After your flights, your accommodation is going to be the next biggest travel expense, and if you’re not an experienced budget traveler, they can easily cost you just as much as your airline ticket, if not more. Luckily, there are plenty of websites that can assist you with cheap itineraries.
LifeHacker explains that searching for those affordable flights or accommodation options can be easier said than done, especially if you don’t know where to look. Parking4Less indicates that some cheap carriers may not be the most economical choice due to their hidden costs. But with the right references and trusted sources, travel options that are suited for your budget won’t be too hard to come across.
Here are six websites where you can successfully find free lodging:
Mind My House
If you’re not interested in staying at a hostel and love the homely feel of service apartments but don’t want to pay the extra costs, you might want to consider house sitting. Usually homeowners will require you to maintain general upkeep, feed their pets and such, and in exchange you’ll receive free housing. For just $20 a year, Mind My House will grant you access to a whole database of house sitter ads around the world.
Couch Surfing and Global Freeloaders
An alternative to Couch Surfing, the idea behind Global Freeloaders is that members must be both a host and a guest since neither can exist without the other. It’s all about give and take, which is really only fair because of the amount you’ll save from accommodation. By joining this network, you’ll get to interact with locals and have an authentic cultural experience that you won’t get from a hotel.
WWOOF, HelpX and WorkAway
You can also work for your accommodation rather than pay for it at World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WOOF), HelpX or Workaway. Choose from any of the participating destinations across the globe and, in exchange for a small fee per year (around 20USD per person), you’ll get to stay with your host whom you will help with their work. The workday ranges between 4 to 6 hours, which still gives you plenty of time to do some exploring of your own.