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How to Post Travel on Facebook: Tips for Sharing Your Adventures

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Traveling is one of life’s greatest joys. It allows us to explore new places, experience different cultures, and make memories that last a lifetime. With the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, it’s easier than ever to share our adventures with friends and family. But how do you make sure your posts stand out from the crowd? Here are nine tips for creating engaging travel content on Facebook.

Share Your Travel Photos

The best way to capture your travel experience is through pictures. Whether it’s a breathtaking sunset or a delicious dish, posting photos of your travels can help bring your stories to life. According to a 2017 survey by Wunderman Thompson, 82% of people say they’re more likely to remember an image than text.

Tag People in Your Posts

When sharing photos of group trips or special moments with friends, don’t forget to tag them! Not only is it a great way to show appreciation, it also gives your posts more visibility. A study by the University of Missouri found that posts with tags were more likely to be shared than those without.

Write an Interesting Caption

A good caption can really take your post to the next level. Try to give context to your photos and describe your experiences in an engaging way. You can also use captions to ask questions or start conversations about your travels.

Share Tips for Other Travelers

If you’ve discovered a great restaurant or visited an amazing attraction, why not share your advice with other travelers? Not only will it help them plan their own trips, it’s also a great way to get feedback and recommendations from your followers.

Ask Questions

Asking questions is a great way to engage your audience and get them talking. You could ask for advice on a specific destination, invite people to share their own travel stories, or simply ask what they’d like to see in your next post. This is a great way to get feedback and keep your followers interested.

Create a Q&A Post

Q&A posts are a great way to interact with your followers and give them a chance to get to know you better. Ask your followers to submit questions about your travels, then pick the best ones and answer them in a video or post. This is a great way to spark conversation and build relationships with your followers.

Use Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to connect with like-minded travelers and expand the reach of your posts. Use relevant hashtags to help your posts appear in searches and discoverability feeds. Just be sure to keep it relevant — irrelevant hashtags can make your post look spammy.

Posting travel content on Facebook doesn’t have to be complicated. With these nine tips, you can create engaging posts that will grab your audience’s attention and make your adventures come alive.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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Free travel in Ireland

What is the free travel scheme, how to use free travel, where can i use free travel, how to qualify for free travel, how to apply for free travel, where to apply for free travel, senior smartpass for travelling in northern ireland.

The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on public transport and some private bus and ferry services.

Everyone aged 66 and over, living permanently in Ireland, can get the Free Travel Scheme.

People with disabilities and carers aged under 66 may also qualify for Free Travel.

If you qualify for Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may travel with you for free if you meet certain criteria (see ‘Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants’ below).

If you can’t travel alone for medical reasons, you may get Free Travel for a companion. This allows a person aged over 16 to travel with you for free.

Changes to the Free Travel Scheme in 2024

From July 2024, you will qualify for the Free Travel Scheme if you have:

• Never been able to drive due to a disability
• A driving licence and are medically certified as ‘not fit to drive’ for 12 months or longer.

If you qualify for Free Travel, your Public Services Card (PSC) will have FT (for Free Travel) in the top left-hand corner. The letter following it shows who can travel for free with you:

• FT-P - you can travel for free
• FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
• FT+C - you can have a person (over 16) travel with you for free

You must show or scan your Public Services Card to the travel operator when you are travelling on public transport. Find out more about 'How to use your public services card for free travel' .

Paper travel passes are no longer being issued but you can still use your paper pass, if it is valid.

You can use your Free Travel on most Iarnród Éireann , Bus Éireann , Dublin Bus , DART and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services (pdf) .

Free travel is also available on Dublin Bus Nitelink , Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI (Transport for Ireland) Local Link services .

Free travel does not include some special services such as Dublin Bus AIRLINK services .

You can find a full list of services where you can use Free Travel (pdf) on gov.ie.

There are no restrictions on the times you can use your Free Travel.

Living on the Aran Islands or Tory Island

If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and Galway City.

People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and Falcarragh on the mainland.

If your public services card includes free travel for a companion, spouse, partner or cohabitant, they can also travel with you for free on the above services.

Going to Northern Ireland

You may also travel free of charge on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. But to travel free in Northern Ireland, you must have a Senior Smart Pass – see ‘Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland’ below.

To get Free Travel you must be living in Ireland and meet one of the following conditions:

• You are aged 66 or over
• You are getting Disability Allowance , Blind Pension , Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
• You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
• You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
• You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance
• You are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from a country covered by EU regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months

Widow or widower or a surviving civil partner

If you are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over, living in Ireland and your late spouse or civil partner had Free Travel, you can get Free Travel, if you are getting one of the following payments:

• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• A similar social security pension or benefit from a country covered by EU regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement
• You are getting an ordinary Garda widow's pension

Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants

If you are entitled to Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may be able to travel with you for free.

Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant cannot travel with you for free, if you are under age 66 and getting Free Travel because you are:

• Getting Carer's Allowance
• The nominated carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance

Your PSC card must have FT-S on it to allow your partner travel with you. To add your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to your Free Travel - see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

If you can’t travel alone

If you are unable to travel alone , you can have a person, over 16 years of age, travel with you for free. Your PSC card must have FT-C on it. To add a companion to your Free Travel, see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

Free travel companion card for children

A child with a visual impairment can get Free Travel for a companion if they are under 18 and they either:

• Satisfy the blindness condition for a Blind Pension, or
• Are registered with Vision Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland

The person they travel with (companion) must be age 16 or over.

Work and Free Travel

You can keep your Free Travel for 5 years, if you moved from one of the following disability payments to work:

• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• Partial Capacity Benefit (from Invalidity Pension)
• Disablement Benefit paid along with Incapacity Supplement

You can also keep your Free Travel for 5 years if you transferred from Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension to a Community Employment , SOLAS or a Back to Work scheme.

If you are aged 66 or over and are getting a State pension, your Public Services Card (PSC) will be issued showing that you have Free Travel automatically.

If you are under 66, you will get Free Travel automatically issued on your PSC if you get one of the following payments:

• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance

If you are married or in a civil partnership, your PSC will be issued with FT-S on it. If you are cohabiting, you must fill in Part 1 and 2 of the Free Travel application form FT1 (pdf) .

If you are not getting one of the payments above but you are eligible for Free Travel, you must fill in the Free Travel application form FT1(pdf) and send to the Free Travel Section in the Department of Social Protection.

If you can’t travel alone and need a companion

If you are unable to travel alone, you can apply for Free Travel for a Companion, using either of the following forms:

• Over 70 Companion pass form (pdf)
• Under 70 Companion pass form (pdf)

You can get an application form for Free Travel from the Department of Social Protection. The form is also available at your local post office and Citizens Information Centre .

Lost or damaged Free Travel pass or PSC

There are currently 2 types of Free Travel Pass:

• A paper Free Travel Pass
• A Public Services Card with Free Travel (with F-T written in the top left-hand corner)

Paper passes are no longer being issued so if you need a replacement for a lost or damaged paper pass, you must undergo SAFE registration and get a Public Services Card .

If your Public Services Card Free Travel is lost, stolen or damaged, you should telephone 0818 837 000 to request a replacement card.

Free Travel

Social Welfare Services College Road Sligo Ireland

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you can travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Senior SmartPass card.

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you do not need to meet the residency condition in Northern Ireland to apply for a Senior SmartPass card.

How to apply for a Senior SmartPass

To get a Senior SmartPass, you must fill in an application form (FTNI1). You can get this form from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. It is not possible to get this form online .

You should not use a photocopy of the form as each form is barcoded. The application form must be filled in with black ink only and returned in person (not posted) to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

You must bring each of the following items with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office:

• Your Irish Free Travel pass/Public Services Card
• Proof of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement)
• Proof of your identity, (for example, your driving licence, passport or another form of photo identification)
• A recent passport standard colour photograph

It may take up to 6 weeks to process your application. There is further information on the extension of the Free Travel Scheme .

Travelling with a partner or companion

A spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion cannot travel with you for free on public transport within Northern Ireland.

However, your Irish Free Travel allows your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion to travel for free on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. For example, a cross-border train journey that starts in Ireland and ends in Northern Ireland or vice versa.

Renewing and replacing a Senior SmartPass

Your Senior SmartPass will expire after 5 years.

• If you have electronically used your card within the last 2 years, you will get a new card automatically in the post from Translink when your card expires.
• If you have not used your card in the last 2 years, you will be sent a renewal application form to fill in. The renewal form is not the same as a first-time application and you do not need to supply a photograph.
• If you have never used your card, you will not hear from Translink at all. If you wish to get it renewed, you must contact Translink by email at [email protected] , or telephone 00 44 289 075 9129 or 028 90 66 66 30 and they will send you a renewal application.

If you lose or need to replace your Senior SmartPass for travel in Northern Ireland, you can fill in form (FTNI 2) (pdf) .

Brexit and the Senior SmartPass

On 31 January 2020 the UK exited the EU . Senior SmartPass holders can continue to travel in Northern Ireland on the bus and train.

Related documents

• Tax-free purchases for non-EU travellers The Retail Export Scheme, allows visitors to Ireland (from outside the European Union) to buy goods in Ireland to take home with them and benefit from tax relief. 2865.8616
• Customs regulations for travellers to Ireland Find out about the important rules in place regarding customs regulations for people travelling to Ireland. 2636.0298
• Travelling from Ireland for healthcare in Europe Introduction to the options for Irish residents who wish to access healthcare in other countries in Europe. 2559.0562

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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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.

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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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How to Travel the World for Free

This post may contain affiliate links.

How to travel for free? There are many ways to organise free travel and companies that will help you travel for free. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive and it is possible to travel for free, or partially free. This post is on how to travel the world for free, in various ways! We all know the old mantra,  travel is cheaper than staying at home, and it’s true, but who doesn’t want to minimise travel expenses to get maximum mileage from their dollar? We’ve been doing just that for years, supporting our travels on very little cash. These days there are many ways to travel the world for free or at least ultra-cheap. We give you several ideas and opportunities on how to travel the world for free in this post. Some you’ll know about, some you won’t. Let’s take a look at tips, tricks, companies and hacks, working your way around the world, and more, for free, cheap, or super budget.

Free here means, cash-free, of course, you’re likely going to have to exchange something for your free travel and that usually means time, expertise, or work. You also need travel insurance, never skip that.

Travel The World for Free

You can travel the world for free by getting smart. It’s not easy, or everyone would do it, but if you know these tips or are prepared to work or exchange time for free travel, it can be done. The companies below give us opportunities to travel for free or super cheap. They may not make your whole travel experience free, but parts of it can be free. Employ tricks like Couchsurfing, volunteering, crewing, cleaning, farm work, hosting, and you can make a large part of your world travel free, or very cheap.

We made a little video to give you some ideas on how to travel for free. Watch it, then have a look at the ideas below.

Free Travel Video

Just save this post to Pinterest for your future reference. Please double check all information for yourself, particularly visa regulations. We try to keep this page up to date but things change constantly.

Work For Your Bed and Board, Maybe Even Get Paid. Work Your Way Around the World

There are many ways to work your way around the world, some old, some new. Helpex and Workaway are established companies that have been around a long time and are trusted by many. The Working Traveller website stands out as being a genius idea but has cumbersome sign-ups. Some, most, have sign up fees.

Various websites exist to allow you to work as you travel. Check out Workaway, Helpx, CultureGoGo and Working Traveller. The links are on our resources page .

The Working Traveller website maps hundreds if not thousands of employment opportunities around the world. Good workers will gain a good reputation on the site and will build up an online resumé to impress future employers. These future employers can either be through the site or in the real world.

This model could help you get a better job when your travels come to an end. Obviously you need to check working visa requirements for yourself.

I’m hoping my own kids will use this to get valuable work experience and, guess what, we, a family, even got a one-week placement at a hotel in Romania many years ago. Admittedly, we know the owner of this site, just for full transparency.

Where to look: Workingtraveller., similar such as Workaway, also Culturegogo and Helpx. Other sites may exist.

Travel the World For Free With Couchsurfing

Joining Couchsurfers gives you access to a global network of people, happy to open their homes to you for a night or two, just because they’re nice and like to chat.

What goes around comes around, of course, members maybe do better if they also have a couch or spare room to offer and can build up a strong profile, but it works on good reviews of hosts and Couchsurfers.

Couchsurfers could cook dinner of help around the house or garden to say thanks. We take in Couchsurfers whenever we can. I feel like we have enough money to allow young backpackers to take a shower or wash their clothes at our place.

We’ve met some wonderful people this way and sharing makes the world a nicer place. I love this platform and they don’t pay me 1 cent to say that. Where to look:  Couchsurfing.com

Travel for Free by House Sitting and Have a Home, for Free

When homeowners go away, they sometimes like to have somebody move in to look after their dog, cat, goldfish and garden, or maybe just be there to keep an eye on everything and be a deterrent for thieves.

These gigs are sweet if free accommodation is at the top of your list of travel priorities.

Finding a house sit can take a lot of effort, the market is highly competitive and professional house sitters with a string of references get first dibs.

Improve your chances of scoring a house sit by producing a slick video introducing yourselves to prospective homeowners and loading it onto the house sitting website.

Where to look: housecarers, also mindmyhouse.com, housesitworld.com.au, happyhousesitters.com.au,  trusted housesitters or aussiehousesitters.com.au. We’ve also scored house sits through word of mouth.

Travel for Free by House Swapping

Agencies exist to bring homeowners together for mutual benefit through house swapping. You normally have to pay a fee for annual membership of the house swapping site, but after that expense, you could stay in somebody else’s home, for an agreed period, for free.

This obviously works best if your home is in a desirable vacation spot or big city and you will normally have to book your stay well in advance. It’s unusual to find last-minute house swapping opportunities.

Where to look: Home Exchange (this is the site we will be using for our Romania house), homexchangevacation.com, People Like Us also homebase-hols.com

Travel for Free by WWOOFing

If working outdoors, on the land, is your thing,  the World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms offer opportunities for volunteers to help out in exchange for room and board.

Where to look: Visit wwoof.org. to find contact details of the WWOOF office in your destination country. You needed to register and pay a small fee before accessing lists of member farms.

Fly for Free

Budget airlines have been known to offer flights for $0 . OK, you will usually still have to pay taxes, but it’s a sweet deal.

The trick here is to receive notification of upcoming airline sales and be ready to pounce on a bargain the moment the sale goes live. These offers sell out fast.

