10 Tips for Traveling Without Money

Is Traveling Without Money Possible?

Traveling is generally seen as an expensive endeavor. But as many articles on this website will state, it isn’t.  It’s entirely possible to see most of the world on a shoestring budget, through limited spending or by traveling without money entirely.

But to take it a step further, it’s also possible to travel with absolutely no money.  While this is challenging and requires a certain amount of flexibility, it’s possible.  Creative thinking takes a huge part, as do social skills and awareness.

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Get a Job

If you’re absolutely strapped for cash while traveling through a foreign country, the easiest and most obvious solution is to get a job.  There are millions of jobs available to travelers and foreigners around the world.  Finding them is fairly easy, even if it’s a local, temporary gig.

For example, it is generally pretty easy to join the local teaching community.  While some countries like Saudi Arabia and China have rigorous hiring processes, there are a lot of companies and countries out there who will hire you temporarily.  They might need an extra teacher during a vacation season, or to add supplemental English lessons to their program.  Simply contacting teaching groups will generally lead to a rapid, mid-paying local job.  

Other swift jobs include things like labor positions, restaurant work, hostel work or farming.  While many countries have certain Visa requirements regarding these subjects, it’s generally possible to do a small amount of work and move on, or transfer a tourist visa into a work visa when needed.

Of course, it is always possible to earn by working online or busking.  While busking isn’t legal everywhere (for example, it is illegal in Dubai), most places in the world allow it.  You won’t be able to rent a villa, but you’ll have enough to eat, sleep and continue moving.  

Economy Websites

There are many economy websites that drastically cut the cost of travel.  The most famous is Couchsurfing, which allows for free, temporary lodging within a network community.  But other options exist.  It is also possible to find a Work-Stay (employed-lodging work) on websites like Workaway or Worldpackers.  You can also perform services in exchange for lodging as a house-sitter or pet-sitter on apps like Trusted Housitters (home care). Or, you can find quick jobs, such through apps like Rover (pet care).  

Economy websites are a brilliant way to find free lodging while traveling, but they tend to rely on strong network communities.  Websites and applications shift over the years as they become monetized, so some shopping around and building a strong profile is necessary.  Once your network is set, one of a person’s largest expenses is null, making traveling without money far easier.

Finding Friends Abroad

One of the easiest ways to secure a free place to stay is to simply know someone.  Friends are a blessing in this world, and they’re often more than willing to provide a roof out of personal fondness.  

Finding friends in life isn’t nearly as difficult as one might believe, especially while traveling.  A few nights in a popular hostel will result in a large contingent of comrades from around the world.

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Cook You Own Meals

Though people tend to equate vacations with dining out and trying new foods, this can become extraordinarily expensive quickly.  

Instead, try to cook food as often as possible.  Hostels generally allow for free access to kitchens, as do Airbnb’s and other accommodations.  Cooking saves a ton of money and allows a person to prepare a multitude of meals at a time.

When cooking on the road, the secret is to buy foods that can take a hit, aren’t immediately perishable and can be prepared quickly.  Bananas, for example, but don’t tend to travel well.

Apples, vegetables in general, oranges, peaches, bread, flatbreads, rice, canned beans, crackers, sweets, jerky, spices, dried meat slices and pasta are all perfect for cooking on the road.

Soft fruits (bananas, cherries), dairy products (yogurt, soft cheese) and refrigerated meat (chicken breasts, steak) don’t travel well.  I’d also recommend against buying certain types of dried beans, as these take forever to properly cook, which is rude in a shared kitchen space.  These foods can be bought if you’re staying in one location for a while, but they can’t be easily brought to a new location.

If you end up leaving before finishing all the food you currently have and don’t have enough room to travel with it, consider donating it.  The world is full of hungry people, so dropping off a few bags of dried, safe food to locals in need is much kinder than throwing food away.  

Read further articles about selecting food while traveling by clicking here.

