No matter where you are, you can always find something unique and memorable to do or see for absolutely no money. This is particularly true when it comes to Berlin, where you don’t even have to search for fun and free activities – they come to you themselves. Anyway, here are a few ways to enjoy Berlin without spending a penny.

Visit Viktoriapark

Crowning the neighborhood of Kreuzberg, this hilltop park is great for a lunchtime picnic accompanied by a view over the city. As well as relaxing or playing sports amid the greenery, you can also enjoy some curious sculptures and an artificial waterfall in summer.

At the top of Viktoriapark – tian2992/Flickr

Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Just south of the Brandenburg Gate are the 2,711 concrete slabs that make up the Holocaust Memorial, which – with its grey color and grid-like but undulating layout – brings a strange feeling of loneliness and disorientation. The haunting experience of walking through this quite abstract and unusual memorial leaves space for you to reflect on the unimaginable horror of the Holocaust. That’s why it’s one of the most important places to visit if you want to really understand Berlin.

The memorial at night – Wikipedia

Visit a flea market

Suggesting shopping as a ‘free thing to do’ is an absurdity, I know. That said, browsing is always free. The biggest appeal of Berlin’s flea markets is their atmosphere, with all kinds of arts and crafts that you can admire without buying. While you’re browsing, you’ll almost certainly see some weird and wacky things you never even knew existed. Some of the best places to do this include the flea market at Bode Museum (every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm), where you can find a great selection of antique books; Antikmarkt (Sunday – 8 am-4 pm), with lots of jewelry, art, and vinyl; and Mauerpark, where every Sunday you can also take part in the famous karaoke in the arena.

Discover the street art

If there is one city in the world where discovering the street art should be a priority, it’s Berlin. Eye-catching graffiti pops up everywhere; thought-provoking pieces by some of the world’s most famous street artists lurk around every corner, especially in the trendy neighborhood of Kreuzberg. And then, of course, there’s the East Side Gallery: the longest open-air gallery in the world, painted on remnants of the Berlin Wall.

“Pneumohumanoides” by Jens-Helge Dahmen on the East Side Gallery – Andy Hay/Flickr

Visit the dome of the Reichstag building

Book in advance and get a good view of the city from the rooftop terrace and the glass dome of the Bundestag. The building is open every day from 8 am until midnight, and groups of visitors are admitted every 15 minutes – the last session beginning at 9.45 pm. Your admission includes an audio guide, so you can enjoy some history to accompany the great views.

Inside the dome – Susanne Nilsson/Flickr

Get active at Tempelhof

What was once an iconic pre-war airport is now one of the biggest urban parks in Berlin; a historic site where you can go biking, walking, skateboarding or practice any other type of sport. Alternatively, if you feel like just lazying around, find a spot on the grass and enjoy some German beer and bratwurst. It’s not uncommon, especially in the summer, for Templehof to host an array of concurrent events. Regardless of what’s on, you owe it to yourself to visit this unusual park. After all, it’s not often you get the chance to walk down an airport runway, is it?

Nothing beats the sight of an abandoned airport – K.H.Reichert/Flickr

Visit the Museum of Unheard of Things

The oddest objects – and the even odder stories behind them – turn this tiny museum into an hour-long escape from reality, where you’ll be immersed in a world of wild imagination conceived by its creator: artist Roland Albrecht. All of these objects – small or large, everyday or special – have their own personality and make this museum a one-of-a-kind experience. Opening hours, tickets and other information about the Museum of Unheard Things here.

Pinning this post doesn’t cost a penny either, so you might as well just do it now. Who knows when you’ll find yourself in the center of Berlin with no money? 

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Niš (pronounced Neesh) is the third-largest city in Serbia and a fun day-trip destination both from Sofia, Bulgaria, and Belgrade, Serbia. This humble city will take you on a historical merry-go-round and, if you scratch just beneath the surface, is full of fun things to do.

Here are the best attractions and unusual activities in Niš, as experienced during our last trip (you’ll find a map with all the locations at the end of the article).

