the time off work, you book your vacation, you buy your flight, and you go. Since people pre-book, prices are higher in advance because these companies understand booking patterns and then price accordingly.

As departure time nears, companies know people aren’t likely to turn up and book on departure day, so they sweeten the price to increase bookings. So take the time off work, wait until the week before, see what’s cheap, and then go.

My favorite company, Intrepid Travel , often offers 15–30% discounts on last-minute tours.

• How to Choose the Perfect Tour Company
• The Best Tour Companies in Europe
• The Best Tour Companies in Costa Rica

A way around that is to stay somewhere for free.

While I like Couchsurfing , it’s hard to do that for two weeks without annoying your host. A unique way to overcome this is to housesit for someone while they are on vacation. You get free accommodation, a kitchen to cook in, and the chance to explore a destination in depth. It’s a pretty unique way to travel and one that I know a lot of world travelers take advantage of. You can even do this in your own region too, to cut down on transportation costs.

The best way to secure housesitting gigs is to build up your portfolio of reviews on a site like Trusted Housesitters by starting small. Find opportunities near you so secure a few reviews before you start competing for housesitting gigs in popular places like NYC or Paris (since those are more competitive). If you’re willing to do housesits in “less popular” destinations you can easily find opportunities.

• How to Become a Housesitter
• How to Start House Sitting

With those sites, you can type in “(the closest airport to you)” for your departure city and “everywhere” for your destination. Then a list of the cheapest flights appears in front of your very eyes, so you can choose where to go within your budget. This is how I decide where to go when I don’t have a specific place in mind. It’s a great tool!

The website Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) is another great way to find rock bottom flight prices. They scour the web daily and send the cheap flights they find directly to your inbox, saving you hundreds of dollars – as well as the time spent to find those deals!

The key to finding the best deals is to be flexible — with either your dates or your destination (but ideally both). The more flexible you are, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to snag a great deal.

• The Ultimate Guide to Finding a Cheap Flight
• Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) Review
• How to Buy A Round-The-World Ticket

Not everyone can jump overseas at the drop of a hat or spend six months backpacking around Europe or Asia . A fancy vacation to Mexico may be out of your reach.

But while you might not have a lot of time or money, there’s more than one way to see the world.

After all, travel is simply the art of going somewhere new and different and exploring everything the place has to offer. It doesn’t matter if you have two days, two weeks, or two months. Use these cheap vacation ideas and go explore on a budget. You might just be surprised what you discover.  

Here are a few more posts that can help you plan an epic trip without breaking the bank:

• Ten Destinations Under $50
• 10 Best Places to Travel on a Budget
• The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You Have No Money
• How to Travel the World on $50 A Day

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Matador Original Series

How to Travel the World for Free (Seriously)

W ORLD TRAVEL is cheap and easy. In fact, with a little practice and effort, you can travel for free.

The idea that travel is expensive and difficult is bullshit peddled by tour companies, hotel chains, and corporate media. The tourism industry wants you to buy cruise packages and stay at all-inclusive resorts. They want you to choose a world travel experience the same way you would choose a new jacket at the mall. They want your credit card number.

The tourism industry doesn’t want me to reveal the simple secrets of free travel, but I’m going to share them with you anyway. It can be scary to travel the world with nothing more than optimism and good-will, but personal freedom begins with a leap of faith.

1. Embrace the simple joy of travel.

Travel frees you from the grind of daily routine. You will explore new places, meet new people, try new foods, and learn things about the world — and yourself — that you never imagined were possible.

The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about world travel — and new experiences are free. Walk the streets of a city. Stop and chat with a local. People watch in a public park. Climb to the top of a hill and watch the sun set over the ocean.

The simple joy of being in a new place is just a matter of…wait for it…going someplace new. No tour package required.

2. Keep your needs to a minimum.

The modern American economy is built on the false premise that people need to buy new goods and services all the time. Again, I call bullshit.

People need fresh air, healthy food, clean water, exercise, creative stimulation, companionship, self-esteem, and a safe place to sleep. All of these things are simple to obtain. Most of them are free.

For fresh air, go outside. For exercise, take a walk. For creative stimulation, go somewhere new. For companionship, make a friend. For self-esteem, turn off your TV, breathe deep, and open your spirit to the basic goodness of the world.

Things like food and shelter are much cheaper once you get outside the United States. See #5 below for ways to obtain food and shelter for free.

3. Go slow.

If you live in New York and want to take a 2-week vacation to Africa, it will be very difficult (though not impossible, see #8) to travel for free. Indeed, as long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time.

Time is not money. Time is free. You have all the time in the world.

Instead of buying a plane ticket, catch a ride out West, or remodel an old sailboat, or just hop on your bike and ride away from town. The slower you travel, the less money you will spend.

4. Leave your possessions and obsessions behind.

When you travel, you don’t need to pay rent. You don’t need a car. You don’t need an oven, a washer-dryer, electricity, cable TV, a gym membership, a sofa and loveseat, or a closet full of clothes.

You don’t need a suit and tie to wear to your job because you don’t need a job. You don’t need to worry about paying the bills, because there are no bills to pay.

You are free.

5. Trust people and you will receive free food and lodging.

Many people are willing to open their homes to travelers. Chip in with a few chores, and they will give you a free meal, too.

CouchSurfing and WWOOF are two phenomenal online networks that help travelers connect with local hosts. CouchSurfing members are willing to give travelers a place to sleep for a night or two. WWOOF connects travelers with organic farmers who want to trade room and board for an extra hand.

Many members of both CouchSurfing and WWOOF are seeking an alternative to high-impact consumer culture.

6. Learn a useful craft or skill.

If you have a skill, such as cooking, animal husbandry, massage, musical ability, or basic carpentry, you can barter for free food and accommodation as you travel the world.

Universally appreciated skills like cooking are best, though niche skills that are in high demand, like website design, are also useful. Native English speakers can often travel for free by teaching language classes in each destination they visit.

The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.

7. Get out of the city.

Although it’s possible to travel for free in a big city, it’s damn difficult. Cities are built on money, and necessities like fresh air, clean water, and a safe place to sleep are difficult to come by in cities.

Go to the country, where people are more relaxed, food is plentiful, and there’s ample room for one traveler to lay out her sleeping bag under the stars.

8. Find a job you love that entails world travel.

If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel. There are millions of jobs available in the global economy that demand world travel.

Of course, some jobs are easier to love than others, and much work that involves travel also involves the destruction of local ecosystems and traditional ways of life. Avoid unethical work if at all possible — it’s bad for your health and worse for your soul.

For job ideas, check out 20+ awesome travel jobs and how to get them .

9. Embrace serendipity.

To travel for free requires a blend of advance planning and the willingness to seize opportunities and go with the flow. Does your new CouchSurfing friend want company for a drive across the country? Grab your pack and ride along! Does an organic farm in Thailand need a farm sitter for the rainy season? Dig in!

As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”

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6 Expert-Approved Ways to Travel on a Budget

P lanning a vacation is much easier than it used to be, thanks in large part to the internet. After all, finding a hotel, flight or dinner reservation is only a quick Google search away. But traveling is still rarely a bargain.

If you dig a little deeper, you can find everything from cheap flights to low-cost lodging alternatives. Here are six ways to travel on a budget without sacrificing the quality of your vacation, according to experts.

Think about your budget while choosing your destination

There are many hurdles travelers face when planning a vacation, but experts say there’s one important detail people need to be more mindful of: their destination.

Rather than deciding where you’ll go first, then looking for flights within your budget, “take that search process and invert it,” suggests Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights , a flight deal website. “By making price the third priority, it’s not terribly surprising that the end result is expensive flights.” If you have some flexibility with timing or the places you’d like to visit, Keyes recommends researching which of your potential destinations is the cheapest during the timeframe you are targeting.

