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You a re h ere: Hom e A r t icles Bu dg et Tr a v eller 1 5 Wa y s to Tr a v el for Fr ee (or a t lea st ch ea p)

15 Ways to Travel for Free (or at leastcheap)by: Andrea Gourgy in: Budget Traveller

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Trav el around the world on an empty wallet? Yes, it is possible....

"To trav el cheap, y ou need to be looking for opportunities and be willing to take them. You hav e to

be somewhat proactiv e and not be afraid to ask for adv ice, help, guidance. Ask for what y ou want

—it's amazing what people are willing to giv e. I discov ered that most people are v ery willing and

are looking to giv e to the right person. You miss 1 00 percent of the opportunities y ou don't take..."

Jim Lawrence, 34, travelled around the world for nearly free... for eight years.

We’v e all heard the old adage that the best things in life are alway s free. But most people assume

this rule only applies to life’s little pleasures like smelling flowers or laughing with friends. And

sure, those are nice, but what about those bigger pleasures, like jetting off across the world? Can

y ou do that for free too?

Well, if not for free, then v ery cheap. If y ou’re looking for an international experience but don’t

hav e the cash to splurge on it, this article is for y ou. You don’t need thousands of dollars to get

y ourself on the road. In fact, all y ou need is a little originality , some guts and enthusiasm, and

some ideas to get y ou started. Some of the ideas below are sensible ones that Granny would

approv e of. Others are a little more risqué —it's amazing what some people will do to sav e a buck—

but hey , since when do y ou take Granny 's adv ice any way ?

So don’t let y our empty wallet stop y ou from taking the trip of a lifetime. Just remember: with the

right attitude, the best things in life—ev en trav elling—can come pretty cheap.

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1. House-swap or rent out your home

In a nutshell: Made famous by the recent mov ie The Holiday, this option, of course, requires y ou

to hav e a house. If y ou do hav e a house to offer up, there are v arious websites that prov ide online

classifieds for owners to adv ertise (homeexchange.com, homexchangev acation.com or homebase-

hols.com). Most require a registration fee, but then y ou can adv ertise y our property for the entire

y ear. The length of time for exchanges depends on the needs of the two parties swapping houses.

Another alternativ e for those trav ellers lucky enough to be property owners is to rent out y our

home.

What advocates say: Accommodation with no cash down? This is a no-brainer. Stay ing in a

home rather than a hotel usually has perks like an equipped kitchen, telephone and some may

ev en hav e internet. And renting out y our home while y ou’re away is a great source of cash;

monthly rent from an apartment in Toronto, Vancouv er or ev en St. John's can go a long way

towards cov ering y our costs in Boliv ia or Ghana.

What Granny would say: Screen candidates carefully before handing ov er y our key s, otherwise

y ou may not hav e a home to come back to.

2. House-sit

In a nutshell: If y ou're kipping in y our parents' spare room, sleeping in a college dorm, or surfing

on y our friends' sofas then y ou're out of luck on the house-swapping front (or, more accurately ,

y ou may already be trav elling for free). But a house-sitting gig may be an option for y ou. If y ou

are looking to house-sit, there are online boards where y ou can adv ertise y our serv ices. Check out:

www.housecarers.com, www.mindmy house.com for postings in sev eral different countries, or

national boards such as Australia's housesitworld.com.au, happy housesitters.com.au, or

aussiehousesitters.com.au. You can also put the word out and look for homes in need through

univ ersity communities (on general message boards, in residences, in univ ersity newspapers),

church communities or community centres. Social networking sites like craigslist.org and

facebook.com are also worth a try .

What advocates say: Finding a gig like this is golden. You’ll get free accommodation in exchange

for watering some plants and walking a dog.

What Granny would say: Why would someone want a stranger in their house? They must be

sexual predators!

