How I travel the world on a budget (even as a broke student)
You don’t need to be rich to see the world, you just need to know where to look. My favourite free or cheap ways to sleep, eat, get around and even earn while travelling.
You don’t need to be rich to see the world, you just need to know where to look. These are my favourite free or cheap ways to travel, from accommodation to food, transport and even remote work. I started using most of them as a broke student, and I still do.
Free accommodation
- Couchsurfing: stay with locals for free and make friends everywhere.
- BeWelcome: a non-profit, volunteer-run alternative to Couchsurfing.
- Trustroots: ideal for backpackers, nomads and hitchhikers.
- Host a Sister: a women-only Facebook group offering safe, free stays.
I’m a big fan of Couchsurfing, and I’ve met a lot of my closest friends there.
Volunteering and work exchange
- Workaway: help in hostels, farms or schools around the world.
- WWOOF: live on organic farms and learn about sustainable living.
- TrustedHousesitters: take care of pets while staying in beautiful homes.
- Worldpackers: volunteer or exchange skills for free stays, with verified hosts and reviews.
- HelpX / HelpStay: similar to Workaway, with flexible stays.
Cheap (or free) transport
- BlaBlaCar: a rideshare app, mainly across Europe.
- FlixBus / Megabus: cheap intercity buses.
- Hitchhiking: free and adventurous. Use common sense and trust your gut.
- Eurail / Interrail: flexible train passes for multi-country travel.
Food on a budget
- TheFork: book restaurants with up to 50% off (especially in Europe).
- Too Good To Go: rescue surplus food from bakeries and restaurants for just a few euros.
- Olio: get free food shared by locals and neighbours.
- Street food and local markets: better than restaurants, more authentic and more affordable.
Remote work and exchange
- Teaching English online: platforms like Cambly, Preply or italki make it easy to start (no degree needed on some).
- Freelancing online: write, design or edit on Upwork or Fiverr.
- Virtual assistant work: help small businesses manage emails, social media and tasks remotely.
- Content creation: blog, post or film your travels, and earn through affiliate links or brand deals.
See what it adds up to
Want to see real numbers? Here’s what I actually spent in 18 months travelling South America. And if travelling on a budget means travelling alone, these are the ways I make friends whilst travelling solo.