#1 Look over the city from the walls of Niš Fortress

Niš Fortress | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Niš Fortress was built by the Ottoman Turks and, despite its historical significance, remains free to visit. Nowadays, families amble along the fortress’ paths, shaded by an abundance of greenery. Children (and sometimes adults) ride the tourist ‘train’, while hip young people wash down beers and chat in cafes. Climb the stairs to get to the top of the main gate, then enjoy views over the city from between the stones. There’s an archaeological hall at the fortress too.

#2 Explore the summer villa of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (who was born in Niš)

Mediana, the summer villa of Emperor Constantine the Great (the handsome guy on the right) in Niš, Serbia | Photos: © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com and WikiCommons

Niš happens to be the birthplace of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (if you skipped this history class, he was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and the one who proclaimed tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire with the Edict of Milan in 313). Constantine’s journey from Niš to the throne was complicated.

Challenge: trace the chain of political events that lead to Constantine’s ascension to the throne of the Roman Empire. 

What you can see today is Mediana, Constantine’s huge summer villa. Most of the findings are not exhibited in situ, so you’ll mainly see floor mosaics and wall foundations. The guides are very friendly and super talented at transferring you back to the fourth century.

#3 Remember the horrific past at Crveni Krst, a Nazi concentration camp

The Nazi concentration camp in Niš, Serbia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Red Cross Concentration Camp (Crveni Krst) is one of the few Nazi camps that remains completely intact. Communists, Jews, partisans and Serbs were all held here during the Nazi occupation of Serbia in WWII. During your visit you’ll see lines etched into the cell walls by desperate prisoners counting the days of their captivity, as well as photos, stories of prisoners and floors covered in barbed wire.

Counting the days | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

#4 Sit at a table with legendary local writer Stevan Sremac

The monument of Stevan Sremac and Kalča in Niš | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This lovely urban sculpture is one of the photo hotspots of Niš. Here you can figuratively share shots of rakija (the local highly alcoholic spirit) with Serbian writer Stevan Sremac, his character Kalča the hunter, and Kalča’s faithful dog. From this monument you will see a narrow street branching off from the main pedestrian boulevard – it used to be the main street for the city’s artisans. Today it’s full of cafes and traditional restaurants (kafana) where you can try grilled meat and spicy salads.

#5 See the tower made of skulls

The Skull Tower, Niš | WikiCommons

The Skull Tower (Ćele-kula in Serbian) is a monument to a major battle during the Serbian uprising movement (1804-13). When the 40,000-strong Ottoman army engaged in fighting with 12,000 Serbian revolutionaries, the tragic result was predestined. The dead Serbs were decapitated and their heads were built into the walls of a roadside tower. Only about 50 out of almost 1,000 skulls remain today, because many of the dead people’s relatives risked their lives to steal the skulls and bury them.

#6 Have a glass of wine while soaking in the mineral pools of Niška Banja

Niška Banja (literally Niš Spa) is where your hectic day of galloping through history should end. The spa resort is 10 km away from the center of Niš and is extremely popular in summer thanks to its hotels, swimming pools, and wide range of luxury therapies. There’s even a popular Serbian song about the hot water in Niška Banja (if you have Serbian friends, they’ll be extremely impressed with your local knowledge when you mention this song).

>>> Read more about Serbia

Useful information:

If you visit Niš for a day, you can tour all four of these paid attractions (the Skull Tower, Red Cross Concentration Camp, The Archaeology Museum and Mediana) with a single ticket costing 200 Serbian dinars (around 1.50 euros). Alternatively, you can visit each site separately for 150 dinars per attraction.

Map of the main attractions in Nis:

Tip: 

If you like cycling, Niš is one of the best cities in Serbia to do it. You can see all of the mentioned attractions by bike stopping here and there for a portion of grilled meat, or join a group bike tour. Bicycle rentals and tours you can find at Eco Bike Tours Nis. 

Pin it for your next trip to Serbia:

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Tap water is so old-school when you now have free sparkling water dispensers on the streets. Ask Parisians – they know best.

Paris has for a long time had eight drinking fountains with free sparkling water, but they have remained largely unknown… until now, when the city has announced plans to distribute at least one sparkling water station in each of its 20 arrondissements.

But why?

When the first drinking stations were installed back in 2010, the head of Paris’ water board explained that Parisians had confessed they’d drink more tap water if it were carbonated. In an effort to keep the city’s inhabitants hydrated, the authorities brought sparkling water to the streets, for free.

