As a broke backpack traveler and former travel agent, I know travel doesn’t have to be expensive. There are tons of ways to cut expenses or travel for free and I thought I’d share those life saving budget travel tips with you. Here are 34 ways to travel with no money that ALL work!
Yes, you may be doubtful at first. Let me break it down for you. Think about it this way : what is your monthly budget where you live? How much do you spend on food, accommodation, transportation, activities…? What if you could travel to anywhere in the world, regardless of the distance, without spending more money than what you already spend daily? Yes, you could be visiting Bali on a budget, or sipping a cocktail by the pool on the paradise island of Koh Tao or Nusa Penida right now.
Alright, now that I’ve got your attention, let me tell you : yes it’s doable. So, how to travel with no money? Anyone can do it. Travel is not just for rich people but for everyone out there willing to do some sacrifice, take their time, be flexible and open minded.
I’ve self funded trips to 15 different countries, from the dreamy roads of Iceland and to the ethical elephants centers in Thailand, in the last 4 years while being a student and it was sporty sometimes! So I’ve put together all my tips and tricks regarding how to get paid to travel while working, how to travel without quitting your job, how to go from one place to another, sleep, eat, explore and repeat for FREE.
Without further ado, here is the answer to the two million dollars question “how can I travel with no money?” with tested and approved methods.
Your Time is a Precious Money Saver : Work to Travel
You ARE skilled and you GOT value : take advantage of it ! Whether you are still a student, an intern, a salaried worker or still looking for a purpose, here are the 5 first ways to make the most of your current situation to travel the world.
Travel Internship
Is there a better way to travel than to do an internship abroad? If you’re still in your study years, it’s very likely that you’ll need to do one or several internships. And you absolutely must take your chance to apply for an internship in another country. It will help you gain high quality experience in your expertise domaine on different levels. Here is a complete guide on how to get an internship in Bali for instance.
Professional benefits of an internship abroad
Professionally, you’ll gain soft skills, an international network and an impressive experience on your CV. Socially, such an experience will help you better adapt to new workplaces and teams. And if you’re not quite sure about the country you’d like to live in, don’t worry. The main difference with a real job is that you’ll only live and “experience” the country for the period of the internship. And to be honest, every place has something precious to offer. I fell in love with all the places I lived in during my internships or jobs abroad.
Personal benefits of an internship abroad
Personally, you will also immerse yourself in another culture. You will discover new traditions, meet diverse people, and maybe even speak a new language. There’s no better feeling than leaving your comfort zone and open your eyes on an unfamiliar new lifestyle, which could match your personality even better! You will get to visit the chosen country but also the countries nearby.
Money benefits of an internship abroad
Whether or not you get an internship salary depends on the laws of the country and on the hiring company. Most of the time, if they don’t offer you a pay, you’ll get other benefits. For instance, I wasn’t paid during my internship in Indonesia but I had free lunch meals and accommodation. I had a villa with a pool all to myself!
Last but not least, the department where I’m from in France paid for the flight as the internship was part of my studies. I will get into the details of local financial support you can get at the end of the article, and I regularly share internship and job abroad tips in the newsletter. Subscribe not to miss it!
Get a Job Abroad
How to cheaply travel Europe or Asia? To travel with no money, one of the many solutions is to get a job abroad. It has pretty much the same benefits than an internship abroad. You can apply to summer jobs, but also to permanent contracts, which allows you to stay longer in your dream country. Depending on the place, it’s more or less easy to find a job in your industry. But there’s always a way! Bartender, au pair, waiter and hostel worker are among the most popular and easiest jobs to find anywhere. You can also teach your language and any skill you have.
However, there’s a small trigger warning to this option. If you want to go for the popular jobs outside your own industry, choose a country where it doesn’t take jobs from locals. For instance, you can’t work as a waiter or an hotel worker in Indonesia.
Work Remotely
You think your boss won’t accept it? One thing is for sure : you’ll never know if you don’t ask. You’ve seen the digital nomads community grow significantly in the last five years. And for good reasons! You get to keep the job you love and stay in your comfort zone professionally, while visiting the world. The dream, right? The only constraint of those remote workers is to keep a good wifi connection wherever they go. So next time you’re wondering “can I travel the world with no money?”, don’t think twice!
Voluntourism
Volontourism is a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity. If you want to work in an association, or already do it in your own country, you could do it elsewhere to. However, be careful which organization you choose. Ask yourself if the job they are offering will have a real impact on the country and its people. Is it doing more harm or good? If there are only pros, go for it!
Slow travel
Slow travel has become a mindset for many travelers, including me. Isn’t it frustrating when you visit a country and have to skip spots or entire cities because you only have a few days left ? Slow travel allows people to travel during a longer period of time so they can relax, reflet on what they have seen, connect more with the places and people.
