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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213 Comments... join the discussion!
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How To Travel The World For Free (Seriously ) good advices and we receive people from arround the world and we exchange work for accomodation.
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My name is Seth, but I go by the Stage name The Magician McHendrick. My Wife and I are planning to travel the world, for as little as we can. I plan to begin a Webcast of our exploits and I intend to create and perform an Illusion for every monument that we can manage to travel to for free and WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you live in or around Europe, Asia, or any country you believe we should travel to, I will gladly entertain you and your household/friends/relatives in exchange for your courtesy of a place to stay and a meal for myself and my wife. Remember You can help make this happen. Our Amazing Journey Begins January when we will be leaving from Austin Texas to New York City, and from there we will be leaving for Dublin, Ireland to begin the European portion of our journey.
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Hi.
I am from Marawi City, southern part of the Philippines. I am inviting you to come to the Philippines. My family will be happy to provide accommodation and meals for you during your stay. We hope to visit your place also after your trip here. I am offering the same to other interesting and friendly travellers.If there are things you want to know about our place, I would be very happy to share.
Happy travelling.
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Hello Friends across the world,
My name is Cosmos Kango from Ghana. I am a guy of 27 years of age and a college graduate. I would be much appreciated if any body could send me an invitation to visit his/ her country for the first time in my life. I will also ensure that, we exchange travels. I hope to getting replies from every body from any nation of the world.Thank you and hoping to hear from you all soonest.Cosmos Kango
Ghana.
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i really liked this because i am going to have a gap year in a while and as i wont have much money all of these things will help thanks very much dude
and i can play guitar woohooo busk my way lol. I wouldn’t have even thought of teaching english … good stuff↵ -
Great article! For those who are in doubt, know that I am currently living the dream, and have been practicing many of these principles for almost a year and a half now. Not only that, I am a woman, alone, in Africa!!! I have been volunteering, WWOOFing, Couchsurfing, and relying heavily on serendipity. Thanks to serendipity I have been staying in J-Bay, South Africa for 2 months now, helping start an NGO for street kids and bartending part-time at a cool lounge. Despite spending money regularly on surfing lessons, eating out, and buying food for the street kids, I have spent an average of $10 a day for the past 3 months.
For those who think I am freeloading and contributing nothing, you should know just a few of the things I have accomplished so far. I taught a group of women in Madagascar to create crafts for sale to tourists as a way to alleviate poverty, I’ve built solar ovens in communities without electricity, and I’ve helped street kids return home and obtain jobs.
Some of my favorite moments have been sitting halfway on a hard bench in the back of a bouncy truck, crammed with 11 other adults, chickens under my feet, and someone else’s drooling child on my lap. I think, “ha! This is my life, and I love it!”↵ -
hi there, i just stumbled upon your objective and was overwhelmed as i have discovered that your world is exactly what i have been craving since i can remember, i have spent along time building up my level of skills to allow me to one day to do what you are doing… living the dream
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I am truly amazed by what you have accomplished. I’m a little jealous as well. I’m getting ready to plan a trip from the US down to Central America and then to South America. I’m heading down with my girlfriend, so i wont be lonely. We’re both going work for 6 months and we’re leaving with whatever we both have. It’s hard to let all the material things go but i think it will be worth it. Thanks for the inspiring story.
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Thank you for the great tips and advice on how to travel for free! And there si no better time when these kind of suggestions make all the difference than right now. Another place to find great information without spending your hard-earned cash is with these free travel guides: http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-guides/.
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Do it! Do it while you’re young! Don’t wait for anything- just go. If you don’t, you just put it off to when anything’s anything, you’ll never get to it. See the world, help those you can, laugh a lot. GO!
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Hello people, I am from Brazil and my dream is to travel the world but I dont have money.