Another reason for doing this is to tackle the ecological problems a huge city like Paris inevitably encounters. Instead of buying a new plastic bottle every time and then throwing it in the trash, locals and visitors can now refill their own bottle.

Why bubbly? Ask Parisians, who are obsessed with it.

But how?

Each water tank is connected to the main water system of the city, with a carbonator added in. The water is served at 44 degrees Farenheit (7 degrees Celsius), so it’s always refreshing. Just press the button:

#eaudeparis #freesparklingwater

A post shared by Réno (@rennaud) on Sep 13, 2014 at 11:53am PDT

So where can you find the sparkling water drinking fountains in Paris?

Water dispensers are installed around the main tourist areas and you will recognize them by signs in French and English: ‘eau pétillante/sparkling water‘.

We’ve discovered this extremely useful map of all the free drinking fountains in Paris. The ones with sparkling water are marked in yellow.

Pin it for later, because you never know when you will feel like a refreshing sip of free sparkling water.

The post The free sparkling water fountains in Paris (+ map) appeared first on 203Challenges.

Use free offline maps and navigation

In the past, using your smartphone for navigation abroad could easily cost as much as a month’s rent, but now you don’t need to pay for roaming fees and paper maps, because you can get it all free and offline. Apps like Google Maps (download the offline area you want to use in advance) and Maps.me are making the life of the traveler easier and cheaper. I’ve found that Maps.me takes less memory, works faster and has offline maps for countries where Google Maps doesn’t work well (Thailand, for example). Both apps have perfect offline navigation – I’ve used them to navigate while walking, cycling and driving.

Use Google Translate offline for free

No more will you have to spend money on a local guide only because you don’t understand the local language! Since 2016, Google Translate has been available offline for both Android and iOS. You can use it to translate text to text, speech to text, text to speech, and even draw letters or characters on the screen with your finger. The ultra-useful Word Lens lets you hold your camera over a menu, sign or other item with foreign writing and instantly read the translation (all available languages are here).

Meet a free local guide

Global Greeters is one of my favorite online platforms, offering you the chance to see the city accompanied by a local volunteer. You usually have to book a guide in advance, and it’s worth searching at least two weeks ahead to make sure you find someone who’s available. You are paired with a local based on your interests, and your guide will craft a walk around the city specifically for you. Unlike those organized free tours you see around most cities these days, no tips are expected at the end. It’s a good idea to stock up on good karma and become a volunteer guide in your home city.

Find free accommodation

There are several ways to find free accommodation around the world. One option is to use sites like Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club, where millions of hospitable users from all over the world will offer you their homes while you visit their city or village. In exchange, you give them your friendship, nice conversations and – usually – a cooked meal from your country. You can also register on one of the many home exchange, house-sitting and pet-sitting websites, which give you the chance to exchange your home for somebody else’s.

Another option: if you’re traveling from one city to another, take the night train/bus. You’ll save money on a night’s accommodation and will have more time to walk around the city the next day.

You can also swap your expertise or an item you no longer need for a night at a B&B. Every fall in Italy, during Barter Week, you can exchange goods and services for your stay in a vast number of Italian bed & breakfasts.

Join a free walking/food/cultural tour

Free tours are now available all over the world and are a great way to discover a new city and mingle with the current community of travelers there. Free walking tours are most common, but there are also free food tours, free hiking tours, free roller-blade tours, etc. Just type “free tour [city]” into Google and read the details. Although they’re labeled ‘free’, these tours usually end up with an invitation to leave a tip for the guide. Given they usually last two to three hours, we reckon that’s fair enough.

Work for free accommodation and food

This is a popular means of not only surviving but actually having the time of your life abroad. Workaway, WWOOF and many more websites offer you the opportunity to work as a volunteer in exchange for a bed and food. These programs rarely involve a 40-hour working week, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore your surroundings.

See museums for free

Almost every museum in the world has a free admission day (for example, every second Thursday of the month). Check it out and take the opportunity, if possible.