Where to look: Sign up with the budget airlines relevant to your area of travel, Air Asia have amazing sales, but you could also try ryanair.com, easyjet.com or flymonarch.com, virginaustralia.com (watch for happy hour rates) and jetstar.com. Email notifications of sales and special offers put you in a good position to score the best deals.

Ski for Free

Seasonal jobs in ski resorts give you easy access to the slopes on your days off. Apply early, places fill up fast.

Where to look:  Adventure Work  or  NZSki.com

Teach English Abroad to Help You Travel For Free

You don’t have to go the whole hog and get a TEFL qualification, sometimes you can just be a live-in conversational language improver.

If you are TEFL certified (a course to become an English Second Language instructor, no teaching experience needed), you can receive a salary proportional to the cost of living in your placement country.

The Middle East and Far East pays particularly well according to friends of ours who do this. Sometimes free accommodation comes with the job.

Alternatively, fluent English speakers can receive free room and board during a period of conversational volunteering. Diverbo (see below) accepted English-speaking volunteers for their sites in Germany and Spain and provided some volunteers with full room, board, and transport.

Where to look:  Diverbo . Read up on what it’s like to teach English as a foreign language here, young couple Andrew and Amy spent the last year teaching in Vietnam. Or check out Let’s TEFL for TEFL courses.

Travel The Seas For Free

If you’ve got your sea-legs, opportunities exist to crew on yachts or cruise ships. What an amazing way to see the world for free! You’ll have to work hard but plenty of job opportunities exist for chefs, entertainers, cleaners, and more.

Where to look: For cruise ship opportunities, go direct to the cruise line’s website, try carnival.com or royalcaribbean.com. To find crew posts on yachts try  Crewseekers International, there was a joining fee, or crewseekers.net. Find a Crew is another site to try. Sailing skills are not always required. Skippers sometimes just need company, an extra pair of hands, someone to take turns on watch, and so on. Alternatively, head down to the port, find the yachties and ask around.

Travel For Free by Hitchhiking

In some parts of the world hitchhiking is common, normal and considered safe. For example in Romania locals in rural areas regularly hitch a ride and offer the driver a little petrol money.

Stay safe, use your common sense and trust your gut instinct. I regularly picked up hitchhikers back in Australia, often because I was worried for their safety.

Where to look: Check out Hitchwiki to find general rules of hitchhiking in each country.

Free Travel With Vehicle Returns and Relocations

Certain vehicle rental companies need cars, motor homes and camper vans moving to particular depots. This can be seasonal with specific destinations having a higher demand for vehicles at certain times of year.

This is rather like how relocation cruises work. Alternatively, the vehicle will have to be returned after a previous customer’s lease. You can often score these vehicles along with a fuel allowance from companies like those we mention below.

The catch is usually your time allowance. Unfortunately, you will have limited drive time to get your new home to its destination.

Where to look: transfercar and imoova are 2 examples of vehicle relocation companies.

Food As You Travel for Free

Dumpster diving and Freeganism are two of the buzz words here. I’ve seen city workers in suits picking up sandwiches, usually well wrapped, from the supermarket bins here in London.

So much food is wasted because it’s 5 minutes past its sell-by date and it’s a terrible shame.

Another alternative is gleaning. See the Falling Fruit website, below for information on trees in public places currently producing food.

The Food is Free movement is also taking off around the world. As people return to gardening and growing their own food they are gladly sharing their abundance with neighbours. It’s good for the planet and good for us.

Where to look: Read more about Freeganism at Jamie’s site, Great Big Scary World , or check out this website for free food opportunities in your area. For the Falling Fruit world map, look at the Falling Fruit website. Is free travel starting to sound possible?

Camp For Free

Free camping is possible in some countries and locations, it’s illegal in others. If you have a self-contained camping set-up, ie. you can deal with your own waste and not pollute the environment, you’re more likely to find a spot.

If you’d like to camp but cheaper than the big sites, try HipCamp. For free camping information look at Wikicamp.

Travel For Free as a Travel Blogger

Travel bloggers can and do travel for free, sometimes. Most of the ideas you’ll find for free travel involve exchanging work for travel, so it’s never totally free, there is a trade of services. Travel bloggers and influencers do the same.

I am a travel blogger but we rarely take “free” or sponsored stays. Some bloggers and influencers do a lot of “free” travel.

If you want to find out more just visit our blogging section. But remember, it only looks free to outsiders, we work very hard at what we do.

If you’re still looking for “free” stays your influence maybe isn’t great enough to be of use to the business hosting you. By the time you’re earning good money through travel blogging, you’ll likely prefer to pay your own way or be paid well to visit these places.

Past a certain level travel bloggers can even be paid to travel and share a destination, hotel, or attraction with their audience.These are sometimes called sponsored trips or stays. If not, then the money they make from their travel blogs can easily cover travel expenses.

Can you travel for free?

In all honesty, none of these methods of travelling the world for free, are truly free. Whichever way you choose there must always be some sort of exchange of work, time, company, or swapping something you already own. However, many of these methods and companies will help you travel at a very budget level and have some incredible experiences along the way. This is a very smart way to travel and it’s often far more eco-friendly than mass tourism and fancy hotel stays. We hope you find your way to travel the world spending the minimum cash and don’t let anyone ever call you a freeloader. They’ll simply be jealous that you’re clever enough to figure life and travel out.

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If you'd like to hire a car during your stay, use this car rental comparison tool to find the best deal! We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance. Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!

Related Posts:

Alyson Long

Brasov romania, why you should visit, family travel trivia quiz questions, 36 thoughts on “how to travel the world for free”.

Traveling isn’t free; it comes at a cost. When you receive food or accommodation or any facility, you give something in return. There is some cost involved, whether in terms of cash, work, time, or energy. Traveling can be affordable or done on a budget, but it is never truly free.

Yes, I say that in the post. Cheers.

The information on the english tutoring was useful.

However, you must mention that travel bloggers of certain countries should drop the idea all together, because the word “travel” has no traction

I have been trying to lift this dead travel blog of pakistan for the past 7 years now

That’s not true. Even just looking at your domain name I can see an issue. You are a dot com, so that’s fine for global reach. You’re simply doing it wrong in terms of SEO. There are bloggers from all over the world in the Mediavine group and travel is incredibly popular again.

I would love to travel around exploring diffrent culture heritage and their food and people please give me an opportunity to become a traveller.

There’s a lot of work and saving up involved. In our case we sold a lot of stuff, saved for a year, and learned to live with very few posessions. After that I grew my business. Nobody gave us anything, you need to find a way.

I am interested please contact. Interested to travel, work, stay overseas.

I don’t have money to travel and I would like to go to overseas.How will I go without paying.i will be happy work there with my family.

To whom it may concern.

I don’t have money to travel and I would like to go to overseas.How will I go without paying.i will be happy work there.

I can do House sitting, be waitress, helper in the house , babysitting,(become a nanny)working at farm. Please help me.

You need to look at some of the resources listed on this page, join these programs.

Please i don’t have money, how will i travel before payment,I want to work there

Hello how can I travel for free as a travel blogger to advertise their country their tourism attraction hotels restaurants and more

Well, first of all you’d need to start a travel blog and make it successful. ie. it needs to rank highly in Google. You’d also need to accumulate a massive social media following on all platforms, these marketing people seem to prefer that over a successful website for some reason. You’d have to get good at doing all the things, then you reach out to people, give them examples of your previous work, show them your awesome engagement on Instagram etc. Convince them you’re the best person for the job. Go to our blogging section (top menu) and start learning.

Hello what do I need to travel with my family

Really all you need is a credit card and a passport.

Thank you so much for the awesome advise

Hello from Morocco. it’s very important to have bloger like this and well informed about travelbloger went above and beyond the expectations to show us how to get something very important and exactly the kinds of things we most interested in, and so much more that gave us a really memorable experience that i saw here in this bloger.

Thank you so much for this amazing things.

Just a great blog , Thanks for the information.

hey i want to know about couchsurfing. How can people will trust us as a new member. and give thier house. or can we go as a couple too??

See My Blog

It works for singles, couples, and families. Unfortunately, during 2020, Couchsurfing introduced a membership fee so we are no longer able to offer people a free place to stay via this platform. We’re looking for a better alternative that doesn’t think of profits before people.

@shivangi rawat, I am @Nomaddigitalrupex from Delhi , here is your answer you can ask on the couch website to the host how many people they can allow its free , it is safe but before travel there make sure you need to talk to them week ago and search there information on social if they are safe and by the way of talking you will know if your host is alright cause host and you need safety

Hello, i have a question about sitter job, are people accepting boys these days? because i think the most of them prefer a girl to do this job

House sitters? We wouldn’t mind what gender, but we would need experience with pets and gardens as well as good references. We tend to go for singles or couples because the more people, the bigger the utility bill we end up paying and you can never guarantee accidents won’t happen around younger children. We love our cat too much to put him at risk. You’ll find that most people who want a house sitter rather than putting their animals in kennels are real pet lovers and want the best for their animals.

Theres so many opportunities out there! Couchsurfing sounds fun!

Amazing trip ! Thanks for the post.

Anyone got advice for doing with as a family. My wife and our 2 kids want to travel for around 12mths.

Well, we’ve been travelling as a family for the last 7 years. We tried House Sitting and hated it, far too boring. We don’t Couch Surf but we host couch surfers and I know families that have done it. Some families have success with WorkAway, WWoofing and similar, but honestly, you’d be better to just save up. One year cost us $30,000.

@Alyson for World Travel Family,I want this job

Thank you, Alyson for sharing all the useful information, i’m interested in volunteering as an english teacher in non-english speaking European Countries, But i don’t have enough money to do that, moreover i’m at my middle-age now.. will be very grateful to have your reply. Thank you so much 🙂

That’s an interesting idea Ani. I will do some research and see in voluntary teaching posts exist. Hopefully, I’ll be able to add a paragraph on that later today.

I am a student I want to go to school and the same time I want good work to do,

Hello,how are you? You said it’s for free ,how do I join or contact u.

useful info and yes hitchhiking is common and it’s very adventurous too .

Superb post, we enjoyed each and everything as per written in your post. Thank you for this article because it’s really informative, I love reading your blog.

These are great travel tips! Whenever we travel, I always make sure that we stick with our budget and one of the best things I’ve learned is not to be so touristy. We try local and live like local. I love these tips.

We never set a budget, ever! LOL. I have a post on that somewhere. All the best.

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How to Post your Travel Update on Facebook?

Store your precious travel moment digitally via facebook.

Traveling or going on a vacation to a different city or country is therapy in itself. Yearly getaways from your everyday life can enhance mental peace and boost productivity. Therefore, everyone should travel at least once a year to grow as a human being and learn new stuff about the world. However, for some, traveling is incomplete until you share the shenanigans of your trip with your friends and family. We will guide you on how to post travel on Facebook for the world to know.

Also, read why it’s important to carry a  bread clip and crayon in your wallet !

Table of Contents

• You can post travel maps on Facebook to update your followers with your travel plans.
• You can also share photo albums from your trip to create digital footprints and look back on the memories once you are back.
• Tag people in your Facebook photos so they appear on your friends’ timelines.

What is Traveling and How to Store and Share Your Travel Memories Digitally on Facebook?

Before we get to the next part, let’s clarify what traveling means. Traveling refers to moving from one place to another over a considerable distance.

For example, you can travel between cities, countries, or even towns. Visiting your hometown from your current residence will also count as traveling since you are going to a different place.

The primary purpose why people usually travel is to refresh their minds and souls from hectic life. Countries that are home to the spectacular wonders of nature make the top travel destinations. Some of these are Europe , the United States , UAE , and more.

Moreover, traveling memories are the most cherished, and you will look back on your trip from time to time. You can create social albums and click many photos with your portable cameras or mobile phones to capture the treasurable moments from your travel. Besides, traveling trips become even more fun when you are with your friends.

On the other hand, you can also learn how to post travel statuses on Facebook and other social media platforms to create virtual footprints of your trips. Posting such statuses will not take much time, and you can get done with it within a few minutes with a good internet connection.

Also, if you are planning to stay in Dubai for a week, Here is a complete plan for maximum recreation, and if you’re confused about what airline to choose for flying to Dubai,  check out our comparison of the 3 major gulf carriers.

How to Post Travel Journey Maps on Facebook

Facebook allows you to create posts where you can inform your mutuals about your travel plans. It is super-easy to navigate, and the whole posting process requires just a few taps on your phone screen.

However, before posting about your travel plans, ensure your account privacy is not Public. Otherwise, anybody on and off Facebook can track your plans, including potential thieves .

If you are confused about how to post a travel map on Facebook, follow the steps below. We have explained everything concisely and efficiently.

(For mobile phone and website users with the latest version of the Facebook App)

1. Log in to Your Facebook Account

Make sure you are signed into the account you wish to post from. It can be your account, your family’s, or any other work profile.

2. Tap on the “What’s on your mind?” Status Box

Once you are logged in, the app will take you to your Facebook newsfeed. Notice the “What’s on your mind?” box on the upper center of your phone screen. Tap on the box.

3. Select the “Feeling/Activity” Option

A drop-up menu will appear, showing many options, such as Photo/Video, Tag People, Camera, GIF, etc. Find the “Feeling/Activity” option. It is the third pick from the top. Click on it.

4. Switch to the “Activities” Column

It will take you to the next screen. You will see two columns on the top, reading “Feelings” and “Activities.” Move to the “Activities” column.

5. Select “Traveling to…” Box

You will now see another set of activities, for instance, “Watching,” “Looking for,” “Eating,” “Playing,” and more. Tap on the “Travelling to…” box that is third-right from the top. Tap on it.

6. Pick Your Travel Destination from the Search Box

A list of potential travel destinations will appear on your screen. Type the name of the city and country you are traveling to. Once the word appears, tap on it.

7. From the Create Post Screen, Select the “Check-in” Option

Facebook will add the travel destination to your status. You should be back at the Post bar. For the next step, tap on the “Check-in” button to create a travel map.

8. Choose your Current Location

• You will see a search bar. Type the name of the city you are currently in and tap on it from the search results. It will take you back to the Post Bar.
• Or you can just click on the ‘current location’ button near the search bar.

9. Hit the “Post” Button

A travel map will now appear leading from your current location toward your destination. Hit the “Post” button on the top-right corner of your screen. The travel map will be visible on the newsfeeds of your friends and family.

Using these simple steps, you can learn how to post travel destinations on Facebook, so if you have friends in the same country, you can all meet up and have a fun time together.