3. Volunteer and fundraise

In a nutshell: Ev er considered v olunteering on a dev elopment project? One of the great things

about dev oting y our time to help a worthy cause ov erseas is that it may allow y ou an opportunity

to fundraise to support y our work. Some v olunteer organizations may help y ou out with room and

board, and occasionally flights. Most organizations that do this require a significant commitment

of time (one to two y ears) as well as specialized skills and experience. An alternativ e is to join a

shorter-term project and fundraise. Schools, employ ers, community organizations, family and

friends are all great sources of moral support for most v olunteers, and most are happy to help out

with a good cause. Some local organizations that support this kind of work include y our local Lions

Club (www.lionsclubs.org), Optimist Club (www.optimist.org) or Rotary Club (www.rotary .org).

What advocates say: Many v olunteers are successful in raising enough to cov er their out-of-

pocket expenses, and ev en to make a donation to the project they are interested in. Not only will

y ou be making a contribution to a worthy cause, but v olunteer trav el can be one of the most

rewarding way s to see and learn about another part of the world.

What Granny would say: It sounds okay , but just don’t nag my friends for donations while

we’re play ing bridge.

4. Carpool or hitchhike

In a nutshell: You can get on board with someone going in the same direction, or if y ou hav e a

car, y ou can look for people to join y ou—thereby offsetting fuel costs. Carpooling usually requires

some adv ance planning, as trav ellers will look to fill their car way in adv ance of their departure.

Some trav ellers adv ertise on trav el forums (thorntree.lonely planet.com), and there are websites

specifically dedicated to this kind of ride sharing like www.erideshare.com, www.compartir.org

and www.hitchhikers.org. Rides can also be adv ertised at hostels and other v enues where

trav ellers congregate. While it requires slightly more planning than hitchhiking, carpooling is

likely a safer option. You can meet the person in adv ance of the trip (preferably in a public place),

as well as check their references, photo ID and phone numbers. Though of course, in some parts of

the world, such as Cuba, hitchhiking is just part of the way of life.

What advocates say: Carpooling and hitching rides are both great way s to meet some local

characters, and they ’re also eco-friendly and cheaper than riding alone.

What Granny would say: Going on a trip with someone y ou met on the computer? Has y our

mother not taught y ou any thing about y our personal safety ?

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5. Crew a yacht

In a nutshell: You don't need to know y our port from y our starboard in order to help crew a boat.

Knowledge of seamanship might make y ou a shoo-in, but culinary , mechanical or nav igational

abilities could score y ou a paid position on board, and often an extra set of hands is enough to earn

y ou working passage on a y acht. If y ou want to get a feel for the kinds of options av ailable, check

out UK-based Crewseekers International: www.crewseekers.net (Note: A membership fee applies).

Crewseekers lists many opportunities, including paid positions, shared contribution v oy ages and

working passage trips.

If y ou are up for a bit of adv enture—or happen to find y ourself in a port town—then just get

y ourself down to the marina and start asking questions. Check out the bars and restaurants, check

bulletin boards for ads and consider posting y our own. At different times of the y ear "repositioning

crossings" take place—boat owners hav e a limited weather window during which time they must

mov e their v essel (hurricane season, any one?) Get y ourself to the right place at the right time,

with the right attitude, and y ou're almost sure to find a v essel to take y ou on.

What advocates say: Hav en’t y ou alway s dreamed of an adv enture on the high seas? Treat this

adv enture like hitchhiking with a real liv e captain!

What Granny would say: Are y ou crazy ? Hav en’t y ou seen Pirates of the Caribbean?

6. Crew a cruise ship

In a nutshell: A much less adv enturous way to trav el at sea, in some respects. But there are

about a zillion different jobs av ailable on cruise ships. The best option for short-term contracts is to

offer an area of expertise for the education or entertainment of the passengers. There are many

websites that offer listings of cruise ship jobs—some of which are fraudulent—but most cruise

companies list av ailable job opportunities directly on their websites. Get started at

www.carniv al.com or www.roy alcaribbean.com.

What advocates say: It’s a way to see the world on someone else’s dime.

What Granny would say: Crew jobs are not all that glamorous: the staff work long hours, stay

below deck and are allowed off the ship only v ery rarely .