Some of the most popular attractions in the world are free. Like, always free. The Staten Island Ferry in New York is the perfect way to enjoy the panorama of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River and Manhattan. The British Museum in London not only displays some of the world’s greatest treasures, but is also free and allows photography inside. The Berlin Wall Memorial in Berlin, the Berardo Museum in Lisbon (with works by Dali, Picasso and Andy Warhol), the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London are also on the list. 

>>> A list of the best free museums and galleries in London (they are more than 20!)

Since 2015, on every first Sunday of the month all public museums and galleries in Italy are free, including the Colosseum, Uffizi Gallery and Pompeii Ruins. Of course, you’ll have to wait in longer than usual lines on these free days.

Apply for exchange programs

Every country has a bunch of exchange programs that let you live (and usually study) in another country for a certain period of time without having to pay for anything. The countries of the EU, for example, have Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Leonardo, EVS and smaller-scale projects that can take you to any part of the world, offering decent grants to help you get by while you’re over there.

Take advantage of your birthday

Traveling on your birthday is worth it. Wherever you go, many sights of interest around the world offer special birthday discounts. For example: you can ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to Table Mountain above Cape Town for free. Even if you can’t see an advertised birthday offer at the attraction you’re visiting, it’s worth asking if they can do anything to make your special day that little bit more special.

Eat for free (but pay for the drinks)

There are several places in Paris that will gladly serve your drink with free food (like couscous, fried clams or a tapas-style snack) – bar La Cordonnerie, bar Le Grenier and the oriental Le Tribal Cafe to name a few. Bars in Milan and many cities in northern Italy offer the so-called ‘aperitivo hour’ (look for the sign). Usually after 7 pm when you order a cocktail in a bar, you’ll get free access to a buffet table with bites.

Hitchhike (including on a bike)

So much has been said about hitchhiking as a free transport tool that the only relevant thing here is to point to people like Tomislav Perko (and his 50,000 km of hitchhiking around the world) as inspiration. Oh, and you might not know this: as a tourist in Amsterdam, you can hitchhike on a local’s bicycle (just look for the ‘Yellow Backie’). If you’re a newbie looking to grab a ride on the hitchhiking bandwagon, read our Beginner’s guide to hitchhiking. 

Sail for free

Register at Findacrew and browse through all the boats and yachts searching for crew members to join your next sea adventure.

>>> Discover more free things to do around the world!

Read more: 7 free travel tools you may not be using (other then Couchsurfing)

You know what else is free? Our travel quiz:

Pin it to your travel board:

You can use some translation and legalization compny if you need it for your trip.

The post How to travel for free (without feeling like a tramp) appeared first on 203Challenges.

What we most enjoy about the times we live in, are the endless opportunities for free education.

If you are one of those people, who are interested in foreign languages, and do not need a teacher’s constant mentoring, or if you want to practice a language you already know, in order not to forget it, we’ve prepared a list of handy language learning websites, which you can use completely free of charge.

It might be best to try a few and figure out for yourself which one you like best.

DuoLingo

With this website, you’d be learning a new language through one you already know. Some of the options include perfecting your writing and comprehension skills, as well as verbal training. Besides, you can hear how the words are pronounced, and translate actual articles from the internet. The website is constantly getting better, and is one of the most useful tools for online language learning. The only downside is that right now there isn’t a huge abundance of languages to choose from, but their numbers are constantly growing.

Omniglot

This website features the basic grammatical rules for hundreds of languages. You can’t count solely on this tool to learn a language, but the introductory articles, for each of the languages, are very helpful. This is also a great place to learn how to pronounce all the letters of the alphabet, in different languages.

BBC

You are going abroad and only need a short list of the most useful phrases? BBC has a list of the key phrases, needed by a tourist. As an added bonus, you can download a file with their pronunciations, and listen to the phrases on your phone or music player, even while you are on your trip.

My Language Exchange

You’d like to practice what you ve learned with a native speaker? This website is where you can join small groups of people, with whom to practice two languages – half of the time is spent helping with your native tongue, and the other half – on the language you d like to learn. This tool is most useful for people who are at an intermediate level.

Interpals

Remember how in school we had pen pals from another country? This tool uses the same principle, but in a modernized way. With the help of this website, you will not only be able to practice the written from of another language, but you’d also meet a bunch of interesting people, some of which may even become your friends one day.

