You can travel the world for less money than you spend each month to fill up your gas tank.
Photo by Gina
World travel is cheap and easy. In fact, with a little practice and effort, you can travel the world for free.
The idea that travel is expensive and difficult is bullshit peddled by tour companies, hotel chains and corporate media.
The tourism industry wants you to buy cruise packages and stay at all-inclusive resorts.
They want you to choose a travel experience the same way you would choose a new jacket at the mall. They want your Credit Card number.
The tourism industry doesn’t want me to reveal the simple secrets of free travel, but I’m going to share them with you anyway.
It can be scary to venture into the world with nothing more than optimism and good-will, but personal freedom begins with a leap of faith.
1. Embrace the Simple Joy of Travel
The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about travel – and new experiences are free.
Travel frees you from the grind of daily routine. You will explore new places, meet new people, try new foods and learn things about the world – and yourself – that you never imagined were possible.
The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about travel – and new experiences are free. Walk the streets of a city. Stop and chat with a local. People watch in a public park. Climb to the top of a hill and watch the sun set over the ocean.
The simple joy of being in a new place is just a matter of…wait for it…going someplace new. No tour package required.
2. Keep Your Needs To A Minimum
The modern American economy is built on the false premise that people need to buy new goods and services all the time. Again, I call bullshit.
People need fresh air, healthy food, clean water, exercise, creative stimulation, companionship, self-esteem and a safe place to sleep.
All of these things are simple to obtain. Most of them are free.
For fresh air, go outside. For exercise, take a walk. For creative stimulation, go somewhere new. For companionship, make a friend. For self esteem, turn off your TV, breathe deep and open your spirit to the basic goodness of the world.
Things like food and shelter are much cheaper once you get outside the United States. See # 5 below for ways to obtain food and shelter for free.
3. Go Slow
Cambodian Coast . photo by Ryan Libre
If you live in New York and want to take a 2 week vacation to Africa, it will be very difficult (though not impossible, see number eight) to travel for free.
Indeed, as long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time.
Time is not money. Time is free. You have all the time in the world.
Instead of buying a plane ticket, catch a ride out West, or remodel an old sailboat, or just hop on your bike and ride away from town. The slower you travel, the less money you will spend.
4. Leave Your Possessions and Obsessions Behind
When you travel, you don’t need to pay rent. You don’t need a car. You don’t need an oven, a washer-dryer, electricity, Cable TV, a gym membership, a sofa and loveseat or a closet full of clothes.
You don’t need a suit and tie to wear to your job because you don’t need a job. You don’t need to worry about paying the bills, because there are no bills to pay.
You are free.
5. Trust People and you will Receive Free Food and Lodging
Many people are willing to open their homes to travelers. Chip in with a few chores, and they will give you a free meal, too.
CouchSurfing and WWOOF are two phenomenal online networks that help travelers connect with local hosts. CouchSurfing members are willing to give travelers a place to sleep for a night or two. WWOOF connects travelers with organic farmers who want to trade room and board for an extra hand.
Many members of both CouchSurfing and WWOOF are seeking an alternative to high-impact consumer culture.
6. Learn a Useful Craft or Skill
If you have a skill, such as cooking, animal husbandry, massage, musical ability or basic carpentry, you can barter for free food and accommodation as you travel.
The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.
Universally appreciated skills like cooking are best, though niche skills that are in high demand, like website design, are also useful. Native English speakers can often travel the world for free by teaching language classes in each destination they visit.
The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.
7. Get Out of the City
Although it’s possible to travel for free in a big city, it’s damn difficult. Cities are built on money, and necessities like fresh air, clean water and a safe place to sleep are difficult to come by in cities.
Go to the country, where people are more relaxed, food is plentiful and there’s ample room for one traveler to lay out her sleeping bag under the stars.
8. Find A Job You Love That Entails Travel
If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel. There are millions of jobs available in the global economy that demand travel.
Of course, some jobs are easier to love than others, and much work that involves travel also involves the destruction of local ecosystems and traditional ways of life. Avoid unethical work if at all possible – it is bad for your health and worse for your soul.
For job ideas, check out the Travel and Adventure jobs section here at the Traveler’s Notebook.
9. Embrace Serendipity
Traveling the world for free requires a blend of advance planning and the willingness to seize opportunities and go with the flow.
Does your new CouchSurfing friend want company for a drive across the country? Grab your pack and ride along! Does an organic farm in Thailand need a farm sitter for the rainy season? Get in touch with Christian Shearer!
As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”
Go Dancing.
UPDATE: How does $1,200 per month to travel in summer 2009 sound? There’s no catch – check out The Roads Scholarship, which Matador is co-sponsoring with The Digital Vagabond.
UPDATE: Read a response to this article at Brave New Traveler – The Tao of Vagabond Travel
What are your tips for cheap or free round the world travel? Share in the comments!
