When we are presented with the thought of free vacations, what always comes to mind are the times spent away from home during a business or work-related trip, a family or friend-sponsored getaway, or an all-expense trip as a grand prize in a raffle or a giveaway.
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But in reality, these things that we instantly see are just at the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath are a lot of unexpected ways on how to get totally free vacations. And in this article, I am excited to share with you valuable revelations and discoveries that I’ve learned as I did my research on how to get a free vacation.
I bet after reading through this list, you’ll just wonder how come you didn’t think about these things before. Well, that’s okay, even, I, myself didn’t realize that some of the ways that you’ll about to learn even exist (or are even possible).
7 Legit Ways to Get a Free Vacation
1. Be a House-Sitter or Pet-Sitter
If you don’t mind watching over someone else’s house and pets while the owners are on vacation, then, being a house-sitter or pet-sitter can be a great way to have your free vacation in a way.
Some may argue that it can’t be a vacation since you still have the responsibility of looking over the house and the pets.
But, for animal lovers, and for those who just want to travel away from their homes and have accommodation for free, this can be a great option.
Are you interested to stay at someone else’s house and look over their pets in exchange for free accommodation? If you are, then, feel free to check out some of the best house-sitting websites: TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse, HouseCarers.
2. Do a Housing Swap
Housing swap may sound like a strange new idea, but it’s not. In fact, there’s a 2006 movie entitled The Holiday where the two main characters swapped homes for the holidays. And though it only happened in the movie, the same concept exists in real life.
If you are interested in doing a housing swap, I’d recommend that you check out some of the most reputable house-swapping websites such as HomeExchange, LoveHomeSwap, and HomeLink.
3. Teach English Abroad or Work as a Volunteer
Teaching English in a non-English speaking country can be a lucrative source of steady income. And if you are not ready to work overseas for an extended time, then, consider being a volunteer English teacher in exchange for a free holiday.
If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you, Diverbo is constantly recruiting volunteers to teach English in Spain and Germany. Other sites that offer volunteer-placement services are Go Overseas, Workaway, and Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF).
4. Take Advantage of Credit Card Rewards
Earn free vacation packages (flight and hotel) by using your credit card not just for your trips, but also for your everyday purchases.
But if you really want to maximize the rewards that you can get, you should choose the right credit card depending on your goal.
While there may not be a perfect card for everyone, there is a credit card that is just right for you. Take a look at this guide about the best travel rewards credit cards out there.
5. Redeem Rewards on Loyalty Programs
Similar to purchasing using a credit card, it’s also a practical move to sign up for hotel and airline rewards programs. This is most beneficial if you are traveling frequently using the same airline, and you are staying most of the time at one hotel chain (e.g. Marriott and Wyndham).
You may want to check out this article about the best travel rewards programs to help you decide which one is best for you.
6. Check Out Sites for Free Accommodation
It might sound too good to be true, but several websites connect travelers with locals who are willing to let them stay for free. However, since you are not paying anything, you should also manage your expectations.
Sometimes you may get a room, while at times you will get a couch or an air mattress. But the bottom line is that you are getting accommodation for free.
You may want to repay the kindness of the hosts by cooking them a meal, taking them out for a drink, or bringing them some souvenirs or delicacies from home. Some of the websites that you can check out to get free accommodation are Couchsurfing, and Servas.
7. Work as an Au Pair
Working as an au pair can be your ticket to fly out of your neighborhood and into another country.
And it can be a great route to take if you are looking forward to immersing yourself in a new culture or learning a new language while living overseas for free.
If you’ve never heard about it, an au pair is a live-in caregiver who helps the host family in doing household chores and taking care of their children in exchange for free accommodation, and a small salary.
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The Bottom Line
If you’ve always dreamed of traveling somewhere far from home, yet, you are always held back by budget constraints, then, now might be the perfect time to tick that off your bucket list. With the 7 legit ways mentioned in this article, you are just a few steps away from getting a free vacation.
In preparation for your free getaway, you might also want to check out my other posts about how to get free travel guides, free flights, and free gas.
