Free Travel

The Ultimate Guide to Free Travel – October 2008 article offers nine ways to score a free trip such as house-sitting in exotic locations, volunteering on trails like the Continental Divide or on working farms, sister city exchanges, and house swaps. Research, patience and timing are required, says the magazine, which also provides plenty of helpful links for each of the free travel options. (www.budgettravel.com)

CouchSurfing – Free travel marketplace with a simple goal — you stay for free at the home of a fellow couch surfer during your travels around the country or world. In return, you make your home available to other travelers looking for a free place to stay in your city. (www.couchsurfing.com)

Free Travel Guides – Instead of researching, downloading and printing online travel information, this site allows you to simply check a few boxes and have free travel brochures, vacation guides, maps and more sent to you the old-fashioned way — by U.S. mail. Information is available for U.S. and Canadian destinations from New York to California to Montreal and everywhere in-between, mainly from state tourism departments and city visitors bureaus.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation - Explore the wilds of Western Montana while helping to preserve and maintain the trails of the 1-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, which the Forest Service calls, “the kind of wilderness most people can only imagine: Rugged peaks, alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, grassy meadows embellished with shimmering streams, a towering coniferous forest, and big river valleys.”  Meals included; volunteers provide their own camping gear. All ages welcome.

 Colorado Trail Foundation - The Colorado Trail was built by volunteers in the mid 1980s, and every summer volunteers come back to the Rockies to remove downed trees, fix signs and markers, educate trail users, and generally keep the trails open for everyone to enjoy. The 500-mile trail is an adventurer’s dream, winding through eight rugged mountain ranges that top out above 13,000 feet. If you’ve ever wondered what the view from 2.5 miles up looks like, here’s your chance.  Almost free… Weekend trips $25; full week trips $50. Meals and lodging included, age 16 or older

 Pacific Crest Trail Association - The Pacific Crest Trail traverses various terrains — deserts, snow covered landscapes and old-growth forests — and various states — California, Oregon, and Washington. There’s something for every volunteer vacationer. You’ll be rebuilding trails and building new structures. Free, meals and lodging included. All ages.