How to Travel Hack Without Using Credit Card Points

Travel Hack your way to Machu Picchu. Woman overlooking Machu Picchu.
I’d rather be in Machu Picchu!

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Whether independently wealthy, or still working towards Financial Independence, no one wants to pay more than they have to when traveling.  In this post, I’m going to share some ways to travel hack your way to savings without playing the credit card points game.

Travel Hack = Save Money on Travel Expenses and/or Travel for Free.

People in the FIRE community love to travel.  For many who become Financially Independent and Retire Early, that’s the whole point.  Give up the cubicle and explore the world!  Learning to travel hack will get you started.

Why Not Use Credit Card Points?

You may be wondering, why wouldn’t I want to take advantage of credit card mileage points to travel hack my way to free travel?

First of all, I agree with Dave Ramsey’s advice to eliminate debt.  Use credit cards to travel hack?  Dave would rather hack up all credit cards with a pair of scissors!

Although I don’t agree with everything he says or does, Dave’s methods helped us get out of debt.  We’re not about to go back in.  Even though we are debt-free, I still listen to the Dave Ramsey Show occasionally for inspiration and motivation to stay on track and out of debt.

Second of all, why do you think credit card companies offer sign-up bonuses with free mileage points?  Is it because they admire your desire to experience different cultures, and want to help you out?

Noooooooo!   It’s because they know that most people end up carrying debt, and credit card companies are more than happy to rake in profits by charging you interest, late fees, etc.

I know there are people out there who pay their accounts in full each month, but you two are in the minority.   

Other Ways to Travel Hack . . . . .

Let’s explore some of the many other ways you can score free or reduced cost travel besides dealing with a deck of credit cards.  Some of these travel hack ideas are perfect for a single person, and some work great for couples or families.

The ABCs of Travel Hacking (without using credit card points):

AAirbnb.  I love Airbnb because of the flexibility, savings, and unique places to stay.  Airbnb is ideal for couples and families traveling together, and some places even accept pets.

Airbnb is less expensive than staying in a hotel.  It can be cheaper to book a 7-day stay than a 5-day stay!  Airbnb hosts can also give inside tips on the best things to see and do in the area that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

We look for Airbnb sites that come with fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities so we can cook some of our own meals and do our own laundry (helping us to save more money, time, and even eat a little healthier, too).

Airbnb is my favorite travel hack for low-cost lodging!

BBudget Airlines.  These are no-frills flights – no food, no assigned seats, and minimal luggage.  Avoid extra fees by reviewing luggage size restrictions ahead of time.

We flew Ryanair from London to Leipzig, Germany.  That same fare at the time of this writing was under $14 one way!

The top ten budget airlines . .

The top ten budget airlines according to Skytrax include AirAsia, Norwegian, Jet Blue, Easy Jet, Virgin America, Jetstar, AirAsia X, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Southwest, and IndiGo.

CCouch Surfing connects travelers and hosts in a meaningful way.  You’ll stay in someone’s home and learn about a different culture firsthand.

There’s no money involved with Couch Surfing.  You can travel the world like a local and get an experience that money just can’t buy.

DDiverbo offers a free stay and cultural experience that you’ll never forget!  Volunteer in a language immersion program like Diverbo and your lodging and meals are covered.

Spend a week in Spain in exchange for some friendly conversation?  Yes, please!

EEbates (now Rakuten).  To score big savings and free cash back when making travel plans, take advantage of Ebates (now Rakuten).  I’ve used Ebates to book flights and hotels, rent cars, and even used it when I needed to purchase new luggage.

Shop with Rakuten (formerly Ebates) at your favorite stores, earn free cash back on your purchases, and get paid by check or Pay Pal.  Simple!  To get started with Rakuten (formerly Ebates) or learn more, click here.

Affiliate link for Rakuten. Book flights through Rakuten, it's a great travel hack!

Bonus: spend $25 (on things you’d normally buy anyway) and you’ll get bonus cash back in addition to all the other coupons and cash back offers through Rakuten (formerly Ebates)! Offer changes periodically, so click the link above for the most current bonus.