Beyond finding a flight that won’t break the bank, you should also take into account the country’s economic state when planning your trip, says Damon Dominique, co-founder and co-host of Shut Up and Go , a travel blog and YouTube channel for accessible travel. Dominique says you should first determine what the exchange rate will be for your country’s currency. Since the American dollar is often comparable to or stronger than other forms of currency—like the euro or the Israeli shekel, respectively—it’s important to factor the conversion rate into your decision. “Use it to your advantage, while you can,” Dominique says.

The time of year you choose to travel can also affect more than just airfare, according to Jo Franco, co-founder and co-host of Shut Up and Go . If you visit on a weekend or during peak tourism season, the trip will certainly be pricier, she notes—so deliberately visiting during a destination’s off-season can help you save money. And since the most tourist-friendly places are often the most expensive, Franco suggests that visiting a smaller local town “might be better and culturally more enriching than visiting a capital city.”

Know where to look when researching cheap flights

Finding a cheap flight when planning a trip is always half the battle. And for those traveling abroad, there is usually no other option than to fly. “That’s a big part of why airfare is so stressful for travelers,” Keyes says. “Everything else about a trip has a ton more options.”

Keyes says the key to finding a reasonable flight is knowing where to look. “[Booking a flight] is almost like a shooting star that’s going through the sky. If you’re not looking in the right part of the sky at the right time, you’re going to miss it,” he says. Google Flights and Kayak are helpful tools with flexible search parameters, and can send you different price alerts for the destinations you’re interested in.

If you’re looking directly at an airline’s website, you may wind up spending more money than you intended to, according to Keyes. Because an airline’s ultimate goal is, of course, to make money, the sales that airlines widely advertise are usually not the best deals, he notes. “The airlines aren’t necessarily travelers’ allies in that sense—they’re not going to always trumpet from the rooftops when there’s a really good deal popping up,” Keyes says. Instead of booking directly on an airline’s website, Keyes suggests opting for third-party websites like Priceline or Expedia for the best travel deals. These sites will do the legwork for you by scouring the internet to find the cheapest available options.

Know when to jump on a good flight deal

“There’s a lot of pressure to make sure you’re getting the right flight,” Keyes says. And there is no telling how long a flight’s price will last—especially when an airline offers a good deal. Though your instinct may be to wait and make your decision after doing further research, there are some instances when it’s best to take the leap and book that flight immediately, according to Keyes. But as a general rule of thumb, Keyes suggests booking at least one month in advance for domestic flights and two months ahead for international flights (though you should consider planning a couple more months in advance if you’re traveling during a peak period like Christmas).

Comparing flight fare to previous trips on the same route may also help you determine whether it’s a “good” deal, according to Keyes. Still struggling? Here are Keyes’ guidelines for what he considers to be excellent airfare from the U.S., based on his experience traveling to 46 countries and years of running his own flight deal site:

Flights to Africa: $700 or below

Flights to Asia : $550 or below

Flights to Australia: $700 or below

Flights to the Caribbean: $300 or below

Flights to Central America: $300 or below

Flights to Europe: $500 or below

Flights to Hawaii: $400 or below

Flights to South America: $550 or below

And if you jump on a flight deal quickly, you can always take advantage of airlines’ 24-hour cancellation policies. According to the Department of Transportation , all major U.S. airlines must allow a grace period of 24 hours for travelers to make cancellations if needed. That means, if you can’t reach your travel partner quick enough or you find a better deal after the fact, Keyes points out that you could always cancel your flight later that day.

Get the latest career, relationship and wellness advice to enrich your life: sign up for TIME’s Living newsletter.

Stay for cheap—and even for free

The best way to find housing for cheap is by opting for hotel alternatives like Airbnb , Dominique suggests. Safety is a priority when traveling anywhere, but especially when choosing to rent. Airbnb vets their hosts and allows community reviews, as well as awarding premium properties the title of “super host,” so you can make an informed decision about where you choose to stay. The company also offers profile verifications where hosts can show their government-issued ID on their profile. Amy Brueckner, head of client services at CIRE Travel , a travel agency that facilitates corporate and personal trips, recommends only staying at Airbnbs that have lots of reviews, and where you feel comfortable communicating with the host beforehand.

For younger travelers looking for cheaper accommodations—especially in big cities like London, Paris or Rome—staying in a youth hostel is an inexpensive and fun way to travel, particularly because of the opportunities they offer for socializing, according to Dominique. You can find hostels online through sites like Hostels or HostelBookers , or by doing a simple Google search of hostels in your destination city. Pricing of hostels range by city and country, but they can be as cheap as $10 a night. Some hostels offer private rooms, while others have multiple bunks and communal spaces.

And if you’re looking to spend even less on lodging, Dominique and Franco say there are “endless” opportunities to stay for free. One option is through Couchsurfing , a website that connects travelers to locals’ couches (or, in some cases, guest rooms) for free. The company has put various safeguards in place—like identity verification, an on-call safety team and risk detection systems, a representative told TIME over email. Their website also has a safety guide for guests.

Dominique and Franco also suggest options like au pairing in a foreign country, or WWOFF , an international program that allows you to live on a farm (often for free) while assisting in organic farming. Because WWOFF has a small team, the program gives interested volunteers resources for conducting their own background checks and safety precautions for hosts, and a representative told TIME over email that members should use the online comments and rating systems to make decisions on where to volunteer.

Eric Hrubant, the CEO of CIRE Travel, recommends purchasing a travel insurance policy in case something does go wrong while staying at any of these shared spaces.

But if you are looking for a little more luxury and want to stay in a hotel, there are ways to maximize what you are paying for. Value-added amenities are a great way to get the biggest bang for your buck at a hotel, according to Hrubant. Try booking a hotel with perks like free breakfast, cocktail hours or utilities like laundry machines, which will allow you to cut costs elsewhere. And Hrubant says that even if these options aren’t listed online, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

If you’re staying at a smaller hotel as opposed to a chain, you can send an email or give them a call to see what kinds of perks they can include, suggests Brueckner. For honeymoons and other milestones, Hrubant says hotels will be more open to helping you have a better stay. “It’s sort of human nature that you’re going to want to reach out or go a bit overboard for a client,” he says.

You can still eat well on a budget

If eating well is a priority for your trip, there are still tons of ways to save money on meals. “Know what you want out of the vacation,” Brueckner advises. If you want to indulge in fancy dinners, you can offset that by having cheaper breakfasts and lunches. Prioritizing and planning which meals you’ll splurge on will ensure that you stay within your budget, according to Brueckner.

Franco says that staying at a hostel or hotel that includes breakfast is a simple way to save money on food. And for those who want to get a little more creative, she suggests asking locals for their tips and tricks. “The best way to figure out where the cheap eats are is to learn the language, earn the respect of the locals, and ask them where they go,” Franco says. Another easy tactic to find spots off the beaten path is to ask your hotel concierge or the staff at your hostel for suggestions, according to Hrubant.

And if you’re looking to embrace the culture of your destination while also saving money on food, Franco suggests booking an EatWith experience online, where locals give you an authentic dining experience, offering a meal that’s often cheaper than a restaurant frequented by tourists. Some EatWith events are hosted at people’s homes, so each host has to go through an application process to be listed on the site. The company also insures each guest during their event, according to its website.

And for those who are serious about sampling the local cuisine, they can always sign up for a foodie tour online.

Be flexible and make connections

Though it is tempting to plan your itinerary in advance, Franco and Dominique both say that it’s important to be flexible. Franco recommends having a list of five or fewer things that you cannot miss, while leaving the rest of your days open to spontaneity. This way, you can find fun experiences without shelling out the cash for tourist-marketed activities and events.

Connecting with locals will make your trip more memorable and exciting, Hrubant says, because you’ll learn things about the city—and find cheap adventures—that you might not have discovered on your own. “Making those human connections will basically give you a greater experience,” he explains.

