Travelling can get pretty expensive, even if you’re doing your best to make savings whenever and wherever you can, which is why it’s always nice to get a freebie thrown in when you can, and even though you might not realise it, there ARE lots of things you can get for free when you’re travelling.
Here are just a few of the things, if you’re smart, you won’t have to pay for on your next trip:
International Calls
Okay, so this one shouldn’t even need saying at this point, but there are still people out there paying for expensive international calling cards or using hotel phones to make calls back home. There really is no need now that we have smartphones, which enable us via apps like Facetime, Whatsapp and Skype to connect with anyone, anywhere for free, providing there is a Wi-Fi connection. Which brings us to…
Wi-Fi
Even if you are staying at a hotel that charges extra for Wi-Fi, you can often find special offers that enable you to use the Wi-Fi for free. If you can’t do that, then just politely asking the staff to give you free access can get results.
Then, there’s the fact that more and more cafes, bars, shops, etc., are offering free Wi_Fi on the premises, which means you really shouldn’t have to pay for your internet access while you travel, most of the time, at least.
Breakfast
There are lots of deals, these Marriott corporate codes, for example, which will enable you to eat breakfast for free. Sometimes, you don’t even need to search for codes – there are lots of places that will throw in a free breakfast buffet and although we’re not talking about huge sums of money, the cost of even a cheap breakfast can quickly add up, so it’s always nice to get it for free, which you really can do by Googling around a little before deciding on a place to stay.
Free Tours
If you travel a lot, then you’ll know the pain of waiting around in airports with nothing to do. Well, depending on where you are, you might not have to do do that because, if you hit up the airport’s information desk, you might just find that they have a free tour of the area that you can take, and although they aren’t always the most riveting tours you’ll ever experience, they sure do beat being bored in a crowded airport. So, if you find yourself in that position, simply ask.
Museum Access
There are many museums, in many parts of the world, including London, France and China that are open free to the public. Even the ones that aren’t always free often have free days when you can see the treasures without ever putting your hand in your pocket. If you’re travelling within your own country and you happen to have a pass for a particular museum close to you, then some museums in other parts of the country will even let you in for free using that pass, so it’s always worth asking!
Free Kids’ Stuff
Many hotels offer loyalty programs and if you sign up to them, not only can you get extras like bottled water on the house, but if you happen to be travelling with children you can benefit from the children’s’ program, and they will often give you lots of fun freebies for the kids like candy and internet access.
Snacks
A lot of airlines have a reputation for being pretty cheap now, not offering any of the freebies that they used to. However, if you’re a polite passenger, and you’re brave enough to ask the flight attendant, then you might be surprised to find that they’ll often slip you a free can of cola or some peanuts and although these are only small things, they can brighten up an otherwise terrible flight and save you buying snacks should you get hungry.
Accommodation
Yes, you can get free accommodation when you’re travelling. Sure, you might have to look after the homeowner’s dog or do some work on a farm to get it, but if you’re travelling long-term and you want to stretch your money as far as it can possibly go, that really isn’t so bad is it? Depending on how you go about getting your free accommodation – if you WWOOF for example – you may even get your meals free too. It’s a great way to see the world!
Have you ever been given any freebies while travelling? What were they and how did you get them?