7. Transport other people’s vehicles

In a nutshell: When people mov e from one place to another, they often hav e their car sent—and

that’s where y ou come in. Start by inquiring directly with car rental or relocation companies,

some of whom need driv ers to mov e v ehicles from one city to another in a limited number of day s.

Checking for ads or adv ertising y our own serv ices in city , community , or univ ersity newspaper

classified sections could also bring y ou in contact with a car owner in need of a driv er. Try

adv ertising and looking in both the city where y ou are and in the city that y ou want to trav el to.

Australia-based rental companies including Britz (www.britz.com.au), and Maui

(www.maui.com.au) require occasional relocations throughout the y ear. And at season's end,

they often need to mov e a number of v ehicles en-masse to a specific location due to seasonal

demand. Keep in mind that many companies require y ou to be at least 21 y ears of age.

What advocates say: As long as y ou hav e some flexibility , this is a simple and cheap solution for

getting from point A to B.

What your Granny would say: Don’t forget to check which side of the road they driv e on in

Australia!

8. WWOOF it up

In a nutshell: World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is an international network of

organic farmers who from time to time offer opportunities for v olunteers to join them. Contact the

WWOOF office in the country y ou wish to v isit (at last count, in Nov ember 2007 , there were

opportunities in 83 different countries). A small membership fee giv es y ou access to lists of

member farms in that country . For further information about national branches and

membership see www.wwoof.org.

What advocates say: It’s a good deal: room and board is often prov ided in exchange for help on

the farm. And if y ou’re lucky , they might let y ou eat some fruit or v eg on the house.

What Granny would say: Make sure y ou eat three solid meals a day to keep up y our strength

and don’t forget to wear sunscreen.

9. Get a travel scholarship

In a nutshell: "Internationalization" is the buzzword on campus these day s, and more and more

funding is becoming av ailable for Canadian students who want to study abroad. For a sample of

the kinds of funds av ailable, check out www.scholarships.gc.ca, which lists awards for Canadians



wanting to study in 50 countries. For graduate study and fieldwork in international dev elopment,

check out the International Dev elopment Research Centre (www.idrc.ca/awards). For a listing of

higher-education study opportunities and scholarships in 1 29 countries, see the UNESCO Study

Abroad Guide at www.unesco.org/education/study ingabroad/networking/study abroad.shtml.

What advocates say: If y ou can get one of these grants, y ou’re not only set for y our trav els, but

it will look great on y our resume.

What Granny would say: Now this sounds like the most sensible way to trav el.

10. Fly smart

In a nutshell: Budget airlines are v irtually a religion in Europe, where few people pay full price

for airline tickets. In fact, some airlines--especially those in the United Kingdom--offer

international fares for little more than the taxes. You’ll be blown away by some of the sales on

offer, check out www.ry anair.com, www.easy jet.com or www.fly monarch.com. Similarly ,

domestic fares within Australia are worth checking out, like www.v irginaustralia.com that offers

happy hour rates for one hour a day and www.jetstar.com.

What advocates say: A $30 ticket to get across Europe? It makes the train seem pricey .

What Granny would say: Sounds good. Do they offer a discount for seniors?

11. Trade labour at a hostel

In a nutshell: Once y ou’v e arriv ed at y our destination, consider approaching a hostel manager

and negotiating a deal to exchange some work for y our room—if they ’re short of staff, y ou can

barter y our labour for a free place to stay . An alternativ e is to apply for a hostel job before y ou

ev en leav e home, especially if y ou’v e had experience in the hospitality industry . A number of

websites list hostel jobs, like www.hostelworld.com which has a message board. Other sites offer

listings on a country -by -country basis—see, for example, www.backpack.co.nz, which display s job

postings within New Zealand. Some hostels may be apprehensiv e about hiring someone from

abroad; depending on the place, some may require y ou to hold a working v isa before y our arriv al.

What advocates say: As long as no money is exchanged, trading y our labour for room and board

is a good way to get around the v isa issue of working in other countries.

What Granny would say: It’s like slav e labour! You should report them if they make y ou work

too hard.

