How to Travel for Cheap (or Free) in 2025

At any time when I ask readers what the primary factor holding them again from touring is, I nearly at all times get the identical reply: cash.

This downside — and tips on how to overcome it — is my most requested query. “Matt, I don’t know tips on how to afford journey. Assist!”

I’ve answered this query in a plethora of posts, emails, tweets, and Fb posts. Lengthy-term readers may even be getting sick of me discussing this topic as a result of it’s one I speak about a lot.

However I do know regardless of how usually I deal with this query, it should come up once more.

Since this query comes up so usually, I prefer to consistently remind folks of this reality: You don’t want to be wealthy to journey.

There are many methods to journey on a finances (and without cost) — you simply have to be prepared to get inventive.

Touring the world with little or no cash seems like an unattainable dream. Nevertheless it is attainable. It’s not glamorous, but it surely’s attainable.

It must be mentioned that there are some bills you shouldn’t compromise on (like travel insurance) however there are tons of how you possibly can journey the world on a finances — together with loads of methods you possibly can really journey without cost.

On this publish, I’m going to point out you two issues:

1. Find out how to journey low cost
2. Find out how to journey without cost

With the appropriate finances and the appropriate mindset, you can also make your journey goals a actuality. Even should you don’t earn rather a lot or you’ve debt, there are nonetheless loads of methods to go abroad (I nonetheless had debt after I went on my first journey all over the world). They might not be fancy or luxurious, but when journey is your precedence then you possibly can undoubtedly make it occur!

Able to kick-start your finances travels and get monetary savings? Simply click on on both of the hyperlinks under to leap on to that part!

1. Get a Job Abroad

Not making sufficient cash at your job? Working at a job you hate? Why not get a job abroad? There are many alternatives on the planet so long as you aren’t choosy. In any case, this isn’t a profession you’re beginning — it’s only a solution to earn cash for journey. Listed here are some common (and straightforward to search out) jobs you may get while you journey:

1. Au pair – An au pair is a live-in caregiver who helps a bunch household take care of their youngsters. In change, you get free room and board and a small wage. You can read this post for more info on being an au pair.
2. Bartender – It’s at all times 5 o’clock someplace, so when you have the talents then that is a simple job to maneuver abroad. It’s additionally a simple job to get beneath the desk should you determine to go that route. In the event you don’t have the talents to have a tendency bar, take into account being a dishwasher or busser.
3. Hostel employee – Hostel employees not often stick round for lengthy, which suggests there may be at all times a requirement for brand new assist. It’s a good way to fulfill different vacationers whereas adjusting to a brand new location. Three web sites that may enable you to discover hostels to volunteer at are Worldpackers, Workaway, and HelpX.
4. Waitress/waiter – There are tons of seasonal eating places all over the world (and across the US) that want further assist in the course of the busy vacationer months. When you have expertise, that is a simple job to search out overseas.
5. Dive teacher – If you have your certification, that is a simple job to journey with as dive instructors are wanted in all places. Better of all, these jobs are often in picturesque tropical locations!
6. Tour information – In the event you’ve obtained a knack for historical past and don’t thoughts talking in entrance of teams, that is the right job for you. It’s additionally often a money job, which suggests you get your ideas immediately.
7. Cruise ship worker – This can be a rather more formal place than those above, but it surely’s a good way to journey. The hours are lengthy, however there’s one thing to be mentioned about dwelling at sea!
8. Seasonal employee at ski resorts – Instructors, restaurant employees, lodge employees, lifeguards — ski resorts want all types of employees to maintain issues shifting, making this a goldmine for the abroad traveler (so long as you don’t thoughts the snow!).
9. Yacht worker – Whereas the hours could be lengthy, you can also make nice cash working for the wealthy and well-known on their yachts. Better of all, you’re often in some fairly wonderful locations!
10. Yoga teacher – When you have the talents (and certification), educating yoga overseas is a simple solution to make some spending cash. Whilst you may must know the language, there are yoga studios in just about each metropolis on the planet.

Working abroad usually will get discounted as an possibility as a result of it appears onerous to do. It’s not. Simply be open. These jobs don’t require superior levels or lots of work expertise both.

Are you going to get a high-paying workplace job? No.

Will you get a shitty, low-wage job that can pay all of your journey payments? Yep!

I’ve met folks from all walks of life, each from Western and non-Western nations, funding their travels this manner. It’s a simple, enjoyable solution to lengthen your travels, deepen your expertise, and make somewhat cash so you possibly can carry on touring.

