FEATURE //
8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free
by Nora Dunn
So you’ve decided to do it. You have a friend or family member who can store your belongings for an undetermined period of time, you’ve tied up loose ends, and your bags are packed. It’s time to start traveling long term!
But now what? You have a few family members and distant friends who have offered up a couch if you’re in their neck of the woods, but surely they won’t appreciate your arrival on their doorstep with no planned departure date in sight.
How then, do you travel long term and not run out of money? Hotels are expensive over time, and finding rental accommodation in every city you visit is impractical. Heck – you don’t even want to pay rent at all! Hostels are a great option as they are much cheaper and it’s a great place to meet others on the road.
© *sean
Here are eight handy resources to help you get started on your long term travel adventure:
Caretaker’s Gazette
By joining this service (annual membership is approximately US$30), you will gain access to a classified system of people looking for caretakers in exchange for rent-free living. The opportunities vary widely in scope from ranch hands, to organic farm workers, campground hosting, motel management, nursing for the elderly, to just plain house sitting. Locales for your next potential gig could be anywhere in the world, from numerous U.S. locations, to Australia, to Europe and even Micronesia.
Some are paying opportunities, while others are simply work-trade arrangements for accommodation. Others yet will supply an additional stipend depending on your experience and the work entailed.
This is what TIME Magazine had to say about the Caretaker’s Gazette.
Woofing
WWOOF is an acronym for a number of different phrases, the most apt of which in my mind is “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”. It is an international organization (located in over 70 countries) of organic farms, gardens, businesses, ranches, (you name it) where you can exchange your services for accommodations, food, and training.
Required services include basic garden and farm maintenance, as well as cooking, teaching, caring for children, and handy work. There is usually some work suitable for anybody willing to adopt this lifestyle.
Whilst surfing Wwoofing opportunities, you will likely also find links to volunteer organizations, and other similar work exchange opportunities. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience, friendships, and to cover your living expenses in a constructive manner.
Most countries require a subscription to gain access to their full listings and contact information of the hosts, and the subscription prices vary from area to area but are not over-priced for the value received.
House Carers
If you are happy to spend your vacation house-sitting for somebody else, you may find the right opportunity here. You will find lists upon lists of people requesting house sitters for periods of time from a few days to a few months, anywhere in the world. In many cases there are a few hoops to jump through in order to gain the opportunity with liability and bonding issues, and already living or traveling in the same country carries an added advantage.
You can choose from the limited free membership options or the full US$45 one year membership, depending on your needs.
Organic Volunteers
(http://www.organicvolunteers.com)
Much like Caretaker’s Gazette and woofing, you will find many worldwide opportunities to proverbially “pick blueberries for a living”. The prospects aren’t limited to organic farms though; you will find hostel management jobs, artist retreat internships, in addition to various agricultural and permaculture settings.
For US$20/year, membership will help you gain access to many great listings and a user-friendly system of contacting hosts and searching for opportunities.
Couch Surfing
Couch Surfers are a network of people who are willing to open up their homes and hearts to frugal travelers, as well as be those travelers when they are not hosting guests. The site prides itself on referrals and having only high quality members, and has a comprehensive program in place to ensure the safety of both traveler and host. But as with any chance to stay at a stranger’s place for free, a prudent amount of caution should be exercised.
Global Freeloaders
(http://www.globalfreeloaders.com)
Similar to Couch Surfing, Global Freeloaders is a cultural exchange program for hosts and travelers. Registration is free, but members are required to be able to host as well as travel, so unless you expect to be able to offer up your digs as a host within six months of signing up, you are politely requested to wait.
Servas
This is the original Couch Surfers and Global Freeloaders. Servas (meaning “serve” in Esperanto), is a non-profit non-denominational non-ethnic organization of good-will and cultural exchanges. It’s been around for at least 50 years, and is recognized by the United Nations. In addition to being a network to connect people and places, volunteers around the world work in relief camps and advocate for peace through various projects.
Hosts offer their homes and dinner tables for two nights (or more, at the discretion of the host) to travelers who contact them and who meet with their approval. Travelers must go through an exhaustive process which includes an in-person interview before being accepted to the program, as a way of screening for quality candidates.
Once travelers are interviewed and accepted into the program, they are given printed lists or booklets of the hosts in their destination country (Servas is moving towards an online platform, but is not there yet). There are also membership fees which vary from country to country.
Hospitality Club
(http://www.hospitalityclub.org/)
Free to join and internet-based, it appears to be the Servas of the online world. It is kept “safe” through a series of passport checks and online feedback systems with checks and balances.
These are just a few opportunities in the world of long-term travel, as you will discover with a little research. I don’t vouch for any of the services or programs, and a healthy amount of caution should always be exercised when accepting hospitality from strangers. However I think Servas says it best when they say: We are all friends. We just haven’t met yet!