How to Share Travel Photos on Facebook

Posting pictures from your trips can be an excellent way to let your loved ones know you are doing fine. In addition, photos act as a great reminder of the good times you spent with your favorite people or visiting the place your love.

Thus, in this guide, we will also touch on sharing trip photos. However, make sure your privacy is set to “Friends” only. Here’s how you share travel pictures on your Facebook account.

Interesting Read: The 6 Best Women-Led Restaurants in New York

1. Login to your Facebook Account

Check that you are logged in to the correct account through which you want to share the photos. The app will take you to the newsfeed.

Locate the “What’s on your mind?” box in the upper center of your phone screen. It should be the first thing you see in your newsfeed before the posts. Click on it.

3. Click on “Photos/Videos”

A menu will appear from the bottom when you are taken to the enlarged version of the status box. It has options, like “Tag People”, “Check-in”, “Photos/Videos”, and more. Choose the “Photos/Videos” tab that is the first choice on the menu.

4. Select the Pictures

You will see your gallery on the next screen. Choose as many photos or videos as you want to post in the Facebook status.

5. Tag People

Facebook also lets you Tag people within your photos. Click on the picture and tap on their face. A box will appear where you can search for the person’s name and tag them. However, by doing so, the photo will also be visible to your friend’s Facebook friends.

6. Post the Pictures

Click “Done,” and you will return to the main Post Bar. Tap the Post button, and Facebook will upload the pictures within a few minutes for everyone to see.

Final Words

We hope you have learned enough about how to post travel on Facebook  from our guide. Navigating through the Facebook app is easy if you are a regular platform user. Even if you are new to it, you can quickly learn your way around the social media app within one to two weeks of daily use.

So, have a fun traveling trip and share lots of pictures!

• Editor in Chief |

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• International

University protests

Trump's hush money trial

April 25, 2024 - US university protests

By Elise Hammond, Chandelis Duster, Kathleen Magramo, Elizabeth Wolfe, Aya Elamroussi, Lauren Mascarenhas and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Our live coverage of the pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses has moved here .

Progress in negotiations between Columbia protesters and administrators, university says

From CNN’s Paradise Afshar

Negotiations between Columbia University administrators and pro-Palestinian protesters who've been occupying a campus lawn with a sprawling encampment "have shown progress and are continuing as planned," the school said in a statement late Thursday.

"For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following University policies going forward," the university said.

"We have our demands; they have theirs."

The university also denied rumors that the NYPD had been called to campus, calling them "false."

Some context: Columbia announced late Tuesday that it had given protesters a midnight deadline to agree to dismantle their encampment. But the university then said early Wednesday that it had extended the talks for another 48 hours . If no agreement is reached, the school has said it will consider "alternative options," which many protesters have interpreted to mean calling in police to clear the site.

Protests continue at campuses across the US as more arrests are announced. Here’s the latest

A wave of pro-Palestinian campus protests is rippling across the US, with hundreds of people arrested at universities throughout the country this week.

At New York's Columbia University,  the epicenter of the demonstrations,  protesting students said they won’t disperse until the school agrees to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions and disinvest its funds from entities connected to Israel, among other demands. Protesters at other campuses have similar demands .

The campus encampments spreading across the nation have brought together students from a variety of backgrounds — including Palestinians, Arabs, Jews and Muslims — to decry Israel's bombardment of Gaza .

Here are the latest developments:

Columbia University : The faculty senate is expected to vote on a resolution admonishing the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, on Friday over several of her decisions, according to The New York Times. Shafik has faced criticism for authorizing police to shut down student protests on campus.

Brown University: The university identified about 130 students who it alleges violated a school conduct code that forbids encampments on campus. Students found responsible will be disciplined depending on their behavior and other factors, including any prior conduct violations, the university said.

Emory University : 28 people were arrested , including 20 Emory community members, during a protest at the school, Vice President for Public Safety Cheryl Elliott said. Troopers deployed pepper balls “to control the unruly crowd” during the protest, Georgie State Patrol said. A group of Democratic Georgia state lawmakers condemned the “ excessive force used by Georgia State Patrol” during arrests at Emory.

Emerson College: More than 100 people were arrested and four police officers injured during an encampment clearing at the Boston liberal arts college, according to the Boston Police Department. President Jay Bernhardt said he recognized and respected "the civic activism and passion that sparked the protest" after dozens of arrests.

Indiana University : At least 33 people were detained on campus Thursday following encampment protests.

George Washington University : DC Metropolitan Police were asked to assist in relocating an “unauthorized protest encampment” on campus, university president Ellen M. Granberg said. The decision came "after multiple instructions made by GWPD to relocate to an alternative demonstration site on campus went unheeded by encampment participants," she said.

University of Southern California : The university canceled its main commencement ceremony  next month, citing "new safety measures in place.” Nearly  100 people have been arrested  on the campus.

University of California, Los Angeles : A "demonstration with encampments" formed at UCLA on Thursday.

Northeastern University: An encampment formed at Northeastern University in Boston, where dozens of protesters were seen forming a human chain around several tents. 

Other campuses: Since last Thursday, several campuses have been protest sites, including the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology , University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan,  University of New Mexico , University of California, Berkeley, Yale University , and Harvard University.

Protesters at the University of Texas at Austin asked to disperse at 10 p.m.

Protesters at the University of Texas at Austin were asked to leave the campus's South Mall at 10 p.m. local time, university spokesperson Brian Davis told CNN.

No arrests have been made as of 10 p.m., Davis said.

"There is no curfew on campus. Leadership asked that students clear the South Mall at 10 p.m."

Just last night, more than 30 demonstrators were arrested after UT Austin police issued a dispersal at the school.

Protesters at Ohio State University arrested after refusing to disperse, university says

From CNN’s Joe Sutton and Jamiel Lynch

Demonstrators at Ohio State University were arrested on Thursday night after refusing to disperse, according to university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson.

Johnson did not know how many arrests were made.

“Well established university rules prohibit camping and overnight events. Demonstrators exercised their first amendment rights for several hours and were then instructed to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass,” he said.

Columbia University senate is redrafting resolution to admonish school's president, New York Times reports

From CNN's Rob Frehse

Columbia University’s faculty senate is expected to vote Friday on a resolution admonishing embattled school president Minouche Shafik over several of her recent decisions, including calling in police to clear a student encampment last week, the New York Times reports .

The resolution would allow the school senate to avoid a censure vote during a critical time for the school, the Times reports, citing several unnamed senators who attended a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Some feared a censure vote would be perceived as giving in to Republican lawmakers, according to the paper.

A Columbia University spokesperson confirmed Shafik’s closed-door meeting with the senate on Wednesday but would not comment on the resolution to CNN.

 “The President met with the Senate plenary in a closed-door session for close to an hour, giving remarks and taking questions. She reiterated the shared goal of restoring calm to campus so everyone can pursue their educational activities.” 

Some context: Shafik has faced immense criticism from some students, faculty and Democratic lawmakers for her decision to authorize police to break up pro-Palestinian student protests last week— a move that resulted in more than 100 arrests .

Other students, Jewish advocacy groups and Republican lawmakers are slamming Shafik for not cracking down on protests — which they say have included antisemitic rhetoric — both on campus and outside its gates.

Several Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for Shafik to resign.

CNN’s Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.

What to know about the protests erupting on college campuses across the US

From CNN's Jordan Valinsky

Colleges across the country have erupted with pro-Palestinian protests, and school administrators are trying — and largely failing — to defuse the situation.

Several schools have called the police on protesters, leading to the arrests of hundreds across US campuses.

The recent surge in protests have inflamed tensions among students, forcing leadership to decide when free speech on campus crosses a line. The atmosphere was so charged that officials at Columbia – the epicenter of the protests that began last week – announced students can attend classes virtually starting Monday.

Passover, a major Jewish holiday, began this week, heightening fears among a number of Jewish students who have reported hearing antisemitic comments at some of the protests. The anxiety comes as reports of  antisemitic acts have surged  across America since October 7.

When did the protests start?

The situation  escalated last week  at Columbia University, where encampments were organized by  Columbia University Apartheid Divest , a student-led coalition of more than 100 organizations, including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, to protest what they describe as the university’s “continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and military occupation of Palestine,” according to its news release.

What are they asking for?

Columbia protesters say they won’t disperse until the school commits to a “complete divestment” of its funds from entities connected to Israel.

Other protesters are similarly calling on their campuses to divest from companies that sell weapons, construction equipment, technology services and other items to Israel.

Where else are protests happening?

Since last Thursday, a slew of campuses have had protests and encampments, as well as arrests. That includes the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology , University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, University of New Mexico and University of California, Berkeley.

Police   arrested nearly 100 protesters at the University of Southern California Wednesday after a dispersal order.

At Emerson College, more than 100 people were arrested Wednesday during a pro-Palestinian protest, according to the Boston Police Department.

Yale University police  arrested at least 45 protesters Monday  on suspicion of criminal trespassing, though dozens remained Tuesday.

Harvard University officials suspended a pro-Palestinian student organization for allegedly violating school policies.

Read more  here .

Brown University says about 130 students violated school policy banning encampments

From CNN’s Isabel Rosales and Devon Sayers

Brown University has identified about 130 students who it alleges violated a school conduct code that forbids encampments on campus, a university spokesperson said.

The university's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards has notified the students, who were identified through ID checks, spokesperson Brian Clark said in a release.

An encampment of about 90 people had formed on the school's Providence, Rhode Island campus Wednesday morning, according to Brown.

"Encampment on Brown University’s historic and residential greens is a violation of University policy, and participants in the encampment have been verbally informed of this fact and that they will face conduct proceedings,” the school's release said.

Students found responsible will be disciplined depending on their behavior and other factors, including any prior conduct violations, the university said, noting students could face probation or separation from the school.

“The University continues to ask individuals in or in immediate proximity to the encampment to present their Brown IDs for two reasons: to verify association with Brown for safety and security reasons, and to appropriately address potential violations of policy."

Protesters at Emory University briefly clash with police

From CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe

Protesters briefly clashed with police at Emory University in Georgia on Thursday, the university told CNN.

A confrontation between protesters and police outside the school's Candler School of Theology prompted an "increased law enforcement presence" on campus, according to the university.

"A group of about 100 people left the Quad and marched to the Candler School of Theology, where some protesters pinned police officers against building doors and attempted to access the building," the university said.

"The crowd ultimately returned to the Quad before dispersing."

Video from CNN affiliate WSB shows some protesters using large posters to push into a line of police officers whose backs are against the doors of the building. As officers push back against the posters, one demonstrator chucks their sign at the row of officers.

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25 Ways To Travel For Free

People travel all the time.

Travel is lovely .

Travel is expensive .

Here are 25 ways to travel for free.

Volunteering in order to travel:

• Wwoof  – Get free room and board for working on a farm.
• Peace Corps . – 2 year travel opportunity abroad.
• Global Giving   – volunteer for a variety of programs.
• United Nations volunteer program
• Couch Surf – stay for free in homes in areas of interest to you
• Global Freeloader – you’ll also have to host travelers in return
• Servas Internation volunteer program
• Hospitality Club – cultural exchange program
• Americorps – volunteer and earn a stipend or get free room and board.

(more below)

Other cheap options for traveling:

• Become a tour guide . Organize trips for other groups and be the tour leader. You’ll get paid to travel 😉
• Become a house sitter and care for houses in areas you’d like to travel to.
• Work as crew on a cruise line.
• Relocate vehicles . Many travel cross country.
• Work for a room . Hostels often offer opportunities to work in exchange for a free place to stay.
• Swap houses.
• Work Seasonal at a ski resort . Just imagine a picturesque resort in the mountains…
• Teach English as a second language in another country
• Work as a nanny in a location you’d like to travel to
• Hitchhike , probably not the safest option.
• Go human powered . Bike/walk/run across the country.
• Work at summer camp . They’re all across the states and also in other countries too!
• Enter contests , you never know what you could win.
• Get free flights by cashing in on credit card deals
• Be a secret shopper or reviewer. You’ll get to check out travel locations in exchange for your review.

If you could travel anywhere for free where would you go? Let me know in the comments!

You might also like.

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Paul (@luxury__travel).

26. Become a travel blogger

Charles McCool

Great stuff.

For those with racetrack experience, one can ride with the horses across country with the big horse riggs. Or even on equine air transports, not always safe, but it’s the job of the traveler to keep the horse calm..lol..

Shannon Gurnee

I’d never heard of some of these before! Sounds like creative and interesting ways to travel for free!

The Bonfire Dream

I would go to Amazon rainforest. It’s been my dream since my early teenage 😉

I like watching things about the Amazon on tv… But I know going in person, I’d probably not enjoy it as much as you 😉 I don’t handle bugs well. Lol!

I was a flight attendant for a long time and then worked at the airport, not necessarily free, but worked for free travel 🙂 I always wanted to work a cruise ship. Great tips – have to work these into my life

Great idea! I forgot about that!

Love the Peace Corps idea. I did it, lived in Ukraine. It was an amazing experience.

I’d love to go to Ukraine someday!

wow never thought anyone could travel for free thank for sharing

Thanks for stopping by, Angie!

So many great ways to travel free and I had no idea about most of them! I had no idea you could travel being a secret shopper.

Thanks, Ave. I’ve been looking into the secret shopper route. That would be a dream 🙂

Rachel Mouton

What an awesome list! Thanks so much 🙂

Thanks for stopping by, Rachel!

I have travelled a fair bit and travelling for free do have strings – ones that I am not sure I would like to pull or cut. When I was a youth, and had no other way, maybe. Not now.

Very true. If you’re young and have a lot of flexibility and independence, it’s much “easier” to pull off. Thanks for stopping in, Claudette 🙂

These are great choices, I’d love to spread this into my friends.

i want to travel to Alaska for free

I’d love to go to Alaska too! Thanks for stopping by, Michelle 🙂

If I was pre-family, I would do several of those things! There are some super ideas here.

I know what you mean! I just have a husband and a dog. No kids yet. So… we could still try some of these 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Liz!

Mardene Carr

I think I would like to travel to Italy for free

Italy would be fantastic! Thanks for stopping by, Mardene 🙂

Ana De- Jesus

I would like to be a tour guide or secret shopper in exchange for a free trip, how do I go about doing that?

Hi Ana, I’m actually still doing some research on the secret shopping. There is a site called Amusement Advantage that you can apply for secret shopping gigs. It’s mostly theme parks, but it’s the first legit one I’ve found 🙂 As for working as a tour guide, find a destination and look up wanted ads. Or create your own tour guide service and post in classifieds!