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About the Author
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314 Comments... join the discussion!
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If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel.
find a job that calls for extensive travel. and get a job to support a child”"
dont know much about children do you?
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it is all bullshit whatever is written above….for instant..how would anyone find food and shelter for free…u go into some one’s house and ask them to feed u and give u a room for free…No one will let you…
How ever if any one really know…if i can travel and see the world for free..just do let me know…
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I traveled Mexico for over a year and a half for free. No out of pocket expense, no passport, visa, tourist card, nor did I speak Spanish. I actually ended up working an awesome job in Oaxaca, Mexico that lead to a very nice lifestyle. While I had a blast and would not recommend my way of travel to most people, it can be done. It’s truly amazing how friendly and generous people are if you allow them to get to know you.
In the worse parts of my journey, I was tempted to beg, lie, and steal in order to survive. It never came to that.
I did come across rough times of living in a cave just a few feet above sea level and had there been a sudden uneasy rise in tides, I could have easily drowned. But waking up in the mornings to a view of the sun rising over the horizon, the fresh ocean mist covering my body, and preparing to fish for my breakfast… Looking back, I’d do it all over again.
As a matter of fact, I stumbled upon this website by trying to network accommodations in advance.Any gringos (like me) ready for a trip? If you would like to sponsor any part of my journey, feel free to make a donation! This time I’ll be using a net-book to post my adventures.
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I guess I disagree with Shahab..first of all i believed that we have the freedom to express ourselves like what the author is writing here..second, there is nothing wrong if we dream traveling for free..third, it is always possible to travel for free..what if that someone is your relative or brother or sister who is abroad and is inviting you to visit him/her all expenses paid? I had the same experience as my sister in Las Vegas paid for my two months vacation there…isn’t it a great experience? I always love to travel and if anyone out there will give me a free trip anywhere in the world, why not? i also travel for free sometimes wherien my friends from all over the world always welcome me in their home free for food and accommodation. that is one thing that makes a great experience once in my life..more travel pictures in my site.
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Hi, i have read the articales about travelling, and i have a girlfriend that did it for most of her life…..it can be done, but there is for sure hard times in between…..have no ”illusions” about that……but i do think its worth it. Have faith in humanity is at times the hardest to do…..!
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I am in the process of planning to travel the world for free, If it comes down to it I don’t even have a problem with begging, I’ve heard people can make good money from that as long as they don’t get drugged up or drunk.
What scares me about travelling for free is that for every one hundred decent people in the world there is also at least one who will try to take advantage of you, some people are even worse, I reckon its always a good idea to always travel with a friend who can watch your back unless maybe like me your a big bloke yourself.
From what I know about people even thieves won’t hurt a bloke as long as you have the sort of mentality that accepts them for who they are and you don’t look down on them. Its when you yourself are offended/disgusted or amused by how someone acts that’s when they start to have a problem with you and the s*** starts flying. Be friendly with everyone and a few will be friendly with you the rest wont be offended that’s the main thing. I guess if your planning to travel to more exotic lands you would also need to be aware of any laws and customs which if not followed could also be the cause of the locals having a problem with you.
My plan so far is in richer places I’ll beg and in poorer places I’ll spend it, I don’t like the idea of taking what is, potentially, an unemployed locals job in a poor area where unemployment is a problem, if I run out of money or get robbed I’ll head towards richer places again But if at any time there’s a job going for a day and no-one else to do it I will try my hand at it, should be fun! (if I dont get sold into slavery, stabbed to death or catch some horrible disease)
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I believe that traveling for free can be done, if your optimistic and humble people may response in a good away after all. Just to mention the the word Travel brings me such excitement!!
To Tim Patterson if you get to read this, what was your experience traveling for free, if you have done it that is.↵ -
So here’s my question – if you live in the U.S. like I do – who is going to give you a plane ticket out of there for free? To bike, walk, unicycle, hop on one foot or whatever in another country you first have to figure out a way to get there. So at the very least I’d have to spend a few hundred dollars even to get to the same continent if my destination were somewhere in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Australia.
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@ DAVE
Good luck you will need it, I think a trip like your planning will ruin your life.
The world is a tough place. You are very niave↵ -
BANISHING FEAR is essential.. and recognizing that fear comes from unfortunate previous experiences that may or may not happen again. the body has an immediate reaction to minimize bad feelings (i.e. stay content with complacency, afraid to try anything new in the chance it may not live up to your expectations.) you have just this life! do what you love every moment!
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“…….If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel. ”
What an absolutely disgusting statement. What is wrong with you people?
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Most of the people casting doubt are White and never spent a day in their life with different people other than those working for them or doing work for them so they have no understand of the world outside of America. A place that’s been scared of its own shadow since the Cold War and in general don’t like People Of Color. That’s not to say even a majority of Caucasian Americans feel that way but a good number of them do and it should be disturbing.
