How to Score 100% FREE Accommodation While Traveling the World- A Budget Traveler's Guide

In this episode of Shortsleeve Travel, we're diving deep into one of the most significant secrets to globe-trotting on a shoestring budget—free accommodation! Now, I know what you might be thinking: "How on earth can you score a place to stay without emptying your wallet?" Well, folks, you're in for a treat because I've got the inside scoop on six incredible ways to bunk for free while you explore the world. We'll start with Worldpackers, where trading your skills for a roof over your head leads to cultural immersion like you've never experienced before. Then, it's all about the fur babies with Trusted Housesitters, where you'll cuddle with adorable pets in stunning homes across the globe. But that's not all; we'll also uncover the secrets of Couchsurfing, where connecting with locals means unique travel experiences. Plus, I'll spill the beans on Home Exchange, WWOOFing on organic farms, and even becoming a travel nanny or au pair for free accommodation and some extra cash! So, whether you're a seasoned traveler or just dipping your toes into the world of budget adventures, this episode is your golden ticket to exploring the globe without breaking the bank. Tune in, take notes, and get ready to redefine your travel game.

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Transcript

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Welcome back to the short sleeve travel podcast. I'm your host, Kat Shortsleeve. Join me each week as we embark on a journey to help you achieve your wildest travel dreams. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or new to the adventure, I'll guide you in exploring the world on your terms. No matter your situation or experience, I'll show you how to fill in your life with as much travel as you desire. If you're listening to this in podcast format, welcome. And if you're watching this on YouTube, I apologize. I have pimple patches all over my face because, per usual, I'm breaking out. And I was going to take the pimple patches off, but I thought, Who am I doing it for? I'm clearly not doing that for myself. And so if I'm taking them off, it's just for, you know, the millions of people watching this and listening to this right now. And you know what? I need them on, so they're staying on. And yesterday I saw Alex Earle. She was going out to dinner with her NFL boyfriend. And she has millions of people watching her. And she decided to keep her pimple patches on because she was going through an awful breakout. And I thought, you know what? I'm just going to do the same. You know, if she can do that with millions of people, I can do that too. But okay, let's get right into it. So today we're diving into one of my favorite topics, which is budget friendly travel. And you see, I've been on a whirlwind adventure across over 40 countries, all without my parents bankrolling the operation. And believe it or not, I've never found any buried treasure in my backyard. So people always ask me, how do I do it? And well, it's time I let you in on one of my biggest secrets to budget travel, which is finding completely 100 percent free accommodation All right, let's get into it, shall we? I've got six fantastic ways to score yourself some 100 percent free accommodation while gallivanting around the globe sitting in the number one position, this is my absolute favorite platform. It is called World Packers. Now this is a work exchange and I think of this as a win win scenario. So you offer your skills and a bit of your time and in return you get a cozy place to call home during your travels. So I know there are different Ways to do this. You can teach English in the heart of Thailand and you'll have a place to stay. That's completely free I've also known people who've lended a hand on a charming farm in New Zealand. I also know a girl who's done this in Hawaii and she was working on a small local farm there actually harvesting mangoes and oranges and World Packers, they just open up doors to these cultural immersions and it doesn't need to empty your wallet The best part, in my opinion, is WorldPackers isn't just about free accommodation, it's completely a ticket to immerse yourself in a new culture. So you'll be able to learn, live, and work alongside all of these different locals, and you know, you gain insights that no other tourist would ever have access to. It's a very unique experience. And at the same time, you're also building skills. So through this program, you're able to acquire a new skill. You know, it might be organic farming or maybe it's language teaching, but you'll be exploring a new place and then you'll return home with a diverse skill set that you can then use in the future. I've done a deep dive into their website and just looked at all the different experiences and opportunities that you might be able to have. And what I've noticed is you can embark on adventures that you might not have otherwise thought were financially possible. So they have things on there like working on a vineyard in northern Spain or actually another vineyard that you could work on in Greece. They're looking for people right now. You can explore some very exotic destinations. First of all, that no one really has access to otherwise, and there isn't another way to do anything like this that I've come across. But you can also do it without having the hefty price tag, because your accommodation is completely cared for. and at the end of the day, you're also joining a community