You might be interested in related posts tagged with: Accommodations, Features, Tips
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About the Author
Nora Dunn is a Professional Hobo and Freelance Writer, having given up the daily grind to search the world for the greatest adventures and best stories. She can be reached through her blog, The Professional Hobo.
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As Seen In
January 14th, 2008
Great list, Nora! I’d never heard of most of those.
I’ve had mostly fabulous experiences with Couchsurfing (and the ones that weren’t fabulous, were vaguely annoying at worst) and several of the surfers I’ve hosted have also said great things about Hospitality Club.
If I can be a little shameless, I’ve got some tips here about how to increase your acceptance rates when you’re contacting couchsurfing hosts: http://www.vagablogging.net/07-11/couchsurfingcom-how-to-score-some-sweet-couch.html
January 16th, 2008
Wow! You have some really great travel for free information here!I bet you have seen some great places! Good luck and happy and safe travels!
January 16th, 2008
[...] planning my escape, I found this great article on living long term and rent free. The travelzine itself is a great resource, so I have added it to [...]
January 17th, 2008
This list rocks!
I just recently decided to take the plunge and travel abroad, “permanently.” (at least a year, hopefully)
Vagabondish, subscribed!
January 17th, 2008
Ah, if only there were a way to build retirement savings while traveling from couch to couch…
January 17th, 2008
8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free | Deliggit.com…
vagabondish.com
How do you travel long term and not run out of money? Hotels (and even hostels) a…
January 17th, 2008
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free (tags: travel) [...]
January 17th, 2008
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free (tags: travel free couchsurfing living tips lifehacks toread lists **) [...]
January 17th, 2008
[...] read more | digg story [...]
January 17th, 2008
How do you travel long term and not run out of money? Hotels (and even hostels) are expensive over time, and finding rental accommodation in every city you visit is impractical. Heck – you don’t even want to pay rent at all! Here are eight handy resources to help you get started on your long term travel adventure. [...]
January 17th, 2008
Or you could teach and travel and actually save money while experiencing other cultures. In Korea, you make US$2000 a month minimum, plus an annual bonus of one month’s salary, free airfare, free furnished apartment, and a few other perks. I used to be a teacher in Canada, but I make more money here for a fraction of the work. Email me for more info if you’re interested.
eslteam@gmail.com
January 17th, 2008
Oops! Wrong email addy!
teamesl@hotmail.com
January 17th, 2008
Pretty good list, but I’d like to contribute my own little snippet of information. For anyone traveling in India (or anywhere in the world, for that matter) if you find yourself in a strange city with no money, find the local Sikh Gurdwara(temple, for lack of a better word) The Sikh religion stresses hospitality, so if you show up unannounced on the steps of a gurdwara begging for a place to stay and a hot meal, you’ll get one for sure in India, and probably everywhere else in the world, though I can’t say for sure.
January 17th, 2008
Awesome article you got here. I will definitely bookmark this for future references. thanks
January 17th, 2008
[...] Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free I found a post about travel.I am very interesting in this post and will do more research on [...]
January 17th, 2008
[...] Live and travel rent free. This one made me think of Deborah, whose been sparse around these parts lately. Of course, I’ve been sparse around her blog too, but I don’t travel much at all. [...]
January 18th, 2008
8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free…
…
January 18th, 2008
This is what I’ve been looking for. I’ve only known about couchsurfing.com, which I’ve had much experience with.
January 18th, 2008
[...] at all! Here are eight handy resources to help you get started on your long term travel adventure.read more | digg [...]
January 18th, 2008
[...] Source [Vagabondish] [...]
January 18th, 2008
[...] to ’smitty’ for mentioning this great article by Nora Dunn at Vagabondish.com about eight ways to travel around the world and live for [...]
January 18th, 2008
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free (tags: travel) [...]
January 18th, 2008
This is a really interesting blog—I’m a huge traveler, and also a student with a low budget. I’m considering taking this summer to make a long trip abroad but don’t necessarily have the money for it. This blog posed some good ideas that I’m going to look into. Thanks
January 18th, 2008
[...] Inside the secret world of digital nomads I still need to check out this list plus the link Ryan sent me: 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever. [...]
January 18th, 2008
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free (Vagabondish) [...]
January 18th, 2008
[...] rent free Friday, January 18, 2008 Filed under: fractally weird — jhorna @ 10:00 pm Vagabondish.com 8 Ways to Travel Forever and Live Rent Free. Sign me up, bitchesssss! [...]
January 19th, 2008
You should probably link to the main WWOOF site at http://wwoof.org
January 20th, 2008
[...] 8 tools to help travel and live rent free http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
January 20th, 2008
[...] Travel for Free: If you’ve been inspired by the 4 Hour Work Week book and you’re working towards a [...]
