Traveling around the world is something many of us dream of. One of the biggest barriers to worldwide travel, however, is budget. Many of us believe that a life chasing wanderlust can only be achieved with high earnings, or by saving money for a long time.
Jetting around the world is actually more accessible and cheaper than you might think. Read on to find out how you can travel the world for free by using these websites.
Look After Other People's Homes and Pets
Accommodation can be a huge cost to consider when making international travel plans. Perhaps you’ve bought a plane ticket can't find affordable accommodation at your destination. The solution? Sign up for a housesitting service.
Housesitting is a great way to explore new areas rent-free, and many homes have a furry resident to keep you company—perfect if you're a solo traveler. There are hundreds of pet and homeowners around the world who are looking for people to look after their belongings and animals whilst they themselves travel.
Getting started with housesitting is straightforward. Most websites require you to set up an account, fill out a personal profile, and then undertake a few security checks to verify you as a reliable and trusted house sitter. Don’t forget to fill your profile with plenty of info about yourself, including adding some friendly selfies to increase your chance of securing a sit.
It’s worthwhile looking for certified sites, as you’ll be covered by insurance (both pet and home). Plus all household members have to undertake security checks, so you can be assured that you will be staying somewhere safe.
Here are three certified house and pet sitting websites.
TrustedHousesitters
If you love pets, TrustedHousesitters is a great place to start. Sits are available in England, Australia, South America, Asia, and more, with accommodation ranging from houses and apartments, to city or farm sits. Expect to look after all sorts of pets, from cats, dogs, and birds, to tortoises, chickens, and horses.
To become a certified member on TrustedHousesitters, you will need to provide a full profile and undertake some security checks. Couples are also welcome to sign up together under one profile, which is ideal if you're traveling with a friend or partner.
There is a registration fee, but for the money you save on accommodation, electricity, and Wi-Fi, it's a small price to pay.
House Sitters America
If you're keen to discover more of the States, then House Sitters America is the perfect site for you. Hosted exclusively for house sits in the US, sitters can choose to look after homes with or without pets.
There is a joining fee for sitters, but unlike TrustedHousesitters, some homeowners offer to pay their sitters for their services. This means that you have the potential to earn back your registration fee reasonably quickly.
Having a criminal record check and good references will also help your profile stand out amongst the competition of other sitters.
MindMyHouse
Global house sitting service, MindMyHouse, offers sits in Canada, the US, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, South Africa, and more.
Established in 2005, MindMyHouse is a great place for newbie sitters, thanks to its robust online community. It provides encouraging testimonials, helpful advice, as well as blogs and FAQs to answer any questions or concerns of new house sitters.
MindMyHouse claims the "lowest annual fee" on the internet (just $20 per year) and doesn't automatically renew. With a simple sign-up and easy-to-assemble profile, it's a great platform to use to save money on travel.
Work and Live Abroad as a Seasonnaire
Despite the association of university gap years and seasonal work, there isn't an age limit on becoming a seasonnaire. You can find a wide choice of paid roles that are suitable for all ages, skill sets, and experiences, with many perks and freebies included.
Not only do you have the opportunity to live like a local for free, but many employers will also pay for your flights, accommodation, and sometimes meals as part of the employee package.
For example, winter seasonnaires living in a ski resort may receive employee benefit packages which include ski lift passes and ski rental, whilst summer employees can enjoy free excursions, such as boat rides and land tours.
Seasonal work is traditionally split into summer and winter opportunities—although there are positions that span across multiple seasons—where you can find yourself living in a new country for five to six months at a time. You might find yourself taking on the role of a resort representative, kids' club activity leader, or even a tour guide.
There are several online job boards for seasonnaires, including the following.
Season Workers
Season Worker is an easy-to-use bulletin board website. Not only can you find summer and winter seasonal work on Season Workers, but there are also opportunities to undertake courses (e.g. ski instructor or cookery courses), find airline work, and even jobs teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL).
Go Abroad
Go Abroad has been helping students travel the world since 1997. You can choose to study, teach, intern, or volunteer abroad, as well as just undertake a worldwide adventure. It offers opportunities for travel around the world, so you aren't limited by location.
Anywork Anywhere
Based in the Netherlands, the international recruitment website Anywork Anywhere offers a huge list of jobs around the world to suit all tastes and experiences. You can find a range of jobs from Au Pair and Activity Instructor positions, to fruit picking, farm, and customer service roles.
With thousands of opportunities worldwide, you're bound to meet like-minded travelers wherever you go.
Volunteer Abroad for Amazing Life Experiences
Volunteering abroad is a way to travel the world whilst getting involved in huge projects, such as helping local communities and tackling poverty. Like seasonal work, you'll meet like-minded people when you volunteer abroad.
Here are some brilliant websites that let you make a difference while traveling.
Volunteer Forever
Volunteer Forever is a comprehensive resource for finding and funding volunteer, internship, and "teach abroad" experiences. Packed with expert information, scholarship advice, and shared experiences, it's a great website to get started as a volunteer.
International Volunteer HQ
If you want to enjoy life-enriching travel experiences that also have a positive impact on a community, check out International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ). You can plan your trip based on the causes you want to help (for example, childcare, conservation, women's empowerment, or community development), or pick a country and see what projects you want to be a part of.
The stressful stuff, like securing plane tickets and booking a hotel, is taken care of by IVHQ. This way, you can fully enjoy the travel and volunteer experience.
International Citizen Service
Funded by the Department for International Development, the International Citizen Service (ICS) is ideal for candidates looking to volunteer for charity services whilst on a budget.
Volunteer placements are available for 18 to 25 year-olds, and anyone age 23 to 35 can sign up for projects as a team leader. Participants are encouraged to raise money before travel, but financial support is given by the ICS staff.
Get Ready to Travel for Less
There are plenty of opportunities and resources online to help you travel for free or on a budget. It's also always worth checking out the World Health Organization's website ahead of travel to clue up on rules and safety advice of the country or region you're planning on traveling to.