Outside of America people put a basic trust in you unless you violate that. They trust you as another human being. Some people will allow you to sleep on the couch others will let you stay in their home or apartment free of charge when they aren’t home, its called the HONOR system and Americans only seem to use that term when its convenient like in the military.
Most of you will continue to throw barbs and live in your narrow minded world view like much of America does, they could care less. For those that say the world is hard and cold, you can’t be further from the truth. Evil People are just that evil, most of the population is not devious or evil. Large corporations are evil, greedy bankers are evil, people that kill in the name of religion are evil.
As for getting air line tickets, it all depends. Since America is so large, if your going Eastward (Europe or Africa), flying from the say New York, Boston or Philly would be much cheaper than flying from Los Angeles. If your going to Asia the opposite is true.
One can drive the Pan-American Hwy in a cheap used car, that’s not expensive at all. You can drive from here to Panama no problem. For about $1300 you can across the Darin Gap by boat and reach Colombia. Once your finished traveling around South America by car, you can sell it to a local and hop on a plane back to the States or to someplace else.
Your only limited by your imagination. Also as he said, if your living a typical American lifestyle where your constantly buying trinkets (Iphones, Ipads, Blu-Ray disc, etc) then much of that money you spend could be spend traveling instead, its all about prioritize. What do you want more, impress locals with your chic apartment or fancy oversized home? Or do you wanna live in a modest apartment in a modest part of town? Do you want a Benz or Bimmer or could you get away with a Ford or Toyota?
If your making enough to afford anything you want, your not reading this page are you?
If your like much of America, you work too much and get limited time off. Like I said, you have a choice you can make it in the material world or you can live without some of that material comfort and travel more.
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As for your comment about not finding places to stay for free…You are WRONG!!!
I have been all over the world and in every country I have been to I have had the option to stay with someone for Free or get a hostel. In some circumstances I choose a hostel due to location that it is in or that is where groups I am with are staying. But if you join Couchsurfing.com it is easy to find someone that will open their doors and even feed you while you are a guest in their home. Their have been times that I got off a bus, sent out an email in need of a last minute place to stay and got twenty emails within an hour offering somewhere to lay my head. There are people out there like that and it is sad to think you believe otherwise.
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Okay people I have traveled for free most of my life and from my experiences some people are cut out for it and some people arent. When I was off traveling by myself I had some good times, I gained memories I will hold forever. I also met some dangerous people and I was beaten, my life threatened while the experience taught me to appreciate life a little more it also left me with scars I will always have the responsibility to bear…
I wouldnt reccomend free travel for most people you know living off the land and what not but if i had to do it all over again I think I would.
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Really good article. I’ve been doing it now for two years (and the hope’s to have another eight). WWOOFing is great. Done in many times with (almost) no problems. Couch-surfing the same. The article didn’t mention that there’s places to sleep for free almost anywhere (outside of the cities). Just buy a tent and carry a couple of days food with you, and if the ride you hitched drops you in the middle of nowhere… no problem. Your bed is in your bag.
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I’m white and I did travel the world for “free”…. or at least most of Europe. I juggled and rode my unicycle. Of course, life happens and you can always have a back up plan in case, but the biggest challenge is learning to trust. The difference is “a road less travelled…”
I agree with the article that people who want to travel the world for nothing, or at least for very little, shouldn’t have a time frame. Peter Jenkins’, “Walk Across America”, written back in 1979 is a good example of one guys experience in traveling on foot that took him more than five years. Of course, “free” isn’t exactly accurate. You aren’t going to get everything for free and it really is about developing relationships with people and maybe even getting small temporary jobs along the way.
For those who want to travel but are afraid to, I would recommend reading about other people’s travel experiences first to get comfortable with the idea, or even take mini trips around where you live. Get a sail boat and learn to sail, or hike up a mountain and learn to talk to others along the way. Good luck and have a great time!
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I love the spirit of this article, but from the discussion it looks like it sparks some extreme views, partly because it is asking for an extreme change from many of us and seems to condemn some behavior or feelings that are very deeply held.
I think that something important to keep in mind is that if 100% free travel is too requires too many inconveniences, you can choose to travel ‘more’ simply or ‘more’ cheaply. A lot of travel expenses come with having very high expectations for a vacation and a sense that you have to buy your fun.
So if camping out under the stars on the side of the road seems too dangerous or extreme, than may be that’s where you would spend your money, on a simple campsite. In the end, it’s more about the mindset that allows you to forget about seeing or doing all of the tourist things or the things that are seen as markers of a ‘vacation,’ like eating at fancy restaurants, going out to bars, or even staying in luxury accommodations.