Rail and Transit Passes

One of the absolute best ways to see the world at large are hop-on-hop-off rail and train passes.  Rather than buying individual tickets, a rail pass allows a person to get on and off a train freely.  This is a one-time fee during your entire stay, making all travel much easier logistically.  

Japan, for example, has a phenomenal rail-pass plan which allows tourists to rotate through various cities without buying extra tickets.  There are other similar programs found in countries around the world.  

Free Camping

There isn’t much better in the world than camping out under the stars.  As the world becomes more urbanized, camping might seem like a challenging proposition.

However, most of the world is rural.  Many places have vast tracts of land where camping is possible and encouraged.  Some of these areas allow camping for free.  In these zones, traveling without money becomes easy.

In the United States the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has various sites where RV’s and Tents can be pitched for free.  The United States Forest Service also has various locations available.  Maps showing these locations can be found on sites like Campendium, FreeCampsites or The Dyrt.  

Other countries have laws allowing free camping across vast tracts of land.  Wild Camping, that is, camping anywhere in parts of the public countryside, is common in Norway, Estonia and other nations.  

For the price of a single tent, you can save a considerable travel fortune on lodging indefinitely.  

Dorm Stays

Sleeping in large dorms is the cornerstone of the hostel business model.  Many sleepers receive a personal bed in a shared room. 

Dorm stays aren’t limited to hostels.  Sometimes Universities allow people to stay in empty dorms during the summer months for a very small fee.  Likewise, there are many huts, public trekking cabins and jungle stays which allow anyone passing through a place to rest.  

Student Discounts

For young travelers, be sure to bring your Student ID everywhere.  Student discounts are common across the world to encourage cultural learning.  

This is common for large tourist attractions.  

Ask and Receive

One of the most interesting ways to travel simply involves asking.  Visiting a hostel and offering to do chores for a place to sleep for one night or visiting a hospital and offering to clean out bedpans for an empty bunk is a valid method for traveling.  Temples, particularly in Asia, are also willing to accept a bit of labor for a place to rest.  

Though a lot of western societies have bureaucratic rules against this, it’s still possible to find such situations frequently. The best way to continue traveling without money is to keep yourself open towards both oppertunities and assistance.

Remember to be polite and humble when asking and gracious upon acceptance.  Your visit isn’t an everyday occurrence and your question probably isn’t common.  People have every right to ask you to move along or they simply might not be able to help.  

Wander and Walk

Though it is very uncommon in the United States due to vast distances, it is possible to simply walk from one place to another.  It might take a couple of days, but a lot of the world is perfectly accessible when walking.  

Also keep in mind that hitchhiking is fine in most parts of the world, particularly in the rural countryside.  As always, stay safe, use your best judgment and travel in pairs or small groups. Hitchhiking has served me very well over the ages.  

There are also various hitchhiking community apps which allow people to share rides with one another.  This has become a safe mainstay, since drivers are verified and vetted.  Some of these deals, such as Blablacar, require a person to put up some gas money. But other communities are entirely free, making it easier to go large distances while traveling without money

If you plan on hitchhiking or walking, be sure to do so safely.  Wear something bright and/or reflective.  Make sure to have your valuables concealed and double check the legality of hitchhiking or road-walking in your area.  Keep a physical map of some sorts, in case your device’s battery doesn’t last your entire journey.  

Overall

Traveling can be incredibly expensive if a person wanders into the pricey parts of the world, dines out nightly, buys flashy souvenirs, stays in penthouse suites and travels in a party limo everywhere.  

While that does sound entertaining, it’s also realistic to travel on almost nothing at all.  Traveling without money takes some practice, but there are people rotating across the planet doing it every day. There are hundreds of vlogs following travelers on a shoestring budget or without any cash whatsoever.

If money runs out early in your journey or you simply don’t have any before embarking, never fret.  Stay calm, humble, creative and attentive.  You’ll find your way forth well enough. 

Want to read about some broke-but-joyous-travel experiences? Check out the Leftfade Trails Blog