12. Pick up some casual work

In a nutshell: If y ou’re looking to stay a little longer, then consider picking up some short-term

work ov erseas. The options are plentiful: y ou can be an au pair (www.greataupair.com or

www.aupair.com) or y ou can do something outdoors like fruit picking or trailmaintenance

(www.any workany where.com offers listings for fruit picking, but many smaller farmers will only

adv ertise locally ). Many countries also offer Canadian y outh working holiday v isas, where y ou

can trav el and pick up any kind of casual work (legally ). Check out SWAP (swap.ca) who will help

y ou to arrange a working v isa in many different countries, or companies like Go Workabout

(goworkabout.com) who will pre-arrange a seasonal job in Australia for y ou.

What advocates say: You can work y our way around the world with odd jobs like these—it’s a

win-win situation.

What Granny would say: Employ ers might expect y ou to work long hours, leav ing y ou little

time to sightsee. May be it’s time y ou got a real job?!

13. Organize a group tour

Most trav el companies will offer a discount—or free trav el—to people who organize a group tour for

sev eral people. They commonly refer to them as "group leaders". No, this does not mean that y ou

are responsible for guiding y our group of friends around Rome, but rather that y ou organize who

will be going, where they will be going, and when. This one is a no-brainer for teachers and

professors (ev er wondered why y our teacher in high school was happy to accompany 20 teenagers

on a trip to Paris?) But it can work for other people too. Check out adv enturesincorporated.com or

adv entures-abroad.com for examples, or enquire with any organization of interest to y ou.

Advocates would say: Great idea! Not only will y ou get to trav el for free, but y ou can go with

y our friends.

What Granny would say: You can start by organizing my trip to Florida this winter.

14. Take a hard-core challenge

If y ou are the sort of person who would welcome the challenge of climbing to Ev erest Base Camp to

raise money for a charity , this one could be for y ou. One of the newest trends in trav el has seen



companies springing up that will help y ou organize the challenge of y our choice—or join an

existing expedition—all in the name of charity . You do the climb (or other adv enture), and raise

the sponsors, they take care of the rest. Check out Global Adv enture Challenges

(globaladv enturechallenges.com), Across the Div ide (acrossthediv ide.com) or Charity Treks

(charity treks.ca).

Advocates say: Where's my ice axe?

What Granny would say: Why go so far when y ou can do charity work at the nursing home

across the street?

15. Enter contests

OK, this may sound like a long shot, but if y ou're short on cash and long on time y ou'll be

absolutely amazed at how many trav el contests are there for the wining. Just Google "trav el

contests" and y ou'll get hundreds of pages of results. Trav el writing or photography may win y ou

cash or a trip. Airlines, cruise lines, resorts, tourism boards and adv enture trav el companies all

offer up prize trips ev ery so often. If y ou're not picky about where y ou go, a little time and energy

inv ested might get y ou out of here sooner than y ou think.

Advocates say: I won something once.

What Granny would say: Want to take me to bingo on Tuesday ?

5 comments

Leave a message...

DiscussionDiscussion CommunityCommunity

• Reply •

Great list of free travel oportunities, the fullest I've ever seen!

Regarding the voluntering - there are at least dozens of internaitonal

organizations that will be happy to accept the help of anyone and, of course, to

pay his flight

as well as bed and meal. :) Here's the list of the most popular (both

Europeans and American)

http://www.traveling365.com/20...

Ideas for Bus ines s • 2 months ago

3

• Reply •

Hi, I'm prepared to get anyone from Berlin to Jo'burg - I did to book a

flight for me dog so therefore have a spare ticket as I have to get there a little bit

beforehand. Interested?

guywi thdog • 2 months ago

3

• Reply •

Great article. I can see the passion behind the words.

Puppychai r123 • 2 months ago

1

• Reply •

Travel to get paid in Cruise ship jobs are just amazing for me. It does it

all

Chris tine Ochang • 2 months ago

0

• Reply •

There is nothing like FREE Travel. I personally have to work while

travelling and use the same money to pay for my travel expenses. its kind of fun

too

Chris tine Ochang • 2 months ago

0

1616 Stars Stars

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