2. Plan [...]]]> 1. Pack light or pay. Many budget travelers and free travel vagabonds that have gotten good deals on a flight have been less than thrilled to find out that the luggage weight limits were more restrictive than they realized at first and ended up paying extra charges at the airport.

2. Plan it the smart and free travel way. Will you be buying new luggage? Don’t go for the hard cases that won’t fit in as many places and compartments as soft bags or backpacks do – especially if you usually like to bring your luggage onboard with you. It will also be advantageous to select a bag that meets most airlines’ size restrictions for carry-on luggage as you will always be able to use them no matter which airline you fly with.

3. Swap and be safe. If you will be traveling with a friend or two and you will be checking-in your luggage, consider splitting your essential items between each of the bags. Should one of the bags get lost or delayed, you will still have some clothes to wear and so will you friend.

4. Keep it fresh. Since your clothes are going to spend quite a bit of time trapped in a bag, you can put one or two perfume sachet or scent packs in between layers of clothes. You can also use a fabric softener sheet. This will keep your clothing smelling fresh and prevent them from stinking of dampness. A thin plastic bag to put your dirty laundry in will also help to keep your clean clothes from smelling bad. No need for the budget traveler and free travel enthusiast to stink!

Get to the airport early

5. The quick and easy way. Even though it may be more of a hassle to pass through security, by opting to carry-on bags with you the risk of not having your luggage lost or stolen will be greatly reduced and you will be able to get out of the airport quickly when you arrive at your destination.

6. The early bird… It’s not a bad idea to arrive at the airport with enough time to register your bags even if they meet the requirements to bring them onboard with you. For whatever reasons (including space limitations), the airlines are legally entitled to refuse you to bring luggage inside with you and can require you to check your bags in. Don’t get caught!

7. It’s the details that matter. If you’re bringing battery-operated equipment on your trip you can reverse the batteries in your machines when you pack them in your bags so that they don’t turn themselves on accidentally during the flight and wear the batteries out. Small details like this make the difference if you want to travel for free.

8. Label it. Excuse us for stating the obvious but don’t forget to label your bags with your email and phone number inside and out. Print out an extra copy of your itinerary and place it inside the bag, on top of everything else. This will facilitate the airline’s job should your luggage get stolen and need to be redirected to your destination.

This kind of traveling usually depends on both practical skills and personality factors. The more [...]]]> 100%  free travel is not impossible but quite unlikely for most people in this day and age. You can, however, put yourself in a position to seriously increase free traveling opportunities while you are on the move.

This kind of traveling usually depends on both practical skills and personality factors. The more things you can do and know about – the better it is. And the more willing you are to open up to others and allow the same in reverse and the more people will invite you into their lives – for free!

1. Plan Ahead
The Internet has become an invaluable resource for free travel. Not all opportunities happen spontaneously while on a trip – many can be planned ahead and looked up online (WOOFing, couchsurfing, home sitting, etc). If the uncertainty of having to find spontaneous free opportunities as you travel proves to be too overwhelming, don’t let it stop you. Simply research and identify resources and opportunities before ever setting foot abroad.

2. Learn Foreign Languages
Free travel is quite about communication and connecting to people. If you are able to speak (even just slightly) the native language of the area where you are going, this will tremendously increase your opportunities. Speaking or trying to speak the local language almost always puts you in the good graces of the local people.

Free travel is about connecting to people

3. Live Lightly and Simply, At Home and Abroad
When your needs are reduced you obviously need less money to get by. Anyone noticing that all the abundance and excesses of Western civilization have failed to make us happy, healthy, sane and kind to one another?

And also, if you don’t have a lot of stuff to take care of at home and in your life in general, it makes you more available for spontaneous departures. Simplifying your bills and getting rid of excessive material possessions will make your travels easier and more carefree.

4. Find Penpals
By developing penpal friendships, you are creating opportunities to stay at your friends’ places when traveling. Depending on the strength of the friendship, this can provide you with a roof over your head for a longer time period than couchsurfing would. And when you are not traveling, travel can come to you as you open your doors to your international friends.

5. Learn Basic Self-Sufficiency Skills
Free travel or traveling with a very small budget is not always easy. You can save on myriads of costs and significantly improve your situation by being as self-sufficient as possible. This does depend on where you plan to go but you may also easily find yourself somewhere unplanned for! Learn how to make a fire, sanitize water, hand wash clothes, cook simple food, etc.  More Free Traveling Tips

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