By
Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Cosmopolitan
Summer is all about hitting the beach, sightseeing
in Europe, and road tripping, right? Maybe for those with a few extra
zeros in their bank accounts. For everyone else, summer travel — the
industry’s peak season — can get pricey. And with a record 234.1 million travelers
expected to fly this season, costs aren’t getting any lower. But what
if you barely had to pay for transportation or a place to stay? It
doesn’t take hours of hacking flight-booking techniques or playing the
credit-card points game to book travel on the cheap. These are some of
the best — and most unexpected — ways to save major cash when hitting
the road.
[post_ads_2]1. Pet-sit.
Puppies and a free place to stay? No, this isn’t a dream. TrustedHousesitters.com
links travelers with pet-sitting opportunities in places like the U.K.,
Australia, and beyond, and all you have to do is pay a membership fee
of $10 a month. The site says some users have loved this service so much
that they’ve given up their permanent addresses and used pet-sitting as
a way to travel around the world.
2. House-sit.
If
you’re not into animals but still want free digs, house-sitting is
another way you can score a free stay — in this case, in exchange for
doing simple chores like watering the plants or bringing in the mail.
Check out sites like MindMyHouse.com and Nomador.com,
where $20 or $90 a year gives you access to thousands of homes. The
accommodations aren’t so bad either — think an adorable studio apartment
in the historical center of Sicily or a chateau near Bordeaux, France.
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3. Let someone stay in your home.
Sites like the booming HomeExchange.com
have made house-swapping across the world super easy. They have an
inventory of almost 65,000 homes in 150 countries, making it easy to
find a place to stay wherever you’re headed. It's not just a great way
to land free lodging — you'll also get the experience of living like a
local in a residential neighborhood.
4. Try a monastery.
Look for a local monastery or religious guesthouse to crash for a few
nights. Lodging in monasteries or other religious institutions can
sometimes be a bit more bare bones than a typical hotel, but you can
often stay for a nominal fee or small donation. Plus, breakfast is often
included, the accommodations can be in historic, centuries-old
buildings, and the onsite staff are great local guides. How do you find
one of these gems? MonasteryStays.com is a good place to start.
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5. Drive a car cross-country.
Have you always dreamed of taking a road trip, but just don’t have the cash for gas, hotels, and attractions? Auto Driveaway
will actually pay you a negotiable rate — either flat or per mile — to
transport people’s cars all over the U.S. and Canada. There are several
trips that you can take from California to New York, Florida to
Washington, Arizona to Delaware, and Toronto to Vancouver. You just have
to be 23 years old and put down a deposit of around $350, which is
refunded on delivery. Bonus: Tolls are covered, and your first tank of
gas is free (remaining fuel is charged back to the owner). But you have
to cover lodging and other charges, and you must pass all Department of
Transportation, Insurance, and Client requirements.
6. Stay on an organic farm.
Luxury
hotels charge extra for their top-notch organic meals, but if you’re
willing work a few hours on an organic farm,you can score free food and
accommodations. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
hooks up travelers with farms that need helping hands in exchange for
free overnights. There are tons of farms, from China and Australia to
Brazil and France. Just pick a destination, be willing to get a little
dirty, and you won’t have to worry about paying those fancy hotel costs.
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7. Drive deliveries or pets across the country.
The new app Roadie
will put some extra cash in your pocket if you’re willing to make
deliveries across the country. Earn $8 to $650 depending on the size,
distance, and urgency of the delivery. Want some furry company? Earn
even more transporting pets — the company has partnered with the
National Canine Cancer Foundation to raise funding and awareness for
needy dogs and their families. You just need to be at least 18, have a
valid driver’s license and car insurance, fill out an application, and
pass a background check to get started.
8. Be a travel nanny.
This is a babysitting gig on steroids. Adventure Nannies
hooks up traveling families with responsible nannies (that's you) for
the duration of their trip, which means you could be jetting off to
Greece, London, or anywhere else a family decides to vacation. Sure,
you'll be on kiddie duty, but your trip will be paid for (usually
including meals and transportation), and you’ll likely have some free
time to explore — plus, you can always extend your trip after. The
process to get signed up is pretty in-depth and includes an application,
phone interview, in-person or Skype interview, and reference and
background checks — but once you’re cleared, it could be your ticket to
that far-off destination you couldn’t otherwise afford.
