So many of us yearn to travel immensely; we desire to explore new places, experience new things, and amass as many memories as possible along the way. However, for those on a tight budget or those who have been in the workforce for a relatively short time and are still largely supported by their families, the cost of travel can seem exorbitant and daunting.
Regardless of how challenging it may seem, the cost of travel does not have to be a stumbling block. Although it might be more difficult for you to travel compared to those with greater financial stability, it is absolutely achievable for you to fulfill your travel dreams… it just might require a bit more planning, effort, and resourcefulness!
When I finally mustered the courage and confidence to decide that I wanted to take a gap year to travel abroad, I realized that my biggest obstacle was my lack of funds to make it happen. Despite working overtime and saving every penny, my travel dream seemed less and less realistic.
I practiced patience and whenever possible, I directed any extra money towards my travel savings. But still, I couldn’t help but feel that the amount I was saving would never be sufficient to cover everything I wanted to see in the world. I had enough for just a couple of plane tickets, but definitely not for hotels, transportation, excursions, and activities.
And that’s when I discovered nfcvb. nfcvb allows you to travel the world by exchanging your skills for accommodation. It’s that simple! nfcvb was the social travel community and the solution I had been longing for.
Read more about: 14 TOP cheapest countries to visit as a nfcvb volunteer
How easy it is to travel on a budget with nfcvb
Saving on accommodation
After learning about why nfcvb was created and how it works, I was excited to discover that I would be able to save on accommodation in every country I wanted to visit. Saving on accommodation is the most crucial step if you want to travel on a budget.
I simply checked the work exchange, volunteer opportunities, and eco programs in the places I intended to go, ensured that the hosts’ requirements and needs matched my skills and interests, and then, voila… an application was sent! Once a host confirmed, the next challenge arose. The cost of getting there…
Travel transportation
If you are flexible with your travel dates, arrival and departure times, and flight routes, it can be surprisingly easy to save a significant amount of money on airfare! Some of the best websites for finding affordable flights include Student Universe, Skyscanner, Hopper, Google Flights, Kayak, Despegar, and Momondo (particularly useful for multi-destination trips). My best advice is to spend a day or two and thoroughly research the costs of all the transportation options you anticipate using during your trip: flights, buses, trains, taxis, etc. Know in advance how much money you need to allocate to cover your expenses effectively while being aware of the most reliable and cost-effective methods of transportation for your destination.
Once your flight is booked, you can start thinking about how much money you will need for food, to fully explore the places you are going to, and to have an interesting and enjoyable social life.
Saving on the cost of living
If your budget is extremely tight, make sure to choose hosts who offer you meals. There are many such hosts listed on the nfcvb work exchange platform, but be sure to carefully check all the information and read up on how a nfcvb work exchange works in advance. Many hosts provide a complete breakfast as well as a mid-day meal. Others may only offer breakfast or kitchen access.
If a host’s description mentions “cook your own meal”, it means that the host will provide you with essential ingredients such as rice, dry pasta, tomato sauce, etc. You just need to buy some pesto sauce and a few frozen vegetable bags and you’ll be good to go! Almost all of my nfcvb hosts offered the “cook your own meal” option, and it made a significant difference to my bank account. I spent almost nothing on food. Some weeks, I spent as little as 10 euros per week! This is especially amazing when you are in expensive cities like London, Paris, or Milan!
Also, remember to ask hosts and other volunteers about the best quality and cost-effective supermarkets. Sometimes you can find the exact same product at a 30% discount in other chains!
Taking advantage of free activities in the place you visit
When it comes to being a tourist, you can simply search for “free things to do in [destination]” on Google to find walking tours, park meet-ups, pub crawls, and a multitude of other social community events. Or, take your camera and explore the city like a local and discover as much as you can! Look for free events and find out which viewpoints, galleries, churches, and museums offer free entry. And don’t forget about the best free attraction in every city and place… sunsets!
If you are creative, you will find countless ways to have fun without spending a lot of money. So, be creative! You can also look for Couchsurfing Meetups. Have a coffee with other travelers (or locals), practice your language skills, and ask them to show you around or simply have a nice day at the park together. Always ask about and check for student discounts and special free-entrance days at tourist attractions! (In many major cities, museums and major attractions are free to enter on a certain day each month!).
Taking advantage of everything your work exchange has to offer
Make the most of the facilities and special offers provided by your host. Read up on the hostel experience before you go and prepare yourself as best you can for your new work exchange travel life. Many hostels offer tours to their guests, and often, these tours are free for the volunteers staying at the hostel! Go on city tours, food tours, hiking tours, bike tours, and camping tours… all for free! Check if your hostel offers an airport or train shuttle service to guests and see if you can use it. If your hostel provides you with kitchen access, cook your own meals! Most hostels have a “free basket” where guests can leave behind unopened food for others to use. Generally, you can find cereals, sliced bread, nut butters, cookies, fruit, and every now and then, even a bottle of wine!
Finally, make sure to check if your host offers free laundry. Having access to free laundry will not only save you money but also a lot of time and energy. Although in some parts of the world laundry service can be very cheap and convenient, in others, it can easily cost you $30-$50 USD!
To sum it all up…
If you truly desire to travel but money is the obstacle, I can assure you firsthand that nfcvb has your back and there is a way for you to make your travel dreams a reality. Find out how to volunteer abroad with nfcvb and start planning your dream trip today!