of like minded travelers. So you're able to connect with fellow adventurers. You're going to share stories and forge friendships that will just last you a lifetime. And who knows where those friendships might take you in terms of travel in the future. And also being able to work alongside other people who are similar to you and want to explore and have an adventure. It's pretty unique. And now the final reason why I really like this platform is because most of the time hosts are extremely eco conscious and it's an excellent choice for people who want to be environmentally aware, but also want to travel because of course there are so many emissions when you're traveling, especially when it comes to flights, I think about that all the time and just want to find ways that I'm able to, you know, counteract what I'm doing and also contribute to sustainability. It's sustainable because you're reusing existing homes rather than contributing to the new hotel constructions or new development projects in addition to all that you would be doing on the farm. My second favorite platform when I'm looking for free accommodation is a site called Trusted House Sitters. So this one is for all the pet lovers out there. What you do is you exchange and you stay at someone's home and in exchange you take care of Their four legged family members. So it's really only for dogs and for cats you're not going to be taking care of someone's ostrich or their peacock or their gerbil It's a really nice way to be able to do something for someone else while you're traveling so it kind of feels good too and you're getting a ton out of it and staying at oftentimes gorgeous homes I've actually even looked into doing this in my own hometown. And so you can look at what's around you in the area, and maybe for the weekend you want to stay at another person's house and take care of their pet. It's similar to Rover, the app where you go on and can walk people's dogs for them, in that you're able to have that connection with a pet if you really like pets, but you don't have to have one yourself. It's a good outlet. There are all sorts of unique destinations too. So there are a bunch of countryside cottages and then urban apartments. And so the travel experience can be extremely diverse and another great option. Moving on to the third free accommodation option, and this is actually my least favorite, but I want to tell you about it because it is popular and it's common when you are first googling and looking into free accommodation and this one is called couch surfing. So this is kind of the OG of free accommodation platforms and it's not just about crashing on a random couch. It's truly about forging connections with locals who are eager to share their hometown, their world with, with travelers like us. Most often you'll find cozy corner apartments in bustling cities, and then quaint cottages in the countryside, and couch surfing lets you explore the world while building relationships at the same time, and I would say 99 percent of the time, the places where you're going to be crashing, the hosts, they also want to spend some time with you and show you around, and even cook some meals with you, But if you're more introverted and you don't want to spend your time getting to know someone else and having conversations, this won't be the best because they probably will want to spend some time with you, and it's more of an exchange in that way where you're exchanging time and meeting one another. And then hopefully, I've even seen people staying at someone else's accommodation, becoming great friends with them, and then doing a reverse where they come to visit you wherever you live. I will say couch surfing is a testament to global hospitality and human connection. It's, it's a very unique thing to do. And sometimes even these couch surfing places, you're not staying on a couch. You have your own room, or I've also seen where they have an adjacent cottage to their home where you'd be staying in your own private space. Couch surfing does prioritize safety with the profiles. They ensure that there are references and verification systems. So you're able to travel with peace of mind, knowing that you're in good hands. Truly, this embodies the spirit of adventure and spontaneity and extreme open mindedness. So it's a platform for those who want to kind of embrace the unexpected and, and do something unique. Number four, we have home exchange. This platform is where you're able to swap homes with someone else. So, in my opinion, why pay for your accommodation when you can swap your homes with another traveler because you've clearly left your home to go somewhere. Maybe you can make a swap. It's, it's like that really sweet movie about the two women who... Swap their homes with each other, or actually I think it's a woman and a man and they end up falling in love or something. It's a little bit, you know, of a romantic idea. Of course, the nice piece to this is that you're able to trade your humble abode for someone else's, ensuring you have all the comforts of home while exploring a new destination. I think it's a brilliant way to save money and immerse yourself fully in the new location. This platform is entirely built on trust. So you're allowing someone into your home while you're staying in theirs. And it really does create a unique bond with people worldwide. And I know this is popping up more and more, especially in New York City. There's a new platform that's all about home exchanges in New York City. Again, you'll find a