SUch a great idea. I am going to try this

Thanks for stopping by, Victoria!

Krystal Miller (@hhtfamilyblog)

I’d love to go to Australia for free! Only a few of those suggestions would work for me, though, since I’d want to take my kids. I wish I had known about all of those earlier in life!

Australia would be amazing! Thank you for stopping by, Krystal 🙂

Elizabeth O.

Those are awesome suggestions. It sure would be great to be able to travel without spending too much!

Yes definitely! Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth 🙂

Great tips! A few there I had not thought of. I am looking a relocating a camper van next year. Not free in my part of the world, but certainly at a reduced price and good incentives to do so. You can also do Relocation Cruises which are at a reduced cost if you are interested. Google it and you will see plenty to choose from. They are normally offered for countries that are just about to have their Summer. Merry Christmas!

I’d love to relocate a camper. In the US, road trips could be very epic. I’ll have to look into relocation cruises. Sounds intriguing! Thanks for stopping by, Glenda 🙂 And for your super helpful comment!

These are great ideas! Are any of these available in Bora Bora?

Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

I am going to have to try some of these! I would love to save some money on travel.

Thanks for stopping by, Robin 🙂

Great list! I’ve always wanted to join the Peace Corps – never too late.

So true! Thanks for stopping by, Faye 🙂

tara pittman

Great ways to travel for free. I need to check some out.

• International

University protests

Trump's hush money trial

Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump immunity case

By CNN's John Fritze, Tierney Sneed, Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand

We've wrapped up our live coverage for the day. You can relive today's Supreme Court proceedings as they happened by scrolling through the posts below.

These are the key takeaways from the Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s absolute immunity claims

From CNN's John Fritze, Tierney Sneed and Marshall Cohen

The Supreme Court appeared ready to reject former President Donald Trump’s claims of sweeping immunity and the broad protections he has sought to shut down his federal election subversion case , but also reluctant to give special counsel Jack Smith carte blanche to pursue those charges.

After nearly three hours of oral arguments, several of the justices seemed willing to embrace a result that could jeopardize the ability to hold a trial before the November election.

Much of the hearing focused on whether there should be a distinction between official acts by Trump pursuant to his presidential duties and his private conduct.

Here are key takeaways from today's oral arguments:

• Supreme Court seems unlikely to fully resolve the immunity question: As the justices wrestled with the nuances of the case and a series of complicated hypotheticals, it seemed increasingly unlikely the court would offer a clear answer on whether Trump may be prosecuted for his effort to overturn the 2020 election. The upshot is that the Supreme Court appeared likely to leave much of that work to lower courts, proceedings that could take months and further delay a trial that had originally been set for March 4. That outcome would play into Trump’s strategy of delay and jeopardize a trial before the election.
• Trump attorney concedes some acts may be "private" and not official: In a notable series of concessions, Trump’s attorney D. John Sauer acknowledged that some of the alleged conduct supporting the criminal charges against the former president were private. The admission shows how much ground Sauer gave up during the hearing, after Trump had made more sweeping claims in his legal briefs earlier this year, asserting that the entire prosecution should be thrown out because the actions in question were part of his official duties as president.

Continue reading more takeaways from the arguments.

Justices could give Trump a strategic win if they punt the case back to lower courts, legal correspondent says

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

While it appears the majority of Supreme Court justices are not willing to dismiss special counsel Jack Smith's case outright, they may punt it back to lower courts, which would delay a trial and hand a strategic win to former President Donald Trump, CNN chief legal correspondent Paula Reid said.

"It's pretty clear from what we heard that the majority of justices are not willing to just toss out the special counsel's case," Reid said.

But, she continued, Chief Justice John Roberts "clearly believes that the lower courts did not do enough to suss out exactly what is an official act versus a private act. So what they're setting up here is likely the justices are going to come up with some sort of test, and then send it back down to the lower courts for more litigation."

There is a possibility the case could be brought back to the justices a year from now, "after more litigation at the lower-court level, or if Trump is reelected, he can make this case go away. So, even if he's not likely poised for a legal win at the high court, strategically, it sounded like this is going to be a win for him," Reid said.

Remember: The issue of determining whether Trump's actions were "private" or "official" is central to the former president's claim that his efforts to overturn the 2020 election were part of his official duties as president — and therefore subject to immunity from prosecution.

Arguments in Trump’s historic Supreme Court immunity dispute are over

From CNN's John Fritze

With Chief Justice John Roberts announcing that the “case is submitted,” the court has finished hearing arguments in Trump’s immunity case. 

And that raises an important question that is largely unanswerable: Just how much time will the high court take to hand down its opinion? Usually, a major case argued in April wouldn’t be decided until the end of June.

But in the Trump immunity appeal, the court is already facing criticism for the weeks it took to decide whether to take the case. There is concern, particularly on the left, that the slow pace benefited Trump’s broader legal strategy to delay a trial until after his election. 

On the other hand, the justices operate on their own schedule, and the court was designed to resist external pressures on their work.

Barrett sketches out how case could go to trial this year

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

In a lengthy and crucial exchange between Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the Justice Department's Michael Dreeben, the Supreme Court heard how Trump's case could see a path to trial this year.

Barrett sketched out that the case could go to trial, and how, if the Supreme Court sends it back to the trial level, it could be heard by a jury without further appeals court involvement.

That would mean no further delays in Donald Trump's case before a trial, once the Supreme Court rules.

She asked Dreeben if the trial-level could sort out what's official or private acts of the presidency in this key, or is there "another option for the special counsel just to proceed on the private conduct?"

Dreeben told her the indictment is substantially about private conduct. He says the special counsel's office would like to present a full picture of the allegations to the jury.

But in Trump's legal world, leaving determinations about his allegations in the case could be disastrous before the election, according to polls as well as the jury pool makeup in Washington, DC.

Justice Jackson: In "ordinary" case, trial would proceed even if defendant has some immunity protection

From CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says in an “ordinary” case, a trial would move forward even if a criminal defendant had immunity for certain actions.

“There is sufficient allegations in the indictment, in the government’s view, that fall into the 'private acts' bucket that the case should be allowed to proceed,” Jackson said.

“Because in an ordinary case, it wouldn’t be stopped just because some of the acts are allegedly immunized. Even if people agree that some are immunized. If there are other acts that aren’t, the case would go forward.”

“That is right,” Michael Dreeben, the special counsel’s attorney, said.

Dreeben has repeatedly said many of Trump’s actions around the 2020 election were part of his presidential duties, and therefore aren’t protected by immunity – even if the high court said the former president had some level of protection.

Special counsel attorney tells Barrett that SCOTUS ruling could impact state Trump prosecutions

From CNN's Holmes Lybrand

The attorney for special counsel Jack Smith suggested that if the Supreme Court found that presidential immunity was implicit, it could also protect the president from state prosecution.

“If the president has some kind of immunity that’s implicit in Article Two (of the Constitution) then that immunity would protect him from state prosecution as well?” Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked.

“Of course,” attorney Michael Dreeben said.

Trump has been charged in a widespread conspiracy case in Fulton County, Georgia, for his actions to subvert the 2020 election results.

Meanwhile, judge upholds jury verdict against Trump in E. Jean Carroll defamation case

From CNN's Kara Scannell in New York

In New York on Thursday, a federal judge upheld the E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict and $83 million damages award, denying Donald Trump’s motion for a new trial.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, in a written opinion Thursday, said Trump’s legal arguments are without merit. The judge also found that the punitive damages the jury awarded Trump “passes constitutional muster.”

Trump is also separately appealing the verdict.

Gorsuch and Kavanaugh highlight the historical importance of immunity case

When discussing the issue of determining motivation in the case, Justice Neil Gorsuch highlighted the historical importance of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter of presidential immunity.

The justice added: “We’re writing a rule for the ages.”

Justice Brett Kavanaugh echoed that sentiment, noting that the case has future implications for the presidency and the country as a whole. 

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The ultimate guide to traveling for free

A lot has been written about free travel.

So much, that one gets tired just thinking about it. But hey, that doesn’t mean everything has been said and so here you have it: We have compiled a long list of the resources that will make you travel for free right below these lines.

Use it wisely!

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

• Do some research. There are endless opportunities out there!
• Get a sponsor. Here’re some of our partners .
• Become an influencer like, for instance, these cool Instagramers .
• Get yourself a sugar daddy or mommy ( just kidding! )

SAVE SOME MONEY

• Work your ass off before going anywhere
• Sell everything you have (or just some stuff you don’t need)
• Raise money for your project or cause (crowdfunding, donations, charity..)
• Cut your daily expenses, like your phone. Use a calling app to talk to other users for free and make cheap calls to everyone else.
• Follow our saving tips

WORK ABROAD / ON THE MOVE

• Get a skilled migrant visa to any country looking for people with your education and experience background
• Trip leader (Contiki, Trafalgar, HF Holidays, Intrepid,  EF, Backroads, Dragoman, G Adventures, etc. )
• Group tour organizer (Adventures abroad, Adventures incorporated, ..)
• Trekking or mountain guide.
• Take a challenge (Global Adventure, Across the divide, Charity treks, Mongol Rally, Rickshaw Run, etc.)
• Flight attendant
• Travel seller (at G adventures for instance)
• Rockstar on a world tour
• Video blog for Tripfilms
• Create a start-up and head to Chile (with Startup Chile, and get 40000 dollars to develop it)
• Travel writer
• Importer/exporter of goods. Make sure it complies with the law first.
• Work for a non-profit organization. Start looking for it on Idealist
• Travel photographer. And you could be doing cool photography things  soon!
• Freelancer (designer, SEO analyst, online teacher, translator .. )
• Bartender all over the world
• Expat if your company gives you the chance
• Au-pair (in Aupair.com or GreatAuPair.com)
• Language teacher (get your TEFL certificate and teach in a faraway country)
• Cruise (CruiseShipJob.com) or yacht crew (crew seekers.net)
• Temporary fruit picker
• Sailor or worker at a ferry crossings company
• Ship Unloader
• Conference speaker (you should, at least, pretend you are good at what you do..)
• Diplomat, politician
• Chef (there is always a high demand for these!)
• Artwork specialist
• Product reviewer or secret shopper
• Seasonal worker at ski resorts in winter
• A worker at hotels during high season. For instance, at Club Med
• Start your tourism-related micro-business (city guide, photo tour, .. )
• (Your favorite sport) instructor
• Work camper (in National Parks like Yellowstone  and Yosemite or campsites)
• Bar hostess in Japan (just for women, we don’t like it either but it pays well!)
• Test medication (we wouldn’t recommend it..)
• Join the Navy (we hate this one)
• Spread the word.. of God (another non-keeper)

VOLUNTEER ABROAD

• Super short-term: Join a work camp. SCI, worldwide. Small fees may apply.
• Short term: Geekcorps, Winrock, ACDI VOCA, FSVC, IESC
• Long-term: Peace Corps and United nations, worldwide. Americorps, USA. VSO, UK.
• As an English teacher.
• Artists programs. Find more on Artcorp.org
• Sudan volunteer program
• Kibbutz volunteer, Israel
• Volunteer in an NGO abroad. Go Abroad has lots of programs.
• EVS if you are European (like I did, in Iceland! )
• Turtle teams worldwide
• WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
• Conservation Volunteers (Australia and New Zealand)
• Sister city exchanges
• Workampers (if you are an RVer)
• National Park Rangers (USA)
• Disaster relief
• Hiking Trail Volunteers (CDTrail, PNT, Appalachian Trail, .. )
• Organic Volunteers (almost every kind of volunteer work)

STUDY ABROAD

• Get a scholarship.
• Go to a country where education is free (Sweden, ..)
• Take part in an exchange funded by your local organization, university, or government

GETTING THERE

• Register to get every airline in the world’s newsletter and wait till they offer free seats (like Air Asia)
• Work your passage as a sailor
• Ride a bike
• Walk everywhere
• Use frequent airline’s miles (small fees may still apply)
• Free travel schemes for seniors (Ireland), children,…
• Relocate vehicles (Britz, Maui, Autodriveaway …)
• Couchsurfing ( is Couchsurfing safe? )
• Global Freeloaders (register at least 6 months before your departure)
• Hospitality club
• Hostels and monasteries of Saint James’ Way , Spain. They are no longer free but affordable for pilgrims and hikers (8-10€)
• Beach or free camping
• House Swapping
• House Sitting
• Hostel worker (in exchange for food and accommodation) South America, New Zealand, worldwide.
• Warm showers (bicyclists)
• Clubs (Lions, Rotary, Motorcyclists, Gays and lesbians, Educators, Women, Optimist, Mensa if you are really intelligent and after paying the intelligence test cost, Tandem bicyclists, Evergreen for 50+,…) For many of them, a small fee applies.

Related read: The 4 Types Of Intelligence Developed By Traveling

• Plant your food
• Go fishing and hunting (where permitted)
• Take the food supermarkets to get rid of at closing times
• If homeless, daily meals are offered in shelters
• Dumpster dive in cities
• Trade restaurant food for dishwashing
• Donate blood (and, luckily, you will get something to eat afterward)
• There are plenty of “free city walking tours” worldwide. Do some research
• Museums: during off-peak hours might be free / some of them are based on donations / Plenty of them cost nothing!
• Art galleries are usually free (and, if you happen to arrive during an opening, you might get a glass of wine too)
• Parks and nature spots are usually free of charge
• Most of the online travel guides cost virtually nothing (like our Andalucia Road Trip Guide . Go check it out!)

What else would you add?

There are 26 comments

Wow. Bookmarked!

I do take into consideration all of the basics you’ve provided in your posting, bookmarked!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment 🙂 Come back soon!

Outstanding post! Extremely useful and full of great resources, thank you so much for writing this!

I will second on advantages of getting a teaching degree in English. It’s not the best paying job in most parts of the world, but it sure allows a lot of possibilities in life including world travel.

Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.

Thanks Tomiko! 🙂

I seriously love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own personal blog and would like to learn where you got this from or what the theme is called. Kudos!

Thanks! Oxygen theme, WordPress

I simply want to say I’m very new to blogging and honestly savored this page. Probably I’m likely to bookmark your website . You actually come with great articles and reviews. Thanks a bunch for sharing with us your blog.

Thanks Armando!

Wonderfully compiled list . Hope to try some of these .

Thanks! Most of them are in our wish-list too! 😉

I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Very well written!