What can I do or work to get travel the world for free ? Is there someone who is traveling around the world ?? What do you do to live ? Could you advice me ? Thank you for your attention. Talita↵ -
i am in the same situation as you. except i am in australia. my dream is to help and teach less fortunate people or perhaps whole communities and travel wherever this may take me if you have a similar idea or would like to trade ideas this would help us both and also create a positive for mankind haha
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hello every body this farid tarin from kabul afghanistan
my dream from child hood was to travel around the world to see amazing people
places, zoo,mountains, and much more but we are located in land which
even if we have money but not allowed to get visa to travel around in this regards
we need advice what to dobest regards
tarin↵ -
Hi,
Im a sole parent working a part time job with all the restrictions of normal life. My sons father has taken him on five week trips across the bottom of australia and to sea world dream world and movie world and i too would like to be able to take him to see places, Is there any advice that would help me plan a fun and economical trip for the two of us that would be safe?Susan
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I feel trapped. I was layed off 10 months ago I have incredibly limited to no funds and a car payment of 400 a month. I want to get in my car and just take off and travel the world. I have little needs just the bare necessities and have no problem tenting it. I want to travel and experience things people only day dream about. I feel trapped because of all my bills but i know everyday that I don’t go I grow more and more less likely to do it. I feel like a fire thats raging to go explore dream float and live but these bills leave me feeling trapped and my dancing flames become somber dying cinders dying out on a beach deserted and alone.
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Jess, sell your car and whatever you dont need- furniture, tv, bikes, rugs etc and pay off any bills and debts you have. borrow the money from your mother if you have to and get debt free. That is the first step to getting those restricting monkey’s off your back.
Then get online and sign up with couchsurfing.com and look into a far away place that you’ve always wanted to see. Apply for a working visa there and head off.I usually save up for 3 months hardcore, not spending anything then head off for 5-9 months traveling then find work with someone after ive met thousands of people.
goodluck Jess
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your bills are for shit you dont need, soon you will realise that this world is a world built on greed, laziness and the jones’ which is civilisation as we now know it!
i have only just realised this after returning from a week on north molle island living off nature- fish, crabs, squid and coconuts and fruit! this is how the world survived before someone had an idea about money and luxuries and hey it was healthier.
now your turn any more ideas↵ -
amazing article, I found you through stumble, I travelled europe on a shoestring budget last year and am currently holed up in Sion, switzerland picking fruit for the money to keep me here as long as possible, you need minimal language skills and the pay isnt actually so bad, check out my blog for more info http://wewillseetheworld.blogspot.com/
thanks for sharing
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I want to travel the world and stuff but like cash has got me shipjunked for traveling into the abroadness of like my neighbors backyard when they is outa town and stuff. so i mean like if you wanna donate cash just email me or call me or just scream for me and if I hear you Ill get the cash
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Wow this is very interesting i never looked at traveling this way..But it does seem a little scary. I want to travel to the UK but i’m in The US how would i be able to get out there at my age? (i’m 18) and work part time. The reason why i think it’s scary is because you never know what kind of person your dealing with while your in there home. Anyways thank you very much for this i am almost ready to spread my wings and go for it this really helped me decide on what i should do.
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HELP!!! i have no ties left in this world. Debt free, very very little money. I want out!!
i would like to travel north america, canada, alaska or go to africa, new zealand, australia or something.Any suggestions?
i cook, clean, lol manage retail sales, well versed in the arts of ,fishing hunting,tree trimming and cutting, diamond gradeing and many many others.↵ -
For those who are nervous about making that first step, take a deep breath and go for it.
But first, check out http://www.couchsurfing.org before you go and read the testimonials. As one Couchsurfer that I interviewed so beautifully put it, ‘Couchsurfers who contact me are just friends I haven’t met yet’.
Spread some good karma before you travel and host people at your place. If you can’t, join Couchsurfing anyway and offer to show people round your city, give advice on the Couchsurfing forum for your area or go for a coffee with someone who is in town.
Then, head to a place where the people have less than you are used to. It’ll teach you to do without all those things that you currently think are so essential to your life.
Have faith in yourself and in others and you’ll have a blast.
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This is all terrible advice >_>
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To Bob,
If this is such terribile advice. My are so many people living their dreams this way?
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Tim, thanks for lot of tips, this is the best of travel tips of ever
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hey, thanks for the article, lots of stuff i hadn’t thought of, i’m 19 and plan on touring the world with one other friend dj’ing clubs. any tips?