January 20th, 2008
[...] Travel for Free: If you’ve been inspired by the 4 Hour Work Week book and you’re working towards a [...]
January 21st, 2008
I have given my share of freeloading friends the opportunity to couch crash but didn’t know there were organizations dedicated to it. Great information and I might be willing to share my couch with some investigation.
January 21st, 2008
Great list! Thanks for sharing!
January 21st, 2008
I actually never really gave this a second thought as an option.
Thank you for putting this on my radar.
I am so happy for Stumble Upon to have led me to this valuable resource.
Thanks.
Monique Briand
January 23rd, 2008
This is what I’ve been looking for. I’ve only known about couchsurfing.com, which I’ve had much experience with.
January 23rd, 2008
Camere IP Supraveghere
I just recently decided to take the plunge and travel abroad, “permanently.” (at least a year, hopefully)
January 23rd, 2008
[...] From: http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
January 23rd, 2008
[...] From: http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
January 23rd, 2008
[...] From: http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
January 23rd, 2008
Thank you for posting this. You’ve educated and inspired me!!
January 25th, 2008
What are the similar sites to help you actually get to places; online hitch-hiking?
January 26th, 2008
Actually Da, there is indeed a way to “hitch” a ride on an airplane! Take a look at Air Tech and Air Hitch for more info on that.
Enjoy!
January 28th, 2008
An excellent home swapping directory I found is KnowYourTrade.com. I lists all the HE clubs and rates them.
January 29th, 2008
I wish they had this in the late 90′s when I did a lot of traveling. Great resources. I did use Air Hitch for a memorable Europe at $275 round trip or was it each way. not sure. here’s another resource for travelers http://www.exploringabroad.com
January 29th, 2008
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free – Vagabondish.Com [...]
January 30th, 2008
Thanks for this great article! It’s really inspiring. Great value!
January 31st, 2008
@Greg -
I make 2x as much now per hour as I did working full-time for a startup.
My goal isn’t to stash a ton away for retirement, but it can be done.
I’d rather work 20 hours a week, live anywhere, be my own boss, and travel the world than slave away 60+ hours a week while saving for retirement!
I mean — can you really enjoy retirement all that much when you’re 65!?! =)
January 31st, 2008
Excellent site, good presentation. I’m gonna book mark and link back to you in my blog. please visit my blog and let me have your comments, if you find time.
February 1st, 2008
Very cool article, one of the things i would like to know is can you do any of these things in the UK? I mean the price of hotels, guest houses, hostels etc is all still expensive in my eyes so would be very refreshing to find out ways to travel & stay in the uk thats not as pricey.
February 2nd, 2008
Absolutely, you can travel through the UK on the cheap! I haven’t any personal experience with any of the above services in the UK in particular, but I do know of others who have used Couch Surfing, Servas, House Carers, and Caretakers Gazette in the UK area. I’ll bet all the services mentioned have lots to offer. Check it out, and let us know!
February 2nd, 2008
Fascinating! I’ve often wondered how other people live the lives they lead… any feedback from past travelers who have tried these accommodations?
February 4th, 2008
Good stuff – I know several couch-surfers!
February 9th, 2008
Who really wants a slacker living on their couch until they can score somebody’s else’s couch.
February 10th, 2008
[...] Quelle: http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
February 10th, 2008
[...] at all! Here are eight handy resources to help you get started on your long term travel adventure.read more | digg [...]
February 13th, 2008
I just stumbled upon this link. I can vouch for what a great experience WWOOFing is.
I stayed in a farm in Korea and had a great time. It was an important holiday time of the year and he took us to meet his family and join in the party.
February 13th, 2008
[...] read more | digg story [...]
February 14th, 2008
Try crewing on a sailboat. This could be like a sailing yacht with a youth hostel atmosphere.
Sailing, surfing, snorkeling, spear fishing, beach parties, uninhabited islands….
Check out this link: Sailing in Greece
February 18th, 2008
[...] Link: 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free [...]
February 20th, 2008
very informative and helpful list you got there..
February 28th, 2008
If you plan to travel- you shouldn’t think about it. The more you think the more time you waste. I traveled plenty during school, but life gets busy afterwards.
March 20th, 2008
What a great post! I would love to explore one or more of these options in the near future.
http://www.theALTERNAtraveler.com
P.S. – I linked to this article from my travel blog – credit given, of course. You are one of my favorite daily reads. :)
April 1st, 2008
[...] you want to be a long term Democrat… here is a support group… you can learn how to live for months, even years without working, [...]
May 8th, 2008
[...] CouchSurfing Meet locals and stay for free, then host travelers in your home. It’s a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit. WWOOF: World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms – Volunteer on organic farms across the world. You can find more shared housing options in: Vagabondish’s 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free. [...]
