How to Travel Cheap (if not for free)

You don’t need to be rich to travel. Today's post is all about the ways you can travel for virtually free. You don’t need a lot of money to begin. Even if you don’t earn a lot or have debt (my student loans never seem to go away), there are ways to go overseas still. If you feel that no matter what you do you will never get ahead by saving money, check out these travel hacks and see the world super cheap!

Teach English Overseas: One of the best ways to make money for travel is to teach English overseas. You can make a lot of money teaching. All you need is the ability to speak English fluently and maybe a TEFL degree, depending on the country you work in. The world is yearning for teachers, and this is a job in high demand; many companies in Asia will even pay for your flight over.

Always do your research thoroughly before leaving the states, and verify everything to protect yourself in a foreign country

Stay with locals for free: There are many services that connect travelers with locals who are willing to let them stay with them for FREE. Using this site you will never have to pay for accommodation. I read about a guy who traveled for years while only Couchsurfing. Sometimes you get a room, sometimes a couch, sometimes an air mattress, but it’s always free. There are also local Couchsurfing group meet-ups that can help you make friends in your new city. Even better is the rise of the sharing economy in the last few years. There are now websites that let you not only stay with locals but share rides, meals, train tickets, gear, and much more! These websites not only save you a TON of money but they also get you off the tourist track and into the local life. Win-win!

Using the sharing economy: You can find cheaper accommodation, quirky tour guides, rideshare options, and home-cooked meals with local chefs. You can bypass the traditional travel industry with sharing economy websites and gain access to locals using their own assets and skills to become small tourism companies with cheaper prices. (For example, an Airbnb stay in St. Croix was $50 per night while the cheapest hotel I found was $150.) Plus locals know where all secrets in the area. They know which supermarket is cheapest, which stores offer the best sales, and where to find the hole-in-the-wall restaurants and bars with the tastiest food at the lowest prices. Talking directly to them gives you access to that knowledge.

Knowledge is power, and gaining it from locals is a superpower!

 Here are some popular sites:
Airbnb (accommodation)
Vayable (tours)
BlaBlaCar (ridesharing)
EatWith (meals)

House-sit: Want to visit somewhere exotic, but can't really afford it? Watch someone’s house while they go on theirs. You can sign up for one of the sites and watch people’s homes for free. Allowing you to stay in one destination for a while and get to know it well without having to pay for accommodation. Added bonus: you get a kitchen to cook your food (which saves you even more money!!!) This is something I am looking more into literally after I post this!! :)

Cook Your Meals: The best way to save money on the road is to cook all your own meals. If you are Couchsurfing, your host will probably have a kitchen, as do many hostels, campsites, and guesthouses. No kitchen? Pack your own container and silverware and make some sandwiches and salads on the go. Not every meal requires a stove right?

Just because you are traveling, it doesn’t mean you need to eat out every meal. You won’t ruin your trip abroad if you decide not to eat out one day! There’s simply no reason to be spending lots of money on food on your trip!

WWOOFing: Working on a farm will get you free room and board, while allowing you to commune with the great outdoors. You have to pay to get to the farm, but once you are there, everything else is covered!

Another one I am doing some more research on today!