Lang-8

In this website, you can receive a free review of your written work, in another language. The tool relates on its users, who correct each other’s papers. Even though you run the risk of getting a helper who is not the best speller in their native language, papers are usually graded by more than one user, so you can compare the results for yourself.

These days, helping to study is not a privilege but a daily routine. To have time for self-education, you can delegate your work to others, for example, write services with the words write my paper for me and that way, you will get a good grade and learn something new and valuable for yourself.

Don’t forget that languages are very important for your work, future, development. There is no matter in which sphere you work – online business, school, digital agency and SEO optimization, tourism, you have to learn and progress.

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Yellow Backie is a unique possibility for visitors to experience Amsterdam through the eyes of an Amsterdammer, and for Amsterdammers to meet new people from around the globe. It’s a bit like Couchsurfing, on a bike, without the smelly socks in your living room.

As we wanted to know more about the idea, here is what Martin Luyckx from Yellow Backie shared with us:

Yellow Backie is… Amsterdam style hitchhiking. An initiative to spark some love between Amsterdam locals and its visitors with a famous Dutch custom: riding on the luggage rack of a friend s bike.

Riding on the luggage rack of a friend s bike in Amsterdam is… very common and also a lot of fun.

Locals take part because… they want to show foreigners that they are open to meeting new people, and that we are not afraid of tourists.

Hitchhiking a bike in Amsterdam is better than other transport because… it is free and your Backie Driver will provide you with information only locals know about!

What tourists usually don’t understand about Amsterdam’s cycling culture is… our bicycle lanes! Also traffic regulations are quite the same for bicycles as they are for cars. For instance, we have to wait for traffic lights, have right of way when we come from the right and are not allowed to cycle on the sidewalk.

You can get a free bike ride in Amsterdam by… shouting BACKIE! as loud as possible.

You can become a Yellow Backie driver by… sending us a good motivation through our website.

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Award-winning Copenhagen regularly features in the top 10 Best Places to Live in the World, but also ranks highly in The Most Expensive Cities in the World and Cities You Can Never Afford to Live In categories. We know that, as a visitor to this picturesque but pricey paradise, you’ll be craving some suggestions for free things to do. That’s why we’ve made some inquiries, called some friends in Copenhagen and compiled this list of free activities in the Danish capital.

Admire the Little Mermaid statue (before it gets defaced again)

This is both the biggest and the smallest attraction in Copenhagen. If you come expecting a giant, imposing sculpture you’ll be disappointed, but what the statue lacks in size, it makes up for with its frankly bizarre history. The poor Little Mermaid has been decapitated three times, had her right arm amputated once, has twice been covered in a burqa and was pushed off her rock in 2003. She has even been photographed, embarrassingly, with a dildo in her hand.

The Little Mermaid | © Rasmus Flindt Pedersen/ Visit Copenhagen

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view over Copenhagen

Since 2004, the Tower (Tårnet) of Christiansborg – the palace of the Parliament – has opened its doors to visitors free of charge. If you can handle the long lines and crowds of tourists, you’ll be rewarded with splendid views over Copenhagen. You can also dine at the restaurant inside the tower, although it’ll cost you a cartload of krone.

The Tower of Christiansborg is open Tuesday–Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm. More useful information here.

The view from the Tower of Christiansborg, Copenhagen | © Visit Copenhagen

Watch the changing of the royal guards

Amalienborg Palace is the official home of the Danish royal family, which is why it requires protection by scores of guards in ornate uniforms. Some of the guards change every two hours, but the most impressive scene occurs at noon, when all the guards change their posts to the sound of majestic music.

Changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace | © Klaus Bentzen/ Visit Copenhagen

Picnic in the King’s Garden

Bring a picnic blanket, a feast and a bottle of bubbly with you to the King’s Garden (Kongens Have in Danish) at Rosenborg Palace, and you too will feel like royalty as you laze on the picnic-perfect grass. Visit the garden in summer to enjoy an array of free events, including concerts, puppet shows and exhibitions. It’s open 7 am – 18 pm.