And no matter how much or how little money you have to spend, making human connections while traveling has more than just financial perks. “I think it’s key to see that life is happening outside of all our personal bubbles,” Dominique says. “And in observing the cultures and customs of another place, maybe, just maybe we can understand ourselves better.”

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10 ways to travel for free in the U.S.

Get creative and see the world without spending a dime

It might seem too good to be true, but there are many legitimate and easy ways you can travel for free in the U.S. With post-pandemic revenge trips on the rise, the costs of travel has risen—up 11 percent from last year!—outpacing the rate of inflation in the U.S., according to NerdWallet's Travel Inflation Report .

Traveling for free can allow you to take the vacation of your dreams even if the economy, travel prices, and your wallet aren't cooperating. For instance, some destinations offer  gratis airfare as a way to attract visitors. Hong Kong Tourism Board's Hello Hong Kong campaign is giving away 500,000 free flights and its HK Goodies is providing one million free welcome gifts. While Taiwan's Tourism Bureau will give 500,000 international tourists NT$5,000 ($165) once they arrive in the country to use toward accommodation, food, and other travel expenses.

Finances, or a lack thereof, don't have to prevent you from packing up and seeing the world this year. From working on farms in exchange for room and board to getting paid to travel while house sitting and pet sitting to embarking on cultural exchanges and contributing your time and talent to an NGO, here are 10 ways to travel for free.

RECOMMENDED: The best cheap family vacations in the U.S.

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How To Travel For Free In The US:

1.  Combine your work with travel

From travel nurse to flight attendant to travel blogging, there are many careers that can provide a long-term work-life balance that includes continuous travel. Travelnursing.org provides skilled nursing placements in all 50 states. The website connects wannabe travel nurses with up to four recruitment agencies that fill short-term work assignments that last between eight and 26 weeks.

Don't have a nursing degree? Au Pair World and InterExchange are platforms that connect host families and au pairs from around the world.

Travelers can sail the seven seas while working in hospitality, entertainment, retail, spa, photography and more aboard a cruise ship. Job board All Cruise Jobs and individual cruise line career websites list paid jobs in all areas of the cruise industry while CrewSeekers , Yacrew , and Find a Crew list opportunities for amateur and professional yacht and superyacht crews.

2.  Take a working holiday

Have commitment issues? Whether you want to work for a few days, a week, or longer, working holidays offer the chance to work short-term or seasonally in exchange for free room and board and, oftentimes, airfare too. Season Workers lists temporary and seasonal work at ski resorts and summer camps while Yoga Trade facilitates yoga-based exchanges globally by connecting yoga instructors to jobs, and Adventure Work posts adventure and ski resort jobs.

Looking to work with an NGO, contribute to a sustainable project, or experience a cultural exchange? Workaway is a platform for arranging homestays and cultural exchanges. Workawayers work for about five hours per day in exchange for accommodation and food.

Some of the most popular working holidays are teaching English abroad in programs like the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program . Founded in 1987, the government-run JET Program has placed more than 70,000 participants in schools and government offices throughout Japan. Participants' salary begins at $25,500 annually and airfare, visa, insurance, and orientation are provided (housing help is given but participants pay full costs). TEFL and Dave's ESL Cafe are job listings websites specifically for English teaching jobs abroad.

Several countries like Australia , Ireland , New Zealand , and Singapore offer working holiday visas to Americans, which allow young adults the ability to work legally while also having the chance to travel and explore the country.

3.  Become a sitter

While you will have to pay for your travel to and from these destinations, house sitting and pet sitting let you live like a local for free while watering the plants, picking up the mail, and cuddling with furry friends. Online communities, including HouseCarers and MindMyHouse , connect homeowners with housesitters while Animal Aunts and TrustedHousesitters match house sitters and pet sitters who want to care for cats, dogs, horses, birds, fish, and reptiles.

4.  Swap houses or couch surf—or both!

Looking for something more low-key? Live like a local for free with Couchsurfing , an online community of 12 million people in 200,000 cities who have been sharing their couches and love for their locales since 2004, and the newer, nonprofit Couchers . Want a place all to yourself? Consider a house swap, where you trade your place for someone else's. HomeExchange has members in more than 130 countries, HomeLink has been running its worldwide home-swapping network since 1953, and Love Home Swap offers classic or points-based swaps in 100-plus countries.

5.  Offer to move someone's car

Turn miles into money and a free road trip by transporting automobiles of all makes, models, and sizes across the U.S. Driving for a vehicle relocation company like Auto Driveaway or Transfercar is an easy way to help companies move their vehicles cross country. For Auto Driveaway, applicants must be 23 to 75 years old and have a driver's license and a clean driving record. For Transfercar, drivers help rental car companies relocate their cars and RVs and must be 18 years old (21 years old in some states) and have a driver's license that is valid in the U.S. and Canada.

6.  Plan around a work trip

Business travel + leisure = bleisure. If you have a job that requires you to hit the road from time to time, incorporate your next vacation into your work trip. When booking trips for work, try to fly out a day before or after to squeeze in some vacay time. On a tight schedule? Resist the temptation to stay in after a long day of work. Go out to eat, take a stroll, and visit attractions like museums that are open into the evening. Also, book an early morning flight to your destination so you can squeeze in a half day of sightseeing and book an afternoon or evening flight on your last day for last-minute shopping or touring. If you don't already have a job that includes business travel, consider switching to a career in sales, hospitality, and event planning, which often require some travel.

7.  Cash in those points!

There are many ways to convert everyday spending into free travel. Get credit cards like the Delta SkyMiles American Express card, which comes with annual benefits like a free companion ticket, Delta Sky Club access, and fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and the Chase Sapphire card, which provides an annual travel credit, points on Lyft, and generous points for travel and dining purchases. The points earned on these credit cards can be converted to plane tickets and hotel stays. Joining hotel loyalty programs is another way to rack up free nights.

8.  Volunteer with an organization

Lending your time and talent to teach, work on a farm, or do other work in exchange for room and board and, sometimes, airfare is an easy way to see the world. There are several volunteer programs.

For more than 60 years, the Peace Corps has partnered with 60 host countries on hands-on, grassroots-driven projects like education and health campaigns. Founded in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, the government-run AmeriCorps arranges a variety of service projects, ranging from three months to one year across the U.S. AmeriCorps members receive transportation to their assigned campus and projects, accommodations, and a living allowance of $180 to $500 every two weeks.

Looking for shorter volunteer travel? The Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms ( WWOOF ) pairs WWOOFers with organic farm hosts in 130 countries. Active vacationers work on the farm for about 25 hours per week and, in exchange, get room and board in a rural setting, learn about farming and gardening, and engage in a cultural exchange. HelpX is similar to farm stays and ranches plus hostels and sailing boats that seek helpers in exchange for accommodation and food.

HelpStay lists 1,500 volunteer stays in 100 countries while Worldpackers and Go Overseas lists thousands of volunteer opportunities worldwide. Pueblo Inglés offers transportation from Barcelona, Madrid, or Munich, accommodations in a shared room, and meals in exchange for participants to speak English for up to 12 hours per day for one week with locals in Germany and Spain.

9.  Go on a heritage trip

Depending on your heritage, you may be able to take a free or heavily subsidized government or nonprofit-run "birthright" trip. Subsidized programs where participants pay a modest fee include Birthright Armenia , a homestay and volunteerism program from nine weeks to one year that includes accommodation and some travel reimbursement, the 14-day Domovina Birthright Program to Croatia for adults of Croatian descent 18 to 30 years old, Birthright Macedonia , which offers a three-week homestay and internship program, ReConnect Hungary , which offers several birthright and volunteer programs, and Taiwan Study Tour , also known as the "Love Boat" for the many romances that come from it, which is a three-week summer study tour for overseas Chinese.