variety of different homes. So you can experience living in. City apartments and as well as beachfront villas and every exchange is truly a chance to live like a local because you're exchanging with someone who does live there full time. The cool thing about this too is, for example, when I did a home swap and I switched my New York City apartment with someone's in Paris. I was able to tell that person, okay, the best coffee place right down the street from the apartment is this one and I recommend going here and doing this. And it was all things that were very proximate to the apartment. I actually gave them an entire guide and itinerary for where I think that they should go and what they should do. And I could tell them, okay, when you're headed up to the Guggenheim Museum, you should take the 1 2 3 and then, that's the train system, and then you'll switch over to the 4 5, that type of thing. Number five, we have woofing and this is similar to what I had been explaining before, but if you want a truly unique adventure, consider this. This is where travelers are connected with organic farms worldwide. You have to roll up your sleeves and you help out on the farm in return for free lodging and delicious locally sourced food. So it's an excellent opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and then you're also going to dive deep into the culture. This one is very similar to World Packers in my opinion, but with woofing it's specifically designed for farming. With woofing you're going to get your hands dirty and you're going to experience sustainable agriculture firsthand. Woof hosts are scattered around the globe, so whether you're interested in winemaking in France, or, uh, coffee farming in Costa Rica, there's something for you. One of my friends in high school, she was actually sent away, or so her parents thought they were sending her away, to go reform with woofing, because they thought that she was up to no good, and she was sent to a farm in San Diego. And she ended up having the best experience and the best time. She was loving it day in and day out. I don't think it was really the reform that her parents were looking for. Um, and she actually ended up meeting her boyfriend there and they're still together. Again, this is a great way to be very eco conscious when you're traveling because you're supporting organic and sustainable farming practices. You're learning these skills and you're exploring a new part of the world. So it's a pretty unique way to contribute to. environmental conservation. Not only do you have the accommodation, but you also have access to farm to table dining truly at its finest. Kind of a unique experience. Last but not least, for those who adore kiddos and are up for some little side hustle, becoming a travel nanny or an au pair is a fantastic option. You'll have free accommodation with that local family. And on top of that, you'll get paid in cash. Plus, you'll have a chance to participate in some local activities with the local family that you're staying with. And you'll have to take the kids maybe to the beach or to a museum or to the park. And, you know, if you build a great relationship with them, you'll be doing some activities with them on the weekend. Or, if you want, you can do things on your own too. You'll then have a family in another part of the world that you've built a relationship with, spent a lot of time with, and then maybe you'll go to visit them. Again, sometime down the line. You become a temporary member of a new family, and I don't know any other way to do that. You're going to experience this new destination through the eyes of a local as you participate in daily family life and activities. I know someone who did this in Copenhagen, and he learned all about daily activities in Copenhagen just through being there and being a part of this family, and so he learned what the local food is like and by just having breakfast with them every single morning and how to make espresso because they didn't have a Keurig and so you had to learn different things like that and while you might not even think that you're learning something new when you're in a completely new place with a completely new family you just have exposure to things like that. What's unique about this option is that au pairs and traveling nannies will receive additional payment in addition to the free accommodation. So it's a very financially rewarding choice. Above all, the host family will introduce you to best kept secrets of their region from hidden restaurants, you know, off the beat attractions, and it'll be a great experience. Well, there you have it. Six extraordinary ways to snag 100 percent free accommodation while you're globetrotting. Remember these tricks and keep them up your sleeve because your travel budget will stretch farther than you ever thought possible. And just remember, the world is your playground, and now your wallet does not need to hold you back. For more insider tips on budget friendly travel, I recommend you check out my blog post. I just posted earlier today a great post about all of the ways to get free accommodation, pros and cons, if you want to see that and share that with some of your friends. And then also on TikTok, I've posted some videos on this same topic as well. So thank you for listening and thank you for being here with me. Check me out on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, anywhere. You get your podcasts as well. And follow me. I am at Kat, K A T short sleeve. And until next time, happy travels.