How to Travel the World for Free (Pt.2)

So now that we've covered how to get from A to B in part 1, let's talk about finding a place to stay the night. There are lots and lots of options here, but I'll just cover a few of them. Now, let's find a bed!

Obviously having a place to rest is quite nice to have, otherwise your travels will probably be a lot less fun... And maybe you're at a really nice location, and just want to spend a little extra time there. That's why I will list a couple of options for short, and long stays.

First off:

Couchsurfing

If you don't mind staying with a local for a night, I'd highly recommend couchsurfing.com. It's a place where locals offer nearby travelers a place to sleep, and the best part is: most of the time they offer it for FREE!

Some locals really like to hear the stories you have to tell, and they're willing to offer you a bed for it. This is perfect if you like meeting new people, discovering local cultures, and if you want to know everything about the place you're exploring.

Build your own accommodation.

Why look for someone to offer you a place, when you can build your own? If you're really into nature, and rather spend a day in the Belgian Ardennes than in New York, then you could just take a backpack! Pack it with a tent, sleeping bag, and some cooking materials and you're good to go wherever you want. For those who're not really into hiking: there are stories of backpackers on bikes too!

I'd recommend doing a little research online, or maybe talk to an experienced backpacker. This way you know where to go, what to bring, and how to find your way. I have done this once myself, and the simple way of living brings a lot of peace to mind. Especially in this world full of distractions.

If you'd rather go with a few others, you can find trips online aswell. Then you'll at least have someone with you who knows what they're doing.

Work at a hostel.

Maybe not the first thing that comes to mind, but you can work in a hostel in exchange for a bed. There are a lot of hostels listed on work exchange websites but you can always just walk up to one and ask them if they are in need of help in exchange for a bed in one of the bunks. You could travel from hostel to hostel working for your stay.

I personally like hostels a lot: you get to meet so many different people at one place. At the last hostel I stayed at, I met a guy from Egypt, two girls from Canada, one from Spain, and two brothers from India; in one day!

House sit.

You've probably heard about baby sitting: watching someone else's kid. Well, you can do the same with someone's home! You can find more details about it over here at The Guardian.

So here you have four of my personal favorites. Check which one you like the best, and try it out! I can't wait to see where you guys end up at. One thing is for sure, when you get back (if you're even coming back) you'll definitely have one or two stories to tell...

So get lost, and I will see you soon!

-J