If you love to travel but your budget doesn’t stretch far, you may be wondering how to get a free holiday. While it might sound like a dream, it’s actually more achievable than you think.

If you want to know what to do when you can’t afford a holiday, there are many ways to enjoy a free or heavily discounted break depending on your lifestyle, skills, or willingness to try something new. Whether you prefer nature escapes, city breaks, overseas adventures, or UK staycations, there’s an option to suit.

Some ideas require a bit of effort, others depend on your circumstances, but all of them can help you travel without paying the usual price.

Here are over 30 practical, creative and genuine ways to get a free holiday.

Volunteer Abroad for a Free Holiday

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to travel for free — and it’s not just limited to gap year students or charity workers. Many organisations offer free room and board, and some also cover travel costs.

While the work may be unpaid, it gives you the chance to contribute to meaningful causes, meet new people and explore new countries.

Some of the best-known ways to volunteer for free travel include:

Peace Corps (US-based): A long-term commitment of 2 years, but travel, accommodation, a stipend and training are all included. A great option for those looking for a fully-funded cultural experience abroad.

Missionary or Faith-Based Volunteering: Many church groups fund travel and accommodation for volunteers taking part in international aid or support missions. Check with local churches or faith organisations.

European Solidarity Corps (ESC): Open to EU citizens aged 18–30. This EU-funded programme covers travel, accommodation, insurance, language support and a small allowance in exchange for volunteering on social or environmental projects across Europe.

UN Volunteers Programme: For those with professional skills, the UN Volunteers programme offers placements around the world. Some roles include travel and living expenses.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms): Volunteer on organic farms in return for free food and accommodation. Available globally.

Workaway: Connects volunteers with hosts looking for help on their land and perhaps with and house renovations. In exchange, you get free lodging and sometimes meals.

Conservation and Wildlife Projects: Many wildlife and nature reserves offer free stays in return for helping with tasks like research, animal care or forest maintenance. Search on platforms like Conservation Volunteers or Idealist.org.

Festival Volunteering: At events like Glastonbury, Boomtown or European festivals, volunteers often get free entry, meals, and a place to camp in return for working a few shifts.

These experiences are rarely luxurious, but they’re genuine opportunities to see the world, meet locals and enjoy cultural immersion — without paying for accommodation or food.

House Swapping

A house swap means staying in someone else’s home while they stay in yours — no money exchanged. You both get a holiday, and neither pays for accommodation.

Sites like HomeExchange, Love Home Swap and People Like Us make it easy to list your home and connect with like-minded travellers. This works particularly well if you live in a popular destination.

Even The Guardian has its own house swap network. You simply list your home and find a swap that suits your desired dates and destination.

It’s a brilliant way to travel as a family, especially during school holidays when accommodation prices skyrocket.

Pet Sitting

If you love animals, this is a brilliant way to enjoy free accommodation. In exchange for looking after someone’s pets and home while they travel, you can stay for free.

TrustedHousesitters is one of the most popular platforms, but others include MindMyHouse, HouseSitMatch and Nomador.

You might need references or a small annual fee to join the platform, but the stays themselves are free, often in lovely locations you might not otherwise consider.

Home-Sitting for Security (No Pets)

Not all house sits involve pet care. Some homeowners simply want their property occupied while they’re away for security or maintenance. They offer free stays in return for someone simply being present in their house, watering plants, keeping it secure, or maintaining a garden.

Websites like Nomador and HouseCarers list house-only sits too. You might water plants or take in post, or simply be there so the house isn’t left empty while the owner is away.  You’ll still enjoy a free stay somewhere new, feeling more like peaceful mini-breaks than hard work.

Staycation… in Your Own Home

For the ultimate free holiday, don’t go anywhere at all! Become a tourist in your own town.

Take a week off, unplug from work, and explore the attractions, parks and museums nearby that you’ve never had time to visit. Plan picnics, go for local walks, or try a new restaurant. You’ll be surprised how refreshing this can be.

Camp in Your Garden

If you have young children, this can be a real treat. Set up a tent in your garden, pack some snacks, grab sleeping bags, and pretend you’re deep in the countryside.

No garden? Turn your living room into a campsite with fairy lights and a pop-up tent!

Wild Camping

Wild camping is one of the cheapest ways to sleep under the stars — and in some places, it’s free and legal. Just check the local laws before you go.

In Scotland, wild camping is allowed in many areas. Some countries in Europe (like Norway, Sweden and Finland) have relaxed “right to roam” laws.

Always follow local guidelines, leave no trace, and be respectful of the environment and landowners.