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I am really young and I all ready wont to go see the world not on a TV or on the computer I won’t to see it with my eyes! From what I have read (every thing on page lol) it has inspired me a lot and I can’t wait till I grow up and spread my wings and fly!!! There are a couple of Questions To!! When you are going to a new place do u ever think about your parents? When Christmas come do you ever wont to just go back home and see your family?? Dont you miss them? It seems like it would be hard not too miss them. But for my age I am not like other kids they won’t to see a movie and go shopping and spend the parent’s hard eared money. Not me. Ya sometime I won’t to see a movie but that’s just part of being a kid. My parents tell me to save up my money and I have to buy thing I won’t like movie tickets, video games, or something that I don’t need. I am Happy that they are teaching my how to spend my money wisely and not blow it on things I don’t need. Of cores they buy food for me and keep a roof over my head and stuff I am not saying they don’t lol. I am adapted by to loving people who also adopted my brother (birth brother). Most of my past is bad with my birth mother I am not saying she was a bad mom. I dont no my dad very much he left when I was a 2 I think he sent me 2 birthday cards and 3 phone calls that’s all I really remember of him. My mom, uncal, brother and I live at Garey’s house (I think that’s how u spell his name) his house was all beat up and had cockroaches everywhere. His brother didn’t like us living there he especially didn’t like my mom. After getting kicked out Joey (my brother) and I moved to Mrs. Syble’s house. Then his dad broth him to his house and we were separated for I think 1or 2years in that 1or 2 years I went to spend sometime with my mom. At this point she was living on the streets so thats were I was to. She begged for money on the side of the street and my uncial and I stayed in an alley between to buildings with about 7 other homeless people. We all new each other mostly. And there was this old man with us who gave me a doll (cabbage patch kid) – I still have it to the very day I am holding it right now- I don’t know what happened to the man after I left. I am the kind of kid who doesn’t usually take things for granted and I always said thank you even if I dint like it and I was probably the nicest girl you would ever know. I know how it is to be poor I mean dirt poor and I can help and love to help with others problems. it not my fault that I like to do that stuff its just what makes me who I am now you no why I wont to travel the world and see things I never got the chance to . I won’t to live and be free.
P.S there is way more to my past that is just like one 1/100 of it lol!!SORRY FOR IT BEING SO LONG!! THANKS FOR READING IT I GUESS LOL!
AND IF U HAVE ANY TPS FOR MY OR JUST WONT TO SAY SOMETING REPLY THANKS AGAIN!!↵ -
OPPS THATS IS VEY LONG LOL SORRY YOU CAN DELET IF IT YOU WONT!IF I COULD I WOULD AND I WOULD MAKE IT SHORTERT SORRY!!
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i have money but i need someone that will come with me and that has money too for him her self and travel the world for funn
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This is great information, but I need to know about the legal aspects of travel, like visas and passports and the like.
I want to travel the world until I find a place I like and then stay for a while and get a job and start living. How could I do this? Is it really as easy as just getting up and leaving?
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Thanks for the info but I have a few questions. I want to travel the world too and am lucky enough to have a boyfriend just as adventurous so I want to know if it’s just as easy for two to travel this way because we’d love to do this together. Also, is it best to find a starting point, get a work visa then move on from there and do you need multiple visas before we leave. I really want to be prepared because I just need to get some affairs worked out and then I’m ready. Any help would be appreciated. This article has really inspired me to do what I’ve dreamed of for years.
Happy travelling everyone!!↵ -
I’m Malaysian, willing to offer for those want to travel free to Malaysia.
I also like if those are willing to do the same for me.↵ -
I am from the Philippines. I am offering you free accommodation and meals if you travel to our place. I am planning to visit Malaysia too, maybe soon.
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Hello Theya,
My name is Cosmos Kango from Ghana. I am a college graduate who wants to travel to Malaysia. However, i would be very glad if you could further arrangements to enable me visit your country.