Birthright programs that offer free trips include Birthright AFRICA , which offers a 10-day trip to Africa to U.S. citizens 13 to 30 years old of Black/African descent, and Birthright Israel , which offers a 10-day trip to Israel to eligible Jewish adults 18 to 26 years old.

10.  Get yourself bumped from a flight

If the crew on your next flight asks for volunteers willing to get "bumped" and give up their seats, you might want to take them up on the offer. When there are more passengers for a flight than there are seats, some passengers need to get "bumped" or denied boarding. Before getting involuntarily bumped, the airline must ask if there are any passengers willing to give up their seats in exchange for compensation like money or vouchers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation .

Getting bumped from a flight is often an easy way to immediately rack up extra cash for your vacation in exchange for taking a later flight. Be sure to ask when the next flight is, if your ticket for that flight is on standby or confirmed, and if the airline will provide other compensation like meals and hotel. If the airline is also offering you a voucher for future travel, learn what restrictions there might be before you agree to get bumped.

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How to travel the world with no money – by people who have done it

Three adventurers share their advice on cash-free journeys around the globe, and reveal the highs and lows of the challenge

Laura Bingham: 7,000km cycle across South America, July 2016

What was the high point of your trip? When my sister joined me for a short while in Argentina. We’d been there for two days and a man stopped on the side of the road and began speaking to us. He told us how he’d cycled around Spain last year then offered us his place to stay that night. When we arrived at his home, his mum greeted us with open arms and fed us so much food that we ate like kings for the first time in months. The following day we met another cyclist who invited us to his home for lunch and made arrangements with his friend for us to stay a day later. After a generous lunch, we went to his friend’s place and were stopped in the local town by a man who gave us a large bag of oranges. He, too, offered a stay in his home … This level of generosity shocked me to my core. I think we forget how giving people can be and how a kind stranger can look after you without expecting anything in return. It’s funny how kindness and a warm smile can be the highlight of your day.

The low point? The moment that stands out was on day 16, just over two weeks in to my trip. I had been pushing my bike up the Ecuadorian Andes for four days; it was pouring with rain and I was extremely hungry. I had passed house after house of rejection: no one would help. Nothing. We reached a house and I fell to my knees in tears, begging the woman for help, even just her garden to put up my tent. She looked at me, looked at how desperate I was, the tears streaming from my face, and shook her finger. Nothing. I could do nothing and I felt like nothing. I dug deep to source any shred of energy or willpower to keep going.

What’s your advice for anyone who wants to do a similar trip? If you’re planning a cycling trip, pack light. Very light. Weight will hold you back and you’ll be surprised by the amount of stuff you don’t need. Think practically and essentially. I would recommend Gore gloves and rain jacket as they are lightweight. I also loved my down jacket: it kept me warm and worked as a pillow too! Finally, it is important to keep positive. I was raising money for a charity called Operation South America and the thought of them got me through my darkest days. And download some motivational videos or podcasts. I liked to listen to Motivational Madness – it keeps you strong if you’re feeling low. R ead more about Laura’s adventures at laurabingham.org

Rob Greenfield: 72 money-free days travelling from Brazil to Panama

What was the high point of your trip? Stepping off the plane in Brazil. I had no money, no contacts, no solid plans and 7,000 miles of mystery and wonder ahead of me through lands I’d never set foot on. With so many of us on a quest for more stuff and more money, this is a perspective on Earth that few of us get to feel.

The low point? The daily challenge of finding a new source of food and water, a place to sleep, and a ride made the whole trip through South America strenuous. To hitchhike 7,000 miles when you don’t like cars isn’t always the most fun. One day in Peru I accidentally got off the Pan-American Highway and ended up in the middle of nowhere. It took me around 12 rides to go just 130 miles. But hitchhiking is worth it because it takes you to places and introduces you to people you never would have seen or met in any other way.

What’s your advice for anyone who wants to do a similar trip? Be prepared and have the gear to be mostly self-sustaining. Carry a tent and sleeping gear, water purifier, cooking equipment and comfy clothes. Travel light and leave behind what you don’t need. Make connections for places to stay, and earn meals through websites such as wwoof.org , helpx.net , and workaway.info . Ditch your expectations before beginning the journey and keep an open and curious mind. Read more about Rob’s adventures at robgreenfield.tv

Rhinal Patel: travelled from her UK home to Hong Kong

What was the high point of your trip, so far? There is no better feeling than when someone, without knowing who you are, holds out a hand to help you. One memorable experience was hitchhiking in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. My friend Paco went to ask an elderly Muslim lady how far the next town was and she looked at us like we were crazy (hitchhiking is not common in Indonesia). We started waving at the cars going past when suddenly she came over, calmly stood in the middle of the road and made a stop sign in front of a car going past. It stopped immediately, and she told us to get in. This old lady had more power and courage than most kids today! I was truly inspired and impressed. The power of social media also amazed me. People would find my blog online and contact me, inviting me to stay with them.

The low point? The lowest point was in Germany, I had two days to get to Poland for my flight and I had planned to travel 300km across the north. On the way, a Brazilian guy who picked me up found out that there were growing neo-Nazi towns in the north and I could be entering a dangerous situation. I rerouted via Berlin, adding another 300km to my journey. I arrived late at a service station and decided it was too late to hitchhike, so I slept in the toilet. Then I got a message from someone in Berlin saying that he had read my blogand asked what he could do to help. I told him my situation and he offered to come and get me as well as pay for my bus ticket and a hotel. But before I could reply I lost Wi-Fi connection. I spent the next 90 minutes asking people if I could borrow a phone to call him: everyone said no. Finally, one girl agreed and we waited for her boyfriend to come out of the toilet so I could explain my location to my contact in Berlin. As soon as he came out the look on his face told me he was not going to help me, but I did not expect what was to come out of his mouth: “I am sorry we cannot help you. You might be trying to organise a bomb somewhere.”

What’s your advice for anyone who wants to do a similar trip? There is the risk something bad can happen to a lone female hitchhiker, but it was important to me to show the importance of freedom and independence, especially for women. I did almost back out after hearing the story of Pippa Bacca (an Italian hitchhiker murdered in Turkey in 2008), but I decided to proceed with caution. I didn’t hitchhike at night with people I didn’t know and I started using other methods, like hitchhiking trains, car shares, or with friends of friends. Asking locals for advice, learning how to read people’s body language and researching countries beforehand is also important.

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How to Travel With No Money in 9 Easy Steps

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on November 23, 2018 |

Five weeks after my early 30s crisis of why, what, how and where my life was going, I hit the road and drove from Melbourne to Darwin, boat-hitched to Indonesia, island hopped to Malaysia, hitched from Kuala Lumpar to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Koh Samui, then to Phuket to boat-hitch to South Africa where it took two years hitching from Cape Town to Jerusalem.

Traversing 47,000 km without flying, through 21 countries, 27 islands, hitched 233 rides from scooters to long-haul trucks, boats and even a train. Every stereotype and many personal walls crumbled down to continue the path, crossing it around this amazing global village called Earth, full of nothing but amazing human beings, slightly blinded by societal demands that, really, when you step out and observe society, you realise how warped and lead astray we all are.

How does one travel with no money? You barter. Here are 9 ways to utilise your skills – your full potential – and experience a stress-free lifestyle, without the limiting bits of paper with numbers on them.

1. Try hitchhiking

Image credit: Rohini Das, 2015

Each country has its own style of hitchhiking and its laws. For instance, in Asia, a thumbs up with a sign will get you further than without one. In Africa, the thumbs up will be returned with a thumbs up from the passing driver who smiles as he doesn’t realise you’re asking for a ride, leaving you to inhale his dust. The Windmill works wonders: flapping your arm up and down.

I’m a restless individual so I’d always walk until a ride picked me up. But only where it was safe. When hitching, you must take into account a safe place not only for you, but also for the driver to be able to pull over safely. Drivers expect payment, so be honest and direct that you’re not using money. Sure, some will drive off laughing, but most are curious and want to know more.