June 25th, 2008
[...] fact, there are many organizations in a similar vein that will let you stay for free or nearly free all over the world, including [...]
July 2nd, 2008
Fantastic post, I had no idea half these groups even existed.
July 9th, 2008
Fabulously thrifty post! I think it’s most travelers’ dream to travel the world and stay at places for free. I haven’t heard of a few of these sites. Thanks for sharing!
July 16th, 2008
Interesting Blog – very informative
July 23rd, 2008
Thanks very much for this info. Didn’t know any of these opportunities existed. Glad I found you through Stumble Upon.
Have a great day.
July 27th, 2008
What a great list! I had heard of some sites but hadn’t come across others (like Wwoof) before. Looking forward to taking advantage of these sites in my travels :)
July 31st, 2008
I\’m love this great website. Many thanks guy
August 17th, 2008
What a great idea . . .will certainly be including some of these sites on our website when it goes live.
Thanks a lot :-)
August 22nd, 2008
It’s ambitious to travel on close to zero budget I’ll say, but for those of you who manage it’s probably worth it!
September 29th, 2008
This is a great post! Love it!
I will definitely look further into some of these sites. I’m trying to figure out ways to travel more than just once a year.
Thanks!
October 7th, 2008
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October 28th, 2008
[...] researching I have come across many websites for organizations that provide living accommodations and food in exchange for work. I am a firm [...]
October 29th, 2008
I bet that with the worldwide markets, this kind of info is going to be even more appealing to lots of people! I came across this site with another extreme – people living rent free in foreclosed homes:
http://livesafely.org/evasion/how-to-live-rent-free/
November 2nd, 2008
Some great tools in here. Nicely compiled. Thanks for the share. Linked from my travel site and Bookmarked.
November 11th, 2008
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November 20th, 2008
[...] google it.” What Women Should Know About Men’s Brains – Dumb Little Man – so true! 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free – I’ll be giving this some serious [...]
December 4th, 2008
[...] (those who travel continuously without a permanent residence). What intrigued me on the site was 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free. The article described and offered links to eight networking sites created for different types of [...]
December 9th, 2008
Excellent tips for frugal travelers!! Thumbs up!!
January 1st, 2009
Wonderful post! I traveled for 6 months last year and even though I mostly stayed in hostels, the costs mounted up. I will definitely check out some of these suggestions next time.
January 8th, 2009
[...] Travel Forever and Live Rent Free [...]
January 13th, 2009
Such a wonderful article and website list.Great idea.Thanks!
January 13th, 2009
I traveled free for over 20 yrars. I just had to kill people yo do it!
January 23rd, 2009
OK so my last comments didn’t go through???
Nice blog post.
I recommend taking a look at Viscape, which is a way to travel creatively around vacation homes. You can swap your home, you can rent a room, you can find an inexpensive studio in the heart of Rome or London on the very cheap. Its a great way to travel on a budget and have a decent place to stay. Viscape.com
January 23rd, 2009
Hmmm…I’ll be sure to check out Viscape next time I am looking for a place to stay….which will not be too far off…
February 4th, 2009
me too nora.. ill definitely check it out next time.
February 7th, 2009
Thanks for all the links Nora!
Funding long-term traveling can be a real challenge…
February 16th, 2009
I always found Teaching English or bartending to be a good way of funding travel experiences not to mention meet the locals…
February 25th, 2009
hmmmm…. it must be so hot to have so many people in a small room… :(
March 17th, 2009
[...] Site: http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
March 17th, 2009
Excellent article, it has some really great travel resources.
Thank you.
March 23rd, 2009
mmm.. well im lebanese.. i couldnt get visa anywhere.. im 23 i have nothing and noone.. i have my job.. but i cant afford to finish my last year in university.. studying IT.. i speak english french and arabic.. i NEED to get out.. anywhere,anyway.. any ideas?!
March 26th, 2009
Google search for ‘house sitting’ brings up hundreds of house sitting companies but two more that seem cheap and easy to nav that aren’t listed above are: Aussie House Sitters – for house sitting in Oz & NZ. http://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au/
House Sitters America – For USA house sitting only. http://www.housesittersamerica.com/
Enjoy your free accommodation guys where ever you are :-D
April 6th, 2009
[...] first learned of WWOOF from this article on Vagabondish. Incidentally that’s also how I found out about Couch Surfing, which will be [...]
April 17th, 2009
I don’t know when this blog was written but, with the economy the way it is at the moment world wide, it is relevant now more than ever. People still need to take a break from their work or domestic situation and go on vacation occasionally. The single biggest expense is accommodation. House sitting and house swap home/exchange means people can still travel on the cheap.