READ MORE ABOUT WORKING OVERSEAS: 15 Ways to Find a Job and Work Overseas

2. Educate English Abroad

Probably the greatest methods to make cash for journey is to show English abroad. You may make some huge cash educating — I replenished my journey funds whereas teaching in Thailand, and I’ve had associates go away South Korea with tens of hundreds of {dollars} within the financial institution.

All you want is the power to talk English fluently and a TEFL degree, relying on the nation you’re employed in. When you have a school or college diploma, you’ll have the option to earn more money and apply for higher positions although it’s not mandatory for a lot of nations.

Moreover, there are lots of web sites and companies on the market that will let you train just about. So long as you’ve an incredible Wi-Fi connection, you possibly can assist folks be taught English from wherever on the planet! Italki is among the hottest on-line platforms.

READ MORE ABOUT TEACHING OVERSEAS:

3. Go WWOOFing and Work on a Farm

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It’s a platform that means that you can work on a farm in change without cost room and board. It’s a good way to see a vacation spot in-depth whereas permitting you to commune with the good outdoor. You must pay to get to the farm, however as soon as you’re there, all the pieces else is roofed! It undoubtedly will enable you to journey low cost in addition to have a singular expertise and meet plenty of cool folks.

WWOOF has alternatives out there in 130 nations all over the world, with over 12,000 hosts and 100,000 WWOOFers. A number of the hottest locations for WWOOFers are Portugal, France, Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

This publish can provide the whole low down on how to travel and work around the world with WWOOF.

4. Use the Sharing Economic system

Use the sharing economy to search out cheaper lodging, quirky tour guides, rideshare choices, and home-cooked meals with native cooks. You’ll be able to bypass the standard journey business with sharing financial system web sites and achieve entry to locals utilizing their very own property and expertise to change into small tourism corporations with cheaper costs. Furthermore, locals know the place to search out offers. They know which grocery store is least expensive, which shops provide the perfect gross sales, and the place to search out the hole-in-the-wall eating places and bars with the tastiest meals on the lowest costs. Speaking on to them offers you entry to that information.

Listed here are a few of my favourite web sites:

• BlaBlaCar – A ride-sharing app that connects you with drivers who’ve further seats of their automotive (primarily for medium and lengthy distances, and primarily in Europe).
• EatWith – Platform that connects you with native cooks serving non-public meals.
• RVShare – This web site enables you to hire RVs and camper vans immediately from locals.
• Turo – A automotive sharing market that permits you to hire automobiles from locals.
• Campspace – This platform enables you to camp on non-public property. Properties vary from fundamental tent plots to luxurious glamping and RV stays.
• Trusted Housesitters – Connects you with locals with whom you change pet and home sitting companies without cost lodging.

5. Cook dinner Your Personal Meals

One of the best ways to save cash on the street is to prepare dinner all your individual meals. Whereas in Stockholm, I spent $60 USD for per week’s price of groceries as an alternative of a mean of $15 USD per meal consuming out! That’s a financial savings of $150 USD!

I’ve performed the identical factor in dozens of nations all all over the world — particularly in costly locations like Iceland the place consuming out can actually destroy your finances.

In case you are staying in hostels, ebook lodging that has a kitchen so you’ve house to prepare dinner. In the event you’re Couchsurfing or utilizing Airbnb, your host will in all probability have a kitchen.

No kitchen? Pack your individual container and cutlery and make some sandwiches and salads on the go. Not each meal requires a range, proper?

Simply since you are touring doesn’t imply you have to eat out each meal. You gained’t damage your journey to Paris should you determine to not eat out in the future! There’s merely no cause to be spending plenty of cash on meals in your journey!

READ MORE ABOUT SAVING MONEY ON FOOD WHEN YOU TRAVEL:

6. Get Rail Passes

Rail passes (just like the Eurail Pass in Europe or the JR Pass in Japan) are a good way to save cash relating to prepare journey. In the event you’re touring across the area for some time, rail passes will seemingly be less expensive than simply reserving particular person journeys.

In case you are reserving particular person journeys, reserving forward of time can often prevent about 50% of the price of a prepare ticket. Nonetheless, that fixes you to a set timeline. In the event you don’t need to be tied into a set schedule, rail passes can prevent some huge cash whereas supplying you with the pliability you want. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars in Europe doing this!

