When travelling the world, one of the biggest parts of the budget is spent on accommodation, so getting free accommodation will help you travel for longer. Round The World Magazine spent £26,216.15 on their first 13 month trip, which averaged out at only £34.50 per person per day to travel the world. A total of £9,639 was spent on accommodation for the 376 days on the road. Here are some tips for how to get free accommodation when travelling the world.
Our favourite resource is Worldpackers which is a site which connects travelers and hosts across the globe. You can volunteer some of your time and in exchange you receive free accommodation, free food and sometimes extra cash! We’ve used worldpackers many times and still use it to connect with hosts when we want to give up some free time and meet incredible people from across the world.
Worldpackers Membership Discount
Receive a $10 USD discount if you sign up to Worldpackers using this link. Joining this community is life changing and not only will you save hundreds traveling this way, you will meet life long friends.
Free Accommodation in Hostels
Working in a hostel can be fun and save you money on a place to stay when on the road. Secure a position in advance or stay at a hostel with opening positions and tell the staff what skills you have to offer when you arrive. Some hostels will pay you in cash and others will give you free accommodation and other perks in return for your time. Skills that will help you stand out from the crowd include multi language skills, effective communication, an approachable friendly personality, performing talents such as playing a musical instrument, cooking and cleaning skills and qualifications in hospitality.
Hostel jobs
Sign up to this Hostel Jobs site for FREE, create your own profile then browse for hostel jobs. This site makes it easy to search for hostel jobs in many parts of the world. You can browse for hostel jobs, general hostels or hostel workers. You can create your worker profile on Hostel Management and they work in conjunction with ‘HostelJobs.net’ by posting your pfoile to hostel managers and owners who are looking for workers.
Hostel Travel Jobs
Hostel Travel Jobs allows you to search for hostel jobs around the globe. All you need to do is enter a keyword, a location and category and you will be presented with hostel job options. You do have to pay a small fee for registration.
Hospitality Network
Joining different hospitality networks allows you to connect to locals and it gives you the opportunity to meet other travelers.
Here are some recommended hospitality networks sites to join so that you can find free accommodation when on the road.
Couch Surfing
Couch Surfing is FREE and easy to join. Once you are a member and have created your profile, you can connect with other members who offer you a place to stay in their home. Couchsurfing is an easy way to get free accommodation when travelling and you get to meet locals too. This site shows ‘local hosts,’ ‘local travelers,’ ‘events’ and ‘hangouts’ in each destination so it is a great way to meet other travelers.
Global Freeloaders allows you to search for free accommodation around the globe. You only have to check out the testimonials on their website, to realise the positive impact this site has had for members using Global Free loaders. It allows you to search for hosts who are willing to put you up for the night and give you a free place to stay. This is a great resource for fellow travelers on a shoe-string budget and with thousands of members from all over the world, you will never be without a place to stay for free.
Be Welcome is free to sign up and it is a great way to find free accommodation. Be Members allows travelers to look for people offering guests the chance to stay in their home. It has a great map tool that allows you to easily search for free accommodation pretty much anywhere. Hosts on this site list the type of accommodation they offer along with information about themselves. There is also a great community section with discussions, groups, activities and suggestions.
House Exchange
Stay4Free does exactly what the name says, it finds you somewhere to stay for free through a home exchange. A home swap or exchange is when two families exchange their homes and it is a great way to have a free vacation. This is a great option for those who have their own home and still like to travel within their country or to different countries around the world. There is a small joining fee but after that you will have free accommodation anywhere in the world.
Trampolinn is another great home swapping site which allows you to swap your home with someone else.
House or Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is a great option for travelers who miss the company of animals and want to temporarily care for pets, while their owners are away from home. Here are some good sites to use to find your perfect house or pet sitting opportunity.
Trusted House Sitters
Housecarers
Mind my house
Luxury house sitting
Free Hotel Stays
The best way to get free hotel stays is to sign up to loyalty rewards points whenever you pay for stays in hotels. A few paid nights in a hotel, usually racks up enough points for 1 nights stay. Most big chain hotel companies offer this including Hilton and Marriott,
Radisson, Club Carlson.
Camping and Road Trips
Camping is a great way to save cash on accommodation. Many places in the world offer beautiful fully equipped camping spots, especially countries like Canada, USA, UK and New Zealand, where camping is common for travelers and locals. This site lists free campsites.
If you’re traveling in a camper van, you’re all set and have everything you need for a cosy nights sleep all under one roof. The trouble is, where do you park up? Converted camper vans are usually easier if you want to drive into big cities and park more discretely. When you arrive in your chosen destination, ask local travelers to see if they know the camper van spots in the area. Usually each place has hidden camper spots, you just have to find them! Or you can always check in advance if you prefer to be more structured with you travel plans.
Airport
One last tip for free accommodation – If you’re flight is early morning, sleep at the airport. OK, sometimes it’s not the most comfortable but if you have your own travel pillow then you have everything you need and you save a few $$$.
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