Free Pubs and Restaurant Parking for Campervans

Many rural pubs in the UK welcome campervans to stay overnight in their car parks for free, with the expectation that you buy a drink or meal.

Apps like Brit Stops, Park4Night, and The Campervan Bible help travellers find these spots across the UK.

Win a Holiday

One of the few ways to get a truly free holiday — including flights, hotel, and even spending money — is to win one.

There are always competitions running through travel brands, bloggers, magazines and even supermarkets.

Look for:

• Social media giveaways (Instagram, Facebook)
  
• Newsletter competitions from holiday companies
  
• Entry-based prize draw websites like ThePrizeFinder and Competition Database

Set aside a few minutes each week to enter. It’s a numbers game, but people do win!

Free Holidays for Families in Need

Family Holiday Charity is a UK-based organisation that helps low-income families who have never been on holiday.

They offer funded breaks in the UK, which can include travel, accommodation and sometimes spending money. It’s aimed at families facing serious financial hardship.

Check their website for eligibility and application forms.

Kids Go Free Offers

Many big holiday companies, such as TUI, Jet2holidays, and First Choice, run “Kids Go Free” promotions.

This usually means when two adults book, one or more children can go free — including flights, hotel, and food if it’s an all-inclusive deal. Great for reducing the cost of a family holiday.

Grans Go Free

EasyJet Holidays has previously run “Grans Go Free” deals where one senior per booking travels for free on certain family packages. It’s worth checking for similar seasonal promotions with other travel providers.

Work Exchange Platforms

In addition to Workaway and WWOOF, other platforms help travellers find free stays in exchange for light work:

• HelpStay
  
• Hippohelp

You might help in a hostel, teach a language, cook meals or assist with renovation projects.

Work on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships need staff to run everything from entertainment to childcare and housekeeping to hairdressing.

In return, crew members get free food, accommodation, and the chance to travel the world. Companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises recruit year-round.

Teach English Abroad

If you’re fluent in English, teaching abroad can be a great way to travel.

Some programmes offer free housing, flights and a salary. Look into:

• JET Programme (Japan)
  
• EPIK (South Korea)
  
• TEFL internships with companies like Premier TEFL or i-to-i

Some placements are short-term — perfect if you’re not ready for a year-long move.

Be an Au Pair

Working as an au pair means you live with a host family abroad, help with childcare, and get free room, board and pocket money.

Popular destinations include France, Spain, Italy and the USA. Try sites like AuPairWorld, AuPair.com, or Cultural Care Au Pair.

Become a Tour Guide or Camp Leader

Many summer camps and group travel companies offer free accommodation, meals, and travel for people willing to lead or support group trips.

Look into:

• Camp America
  
• World Expeditions
  
• EF Tours

You’ll need good people skills and a willingness to work, but you’ll often get time off to explore too.

Mystery Shopper Holidays

Some mystery shopper and market research companies cover the cost of holidays in exchange for detailed feedback.

For example, HGEM, Market Force, or hotel chains sometimes seek undercover guests to review service quality.

Join a Travel Loyalty Programme

Airlines and hotels offer reward schemes that let you earn points towards free stays or flights. Common UK programmes include:

• Avios (British Airways)
  
• Virgin Red
  
• Hotels.com Rewards
  
• Marriott Bonvoy
  
• Hilton Honors

Earn through everyday purchases, and you could be flying or staying for free in future.

Use Credit Card Points

Travel credit cards (if used responsibly) can earn you points for flights and hotels.

Some UK options include:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
  
• Barclaycard Avios
  
• Virgin Atlantic Credit Card

Use them for everyday spending (and pay them off in full each month) to build up points quickly.

Travel Blogger, Journalist or Influencer

It takes time, but if you grow an audience online, you may get invited on press trips or offered free stays.

Travel bloggers like Travel Vixta and travel influencers may receive gifted experiences in return for sharing honest reviews, photos or coverage. Some work with tourism boards, hotels or airlines.

Travel Agent Perks

Working in the travel industry often includes access to familiarisation trips (also known as FAM trips) so agents can recommend holidays with first-hand experience.

Become a Flight Attendant

It’s not a holiday, but a job that takes you to new destinations. Flight attendants often get free or discounted travel, plus hotel stays between flights.

Airlines usually cover meals and accommodation on stopovers.

Seasonal Jobs Abroad

Pick fruit, work in ski chalets, help at surf camps or join the entertainment team at a summer resort.

Sites like SeasonWorkers, AnyworkAnywhere, and JobsAbroadBulletin list these short-term roles – ideal for backpackers or gap year travellers.