Thanks for commenting then 😉 Mathilde!

I found this site whilst searching on Bing. You’ve obviously put a lot of time into it, and I agree with most of what you say. You certainly have a love about what you are doing and it is obvious to all. So keep up the good writing. I will be returning for further reading, and I have added your website to my list of bookmarks. Cheers guys.

Nice long list of options, anyone should be able to easily find somehow to travel free with all the ideas mentioned above!

That’s the idea! Thanks for your thoughts!

Hello. superb job. I did not anticipate this. This is a splendid articles. Thanks!

Glad you like it! If you have any other tip not listed, let us know!

Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out much. I am hoping to present one thing back and aid others like you aided me.

I�m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future. Cheers.

thanks for stopping by! Any more tips? 🙂

Great list!!! Here are a few other things that I have done, and plan to do, to travel for (kind of) free. Enjoy!

– Get a teaching degree/teaching English certificate (it will hopefully allow you to travel anywhere and everywhere!) – Work at English camps overseas (some companies will pay for your flight overseas and back to work for them) – Crash at a friends place, or a friend of a friends place (social networking at its best!) – Apply for free tickets to music festivals (check out this site for contests during the spring and summer http://consequenceofsound.net/ )

Thanks for sharing and good luck in your future teaching adventures!!

Comments are closed.

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More than 50 Active Facebook Travel Groups to Join in 2024

Facebook groups are valuable forums for connecting with others in your local community or around the globe. Being in the travel niche especially I've found Facebook groups great places to ask locals questions, meet up with friends when I'm traveling solo, vent about travel mishaps, and generally have a good laugh.

I've met up with over 500 women from travel Facebook groups in countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, the UAE, the US, and more!

Here are the top active Facebook groups of every travel niche that you can check out and join:

Travel Facebook Groups anyone can joinn

• Bucket List Beasts  – “We share tips, articles, personal stories, photos, videos, and plan bucket-list meet-ups! But whatever we do, we’ll make sure you don’t end up with a life full of “coulda, woulda, shouldas!” Your new life starts NOW! The only question is – Are you ready?! YOLO, baby!”
• Conscious Travel Community – This group is for self-aware, positive travelers to come together to connect, discuss, ask for advice and inspire each other around all things travel related!
• Travel Community – This travel community is a place for like-minded people to engage with others that love to discuss travel.

Gen Z/Young Travel Facebook groups

• Young Travelers Network  – A global community of Gen Z, 20-somethings, college students, teens, and Zillennials, who love travel! Whether you've never left your home town or you've been to 40 countries, this is your tribe. Connect with other young travelers, share stories, engage in discussions, and meet up around the world!

Female Only Travel Facebooks Groups

• Global Girls United  – Global Girls United is for girls alike who eat, sleep, breathe t ravel! Share travel tips, deals, stories, etc. A very casual, off-the-cuff, fun group. We have zero tolerance for assholes.
• The Solo Female Travel Network   – A space for all female solo travelers to be able to come for not just travel advice and reliable hostel recommendations. Ask if that local was being creepy or if it was cultural, get support for homesickness, show off the amazing photos from your last trip, tell stories, and share whatever is on your mind. 
• Solo Women Travelers   – This is a fun, supportive group of diverse, wonderful women who love to travel alone whether by plane, train, RV, boat, bicycle, backpacking, motorcycle or car … or dreaming about traveling solo. I want this group for everything we women want to talk about… from leaving behind old lifestyles and embracing new ones, to travel wardrobes, music, travel plans, gadgets, tips and tricks, families, our fears, and our triumphs!
• Solo Women Travel Tribe  – We are here to LEARN, INSPIRE, SHARE & CONNECT with fellow Solo Women Travellers from all over the world.
• Girls Who Travel  –  Girls Who Travel is an education and empowerment network for travelers who identify as women, trans, and/or genderqueer. Our mission is to empower women travelers to explore beyond their boundaries and to create a more inclusive world.
• Curvy Girls Travel Guide  – This group was founded to provide a space for curvy and plus-size women to collaborate and connect on all things travel. Please feel free to dive in and introduce yourself, ask questions, share experiences and meet new friends.
• GirlsLOVETravel   – Girls LOVE Travel is a global community of active and aspiring female travelers providing resources and empowerment to one another through safety, socializing and support. 
• Conde Naste's: Women Who Travel   – a place where all self-identifying female travel lovers can join in the conversation about what it means to travel as a woman today. 
• We Are Travel Girls  – We Are Travel Girls is a global travel community created to inspire, connect, educate and empower female travelers around the world.
• Over 60 Solo Women Travel – This group is for Over 60 Women who like to travel on their own, solo, without a travel companion. The majority of members enjoy the solo experience or are novices seeking advice and encouragement to travel solo.

Male Only Travel Groups

• Guys LOVE Travel   – Guys LOVE Travel is also a place to share your adventures and gain extra exposure for your travel photography, filmmaking or blogging by sharing your social media links with your posts.

Family/Mom Travel Groups

• Families Who Love to Travel – This page is a safe space for parents to exchange travel ideas, itinerary suggestions, questions, concerns, and experiences.
• Traveling with Kids Worldwide – This group is for parents who love to travel with their kids and who want to share their experiences, tips, and tricks, to ask questions, and to be inspired to go on more adventures! I share travel deals and do giveaways!
• MOMs (Girls LOVE Travel ®) – #gLt MOMs is an official SubGroup of the Girls LOVE Travel Facebook group community. This is a space for moms to discuss all things travel and how to travel with your family!
• Wandering Moms – Women who want to literally give their children the world. We are a group that provides support and resources for women who are interested in traveling the world or living abroad with children in tow.
• Tiny Globetrotters: Travel The World With Kids – Have kids and still want to travel? This group is for you! Let's share destination ideas, tips for traveling with tiny humans and trip reports. We all have one thing in common, the love of travel which now includes kids!
• Travel The World With Your Kids – This is a group for anyone who wants to travel the world with kids. Long term, short term, full time, part-time, fast, slow… Whatever works for you. Ask your questions, meet other travel families who travel and get advice.
• Dreamers, Drifters, and Diapers: Have Kids, Will Travel – This is a group for people who LOVE to travel and are looking for helpful tips, tricks, and hacks to make for a more pleasurable experience all-around. It caters specifically to parents and soon-to-be parents looking to brave the friendly skies, roads, rails, or seas with little ones in tow.

Cheap Flight Deals Facebook groups

• Secret Flying – Finding your cheap flights around the world.
• TravelFree group – cheap flights and more – Just the hottest travel deals, error fares.
• TravelPirates Community  – Do you want to travel the world and not spend a fortune? Do you want to explore the places where tourists don’t go? Want to meet other travelers? Like rum? Our group is to be used for travel research and recommendations.
• Travel On A Budget Official – On A Budget is a social community for problem solvers and money savers. Here at On A Budget we help members to save time and money, offering a safe space to learn and share new ideas.
• The Best Travel Deals – Here you’ll find travel deals discovered and shared by Travel + Leisure editors. This is also a safe space for sharing your own travel deals and connecting with fellow travelers.
• TravelFree group – cheap flights and more – Just the hottest travel deals, error fares!!!Feel free to ask tips, suggestions 🙂

Travel Bloggers/Entrepreneurs & Digital Nomads groups

• Female Travel Bloggers   – We are a supportive online co mmunity for travel blogging women to expand their reach, learn about blogging, and make meaningful connections in the travel blogging world. If you’re looking for a tribe of badass women who want to help each other make their blogs a success, you found it! 
• Female Lifestyle & Travel Bloggers  – A fully inclusive blogging group for female lifestyle bloggers a nd female travel bloggers aimed towards open discussions, a supportive community, and sharing blogging resources. 
• Black Travel Movement Travel Blogger Community   – The Black Travel Movement Blogger Community is a dedicated space  for travel Bloggers of color to post links to their TRAVEL BLOGS and articles to share with the Black Travel Movement Community.
• Digital Nomads Around the World – This is a place for digital nomads to share advice and tips rela ted to living the digital nomad lifestyle.
• BLOGGERS AND TRAVELERS   – A worldwide group of travel lovers, blo ggers, photographers, and writers. Some of us also write and maintain blogs on a wide variety of subjects. Join our new travel forum 
• Digital Nomads – The Solo Female Traveler Network   – This grou p is a sub-group of The Solo Female Traveler Network, specifically for connecting solo female travel who work on the road to trade links, social share circles, get advice, advertise for jobs, and share experiences.
• Female Digital Nomads  – This group was started with the goal to unite, inspire and inform us digital babes that are wandering the globe. Do you have any questions about setting up an online business? How to run your travel blog? About where to travel next? This is the place to come and ask them.

Black Travel Groups

• Black Travel Movement   – Black Travel Movement is a community of friends and family who s hare an interest in cultivating new friendships and epic experiences through international worldwide travel. As a member of the BTM family you have a connection to a wide range of new and seasoned travelers who are anxious to join and share travel experiences.
• Nomad•ness Travel Tribe   – NOMADNESS is an award-winning travel lifestyle brand. They represe nt the underrepresented demographic in mainstream travel through NOMADNESS Travel Tribe.  
• Black Elite Travelers – B.E.T.'s mission is to create networking and travel opportunitie s, as well as professional, meet up, dating/non-dating vacation opportunities for like individuals looking to enhance travel knowledge, travel partners or network worldwide in the dawn of a new century celebrating African American freedom to move around the globe.
• Melanin Globe – Mela nin Globe ® is a global travel group founded upon the basis of bringing individuals from all walks of life, regardless of cultural difference, together. Here you are encouraged to immerse yourself into “all things travel!”. 
• Black Folks Travel Too! ᵀᴹ   –  A forum to share travel photos, videos, information, and recommendations. So whether you've traveled internationally, domestically or are just discovering the treasures near your home, please share.
• Black Travel Lounge – Black Travel Lounge is a space for Black travelers, black owned travel companies, and travel agents to share their experiences and knowledge.to find inspiration, share experiences and travel tips/hacks.
• Black People Travel & Network – This group was created for the love of traveling and networking. Meeting new people and learning new cultures. Supporting each other/ Black businesses. Let us share and inspire each other.
• (AA&M) African-Americans and Minority Travelers Backers and Road Trippers – Encouraging African Americans to Travel the world cheaply. With a Back Packing, Road Tripping and local travel. See the world. From international to nation.
• Black Travel Experience, Group Trips and More – This group is to help travelers find group trips, travel agents, and share experiences.

Black Women Only

• Black Women Travel – Bringing black women who travel the world together.
• Black Girls Travel Too – A unique and dynamic travel club with a fervent belief that women, specifically black women, being deserving of a seat at the table. Whether that table is at a street side café in Morocco or just off the coast of Zanzibar in the tiny fishing village of Stone Town, WE have the POWER and PRIVILEGE to choose.
• Black Girl Travel Movement   – Empowering * Inspiration * Sisterhood * Travel. Black Girls On The Go is an international organization dedicated to exposing black women to the healing power of travel. 
• Black Women Who Love To Travel – I enjoy seeing women of color celebrating life to the fullest and seeing their travels. This can also give others a chance to get ideas and share their traveling memories in a group. 

Black Men Only

• Black Travel Movement Men's group   – The BTM Men's Group is a place where the brothers and men of the Black Travel Movement can meet to discuss travel issues from a Black Man's perspective. Feel free to discuss any and all topics freely.
• The Black & Abroad® Man: A Group for Black Men Who Travel the World   – Welcome to Black & Abroad MAN, a group where black men with a common interest in international world travel can share their travel goals, experiences, recommendations, travel hacks, and more. Connect with other like-minded brothers by becoming a member.

LGBT Travel Groups

• LGBTQ Travel – Welcome to LGBTQ Travel. This group is for everyone who loves to travel any chance you get. From flying to another city for a pride celebration to traveling across the world for an adventure. A place to network and share your travel tips, advice and maybe find a couch to crash on.
• Man Expeditions ( Community Travel Group for Guys)   – The primary goal of this club is to help bring like-minded guys together through positive adventure travel initiatives and to build new meaningful friendships while giving back to wildlife & environmental conservation projects through our participation
• Lesbian Travel   – Welcome to Lesbian (& GBTQ) Travel This is a place where we can all connect. This is a safe haven if you are looking for travel tips, advice, or just want to meet some of your fellow queer travelers.
• Pride (Girls LOVE Travel ®   – #gLt Pride is an official subgroup of Girls LOVE Travel to have everyone have a place to talk and gab about experiences while traveling the globe and either being directly part of the LGBTQ community or supporting as an ally.
• Lesbian Travel Club   – This group is for discussion of Lesbian Travel.
• O&A Gay Travel   – A new gay travel web site with vacation options never before targeted to the gay and LGBT consumer; National Park Tours, California Wine Country, Pacific Coast bike tours, culinary vacations, Alaska adventure cruises, and so much more coming soon.

Did I miss any poppin' travel Facebook groups people should know about? ⇣ Drop them in the comments below. ⇣

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Is there a good group for travelers (both male and female in one group ) over 50?

I’m not an expert in that arena, my audience is recent grads and 20’s, so I don’t know! I’m sorry!

Thanks, these are so helpful! I am curious if you have ever come across any legit, alive Brown/South Asian travel groups, would love to know some. 🙂

I’m looking for a Facebook group for individuals traveling on a safari to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar or something close. All groups that I find are companies promoting their travel tours.

I’d recommend maybe looking for expat communities in Kenya or Tanzania. What’s your goal with the Facebook group?

Great list, I would also recommend the Travel Fashion Girl group, awesome for packing tips.

Thanks for the great list. Can you recommend any working holiday face book pages? I’m thinking of starting one.

I don’t know of any! If you make it, I will add it to the list 🙂

Great list! You should include Black Travel Lounge! https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlackTL

I ran across your web site. I loved it. I’m a 68 married female. I want to travel different states in the United States. My husband does not want to travel real bad. I would like to meet women who loves to travel also. What is the best Facebook travel site for that.

I think Girls Love Travel, and Solo Female Travel Network will be great for what you’re looking for!

Excellent suggestions!

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Gabby Beckford

Gabby is a multi-awardwinning creator. She is a full-time travel influencer, Gen Z travel marketing expert, and public speaker. You'll find her featured in the likes of Good Morning America, National Geographic, CNNTravel, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, and even the TEDx stage.

More than Havana: 5 Other Must-Visit Destinations in Cuba

Are shampoo bars good for curly travelers i tried 5, here are my thoughts..

