How do I know this is possible? Because I've done it myself!!
The number one misconception people have about travel is that you need a lot of money to do it, but that is completely and utterly untrue! When you are in an unfamiliar place all you need is a roof (or something of the sort) over your head to protect you from bad weather, some clean water to drink when you are thirsty, some food when you are hungry, a place to sleep when you are tired, and happiness! Although we are conditioned to believe that (most of) these things always cost money, there are plenty of ways to obtain these things for free.
Of course, our method of travel isn't for everyone, but we find it to be much more of an adventure when money is taken out of the picture. So, here are some tips so that you can get started on your free travels!
1. Couchsurfing is one of our favorites. The best part isn't even that this organization hooks you up with a free place to sleep for the night, but rather that this site allows you to connect with locals in the area where you are traveling and helps create lifelong memories and friends. Set up your free profile now and browse the profiles of hosts in the destination of your dreams, then GO! Members indicate on their profiles if they have room for you to stay a night with them (or two, or three, or four, or even for a month.. really!) There are also references from previous surfers that you can review while you're deciding who to stay with. We've created a rainbow of experiences through couchsurfing, and all of them have been incredibly positive! We've done all sorts of things with couchsurfing hosts all over the world from swimming with dolphins in the open ocean to living on a commune for a month in Costa Rica to snorkeling in the most beautiful coral reefs in Hawaii to spending a morning driving around the Icelandic countryside to riding Icelandic horses on beaches to just connecting over a cup of tea for hours :) When you are done with your travels, you can host travelers at your home and show them around!
2. WWOOF and HelpX list a range of opportunities for travelers ALL over the world! Through these sites you will find an array of homestays, farmstays, B&B's, lodges, hostels, etc., who offer free food and shelter in exchange for volunteer work; you can do long or short stays. We have used both of these organizations before and our experiences have been so wonderful!
3. Bring your tent when you travel. Then, find the most beautiful spot you can and pitch it. Camping is free and so much fun!
4. Buy your food from grocery stores and cook it yourself! Eating out really adds up fast. Most hostels/campsites will allow campers to use their kitchens for free. If there isn't a kitchen nearby, find some kindling and build a campfire to cook over. Just make sure you remember to bring your cooking pots and pans.
5. Or better yet... Forage for your food! This is definitely easiest to do when you are in the tropics and surrounded by fruit/coconut trees in all directions, but even if you are not, there are edible plants, berries, and grasses everywhere and bodies of water with loads of fish.Just make sure you remember your edible plants guide and your hand reel.We once filled up a backpack with 40 pounds of avocados in Hawaii from a tree we stumbled across in the jungle!
6. Hitchhiking. Transportation costs can add up fast. Hitchhiking has a bad rep for being sketchy, so do this with a friend and use your best judgement before hopping in the car with anyone. But you will find that most of the time it is the kindest, most caring people who will scoop you.
7. Stay close to nature. Cities require money because they are built on money. When you are in nature, you are free, and so is everything around you.
8. Believe in the law of attraction, and know that you are free! So play the part, and leave your possessions behind. Don't worry about bringing a ton of clothes, you won't need them. If you are worried about what you will do when they get dirty, don't-- you can always hand-wash them in a sink, and hang them on a line to dry, simple! Travel light, live light.
9. Hike, swim, explore, discover. Cliches must hold enough truth to stick around for as long as they do-- the best things in life really are free! Avoid tourist traps, you can find activities wherever you are that are free and are just as much fun as the ones that cost loads of money.
10. 11. 12. Have an open mind! (Beggars can't be choosers...) Smile often! (It will attract magical things in your direction) And practice the powers of manifestation! (Ask and you shall receive)
Most importantly, have fun!
An Egyptian man we met in Costa Rica told us "The amount of money you have doesn't matter, it's all in how you manage it."
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