Being able to find jobs in other countries will largely be influenced by whether you have a work permit or not. Yes, you can also find jobs without one but there is [...]]]> You can round out your free travel opportunities with some paid gigs for a truly versatile and ongoing traveling lifestyle.

Being able to find jobs in other countries will largely be influenced by whether you have a work permit or not. Yes, you can also find jobs without one but there is a risk factor involved in this.

Some countries will easily grant work permits to citizens of particular countries. Check if that is the case for you. If you’ll be doing volunteer work, you shouldn’t need to provide such a document.

If you have a work permit then you can basically go after whatever job you are skilled for and willing to put up with. There are, however, some fertile and favorite niches amongst travelers.

Teaching English Abroad : The Classic Traveler’s Gig

Not exactly a free travel opportunity but this can make for a very lucrative pit-stop in your journey. English teaching jobs are present in quite a few countries around the globe and they are fairly accessible.

Teaching English in Asia can be a rewarding experience in more ways than one

Look into getting a TESOL certification to significantly widen your chances of landing a job with good conditions. In certain parts of the world, you may have some strong competition. A college degree will do you wonders in this case also but is not always necessary (it will be in Japan). In many instances, you will be required to sign a 6 months or 1 year contract. The best opportunities will provide or take care of finding accomodations for you. Learn more about finding accomodations.

Good places to be paid to teach English are Asia (especially Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea – in India you will find more volunteering than paid opportunities), the Middle-East (Dubai, Egypt), Europe (Italy, France, Czech Republic, Russia), and the Americas (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile).

In some instances, such as Japan, you can get a job before leaving your country. They will usually take care of work permits and visas once you have secured the position. Do check when the school year and term starts and ends in the country you will be visiting.

It is also possible to simply teach English in exchange for food and a place to stay. Some of the Tibetan refugee camps and monasteries in India and Nepal will offer such free travel opportunities though they are not necessarily advertising it on the Web. Don’t be shy to walk up to them and inquire (they are quite nice people!)

Other languages can also be in demand in some areas (French, German, Chinese…) but not nearly to the same extent. You could do this work in either a language school (more common) or privately on your own. Definitely a plus to your travel for free travel plans.

The Free Travel Quintessential Opportunity : Work on a Farm

Vineyards are a popular work opportunity for travelers in EuropeFarming is another popular category of employment for travelers although in many cases these consist more of an exchange for food and a place to stay (such as with WWOOF).  Still, there are many paid opportunities to be found (often in vineyards and fruit orchards).

Vineyards are a popular work opportunity for travelers in Europe

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) offers some particularly inspiring opportunities : small scale, local, family-oriented, environmentally friendly, sustainable farming is what this world needs more of. Best of all, these projects are popping up everywhere on the globe. Just because they are not advertised in the WWOOF guide does not mean there are no opportunities there. (You can get the guide at their web site).

Accommodations will obviously vary from place to place. On average expect to work about 4 hours a day with the rest of your time to be enjoyed freely. But don’t take this for granted : confirm all details (work hours and schedule, what kind of work, facilities, access to village or town and Internet access) before you go. It can be physically demanding.

Do not generally expect outstanding comfort but many of these places are friendly and homely and for only a few hours of work a day they are usually not a bad free travel experience at all.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic [...]]]> The cost of lodging is one of the main expenses of traveling. You can reduce or eliminate this cost through a variety of opportunities and get a step closer to experiencing true free travel. Here is a quick overview of some popular prospects.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
In exchange for a few hours of work a day at an organic farm you can receive food and accommodations at numerous sites all over the globe. There is a guide with farm listings being sold at the WWOOF website. This is one of the most popular alternatives for travelers as it usually is a context to meet interesting people, make a positive contribution to the Earth and the local environment and enjoy good food! Just don’t expect too much comfort and you do have to be physically fit.

Make A House Swap
Although it’s a challenge to find a  home owner in a place you want to go who would like to swap their home with yours at the time you would like to – it’s a true free travel jackpot and feeling of victory when it does work out! If you’re open to going anywhere and somewhere unplanned for, then you can more easily find some really great opportunities. House swap networks exists over the Internet to help you find people willing to temporarily trade places with you.

It is a good idea to engage communications many times with your swap partners before going ahead with the deal. Don’t hesitate to check references.

WWOOF installations can be pretty cool

House sitting : The Free Travel Grand Prize
Similar to the house swap… but while you do get a house to keep for some time you don’t have to provide one in exchange. Many people who need to leave their home for some time prefer to have somebody trustworthy occupy the space rather than having no one there at all. They look for someone to look after their property, their plants and pets – this could be you. Some will even offer money to take care of various extras.

Again, you should work out all details before going ahead – although you are taking less of a risk than the home lender.  Over time you can accumulate good references and turn this into a free travel lifestyle. Resource sites exist on the Internet.

Couchsurfing : When You’re Just Passing Through
Dramatically increasing in popularity over the last couple years, couchsurfing is ideal if you will be passing through some places but not staying long. It can also be a good way to have a place to stay when you arrive somewhere and want to look for something else in the area. This is not for those in need of strong intimacy. The couchsurfing.com website is a good place to start.

It is your job to be as transparent as is necessary and make it easy for others to decide whether they want to have you sleeping on their couch for a few days or not. Would you open your do doors to anyone?

Also, keep your karma positive and offer your own couch to the surfers from time to time when you are at home, this way you offer the chance to others to experience free travel as well.

Take up a room in a Tibetan Monastery

Get A Room In A Religious Or Spiritual Establishment
This free travel lodging opportunity will not be for everyone and not always available but if you are relatively spiritually inclined or otherwise able to appreciate the sacred aspects of existence then getting rooms at monasteries, ashrams or other religious establishments can be a very positive experience. Though they are not all free, they will often be open to making an exchange to accommodate you. Some establishments will be more conservative and strict than others.

I would strongly discourage anyone to take advantage of this kind of opportunity if they are not sincere in their appreciation of religious or spiritual practices. Most of the world already belongs to the secular mindset – why not leave what’s left of our religious heritage as intact as possible? You don’t have to be religious to go, an earnest curiosity and respect will do.