I think it is difficult for people to trust in each other, but I also have a lot of hope that that is where travel is headed, especially with places like couchsurfing.com, WWoof.com, and a site that I really like called tripping.com that has the same premise, but is more focused on safety (great for those of you who are worried about the safety aspect of staying with strangers). Especially with all of the financial problems happening all of the world, people are really starting to reevaluate what is important and feasible, and I think that really connecting with people, through doing stuff like house exchange or helping out with a meal, are going to become more and more common.
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I wonder if there has been any circumstances where someone needs a place to stay and they were met with a sketchy or dangerous character–you see, although it is encourageable to be trusting of people, to the same degree there isn’t there a need to be cautious?
In no way am I not trusting of people or the human race, nor do I doubt that there would be many hospitable people out there willing to share a place to stay. But with the great people of the world, there are also the dangerous pedophiles and etc etc of the world that we fear to mention. Is it so wrong to be cautious of one’s safety, especially being a young woman who has seen the like happen to others before her? I love the idea of freedom this article entails, and the ideas and hope and new way of thinking it introduces, but I also can’t help but remember things like airfare to travel to another country, and that even exchange programs cost money. I’ve experienced the doubts of traveling for less than gasoline fare, but I have been introduced to a free-r and less costly method of travel through this list.
I only have this question:
Do these apply when you don’t know a language? or am still in college and don’t yet have the credentials to have ‘payable skills’ such as teaching and the like?I have always and still have wanted to travel to Japan, but my college doesn’t have any study abroad programs that include art and my desired country. I’m but a poor college art student, and know that study abroad fees are less costly, but still expensive. Will a family in which I can’t even communicate efficient Japanese with, really take me in? I hope, but find those things hard to believe. Pardon my doubtful attitude, for this article inspires, but still applies to everyone a bit differently. Maybe if I’ve had a similar experience as the other people replying here, I may agree 100% with this post, but as of yet I haven’t experienced these yet, or even traveled out of state much. I crave travel, culture, experiences, the world, but I am unmovable, whether its because of age, fear, money, whatnot.
What can one do?
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Good Article, and better comments.
We American’s are different, scared, less friendly. When I was younger I packed a duffle bag and hopped a plane and grabbed a job on a sail boat, in MALTA.
I’ve traveled a bit since then. Back then I think my pay was $800 a month plus food and board. And lots of freedom when we were in port.
As I got older and had a child the fear set in. She’s an adult now and that fear seems to have gone away. I was in Spain last year (went on a whim, was invited for free)….the problem with that trip was the person I was with wanted everything more upscale. Upscale is good, but I’m a flip flop, casual girl and it was a problem with packing.
I have no need to do that again. I found myself wandering away from our hotels looking to be with real people. People that lived there, talking to the waitresses and bartenders.
I am however too old to sleep in a cave. But I’m not too old to sleep in a hostel or meet people online, etc. and make plans in advance.
If I could pack up and go tomorrow I would. I will be spending the rest of this year making plans. I’ve been looking into teaching English in various places, camps etc. I suppose its all in how optimistic you are and willing to let go and be free.↵ -
I hitch hiked and walked through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe , Mozambique, Malawi , Tanzania and Zambia in 1993, 27 000 kms in 8 months and lived on about 100 USD per month. I will always be grateful to the poor people who gave me food and a place to sleep.
The bug has always been in my blood since then to do it all again, and now its time to start walking again…….My plan to walk around the Mediterranean Sea from Southern Spain to Turkey with nearly zero capital.
OMG I must be completely mad
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Hello,
I have a family of 7 and we are planning a trip to Australia in December.
First, I wanted advice from you, on ways to travel with our children to Australia for free. Are there jobs, volunteer opportunities, etc. that you know of for families? Please let me know, or direct me on which way to go.
I appreciate you!
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I plan to travel the world out of college…I have years of canoe tripping, Canadian wilderness, etc experience… Though I never imagined I could do it free. Travel will cost some…planes? From NY anyways…
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Wow! Dude, this reads like a modern-day version of the Tao Te Ching designed for traveller’s. Simple, concise, cheeky, incalculably valuable insights into life, the universe and everything:). Thanks!
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Interesting and useful.
Anyway, before trusting people out there, read something about what happened to Pippa Bacca.
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Travel without money is impossible, at most borders they like to look at your money before they let you in and the flight or boat trip will need to be paid for. However the trip need not cost you anything as you can work when you get there. Teaching english or picking fruit there is always something, you just have to choose.
I traveled for eight years straight and believe me when I say, I didnt save up for the trip. I went through Europe several times until bored, then I ventured further south until I made it all the way to Australia. I’ve had a twenty year break and may just do the return jorney.
Those who knock cheap travel will never know. They will never see the real country or meet the real people so they might as well stay home.↵ -
I’ve been traveling the world for free since about 2002, It’s an amazing experience and loads of fun. Not gonna stop now just because some ignorant people in these comments tells me what I’m doing is impossible.
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