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Volunteer 

Volunteering to help others either in a foreign country or right here at home 
is an excellent way to travel while making a difference in the world. Volunteer 
opportunities usually require that you pay for the transportation to and from 
the work site, but accommodations and meals are usually free.



  1. WWOOF. World Wide Opportunities on 
    Organic Farms
     allows you to volunteer to work on organic farms from one week 
    to several months. As a volunteer, you live for free as a part of the family, 
    but you do not earn any money. You may need to pay a very small fee to recieve 
    the farm listing and transportation is not included.

  2. VolunteerLouge. Read this 
    blog
     to stay abreast of chances to volunteer around the world. They include 
    links to a variety of other sites that offer opportunities, tips, resources, and 
    more.

  3. GoLiveGive. This TV show offers opportunities to combine travel with 
    volunteering for ecological foundations. Read their 
    blog
     for more information on how you can be a green volunteer and travel 
    too.

  4. Repair a trail. Volunteer with the Pacific 
    Northwest Trail Association
     and you can spend 8 days in a national park. You 
    will need to provide your own transportation, but the opportunity for 
    friendships and a unique vacation are limitless.

  5. Volunteer at Mount Rainier. You can work for a weekend or long term 
    repairing trails, leading hikes, or any number of  other positions. Check out 
    their blog for more about 
    becoming a volunteer.

  6. Work at a kibbutz. In exchange for room and board, you can volunteer 
    your time at a kibbutz. This site 
    sponsored by a man who was a kibbutz volunteer for over two years, offers all 
    the information you could want to get you started down the path of becoming a 
    kibbutznik.

  7. Be a missionary. If religion is important to you and you have a 
    strong desire to help others, then becoming a missionary may be the way for you 
    to combine those passions with travel. Here 
    is
     one woman’s experience as a missionary in Liberia.
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Learn 

Whether you are taking the time to learn a little something or using the 
knowledge you’ve built up over years of education, studying can get you free 
travel. Take advantage of one of these ideas below just by using your brain.



  1. Learn Esperanto. If you invest a bit of time into learning Esperanto, 
    you can participate in an exchange 
    program with other Esperanto speakers
    . Once you have learned a bit of 
    Esperanto, either buy Passport Services for $25 or agree to list your home in 
    the book and receive a copy for free.

  2. Group Study Exchange. The 
    Rotary Club
     offers a group study exchange for people between  the ages of 25 
    and 40 who are starting out in their careers. You will have to spend some time 
    doing presentations, but you receive a four week trip with airfare, 
    accommodations, and meals free of charge.

  3. Become a Fulbright Scholar. Fulbright offers exchange programs for 
    students, teachers, recent graduates, and post-graduate students. Read about this Australian Fulbright Fellow’s 
    experience
     in the United States.

  4. Listen to a timeshare pitch. The folks who sell timeshares frequently 
    offer incentives for people to listen to their pitch. Gifts range from full 
    vacation packages to overnight accommodations. Be aware that they are working to 
    sell you a timeshare, so you must not fall victim to their selling 
    tactics–unless you are in the market for a timeshare, of course.

  5. Intern or study abroad. There are many agencies that will arrange 
    internships or study programs for students. While there are sometimes costs 
    associated with these services, many scholarships are offered to allow those who 
    cannot afford it to participate.

  6. Apprentice. Many artisans can apprentice to learn how to become a 
    master in their field. From carpentry to pottery, if you aspire to become a 
    professional artisan, check into apprenticeships. Many times in order to study 
    under a master, you will need to travel to where he or she lives and works (at 
    your expense), but you will gain unequalled experience and enjoy living in a new 
    place at the same time.
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Free Accomodations 

Sometimes finding a place to stay is the most expensive part of travel. From 
crashing on a stranger’s couch to writing about a resort, the suggestions below 
will help you find a way to stay for free.



  1. Couch surf. If you enjoy meeting new people, consider joining CouchSurfing.com. Simply join, 
    participate in discussion groups to get to know the other members, and when you 
    have booked your travel, you contact the members in what ever part of the world 
    you plan to travel and work out a play to stay. The service is completely free 
    of charge and there is a member screening process to ensure safety.

  2. Join The Hospitality Club. The Hospitality Club works similarly 
    to CouchSurfing.com in that it connects people around the world who are willing 
    to open their homes up to travelers. This service is free and you can browse the 
    member profiles to select a potential host.

  3. Home swap. If you are willing to trade homes, you can stay free 
    anywhere in the world. For a small fee, you can join a home 
    exchange group
     and never pay for accommodations again.

  4. Share your guest room. If you are willing to open your extra bedroom 
    up to someone, you can take advantage of the same opportunity to stay in an 
    extra room for your vacation. Sign up with Guestroom 
    Network
     and for only $4, you can stay in another member’s home.