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2. And boat hitchhiking too

To cross bodies of water, there are dedicated websites to hitching rides on boats like Crew Seekers , Crewbay and Cruisers Forum . You can read captains’ and boat owners’ ads or place your own. The sites are free. When meeting the captain and crew, always ask for their experience. You don’t want to be crossing the Indian Ocean in cyclone season with a first timer (I crossed with a Captain who sailed out of his mother’s womb and took us directly into cyclone season). Always remember to respect the boat and the Captain’s ways. It’s his home, you’re the guest. On some boats the Captain will cover all costs, some are shared costs which should never exceed $10-15 USD a day which includes food, petrol and marina fees.

Be prepared that even if the Captain predicts a passage of one week, it can turn to two or three as the weather does what it wants, when it wants.

3. Be an entertainer

One volunteer gig I snagged was in Mossel Bay, South Africa. My job description? Socialise, get the guests to drink, play pool or Jenga, light the fire and jam some music around it and guide them around Mossel Bay if they wanted. Basically, all I had to do was be me. And in return? Food, bed and life-long friends with an open invitation to return whenever for a full-time job.

4. Make connections (and graft)

In Namibia, I ended up at the Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge for a month of maintenance, entertaining and river guiding. I was rewarded with a 3-day houseboat safari tour on the Zambezi River. This gig was connected via some amazing people I met in Swakopmund who I connected with via a woman I met in Thailand. These awesome people then connected me to the folks at the Houseboat Safari Lodge. They in turn, connected me to a lodge in Zambia that had me for three weeks doing pretty much the same.

It’s all about connections and the impression you leave behind.

5. Trade your skills

In order to barter for experiences like white water rafting, bungee jumping and ascending Mt Kenya, I traded the skills I had, that most suited the companies I approached. Mainly, writing up promotional articles that appeared on my website and with the good fortune to have landed a guest blog spot with Africa Geographic Magazine (15 million readership). I also offered photos with ongoing promotions during interviews or when people ask for tips. These connections were conducted mainly via email, chance meetings at bars with owners and managers, and via connections made where people would recommend a friend’s company or a service I might find up my alley.

If you can play a musical instrument (that you can travel with) then use music as your currency. It’s rare that people will decline a musical gig and all they have to give you in return is a plate of food and a safe place to sleep, either a room or somewhere to pitch a tent. Music has saved my arse from rainy downpours on more than one occasion. And often, I’d find myself jamming tunes in a truck or car in order to give back.

6. Embrace cultural interactions

I approached every encounter with someone as a sign. I’m meeting this person for a reason, whatever that may be. You are in prime position to learn all you can from various people of various backgrounds. Don’t be shy to ask about cultural norms, why things are practised like this or that, how to say phrases that will help you along the way, what’s good to see that tourists wouldn’t know about.

7. Eat all the food

Don’t be the traveller that travels to out-of-your-comfort zone places to eat a burger or pizza. Embrace local cuisine. Odds are that it’ll be healthier for you, organic and unprocessed. And it’s a great way for your taste buds to get a feel for the world. Even the weird stuff like insects and hot sauces that you’ll feel the morning after. Try things once. Even if you don’t like it, it’s great entertainment value for those you’re interacting with. And comedy breaks many barriers. Especially when it’s at your expense. So, don’t be shy on getting embarrassed. Embrace it! You are on the world stage and the curtain is up so let go of all boundaries.

8. Learn the language

Learn the basics. The most important phrases to learn are salutations as that’ll earn you respect and opens many doors. ‘Hello, how are you? Please, thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ are the very first phrases I’d learn in each new place. And remember, some countries have various dialects so it’s good to know if you’re in new tribal lands that speak something completely different to what you’ve just learned.

9. Embrace unusual accommodation

Although, the last thing you want to do is be in a police station in foreign lands, I utilised the law and order services of each country. If I didn’t score a gig for a bed or wasn’t offered to be hosted by locals, I’d simply pop into the local police station, speak with the chief and, a few questions later, would be granted either an office to sleep in or a safe place to pitch a tent.

About the author:

Psyman OChen traversed 47,000 km without flying, using money and surviving on barter trade over three years. How? Even he isn’t quite sure. Read more on The Nomadic Diaries to find out

Keep reading   

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How to Travel on a Budget for Beginners

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Wondering how to travel on a budget? While it may seem like traveling is exclusive to those with cash to spare, you don’t have to overspend in order to get out of town. There are plenty of ways to travel on a budget — including using reward points or miles and traveling during ideal times— that can end up saving you a lot of money. Here's travel guide for beginners on a budget.

Start planning early

If this is your first big trip, odds are you’ve already started planning. That’s good — the sooner you start, the more time you have to save money . Travel prices rise and fall with demand, and the cycle fluctuates as your travel dates get closer.

Beginning your planning early gives you the best chance of finding discounted hotel rooms, cheaper flights and other less-expensive activities. Although you won’t find the cheapest prices far out in advance (as we mentioned, it’s a cycle) keeping an eye on rates will allow you to jump on them and book when they drop.

» Learn more: How to account for inflation in your travel budget

Book at the right time

This bears repeating. Why? Because when you book and when you travel can make a huge difference in the price of your vacation. This applies to flights and hotels.

Confused about when the "right time" to book will be? There are multiple free tools available online to help you.

One of the easiest to use is the price tracking tool available via Google Flights. This service lets you know how the fare you’re looking at purchasing compares with past pricing. It also lets you know if rates are high or low compared with average costs.

If the flight you’re considering does appear to be expensive, Google Flights also features a price tracker alert system that will email you when fares drop. You can toggle this feature on within the search bar.

According to Expedia, the best day of the week to buy your airline ticket is on Sunday.

Skip overpriced tours

There’s nothing like getting out into a new city to explore. But how much of that exploring can you do on your own? With the information available online, it’s simple and easy to conduct your own tour for free rather than paying for a guide.

If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, consider instead one of the many free tours that many major cities offer. These walking tours will give you tons of information about the area completely free of charge, though gratuities are welcomed.

Otherwise, apps such as Spotted By Locals , Tripadvisor and Rick Steves offer comprehensive information for many large cities. Often this is free, but sometimes you’ll need to pay a nominal fee.

Use reward points

One of our favorite ways to save money includes redeeming reward points for travel. Some of your biggest expenses, such as hotels and flights, can be wiped away by using reward points during your trip.

This type of travel takes planning; you’ll need to accrue enough points to make a travel redemption. Much of the time, this is accomplished through welcome bonuses earned when you open a travel credit card .

For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Paris costs $1,255 at the beginning of November 2022.

This same flight can be booked using 45,000 American Airlines miles .

While 45,000 miles may seem like a lot, you can earn this amount of miles with ease. For example, you can earn more than enough miles needed for this flight with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. The first purchase could be a stick of gum or a cup of coffee — it doesn’t matter.

Many co-branded airline credit cards also offer perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, saving you time and money.

The same can be said of hotel credit cards . Most major hotel chains have co-branded credit cards, including Hilton , Marriott , IHG , Hyatt , Choice and Wyndham . These credit cards — and their sign-up bonuses — can go a long way toward cutting costs on your vacation.

Even better, many of these credit cards offer complimentary elite status . Elite status can grant you perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, free WiFi and late checkout.

It’s a good idea to consider booking hotel rooms using points, especially for budget family travel. Sometimes hotels charge more for additional people in your room, but these costs won’t translate to reward redemptions. You’ll generally pay the same standard price as long as you can all safely occupy the room.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Travel in the off-season

Along with using reward points, taking your trip during the offseason is another excellent way to save money. Each destination has a peak period of demand during which prices will be inflated.

This will include flights, hotels, tours and even dining, making traveling on a budget difficult. In Europe, the high season is in the summer, when most people come to visit.