April 24th, 2009
This was my inspiration for the trip I am going next week. 3 months in europe.
I would like to ask if I could make reference to this in my blog with an image and a link?
Congratulations from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
April 24th, 2009
@Clarissa – Sure, we like links! Please just don’t reprint the article in full, as it is copyrighted.
And good luck on your trip – congrats and enjoy!
April 25th, 2009
Thanks for this post bud, I am doing a gap year next year and will be on a strict budget so the caretaker website will be real handy for me.
Thanks again :)
May 6th, 2009
I bet you have seen some great places! Good luck and happy and safe travels!
May 13th, 2009
I love these tips.
I love traveling, and circumstances are such that I’ll be mobile in my RV, with six rescued dogs and several cats.
Does anyone know how to travel with lots of pets and live at least very close to the beach?
I surf, so…and I need to work so they need to be safely parked.
I’d work for someone for a nice parking spot near a beach.
I can build houses, repair anything.
I’m a master builder.
I used to be a contractor. Now work is not there.
I’d also be a great house-sitter or property watcher. And I could keep other peoples’ pets and their homes. I love animals and volunteer for wildlife rescuding too.
Thanks for any info.
Tai
May 21st, 2009
[...] http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
May 27th, 2009
Great post – have been a huge fan of couchsurfers for a long time, love letting people stay and meeting new faces. I think my next RTW trip will involve more couchsurfing than my last. I never knew about servas, i’ll look into that more.
June 2nd, 2009
A nice listing, thanks! I’d like to add this:
http://www.staynomad.com ; a growing community of travelers worldwide, offering accommodation and cultural exchange. Also the possibility to get sponsored to TRAVEL CHEAPER or even for free after submitting your next sustainable travel project. Joining is FREE.
When you plan on staying a few months and seek mobility:
http://www.amigoexpress.com ; a growing community of people who offer and seek ride share opportunities in East Canada. Very low cost.
http://www.communauto.com ; a car sharing network in Quebec, Canada. Cheaper than owning your own car.
http://www.greenwheels.nl ; a car sharing network in the Netherlands (Holland). Cheaper than owning your own car.
http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de ; a ride sharing network in Germany. People looking for and offering rides. Very low cost.
June 22nd, 2009
I’ve tried couch surfing and my opinion is ok, if you meet a wird person you have to stay in his house for a weekend, it will ruin your time….it had happened to me twice
June 22nd, 2009
[...] they are all things we seek in ourselves and in others. * Learn how to travel the world and find free accomodations from a “professional hobo.” Here are eight websites to get you started. * How the web began. [...]
July 21st, 2009
Awesome!
July 23rd, 2009
Very useful and practical – can’t wait to share it with my friends.
July 27th, 2009
hospitality club is good as well, the problem is to find nice people
August 1st, 2009
thanks for sharing! not sure if you are familiar with the book The 4 Hour Work Weeks by Tim Ferris but it is a pretty handy tool for vagabonds and wannabes :) all the best and thanks for the handy tips!
Brian
August 4th, 2009
Wow – this is great. Thanks for the useful tips on travelling the globe for free!
August 4th, 2009
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August 6th, 2009
Staying in strangers’ homes is pretty weird, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
August 14th, 2009
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August 27th, 2009
Great list! Haven’t heard from most of them, so I’m glad I stumbled into this page :) And also in the comments I found some interesting links. Thanks for sharing everyone.
August 27th, 2009
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August 27th, 2009
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August 28th, 2009
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August 30th, 2009
I have over 35 years of knowledge and i want to put it to use i do not want money i just want to eat /sleep and help i can add to most situations please let me
September 4th, 2009
A great list, all I need to do now is find a house full of beautiful girls in Stockholm that wouldn’t mind a 39 year old Scotsman as a house guest for a few weeks, now that would be fun……
September 9th, 2009
great resource here.
very useful for those who travel a lot or at least thinking of travelling.
October 12th, 2009
Good article..thanks for the input. Also, here’s another article on why people are having trouble with bills and rent in the first place. http://www.rent-help.com/2009/09/7-reasons-we-cant-pay-rent.html
October 15th, 2009
[...] 8 tools to help you travel forever and live rent free (en) Voyager sans ne jamais payer de loyer? À vous de voir! [...]
October 20th, 2009
You could always just live out of your luggage and sleep on couches.
November 25th, 2009
This is a great list, thank you!! I’d also suggest visiting http://www.worldhelplink.com. It has some links to great opportunities to live abroad by volunteering, interning, working, teaching, and more!
November 30th, 2009
I love that you are sharing this wealth of knowledge; making the world that much more of a neighborhood. Thanks… my daughters have been bugging/inspiring me about possible traveling & i just know it’s not all about the holy dollar! Peace, Nora, you are awesome.