For instance, if you’re wondering how to travel Australia with no money, you can find a job on WWOOFing in an organic farm. After 3 months in an organic farm, where you’ll have a room in exchange for your workforce, you will get an australian visa to stay longer in the country.
Offer your services against a room, a meal or a trip
What are you good at? If you have skills in photography, writing, or in a particular language, take advantage of them to get free access to everything! It doesn’t always work, there will be some (a lot to be honest) no on the road, but it’ll help you save money at every YES you get. Imagine if you could develop this little business of yours to keep traveling even more? That’s the dream!
For instance, I once got a free boat trip in exchange for professional photos of the boat. I was also able to stay for free in an amazing villa with sea view and a pool in Nusa Lembongan as I offered to update the photos they had on the booking platforms.
Travel with no money : transports for free
Choose the bus over expensive local transports or taxis
On a road trip with no money, or even a city trip, transportation is usually the second or third highest budget of a trip. But, the good news is that it’s VERY easy to cut transport expenses. The first advice is to always choose to take a bus over any other options, such as taxis or car rentals. It could be public buses inside a city to go from one center of interest to another, but it could also be “road trip” buses, like there is on the East Coast of Australia for instance.
Night coaches : the best money saver
The second transport advice is close to the first one : take night coaches! I know it’s not the most comfortable way to travel : you don’t sleep very well (I don’t sleep at all)… BUT it’ll not only make you save money on transportation, but also on hotel nights, which is not negotiable. Among the best bus deals I took, I can talk about this 10€ bus from Malmo in Sweden to Oslo in Norway, another 30€ bank note payed for a round trip to London at Christmas time from Paris, or even better : 10€ to go from Bangkok to the full moon party in Koh Phangan, which I spoke about in this Thailand holidays budget guide. Those trips couldn’t have happened if this night coach option didn’t exist!
Hitchhiking
Where and why can you hitchhike?
You might be thinking “yeah sure, night coaches are cheap but how do I travel the world with NO money?”. Here’s the first 100% free transport option of this article : hitchhiking! It can almost be done anywhere in the world. So far, as a female traveler, I’ve had great hitchhiking experiences in France, England, Iceland and Thailand. Besides the money-saving benefit, you can also meet loads of different people, share life stories, hear a local perspective on the do’s and don’ts.
It is also much more environmentally friendly to share a car with people going to the same place. It doesn’t have to be for a short distance, it can also be done for long distances if you have enough time, a tent and a friend to share the experience with. We went all the way from Paris to the French Alps, with our tent and backpacks, with no penny to our names 😅
Hitchhiking tips
Hitchhiking have to done carefully though. Here are a few tips to help avoid troubles. When visiting a developing country where local transportation is already cheap, try not to hitchhike. If you have no other choice, don’t do it near the local taxis. If you’re not sure how hitchhiking is perceived or if it’s even legal where you are, check out HitchWiki. Of course, your hitchhiking experience will go smoother and more successful if you have a clear sign, suitable outfit and a nice smile. Last but not least, when you enter the car, send your location to your pears, as well as informations about your driver and his car.
Of course, when we talk about hitchhiking, the first thing that comes to mind is a car hitchhiking. But when you give it a second thought, you can actually hitchhike absolutely any other way of transportation, including boats and planes. To be honest, I’ve never tried these but I heard many successful stories of people boat hiking or even plane hiking. I’ll try them when I get the chance!
Walk or cycle everywhere
Hiya, you got feet right? Use them as much as you possibly can! Many cities have their main attractions within a walkable distance. That’s the case if you visit Malmo in Sweden for example. I recommend making a list of the places you want to visit and put them on a map. Are they worth paying a 3 days transport pass? Sometimes yes, and sometimes not! For instance, the Oslo 3 days pass is around 80€.
Stopovers : the most genuine way to travel on a budget
Okay, you want to travel to MANY places to travel with no money? Stopovers are my absolute favourite way to visit other places on the way to a final destination. Let me explain : you book a 500€ round trip to Indonesia. What if it costed you the exact same price to visit China and the Philippines on your way to Indonesia? Find flights that offer long layovers. For instance, I spent 12 hours in Shanghai and was able to visit all the main attractions of the city.
Of course, you can’t soak up the place as much as on a real trip but you get to visit a huge part of the city for free!! I also spent 12 hours in Singapore and it was one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made. I fell in love with this overweening city and with Changi Airport, the official best airport in the world ; not my words!