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Slide into the DM’s or Schedule a Call with one of the team.

Group travel is perfect for those people that hate the idea of planning and just want hassle free adventures from start to finish. You’ll be sharing the adventure with other travellers just like you and you’ll have an instant group of friends from the moment you arrive. Our groups will arrive as complete strangers on Day 1 and by the time they leave they’ll all be best friends.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling solo, coming with a friend or doing it as a couple. Our trips are full of different people from all corners of the world. Group travel will allow you to see and experience much much more than travelling alone, leave the planning to the experts 😉

Absolutely! Our trips are built for solo travellers and believe us… sharing new experiences with a group of new friends is one of the best things you can do. A large majority of the people that travel with us are 1st time travellers doing it alone so don’t worry, you’ll never be alone with us.

Travelling solo is such an incredible way to see the world and joining a group tour is a perfect way to ease outside of your comfort zone.

On average we attract travellers between the ages of 22-32, but we also get younger travellers straight out of school as well as working professionals in their mid to late 30’s.

The minimum required age is 18 by law and we usually cap things at 39 but we have been know to take the odd solo traveller a little older than that if they’re feeling young at heart. If you are unsure the trip is for you or not, then drop us an email and let’s chat.

We keep our group sizes small with an average of 12-16 people per group so that everyone gets to know each other and experience things at a pace that is enjoyable for all.

It’s very easy to get thrown on these big tour groups of 20+ people where you just become a bum on a seat but that's not our style. We describe our trips as being ‘Less like a group tour and more like travelling with friends’.

Our team gets super pumped about helping travellers just like you plan for that next adventure. Either slide into the DM’s or Schedule a Call with 1 of the crew.

We include most of the big ticket items like accommodation, activities, local experiences, secret stops, local guides, a western group leader and a bunch of meals. We also include an airport pickup on arrival!

You’ll just need to sort your international flights, travel insurance, visas and spending money 🙌🏼

The accommodation on our trips is something we do better than anyone else and our trips definitely wouldn’t be the same without the awesome places we stay. We’ve handpicked these places to give you the perfect balance of comfort, security and convenience. We really do love where we stay and so do all our happy travellers 😍.

For all solo travellers we will pair you up with other travellers of the same sex… girls with girls & guys with guys. If you are travelling with a friend let us know and we can pair you together… same if you are travelling as a couple, we will arrange a double room where possible!

🥢 In Asia we stay in hotels, guest houses, homestays and unique locations like the floating bungalows in the Khao Sok National Park. Private room upgrades are available at an extra cost.

🐨 In Australia we have mixed-dorm hostel accommodation with the option to upgrade to a private room at an extra cost.

You sure can! We are a UK company hence why prices are all in GBP/£. This doesn’t mean we only allow British people on our tours, in fact we actually get many different nationalities joining us on tour!

Sure… why not!? The majority of the people that come on our trips come solo but we do get couples and friends coming together.

Friends that come together will be paired up in twin rooms and couples will be given a double room to themselves where possible (in Australia it will be dorm share accommodation with the option of a private upgrade).

Travelling with a friend or partner is such a special experience and has left us with such magical memories over the years with birthday surprises, engagements and even honeymoons.

We like to think our trips are the perfect balance of culture, adventure, chill time and party nights out. We definitely don’t class ourselves as a party tour but we are a social bunch that enjoy having the odd night out with our new travel buddies.

Rest assured we understand that partying/drinking isn’t for everyone and if you’d rather go exploring night markets or would rather have a quiet night… no worries… we get it! After all, it’s your trip, if you’d prefer a chilled one, that's ok with us 😃

It’s super important that you get yourself covered for your trip with us. It’s not expensive and certainly does give you and your loved ones peace of mind. We actually require all customers to show proof of cover at the beginning of the tour. We’ll need to see your name, area of cover and dates that the insurance is valid.

International flights to and from our destinations are not included in the tour price. Once you’ve booked your trip you’ll need to get your flights booked ASAP. During the booking process we do offer return airport transfers as an add-on. You can create a booking here to see how it all works!

You don’t need much at all considering almost all of the big ticket items are included! We suggest no less than £300 to be safe… some people spend less and some more, it really depends on your spending habits. If you love shopping or are prone to a few more big nights than the average person you could spend more. You can spend far less if you are tight with your budget but this kind of average works well for most.

We always recommend when travelling to a new country that you have some form of local currency with you. Having some money exchanged already will give you something to spend at the airport when you land.

We would recommend getting a Wise card as they have great exchange rates and it stops you from getting stung by your bank for withdrawing overseas. Wise cards don’t just make things easier but they make it safer as you can use your main bank account as a backup.

It’s very common for our travellers not to just come and do 1 trip but combine them together. After all, the flight tickets are not cheap! Most of our trips are programmed in a way that you can finish 1 trip and start the other on the same day. If you need help with the planning just let us know!

This is a question we recently added to our FAQ’s as we hear it time and time again so we wanted to give you all a few ways to verify who we are;

• We are a UK registered company No.10549017
• Read our reviews on Facebook , Google & Trustpilot
• Join our Facebook Group ‘Feel Free Family’
• Follow our journey on Instagram

Booking your trip couldn’t be easier, find a trip that takes your fancy, pick a date, reserve your spot with a deposit and get that flight booked…

We always recommend reserving your spot before booking your flight. When our trips are full… unfortunately they are FULL 😬 Check out our ‘How it Works’ page for more information.

Booking flights can be a bit of a headache...we get that. That’s why we’ve taken that annoying travel agent out the equation and introduced the super simple price comparison option. Check out our ‘Flights’ page to find out more and read lots more questions and answers about booking your flights.

You sure can! In fact, that's generally what most people do. There are usually lots of options when it comes to flights but once the trips are full... they’re full. Let’s get you booked onto the trip with one of our low deposits and then book the flights soon after!

There are 3 easy ways to pay off your trip;

✅ Option 1: Leave a £99 deposit and pay the rest no later than 60 days before (We’ll remind you as this date approaches so no worries).

✅ Option 2: Leave a £1 deposit and jump on our monthly payment plans (We’ll split the total balance so you can pay an equal amount at the start of each month).

✅ Option 3: Pay the full balance at the time of booking (this option comes with zero worries and let’s just let that countdown begin… yewww 🤙🏼).

If you opt for the £99 option and would like to pay a chunk off your balance… no worries! Just reply to your confirmation email with the amount and the bookings team will send a payment link via email right away.

No worries! Our payment plans are designed to give you ultimate flexibility. If you miss a payment, don't stress… we will just add it to your final balance which is due no later than 60 days before your tour.

We recommend booking your spot sooner rather than later as our trips do tend to fill up fast. We typically list our tour dates 18 months in advance and it’s not uncommon for dates to go full 6 months ahead of time. Don’t miss the boat 🙈

If you’re a solo traveller and would prefer your own room for the extra bit of privacy or because you know you’re a bit of a snorer then we can arrange that for you. You can upgrade your trip by selecting ‘Private Double’ during the booking process. You can also do that here !

It’s completely up to you, either book and pay together or do it separately. Booking together means all payments need to be together whereas doing it separately makes it a little more individual. It’s not uncommon for people to travel together, just go for the share option and make a note at the final stages that you’ll be travelling together (if you decide to book separately) and we’ll make sure you’re paired up in a room.

Good job, you’re another step closer to that big adventure! If you haven't already, now it's time to book those flights, we’ve put some tips together here on booking flights here . You’ll receive an ‘Arrival Guide’ from us 5-6 weeks before your trip with some important information to help with your trip preparation. But until then… set the countdown timer and follow along on our Instagram for some more travel inspo!

Your balance needs to be completely paid off no later than 60 days before your tour date. Don’t worry, our system will generate reminders via email so you won’t forget! If you're booking a date within the next few months you’ll only have the option to ‘Pay in Full’ 🙌🏼

We accept almost all major card providers including Visa, Mastercard and AMEX

Our prices are advertised in £/GBP but you can pay using any overseas credit or debit card. Our system will charge in £/GBP and you’ll be charged by your bank with their own exchange rate. We don’t charge any fees for overseas bookings, in fact we actually consume the fees from our merchant provider that come with bookings from outside of the UK/Europe. If you’re having any issues then get in touch and we’ll see what we can do to help.

It sure is! Once you’ve reserved your spot your booking with us is secured. The only way you’ll lose your spot is by missing the payment reminders at the 60 day cut off or not making subsequent payments after leaving a £1 deposit (You will need to pay at least 1 of the first 2 instalments of the payment plan to avoid losing your spot on the trip). Let us know via the DM’s if you have any issues.

We understand that sometimes life plays silly games and can sometimes get in the way. That’s why we offer free and flexible date changes. If you let us know at least 60 days before your trip we’ll guarantee we can change your date for free. Plus if you don’t have a date in mind right away we can set your booking to open-dated as all our deposits are good for life!

If something comes up within 60 days, just reply to your confirmation email with your situation and 1 of the bookings team will get in touch and see what we can do… no promises 🙏🏻

Any deposit that you pay for any of our trips will last a lifetime. Even if you don’t go ahead with the trip for whatever reason and you have to cancel, the deposit paid will stay on our system for life until you’re old and wrinkly and ready to join us on an adventure. Ok… maybe don’t wait that long 😉

When you’re ready to travel you can just reply to your original confirmation email and the team will allocate your deposit to the tour and date of your choice (any price changes will need to be applied at the time of re-booking).

I guess you need to ask yourself… What is it that’s stopping me? If you’re looking for a new adventure and want to share it with likeminded people then you’re in the right place. We as a company specialise in making solo travel easy for young travellers. Why not ‘Schedule a Call’ with one of the team and we can chat through some of your concerns before you make that big decision 👍🏼

Before you arrive it's super important to have the appropriate visas for the countries in which you are travelling. On each of our destination pages you can find information specific to the country, also we’ve put together an ‘Unofficial’ Visa Guide for Asia & Australia . It’s important to note that it’s your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa when you travel, we will try our best to help but we are not visa/immigration experts.

There are no specific vaccinations that you need for any of the destinations we travel but there are vaccinations that your doctor may recommend having as a precaution. That's why we advise just paying a visit to your local GP if you’re unsure. They will know what jabs you’ve previously had and which you need to update. All destinations and areas we travel are low risk but best to be on the safe side. Click here for a useful resource provided by the UK government .

Of course! In fact we actually suggest arriving a day or 2 early if you have the time to allow extra time to recover from that long flight. It’s not essential but why not extend that trip by a few days if you can!?

You can add extra nights accommodation at the time of booking or by replying to your confirmation email and 1 of the crew will get it added to your booking right away. If you book pre-tour accommodation with us we’ll be able to pick you up from the airport also 🙌🏼

There sure will! Some people like it to be a surprise and meet their new travel family when they arrive...others want to get chatting straight away. We’ve got our own private Facebook group, Feel Free Family, for you to meet other travellers. Add yourself into the group and make a post asking who else has booked or thinking about booking the same date as you. We’ll also be setting up a private Whatsapp group 2 weeks before the tour and we’ll invite you in via a link in the ‘Welcome Email’.

You sure will, 6-8 weeks before the trip we’ll be sending an ‘Arrival Guide’ with a bunch of information to help you prepare for the trip. This will include safety and cultural tips plus a packing list.

Most people do prefer travelling with a backpack and it’s generally easier when moving around but it’s not uncommon for some travellers to bring a suitcase. We suggest bringing something you are comfortable with carrying and lugging around.

We suggest not going crazy with the packing and keeping it simple. Try and bring loose/floaty clothing that isn’t too thick or heavy. No need to bring heels or walking boots. We limit the luggage to 20kg per person. Best to leave the kitchen sink behind 🤣

Throughout the trip there will be a few opportunities to do laundry but we always suggest bringing enough underwear and essentials for the full trip. Your Group Leader will let you know the best time to do laundry but this usually doesn’t happen until 4 or 5 days into the tour.

At all the hotels we stay there will be towels provided to be used for showering and freshening up. We suggest buying a microfibre towel as they are small and dry fast for using on the beach and swimming.

No, you are responsible for getting your own travel insurance. Check out our ‘Travel Insurance’ page where we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to get a quote...it’s not going to cost you much if you buy it before you travel.

You may be asked for the address of the hotel you’ll be staying at your final destination when applying for visas or completing any immigration documentation. You’ll have this provided to you in the ‘Arrival Guide’ email that we send 5-6 weeks before your trip.

The best place to get a local SIM is when you arrive at the airport. There is usually a heap of options when you land before or after customs. They will take your phone, put the new SIM in and get it activated with the plan of your choice (It’s normally quite cheap and will give you plenty of data and often local calls too). Be sure to check with your phone provider back home whether your phone is unlocked before you leave home.

Our awesome Group Leader will be your best friends/big brother or sister throughout the tour answering all of your weird and wonderful questions. YES… they literally do have the best job in the world and their passion for sharing awesome experiences with you all is very apparent. They’ll usually introduce themselves in the Feel Free Family Group and again via the Whatsapp Group 2 weeks before your trip. You’ll get to meet them face to face at the accommodation once your checked in and settled.

We suggest aiming to arrive as early as possible on the 1st day, this isn’t essential but we’ll head out for dinner and drinks late afternoon/early evening. If you get in during the morning/early afternoon you’ll have time to relax, have a shower and go for a wander. Don’t stress if you can’t find a flight that works, the main activities start on the morning of day 2.

You sure can! We actually recommend it to those people doing longer journeys as you’ll no doubt be tired and appreciate that time to recharge before we get stuck into it.

Anyone staying at our accommodation that arrives on Day 1 or decides to book extra nights with us will be picked up by our trusted drivers at the airport. They’ll be stood waiting at the airport with a Feel Free Travel sign so you’ll have no issues finding them 👍🏼

We’ll send everyone up to date arrival instructions 2 weeks before the trip with exactly where to meet the driver. Once you get picked up we’ll get you back to the hotel and checked in. If your flight is running late don’t worry, we’ll be tracking it on Google and will wait for you to arrive.

We will pick you up from the airport and get you all settled in. If you arrive earlier in the day then we’ll give you some ideas of things to do so that you can explore the local area with others that have already arrived. In the evening it’s time to meet your new travel family and we’ll take you out to one of our favourite spots for dinner and drinks.

Every country is different and the modes of transport we use can vary quite throughout each trip. Where possible we always use private transport but from time to time we may join others on public transport where needed.

