Are you tired of the conventional wisdom that says that you have to spend a lot of money to travel the world?
Well, it’s not true. In spite of the general consensus that you have to be rich to travel extensively, I will let you in on a little secret: not only is it possible to travel very cheaply, it’s also possible to travel completely for free.
The secret lies in completely discarding conventional “wisdom” about travel, and opening yourself up to creative possibilities.
There are a few “mindset” rules that will help you shift gears into traveling for free, or very near it:
• Money is, by far, not the primary requisite for world travel.
• You will sacrifice either time or money to travel, and you have to decide which. The more time you’re willing to spend on planning and being resourceful, the less money you’ll part with.
• Flexibility is key; the more open you can be about where and when you travel, the more low-cost and free opportunities open up to you.
• The longer you travel, the less expensive it becomes.
• The slower you travel, the more meaningful it becomes.
Now let’s look at eight of the specific methods that anyone can use, to travel for free or very close to it.
1. Frequent Flyer Programs
They may be getting a bad rap lately, but there are still plenty of opportunities to reap their rewards if you know how to play the game. Pick the right program and take advantage of all the ways you can earn miles, from credit cards to things you use anyway such as banking and utilities, and you can earn free tickets faster than you think.
2. Low Cost Airlines
All around the world, regional airlines exist that offer some of the most amazing deals. By knowing who they are, subscribing to their e-bulletins, and keeping up with their deals, you can often find flights where the only thing you have to pay for is the airport taxes.
3. Trains, Buses and Ferries
Don’t overlook alternate ways to travel. In keeping with the “slow travel” philosophy, if you have the time to spend utilizing these transportation methods, you will save huge amounts of money. In many parts of the world, traveling by train or boat is much more accessible and done regularly.
4. Ride Sharing, Biking and Walking
Don’t even assume that the only way to get somewhere is by vehicle. When driving by car, you can often save huge amounts of money, or even get a free ride, by sharing the journey. Biking and walking are usually free too, and the United States as well as many places around the world offer incredible journeys by foot or bicycle.
5. Hostels, Homestays and Couch Surfing
Once you arrive at your destination, it’s not necessary to spend big bucks on a hotel. Staying in a local’s home is usually very cheap and sometimes even free, and hostels aren’t the dirty dorm rooms that they used to be. These types of accommodations have the added benefit of much more interaction with the people who live there.
6. Home and Hospitality Exchanges
Often overlooked by most travelers, exchanging homes or guest hospitality is one of the easiest, and most interesting, ways to get completely free accommodation that I’ve ever come across; I’ve done it more than a dozen times.
7. Monasteries, Farmstays and other Creative Lodging
There is an almost endless choice of options out there for cheap or free accommodations, from staying in a monastery or convent for just a few bucks, to bartering your work or volunteer time in exchange for a place to stay and sometimes even meals as well.
8. Get a Job in Travel
You could become a travel blogger (check out my guides for tips), start a YouTube channel or work for an international company with positions and offices around the world – this way you will get paid to see the world.
There are lots of jobs abroad open to all nationalities, for example popular travel jobs can include working as a pilot, air steward/stewardess, holiday rep, on a cruise ship or as an international coordinator.
If you are keen to explore the world before/after university, there are lots of gap year jobs available, with one of the best being taking a TEFL course and teaching English. There are positions all around the world including destinations like Spain, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Argentina and Dubai.
Another option is volunteering abroad, although usually unpaid, you’ll get accommodation included so can stay abroad for little/no cost.
Besides these specific methods , there are so many ways to get creative about traveling. From working your way around the world, taking a sabbatical from work or combining job training or educational studies with traveling, seeing the world doesn’t have to cost very much. In fact, it can often be done for far less money than the cost of staying home and paying all those monthly bills.