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore 
Changi Jewel Airport Waterfall & Jungle in Changi Aiport, Singapore
In addition to long stopovers, you can also chose to take several flights instead of one to stop at your dream destination, for the duration you want! If you can’t find a flight with a long stopover, you can “create” your own layover by booking several flights by yourself. For instance, if you’re going to Bali from Europe, I highly recommend stoping in the Philippines for a few days.
Get miles with credit cards
Yes, getting free air miles by doing your daily groceries shopping isn’t a myth or a scam. It’s actually a kind of loyalty program offered with certain credit cards. The more you spend, the more miles you accumulate… Until getting a free flight! I personally didn’t try this one yet but I will at some point for sure.
Travel with no money : free accommodation
Home Exchange : swap with someone on the other side of the world
I used to do this one a lot with my family when I was younger. This is actually a genius way to reduce travel expenses because accommodation is usually one of the two biggest budgets, along with the price of the flights if you go far. It’s also a very smart way to keep your house or flat occupied with people when you’re away. For instance, they can take care of your pets, water your plants, keep your pool clean… And overall, it’s just very reassuring to know someone is home if anything happens, right?
Thanks to websites such as home exchange, my family and I got to create incredible memories and live stories worth telling ! For instance, we got to travel to Switzerland for free. We proposed the owner a house swap but she couldn’t go to France at that specific time so she just offered her to stay at her place. We also met life long friends and got a cat that still lives with us to this day 🙂
Couch Surfing : Find couches to sleep on and people to connect with
You know Airbnb, right? There’s a worldwide free version of that, and it’s called Couchsurfing ! People from all over the world are offering their couch and second bedroom for free to travelers. In addition to the free stay, it’s also an amazing opportunity to stay with locals. I had an amazing experience with this website, we found a host very quickly for the same night. She was very welcoming, took us to the city center to eat and truly connected with us through deep and nice conversations.
Of course, take precautions while doing this. Double check the profile of the couch host, read all the reviews, try to find them with their names on other platforms like Facebook and contact them there to be sure it’s the same person… Web-stalk them first, sleep safe then.
Hostels : your wallet best friend
A piece about cheap travel couldn’t NOT include hostels. Those lifesavers during world trips, huh? 😉 Hostels are cheap places to stay at, that you can find in most big cities around the world. They usually offer a bed in a shared dorm, for a very small price. Depending on which city you’re in, some of them are even quite fancy to be honest. It also is an awesome opportunity to meet other backpackers, and even sometimes join them for an unplanned roadtrip!
These are still too expensive for you? There’s a backup plan. Hostels always need another pair of hands. I know for a fact most of them in Asia, South America, Australia, and certainly worldwide, have a “work to stay” policy. You can help with the breakfast, reception or cleaning tasks to get free nights.
Camping
Carrying a tent with you with you is the freest way to travel, especially when you’re hitchhiking or on a road trip. It’s a guarantee you’ll have a roof under your head at all times. You can go to the local camping, ask people to stay in their gardens or any other place where you feel safe at.
Use your network
The last but not least way to save on the accommodation while travelling is to use your network. Find relatives in the cities you’re visiting, or visit cities where you have relatives ! It’s always more fun to be with a local. Invite them too in your own city!
Travel with no money : save on meals
Cook your own meals and buy dry food
Its seems obvious, but travelling doesn’t have to be “restaurants only”. The only exception to this rule is Asia, because ordering food is cheaper than grocery shopping there. Sometimes, it’s nice to treat yourself with restaurants all the time. But if your budget and the country you’re visiting can’t allow it yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t travel! Buy food at the local markets et choose accommodation with kitchens (very important). Cook your own dinners and make second portions for the lunch of the next day.
I know it’s hard to resist the temptation sometimes but I’m a firm believer that, when you want, you can! For instance, we travelled to Iceland, known to be one of the most expensive countries in the world, with broke backpackers budgets. We only spent 16€ on food for FIVE days! How? By taking loads of dry food in our suitcases, like pasta, rice and preserves. Once in Reykjavik, we selected the cheapest supermarket and bought all our fresh products there. To learn about how to travel on a budget in this wonderful country, here is a complete guide of our Iceland travel cost.
Haggle
If you’re not familiar with the term, haggle means negotiating the price. In countries of southeast Asia for instance, it’s a very common thing to do. At local markets, you can haggle about food, clothes, souvenirs, useful travel gifts… Literally everything. Try to be fair though so both parts earn or spend the right amount of money.
Travel with no money doesn’t mean you can’t explore!
Free walking tours
This is something I only discovered in London a few years ago. You can find free walking tours almost everywhere! It’s either with online companies or with hostels directly. Some locals run free walking tours so tourists can appreciate the area and connect with each other. Very cool when you’re a solo female traveler in a foreign country!