Taxis, coaches, overnight trains/buses, ferries, domestic flights or even Tuk Tuk’s.. .we can assure you we plan our trips to make travelling around as comfortable as we can.

Almost all of our accommodations on all of our trips have wifi so you can contact your friends and family back at home whilst you’re travelling. There are certain places we visit that don't but we will always give you notice in advance so that you can prepare and let your loved ones know at home you may be unreachable.

Our trips have been crafted in a way to give you the maximum experience possible! With that said we know that free/chill time is essential when travelling solo, we all need that little alone time to shop, grab a message/pedicure or even just chill with a cocktail for sunset. We plan free time in the places we know you’ll want/need it most. If you ever feel like you need a little extra down time, just communicate with your Group Leader and they’ll help find that time you need for yourself. There's no pressure from us at all!

We understand that free time for some is not always ‘chill time’ but an opportunity to find new and exciting adventures along the way. Your Group Leader will be able to help with ideas on how to spend your time in the best way possible. Whether that be exploring the local area, going shopping or tasting more of the delicious street food.

Oh don’t forget… free time is great for facetiming your friends/family back home. This will definitely get them jealous with all the FOMO 🤣

You’re reading this because you're not a morning person right? Well don’t worry, we won't be dragging you out of bed for any unnecessary early starts. Occasionally we may plan an early start because we have a travel day or maybe we want to catch a sunrise somewhere special but we are fully aware everyone needs a bit of a sleep in now and then… including us!

On all of our trips we include a bunch of meals along the way. You can see exactly how many meals that are included in ‘The Details’ section on the specific trip pages. Most of the places we stay include breakfast but there’s nothing we love more than taking you to some of our favourite local spots!

The balance of meals included and giving you the freedom to choose for yourself is something we love about our trips. If you fancy a Mcdonalds instead of a Pad Thai… no worries… go for it! 😋

We’ll always do our very best to make sure you have delicious meals along the way no matter what your dietary requirements. You’ll be asked during the booking process and again during ‘Check in’ , be sure to share as much information as possible to help us prepare for your arrival.

Mmmmhh making us hungry thinking about it… some of the food served on the side of the street by local vendors will be some of the tastiest and cheapest food you’ll have on your travels. But YES… street food is just as safe as your local pub (often fresher and much taster!).

Although all the activities are included, that doesn't mean you need to take part in absolutely everything. Of course we’d love you to join in on all the amazing experiences but this is your adventure and no ones going to force you to do anything. If you’re not so confident doing something or you really did just want to relax instead, don't feel guilty.

Throughout our trips, we will be visiting some viewpoints in various locations to get the best views (believe us it's always worth the hard work!) We would say an average fitness level is just fine in order to join us at the top.

If for any reason you can’t take part due to fitness levels or injury that's absolutely fine, we’ll try our best to give you as much notice/preparation as possible.

Safety is the our #1 priority over everything… including having a good time! It’s something we take very seriously and understand our responsibility and duty of care for our travellers. From choosing accommodations that are in a safe location to ensuring everyone knows how to get back from a night out… we’ve thought about everything to keep all our travellers safe from the moment you arrive until you leave us.

Some of the most obvious things to consider while travellers are;

💪🏼 Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water 💪🏼 Always wear sunscreen and reapply often 💪🏼 Keep yourself well fed throughout the day 💪🏼 Stay up to date with your routine vaccinations 💪🏼 Try a bit of exercise while on the road…

All our Group Leaders carry a first aid kit at all times for any minor injuries. If the situation is more serious and requires medical assistance or professional advice then we have a list of the closest, best and most trusted international hospitals in each area we travel. If something serious were to happen during the trip then we will ask you to inform your family ASAP or we’ll get in touch ourselves if necessary. It’s very important that you have your travel insurance documents to hand if a hospital visit is needed (this can be both a digital or physical copy, they will need a policy number, date of coverage, area of cover and your full name printed on the document).

If for any reason someone at home can’t manage to get in touch with you then we’d advise they call the Feel Free Travel office. The team will then immediately get in touch with your Group Leader who has a local number and is contactable almost all of the time.

We’ll also request your emergency contact details during ‘check in’ to ensure we can reach home if and when necessary.

You’re going to meet some incredible people throughout your trip, some of them you’ll be insanely close to (local guides and group leaders), others you’ll meet for just a few hours at a restaurant or local experience. We as a company encourage tipping as we feel it’s a great way to give back to those that have given you the time of your life. If you feel that your experience has been nothing short of AWESOME… why not leave a tip for those that made it happen. If you put aside £20/$25 in tips throughout the trip you’ll leave with a whole heart that’s for sure 🥰

All our tours finish on the morning of the final day, this will give you plenty of time to get back to the airport ready for that flight home or onto your next destination.

The truth is it really depends from group to group… sometimes we’ll have a whole bunch of people hanging out once the tour has finished travelling for days, weeks and even months together. But others you’ll have many people going separate ways. As the trip unfolds you’ll soon learn about each other's travel plans and share ideas for what adventures lie ahead. The hardest part is saying your goodbyes and giving your last big hugs to the people who are leaving straight after the trip finishes.

You sure can, our Group Leaders are available throughout the trip to chat about your onward travel plans. They will be there to offer help and assistance when it comes to booking flights, taxis, buses, and ferries. It’s always a good idea to get your flights booked before you arrive including any internal flights for after your tour.

It’s a good idea to book your return flight late afternoon or even later that evening on the final day. This will give you plenty of time to get back to the airport ready for that connecting flight.

You sure can, we suggest waiting until you arrive and chat with your Group Leader. You might have a bunch of ideas now but after chatting with the rest of the group and getting a feel for things you might change your mind. This is why we don’t offer the option to extend your trip before you arrive.

It’s very common for our travellers not to just come and do 1 trip but combine them together. After all, the flight tickets are not cheap! Most of our trips are programmed in a way that you can finish 1 trip and start the other on the same day.

We’ve actually written a whole blog on this as it’s pretty important you arrive as early as possible. Click here to read more .

It would be a real shame to lock up all our travel tips. Some people are just on a short break from work and others are on a slightly longer backpacking adventure. Either way your Group Leader will help you plan anything from a return airport transfer to giving you a bunch of awesome ideas for the rest of your time in South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Your feedback is so important to us and it only makes our trips even better. We’ve not only listened to our travellers' comments but we’ve used it to improve our trips year on year to make all our trips the best they possibly can be.

There is no requirement set by us for you to be vaccinated while on tour. Some destinations do require you to be vaccinated to enter, it’s important to double check the entry requirements before you travel.

Just like vaccination, there are no requirements set by us for you to provide a negative COVID test result to partake in our trips. It’s important that you check the entry requirements for the country you are travelling to yourself as these requirements change frequently.

Travel is very much BACK, life is returning to normal and the destinations that we visit throughout our tours are already seeing a significant increase in travellers.

Marine life has had time to recover, local communities have had time to reflect and we‘ve made good use of this time to rebuild our experiences so we are even better than ever before!

The trips themselves are running as normal. We do anticipate a few small changes along the way but we don’t expect that to be hugely significant or detrimental to the experience.

As you may know already, we offer a completely hassle-free booking experience with unlimited date changes. If your trip couldn’t go ahead we’d; 1) Give you the option to set a new date later down the road 2) Get yourself booked onto the next available departure in one of our other destinations 3) Put your trip on hold until you’re ready to travel again at a later date. There is no time limit on when you need to travel.

If you’d like to postpone your trip to a later date because you are concerned about the ongoing COVID pandemic, we would ask that you get in touch via the DM’s and chat with one of the crew. If your trip is more than 60 days from today you can just reply to your booking confirmation email and we’ll make any necessary changes right away.

We’d always suggest booking flights with reputable airlines that offer flexible booking conditions (free date changes). It’s also a good idea where possible to book directly with the airline rather than going through a travel agent. This can often result in a slightly higher fare but we strongly recommend this option. TIP: You can still use Skyscanner/Momondo/Google Flights as flight comparison websites to search for options before going direct with the airline.

Our Group Leaders are the best in the industry… we have a small family of staff that absolutely love what they do. We’ve all come together and shared our experience of both safe and practical COVID best practices. We understand that things are not black and white but our experienced crew will ensure that you’re kept safe during your time travelling with us.

We are constantly revising and updating all health and safety procedures in line with guidance from the local authorities, WHO (World Health Organisation), FCO and US State Department. These procedures will be followed to the letter to ensure all travellers are kept safe while on tour.

Backpack or Suitcase - What is Best for Travelling?

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• Hi everyone! Finally after months of searching I’ve found a tour that includes a bit of everything I want to do! Going to book the 15 day Thailand tour! 10 Comments View
• I had the absolutely BEST time of my life last year when I went solo backpacking for the first time! It wouldn't have been nearly as fun or easy without the Feel Free family! 2 Comments View
• As requested by Mathew James Stirland, here is my photo book from Thailand. Was there exactly one year ago before all this covid mess 😩 7 Comments View
• Hey guys 👋 I know that I'm not going to thailand till next year but what kind of luggage is best to take??🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ 4 Comments View
• My boyfriend and I are going to the Thailand 9 day tour with Feel Free!! May 23-31!! Let me know if anyone is going then. ☺️ 1 Comments View
• Waheeeeeey! Thailand feb 2022 who’s joining?! Got a couple of questions about flights Ect! So excited! 3 Comments View
• Hey there! I'm not sure whether I can post this but I just wanted some advice about travel after the 15 day Vietnam trip that I'm going to do late next year. 9 Comments View
• Baby Natalie getting a little bigger every time we see her! 🐘 4 Comments View
• Sri Lanka Feb 2022 crew… where you at?! ✌🏽🇱🇰✈️ 1 Comments View
• Happy Anniversary legends!🌴 Exactly 1 year we landed in Bangkok to meet our new travel family 🙌🏻 Thanks everyone for making this trip so special❤️ 11 Comments View
• Wooo! The countdown has begun 🙂! Who else is coming to Thailand Jan 22 2022! 2 Comments View
• Not much longer until I am back in one of the most beautiful places Thailand has to offer! Khao Sok National Park, we are coming for you! 🌊🏔 17 Comments View
• Throw back to our epic times in Thailand.. it was amazing meeting all of you and the people on this trip really did make our adventure one never to forget! 2 Comments View
• Just booked me and my man onto an October 2021 9 day Thailand trip. Wanted to do it for years so excited. First trip with feel free they have been so helpful already. 4 Comments View
• The countdown is on for Thailand 🇹🇭 . Sent my last payment and I am pumped to see this incredible place 😍 1 Comments View
• I'm looking to book sri Lanka for end of march next year. I've never done anything like this n never travelled alone before, so nervous and excited at the same time... 17 Comments View
• ‘Did we just become best friends!?’ 😆 4 Comments View
• Does anyone recommend any essentials for a 15 day trip to Thailand? 😊🇹🇭 4 Comments View
• Hi everyone 👋🏼 I’ve just recently joined this group and I was wondering if anyone is booked for the 15 day trip to Thailand beginning of January... 6 Comments View
• I miss my feel free family ❤ I CAN'T wait for Vietnam in March ✈🌍🙌 3 Comments View
• Would just like to say a huge thank you to the guys for rearranging my Thailand trip. I have now booked Vietnam and Sri Lanka for 2022 and im very excited!! 2 Comments View
• Hey! Anyone booked on the Sri Lanka trip in April? 🇱🇰🤙 16 Comments View
• Awww can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since we were all in Sri Lanka for the first trip of 2020. Miss all you legends! Even you Ryan Kinsey 😉😘 7 Comments View
• Anyone going to Thailand on the 12th of April? Got a group chat going if you want to join 😊🐘🇹🇭🙌🏻 6 Comments View
• Hi guys, I was thinking of booking the 15 day Thailand trip, and I was just wondering if anyone who's done it had any advice/recommendations? 😊 7 Comments View
• Myself and Shelly Welly have just booked Sri Lanka for January 22 and Thailand/Vietnam for February 22, so excited!! 6 Comments View
• need some help with packing information lol. How is everyone packing? Backpack and luggage 9 Comments View
• Has anyone got tips for sorting Visas out? 2 Comments View
• Hey everyone, New here and just booked to go to Thailand 🇹🇭 next November!!! So excited 😆🤗💓 7 Comments View
• Booked on to April 15 night tour, when would be the best time for booking flights? 2 Comments View
• So gonna be booking 15 day thailand tour with a friend on the 6th, for next summer. I can imagine anytime is a good time but is there a best time for the summer? 11 Comments View
• Sri Lanka March booked ✔ 9 Comments View
• Have just booked onto the Sri Lanka tour for Feb 22! Super excited! Has anyone else? 🤩 5 Comments View
• With the world starting to plan its re-opening...who’s pumped for travel!? 🏝 26 Comments View
• Last night with these absolute legends in Sri Lanka !!! 🇱🇰🌊🛺✌🏻✨ I have so much love for you guys !!!🥰 5 Comments View

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Almost Free Travel: 8 Steps

You really can get almost free travel. We’ve done it, so I wanted to share tips that you can take advantage of to save big!

Our family loves to travel, and we do it a lot! Friends are always asking me how we manage to go so often, so I’m sharing my top tips so you can take advantage of them, too.

In the past few years, our family has been to Mexico, Costa Rica, California, Belize, Utah, and all over Florida, where we now live.

Most of the hotels and almost all of the airfare was paid for with points.

In fact, I was at a conference, and because my husband was a Gold member at the hotel family I was staying at, I got an upgrade to the presidential suite!

Many properties will upgrade you when you get to a certain level. If they don’t have a regular upgrade (like from an inside view to a pool view) they will upgrade you to what they do have.

In my case, they only had the presidential suite! This is why it’s important to try to stay with one brand of hotels as much as you can. 

My hope is that your family will travel more with these 8 Steps to Almost Free Travel.

How do we do it? There are a 8 simple steps that you can take that will start you on your way to traveling (almost) for free. 

Join Rewards Programs

Join the rewards program for the airline you fly most. Southwest Rapid Rewards program is my favorite. Between my husband and I both traveling a lot, I fly free with him now with the companion pass.

Apply for the Credit Card for your Preferred Airline

Apply for a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card, or the card for your preferred airline.

Google it and see if you can find a promotion. Most offer sign up promotions, and sometimes do double points.

Why do I love Southwest Airlines? 

• They are always wonderful to fly with.
• You get 2 free checked bags.
• They’re make funny announcements.
• You can earn free drink coupons. (The announcements are even funnier after you use the drink coupons. Just sayin’.)

