It is one thing to travel on a low budget, and quite another to travel without money. This involves taking a trip without any budget for transportation, lodging and food. It may take some money, but only for unforeseen situations. It is a very intense experience that only the most intrepid travellers dare to do. Traveling without money requires motivation and commitment from whoever decides to undertake it. And, although it sounds impossible, many have dared to leave their comfort zone to travel the world with nothing in their pockets.
How to travel without money?
When we talk about traveling without money, we refer to the fact of not taking money with you. It may be that on your journey you have to get it, in order to cover some of your needs. But, when you start, you start without any money, but you will have to solve your transfer, food and accommodation through exchanges, volunteering and the good people you meet on your trip.
Well, let’s see how to move from one place to another, stay and eat when you make a trip without money. Read to the end!
How to go from one place to another?
Hitchhiking is the way we have seen the most in the movies, and the most classic way to travel without spending a single penny. If you are not familiarized with the word “hitchhiking,” it refers to when people wait on the side of the road and have someone give them a ride in their car. The universal motion of stick your thumb out is used to indicate that you need help to get around. To be successful with this method, it is important to have a good appearance and smile.
There are social networks where people share their car trips. Here you can pay the driver something. So you can travel a little safer and cheaper, where you can also meet people while you travel.
Where will you sleep?
One of the first things we ask ourselves when we think about traveling without money is, where are we going to sleep? And while it may seem incredible, this may be one of the easiest things to solve when undertaking such a journey.
There are several options that we can perfectly consider. As the possibility of obtaining accommodation in exchange for work, in hostels, farms, bars, among other places.
Couch Surfing
This is one of the most popular ways to get free hosting in Europe. Couch Surfing is a global accommodation and lodging exchange service. It is a kind of traveller network that allows thousands of people around the world to request and offer free accommodation.
The fundamental principle of this platform is cultural exchange. The hosts open the doors of their houses to meet the visitors who will be staying. Depending on the people, it may be that in addition to a place to sleep, they take the trouble to take you to know the city.
The most important thing if you decide to resort to Couch Surfing when traveling without money is that you are very kind and grateful. Although the places to sleep can vary, from a room to only a mat on the floor. What should prevail is that thanks to your hospitality we get rid of sleeping on the street.
House Sitting
This free form of accommodation consists of taking care of the houses of other people who want to travel for a considerable time and have no one to leave their pets with, nor do they want to leave their home alone for long. So they hire people, who could be a lucky traveller, to keep the responsibility of taking care of pets and in return they have a place to live without paying a penny.
Housing Swap
This is another modality where you do not have to pay anything to stay in another destination. If you are in a tourist city and have your own home. You can exchange your house with other people around the world, so that both of you can enjoy a vacation with free accommodation.
Camp
Hundreds of travellers decide to camp when traveling without money, since it is also a free lodging alternative. The biggest drawback with this is that you cannot camp anywhere you want. Many countries have special designated areas, and even charge a minimal fee per night.
However, there are other countries, where the hostels rent the space per night and give access to the common areas, bathroom and kitchen. Although it is not totally free, it is a cheaper alternative to staying in a hostel or hotel.
What will you eat when traveling without money?
This is where creativity, the desire to survive a trip without money and the willingness to do any job are revealed. Well, it is obvious that if you travel without a penny you must find ways to get what you need to survive. You can do this by getting temporary jobs wherever you go.
The Workaway website offers a wealth of options for working in exchange for room and food. It is worldwide, so you can find this type of exchange in hostels around the world. Here, you can also find many volunteers who do not have to pay (there are places where you have to pay up to $ 49 to get a job as a volunteer), also with the same maxim of working a few hours a day in exchange for a roof and maintenance.
There are options such as volunteering, where for doing any job in assigned places you receive a payment or exchange some hours of work for food and even accommodation. On websites like Help Stay they offer free volunteers, where in exchange for their time they give you accommodation and food.
In conclusion, it is possible to travel without money. Only, to achieve this, you have to be open-minded, eliminate prejudices and be willing to do anything to enjoy a unique and enriching experience. And, would you dare to make a trip without money? Tell us!
ALFA