December 11th, 2009
This is a very helpful article,backpackers like me are always looking to save money! Thanks for sharing!
January 26th, 2010
i cant believe it theres so many people in one room, my gosh it must be pretty hot, any thats a great list. thank you.
January 29th, 2010
this is very interesting and informative. I always dream to travel abroad. I don’t have the opportunity and of course money for that. How will I start? any ideas to share… isn’t it scary to meet strangers especially now a days? thanks!
February 3rd, 2010
[...] Have a look at the full article here. [...]
February 18th, 2010
Great list Nora, thanks! A true Nomad myself, I am able to appreciate the value of the information provided. Many people will benefit from the resources provided when organizing their next adventure.
I’d like to add another valuable source if I may. Imagine you could Get Sponsored to Travel… wouldn’t that be amazing?! Now this is becoming reality for more and more travelers worldwide through a brand new global community for travelers called “StayNomad”. StayNomad.com connects sponsors with travelers, enabling members to realize their travel dreams cheaper or even for free. Happy Travels!
March 18th, 2010
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free: A fantastic article from the people at vagabondish.com that provides a great deal of information on excellent shelter, volunteer and work opportunities for people who are looking to travel. [...]
March 22nd, 2010
Yeah ,I’ve been couchsurfing for a couple of years now and I have met amazing people.
It is something special these days that strangers are not fearful of each other and programs like this can exist and in fact thrive with the spirit of the wonderful people involved.
Of course, use your head, your common-sense but most of all, treat people respectfully and then you find that these are not just “cheap” or “free” ways to travel but that it is something even more special that you cannot put a price on.
To be invited into a home, break bread, friendship, fun, laughter and see what people are really like in the places we visit. Not just the barman or the concierge of the hotel. :)
People are beautiful.
Thanks for this list Nora and Happy Travels :))))))
T
March 24th, 2010
[...] it can’t be done Posted by Lele under South Korea | Tags: Life | Leave a Comment 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free [...]
March 29th, 2010
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by TripsnTravels: 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free : http://ow.ly/fyWR…
March 30th, 2010
[...] There are many other services and resources that help people find free shelter. You can find more information about many of them in this article. [...]
April 9th, 2010
DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO THE CARETAKER GAZETTE UNLESS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WESTERN U.S. ONLY, AND HAVE EXTENSIVE FARMING/OUTDOOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE, OR YOUR MONEY WILL HAVE BEEN WASTED. NO REFUNDS, READ THE “TERMS AND CONDITIONS” – SEE THE TEENY TINY LINK AT BOTTOM OF GAZETTE’S PAGE.
April 13th, 2010
@Mary – I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience with the Caretaker Gazette.
I’m surprised at your comment though….I’ve successfully found opportunities in Hawaii, Australia, and made an excellent connection in Ecuador and Belize as well. What gives?
May 6th, 2010
This list is great Nora instant bookmark. I’d like to add helpx.net to the list of host/helper sites.
May 18th, 2010
Travel for free through http://www.roofswap.com I home swap through them in Paris and have two swaps this summer! Travel for free is a great way to be budget-friendly.
June 25th, 2010
Great info! I will try to apply some of these tips. I mean I want to travel on a very low budget or even for free too :)
June 30th, 2010
Your an inspiration, Nora. I’m 42, been happily married for 23 and have a 17 year old still at home but after reading your article I wanna sell everything I own and take my family globe trotting. My husband and I could use our skills to supplement income and it would probably be more educational for my teenage son than what he’s learning in school now.
August 6th, 2010
Nice article. I used to love living like that. I hitched rides from London to Athens and back and had a wild time. I still think it was cheaper to fly though with food and all that … no better experience in the world though.
September 29th, 2010
[...] … http://bit.ly/axvYvN RT @vagabondish 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free http://bit.ly/bSggFg New Green Travel GPS http://su.pr/2Fsv0Y #wirelesswednesday #green RT @mike9wood RT @AnnTran_: Our [...]
October 3rd, 2010
I dream of doing this… and I am 100% aware that the only thing stopping me is myself. I am most interested in the Caretaker’s Gazette… if only I was brave enough!!
October 25th, 2010
[...] Most baller thing ever… RT @vagabondish 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free http://bit.ly/2VjU4J See this wide brown land without remortgaging yr house- 1yr Travel Saver membership extensive [...]
November 1st, 2010
I had never even considered a few of these options. Thank you for giving us such great resources with websites and everything!
November 5th, 2010
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free [...]
December 19th, 2010
This is a great article. I just learned the term woofing in New Zealand this year.
December 27th, 2010
What a fantastic article! Well done, Nora! Friends of mine have opened their house to couchsurfers here in Alice Springs and are having an awesome time!