We plan our vacations based on where Southwest flies. I will add here that we flew to Costa Rica with Jet Blue last year and loved them, too.

Once you get the card, use it for everything. *Please see the note below.

Apply for Hotel Rewards Credit Cards

Apply for a hotel rewards credit card. My favorites right now are Marriott & Hilton.

You can use the Southwest points for air and the Marriott or Hilton for the hotel.

Many people rule out Marriott & Hilton thinking they are too expensive, but there are many lower priced hotels in the Marriott & Hilton family.

Always Sign Up for the Hotel Rewards Program

Always sign up for the hotel rewards program anytime you book a reservation. It’s free, and they add up! Always use it when you register at the hotel.

Though they can look you up, it’s best to keep your rewards numbers in your notes.

Use your Rewards Credit Cards for Everything

Use your rewards credit cards for everything you can. This means groceries, gas, utilities, even doctors!

*Here’s the key; pay it off each month! If you cannot discipline yourself to do this, stop right here. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Seriously.

You can get your family in a lot of trouble by running up credit cards and not paying them off each month.

Eat at the Hotel Restaurant

Provided it’s not awful, when staying at a hotel, eat at the hotel restaurant at least once. Many let you acquire points for that, too! Be sure to ask!

Don’t Pay for Anything with Cash at the Hotel

Don’t pay for anything with cash at the hotel. If they have a gift shop and you buy something, put it on your room. Get coffee and a bagel in the morning? Put it on your room. Those points add up!

Subscribe to Hotel Newsletters

Subscribe to the newsletter for the hotels you like best.

They frequently have specials where you get double points if you can stay with them during certain times.

I hope this guide to almost free travel was helpful to you. We are able to travel so much because we do all of the above.

You might also want to grab this FREE Printable packing list set with a list for every season of the year!

I’d love to hear about how it’s helped you! Please come back and share in the comments.

More Travel Tips

• Cruise Packing List Printable & Tips to Help You Pack
• How to Save Money on Cruising
• How to Book Luxury Air Travel
• Doctor Suggested International Travel List
• 6 Ways to Save on Food when Traveling

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40 Comments

I haven’t started doing this yet but I am planning to in the near future.

The “Credit Card Fly” is a good place to subscribe to, if this is exactly what you want to do. It give you the latest offers from different credit cards and it tells you exactly how to gain points.

I hope my post was helpful

Thank you, Reanne. That is great information! I so appreciate you taking the time to share. Thanks for visiting!

thanks for the tips i am hoping to get away a few times this year and use some of your ideas

thanks for this post!!

One of the things I do is sign up on the actual airline and hotel websites, not things like Travelzoo or whatever. The actual airlines and hotels tend to give a better discount than those sites do. Also, depending on the city you will be visiting, contact the local visitor’s center, or Chamber of Commerce, and ask if you can have guides or if they have coupons or deals you should know about. I did that when going to California, and got major discounts on park admissions and other things.

These are great tips. Never really thought about the points system but I will have to start looking into these things.

Great tips! I’m sure going to sign up for hotel rewards!

great tips love travel

We are retired and got into a mess with credit cards over our head they are almost all paid off now less than &5,000 so No Credit Cards we still have 1 but we don’t use it All this sounds great but most people can’t do it

great tips but dont have the money for a vacation

These are some great tips to help save money when traveling!

we are planing big trip to california to universal studio,we dont travel much.But this info will be very helpfull to us,thanks!

I just signed up for Hilton Honors Points and they email specials to me all the time! Unfortunetly we dont fly much, but we are going to Cozumel next December! Thank you for sharing all your great tips!

Any way I can get points if it’s free I subscribe as my money is hard earned as well. I might as well get the most out of it that I can.

Great tips for saving on those vacations. Everyone needs a vacation and you might as well take advantage of the reward programs

Wow, you guys are really well-traveled! Thanks for the tips!

love this post=I’ve been trying to score free travel since I’ve been trying to go on one big trip every year.

I would so use this if we took vacations but of right now we are focusing on remodeling our home boo

if i could afford a vac, i would use these ideas. when i have to fly i am also checking the many diff websites

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My Secret to Weeks of Free Lodging in Europe

I wanted to stay in apartments or houses—but i was a brand-new college grad on a budget.

This is One Thing , a column with tips on how to live.

After I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to travel for a few months, so I secured a part-time job that could be done remotely. I didn’t want to do my work shifts from a hostel bunk bed or random cafés that stayed open late. (I’d be in Europe, thanks to an EU passport, and my gig was based in the states.) Paying for Airbnbs the entire trip would eat up way too much of my paychecks. It was kismet that just as I was starting to plan my travels, my friend sent me a video about a couple traveling the world and dog-sitting along the way, using an app called Trusted Housesitters .

As an avid dog lover, I thought it was perfect. I paid a little over $100 to make an account, then started browsing housesits around the world. I adorned my profile with pictures of me and the various dogs in my life, and applied for opportunities across the ocean. Before I had even left the United States, I had three gigs set up: I’d spend about 10 days in Scotland and Wales, then three weeks in Amsterdam.

Just like when setting up drinks through a dating app, you do have to be vigilant and pay attention for red flags when talking to potential hosts. My stay in Scotland was less than ideal for many reasons—the situation could have been easily avoided if I had listened to my gut and declined that gig. (The app does do background checks, and there’s an opportunity for both sides to leave reviews, meaning you don’t go in completely unaware.) But the other dog-sits were fantastic. One experience went so well that last fall, I returned to Amsterdam to once again to dog-sit Pretzel, a lovely Maltipoo, while her parents got married and went on their honeymoon.

Although I opted for longer sits abroad, there is also the option to just watch a furry friend stateside for a weekend. (If you do go internationally, be mindful that you might potentially need a work visa.) I just checked the app, and as I’m writing this, there are opportunities available in cities that include Austin, Atlanta, and Boulder.

Of course, you have the responsibility of taking care of someone else’s dog—you need to do some planning and can’t just leave the pet alone all day, and the owners don’t pay you. But the free accommodations feel like a fair exchange to me. I also love that many of the dog-sit locations are in more residential areas, so you’re able to experience local life in whatever city you’re in. Plus, you get to hang with a cute dog. What could be better?

Update, April 29, 2024: This piece has been updated to clarify the documentation needed to housesit internationally.

Report finds Minnesota outpacing the country in carbon-free electricity

For the fourth straight year, Minnesota produced more than half its electricity from carbon-free sources in 2023, helping lead to a 10 percent annual drop in climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.

Those are two of the main findings from the 2024 Minnesota Energy Factsheet released Tuesday by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.

The report found that 54 percent of the electricity in Minnesota comes from carbon-free sources, including renewable sources like wind, solar and hydropower, along with nuclear power. That compares to 41 percent nationally.

Minnesota lawmakers passed a law last year requiring that utilities in the state generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2040.

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“We’re already more than halfway on our goal of 100 percent,” said Amelia Cerling Hennes, managing director of Clean Energy Economy Minnesota. “And we know that we need to speed that up. But it’s important to celebrate the wins that we’re also seeing.”

For the past seven years, the Business Council — a group of trade associations and companies from the energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural gas sectors — has drilled down on Minnesota data, in addition to compiling a national report.

“Minnesota really does better than the U.S. overall,” said Tara Narayanan, an analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, who researched the report.

“In 2023 the emissions coming out of the power system in Minnesota were at their lowest level ever. And it’s very likely that the trend will continue downwards from here,” she said.

Minnesota’s power sector carbon emissions are down 54 percent compared to 2005 levels. That outstrips the national reduction of 42 percent, according to the report.

The electric power sector has been the “runaway success story” when it comes to reducing carbon emissions in Minnesota, Narayanan said.

Most of what the state has done to reduce emissions has come from retiring coal-fired power plants and replacing them with renewable technologies like wind and solar, or natural gas plants, which burn fossil fuels but create fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal plants.

But other sectors, she said, including transportation, industry and agriculture, aren’t “pulling their weight.”

In the past year, the amount of the state’s electricity produced by renewable sources increased from 31 to 33 percent, according to the report. About 600 megawatts of wind and solar was added to the electric grid.

“We’re anticipating that that’s going to be even higher next year as some of the large utility-scale projects that are being built right now come online,” said Cerling Hennes.

When Eden Prairie-based EVS Engineering started designing solar substations and storage facilities 10 years ago, what president Andy Kim considered a large project was 5 megawatts. Now the average-sized project his company builds is 200 megawatts, he said.

“With the continuous improvement that we see in our industry, I’m certain that we’ll see prices continue to drop,” Kim said. “It just becomes a really compelling argument to continue to build renewables.”

The percentage of the state’s power generated by coal has been slashed by more than half over the past decade, as giant power plants have been shuttered, including the first unit of Xcel’s Sherco plant last year. All the state’s coal plants are scheduled to be retired by 2035.

To make up for that lost power, the percentage of the state’s electricity generated by renewables has increased by 12 percent over the past decade.

The state has also increasingly relied on natural gas to provide electricity. The share of the state’s electric power generated by natural gas has more than doubled in the past decade. It rose 7 percent just last year alone.

Meanwhile, electricity prices have continued to rise, roughly doubling in the past 20 years, due to infrastructure investments and fluctuating natural gas prices, according to the report. Rates in Minnesota are slightly below the national average.

The report also highlighted a surge in electric vehicle registrations, with a 55 percent increase from 2022.

• Xcel Energy hopes charging more for electricity during peak hours will encourage customers to shift energy use
• Minnesota electric vehicle rebates coming to qualified car buyers starting in April
• Minnesota’s energy future

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I got remarried, and I'm raising 3 boys in a blended family. Kid-free travel helps us bond as a couple.

• Sara Lyle and her husband both  went through divorces and now have  shared custody of three sons with their exes.
• They let off parental stress by getting away without the kids — a tactic recommended by experts as well.
• Kid-free travel allows them to reconnect as a couple and counteract the demands of blending a family.

Last Christmas, my youngest son got me a "Wonder Mom" coffee mug from his school's holiday fair. It's red and blue with yellow stars and makes me smile whenever I see it in the cupboard. While I appreciate the sweet gesture, the gift didn't come with any superpowers. If it did, they would come in handy on school days. Allow me to explain.

My husband and I are raising a blended family with three boys — 8, 13, and 15 — who each go to a different school with slightly different start times. We have one car, so ensuring they arrive before the last bell rings requires Swiss time-keeping precision.

To beat the clock, I get up at 6:30 a.m. and head downstairs to cook breakfast for the five of us while my husband takes care of waking up the kids. Most mornings, I make a few variations of breakfast because we have a mix of picky eaters and food allergies to accommodate, and I want to make sure they have something healthy-ish in their stomachs before leaving. There are medications and vitamins to remember, school IDs and water bottles to pack, and the dog needs to be fed, too.

Once the boys are off, my husband leaves for work, and I get started on my to-dos from the home office. After school, there are pickups, extracurricular activities, dinner, and bedtimes to juggle. My husband and I finally take off for the night around 9:30 p.m., assuming there isn't any last-minute laundry to do.

Parental burnout is on the rise

We aren't the only ones with a schedule like this — to say nothing of dealing with work, financial and other pressures — which is why it makes sense that parental burnout is so high .

A 2023 study by the American Psychological Association found that parents of children under 18 reported a significant increase in stress levels compared to pre-pandemic times. To be exact, 33% of parents now rate their stress between 8 and 10 on a 10-point scale, a 9% increase since 2019.

The APA also looked at the impact of parental burnout and recommended various strategies to "enhance resilience in parenting" such as going on vacations without the children or simply taking "microbreaks" throughout the day. This can be as simple as listening to a guided meditation in the car after running an errand.

While the microbreaks idea was a new one that I might try, my husband and I were already well-acquainted with the relationship-strengthening remedy of getting away sans kids. It makes me a better mom, too. Here's what I mean.

A balance of family vacations and solo getaways

Since my husband and I blended our households last year, we've been intentional about doing activities and outings with all three of the boys to create family memories and build some lifelong bonds.

So far, we've gone on some fun ones, including a long weekend in Colorado Springs for our wedding with the boys last summer. This fall, we're looking forward to a Caribbean cruise for a nephew's wedding.

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However, between orchestrating the travel logistics to refereeing flare-ups along the way, it can feel like we need a vacation from our family vacation when we get home.

Then, there are the realities of reentry: unpacking everything you packed before, washing the dirty clothes, putting away the laundry and luggage, and catching up on all the other stuff you missed while you were away. For us, multiply that by five.

Getting away as a couple ? It's a comparative breeze. Even just staying for a Friday or Saturday night in nearby Denver allows us to reconnect and recharge, making us better able to handle the ups and downs of modern-day parenting.

We weren't together, pre-kids

My husband and I were never a couple before having kids; we were with other partners. Now, because we share custody with our exes , there are times we are without all three of our sons. Missing them can be tough, but we cherish the opportunities we have to be as "cringe-y" as we want — a term used by our youngest regarding too much PDA — and have some non-parental fun.

Spring break this year was a blast, for example. We spent half the time soaking up the Florida sunshine, seeing family and friends in our shared hometown. Then, we hopped over to New Orleans to enjoy the French Quarter revelries and basically eat our way around town — minus any dietary restrictions from the kids.

Last fall was another adventure, hitting the streets of my old stomping grounds in New York City for five days. Stay up late, wake up late, rinse, and repeat. They don't call it the city that never sleeps for nothing.

Sure, there are heart-twinging moments when we think about the boys — what they might enjoy or find overwhelming about where we're visiting — but we wouldn't trade our kid-free trips for anything.

We learn about ourselves

One of my favorite things about travel, in general, is coming back a whole new person. Getting out of your comfort zone can transform the way you think or see the world. I have experienced this phenomenon in varying degrees at different times in my life, from the summer in high school when I stayed with a friend's family in France to the seven years my son and I lived in Singapore and had the chance to travel around Southeast Asia .

There are so many places my husband and I want to visit together, and we're eager to cross them off our now-shared bucket list.

Speaking of the list, we realize we probably have fewer years ahead of us than behind us, and we aren't waiting for retirement to enjoy the here and now. It's also wonderful to know I can explore the world with my favorite person at my side, holding my hand.

Traveling without our kids is not about abandoning ship, it's about refilling our cups. Child-free vacations might not be an option for everyone, but even a staycation can do wonders.

Got a personal essay about living abroad or parenting that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: [email protected] .

Watch: Why one mother fled Texas to keep her child safe

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