READ MORE ABOUT RAIL PASSES:

7. Sleep in Massive Dorms

Massive hostel dorm rooms are the most affordable paid lodging on the market. The larger the dorm, the cheaper will probably be. Whereas a 4-6 mattress dorm may offer you extra privateness, a 12-18 mattress dorm goes to be a bit cheaper. In the long term, this can add up. So long as you’ve obtained earplugs and a sleeping masks, go for the larger dorm to maintain your finances intact!

In a big dorm, you’re nearly assured to have some snorers. If earplugs don’t fairly do the trick, obtain an app like Rain Rain, which performs rain sounds on a loop. You’ll be able to set a timer in order that they cease taking part in after an hour or two, serving to you ignore the noises of the dorm when you attempt to go to sleep. Spotify additionally has all types of rain and white noise playlists too.

For reductions on hostels in Europe, take a look at HostelPass. This card offers you as much as 20% off hostels all through Europe. They’re consistently including new hostels too. I’ve at all times wished one thing like this and am glad it lastly exists! (Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off your membership.)

READ MORE ABOUT HOSTELS:

8. Use Pupil and Different Low cost Playing cards

Are you a scholar, instructor, or beneath 26? Welcome to the world of fifty%-off points of interest and a plethora of reductions! Get a scholar/instructor/youth card and save massive when you’re overseas. Even should you’ve lately graduated, likelihood is you possibly can nonetheless get by along with your expired ID card (so long as it doesn’t have an expiry date). At all times ask if there are reductions out there for college students or youth as that is a simple solution to save tons of money as you journey round!

Museums, galleries, and different main vacationer points of interest often have reductions (particularly in Europe). It by no means hurts to ask! (There are additionally usually reductions for senior vacationers and veterans as properly, so at all times ask!)

9. Get Metropolis Vacationer Playing cards

In the event you plan on seeing lots of sights in a metropolis, you must get a metropolis tourism card. These will give you discounted and/or free entry to the most important points of interest and museums, in addition to free public transportation. I saved over $100 USD with the London move, $80 USD with the Paris Museum card, $50 USD with a Helsinki card, and tons extra with different metropolis tourism playing cards.

They’re a tremendous method to save cash on points of interest that not sufficient folks use. Simply head to the native tourism workplace to search out out what playing cards can be found. They can assist reply all of your questions and ensure you save as a lot cash as attainable. Not each metropolis has them, however most main locations do and also you’ll save some huge cash should you plan on seeing the most important sights.

10. Capitalize on Your Expertise

Want some money? Use Craigslist (operates in 70 nations), TaskRabbit (primarily within the US and Canada, although additionally in Italy and Spain), or Gumtree (UK-based) to search out paid odd jobs, like aiding individuals who want just a few issues performed round the home. It’s a solution to make cash while you journey with out committing to a long-term job.

Moreover, when you have a ability, promote it. Provide haircuts to different vacationers, busk for cash, present on-line companies like modifying, graphic design, or consulting. It’s by no means been simpler to work on-line. So long as you’ve Wi-Fi you can also make cash. The sky is the restrict right here — get inventive!

11. Get Free Flights!

Collecting points and miles is the #1 method I’ve been in a position to afford so many flights and lodges over time. By utilizing a journey bank card for normal spending on groceries, eating places, and purchasing, I’ve been in a position to earn free flights and lodge stays — all by spending cash I used to be going to spend anyway!

As of late, there are tons of how to earn free flights. Merely join just a few travel credit cards, accumulate miles, after which fly without cost.

Most playing cards provide sign-up bonuses of fifty,000 factors (or extra) — which is commonly sufficient for a free round-trip flight proper there. And should you join each an airline card (e.g., a United bank card) and a common rewards card, you possibly can mix the 2 level balances and get an inexpensive flight sooner. There’s even a card now — The Bilt Mastercard®– that permits you to earn factors in your hire!

Amassing factors and miles isn’t just for Individuals both (although US residents have the perfect choices). Canadians can collect points too, as can of us from Australia and New Zealand and the UK.

READ MORE ABOUT POINTS & MILES:

12. Keep for Free

There are a lot of companies that join vacationers with locals who’re prepared to allow them to stick with them without cost. Utilizing these websites, you’ll by no means must pay for lodging. I’ve used this service dozens of instances over time and at all times meet wonderful folks. Generally you get a room, typically a sofa, typically an air mattress, but it surely’s at all times free. These web sites not solely prevent a TON of cash but in addition get you off the vacationer observe and into the native life. Win-win! Here’s a record of internet sites to make use of without cost lodging:

13. Hitchhike

Hitchhiking is a free solution to get round that’s comparatively protected and fairly frequent in lots of components of the world, together with Central America, Scandinavia, Jap Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

I’ve hitchhiked in additional than a handful of nations (and I do know solo female travelers who’ve performed the identical!). Positive, it has a foul popularity in North America, however with some frequent sense and a little bit of endurance, you possibly can hitchhike nearly wherever — saving you tons of cash within the course of!