FFriends.  Visiting friends in other countries is a wonderful way to travel.  You’ll have a place to stay with people you care about.  We recently visited friends in Germany, and it was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had.

G – Be a Global Freeloader and take advantage of the hospitality of others, even though you weren’t friends already.  Globalfreeloaders.com is an online community designed to bring people together from around the world through free accommodations.

Got a house? Swap it!

HHouse swap or house sit.  If you own a home, you can house swap.  My boss and his family spent two weeks in Paris by participating in a house swap, and saved a bunch of cash.

HomeExchange.com bills itself as the “World’s #1 International Home Exchange Site” with over 65,000 homes in 150+ countries.

Other house swapping sites to check out include HomeExchange50plus, as well as Love Home Swap, and Home Base Holidays or homebase-hols.com

If you’re not a home owner, you can house sit.  In exchange for watering the plants, feeding the cat, and keeping an eye on things, you’ll score free accommodations!

Look for house sitting gigs through these sites:  TrustedHousesitters.com or  HouseCarers.com or MindMyHouse.com

I –  Instructor.  There are many opportunities to teach abroad.  Another social worker I know quit her job to teach English in Japan for a year.

If you have already invested in training and certification, you may be able to turn your hobby into a travel hack that lands you a gig in a resort community,  say as a scuba instructor.

My husband and I did a lot of scuba diving when we were younger – we saved money on our scuba travels by investing in our own gear, camping on the beach in Mexico, and staying with relatives in Roatan.

As an herb instructor, I’ve led herb walks and taught herb classes across the country to pay for my travels.  When I teach herb classes now, that extra cash goes into my retirement savings.

Many instructors organize trips.  My yoga instructor has been organizing and leading yoga trips to Mexico for the past 20 years.  She gets free travel, lodging and meals on these trips.

Work for it?

J – Get a Job!  If you enjoy  adventure and the outdoors,  Adventure Work lists short and longer-term gigs around the world.  Many positions offer a weekly wage plus meals, lodging, insurance, and travel expenses.

KKnapsack.  Use a knapsack or backpack instead of bulky luggage for increased flexibility as you travel.  You’ll avoid excess baggage fees and size restriction penalties by traveling light.

Photo of my purple backpack. Use a backpack to reduce travel costs.
This is the backpack I use: The North Face Surge Backpack.

LLinguist.  A post on the Adventure Work website listed a job for a Linguist / Walk Organizer.  Imaging leading walks in the beautiful Italian Dolomites, Austrian Alps, the Picos de Europa or the Pyrenees mountains of northern Spain.

Ideal for a fit, friendly, bilingual nature lover who can speak English and German, or English and Spanish.

MMilitary.  It’s not for everyone, but members of the armed forces do get to travel the world.  My nephew joined the Army and has spent time in Germany and Korea so far.

Nature lover? Become a camp host at a National Park in exchange for lodging.

N –  National Parks.  National Parks, National Monuments, and National Forests offer paid and volunteer positions, which vary widely depending on the need of each park and your skill set.

Some of my relatives have served as camp hosts, worked on trail restoration, cataloged petroglyphs, operated telescopes and led evening star shows for park visitors.

One summer I worked in an art gallery at Mount Rushmore.  It was a great experience, and I got to see a part of the country that was new to me.  Meals and lodging were provided, and I made some extra cash.

Get paid to enjoy nature by working at a National Park!

Photo of Mount Rushmore.
Fun travel hack: seek out a paid or unpaid position in a National Park. The summer I spent working at Mount Rushmore was incredible!

OOvernight train travel.  By taking the train at night, you save time and money.  Get from Point A to Point B on your travel itinerary while you’re sleeping and you won’t have to pay for a hotel.

PPeace Corps.  Are you a changemaker?  Peace Corps volunteers work on pressing challenges alongside community members in over 60 countries.