Thank you and hoping to hear from you soonest.
cosmos↵ -
i would love nothing more than to do what you all are doing..
i recently watched this movie called “The Art of travel”
and it really inspired me to go out there and live the dream..
but here’s the thing…
i have but 26 dollars in my bank account, freshly graduated from high school.
a shit job at bed bath and beyond.the circumstances just aren’t right, right now.
ya know?also i just don’t feel like i have the balls (speaking figuratively)
i’m scared to get robbed of everything i own or raped or getting stuck in a rut so deep i can’t get out.
but that’s what the media has done to me..
i need this. i don’t want to conform to america’s bullshit.
(not that i don’t love my country because i do)
but that’s what it is at this point.i want to live free, as happy as possible..
this is my life goal to see the world and go anywhere but the same place EVVVERRRYY DAYYYY!i need guidance, ideas, andything helpful that will guide me to achieve my dream.
i am one determined person who doesn’t let anyone or anything get in my way of doing what i want.
so please, i;m ready to go.. just help me point myself in the right direction.. WHERE EVER THAT MAY BE!!!!! ( and that’s the beauty of it)
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Lida,
I know exactly how you feel. My situation is a little different, though. My wife of 12 years just decided she needs to find herself. That left me with no home, family, or hope for the future. I am considering this ‘work your way around the world’ idea very seriously. Yes, I’m older, 42. But in a way, if I don’t go soon while I’m healthy and able, I may never get to. I have ’some’ money and a passport. Not sure what else I need except opportunities. Was hoping someone might know if couchsurfers and WWOOFers are accepting of older adults traveling this way. In any event, I am also in Tennessee so I know how you feel…especially about this American capitalism and money, money, money BS. I, too, am a patriot of this nation…I just want more…I want to see the world and maybe do a little good for my fellow humans along the way…not to mention the great friends and memories that will occupy my mind for the rest of my life. I think all of this is possible…I will keep looking here for companions to travel with and perhaps in time, my journey will begin soon. Good luck and hope to chat with any and everyone with ideas, tips, and knowledge of the great adventure.
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Hey.. this post is cool.. The simple thought of travelling signals bucks and bucks.. great tips!
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Those are some great recommendations. There was a time that I could have used this advice to travel for free myself.
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When I was 17 I was sentenced to join the Army, Rather than go to Viet Nam I went AWOL. I lived by my wits without a penny in my pocket for two years. It was true freedom. And today I’m sixty and just about ready to hit the road penniless. Times ahve changed, indeed, but the people I found on the road then are the same people who live out there now. They’re just a little more careful. If you’re young it’s not hard to survive. Not always easily, but they’ll never be a dull moment. And that’s living. I’m ready to go live again. I say go for it.
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Ok people here is my 5 cents. I have seen 1/2 of the world already and lived in 5 different countries. I love it! I never want to stop moving.
When I was still in uni I wanted to stay in Italy for the summer. My parents agreed to pay for my flight and give me about $500 in case of emergency (please do not travel without a penny because you never know what could happen and you might need at least something). Anyway, since I speak English I found a “job” as an au-pair. Besically, I was living with the family who gave me home, food and 100 euro per week for teaching their kids English. It was the best trip of my life! I know alot of people who were au-pairs; you could teach English, baby sit or clean the house. You can research it online. When I was in Italy I met a guy from Spain he had (I think $200) but managed to travel around Europe. There are alot of good people out there who will help you along your journey. I met some amazing people who helped me so much when I was lost, broke, without food and money.
Also, my friend is hosting people I think he is part of the site mentioned here. I’ve seen the people who stay with him and they are usually pretty cool. I think I’ll start hosting people myself. Ps currently I live in Dubai, the capital of materialistic world! Please let me know how I can help because I had alot of help from people in the past and I believe in Karma (what comes around goes around), so lets all help one another
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Somebody totally forgot to mention Letmestayforaday.com, the website of a crazy young Dutch guy that took the challenge to see the world for free
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Hello, I dream of traveling the world, I am a high school drop (GED) out with a shitty landscape job and no money. I dream of a job traveling, I love learning and working hard. I have a passion for music and taught myself how to play the drums. I want to get out of here but I’m not sure where to start. Any advice?
