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Hacks for Traveling Abroad Long-Term on a Tight Budget can turn your travel dreams into reality. Do you scroll your TikTok or Instagram feeds, watching people display their travel journeys while you only fantasize about how you could do the same? You don’t need to be rich to travel the world long-term. You just need to be resourceful and know where to look.
The best way to travel abroad longer and cheaper is to avoid the traditional travel trade and opt for the emerging “sharing” industry. For the past ten years, the sharing economy has incorporated hospitality networks, volunteer and work exchanges, meal sharing, ride-sharing, and even campsite sharing.
In keeping with this trend, you’ll notice most of the options mentioned below are sharing economy-based, which minimizes costs and maximizes cultural exchange and environmentally friendly tendencies. Other tips we’ve covered include researching the best locations to suit your needs and travel goals and adapting a travel lifestyle suitable to economizing on the road.
1. Location, Location, Location
Before anything else, research the countries with budget-friendly prices and lower exchange rates against the US dollar. Good measures to consider are the country’s median earnings, the price of a restaurant meal, the average rent, and transportation costs.
You’ll also want to hear what other travelers are saying. While everyone may have different opinions, you’re looking for convergences—the points or details that most people seem to agree on regarding the cost of living.
2. Travel During Off-Peak Seasons
While it may mean dealing with cold or wet weather, traveling during off-peak seasons can help you find cheaper accommodation and transportation deals. It’s also more pleasurable if there are fewer tourists.
Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather if you are dressed correctly. If you’ll be traveling through the rainy season, have warm boots and a raincoat. If it is winter time, have a cozy coat and plan indoor activities, or head to the mountains for snow sports.
3. Embrace Slow Travel
Instead of moving from one city to the next quickly, with the hopes of seeing as much as possible, stay longer. You’ll save money on transportation, and it’s also helpful in negotiating a lower accommodation rate. Aside from the savings, taking your time and exploring a given city can be culturally enriching.
If you want to explore, choose a city or town that serves as a good base for short excursions lasting a day or more. Use the time to get to know the people, the culture, the language, and the food. Who knows, you may end up making lasting friendships.
4. Live Like the Locals
Shop where the natives shop and cook your own meals. Preparing your dishes instead of eating out every day will save you a good chunk of change. Choose accommodations with kitchen facilities to make this easier.
Now, platforms that offer local meal sharing are available. This allows you to experience the native cuisine and cooking techniques unique to the region. It’s also another way to make new friends and connect with locals.
5. Always Take the Backroads
Instead of hitting the list of the top ten most visited sites in a particular region, look for lesser-known places. Of course, you’ll want to do a little research to ensure that there are some interesting things to see or do, but otherwise, it’s a great way to avoid the high-ticket attractions and their surrounding businesses, which will also charge higher prices.
Other advantages include avoiding the tourist crowds and the less-than-authentic atmosphere where everything is written in English and caters to foreigners. It’s also an opportunity to connect with nature while avoiding the city’s hustle and bustle.
6. Register for Language Lessons
While enrolling in language lessons in a given country may impose an added expensive front-end cost, schools often include housing arrangements that can be very inexpensive. Be certain to look around, as some language schools, especially in highly touristy cities, can be exorbitant.
To find lower prices, look at smaller cities or towns that seem charming enough to spend some time in. Where you can, search for lessons at local universities, which are almost always less expensive than private schools. University lessons also offer the most lessons with the best quality for the price one would pay.
7. Ride Share or Car Share
Traveling by train or bus can be much less expensive than by plane, but ride-sharing is even better. Many countries now have platforms that match drivers and passengers heading to the same destination.
Well-established platforms keep users safe by performing background checks and providing review listings. It’s an affordable way to travel and provides the opportunity to meet interesting new people. Not to mention that it’s very environmentally friendly.
8. Budget Accommodation
Look for budget accommodation options such as hostels, guesthouses, shared apartments, or even pitching a tent in the host’s backyard instead of staying at a hotel. While Airbnb can get pricey, you can still find good deals. If you mention to the host that you are looking for a long-term stay, you can often negotiate discounts.