  5. Arrange a sponsorship. Some companies will provide accommodations for 
    you in return for your services. For example, a specialist in a specific field 
    who gives a presentation at a conference or for a company retreatmay get room 
    and board in return for sharing their expertise.

  6. Write a review. If you have writing skills, try writing a review for 
    a hotel or resort. Many online guides will pay for the accommodations in return 
    for a professionally written review.
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Ask for freebies 

Sometimes getting something is as simple as asking for it.



  1. Get married. Instead of signing up for traditional gift registries 
    for housewares, many couples are asking for gifts of money to go toward travel 
    expenses so they can take a nice trip instead. Check out this 
    site
     that allows you to set up a registry free of charge.

  2. Ask for donations. This 
    couple
     posted a request for donations on their travel blog to help keep 
    their travels going. There’s no guarantee anyone will donate, but if you’ve made 
    your friends and family angry enough at you, there’s no telling how much they’ll 
    pay to keep you away.

  3. Ask for gift cards. Next time the next major gift-giving holiday 
    rolls around, ask for a travel gift card in lieu of gifts. Many major airlines 
    and hotels offer gift cards as do many travel 
    services
    .
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For those who love to travel, finding a way to do so on someone else’s dime 
can make all the difference between staying at home and embracing the joy of 
exploration. Many of the suggestions below require that you give something in 
return, be it your time or a reciprocated place on your couch, but at least you 
don’t have to pay your own way. While it’s true you may not be getting something 
for nothing, at least you can take that vacation without breaking the bank. 
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Work 

If you need a job and love to travel, there are ways to do both. Most of 
these ideas provide free transportation and either free or low-cost living 
accommodations. Keep in mind that these are jobs, so you will need to apply, get 
hired, and do the work once you’ve landed the position.



  1. Teach English. Many companies in other countries hire native English 
    speakers to teach English to both adults and children. You will usually receive 
    a good paycheck, a stipend for living expenses or free accommodations, return 
    airfare, and sometimes you receive a free airline ticket to the destination. 
    Check out sites such as this one for more 
    on these incredible opportunities for travel.

  2. Become a caretaker. If you are looking for work and want to travel, 
    caretaking is a great way to live and travel 
    inexpensively. If you can do housework or work on the grounds of an estate, 
    caretaking usuallys provides you with a place to stay, money earned, and 
    beautiful surroundings.

  3. Be a travel agent. Sometimes when you sign a contract to become a 
    travel agent, the company will provide you a free vacation. This 
    blog
     provides a link to one company that does just that.

  4. Join the Peace Corp. The Peace Corp offers a two-year stint doing 
    work in a foreign country. You receive living accommodations and a small stipend 
    and will need a college degree to qualify. Read about the experience 
    of a couple working together in the Peace Corp. Of special interest, their post 
    on April 15, 2008 includes some FAQs about the Peace Corp as well as their 
    location.

  5. Become an au pair. If you are younger than 30, you can be an au pair, 
    or a mother’s helper. You will receive room and board and a stipend in exchange 
    for helping with the children and maybe some light housework. Depending on the 
    agency, you may have to pay for your transportation or the host family may pay 
    for it. This 
    blog post
     captures the essence of being an au pair.

  6. Be a tour guide. If you enjoy learning about the culture and history 
    of an area and like sharing what you know, then you could be a tour guide. Many 
    places where English isn’t the first language like to hire native English 
    speakers to guide their tours.

  7. Translate. Granted, you need to be fluent in a language other than 
    English, but if you have that knowledge, use it. Translaters are usually in high 
    demand, so take advantage of it and land a job that will pay you to live and 
    work abroad.

  8. Join the military. While your travel may not be on your terms, you 
    can learn a new vocation and earn money while traveling.  If defending your 
    country and potentially going to war are your thing, you may enjoy reading 
    about this man’s experience in the 
    U.S. Marine Corps.

  9. Work as a personal assistant. The key to this job is to work as an 
    assistant to a high-powered executive. You may put in long hours and need to 
    deal with the personal whims of your boss, but you will likely spend a lot of 
    time traveling and participating in fun perks such as high-profile 
    events.
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Win 

While there is no guarantee you will be able to actually take a vacation this 
way, it’s worth a try to see if you can win something. Take these suggestions if 
you feel lucky.



  1. Holidays & Travel. Check out the numerous vacation giveaways on 
    this site. They also offer 
    travel deals, so you will have to read through the posts to find the chances to 
    win instead of paying for your vacation.

  2. Prizatron. This blog is 
    devoted to listing sweepstakes. Almost every day this blogger posts links to 
    open sweepstakes. You will have to wade through them to find travel-specific 
    opportunities, but it’s probably worth it if you win.

