There's no doubt that the world is a beautiful place, and there are many ways to see it. But when you think of travelling the world, your mind likely goes straight to expensive plane tickets, pricey hotels and restaurants—and maybe even some exorbitant costs for things like cruises or guided tours. But in reality, there are actually tons of ways to travel the world that don't cost much (or anything) at all! Here are 10 tips on how to get around cheaply.
Get a job in the travel industry.
This might sound obvious, but it's true: the travel industry is a huge money-maker. If you want to see the world without having to spend too much money, look into getting a job in the travel industry. There are lots of different jobs available—from working in hotels and restaurants to working as tour guides or cruise ship employees. Even if you don't get paid much, at least you'll be able to take advantage of some free perks like meals, lodging and transportation which help cover a huge portion of your everyday bills.
Volunteer for a charitable organization.
One of the best ways to travel the world for free is by volunteering. Volunteer travel is a great opportunity to see different parts of the world while giving back to others. There are many organizations that offer volunteer travel opportunities, but you should make sure that they are reputable and legitimate before signing up. You will want to choose an organization that has a proven track record in helping others and providing service-learning opportunities for their participants.
Get a house-sitting gig.
If you're looking for a way to travel while still earning some money, then house-sitting might be the perfect option for you. In most cases, all you have to do is take care of someone's home while they're away on vacation—and in some cases, pets as well. House-sitting jobs can be found on sites like TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse and House Carers.
These websites will also help you find pet-sitting opportunities as well if that's something that interests you.
Use airline miles to see the world.
Airline miles are one of the best ways to travel for free. If you're lucky enough to live in a country that is part of an airline alliance, such as Star Alliance or SkyTeam, there's a good chance that when you fly on one of those airlines' partner airlines, you can earn and redeem points toward your next flight with them. If not, there are still plenty of ways to earn airline miles:
Sign up for an airline's credit card and pay your monthly bills with it. Most airlines will offer bonus miles just for doing this.
Sign up for an airline’s loyalty program. These programs often offer free flights, hotel stays and other travel benefits in exchange for a certain number of miles.
Fly as much as possible on that airline, even if you have to pay full price. Every mile counts!
Take part in a home exchange program.
There are many websites and newsletters that list homes available for exchange. If you’re looking for a place to stay in another country, try sites like Home Exchange Central and Home Exchange Worldwide. If you want to get a place to stay in your own country, try local organizations like the National Association of Retired & Senior Citizens (NARSC). These sites usually require an annual membership fee of around $50 per year but can be worth it if they make finding free accommodations easier.
Teach English as a second language abroad.
Teaching English as a second language (ESL) is a great way to make money while travelling the world and it allows you to live in other countries for free. You can find jobs teaching English online or through local schools. Even if you don't have any experience, there are many online resources available to help you get started!
Join a work exchange program.
A work exchange program is a program that allows people to travel the world, with the caveat that they will work for their hosts in exchange for room and board. Some examples of these programs include WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), Workaway, Helpx, and Workaway Anywhere.
These types of programs are great because they allow you to live abroad without having to pay any money upfront or take out loans or credit cards; instead, you're relying solely on your ability to find a host willing enough to rent space out and feed you. This can be especially useful if you're planning on travelling overland (i.e., by bus) where hotels aren't always available and hostels can cost upwards of $30 per night!
Conclusion
I hope this article has inspired you to travel more and given you some ideas for how to do it. Travel really is one of the greatest gifts in life, so we want everyone to be able to experience it! From volunteering abroad or teaching English as a second language (ESL) in another country—or even just taking a road trip around your own state or city—there are many ways to travel the world without spending much money at all.