How to Live Anywhere in the World for Free
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 3:11PM 
Skeptical Face
Travel for free? This dudes crazy right?
Today is part two of what I am calling the "Knowledgeable Nomads" series, in which I will be teaching my readers how they can travel the world while ballooning their savings accounts rather than draining them dry. In the first part of this series I discussed general topics such as how to figure out what you want, devising your own getaway plan, quitting your job, creating a mobile income and taking the leap. All of these topics will be expanded on in upcoming posts, however today I will be covering a more specific topic, instructing my fellow nomadic souls on how they to can travel the world for FREE.
Possibly the most common excuse I hear when urging others to travel and see the world, is the financial barrier that is separating them from partaking in such a journey. In this post I will show you how not only can you travel the world for less than you would spend while sitting in your studio apartment back home,watching lost and eating take out, but how you can actually put money in the bank and build savings while travelling.
How To Live Anywhere in The World For Free
By- Rick A. Griffith
Letter from Franco, my host from my upcoming voyage to Sicily:
"Rick, sounds good, I do have a couple of people here, what I could do is give you the country cottage and that way you can have the freedom to do your writing. It is only 600 metres away from the village, great place for relaxing and feeling away from the world, there isn't too much to do as far as work is concerned, but maybe you will do some research and write up for me, I need to get a project I am doing on the net and to get people to be informed. Its something new for me and for my people.
would you be interested in that?"
Franco
For the next few months I will be living in a country cottage in Sicily a few hundred meters from the village of Sciacca. Franco is not family, and I do not have a massive network of connections throughout the world allowing me to simply stay wherever I please. Upon researching my most recent journey to Europe, I came across a traveler in one of the forums I frequent, recommending two web sites that would change everything. He insisted that he had been traveling using these two web sites throughout the world for over four years and couldn't say enough about how great these two sources were for traveling on the cheap.
I was naturally skeptical and figured I'd come across a salesman promoting his own website in a clever way. I dug deeper and checked out the two web sites he had recommended, what I found was shocking...
This is the site where I found Franco and set up my getaway to Sicily. The site offers hundreds of opportunities from hosts all around the world. "Workawayers" can also leave feedback about their experiences with each host, giving prospective travelers an insight into what they are signing up for. Stays can range from a few days to a few months and often times all that is required is a few hours per day of work at the site in exchange for free room and board. Be sure to thoroughly read the descriptions, job requirements and housing offered and you should have no problems or surprises.
Here are just a few of the opportunities available on Workaway:
For 20-25 hours per week of general maintenance, this can be your temporary home. A Grand Piano and 2 mountain bikes are also at your disposal for your downtime in the South of France.
Or perhaps a Chateau in Normandy is more your speed...
These are just two examples of the hundreds of hosts on workaway looking for travelers to come and stay while contributing nothing more than a little elbow grease. Below I have provided an auto updating list of these opportunites for you to check out.
2. HelpX.Net
HelpX is a very cool site as well. Having found workaway first, I had applied for a few hosts there before doing the same on HelpX. Although I found my opportunity through workaway, I received over 10 e-mails back from hosts welcome to having me come and stay. I will be using this site for future travels as well as workaway and there seems to be even more opportunities available on this site. Here are a few examples.
Handyman needed in Thailand, Beer money provided...
Kick it Hippie style and enjoy a completely different experience in Ecuador
My point here is that there are amazingly diverse opportunities around the world for those willing to look for them. No one is going to mail you a plane ticket and say "hey man, come stay with me". A little research and insight into opportunities around the world can provide travelers with a truly unique and rewarding experience.
Using these two sites, one can easily find places to stay while traveling around the world absolutely FREE. All it takes is a bit of work, a bit of research and an open mind.
Next week I will be covering in depth the travel planning process. Everything from finding the cheapest plane tickets to avoiding surprises and hassles while on the road. Until then...
Reader Comments (41)
This is really very interesting and informative post. Would come handy for people wanting to go around the world with empty pockets.
Couch surfing is another website wherein you can live in places for free in different places and countrys around the world, most of these people are really hospitable when it comes to foreign guests.
wondering if someone can send me an email at steveharvey1950@gmail.com giving me a link to part one of this article? sounds interesting and would like to read more.
thanks for your time and help
steve
Awesome post,
I have heard of a few sites like this, and when I go traveling in January Im going to try and do it on the cheap cheap cheap....I found a site through a friend that recommended getting hired on a private yacht instead of flying. so I checked into it and many of the people looking for help will train you as well.
thanks again cant wait to see what else I can learn from ya.
Great post! Thank you so much for sharing this info.
Have you been to Sciacca?! It's SUCH a great little village.
