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How to travel for free | The 7 best platforms
Traveling for free, or very cheaply, is entirely possible nowadays, even spend a few weeks in some of the most carace of the world like New York or Singapore, It can be very cheap If you're up for going beyond hotels, traveling slowly and using some of the options for travel free which we tell you about in this article.
We bring you 7 platforms that connect travelers In different ways, from pet sitting and house swapping to volunteering, we're sure you'll find the one that best suits you.
- Couchsurfing | The most famous platform for free travel
- HomeExchange | Platform for home exchange
- Trusted House Sitters | Stay for free while taking care of pets
- Worldpackers | Free sleep for volunteers
- Imoova | Cars and vans almost free
- Find a Crew and Crewbay | Platforms for free boat travel
- Welcome to my Garden | Platform for cycle tourists and walking tourists
Couchsurfing The most famous platform for free travel
If we're talking about free travel Couchsurfing It's the platform that comes to mind for almost everyone. It probably has the largest community of any platform, with members in nearly every country in the world. Let me briefly explain how it works in case you're not familiar with it. People from all over the world offer a sofa, bed, or room to other travelers for free. In return, all that's asked is... spend time together, sharing experiences, anecdotes, or preparing a popular dish from your countryIt's a great way to learn about other cultures and make friends.
Couchsurfing offers free accommodationBut in most cases, you can also use the kitchen to prepare your own meals and save money on your trip. Our personal experiences have always been positive; some hosts have even picked us up and taken us to dinner at their favorite restaurants. One of the things we appreciate is that you can see reviews from other travelers about the hosts before sending a message expressing your interest in staying with them.
How Couchsurfing Works
Much of couchsurfing's success is the ease of use And the good vibes between users, in many cases the hosts who open their homes for free also use couchsurfing to travel to new destinations, create a great community.
- You create your profile with real photos, a brief personal description and your interests.
- Since 2020, a small subscription fee is required to validate your profile.
- You use the bus platformcar and filter among hosts wherever you want to travel.
- You can read reviews from other travelers who have stayed there.
- You send a request to the hosts that best suit you and wait for their approval.
- If they accept your request, you can chat with them to finalize details of your arrival.
- After your stay, you can share your opinion on the platform.
HomeExchange | Platform for house exchange
Another great way to travel for free or almost free is by using the platform HomeExchange, world leader in home exchangeIt works very simply: you allow other travelers to stay in your home in exchange for being able to do the same in the home of another member of the platform. A great advantage of HomeExchange is that you can travel as a family because you'll have an entire house available. This way, you won't have to pay for a hotel, which is one of the main expenses of any trip.
According to official data from the website they have over 450.000 homes registered in 159 countriesThat means you can get free accommodation almost anywhere in the world. Our first experience was in Perth, followed by Sydney, and along the way Alba's mother got inspired and has already used it in three European cities. Someone who's been using it for years says that Once you start, there's no going back. and allows you travel on a budget.
How it works HomeExchange
There are two different systems for house swapping. The first is a reciprocal exchange, meaning that on the same days you spend at someone else's house, they stay at yours. The second system is more practical and the one we use in Australia: someone stays at your house when you're away. exchange of pointsThen you can use those points to stay in any other house on the platform whenever you want.
- Create your profile and list your home with real photos and information. You can also advertise guest rooms.
- To get your first points you need to pay for an annual subscription; you can get points by using my invitation code «albamaria-5a93b«.
- You define the dates you will be away so that someone can stay at your house.
- The price in points per day to stay in your house is determined by its location and size.
- You search for available houses on the dates and in the destination you want to travel to; if you have enough points, you send a request message.
- If the other member approves the request, they receive the points immediately and can use them at any time. At the same time, you can chat to finalize details of your arrival.
Trusted House Sitters | Stay for free while taking care of pets
Another very popular way to stay for free while traveling is to stay in a private home when the owner is not there. in exchange for taking care of their petsThe most popular platform for connecting pet owners who need someone to look after their pets with travelers willing to do so is Trusted House Sitters.
Our opinion about Trusted House Sitters The idea is brilliant because help for those who have difficulty traveling because they have no one to be withcarThey look after their pets with many travelers who tour the country at a leisurely pace or who work remotely, and the free accommodation is a great help to them in exchange for the task of caring for and giving love to a dog, cat, or any other pet.
Worldpackers | Free accommodation for volunteers
Worldpackers It is one of the world's most popular platforms for free travel. exchanging your skills for accommodationThe platform is based on volunteering, where you offer a few hours of work per day and in exchange they provide you with a place to sleep and, in some cases, meals. Use our invitation code VIAJEROSLOWCOSTEROS Membership is much cheaper.
Through Worldpackers you can, for example, working in a hostel, helping to build or renovate a campsite, teaching languages in educational projects or volunteer on organic farms. Each opportunity is different, and you can choose according to your interests and skills. Keep in mind that you won't be paid; it's a very different concept. to working seasonallywhere countries with high salaries are prioritized in order to save a lot in a short time and be able to travel frequently with those savings.
However, the volunteering model It doesn't suit everyone, since it implies a a much slower and more participatory travel styleThis isn't a vacation; it's about living with locals and actively contributing to the project. Additionally, a [unclear - possibly "something" or "something"] is usually required. estancia mÃnima Therefore, not all travelers are a good fit for these volunteer opportunities; we've included an article about one. experience at Worldpackers.
Imoova Cars and vans almost free
Another little-known form of travel almost for free It is through the platforms of relocation, and the website of Imoova It's one of the most popular, but not the only one. This system involves driving a rental car or van from one city to another in exchange for a ridiculously low daily fee, usually €1. This helps rental companies to move their vehicles to where they are really needed.
In addition, many times They include a free fuel deposit. This greatly reduces the cost of the trip. The main drawback is that they give you a limited number of days and kilometers, which restricts your ability to take detours to visit other areas near the route, although in some cases they do allow it. extend by a few days or additional kilometers paying a small fee, to enjoy the tour at a more leisurely pace.
About Us We tried this way of traveling almost for free for the first time in Australia.In one of the countries where it's easiest to do so, we picked up our car from relocation We had to return it in Townsville, so we had unlimited miles and took the opportunity to visit the waterfalls and Peterson Creek, where we were able to spot platypuses.
Find a Crew and Crewbay | Platforms for free boat travel
Another way to travel for free is by boat; here you combine free accommodation and transport in exchange for volunteer work. Find a Crew y Crewbay These are two websites that connect boat owners who need help or company for routes with volunteer sailors.
While having some qualifications or previous experience as crew members is very helpful, it's not always a requirement. Often, captains are willing to teach you the basics or simply need help with daily tasks like maintenance or cooking.
Welcome to my Garden | Platform for cycle tourists and walking tourists
The last idea we bring you for traveling for free (or almost) is the platform Welcome to My GardenIt is a collaborative network, primarily European but growing in other continents year after year. It allows travelers to camp free in the gardens of local peopleIt's geared towards cyclists or hikers. Hosts offer a space to pitch a tent for one or more nights at no cost other than good conversation. They also often let you use their bathroom and kitchen.
We haven't had the chance to try it yet, but we certainly will if we plan any cycling trips around Europe, especially in the Netherlands where there are hundreds of hosts.
We hope that this guide on how to travel for free We hope this has helped you discover alternative ways to do it and that you'll be inspired to try it on your next trip. Don't forget to read our other guides and follow us on social media.