Peace Corps applicants should have a four-year college degree (or extensive work experience that is specifically related to the volunteer position).

You can join the Peace Corps as a single person, or as a couple (but you won’t be able to bring your kids).  The Peace Corps accepts same-sex couples.

Peace Corps volunteers receive a “living allowance” which is just enough to live like the locals.  But transportation costs to and from your country of service are covered, and you even get medical and dental care!

QQuick travel deals.  Sign up to receive online newsletters and notifications from budget airlines for last-minute travel deals.  For last-minute international deals, sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights tips.

RRent out your home while you are away.  Turn to short-term rental websites like HomeAway.com (HomeAway is now VRBO, see V section below) and even craigslist.org to rent out your home.

SState Parks.  If you enjoy camping or traveling in a motor home, state parks offer an inexpensive way to travel around the country.  Book early because campsites go fast!

TToastmasters.  Are you a member of Toastmasters International?  It’s a great personal development resource, even if you don’t plan to become a TEDx speaker.

My friends Alan and Katie traveled to the United States from the UK, and they contacted fellow Toastmasters in all the cities they wanted to visit.  They were able to stay for free everywhere they went, and made great new friends!

Even if you’re not into nature, take a tip from backpackers: carry your stuff.

UUrban Backpacking is a flexible and low-cost way to travel.  Basically, it involves carrying everything in a backpack as you travel from city to city, staying in inexpensive hostels.

VVRBO.  Cheaper accommodations can be found through Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO).  Having access to a kitchen and laundry facility makes this travel hack a real money saver.

Less expensive vacation rentals can also be found through casaparticularcuba.org (if you are traveling to Cuba).

Are you into farming and sustainable food production? Try WWOOFing & get free room & board.

WWWOOF your way around the world for free!  World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a grass-roots organization that enables volunteers (WWOOFers) to live and volunteer on organic farms around the United States and the world.

In exchange for 4 – 6 hours of work per day, WWOOFers are provided with food and lodging.  Stays can be as short as 2 – 3 days, or as long as 6 months.

Photo of a smiling lady pressing apples in a cider press.
A happy WWOOFer, pressing apples to cover the cost of her room and board.

From the website ” WWOOFing is very rewarding, you can participate in a huge range of  experiences, alternative lifestyles and learn new skills.  Many WWOOFers are so inspired by the experience that they end up changing their lifestyles and even setting up their own organic properties!”

XHelp X is another exchange site that matches up volunteers helpers with farms, ranches, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels, etc.  In exchange for 4 – 6 hours of daily work, Help X volunteers receive meals and a place to stay.

YYouth Language Experience through Servas.  Ideal for an extrovert between 18 and 30 years old, who can speak the language of the host country well enough to get by.

Servas Youth Language Experience (SYLE)  participants pay their own travel expenses, but scholarships are available.

After a one month stay with a host family and participation in organized SYLE activities you will have improved your foreign language skills and enjoyed a rich cultural exchange.

Best travel hack idea filed under the “z” category.

ZZeppelin Rides.  My daughter suggested renting a zeppelin when I couldn’t come up with an idea for “z”.  Book a zeppelin ride in Germany for unique, if not inexpensive travel.

Image of an old-fashioned German greeting card with two children riding a zeplin.
Not sure that riding a zeppelin really counts as a travel hack!

It was hard to find a travel hack beginning with the letter “z” so I open it up to you, dear readers, to suggest one.  My best idea is to secure a volunteer or paid position in a zoo on the other side of the world.

But then you’d have to stay in one place for a while . . .

Travel Hack Wrap-Up.

In summary, there are many more ways to save money on travel than just playing the credit card points game.  Using some of these strategies to cut travel costs will help you to put more money in savings, especially if you are trying to catch up retirement savings after a late start. You can still enjoy traveling, even when your focus is on saving for retirement!

Have you found a travel hack that helps you to travel more often, for less? What is your favorite travel hack?

Please Share Your Thoughts on Travel Hacking in the Comments Below!