Travel with a Youth or School Group

Volunteer as a leader on school trips, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions or youth group adventures, and you’ll often travel free as part of the staff.

Study Abroad

If you’re in education, your school, college, or university may offer funded study trips or placements abroad. Many include flights, accommodation and a daily allowance.

Erasmus+ is a European Union programme that has funded international study, training and work placements for students and young people, often covering flights, accommodation, and living expenses.

Since the UK left the EU, many UK universities now offer Erasmus+ alternatives or their own funded exchange schemes, so it’s worth checking with your institution.

Refer-a-Friend Travel Offers

Some booking sites or travel platforms give you credit for referring others. 

Companies that currently have refer-a-friend offers, at the time of writing, include Explore UK, Travelbag, the Post Office UK Travel Money Card, Riviera Travel, Travel Club Elite and Trip.com, to name but a few.  

A quick Google search or searching for “refer a friend” on the travel websites, apps and schemes you use, will show you whether you can earn credits or cash by recommending others to the travel platforms you love already.

If you can find travel platforms with refer-a-friend offers, refer a few friends, and you could save up enough credit for a free stay.

Airbnb once ran a referral programme where you could earn when others booked stays on the platform with your referral link. Hopefully, they will bring it back one day!  While they don’t have that offer currently, they do have an offer for you to refer hosts and earn money.  Click here to find out more about becoming an Airbnb host and how much you could make!

Disability and Family Grants for Holidays

If you or a family member has a disability or is dealing with a serious illness, you may be eligible for a fully funded break in the UK or abroad.

Several charities and organisations provide grants or free holidays to make travel accessible for everyone. These might include:

• Family Fund – Offers support for families with disabled or seriously ill children. This can include funding for UK breaks.
  
• Revitalise – Provides respite holidays for disabled adults and carers, with full-board accommodation and activities.
  
• Dreams Come True – Offers life-enhancing experiences and trips for children and young adults with serious health conditions.
  
• Make-A-Wish UK – Grants travel wishes for children facing life-threatening conditions.

These are not traditional holidays, but they do offer a chance for families to recharge and enjoy quality time away without the financial burden.

Travel for Conferences, Exhibitions or Trade Shows

Some jobs involve travel as part of the role, especially if you work in marketing, events, sales, AV or media production.

For several years, both my husband and I were lucky to travel abroad for work. I worked in a company that hired exhibition stands across Europe, and my job included attending the shows in cities like Berlin and Florence. 

My husband worked in AV, setting up and managing technical equipment at international trade shows all across Europe, giving him the chance to stay in hotels, eat out, and explore in the evenings, all covered by work.

You don’t have to be in a senior role to travel. If you work in logistics, customer support, stand setup, or audiovisual services, you may be part of the travelling team. It’s not a holiday in the traditional sense, but you’ll sometimes have downtime to explore new places, and all your expenses will be covered.

Volunteer at International Retreats or Spiritual Centres

Many wellness retreats, yoga centres and meditation hubs abroad look for helpers. In exchange for light work like preparing meals, helping with classes, or cleaning, you get to stay free in a peaceful setting.

Websites like Workaway, HelpX, and some retreat centres’ own websites list these roles. Look for places in Portugal, Spain, Bali and India where this is especially common.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing.com connects travellers with locals, offering a free place to sleep — often just a sofa, sometimes a spare room. It’s not luxury, but it’s a great way to explore a new place with local insight.

While it used to be 100% free, there’s now a small annual fee for safety and platform upkeep, but no cost for the stays themselves.

Use Stopover Programmes to Extend a Trip

Some airlines offer free or low-cost stopovers in their hub cities. You still pay for the main flight, but you can enjoy an extra mini-holiday at no additional travel cost.

Examples include:

• Icelandair – Free Iceland stopovers up to 7 days
  
• Turkish Airlines – Free hotel nights in Istanbul
  
• Finnair – Stopovers in Helsinki
  
• Singapore Airlines – Discounted stopover packages in Singapore

If you’re already planning a trip, this can be a great way to squeeze in an extra destination.

Stay with Friends or Family Overseas

Sometimes we forget the power of simply asking. If you have family or friends living abroad or in scenic parts of the UK, they may be more than happy to host you, especially if you’re helping with childcare, cooking, or just bringing good company.

This might not feel like a “free holiday” in the official sense, but it’s one of the easiest and most personal ways to travel on a budget. While we have travelled a lot to visit and stay with family abroad, particularly in Soltau in Germany, and it didn’t feel necessarily like a holiday, but more “visiting family” which it was, we were still able to explore new places at the same time and “travel” somewhat!