Wander in the Nature or in the City
Wherever you go, there are plenty of free things to do. In a city, you can walks in the streets, visit the main attractions and go to parks. But don’t forget to wander in the nature too! “Gods’ creation” is everywhere and it’s free most of the time. The most beautiful country I’ve ever visited is Iceland, and it’s because of her mind blowing nature. We hardly paid a penny for activities there!
Discount cards or Pass
You would be surprised by the amount of discounts you can get when you just ask. And especially as a student, young worker or unemployed. You can get in museums for free during your Bangkok one day itinerary for instance! It’s also the case in Paris and in many other cities. You can also get discounts in shops, restaurants, like in Norway for instance, and in local transports.
Travel with no money : get funds
In France, there are several financial aid schemes for students going on Erasmus or on an internship abroad. If you have a special projet, you can introduce it to your local institutions and private clubs to try to get funding. If your trip project is really beneficial for the locals or for the environment, you can create a funding request on crowdfunding websites.
Travel with no money : Last piece of advice
Choice of travel destination
So, where to travel with no money? When you have a small budget, you need to choose your travel destination accordingly. South East Asian countries are wonderful to visit, both in terms of nature, culture but also about how cheap they are. And so are South American countries. The only dilemma is, there’s so much to explore and so little time.
You have already traveled to those places, or you dream about visiting expensive countries like Norway or Iceland? How to travel around Europe with no money? The best thing to do is to plan and budget everything before making any reservation. Find the least expensive hostel, car rental, night coaches, local markets… You need to know precisely how much money you are going to spend before you jump into the travel euphoria!
Choose the great period
Easy to say, not always easy to do. Planning your trips in advance will help you get the best deals based on your flexibility. If you’re an employee without kids, don’t take your holidays at the same times as all other travelers! The prices will drop considerably and you will have these beautiful landscapes all to yourself.
Group travel : Share travel expenses
It doesn’t matter if you travel alone in the first place, you can always find friends to do activities and share expenses with. Group travel is always less expensive because you can share a car, grocery shoppings, hotel rooms etc. If you are in a foreign country by yourself and don’t know how to meet people, I recommend joining Facebook groups of those places. Here you can chat with people, ask for advice and post road trip messages. That’s what I did in Indonesia and one of my new friend literally moved in with me a week after!
Pack Wisely
It’d a shame to have to pay for a new sweatshirt or pair of socks abroad when you have plenty of them at home, right? Try to pack as wisely as possible, especially when you’re visiting a country you’ve never been before. Check out the weather forecast for all the places you go, including your excursion to the mountains as it is always colder up there.
Keep track of your expenses
As I already said before, planning and writing down your expenses help you resist the temptation to impulsively buy everything because “this is the trip of a lifetime”. But your on the road diary doesn’t have to be just for your finances, it can also be a journal of your daily adventures and tips for future travelers.
Explore your own backyard
This one is more accurate than ever and applies to me too… Have you already been to all the wonderful spots of your own city, region or country? I’m sure you haven’t, just like the rest of us! Especially during this global pandemic, it’s the best time to take time away from flight cabins and explore our own backyards.
Prioritise your daily expenses
If you’re still wondering how to pay for things when traveling abroad, you need to start budgeting at home too! For instance, it’s funny how people who spend astronomical amounts of money on daily outings are usually the first ones to say that “travel is too expensive”. One rule and one motto : prioritize your daily expenses. Would you rather go to the restaurants three times this week or book that flight ticket?
Get a travel money card with NO FEES
Isn’t it annoying to pay additional taxes for everything when you’re travelling outside of your own country? When you travel Europe with no money, it’s not an issue as there is the euro money in the Schengen area. But taxes add up quickly everywhere else, so you should definitely subscribe to a travel money card with no ATM fees.
I’ve been using Boursorama for over a year and I’m very happy about it. Click the link to get 100€ with your bank card! The only thing they ask is for you to make one grocery (even 1€) with the card per month. That’s literally the only thing! There is another advantage of having a second bank card, especially when travelling… If your main card gets stolen, you don’t stay in a foreign country without resources.
Grabr : connect shoppers and travelers
Grabr allows you to make money while travelling! It is a trusted peer-to-peer community marketplace connecting shoppers and travelers all around the world. If you need a product from the other side of the world but the delivery is too expensive, ask a traveler from your country to get it for you. If you are the traveler, you just have to leave a small space in your suitcase for the product. That’s also more ecological as you’ll do the journey anyway.
Ok, we’re finally done! Now that you know how to travel with no money, what are you waiting for ? Oh sorry, forgot about the all COVID-19 mess… Happily for you, here are the first destinations to travel to post covid. I hope this article will get you on the road as soon as it’s sanitary possible, because yeah, money is not a barrier to travel!