During this time, flights will be at their most expensive. Remember the above example featuring that flight to Paris for $1,255? A similar flight during peak season will cost $2,070 round trip.

As you can see, even if you’re paying cash for your flights you’ll be saving over $800 by taking your trip when demand is lower.

» Learn more: Why "shoulder season" is the best time to travel

If you want to travel on a budget

Vacations don’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re a vacation veteran or a travel newbie, it’s easy to save on trips by starting planning early and keeping an eye on prices.

More importantly, taking advantage of reward points can significantly cut down on flight and hotel costs. Otherwise, traveling during the offseason can help drop expenses and allow you to travel on a budget.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule Requiring Automatic Refunds of Airline Tickets and Ancillary Service Fees

Rule makes it easy to get money back for cancelled or significantly changed flights, significantly delayed checked bags, and additional services not provided  

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Canceled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.  
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.  
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:

• Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.   
• Prompt: Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.  
• Cash or original form of payment: Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation.    
• Full amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.

In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.

The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.

DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris Administration

Under the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.

• Thanks to pressure from Secretary Buttigieg and DOT’s flightrights.gov dashboard, all 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a significant delay or cancellation. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to and are displayed on flightrights.gov .  
• Since President Biden took office, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers – including over $600 million to passengers affected by the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown in 2022.   
• Under Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has issued over $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations. Between 1996 and 2020, DOT collectively issued less than $71 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations.  
• DOT recently launched a new partnership with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general to fast-track the review of consumer complaints, hold airlines accountable, and protect the rights of the traveling public.  
• In 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a record low at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.  
• DOT is undertaking its first ever industry-wide review of airline privacy practices and its first review of airline loyalty programs.

In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:

• Propose to ban family seating junk fees and guarantee that parents can sit with their children for no extra charge when they fly. Before President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg pressed airlines last year, no airline committed to guaranteeing fee-free family seating. Now, four airlines guarantee fee-free family seating, and the Department is working on its family seating junk fee ban proposal.  
• Propose to make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight delays or cancellations.   
• Expand the rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and ensure that they can travel safely and with dignity . The comment period on this proposed rule closes on May 13, 2024.

The final rule on refunds can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news and at regulations.gov , docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease. 

Information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders, can be found at   https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

Bucket list travel on a budget: Expert tips for airfare, loyalty programs, credit card perks and more

Many travelers have their sights set on summer getaways , but with everything from baggage fees to fuel costs impacting the price of a ticket, "Good Morning America" is asking travel experts to share tips for booking bucket list destinations on a budget and finding savings along the way.

Travel expert Nicky Kelvin, senior director of content for The Points Guy, offered his tips for affordable travel techniques.

Where to find the best flight deals

Kelvin encourages travelers to utilize Google Flights and other free price-tracking tools to compare fare prices and snag the best deal.

He also suggests using both the calendar and map features within Google Flights to see which airports, dates and destinations how the lowest fare.

From the Google Flights homepage on a computer, click "explore destinations" and select a departure city without adding a destination. Then zoom out on the map to see the best prices for destinations all over the world.

Get the most out of free travel loyalty programs

Travelers should be earning points for anything and everything that they are buying or booking from airline and hotels to car rentals, Kelvin said.

In addition to the points that can can help travelers earn free flights and hotel stays, Kelvin said to look for extra perks just for joining.

Hyatt rewards, for example, offers all guests free breakfast.

For Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental, he said you can add your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free.

Loyalty programs are great for airlines too. JetBlue, for example, allows enrolled customers -- even if they don't have enough points for a flight -- to use points for discounts. Plus, with any airline, as you accumulate points to earn status, you can get free seating upgrades.

Travel credit cards with cash back perks

Along with earning points, travel credit cards give you protection for your trip like insurance to help with lost or damaged baggage and trip cancellation protection

Related Articles

Chase debuts new airport lounge: Gourmet menus, sleek interiors, free facials redefine hospitality for airport travel

As for credit cards, The Points Guy team suggests the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as an all-around pick -- you get 75,000 miles after meeting your minimum spend in the first three months. Which Kelvin said is a value of over $1,300.

If you're looking to earn the most miles, he said look to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

"You'll earn the most points on all your purchases with this one," he said.

Finally, if you want a credit card with no fee, Kelvin suggested the Bilt Mastercard, which he said is particularly great for renters because you can earn points on what's likely someone's biggest expense.

Editor’s Picks

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Save money on international phone plans for summer trips

If someone's trip is taking them out of the country, using a cell phone internationally can cost $10 to 15 per day. For a family of four, that's more than $400 for a week.

If your phones support eSIM, Kelvin suggested purchasing a data plan for your destination through an app such as Airalo, Truphone or GigSky.

For example, one of Airalo's global SIM plans costs $9 for one week, which could save a family close to $350 dollars, depending on their existing international coverage.

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From Frugal to Free

20 Inexpensive Travel Hacks That’ll Make Your Trip Unforgettable

Posted: December 31, 2023 | Last updated: April 24, 2024

Traveling provides so many breathtaking views and unforgettable moments. Although it doesn’t have to, traveling can also be very expensive. Saving money on travel isn’t something they teach in school. Savvy travelers know the best ways to save while still having optimal experiences.

1. Shop Local

Immerse yourself in local culture by stopping at a local market. Pay attention to the kinds of items sold, which booths attract more locals, and which ones pique the interest of tourists. Local markets and grocery stores always sell items at a lower price than tourist traps because they know their audience. Residents don’t typically upcharge their neighbors.

2. Optimize Luggage

Southwest Airlines is the only airline that allows flyers to check bags without paying extra. Each passenger gets two checked bags with a limit of up to 50 pounds per bag. Spoiler alert: Southwest is not a budget airline. Yes, it’s great you get to bring two full bags of luggage, though the cost of airfare undercuts the free bags. Seasoned travelers know how to pack essentials in carryons and don’t check luggage. You may want to bring your entire closet to Costa Rica, but you don’t need every outfit.

3. Negotiate

Many Americans don’t have experience negotiating in markets or stores because prices are usually fixed in North America. When I studied in Peru, our guide instructed us to negotiate when we market hopped since almost every vendor knows how to settle a deal. You can apply this to food and lodging when traveling. Depending on the country, you could save a ton of money.

4. Public Transport

America lacks the public transportation system in which many European countries thrive. Of course, larger cities like New York City and Los Angeles have forms of public transportation, but they’re concentrated in localities. Traveling via public transport is a less costly transportation method compared to private rides in taxis or Uber. Buses, trains, subways, and ferries all provide affordable routes for the public.

5. Large Lunches

It’s no secret that dinners cost more than lunches at restaurants despite offering similar portion sizes. Instead of dining out for every dinner, dine out for lunches. Order larger portions and save the leftovers for dinner that night. You cut costs, satiate hunger, and grant yourself more time to explore nighttime festivities.

Booking a room with a kitchenette is a great way to save money while traveling. This way, you don’t have to overspend on meals. Shop at local markets or grocers for fresh ingredients and try local cuisine. Cook in bulk to portion meals for the next few days to save time and energy.

7. Free Activities

You don’t need to spend much money exploring even when traveling to new countries. You can find free activities to entertain and delight tourists everywhere you go. Cities are fabulous walking grounds, opening up minds to centuries of history. Find a free walking tour to immerse yourself in centuries of rich history. Museums typically offer free days throughout the year, saving potential customers a hefty amount of money as they marvel at iconic pieces.

8. Multiple Copies of Identification

In college, my roommate forgot her passport in the dorm two days before she left the country. All of us had already gone on our winter trips, some visiting home, some journeying abroad, so no one could be her savior and ship her the passport. She had to visit the passport agency, plead her case, pay a lump sum, and hope everything fell into place. It did, but she lost a large portion of her travel funds.

Always have two or three forms of your passport and ID—digital and physical both work.

