Ways to Travel Longer for (Nearly) Free

Accommodations can be one of the most expensive parts of travel. Saving on where you sleep can make a huge difference in how long a trip can last, but there are multiple ways to stay for free and cheap, giving you more money to spend on adventures.

1. Housesitting

I am planning on Housesitting very early into my longterm travel.

There are plenty of websites out there but the one I hear the most about is TrustedHouseSitters.com. For a yearly fee of $129 you have unlimited access to all of the opportunities on the site, completely free stays in a variety of lengths in exchange for looking after the owner’s pets. According to their website, there are more listings on TrustedHousesitters than all other global housesitting websites combined. When I’m closer to my departure date, I’ll probably spring for the $169 option that includes a free background check and free video calls and online chats with vets while sitting, among other benefits. There’s a similar set up on the Pet Parent side and is worth looking into if you ever need pet care in your travel life too!

With pet owners leaving for holidays and travels of a month or more, it’s almost unbelievable the kind of gorgeous accommodations you can find. Only two nights would pay for the membership in most locations.

2. Volunteering/Jobs With Housing Included

Another great resource with a small yearly fee is WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms). A 2 year membership is $70 and gives you access to all of the farms offering 4-6 hours per day of work in exchange for a place to stay and the cultural exchange that comes with living and working alongside locals. I am really excited to explore WWOOFing opportunities on my travels. They also have Duo and Family memberships.

Some jobs offer housing as well. Hostels are a popular option either working or volunteering for a few days to cover the costs of your bed and occasionally a few meals. I have also seen Dive Master classes, English teaching positions, and zipline guide job offers that include housing as a benefit. A free living space with the potential to earn more on top of that can really increase your savings.

3. CouchSurfing and Host Groups

I learned about CouchSurfing my freshman year of college and could not believe that people were willing to open their homes to strangers or crash on their couches or spare bedrooms for free. It seemed like Extreme Hitch-hiking and just asking for trouble. Since then I have travelled more and even dated someone who has used it extensively and hosted travelers himself. CouchSurfing used to be a completely free service but since COVID-19 it now has a small monthly fee or $18 prepaid for annual membership.

For a truly free version of CouchSurfing we now have Facebook groups. Hosting groups exist for many subgroups and I particularly like Host a Sister where members offer to meet up, travel with, or host women and their travel partners across the world.

These types of accommodations are “free” in that your host is not asking you for money, but it’s common courtesy to bring a small gift (maybe something from your home country or that you picked up on your travels) or offer something in return (cooking a meal, cleaning up, etc). Hosts on these platforms are often travelers themselves and looking forward to meeting like-minded people and cultural exchange.

Have you tried any of these tips or found any other hacks for free and cheap travel accommodations? Let me know!