If you’re like me, you may be wary of spending money on things that don't have to do with school. I’ve been dreaming of traveling since I was a kid, but it always seemed impossible. However, I decided this past winter that I was going to do my best to figure out a way to spend the summer abroad. I specifically wanted to go to Japan, where I hadn’t been since I lived there as a kid. As I looked for the cheapest possible way to study abroad for the summer, I realize that even that would not work for my budget, and I would have to figure out a different way go abroad. While scouring the internet for cheap ways to get to Japan, I came across several options for traveling for free or for a surprisingly low price.
1. Workaway
Workaway is a website where over 20,000 hosts from all over the world post listings when they need volunteers. These hosts—mostly consisting of hostels, homes and farms—offer free housing and often free meals in return for volunteer work. The work can range from teaching English, gardening, house work, cooking, child care, carpentry, computer work and other jobs. I have seen hosts on this website offer stays ranging from one night to several months. Travelers using this website leave reviews on the hosts' pages, so you can see what others' experiences were for the jobs. This is helpful when it comes to ensuring your safety when looking for a place to stay. Many of these hosts do not require you to speak the same language as them. Workaway can be treated as a language-learning opportunity, as well as an opportunity for to learn about a culture by staying in someone's home.
You can check out countless of host options for free on the website, but contacting the hosts requires purchasing a a yearly subscription fee to the website. For one person, this is $29, and for a couple or two friends, it is $38. Compared to housing and food fees, $30 a year is a steal!
2. Helpx
Helpx, meaning Help Exchange, is similar to Workaway. You can browse thousands of hosts such as farms, home stays, hostels and even boats that need volunteers to work a few hours a day in exchange for accommodations and often meals. Also like Workaway, you can browse the hosts for free but need to pay a subscription fee to contact them. This fee is cheaper than Workaway's, at about $22 for a 2-year membership.
3. WWOOF
WWOOF, or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is set up similarly to Workaway and Helpx, but is exclusively for farms. Many of these farms focus on organic living and self-sustainability. They will exchange approximately four to six hours of volunteer work each day for food and housing. The downside of this website, however, is that there is a membership fee for every different country you visit. The cheapest way to use this website is to travel to different parts of one country and work on different farms.
4. CouchSurfing
CouchSurfing is an online platform that allows people all over the world to connect, make friends, and find places to stay overnight. Making a profile allows you to find hosts who will let you stay in their homes for free. Unlike Workaway, Helpx, and WWOOF, this doesn't involve work on your part (though offering to help with things around the house sounds like the polite thing to do in many situations). The CouchSurfing company also hosts events in cities around the world, where you can meet other CouchSurfers and make friends and travel buddies.
CouchSurfing has apps for iOS and Android.
5. Hostels
Hostels, or guesthouses, are dormitory-style accommodations frequented by travelers on a budget. Like a dorm, they don't always provide that much privacy unless you pay extra for a private room. You will also be sharing a bathroom with people you don't know. However, many travelers have had good experiences in hostels. Hostels can be found on HostelWorld, Hotels.com and Hostels.com.
6. AirBnB
AirBnB has gotten quite a bit of attention in the past few years. This website allows people to find accommodations in over 190 countries for a much cheaper price than hotels. Some of these houses and apartments are cheaper to stay in than hostels. Using search filters in the website, you can find accommodations by city and price range, and even search specifically for private rooms, shared rooms, or entire apartments or homes to rent for a cheaper price than a hotel room would cost.
AirBnB also has apps for iOS and Android.
7. Volunteer or Intern Abroad
Doing a volunteer or internship program abroad is a great way to travel, experience another culture and help those in need all at the same time. Some programs are cheap, and some are more expensive, so it may take some digging to find one that fits your interests and budget. A few websites with lists of volunteer abroad programs are Go Overseas, International Volunteer HQ, Travellers Quest and Volunteer Forever.
8. Be a Nanny
If you like children, being a live-in nanny in another country is a rewarding way to spend an extended period of time overseas. Not only do you live in a another country taking care of children, but you get payed for it! There are several organizations that give these opportunities, including Tinies.
9. Rotary Club
Many rotary clubs sponsor high school and college students who want to study abroad. My mom did this when she was in high school, and people still do it now. Check your local rotary club’s website to see if they sponsor study abroad for students. If the website doesn't mention study abroad, send them an email and ask if they do!
10. Scholarships
There are hundreds of scholarships you can apply for. Some require essays, while some only require contact info and a self-introduction. It's even possible to get scholarship money for filling out surveys on education websites like Niche and Cappex. Go Overseas has a list of 63 different grants and scholarships that may be able to help you study, intern or volunteer abroad.
Traveling or studying abroad can be a fantastic opportunity to learn things you never would have at home or school. You can experience new places and cultures, make friends you never would have met otherwise and discover parts of yourself that you weren't aware of before. Traveling abroad is a way to grow and challenge yourself. There're a reason that so many colleges encourage studying abroad: it will change you.
However, there are things you need to be aware of when traveling, and especially when staying with people you do not know well. With opportunity comes responsibility. All of the traveling options included here should be taken with a grain of salt. Many people have good experiences when using them. Some people do not. Traveling, especially by yourself, can potentially put you in dangerous situations. Just because we are legal adults does not mean we cannot be taken advantage of or find ourselves in unsafe situations. Therefore, think before you act and stay alert. Finding a free place to stay in a foreign country that you've always wanted to visit can be tempting to jump right into. Make sure you use your head and your instincts. If something feels unsafe, then use your instincts and go somewhere else.
When you take care of your safety, these opportunities have the potential to be life-changing. Happy traveling!