Have a fantastic trip!
Cheers,
T.
Great tips, I found that working for free accommodation was a popular and common thing to do in Asia, great to see that there are sites where you can find them before you arrive there.
This is awesome! But the main problem with travelling for me is the cost of the plane ticket. How can you afford a $800 ticket to Ecuador? My brother works for an airline company that gives him a month off every year in 2 week intervals. 2 times a year they give him a free first class ticket to anywhere in the world! It's awesome for him but i'm still outta luck. Any idea on ticket costs?
This is great!!! I had no idea these sites existed! I'm trying to get into photojournalism and this is the perfect way to start traveling after college! If you can ever post about what to take or not take (laptop? ipod? phones? 1 backpack or a couple bags?) Thanks so much for making this site! I'm not so worried about my plans to put everything I own in storage and leave the country for a few years.
Don't plane tickets cost money?
"Using these two sites, one can easily find places to stay while traveling around the world absolutely FREE. All it takes is a bit of work, a bit of research and an open mind."
You went from free accommodations, to free everything. Confusing.
Hey Everyone, thanks for the comments!
@Wandering Nomad, that sounds interesting, you should shoot me an e-mail with some more info if possible.
@T. Its my first trip to Sciacca, can't wait
@Jack $800 to Ecuador? You need my help my man. Next week I'll be posting on how you can get the cheapest plane tickets anywhere. I flew to Lima, Peru from Ft. Lauderdale recently for less than $300 as an example.
@Kris I am actually just putting together a video post on packing, stay tuned...
@Me someone didn't read the title of the article lol ;) that being said, you can find ways to get to places for free as well. I will be covering that in an upcoming post.
For free ay? You have to pay to use those websites!
i was wanting to take part in the work away site but you have to pay to register i was wondering if you had a code for people so they wouldnt have to pay
I really look forward to your airfare article coming up! i am always looking for cheap flights!
"FREE" is a rather loose term.
I am originally from the U.S. and made a decision in 2003 to sell everything I own and travel to China to teach English. Now, many years later I'm living cheaply in Southern Thailand...but, definitely not free. While I do believe you can travel free or nearly free in many cases, I do think something needs to be said about visa requirements, certain laws in certain countries regarding hitch-hiking, and what to do if you get into a jam...legal or otherwise.
I've been a Couch Surfing host and have had the opportunity to speak with travelers from many countries trying to travel free and none of them, not one, mentioned they had traveled or lived completely free.
I think the real deal here is RESEARCH. If you're going to do this, you really should spend a great deal of time researching the laws and requirements in the various countries you plan to travel to and / or stay.
-Jeeem-
I have been travelling almost nonstop for about 13 years now. My 30th birthday is a few months away and its been a long, good road for me. I left home with $300 and big dreams. I hitchiked/worked my way through 28 states in North America over a 6 year period while holding jobs for anywhere from a week washing in cars in Oregon, to 3 months delivering pizza in Tallahassee and the 5 months milking cows in Missouri. Probably over 75 different jobs in all. After that I moved on to asia, where I took my first job in Guam as a lifeguard for a resort. Found that job on coolworks.com and they paid my airfare, then to hawaii where I just relaxed with some of my savings for a few weeks. I spent years working in Ireland as a pinter, England as a bartender and Germany as a prep cook. I actually hitchiked once from London to Trier, Germany. It was a blast. Currently I live in Thailand learning to teach Scuba. Been here 8 months now and loving every minute of it. There is no way to describe how these travels have enriched my life and given me a glimpse of the world. Ive fallen in love a hundred times, and made about a billion friends. I spent the night at stonehenge for the winter solstice for christs sake. My point is most people are just afraid to let go of the world they think is the most comfortable. I say get out and see the world, you just may enjoy yourself. Happy travels!
-Jay
Hi Peoples!
It has been a long time ago since i travelled the world(6 years), but i have an answer to gettin free flights !!
Try to get a job as a tour guide, that is what i did and travelled to central america, started to do tours on the maya route. and in between groups had 3 weeks of. went further down to end destination Costa rica took me about 2,5 years living from my backpack.
so keep on traveling and open your mind to other cultures and try to change the world!
another good site is wwoof.org its basically the same but working on organic farms around the world
I just looked at the sites, and I think I just had a travelgasm.
very nice blog, I love the hosts on workaway.I've been a Couch Surfing host and have had the opportunity to speak with travelers from many countries trying to travel free and none of them, not one, mentioned they had traveled or lived completely free.
I wish I could just pack up and leave. Sadly I have 2 kids and a house payment. (actually I'm not sad I have children).
I wish I had found out about this years ago.