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Hi, I am in 8th grade in the United States living in Texas in the suburbs with my family who I love. My parents are in deep debt but they are still able to provide for me and my siblings and we are happy. I am also home schooled by my mom. For my 13th birthday I wanted to go camping in the Rocky Mountains but my parents didn’t have enough money to take me. This made me sad, but it made me realize that when I grow up I don’t want to be stuck in debt living in the suburbs like my parents, and that I want to travel the world and live a free, simple, inexpensive life, helping people along my way, making friends, and having lots of adventures. I have been saving up money for my travels by working around the neighborhood and I have been trying to develop my skills in cooking, cleaning, drawing/painting, music/dancing, and speaking different languages. can anyone give me some tips, please?
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hello
i like ur website i am from palestine i was wish all time thath i can go travell all world i wish for all time
pleas dont forget me if ther any trip
thax↵ -
From personal experience, my number one advice: Meet and talk to as many people possible and trust your gut.
For the youngsters (like Raigrin) looking to get out – sure, develop skills. Want to learn a new language? Start online as there are plenty of free lessons out there. Look for bilingual kids in your community so you can learn whatever their native language is and have a speaking partner. Find people who want to learn specific skills with you and it’ll be 10x as fun. Ask adults who have the skills you want what it takes to get to their level. Who knows, maybe they’ll mentor you for free!
Hitching in places where it’s acceptable and done a lot is a good way to travel for free if you exercise enough caution. Hitching with a partner is better. Rideshares are available on Craigslist and online ride boards. Meet up with your ride before getting into their car and never go with anyone you don’t feel safe with. Flying overseas is a different obstacle. But since a lot of you are from the States, get out there! It’s a big, beautiful country with tons of stuff to see. The more people you meet, the more likely you’ll find somebody who’s going to want to go with you.
Other than Couchsurfing, you can volunteer at certain hostels for a few days and get a free bed. Meet locals who enjoy doing the same things you do (ie: hiking, cooking, making music, painting) and maybe they’ll put you up for the night.
If you’re going overseas, definitely make sure you have your visas and passport prepared. Consult a country’s consulate if you’re not sure what you need to have. Read up on the cultures of the places you’re going to get some perspective and be a responsible traveler (by that, I mean please don’t go to a poorer community and think you’re going to “help” them by taking a job a local could do or participating in an activity that is meant to make the volunteer ‘feel good’ and that’s all). Stand in solidarity and understand their struggles.
Anyways, you may have to shell out some money before you get to a place, but once you’re there, follow the above tips and most of all, trust your gut and whatever the locals tell you in terms of if a place is safe or not.
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It’s so easy to wander about it’s sick. Honestly, say ur not ready to ditch the states just yet. The US is full of open air. Animals and nature are in great supply. Now im not gonna lie ur gonna need skills, maybe kill that rabbit or gut that fish, but that is your free food source.
You don’t need a car or a house to sleep in, buy urself a rucksack. Equip it with essentials, need matches? Go to any gas station, ask and you shall receive. Slap a tent and sleeping bag in there and the skys the limit.
People put off travel saying they’ll do it later. Well I had an entire childhood to see and hear all those excuses. Let me tell you, by the time later comes, it’s usually to late. Either your to tied into a career, or maybe you’ve went and had a child that needs care and CASH for 18 years. Maybe you owe college loans, car insurance, car loans, mortgage, the list goes on and on, words that essentially mean prison.
Now either way ur gonna end up like that, it’s just a fact, BUT before that happens, you are debt free. And in the perfect position to live free and see the world in your youth.
Now some places I wouldn’t go like crazy war torn countries like anywhere near the middle east. Do you really wanna roll those odds? I sure as hell dont. Nor do you want any of those god forsaken diseases from ebola to the various strains of avian flu in asia.
However it’s always nice to wait before hand. You don’t need to rush right out, even if your 21, take a few years, get a good job and work. Work and work, it doesn’t matter if your life feals like work cause ur pulling in check after check. And in that time, do some studying on the places you will wander to. Find a free language program or just download it somewhere for free. Learn a few common languages, german, japanese, (forget spanish its only really used in SA and you don’t wanna be going down to that sick place anyway.) I find that a great deal of interesting places have english as a second or 1st language. From surrounding countries of britin, like ampsterdam and the like, to beautiful countries like ireland and scottland. Hell even japan knows a good deal of english as it’s taught in all their schools.