  3. All Because Two People Fell in Love. You can also subscribe to this blog. You’ll find posts and links 
    to tons and tons of sweepstake giveaways (mostly with a mama theme). Not all are 
    travel related, but many either award vacations or money that can be easily 
    spent on travel.

  4. Search blogs. Try this blog 
    search
     by typing in vacation givaway in the search box. You will get 
    a list of blogs that feature giveaway opportunities. Be sure to check the dates 
    on these opportunities as they usually have a deadline to enter.

  5. Enter raffles. Many schools and organizations hold raffles to raise 
    money, and depending on who donated for the raffle, you can sometimes find 
    vacation packages, accommodations, or flights as prizes. Spend a couple of 
    dollars to try for a free vacation.
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Free Transportation 

Along with accommodation expenses, transportation is the other big ticket 
item while traveling. Find a way to travel for free and you are half way to a 
vacation paid by someone else.  Here are some thoughts on how to get your 
transportation for free.



  1. Become a courier. For the price of delivering a package, you can get 
    free airfare to anywhere outside the United States.  Learn how 
    to be a courier
     and get a free flight to another country.

  2. Cash in your frequent flier miles. If you’ve been saving miles, cash 
    them in for a free ticket.  If you haven’t saved enough of them, you can always 
    take advantage of the many promotional offers for extra miles by opening a 
    credit card.

  3. Friends or family at an airline. Take advantage of the travel perks 
    your friends or family may have from their jobs at airlines. If you don’t know 
    of any friends or family connections, ask around. You may be surprised to learn 
    of someone’s connections you didn’t know about.

  4. Book a tour. Sometimes promotional giveaways like this 
    one
     will provide free airfare if you book a tour with them. You may not have 
    as much flexibility with dates or destinations, but you can fly for free and 
    save quite a bit of money.

  5. Transport a car. Many auto transport services need people to drive 
    their clients’ cars to destinations across the country. If you have a good 
    driving record and are responsible, you may be able to get to your travel 
    destination for free by driving a transport car.

  6. Craigslist. Check out the rideshare section on craigslist 
    for people who are looking for company on a long drive. Sometimes the person 
    posting the ad asks for help with the driving or some gas money in return for 
    the ride. Or you can be more proactive and post your own ad looking for someone 
    to let you come along on their road trip.

  7. Barter for Miles. If you have a skill or service, barter your 
    services with someone who has frequent flayer miles. You may even be able to 
    trade your services at your destination for the air fare to get there.

  8. Use your debit card as a credit card. Some banks will reward you for 
    using your debit card as a credit card by giving points that are redeemable for 
    frequent flier miles. Check to see if your bank offers this service.  If not, it 
    might be worth your while to switch to a bank that does.

  9. Hitchhike. While this option is not a safe idea in many countries, 
    including the United States, there are some countries where hitchhiking is not 
    only safe, but a common method of transportation. Read this 
    blog entry
     about hitchhiking (or "hiking") in Namibia.

  10. Extend a business 
    trip.
     If your company is sending you on a business trip, extend the return 
    date by a few days and enjoy a short vacation before returning home. Make sure 
    this is alright with your boss before doing it, though, or that may be your last 
    business trip with them.

Fun Stuff 

While these ideas may not pay for your vacation, they will certainly help 
fund some of the extras that need to be taken into consideration when planning 
travel. From food to toiletries, find ways to get free stuff to take with you on 
vacation.



  1. Free sunscreen. No matter where you plan to vacation, you will need 
    sunscreen. Simply fill out this 
    survey
     and receive a free tube of SPF 30 sunscreen.

  2. $50 at a restaurant. Complete a 
    survey
     and get a gift card for one of many restaurants or a Visa 
    gift card spendable anywhere. Your information will be shared with their 
    marketing partner corporations, so you will likely get a ton of marketing 
    material.

  3. Get free TV show tickets. If you will be in the Los Angeles area, you 
    can get free tickets to many TV and game show 
    tapings. Just select the show you are interested in seeing, click Order 
    Tickets
    , then print your ticket and bring it with you.  You must be 18 or 
    older and they suggest you arrive early.

  4. Random free stuff. Visit That Freebie Site for a listing of 
    lots of free stuff.  Click on the Travel & Vacation link for freebies 
    specifically related to travel. Don’t forget to browse around for other free 
    things to take with you on your travels such as toiletries or 
    clothing.                                                
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  • NEW QUNAR TRAVEL APP
  • SUPER PRICE HOTELS
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  • TRAIN BUSES FERRIES
  • CAR RENTAL
  • BOOK A TAXI
  • MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS TICKETS
  • RENT A BIKE
  • YACHT & BOATS RENTALS
  • FLIGHTS WITH CASHBACK
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT US