How to Travel the World for Free • The Blonde Abroad

Got that travel bug biting away at all your thoughts? Can’t go a day without wanderlust poking its way into your agenda? If you constantly find yourself daydreaming and thinking of your next great escape, maybe you should just stop thinking about it and put some plans into action.

For anyone thinking, “Ya right. I can’t afford to travel.”, this article is for you!

The reason you might think time away is going to cost a fortune is because hotels, car rentals and activities come with a price tag. But, there are many alternative ways to travel that not only save money but allow you to engage with local communities and people in ways that will absolutely immerse you in a whole new culture and outlook on life.

Plane tickets cost money, sure, but adventure and spirit-filled happiness is priceless.

The following programs and websites offer some totally awesome ways to help lower your expenses and, essentially, travel the world for free.

You’ll be amazed at how you can find ways to see the world for free!

Volunteer Work in Exchange for Accommodation

Websites like Work Away list hosts in all different countries around the world that let you stay with them in exchange for a few hours volunteering throughout the week.

Okay, you pay a signup fee for this website, but it’s like 10 euros. Considering you’d struggle to get a hostel for a night for that price, and here you get access to all these hosts for two years. It’s a no-brainer!

Couch Surfing

One of the better-known free methods of travel is Couch Surfing where you can host or stay with people around the world. People likely to host you couch surfing are travelers themselves who know what it’s like to be on the road.

Some people may be worried about their safety when staying with a stranger, but use your best judgement and have some trust in fellow humans.

You’ll probably meet some of the coolest people out there!

House Sitting

Put on your responsible hat and take care of someone’s house, pets and gardens while they’re away. Websites like HomeExchange and Mind My House help play matchmaker for homeowners and home “watchers” around the world.

Again, there’s a small annual fee but, for long-term sitting, you’d be paying pennies per day to live in an amazing property! Hello, month-long accommodation!

Earn Points for Free Travel

While this is something that mostly benefits American travelers, credit card rewards programs offer benefits for everything from free fine dining to free hotel stays to free international flights.

While it can take some serious research and a bit of a mastery of rewards programs, travel hacking can help you use rewards points wisely and ultimately travel for free.

Start earning those reward points and GO!

HELPFUL TIP: If you have been looking to get a travel reward credit card, I recommend applying for one before a big trip or purchase. Some of the biggest benefits are earning points to use for free flights and hotels. Plus, many cards offer additional points when making travel-related purchases. Some cards also offer travel protection when you pay for a trip with the card.

My personal favorite is the Chase Sapphire Reserve (for frequent travelers) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred (if you’re just starting out)! Check out my favorite travel reward credit cards!

WWOOF

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms where travelers can live and work on a farm in exchange for free meals and accommodation.

It’s a great opportunity learn about a local culture, learn something new and get outdoors. Simply pick a destination and see what opportunities are available!

Hitchhiking

Same as with couch surfing, it’s time to trust in mankind! Western European countries like France and Spain have a great reputation for hitchhiking, as well as places like New Zealand, and people will get you places safely.

Use your best judgment and use helpful resources for hitchhiking tips and information on how to get started. For women, hitch-hiking will always have an element of risk, so never go alone.

Take a friend with you to be safe and share the adventure!

Teaching English as a Second Language

There are so many ways to teach English all over the world where you actually get paid to travel! The beauty of a TEFL certification is that once you have that certificate, you can teach ANYWHERE!

TEFLPros is an award-winning online certification course for anyone who is looking to teach English abroad or online and begin a life of teaching, learning and traveling to places that you can only dream of. TEFLPros is woman-owned and operated by a teacher trainer who understands all the ups and downs of what it’s like to follow this path

TEFL certification is a requirement for most reputable schools and the TEFLPros course will not only make sure you are fully prepared to teach but also provides lifetime job assistance for all grads.

Working at a Camp

Working at a recreational camp in Europe or the Americas is not only super fun but will save you so much money. Some programs geared towards college students, like Camp Adventure, even earn you college credits.

For the length of your contract, you typically receive a living stipend, plus all accommodation, meals and laundry are provided.

Your free time may be limited to the weekend but it’s a great learning a cultural experience!

Car Sharing Network

If you aren’t keen on sticking out a finger and waiting on the side of the road, use a car-sharing network like Bla Bla Car. It’s basically organized hitch-hiking that connects people who need to travel with drivers who have empty seats.

Save money on train or plane tickets, chip in for fuel and meet some awesome people!

Do you have any tips on traveling for free?

Instagram

Posting a February recap… in *almost* May should tell you everything you need to know about this season of life.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Between another bout of illness (life with young kids!) we filled our days with so much fun!

Celebrating my mom’s birthday in the Cape Winelands 🤍
Morning visits with the penguins
A trip to Nairobi to see close friends @tailsofamermaid

Feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
Safari days
A visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Then slowing down in Diani Beach —
villa life, beach days, and dolphin spotting on a dhow cruise.

Filling our days with adventure…
and holding onto how good this all feels. ✨
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown #nairobi #kenya #dianibeach

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18005693585857886

Posting a February recap… in *almost* May should tell you everything you need to know about this season of life.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Between another bout of illness (life with young kids!) we filled our days with so much fun!

Celebrating my mom’s birthday in the Cape Winelands 🤍
Morning visits with the penguins
A trip to Nairobi to see close friends @tailsofamermaid

Feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
Safari days
A visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Then slowing down in Diani Beach —
villa life, beach days, and dolphin spotting on a dhow cruise.

Filling our days with adventure…
and holding onto how good this all feels. ✨
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown #nairobi #kenya #dianibeach

Meeting rescued baby elephants at @sheldricktrust has been on my bucket list for years… and it exceeded every expectation! 🐘
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We booked a private visit, which is $1,500 for a group of up to 10 people (2026 pricing), and fully donation-based — directly supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.

There are only two private slots per day, so this is something you need to book well in advance.

It’s absolutely a splurge, but for such an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience (and knowing it supports conservation) felt incredibly worth it!

If that’s not in budget, they also offer daily public visiting hours (around $20 per person), which are still really special.

NOTE: You’ll also need to pay the Nairobi National Park entrance fee for any visit.

It pairs perfectly with a safari drive in the park, since you’re already there. It’s such an easy and meaningful add-on to any Nairobi itinerary.

This is one of the most special (and ethical) wildlife experiences you can have in Kenya 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#kenyatravel #nairobikenya #africasafari #ethicaltravel #bucketlisttravel

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18075675671194480

Meeting rescued baby elephants at @sheldricktrust has been on my bucket list for years… and it exceeded every expectation! 🐘
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We booked a private visit, which is $1,500 for a group of up to 10 people (2026 pricing), and fully donation-based — directly supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.

There are only two private slots per day, so this is something you need to book well in advance.

It’s absolutely a splurge, but for such an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience (and knowing it supports conservation) felt incredibly worth it!

If that’s not in budget, they also offer daily public visiting hours (around $20 per person), which are still really special.

NOTE: You’ll also need to pay the Nairobi National Park entrance fee for any visit.

It pairs perfectly with a safari drive in the park, since you’re already there. It’s such an easy and meaningful add-on to any Nairobi itinerary.

This is one of the most special (and ethical) wildlife experiences you can have in Kenya 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#kenyatravel #nairobikenya #africasafari #ethicaltravel #bucketlisttravel

The Okavango Delta is one of those places that truly lives up to the hype… and then somehow exceeds it. 🦒🇧🇼
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A lush, water-filled oasis in the middle of the Kalahari, where the seasons quite literally shape the entire experience.

Floodwaters arrive months after the rains fall in Angola, transforming the landscape into a maze of channels, islands, and wildlife-rich plains.

We stayed at @aksanctuary Sanctuary Chief’s Camp on Chief’s Island — known as the predator capital of Botswana. Because it’s one of the only areas of permanent dry land, animals naturally gather here… which means some of the most incredible game viewing you can experience.

What makes this place so special is the contrast. Early mornings tracking predators on game drives, and afternoons drifting through quiet waterways in a mokoro, surrounded by birds, reeds, and the kind of stillness you rarely find anymore.

And the timing completely changes the experience.
✨ Dry season (May–October): peak flood levels + unbelievable wildlife concentrations
🌿 Green season (November–April): lush landscapes, baby animals, fewer crowds

No matter when you go, it’s one of the most unique safari destinations in the world, and one that feels wild, untouched, and unforgettable.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#OkavangoDelta #BotswanaSafari #LuxurySafari #AfricanWildlife #SafariExperience

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18103021357746846

The Okavango Delta is one of those places that truly lives up to the hype… and then somehow exceeds it. 🦒🇧🇼
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A lush, water-filled oasis in the middle of the Kalahari, where the seasons quite literally shape the entire experience.

Floodwaters arrive months after the rains fall in Angola, transforming the landscape into a maze of channels, islands, and wildlife-rich plains.

We stayed at @aksanctuary Sanctuary Chief’s Camp on Chief’s Island — known as the predator capital of Botswana. Because it’s one of the only areas of permanent dry land, animals naturally gather here… which means some of the most incredible game viewing you can experience.

What makes this place so special is the contrast. Early mornings tracking predators on game drives, and afternoons drifting through quiet waterways in a mokoro, surrounded by birds, reeds, and the kind of stillness you rarely find anymore.

And the timing completely changes the experience.
✨ Dry season (May–October): peak flood levels + unbelievable wildlife concentrations
🌿 Green season (November–April): lush landscapes, baby animals, fewer crowds

No matter when you go, it’s one of the most unique safari destinations in the world, and one that feels wild, untouched, and unforgettable.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#OkavangoDelta #BotswanaSafari #LuxurySafari #AfricanWildlife #SafariExperience

Flying above the Okavango on a skyfari 🚁✨
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
While staying at @aksanctuary Chief’s Camp in Botswana, we had the chance to see the delta from a completely different perspective with @helicopterhorizons — and it was easily one of the most unforgettable experiences of the trip.

From winding channels to herds of elephants moving below, it gives you a true sense of just how vast and wild this place really is… something you simply can’t grasp from the ground.

If you’re coming all the way to the Okavango Delta, this is 100% worth adding on. It’s not just a scenic flight — it’s a whole new way to experience safari.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#botswana #okavangodelta #skyfari #helicopter #bucketlist

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 17933892243210022

Flying above the Okavango on a skyfari 🚁✨
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
While staying at @aksanctuary Chief’s Camp in Botswana, we had the chance to see the delta from a completely different perspective with @helicopterhorizons — and it was easily one of the most unforgettable experiences of the trip.

From winding channels to herds of elephants moving below, it gives you a true sense of just how vast and wild this place really is… something you simply can’t grasp from the ground.

If you’re coming all the way to the Okavango Delta, this is 100% worth adding on. It’s not just a scenic flight — it’s a whole new way to experience safari.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#botswana #okavangodelta #skyfari #helicopter #bucketlist

There are places that feel special… and then there’s the Okavango Delta 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at @aksanctuary Chief’s Camp in Botswana was one of those rare travel experiences that truly exceeded every expectation.

And then there’s the Delta itself. One of the most unique ecosystems on the planet, where floodwaters transform the desert into a lush, wildlife-rich oasis—meaning you get some of the most incredible game viewing in Africa.

In just three nights, we experienced:
• Big Five game drives
• A scenic helicopter flight over the Delta (still not over this)
• A mokoro ride quietly gliding through the waterways
• Golden hour moments that didn’t feel real

It’s the kind of place that reminds you why you travel in the first place.

So deeply grateful to have experienced it 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#Botswana #OkavangoDelta #AfricanSafari #LuxurySafari #ChiefsCamp

670 49

Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 17846732157694489

There are places that feel special… and then there’s the Okavango Delta 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at @aksanctuary Chief’s Camp in Botswana was one of those rare travel experiences that truly exceeded every expectation.

And then there’s the Delta itself. One of the most unique ecosystems on the planet, where floodwaters transform the desert into a lush, wildlife-rich oasis—meaning you get some of the most incredible game viewing in Africa.

In just three nights, we experienced:
• Big Five game drives
• A scenic helicopter flight over the Delta (still not over this)
• A mokoro ride quietly gliding through the waterways
• Golden hour moments that didn’t feel real

It’s the kind of place that reminds you why you travel in the first place.

So deeply grateful to have experienced it 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#Botswana #OkavangoDelta #AfricanSafari #LuxurySafari #ChiefsCamp

Cancel reply

Vera

Those are great tips! I do really love traveling and affording it is always a big issue, but knowing this actually does help a lot! What I’m most looking forward to is to be a counselor at a camp! It looks superfun!
With love,
Vera

October 28, 2014 at 12:34 pm · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Glad it helps!

October 29, 2014 at 12:26 pm · Reply

Scott Grimmer (MileValue)

Great post, but I have one quibble.

Flights are free too if you are responsible with credit since banks love to give away 50k+ point sign up bonuses and you can get a roundtrip to Europe for that plus $100 in taxes (or even free.)

I cringe about at your link to the post about the British Airways card though because redeeming those miles usually requires paying hefty fuel surcharges.

Best to stick to United, American, US Airways, and Delta miles. There are great offers on the American Airlines and US Airways credit cards at the moment too!

I just booked a flight from Colombia to the USA for 15k American Airlines miles and $40. The current credit card bonus is 50k miles. That’s a lot of travel.

October 28, 2014 at 1:57 pm · Reply

Kiersten Rich

For some people the British Airways card makes sense, for others it doesn’t. I definitely agree there are some other awesome rewards cards. Working on a new post featuring the best cards!

October 29, 2014 at 12:18 pm · Reply

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