But you should still learn some other languages, it’ll make the trip easier and u’ll be able to accommodate yourself like a local. Find out what the people of that country wear. Find a nice blend, and walk among them.
Now after those 2 or 3 years if you have saved and lived cheaply (it’s not hard just don’t spend) you have a nice amount of money already for you to go. Probably around 30k or more depending on the job you found. Now of course the euro is about a bit less then double of what the $ is worth, other places you’ll find that your ahead by a bit cause while our economy might suck, other countries are called 3rd world for a reason.
And that’s it, you can even save more by living in a place for a time. Rent an apartment for a month or 2, find a job and work part time. Visit the sights and lore while doing so.
Now, id say it’s probably a good idea just to stay outa politics altogether. Most countries don’t like the other, and they sure as hell have different views. Stay out of danger area’s (think of it like philly, you’d never go into west or N philly, same goes for area’s in a country.) So you have a nice nest egg to fall back on if ya can’t find work, and your free to wander,
One thing though, DO NOT BUY SOUVENIRS. Seriously those things will suck your income dry. If you wanna commemorate your trip, get a digital camera and freaking ton of memory cards. If you feel like you must take something with you from that country… find something free. Something eunique, not some relic that is mass produced in every country in a shop. I mean maybe a rock, maybe a vial of sand from the deserts of egypt.
It’s free and you can say, that’s right, this stone came from the celtic ruins of ireland, this sand I scooped up from the gobi desert and placed in this vial. Plus a pictures worth a thoudand words. And those small cards can fit GIGS of em.
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Ok, I’ll give credit for points 5-7, but the rest of it seems just pedantic and rude. And I’m speaking from the point of view of someone who’s been traveling on the cheap for the whole of her adult life, and is heavily involved in the methods you mention. But honestly. Don’t sit there lecturing people for being too capitalist and spoiled to travel like enlightened people like you do. Everyone has to take it in strides; not everyone can just run out and be an independent traveler on day one. And you need to respect that even the people on the tour buses are TRYING, they’re putting themselves out there to see what’s there in the world, they may not be getting the full experience but they’re doing something very important by just investigating. So get over yourself. And PS, although as a life experience it’s not the same as solo travel, the tourists that pay for tours actually give something to the local economy, where you and I are essentially just voyeurs. So it’s a bit more complicated than you make it.
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If thats what travelling for free entails I think I will give it a big miss and stick to saving up for my next journey…..!
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This article is awesome! I am always looking for tips on traveling on a budget. I love #5. Trust People and you will Receive Free Food and Lodging! This reminded me of a site I saw on face book under travel and home swap, roofswap.com. This site has great listings from all over the world and it is free to try. Especially since I am a budget conscious student, I am always looking for an awesome vacation for less.
Karen
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I love this article. I want to travel and enjoy my life, I am 26 and I just feel like my brain is bored with the same old routine. I want to couch surf, but I have no skills. I don’t have anything to offer. I am willing to do whatever it takes to travel and see this awesome world, but i Have NO money, I am part time at a job I hate, and I cant cook lol. I am very trusting, but how can I trust just anyone who invites me in thier home? I am willing to farm, baby sit, teach english, anything I can do.
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Why don’t you just work to live? Head to one place for awhile say a month or 2, find a place to rent, get a job to pay the rent with a lil food in there.
Doesn’t have to be some place fantastic, head to a local micky dee’s and wash dishes.
Or if your in a country that doesn’t speak english, alot of times they’re always looking for native English speakers that will teach others.
I mean it’s not that hard you teach em first associating words with pictures like babies learn as they look about, then you go into reading and writing. Course I always thought reading and writing was stupid since if you don’t know the picture for the word how would you know that the word apple pertains to an apple.
It’s like reading and when you say apple a picture of a dog pops into your head.
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I really want to travel whatever country but I don’t have money…I’m study to be a English’s teacher,but next year recently I’ll get the teacher degree
I’m female 21 years old
I am a very active girl please help me!!
Thank uuuu!!↵
