✨How to travel the world on a tight budget and find places to stay for free, or nearly free.🌍

Stephanie Eisenberg
Nov 9, 2024
3 min read

The one thing I can remember learning in my economics class in university was that nothing is free. So when I say free I don’t mean it to be freeloading but more of an exchange without needing to pay for the place you sleep. Below are six ways I was able to travel on a tight budget.

Host a Sister

Host a sister is a Facebook group that connects women all around the world. It's a global community of women for women. A place where women can connect to form friendships around the world during their travels or share their homes for free as a part of a cultural exchange. I’ve personally met some of the greatest friends through the group and now have places to visit all around the world.

Cost to join: Free

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AhwHn6yn1/

My host, now a friend in Kenya, and a sister I met up in Thailand and later in Laos. Looking forward until the next time we meet up.

Workaway

Workaway is a website created for travelers by travelers. It is a cultural exchange program that connects travelers with hosts all over the world. For a small annual fee, you can become a member either as a traveler or a host. You help with different tasks in exchange for accommodations and food. Anything from teaching, farming, working at a hostel, social media, helping with families, and more. You can also find travel buddies on the platform.

Cost to Join: $60-70 annually depending on plan

https://www.workaway.info/invite/XDF387AX

A video I made for the host I was volunteering with in Tanzania to share on their website and social media.

World Packers

Similar to Workaway, World Packers is a volunteer-based program that connects travelers to hosts all over the world in exchange for accommodations, food and sometimes other benefits. After you sign up, you apply for a position, answer a few questions, and wait to hear from the host as to whether or not you are approved.

World Packers also offers learning resources with suggestions on how to be a better volunteer and improve skills for your experience. You can work with hostels, schools and NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations). Keep in mind some of the opportunities will ask you to pay to volunteer along with an annual fee.

Cost to Join: $50-130 annually depending on plan

https://www.worldpackers.com/

Trusted House Sitters

This is a global membership service that connects owners with trusted and verified house and pet sitters. You can do this in your home country or anywhere in the world. It is a great opportunity which provides a space where you can work a remote job, work on projects, or just explore their city while spending time taking care of someone's pets.

Cost to join: $129-260 annually depending on the plan you choose

Discount: get 25% with this link https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF780508/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friend

Do exchanges with skills (i.e., Hotels or businesses)

What skills do you have? Can you reach out to places and offer your skills for an exchange for a bed and maybe a meal or more? My skill was photography, gathering content, and strategizing a plan for businesses to use however they would like. I helped a volunteer organization, a restaurant, boutique hotels, hostels, tour operators, and even a non-profit organization.

Cost to join: Nothing, but think of skills you can offer.

I am sitting drinking tea on the balcony of a hotel in Loas looking over the river. — At a Hotel in Laos I offered my photography in exchange for accommodation and food.

Friends and family in different parts of the world connections

I was lucky to have my mom living in a different country while I was traveling. Traveling for long periods of time gives you the opportunity to meet other travelers as well. Some of them might be willing to host you in their home if you visit their country. I also had friends or family of friends with whom I could stay. I had to make some last minute changes at points throughout my travels and I reached out to friends asking if they knew anyone I could stay with or could help me find places to stay.

No cost but always nice to offer to cook a meal or give a gift as a thank you.

mom and I sitting in chairs soaking feet waiting for our massage. — In China getting a foot scrub and massage across the street from her house.

Friends or Travel Buddies

Whether you have known them for a while or have a new travel buddy, when traveling with someone else you can split the costs like your accommodations. This helps cut costs while sharing experiences with someone and creating memories.