Accommodation is one of the biggest cost factors when travelling. While there are so many ways to find cheap accommodation, what if I tell you that you can even get it for free? Yes, there are different opportunities to get free accommodation all over the world. Whether it’s Work & Travel, Housesitting or Couchsurfing – here are the 5 ways to get free accommodation while travelling.
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Housesitting – Look after pets for free accommodation
Housesitting is perfect for all the animal lovers out there. You look after someone else’s pet(s) while they’re on holiday in exchange for staying at their home for free. I’ve done several housesits already and loved doing every single one of them. You get the opportunity to live like a local, spend time with the cutest animals and can get a taste of how everyday life good be like there. It’s such a cheap way to travel as you don’t have to pay anything at all for your accommodation.
Of course, it’s not like on vacation where you can do whatever you want and stay out of the house all day. The pet’s needs always come first and depending on the pet it takes more or less time to look after them. Some pets can’t be left alone for too long, need to take medicine or have other special needs, so always keep that in mind when looking for a housesit.
So, how can you find a housesit? I always use TrustedHousesitters to find housesitting opportunities. Just make an account, write something about you and your experience with animals on your profile and then you can start applying to do a housesit. TrustedHousesitters is a legit platform that requires identity checks, and you can leave each other reviews after a housesit what makes getting the next housesit even easier. The platform isn’t free and currently costs 149€ a year for sitters and 199€ for hosts, but you can get a permanent 25% discount on your membership. However, the money is totally worth it compared to paying for accommodation especially when doing longer housesits or several one’s a year.
Pro’s
- it’s free (except the small fee for the platform)
- good for short term stays
- you can travel spontaneously
- meet people from different countries
- get to know the local life
Con’s
- you don’t necessarily get a private room
- lack of privacy (always depending on the host)
- more difficult for longer stays (1 week up)
Couchsurfing – Meet locals and stay there for free
Couchsurfing is a platform that connects travellers with locals who offer free accommodation, mostly their couch or even a spare room, in their own homes. It’s the perfect way to meet new people, learn about the local culture, get insider tips and generally have a more authentic travel experience.
Using the platform is not completely for free, but only costs 5,99€ a month or 22,99€ a year. On Couchsurfing you just set up your profile, write something about yourself and your travels, can even share your itinerary and plans if you want to and then you are ready to go and text potential hosts.
Always make sure that you only stay with someone that already has reviews on Couchsurfing and only positive ones. If there’s one bad review, just leave it and stay somewhere else for your own safety.
Pro’s
- it’s free (except the small fee for the platform)
- good for short term stays
- you can travel spontaneously
- meet people from different countries
- get to know the local life
Con’s
- you don’t necessarily get a private room
- lack of privacy (always depending on the host)
- more difficult for longer stays (1 week up)
Work & Travel – Free accommodation in exchange for work
Another way to get free accommodation and sometimes even free food is through Work & Travel. You’ve probably heard about Work & Travel in Australia or New Zealand, where you work full time for a couple of weeks and earn money. And then there are some Work & Travel opportunities where you still must pay for your stay.
The Work & Travel opportunities I mean allow you to work a small, temporary job abroad like at a hostel, on a farm etc. in exchange for free accommodation and food. You don’t earn any money, but you usually only work for 3-5 hours a day with some days off, so there is still much free time to explore and enjoy the area. It’s not only a great way to save money, but you can also make new experiences, improve a new language, make friends and get a taste of how everyday life could be like there.
You can find these Work & Travel opportunities all over the world through platforms like Worldpackers or Workaway. Both platforms cost 59$ a year. It’s always easier to find something when you have enough time and want to stay somewhere a bit longer as most places prefer people to stay for a couple of weeks, but 1–2-week stays are also possible at some places.
Pro’s
- a free bed & sometimes even free food
- good for long term stays
- get some experience in a new working field
Con’s
- not ideal for short term stays (usually requires a minimum stay from 1 week up to 1 month)
- it’s not a vacation, you need to work a few hours a day
- less flexibility, because of working hours
Sleep in your car – A flexible way to save money on a road trip
When you’re on a road trip you can always just sleep in your car to save money on accommodation. Depending on your car it’s probably not the most comfortable way, but I mean, it’s free right? The best way is of course having a van, but there are ways to make your own car more comfortable for your trip. Just take the back seats out and put a mattress in the back of your car to get a bed.
Sleeping in your car allows you to be super flexible and spontaneous. Just make sure that the parking lot you choose for the night allows overnight parking. In some countries this is easy, and you can park almost everywhere in others it can be more difficult, so do your research before you go. And always take your rubbish back with you.
Pro’s
- it’s free if it’s allowed outside of official campgrounds
- you can travel spontaneously
- lots of flexibility
- spend time in nature
Con’s
These always depend on your car or van and how well equipped it is
- not as comfortable as a bed
- can get too cold or hot depending on the weather
- no sanitary facilities
- not all parking lots where you can stay at night are beautiful and have nice views (those can be rare depending on your location)
Wild Camping – Stay within nature
If you love spending time in nature, wild camping is perfect for you. You can stay in the middle of nowhere and have the area completely for yourself if you want. It’s a super flexible way to travel and you don’t have to pay anything except for your camping equipment in the beginning. I know, it’s not for everyone as it can get uncomfortable when t’s cold or raining and there are no sanitary facilities around. But those who don’t have a problem with that can get once in a lifetime experiences.
Unfortunately, wild camping isn’t allowed in all countries, so please do your research on the place you want to travel to. It’s important that you always respect nature, the locals and take your rubbish with you. Leave no traces!
Pro’s
- it’s free of course
- sleep in remote places
- spend time in nature
- you can travel spontaneously
- lots of flexibility
Con’s
- not as comfortable as a bed
- depending on the weather it can get too cold, hot, wet etc.
- no sanitary facilities