Picnic in the King’s Garden | © Morten Jerichau/ Visit Copenhagen

Ride a bike through the city streets

Practically everyone cycles through Copenhagen’s extremely bike-friendly streets, and the best way to blend in is to do the same. You can take advantage of Copenhagen’s bike rental system, which has been free of charge since 1995. All you need is a 2 euro coin for a deposit, which you’ll get back when you return the bike.

Exploring Copenhagen by bicycle | © Jon Ram Bruun Pedersen/ Visit Copenhagen

Swim outdoors (in summer)

You may think you’re too far north to swim outdoors, but if you visit Copenhagen in the summer months you’ll see hordes of Danes splashing about in the water. Head to Brygge Islands, a wonderful free pool near the port and just a stone’s throw from the city center, to take the plunge. The water is clean and refreshing, although definitely on the chilly side.

Brygge Islands | © Christian Alsing/ Visit Copenhagen

Walk around the free town of Christiania

The world-famous bohemian neighborhood of Christiania was founded in 1971 as a haven for hippies and non-conformists, and soon gained a reputation as the place to buy hash and pot (but no hard drugs). Today, many of the original settlers still live in the collectively controlled village within the city, helping the area retain its laid-back ’70s feel. A lot of those Christianians built their homes themselves, which explains the quirky architecture on display.

Christiania | © Visit Copenhagen

Enrich your mind at Copenhagen’s free museums

Admission is free at the National Museum and the National Gallery, making some of Denmark’s most important cultural treasures accessible to everyone.

The National Museum in Copenhagen | © Visit Copenhagen

Join the festivities at Copenhagen Pride 

Every year in mid-August the city’s LGBT community celebrates Copenhagen Pride with a range of out-there activities and flamboyant festivities. Dates and more information here.

Copenhagen Pride | © Visit Copenhagen

Catch a movie at Copenhagen’s open-air summer cinema

Every summer, Danish TV channel 2 Zulu hosts the Zulu Summer Open-Air Cinema, which pops up in city parks throughout Denmark. Admission is free, so all you have to do is bring a blanket, some food and drinks (which you can also buy on site), and insect repellent. Exact dates and locations change every year, so ask a local to help plan your cinema session. Read our guide of Copenhagen as a movie location inspiration.

The post 10 free and fun things to do in Copenhagen appeared first on 203Challenges.

Or, in other words, don’t postpone the good stuff for the time you might not be able to do it. Use your best years to collect memories, to make friends all over the world, to learn to fly, to climb peaks, to dive into oceans and to eat a loooot of ice-cream.

Here’s a list of 30 amazing travel ideas to complete before you turn 30. There’s a lot of time to go and the best way to keep track of how the challenge is coming on is to print the list and hang it on the wall.

Recent research shows that having photos of your dreams somewhere where you can see them every day increases the possibility of making them true. Sooooo >>>>

You can download a printable pdf (A4/8.5 by 11.0 inches) here.

Here’s a list of the ideas:

1. Hug a kangaroo.
2. Climb a peak.
3. Sail.
4. Bathe in a waterfall.
5. Ride a camel.
6. Fly in a balloon.
7. Volunteer.
8. Dive into a coral reef.
9. Bungee jump.
10. Make friends abroad.
11. Take part in a marathon.
12. Dance at a carnival.
13. Drink rum in Cuba.
14. Live abroad.
15. Travel without a plan.
16. Sleep under the stars.
17. Hitchhike.
18. Travel with no money.
19. Explore a cave.
20. Camp in the wild.w
21. Eat 1 kilo of ice-cream.
22. Swim with dolphins.
23. Paragliding.
24. Spend a day in a hammock.
25. See the Northern Lights.
26. Try snowshoeing.
27. Do some night swimming.
28. Step on 7 continents.
29. See 1000 sunrises.
30. Join a local celebration.

The post 30 amazing travel ideas before 30 (+а free printable poster) appeared first on 203Challenges.

It’s getting easier than ever to travel for free – and it’s not all about hitchhiking and camping. Once a year you have the chance to stay for free at B&Bs all over the world. Here’s how you can do it.