January 5th, 2011
This is an amazing article. It could have been written yesterday. I just registered with the Caretaker’s Gazette and I spent all night pouring over listings!
I’ve also had my computer on for 3 days with this article open on my browser. Nora, you are a wealth of information and an inspiration to all backpackers out there. Thank you so much for your work and I look forward to reading your blog.
January 7th, 2011
Thanks to all who have found this article useful! With a few more years of travel experience under my belt, I’ve discovered dozens of more ways to travel and live rent-free, and I maintain that full-time travel is actually cheaper than staying in one place long-term! Funny how that works….
And Thanks, Mica, for your very kind words. It means a lot.
January 9th, 2011
[...] Heat http://bit.ly/gcRqvE RT @vagabondish 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free http://bit.ly/2VjU4J Top 6 Private Sale Sites for the Best Travel Deals http://bit.ly/ijuhfP and i found the perfect car [...]
January 13th, 2011
Fantastic resource for wanderlust in all of us. Now that my wife and I have young children (2 & 4), those days are behind us to some extent. We hope to do more globetreking in a couple years. Thanks for putting this all together. Your professionalhobo.com blog is superb!
January 15th, 2011
Those are some great tools for the modern vagabond. There has to be some risk and it looks like these sites can probably help you travel a little safer, thanks for sharing!
January 21st, 2011
Very cool info. Used to travel a lot after college but like Matthew above, I’ve slowed down a little bit since having a new baby with my husband. Definitely going to keep this bookmarked though. ;)
March 27th, 2011
Thanks for this great article! It’s really inspiring. Great value! I just learned the term woofing in New Zealand this year.
April 3rd, 2011
Going to New York in a months time and hopefully I’ll have the chance to take photos as good as yours. .
May 22nd, 2011
Great post, some of those I’ve never heard of. I have some more free accommodation tips on my website as well. http://www.traveleuropeonanbudget.com
Safe travels.
June 19th, 2011
What about paying for traveling between each destination? This is a way to get free accommodations, but what about getting to each place?
June 23rd, 2011
@Lizzie – Ah yes, that can be pricey. Traveling slowly is a way to keep your costs down, as well as using various travel hacking ideas.
Here’s how to fly for way less money:
http://www.wisebread.com/the-travel-hacking-cartel-fly-around-the-world-for-almost-free
And here’s my own full-time travel expenses through 9 countries in 2010….it’s not free, but it might be cheaper than you’d think…
http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2011/02/my-cost-of-full-time-travel-in-2010-less-than-you-may-think/
July 5th, 2011
How about setting up an internet site and writing about your travels and tips for others and claiming your travel on your taxes.
August 6th, 2011
I found out some interesting options with this article. It’s amazing how just having the will to be abroad can lead one down the path of many different options.
August 29th, 2011
WOOFING and House Carers are news to us. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post, Nora!
September 4th, 2011
There is also a new website called http://www.staydu.com. Travelers can stay with host in exchange for work, money or for free. Everything is free of charge.
September 27th, 2011
I liked the idea of staydu.com. It seems to be a new website, but I just found a job in Australia :-)
October 3rd, 2011
[...] http://www.vagabondish.com/8-tools-travel-long-term-live-rent-free/ [...]
October 5th, 2011
[...] are 8 great resources to help you get started on a long term travel adventure and whats more, they are all rent-free. [...]
October 12th, 2011
Oh my goodness. This has whetted the wanderlust appetite in me to a crazy degree. I did some Wwoofing in central America a few years ago and it was fantastic. I love the idea of teaching in Korea too. There is so much world to discover, I can’t wait to start travelling again. Thanks Nora!
October 27th, 2011
Most of these things don’t work. People on these websites have either moved away and forgotten they put themselves on it, or just ignore requests for their “couch.” I guess these days no one trusts Internet or email correspondence anymore. There is some kind of assumption that anyone you meet over the internet is going to be some kind of pervert or serial killer or child molester or at the very least, a thief. There is general suspicion of anyone who doesn’t have enough money to stay at the Hyatt or the Ritz. I try these things all the time, I’m a TEACHER and all I see are demands of an additional background check as if they don’t believe I’m a teacher or that they don’t believe teachers have been background checked.
November 1st, 2011
It is something special these days that strangers are not fearful of each other and programs like this can exist and in fact thrive with the spirit of the wonderful people involved.
November 3rd, 2011
How about this new travel site called Tripping.com?
I saw them getting funds over the summer and it looks pretty great. Has anybody ever tried it?
December 3rd, 2011
[...] 8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent FreeJan 14, 2008 Nora Dunn discusses eight online tools to help you travel long term and live rent- free. [...]
January 6th, 2012
[...] Vagabondish Foto: Drothman [...]
