This is a guest post written by Elizabeth Cutten. She contributes on FindAirlineCards, a miles credit cards / travel blog helping travelers save, as well as find the next hot spot to travel to.
I think everyone on this planet loves to travel but there is one thing that always sets them back when they say they can’t do it and that’s money. Well, what if I told you that you can travel for next to nothing or even free? As long as you have the time, I can promise you that it can happen. No, these aren’t scams either!
#1 Volunteer your time – If you have all the time in the world, you’re going to find that you can volunteer with many organizations across the globe. You’re simply going to trade your time in for some free travel opportunities. Look into volunteer opportunities such as “Willing Workers on Organic Farms” or “The Help Exchange”
photo via csbelgium
#2 Look into Couch Surfing – Couch surfing is a great way to travel for free most of the time. Couch surfing is basically a place where someone is going to allow you to stay with them for free. If you have a destination in mind, these are great places to take advantage of, as well as meet new people. Websites such as CouchSurfing.com can find you the place that you need for free!
#3 Look into Craigslist – Check your local Craigslist ads because you’re going to find that there are many people offering up rides, their homes, and more. Why do they do this? Some people simply get lonely and would love to have some company! Be sure to interview people before you go though, because there are some creeps out there!
#4 Travel in the offseason – Now, this strategy isn’t going to let you travel for free but you can get some killer discounts if you want to see parts of the world. For example, a few years ago I was able to visit Myrtle Beach in December. The only downfall was that it was cold. This didn’t bother me because I paid $33 a night for an ocean front room. In the peak times, you could have easily spent $125+ for this room.
#5 Just limit yourself – Let’s say that you want to take a road trip across the United States. Who says that you have to stay in a hotel? Did you know that Walmarts allow you to camp out in their parking lot for free? Pack some sandwiches / drinks for the trip, sleep in your van at Walmart and you can travel very cheap.
It’s really not that hard to budget for your next trip. While traveling for free can be a little tough, it can be done. If you’re really serious about seeing the world, you can always consider working in a travel industry such as the airlines industry. There are lots of ideas out there! It’s your job to get out there and take advantage.
Questions:
Do you have any tips on travelling for next to nothing?
Have you tried any of the ideas Elizabeth recommends?