9. Leave in the Middle of the Week

Experian says the cheapest days of the week to board a plane are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on early morning or late night flights. Given that most people want to book a flight for the weekend, mid-day options have cheaper fares, plus fewer people trying to book them. Grumbling for a few hours about waking up at 4 AM to catch a flight beats spending $500 on a $100 fare.

10. Ask for an Airline Upgrade

You never know if you don’t ask. When sitting in limbo—the airport tarmac—peek around the plane. Is anyone occupying those first-class seats? How about the business section? Do the curtains reflect a silhouette, or are they cracked and inviting? Ask a flight attendant about upgrading your flight. The worst they can say is no.

11. Emphasize Celebrations

Is it your birthday? Maybe it’s an anniversary. Did you just get engaged at the hotel? Tell the people around you. You never know when someone will feel particularly generous. Tell the hotel receptionist, the restaurant’s hostess, or the tour guide if you’re celebrating a special occasion. You’ll be surprised by how many free items or discounts sneak in.

12. Bring Your Own Water Bottle

Take-5 gives customers a free water bottle when they pull up for an oil change. Grocery stores charge patrons between $1 and $2 for a singular plastic bottle, while amusement parks crank the price to $6. Jetsetters know that tourist traps gain a lot of money from naive tourists willing to spend extra on necessities. Don’t fall for that game. Instead, bring your own refillable and reusable water bottle, fill it up at refill stations, and save on natural resources.

13. Bring Snacks

You can’t always predict when you’ll get hungry or someone might have a dizzy spell, but you equip yourself to tackle the situation head-on. If you aren’t a huge snacker, bring some fruit or trail mix to quell hunger. Refill the snack bag as needed.

14. Opt For All-Inclusive Packages

One of my favorite all-inclusive stays was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. At age seven, I followed my mom on all her adventures since she worked for a travel agent company, and I fell in love with the idea of all-inclusive hotels. My young self floated in the pool all day as I drank a surplus of orange juice and devoured too many plates of butter noodles. After I scarfed down my meals, I’d bounce over to the trampoline park for hours of jump time while my parents enjoyed the included shows and watersports.

15. Travel Credit Cards

Avid travelers need to research travel credit cards. Not only do these credit cards allow you to travel without annoying notifications from the bank confirming your whereabouts, even though you warned them several times about your travel plans. Various travel credit cards offer points and packages per trip, resulting in more affordable vacations later.

16. Avoid Tourist Traps

If you see someone sketchily hanging out outside a restaurant, waiting for their next victim, or if someone tries to upsell you an experience at a staple attraction (i.e., a guide outside of the Eiffel Tower hoping to sell you an unnecessary tour), walk in the other direction. Tourist traps are pretty easy to spot. One way to determine them is with the absence of locals and the merchandise double the cost.

17. Travel Kit

I cannot express how often owning a travel toothbrush or hairbrush improved my mood after a long haul across oceans. Forgetting a tube of toothpaste or other toiletries can be annoying, especially with the overpriced substitutes in airports or convenience stores. Create a travel bag full of travel-size items like Q-Tips, tweezers, shampoo, and conditioner to circumvent the awful reality of walking through an airport with frizzled hair and morning breath.

18. Budget Accordingly

Travel experts state the best activities to avoid are those you can do at home. Why go to the movies or eat at a chain restaurant when you can explore paradise and local cuisine? Find out niche activities only offered in the particular destination and budget from there.

19. Couchsurf

Couchsurfing is a great way to cut costs on lodging, only if you’re comfortable staying in a stranger’s home. However, if you read threads detailing couchsurfing horror stories, you will never sleep anywhere except in your bed. Most people who couch surf don’t have an issue, yet they can report the host to the safety team if they do. The organization also compiled a guide to navigate the system safely.

20. Skill Exchange

One of my former coworkers participated in a skill exchange program where he lent his animal-friendly skills and gathering techniques to a local village in Bolivia in exchange for room and board (he loved sleeping under tarantulas submerged in the forest). The exchange program focused on helping exotic animals out of toxic circuses or unsafe environments and re-introducing them to the wild. The program paid for his food and lodging while he only fronted the ticket cost.

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Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Money latest: Billie Eilish fans furious at 'outrageous' ticket prices

Billie Eilish fans are complaining about "outrageous" ticket prices for her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Thursday 2 May 2024 20:01, UK

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• OECD warns UK shouldn't cut interest rates yet
• UK ranks bottom in G7 economic growth forecast
• 'Outrageous': Billie Eilish fans complain about ticket prices
• Aldi's market share falls as people head back to traditional supermarkets (except one)
• New ISA rules were supposed to help savers - right now they've just made everything more complicated

Essential reads

• How to nab yourself a free upgrade on a flight
• You're probably washing and storing your clothes wrong. Here's what you should do instead
• Money Problem : 'Builders won't repair dodgy work - what are my rights?'
• '£2,000 landed in my account' - The people who say they're manifesting riches

Ask a question or make a comment

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Pint-sized bottles of wine will be allowed on UK shelves from autumn under new post-Brexit trade rules - although doubts have been raised over their demand.

Seven changes to pre-packaged wine sizes are due to come into force on 19 September.

The move to introduce the 568ml size of wine, to sit alongside 200ml and 500ml measures already available, was announced in December and hailed by ministers as a Brexit "freedom".

Pint bottles of Champagne were sold in the UK before Britain joined the European Common Market and were on shelves until 1973.

Read more here ...

JD Sports has told head office staff they must return to the office at least four days a week .

The new amendment to the hybrid working policy will be effective from 1 July and will impact employees at the retail chain's head office in Bury, Retail Gazette reports.

However, the chain will still allow flexibly depending on individual roles.

Pubs could stay open late during the Euros this summer, according to The Sun .

Home Secretary James Cleverly hinted he was looking into extending pub opening hours for the tournament on The Sun show Never Mind The Ballots.

He said: "I will certainly look into it."

We've been bringing you news of plenty of bank switch deals offering free cash these past few months, but Virgin Money has a different kind of incentive for switchers - a 12% interest rate. 

People who switch to its M Account, M Plus Account or Club M Account will be able to get bonus interest rates of 10% gross/10.47% AER (fixed). 

This is on top of the 2% gross/2.02% AER (variable) interest rate already offered on current account balances up to £1,000 - meaning customers can get an interest rate of 12%. 

No other savings accounts offer interest rates this high, and the bonus applies for a year.

TikTok will restore millions of songs to its app after settling a royalty dispute with Universal Music Group. 

Users had been unable to make videos featuring songs from the likes of Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande due to a row over how much TikTok was paying. 

The fight had led to Universal withdrawing music from some of the world's most famous singers. 

The dispute appears to have been settled as the companies announced "improved remuneration" for artists.

More than 10,500 black cab drivers in London have launched a £250m legal case against Uber. 

They accuse the app of breaking the capital's taxi booking rules and deliberately misleading authorities to secure a licence. 

Transport for London (TfL) rules state drivers cannot take bookings directly from customers and must instead use a centralised system. 

The drivers, who are being advised by law firm Mishcon de Reya, argue they have faced unfair competition from Uber and that it knowingly broke these rules. 

Uber has denied these allegations and said the claims are unfounded.

The company has faced numerous challenges in London, including refusals from TfL to renew its licence which were later successfully appealed. 

Billie Eilish fans are complaining about "outrageous" ticket prices for her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.

The 22-year-old singer unveiled an 81-date tour programme this week, sending fans rushing to secure tickets.

But some expressed disbelief on social media at the prices.

"I know I moan about this all the time, but look at the price of Billie Eilish tickets," one fan called Marianne wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of seated tickets priced at £398.50. 

"Something seriously needs to be done about ticket prices, it's f*****g outrageous!" 

Another complained they had paid less for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which was also criticised for high ticket prices.

A fan called Liv tagged Eilish, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, writing: "Are you ok? £145 for standing tickets is atrocious."