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39 Replies to “How to Travel Hack Without Using Credit Card Points”

  1. A great list of suggestions. I hope you don’t mind but I would like to add our website HomeExchange50plus to your list for home exchanging. We created the site to keep us busy in our retirement and so far so good and we now list 950plus homes in 50plus countries. It is primarily for the older traveller but we have also teamed up with The Rotary Home Exchange Fellowship to provide swap facilities for their members.
    Cheers Brian

  2. We have been housesitting fulltime for nearly three years. Using housesitting just for free accommodation is not as easy as it seems. Very rarely will there be only one cat. Great list!

  3. Hi Suz, thanks for sharing your experience! And sometimes the cats (or other animals) require specialized care. Our daughter did some housesitting and had to give medicine to a sick cat. You are right that housesitting can be quite involved, and may require lots of extra care or effort.

  4. Thank you so much for writing this blog, we have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. We have learnt about some new websites and apps that will help us along our travels. Thanks so much!

  5. Great list! Wow! I also am wary of using credit cards for anything. I’m too flighty (no pun intended) to keep track of the fine print. And next thing you know I’m back in credit-card debt. Glad to know I’m not the only one that feels this way.

  6. What a super detailed and helpful post! I’m one of those that pays my cards off in full every month, so I do some card hacking. However, points only go so far, and unless you spend A LOT you can run out pretty fast. It’s great to have so many options to look into that can cut down on the cost of travel.

  7. Thanks, Tawnya, I’m so glad you stopped by! Yes, having different options to cut down the cost of travel are great. Some of these options offer travelers so much more than just saving money. I’m anxious to travel to Spain and take part in Diverbo’s cultural exchange program. I’ll post a review once I’ve tried it.

  8. This is such a fun post! I know it’s a lot of methods. Are there any you’ve tried personally? For me, I studied abroad in college, and then I traveled all around Europe during that time because traveling in Europe is SO. MUCH. CHEAPER. than traveling in Amerca! I’ve also served on mission’s trips, which, while those can be expensive (My 3 day mexico trip was $250, and my 3-week Costa-Rica trip was $1,600), it’s still cheaper than funding the entire trip yourself (we didn’t have to pay room or board while there, and it was a local immersion experience. Super fun!)

  9. Hey, Moriah Joy,
    Yes, I’ve tried a number of these money saving travel hacks (about 1/3 of them) & look forward to trying even more! My favorites have been “working” trips that covered my travel – such as working at a National Park, and teaching herb classes across the country.
    Our daughter housesits & did a student exchange trip to Europe, too. That’s one thing I wish I would have done when I was in college.
    Those trips you made to Mexico & Costa Rica sounded like wonderful opportunities. It’s great that your room & board was covered!

  10. Lots of great ideas here. Some of these we have used and loved (airbnb etc), others are new and would love to try out (volunteering, becoming an instructor etc) and there a couple which I have not tried out of concerns for safety (couch surfing, freeloading etc)

    Lovely list.

  11. For a number of years I have been toying with the idea of a “working vacation,” by substitute teaching abroad. I need to get the courage to travel solo.

  12. This is a very useful article full of decent ideas. I might well be back to draw inspiration again and may link people here in future blog posts. Thanks for sharing!

  13. What an interesting list of travel hacks! I’ll admit, I’m one of the two people who pay off my credit card and I do collect points with this card. But I’ve also used Airbnb and moved to Germany to teach English and travel. Making foreign friends to go visit is also the best.

  14. Great post! I’ve read up on house swapping and couch surfing and it’s something I’d love to look into in the future when the world opens up again. My mother and father-in-law have let their house out when they’ve been away for an extended period of time and I think it’s a good idea, rather than keep your house locked up for weeks with no one there. I can’t wait to travel again 🙂

    1. Thank you, Lindsay! I’ve started doing more house & pet sitting, which is a great way to score free lodging in cool destinations. I like it that your in-laws are renting out their home when they are traveling – it’s a good way to earn a little extra for retirement.

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