Ever wanted to experience everything life has to offer by traveling to places that you have always dreamed of going? Well, wait no more, time’s a-wasting and if you can’t get yourself together and go now, you probably never will. But wait, you don’t have the money to travel right now, you say? Well travel, even international travel to beautiful idyllic destinations, does not have to be expensive. As long as you do a little bit of research, remain flexible and don’t mind roughing it, you’ll be able to see yourself in some of the world’s most beautiful places for a fraction of the cost of traditional travel. Here are some tips on how to get started seeing the world.
1) Stay for free (nearly) anywhere in the world!
By joining the CouchSurfing.com network you open up a whole world couches to crash on, entirely for free. From Spain to Japan, Barbados to New Zealand, not only can you stay free, you also have a local for a host, who can, in many instances, show you their country from the inside. Surfers have made lifelong friends both by surfing and hosting. The network is built on trust but does include a verification system as well as a system of references to keep it safe and secure. As long as you don’t mind sleeping on couches and in guest rooms, this is the ideal way to travel and stay free while getting immersed in local culture.
2) Get a car to drive cross country for free!
Ever wanted to take the ultimate road trip cross country? Well you can do it for free in someone else’s car! Sign up for a driveaway service through a company like autodriveaway.com and you could be behind the wheel of a Jaguar going to New York from San Francisco or a Mercedes going from Huston to Quebec. These services are essentially car delivery services for people relocating long distances that don’t have the time or the inclination to drive their cars themselves. Of course there are several catches, contracts often stipulate what times of day you cannot drive and how many miles you must log per day and you pay for your own gas and lodging along the way as well as putting down a several hundred dollar deposit that will be returned to you when you hand the keys back over to the owner.
3) Got no money but plenty of time? Start walking.
Remember this transportation axiom: “the slower, the cheaper,” and what could be slower and cheaper than walking? You could theoretically walk from Canada to the very tip of Chile if you were so inclined. Publishers would be beating down your door for the rights to that story. Walking is a highly underestimated mode of travel that slows you down and lets you really get to know the land you’re traversing. Walking is also a very green way to travel, so you’re also saving energy and helping to protect the environment. Whether you follow an old pilgrimage route or forge your own path, a journey taken on foot will not only be rewarding but full of amazing memories and sights few other travelers even know exist.
4) When you get sick of walking, hitchhike.
Now this one is a bit tricky, in the US for example, hitchhiking is illegal because it has the potential to be quite dangerous. Do your homework before you decide to stick that thumb out, but if you have your wits about you and take proper precautions such as traveling in a pair, carrying some kind of protection such as a whistle, pepper spray and, of course, cell phone, hitchhiking can turn out to not only be safe but fun and very interesting.
5) Not big on hitchhiking and you don’t want to walk either? Get yourself a bike.
Bicycling is not only as free as walking (other than the original investment in a good bike) but it’s much quicker and more fun too. You can bike along the road or go cross country – the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. It’s also very eco-friendly and best of all, you’ll be fitter than you ever could imagine after a long bicycle trip.
6) Become a deck hand and circumnavigate the globe.
If you are not one of those lucky enough to actually get paid for your hard work aboard a private yacht, you’ll still be able to see some of the world’s more out of reach and exotic locations by becoming a crewman. Most smaller private yachts require very little prior experience, as long as you are friendly, flexible, hardworking and helpful. You can boost your chances of getting a berth by having a skill like cooking a one pot meal, knowing first aid or being good at tying knots. You also have to be at the right place at the right time by following the international trade winds. Crewing can take you all around the world for nearly no cost except for your own labor so do some research and set sail!