Listed here are just a few fundamental ideas that can assist you get began:

• Use an indication – Make a transparent signal that lets folks know the place you’re heading. That may assist drivers determine in the event that they can assist.
• Look presentable – Put on clear clothes, smile, and don’t obscure your face with one thing like sun shades. Folks need to see who they’re choosing up.
• Test the legal guidelines – Hitchhiking is against the law in some locations. At all times test the legal guidelines to ensure it’s okay to do the place you’re.
• Take precautions – Notice the license plate of anybody who picks you up and textual content it to a pal. Chances are high you gained’t want it but it surely’s higher to be protected than sorry!
• Hold your valuables on you – Don’t go away any valuables in your bag if it goes within the trunk in case it will get left within the automotive (or stolen).
• Seek the advice of Hitchwiki – Hitchwiki is the #1 hitchhiking useful resource there may be. At all times seek the advice of it earlier than you hitchhike to choose up ideas and make sure you’re hitchhiking in a protected place.

READ MORE ABOUT HITCHHIKING:

14. Take Free Strolling Excursions

Need to be taught concerning the metropolis, get your bearings, and see the most important sights? Take a free strolling tour. You will discover them in most main cities — simply ask the native vacationer workplace, your hostel employees, or Google “free strolling tour (metropolis title).”

You’ll get a strong introduction to the town whereas additionally gaining access to an area information you possibly can ask inquiries to. I at all times begin my visits to a brand new metropolis with one. Simply make sure to tip your information on the finish (that’s how they receives a commission).

This web page has a list of all my favorite walking tours around the world damaged down by metropolis.
 

15. Home Sitting & Pet Sitting

In the event you’re on a decent finances, you possibly can pet and home sit for fellow journey lovers after they go on their very own holidays! In change, you’ll get free lodging when you’re watching their house and pets (animal care is concerned 99% of the time).

You’ll be able to join one of many websites under to start out home sitting, permitting you to remain in a single vacation spot for some time with out having to pay for lodging. Everybody’s account is verified and has evaluations so you understand you gained’t get cheated.

This can be a nice solution to journey long-term, with an vital added bonus: you get a kitchen to prepare dinner your meals (which saves you much more cash!).

Additionally, you will usually get entry to a automobile and typically will likely be left a tip or free groceries. It’s usually people who find themselves properly sufficient off that they will afford multi-month holidays, so that you’re often in fairly good houses and flats too!

One of the best web site for that is Trusted Housesitters.

You can read this post to learn more about how to start house sitting.
 

16. Use Your Social Community

Does your colleague have a relative in Spain? Or possibly you’ve a distant cousin who lives in New Zealand. Or possibly a childhood pal of yours is working down in Brazil.

As of late, we have now an enormous social community of family and friends that stretches throughout the globe. Don’t hesitate to make use of that! Ask your co-workers and associates in the event that they know anybody the place you’re going. Get your mother to ask her co-workers and associates, too.

Using your social network can be hugely helpful in traveling the world. You by no means know who is aware of who!

As a result of if I can do it, you are able to do it too!

Whether or not it’s two months, two years, or only a two-week trip, journey doesn’t must price a ton. The key is to get out of the mindset that you should journey within the typical method of merely reserving a flight and a lodge. Utilizing out-of-the-box, nontraditional methods to journey can result in massive financial savings.

Nevertheless it all begins with a change in mindset. From there, with some endurance and follow, you’ll be capable to make your journey goals a actuality — with out breaking the financial institution!

Cease paying full value for journey!

Obtain my free information to factors and miles and discover ways to use factors and miles without cost journey! It is how all the professionals journey a lot! On this information, I am going to present you:

• Find out how to Choose a Credit score Card
• Find out how to Earn As much as 10x Miles on Your Spending
• Find out how to Redeem Your Factors
• And a Ton of Different Cash Saving Suggestions!

Find out how to Journey the World on $75 a Day

My New York Occasions best-selling ebook to journey will train you tips on how to grasp the artwork of journey so that you just’ll get off get monetary savings, at all times discover offers, and have a deeper journey expertise. It’s your A to Z planning information that the BBC referred to as the “bible for finances vacationers.”

Click here to learn more and start reading it today!