Thousands of people who receive government benefits, including Universal Credit, will be paid as early as tomorrow.

This is because there's a bank holiday coming up on 6 May which will affect benefits paid by both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC (they don't pay benefits on bank holidays).

A statement on the government website reads: "If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you'll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for tax credits and child benefit."

Here are the 11 different government benefits that are expected to be paid early:

• Universal credit;
• State Pension;
• Pension Credit;
• Disability Living Allowance;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Carer's Allowance;
• Child Benefit;
• Income Support;
• Jobseekers Allowance;
• Personal Independence Payment;
• Tax credits (such as Working Tax Credit)

Will your benefit payment change?

No, you'll be paid the same amount you usually receive.

Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit account.

Goldman Sachs is removing a cap on bonuses for London-based staff, paving the way for it to resume making multimillion pound payouts to its best-performing traders and dealmakers.

Sky News can exclusively reveal the Wall Street banking giant notified its UK employees today that it had decided to abolish the existing pay ratio imposed under European Union rules and which the government recently decided to scrap.

In a video message to staff, Richard Gnodde, chief executive of Goldman Sachs International, which comprises its operations outside the US, said it had decided to bring its remuneration policy in Britain in line with its operations elsewhere in the world.

"We are a global firm and to the extent possible we adopt a consistent global approach across everything we do," Mr Gnodde said in the message, which has been relayed to Sky News.

"The bonus cap rules were an important factor preventing us from being consistent in the area of compensation."

Aldi's market share has fallen - as people seemingly head back to traditional supermarkets for their shopping.

Aldi's share of the grocery market slipped from 10.8% to 10.4% in the 12 weeks to 20 April.

NIQ data shows sales rose just 1.3% in the period - for Morrisons it was 4.4%, Tesco 5.8% and Sainsbury's 6.6%.

Asda was the laggard with sales falling 0.9%.

Ocado is the fastest growing retailer with sales up 12%.

Aldi's rival discounter, Lidl, saw sales surge 9.5%, bumping its market share up to 8.2%. Media campaigns highlighting new ranges helped, NIQ said.

A Santander online outage is affecting thousands of UK customers.

Over 2,000 reports have been made on Downdetector - indicting the issue is widespread.

Customers have been met with messages like this...

Santander wrote on X: "We are aware some customers are experiencing issues accessing online services, we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

"We're working hard to resolve this as soon as possible."

Following on from our previous post, and the OECD also says the UK will grow more slowly next year than any other major advanced economy.

It puts this down to stealth taxes and high interest rates squeezing the economy.

The organisation, which is based in Paris, downgraded its forecasts for GDP to 0.4% this year and 1% in 2025.

In February, the UK had been in the middle of the rankings with forecast growth of 0.7% this year and 1.2% next.

The OECD pointed to the fact "tax receipts keep rising towards historic highs" - with National Insurance cuts not offsetting the additional burden Britons are feeling due to tax thresholds not rising along with inflation due to a government freeze.

Some good news is expected for UK workers as the OECD said there will be "stronger" wage growth when inflation is factored in against pay.

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Amazon Prime Day 2024: Here's what to expect, tips, and tricks

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Amazon Prime Day has grown into one of the biggest sales events of the year, with discounts rivaling those of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With so many retailers selling on Amazon, Prime members can save on just about anything, from viral beauty products to new unlocked smartphones.

The best Prime Day deals we saw last year included all-time lows on brands like Apple, Vitamix, iRobot, Dyson, Crocs, and, of course, Amazon-owned products like the Fire TV , Kindle e-reader , and Echo smart speakers . We expect to see more of the same this year as well.

It'll be the first major deal holiday of the year, so it's an awesome chance to score summer discounts on big-ticket items and household staples. The retailer's 10th Prime Day event has officially been announced to arrive in July, but the actual days are still unknown. In the meantime, we're keeping tabs on all of the latest Prime Day news, and we'll keep you updated with our findings here.

• Shop the latest deals at Amazon

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

Amazon Prime Day is officially coming this July, though the exact days have not yet been announced. In past years, it kicked off on the second Tuesday of the month. If Amazon follows the same trend, it will take place on July 9 and 10. We'll keep this story updated as more details are announced.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is the retailer's annual mega sale and one of the major benefits of Prime membership. It's a two-day sales event, usually during the summer, that features products from every category, from fashion staples to hot new tech. 

Though it used to be a deal holiday of a much smaller scale, Prime Day has grown exponentially since the first one in 2015. Now, you can find almost everything on sale for all-time low prices, matching discounts we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

What should I buy during Amazon Prime Day?

Everything is fair game to buy during Amazon Prime Day. Whether you've been holding out on a pricey new TV or just need to stock up on toiletries, Prime Day is a good time to make your move. 

Last year, we saw incredible prices on tech, including 4K TVs , Fire TV streaming devices , Apple products, Kindle e-readers , PC gaming accessories, Echo smart speakers , and top headphones picks. Prime Day tech deals featured brands like Logitech, Bose, Jabra, Sony, Roku, Samsung, TCL, and more. 

If you're looking for style and beauty deals during Prime Day, last year, brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Tatcha, Laneige, Levi's, Carhartt, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Adidas, and Marc Jacobs all featured products at rare low prices. That means skincare, makeup, shoes, men's clothing, women's fashion, and accessories will all be available for less. 

Home and kitchen products saw no shortage of Prime Day deals either, with big names like Dyson, Shark, iRobot, Philips, KitchenAid, Nespresso, Casper, Leesa, and OXO down to all-time lows for the event. So, whether you need an air fryer , robot vacuum , mattress , or just some sturdy mixing bowls, Prime Day is a good time to buy. 

You don't need to be focused on fancy new gadgets or treatments to shop smart during Amazon Prime Day either. We also catch tons of affordable household essentials available for even less every year, like toilet paper, dish soap, doggy bags, and makeup wipes. These deals are sweet, since they save you money on stuff you needed to buy anyway. 

How long do Prime Day deals last?

How long a Prime Day deal lasts differs between items, but in general, the best discounts will start during the event and end before the 48-hour holiday is over. Some will last the whole two days while others will only last one, so it's always wise to act on a good sale when you see it. Lightning deals especially go fast, the most popular of which dwindle away in less than an hour.

I always recommend buying a product you've had your eye on as soon as it's highlighted as a Prime Day deal. Regardless of how long it's set to last, oftentimes the best sales run out of stock, resulting in shipping dates being pushed out, or the deal no longer being offered at all. We'll be providing all of the deal context you need to shop confidently and quickly, so be sure to check our roundups of the best discounts when the event rolls around. 

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is locked to Prime members only. It's one of the major benefits of subscribing to the service, in addition to other perks like free two-day shipping and Prime Video streaming. 

If you have yet to become a member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out. Once the official Prime Day dates have been announced, you can even time your free period to overlap with the sale, but it's not a guarantee since sometimes retailers will lock out free members from shopping the best deals.

Do other stores participate in Prime Day?

Although Prime Day is an Amazon-specific event, it's grown so large that other major retailers have started kicking off competing sales to overlap with it. No one has announced a competing Prime Day sale just yet, but if past years are any indication, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy will likely be holding their own events.

These are definitely worth checking out; they often match the best deals on popular items you can find from Prime Day. We'll also be rounding these deals up so you can shop from the retailer that best suits you, whether you're a Target Circle cardholder, My Best Buy Plus member, or Walmart Plus subscriber. 

Is Prime Day an international event?

Prime Day occurs in several other countries, but not all of them. Here's a list of countries where Prime Day will be available to shop:

• Netherlands
• Saudi Arabia
• The United Arab Emirates
• The United States
• The United Kingdom

Want to see what Amazon has on sale right now? We've spotted some hefty price cuts on electronics, fashion, home, kitchen, laptops, and more on its main deals page .

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