Recently, more competition is popping up online with newer platforms that offer lower prices like Airbnb used to provide years ago. This is an excellent option for a group of friends traveling together.
9. Work Exchange Programs and Volunteering
Consider work exchange programs like Workaway or WWOOF, where you work a few hours a day in exchange for accommodation and sometimes food. Many of these listings require some physical labor, such as light farming or small construction projects. It’s important to read the listings carefully for the expected duties and sleeping arrangements.
Sleeping accommodations vary by site and may include a private room with a shared bathroom, an ensuite private room, tents, or dormitory-style sleeping. Physical labor in exchange for room and board is not for everyone. It also means you can’t venture off anytime you want to go sightseeing. So, be certain you understand all that will be expected of you during your stay, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before you commit.
10. Teach English
If you’re a native English speaker, teaching English abroad is probably one of the easiest and fastest ways to earn a living wage in your host country. The average earnings are always a little above a country’s minimum wage. Be sure to have a polished cover letter and resume prepared.
While it’s not difficult to find an ESL job, most schools won’t hire you before you arrive. So before you leave home, have a list of schools prepared that you’ll contact when you reach your destination. Have at least one professional-looking outfit, and prepare to search once you arrive.
11. Seasonal Work
Around the world, businesses are almost always in dire need of temporary workers. Depending on the region you’re heading and the time of year, it’s possible to make very good money and get help with housing. If you’re traveling in the winter, maybe it’s ski monitors or equipment handlers that are in demand. If you’re traveling in the summer, mountain retreats and beach-based businesses will be looking for extra hands.
Know that no matter where you are in the world, all businesses will be looking for servers when it’s high season. The only caveat is that you must speak at least some of the local language and have a minimal amount of experience.
12. Freelance Work
With many countries now offering digital nomad visas, it’s no longer necessary to look for odd jobs while traveling. If you have skills that can be done remotely, including writing, coding, or customer service roles, freelancing while you travel may be the ideal method to see the world.
Before choosing this route, do a bit of research for countries that offer features best suited for digital nomads. Some examples are co-working spaces, ease of networking, and fast internet.
13. Couchsurfing
Platforms like Couchsurfing provide the opportunity to find locals who offer free accommodation in their homes. It’s a great way to save money and immerse yourself in the culture. Not only is it an opportunity to meet local people, but you are often included in activities during your visit.
This option is not suited for everyone. Sometimes, the accommodation really is just a couch, a mattress on the floor, or a backyard where you’ll pitch your tent. Enter with an open mind and offer something like cooking dinner for your host or bringing a small gift.
14. House Swapping
There are platforms for house swapping, allowing you to exchange homes with people worldwide. The concept is easy. You stay in their home while they stay in yours, eliminating accommodation costs. Staying in a local’s home is a great way to experience how the natives in the country live.
Another advantage is you’ll save money using the kitchen for meals and possibly your food bill will be lower because you’ll be shopping outside touristy zones. Remember, this only works if you’re comfortable with strangers staying in your home while you’re away.
15. House Sitting
Join a house-sitting platform where homeowners offer free accommodation in exchange for looking after their home and pets while they’re away. This only works if you love animals and are prepared to spend time with the pets you look after.
If you plan to be out all day, every day, sightseeing, this may not be the right option for you. The welfare of the pets comes first, and sometimes, problems with the pets or home need to be tended to before you can go off for an adventure. Often, the families provide a welcome dinner and leave some groceries for the sitter.
Traveling Well Is a Life Long Skill
There’s no doubt you will learn a lot on the road and pick up all sorts of great travel tricks if you choose to make long-term travel part of your lifestyle. However, the best way to get started and keep going is to do your research upfront and always keep safety a top priority. The more you know in advance, the more likely you are to have an amazing time and continue making wonderful travel memories for years to come.