January 8th, 2012
[...] first learned of WWOOF from this article on Vagabondish. Incidentally that’s also how I found out about Couch Surfing, which will be [...]
January 25th, 2012
Good article! If you’re going to travel and you want to stay longer but you’re worrying your money will get shorter. There’s a way you can save money or decreased your bills by looking for a cheap room for rent. It is okay not to sleep in a hotel because hotel rooms are really expensive. You don’t have to worry about room for rents because they also provide a luxury at affordable prices.
February 6th, 2012
Thanks for writing about the Caretaker’s Gazette. I just signed up with them and was accepted for a house sitting gig in Florida later this month. I never would have know about the Gazette had you not posted it here. Thanks again!
Jim
March 15th, 2012
Another good site is http://www.ozhousesitters.com.au/ (Australian and New Zealand).
March 21st, 2012
[...] Couchsurfing, to take a look at too. I never use them, but the professional hobo, Nora Dunn wrote a spectacular post about [...]
April 12th, 2012
Great article. I haven’t heard of a few of those so will definitely be making notes from this. Thank you so much for sharing – I’ll be checking out your website shortly :-)
May 23rd, 2012
This is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, I’ve always had a dream of traveling the world since I was 10 maybe. I’ve since have gotten married and have two boys 7 years and 2 years. Any suggestions for you veteran world travelers? We live paycheck to paycheck and we live in America, which is NOT the land of freedom. I need to get out, I NEED to get my family out. Is this possible with young children? I already homeschool them, so education will not be an issue. Has anyone else traveled like this with children? I feel the experience would greatly benefit them.
June 22nd, 2012
I am currently getting ready to move abroad and am hoping to do as much traveling as possible once I am settled. Your resources I feel will come in handy greatly! I had never realized there were such wonderful opportunities available to me. thank you so much for sharing and opening my eyes!
August 27th, 2012
i am 54 years old i have been a out of work consruction forman for 3 years my ex told me to get out or find a job . 3 years trying should tell you somthing .anyway im on my way out of the house thats in her name . she says go . were do i go from here i heard of travelers aid . i think i can be of some help. i can fix just about anything send an email let me know what you think thank you hope is all i have. bill bell?
November 28th, 2012
There are some good options on this list. I’ve used a few of them and now i know about Care Takers. Awesome idea.
I would say another option is heading to Expat bars and in many countries you’ll be able to easily find volenteer or paid work teaching English once you’re in a country. If you’re looking for work as an english teacher Dave’s ESL Cafe is a great place to look and finding work in places like China is as easy as an email! (no experience or degree really needed) Teaching is an excellent way to extend your trips.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it!
November 28th, 2012
There are some good options on this list. I’ve used a few of them and now i know about Care Takers. Awesome idea.
I would say another option is heading to Expat bars and in many countries you’ll be able to easily find volenteer or paid work teaching English once you’re in a country. If you’re looking for work as an english teacher Dave’s ESL Cafe is a great place to look and finding work in places like China is as easy as an email! (no experience or degree really needed) Teaching is an excellent way to extend your trips.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it!
November 29th, 2012
Great list! I haven’t heard of most of these opportunities, but we will definitely check them out! Like Dariece said, Dave’s is a great site to find work, especially in China! We’ve also found opportunities teaching novice monks English in Laos. Sometimes they offer free accommodation. If they don’t, it’s still a good way to enrich your travel experience!
December 9th, 2012
Amazing tips.
Heard of a few on here but a great help in our research
happy trails
December 22nd, 2012
Hi there, I’m a 19 year old high school graduate, I know quite alot about life and spirituality at the moment as I feel I’m an old soul underneath, so here is my dilemma, I know for sure with out a doubt I don’t want a mundane 9-5 job 5 days a week, I want to be free and travel and spread love to all as life is about freedom and love I believe,, now I know I could just pick up my pack and go and that is under consideration for me currently. I really want to make a positive impact on the world and enjoy the freedom of life with that…
Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
Dylan major
January 6th, 2013
Great list. I’ve used Couchsurfing and a friend of mine used Workaway (his experience is here: http://www.femmebionic.com/?p=9) with great success. When I went to Eastern Europe, I met a guy from Lithuania who just decided to call a bunch of hostels and see if he could live there in exchange for work. He landed in a hostel in Tbilisi, Georgia, for about 3 months, so maybe that’s another option…
Happy trails,
Clare
April 17th, 2013
[...] Europe, accommodation can quickly eat into your budget so make sure you’ve explored alternatives to hotels for destinations you stay in. Volunteering, couch surfing, home exchanges, hostels and camping can [...]
April 17th, 2013
[...] Europe, accommodation can quickly eat into your budget so make sure you’ve explored alternatives to hotels for destinations you stay in. Volunteering, couch surfing, home exchanges, hostels and camping can [...]