Money isn’t the only means of receiving services. Indeed, more and more hoteliers and landlords are prepared to offer you a night at their guesthouse in exchange for a small repair, a set of shiny new photos of their property, a new painting, or even some books… The list of all the things you can offer to receive a free night is long. Equally long is the list of B&Bs, hostels and guesthouses taking part in the annual Barter Week.

Inspired by the original concept of Settimana del Barrato – which has taken place in Italy every year for the past nine years – this week-long event now spans far beyond the Boot, from Burkina Faso to Cape Verde and Canada.

Bangalue – a student-run project that provides aid to disadvantaged local children in the eastern Ugandan district of Mbale – is a great example of the Barter Week spirit in action. The project offers free accommodation to any travelers arriving with books, comics, computers or other materials that are useful to its educational programs.

How does Barter Week work?

• If you are a B&B owner, you should register your property and describe what creative or tangible work (or items) you are willing to accept as payment from your barter guests. For example, perhaps the piano in your dining room needs tuning, or your house needs new professional images for its website. Or maybe your garden just needs some maintenance from a careful hand.
• If you want to stay for free, you should register and browse through the list of places to stay, choosing a city or country you’d like to visit. You should then send a proposal with specific dates and the service you can offer. When the owner confirms your stay, you are ready to embark on your barter trip.

It’s that simple!

In 2017, Barter Week takes place from November 13 to 18, with more than 800 properties registered. As you browse the list of options, note that some places happily welcome barter guests year-round.

Pin it for later, because you never know when you’ll need a free place to stay:

The post Barter Week: how to sleep for free in B&Bs around the world appeared first on 203Challenges.

Free Flights

You have two options when it comes to getting free flight tickets, either get a travel credit card or wait for sales and promotions from budget airlines. In the first option, you should sign up for travel credit cards and collect points for any purchase you do with those cards. Some travel credit cards offer 50,000 points when you sign up which is enough for a flight ticket. You can save up on ticket flights before even planning your trip by collecting points and miles through your regular spending on your daily needs. The second option is not totally free, but sometimes the budget airlines promote offers and deals that you will pay only the taxes of the ticket. Sign up for alerts on promotions on various budget airlines or cheap flight ticket finders and jump on the first opportunity you get.

Stay For Free

You don’t have to stay at a 5-star hotel to travel. There are many apps and websites that connect people from all over the world to stay at each other’s houses. Websites and apps such as Couchsurfing and Servas allow you to see if there are any locals willing to host you in their house for the duration of your travel. However, you need to have an adventurous soul as sometimes you will have a room, a bed, a couch, or an air mattress, but you can’t complain because they are free. You should repay your host’s kindness by taking them out and buying them a drink or cooking a delicious meal for them. Additionally, many people around the world ask for house sitters; people who will take care of their house while they are not there. You will make sure their plants are watered, no one breaks in, and other simple tasks, while having free accommodation and getting paid in the process.

Teach English Abroad

If you speak English fluently, and sometimes you don’t have to be a native speaker, you can easily find teaching jobs overseas. To increase your chances of landing an English teaching job, it is preferable to have a TEFL degree. It can be acquired either online or in-person, and it will support you in your free traveling as you will earn money from teaching, and you won’t have to save money before traveling. English teaching is a job in high demand and employers might even cover your flight ticket expenses. If you found a job paying well, you may come back home saving thousands of dollars. The Middle East and the Far East pay well for native English teachers and most employers provide free accommodation as well.

Hitchhike All The Wa

Hitchhiking is relatively safe and common in some parts of the world. You get a free ticket to go wherever you want without paying anything or maybe share some of the gas prices with the driver which won’t be too much. However, you must check if hitchhiking is legal in the destination you are going to and plan accordingly. To increase your chances of hitchhiking a ride, you should always look presentable and use a sign that says where you want to go. The sign encourages the driver to help you if they are going to the same place. It is better to stay safe than sorry, so you should take precautions, and if you don’t feel comfortable with someone then you can ask them to drop you at the nearest stop.

While you might work to travel for free, the whole experience will let you see the culture of the country from another perspective. Traveling for free has several benefits, besides not having to spend money, such as dealing with the locals, experiencing their lifestyle, makes you a better planner, and gives you precious memories. It’s not entirely difficult to travel for free if you know how to get cheap or even free flight tickets, and how to find free accommodation.

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