The internet has allowed us to connect with people in so many ways and we can now reach out to people in different cities and communities across the globe at the click of a button.
Below are a list of the 6 BEST ways to travel for FREE! All of which can be done through different online communities over the internet, so you can organise this from your home before your go or on the road if you are already away!
1). RELOCATION CARS
Have you ever thought how a 'hire car' gets back to its original location after you drop it off at a different location to where you picked it up? This website will let you drive the car back to its original location for free! Depending on the deal that it advertised; at worst you may get the car for a minimal fee, if your lucky - for free, or at best - they could even pay you petrol money as well! I have even seen tickets to board the Spirit of Tasmania included on a Melbourne to Hobart trip! There is only once catch, there are strict terms on the dates; you may need to drive the car from Melbourne to Brisbane within 5 days, or Adelaide to Perth between certain dates, but you cant complain when its free and gets you to where you want to go. You can even sleep in the car too if you want to save a few extra dollars!
Experience: On a recent long weekend, we were lucky enough to cross over a Melbourne to Adelaide in a camper van! This opportunity which meant that we could get to spend a few days in the Barossa Valley for free in the van and only had to pay for our flights back! Little opportunities like this are great way to travelling on a budget!
2). COUCHSURFING
An online community of people from all over the world who offer their couch to fellow travellers for free - with no strings attached! Most people do it because they love meeting people or because they love their home city and want to show people around! You can either host travellers, be hosted or alternatively download the app and post in the hangout section if you would like to meet up with anyone!
Experience: I had an awesome time staying with with a Dutch girl in the Hague! It was the middle of winter and her and friend decided to go swimming at the beach while it was snowing - nearly died!! She lived in an apartment block with about 10 other people aged 25-35 years old and it felt like they were one big family!
3).WORKAWAY
This is a brilliant platform which offers people the opportunity to apply for volunteering roles all over the globe! The positions range from, working at hostels (reception, bar, building, marketing, etc), teaching English in a small community, help with childcare in a family home or with gardening or maintenance on a farm. Usually the host will provide free accomodation and meals for your services.
Experience: I was in Vietnam and had a couple of weeks to kill before meeting up with a friend so I applied for a few volunteering positions in Da Nang and ended up getting offered a role at a hostel. I was provided free accomodation, breakfast and a beer every evening in return for taking the walking tours (in a city which I had never been) and socialising in the evenings - it was great fun!!
4). WWOOFING
WWOOFING stands for the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Although the term ‘Organic’ is in the name, its not alway imperative when hosting. Basically, it is based around helping farmers with the animals, daily chores and maintenance, in return for free food and accomodation.
Experience: My girlfriend was originally in Australia on an Italian Working Holiday Visa and spent 3 months working at a farm near the Great Ocean Road (A few hours out of Melbourne). We would help gather and milk the cows in the mornings and afternoon, then had free time to explore the beach, roam the forest and play with the animals on the property, which ranged from puppies and kittens to an injured baby kangaroo!
5). HELP X
Help X and Workaway are two very similar platforms, which the host will offer to provide free accomodation and meals for your services. Once again they requirements can range from a number of different activities or services, which help the host or community!
Experience: We were looking for something a little out of the ordinary in our time in Sri Lanka so we applied to stay and help out at a farm in Bentota. The family were lovely and provided free accomodation and meals in return for helping them with chores, like milking the cows and buffalo, feeding the pigs, and preparing and making curd. The family also took us to see a local Ayurvedic doctor in the community which was also a really interesting experience.
6). GO FUND ME!
This is a crowd funding platform where you can propose an idea and the community can get behind you and donate money to your cause! Examples are; community projects; if you would like to build a house, school or toilet block, if you would like to start a business or charity, if you would like to further your education through a short course, college or education, pretty much anything under the sun that you can imagine - Even to raise money for your dream holiday!
There are people from wealthy western countries who request funding for their travels, and if you have a sufficient storey and purpose, then you may spark the interest of people to fund you but in saying that, it is also great for people who are living in third world and developing countries who cannot generate the money they need to achieve their dreams, so we should not abuse this!
Experience: None! I appreciate that this is a great way to raise money for worthwhile causes and at this stage, I am yet to think of one that warrants requesting for someones hard earned cash, when there are much more selfless and interesting causes than what I can come up with! I would love to start a charity one day and believe that this would be a great starting point for the initially capital raising of the project!
Overall, the internet has opened up so many doors for people to travel and experience what the world has to offer! We are so extremely lucky to have these opportunities so make the most of them while you can. In recent times, I have however found it harder to get responses from these platforms, solely due to abundance of people applying so make sure your storey stands out and tells the host why they should allow you to stay or help with them - whether its couchsurfing, workaway, helpx, wwoofing or gofundme!
Remember to always give back more than you take!
For any further information comment below of drop us an email at info@indyescapes.com :)
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