Trusted Travel Forums and Communities

There are active online communities where travellers share free opportunities, from house swaps to travel meetups.

Explore forums like:

• Reddit’s r/travel or r/volunteer
  
• Facebook groups such as “Workaway Hosts & Volunteers” or “Backpacking Europe on a Budget”
  
• Couchsurfing Hangouts for local events and meetups

You might find someone offering a free place to stay or looking to split a road trip.

Try a Skills Exchange Retreat

Some eco-lodges and learning centres offer stays in return for sharing your own skills, such as cooking, music, photography or web design.

If you have a specialist talent, offer it in exchange for a short stay. Places like EcoSurfer in Portugal or similar projects on Worldpackers often welcome this type of exchange.

Use Tesco Clubcard Points for Travel

Tesco Clubcard points aren’t just for groceries — they can also be converted into vouchers for travel partners like Hotels.com, Eurotunnel, Irish Ferries, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and more.

When you convert Clubcard points to partner rewards, you often get up to triple their value, meaning £10 in Clubcard vouchers could be worth £30 in travel credit.

It’s a smart way to stretch your regular supermarket shop into savings on holidays, hotel bookings or travel experiences.

Nectar

Nectar points can be collected from Sainsbury’s and dozens of partner brands. While not as generous as Tesco Clubcard when it comes to travel, there are occasional promotions and partner deals where points can be used towards:

• Expedia hotel and flight bookings
  
• Train journeys via LNER (London North Eastern Railway)
  
• Gift cards for Argos or Sainsbury’s, which can reduce overall spending before a trip

Use the Nectar app to track offers and boost point collection with weekly challenges.

Travel Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth

As you can see, free holidays really do exist — but they often require thinking differently, being flexible, or giving something in return.

Whether it’s volunteering abroad, staying in someone’s house, or winning a competition, there are many ways to explore new places without breaking the bank.

So if you’re ready to travel more and spend less, save this guide and start exploring all the creative ways you can enjoy a holiday for free.

Free Holiday Ideas Checklist:

Here’s a quick recap of ways you can travel for free or very little:

• Volunteer abroad (Peace Corps, ESC, Workaway, WWOOF)
  
• Join a faith-based mission or religious volunteering group
  
• Take part in wildlife and conservation projects
  
• Help at international festivals or events
  
• House swap with other travellers
  
• Pet sit or house sit (TrustedHousesitters, Nomador)
  
• House sit without pets for property care
  
• Try a real staycation and explore your hometown
  
• Camp in your garden or turn your living room into a campsite
  
• Wild camp legally in places like Scotland or Scandinavia
  
• Park a campervan overnight at pubs that offer free stays with a meal
  
• Win a holiday in a prize draw or competition
  
• Apply to the Family Holiday Charity for funded breaks
  
• Look out for “Kids Go Free” promotions on family package holidays
  
• Take advantage of “Grans Go Free” deals on seasonal trips
  
• Use work exchange platforms like HelpStay, Hippohelp, and Worldpackers
  
• Work on a cruise ship in hospitality or entertainment
  
• Teach English abroad through TEFL programmes or internships
  
• Work as an au pair for a host family
  
• Volunteer as a tour guide or group leader at camps and youth trips
  
• Try mystery shopper holidays or hotel test stays
  
• Join airline or hotel loyalty programmes to earn free travel
  
• Collect and redeem credit card reward points for holidays
  
• Grow a travel blog or influencer profile to receive press trip invites
  
• Work in travel as an agent or rep for industry perks and FAM trips
  
• Become a flight attendant and travel with expenses covered
  
• Take seasonal jobs abroad like fruit picking or chalet hosting
  
• Volunteer on school trips or with youth organisations
  
• Study abroad with grants from schools or universities
  
• Refer friends to travel platforms and earn booking credits
  
• Apply for disability or illness-related travel grants (e.g. Family Fund, Revitalise)
  
• Travel for work to conferences or exhibitions (as in AV, events or marketing)
  
• Volunteer at yoga retreats or meditation centres abroad
  
• Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals for free
  
• Add stopovers to your flights to visit an extra destination at no extra cost
  
• House-sit just to keep a property secure (no pets or cleaning duties)
  
• Stay with friends or family in scenic or overseas locations
  
• Use travel communities and forums to find shared or free travel ideas
  
• Offer skills (like web design or photography) in exchange for a stay
  
• Save Tesco Clubcard points and Nectar points and convert them into travel vouchers