Traveling on a budget?

Dreams of travel to foreign countries can seem unattainable if you don’t have the funds, but you might be surprised to discover that international travel doesn’t have to be expensive. By taking advantage of discounted volunteering trips, you’ll find that it’s possible to visit another country on a budget. Here’s our tips on using volunteering to make your trip super cheap!

Step 1: Choose your volunteering experience

You have a wealth of choice when it comes to volunteering abroad. Through Fronteering, you can pick from a range of destinations covering 6 continents, including North America, South America, Australasia, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Some volunteering experiences are cheaper than others, so depending on what your budget is, you can book a few weeks of travel for very little cost. How about 4 weeks teaching sustainable farming to Amerindian communities in Guyana for only $1495, including accommodation and most meals? Or maybe 8 weeks volunteering with bears and wolves in Canada for just $1295, including accommodation? Picking one of these discounted trips means that you could be spending months in a destination of your choice without handing over loads of money!

Tips for getting a cheap volunteering experience:

Take a look through all of your volunteering options, then pick the best trip for your budget and timeframe. Generally, the longer the trip duration, the cheaper the price will be per week. If you’re planning on travelling long-term, try volunteering for 6-8 weeks instead of 2-4 to reduce your weekly expenses.

Once you’ve narrowed down a few volunteering options, make sure you check the details of each one to see what’s included in the price. Some volunteering experiences will include meals and accommodation for the entire duration of the trip, while others do not. One thing that all of the experiences will cover is the unique opportunity to work abroad and support local communities while spending less money on your travels!

Booking your spot on a volunteering experience is as easy as sending through an inquiry on the Fronteering website. Just select your trip duration and start date, and we’ll sort out the rest.

Step 2: Fund raise for your volunteering experience

While volunteeirng might be quite a bit cheaper then regular travel it could still be costly to gather the money needed especially if you just finished highschool or college. Fear not however as you can always fundraise the needed cash to start your trip! Check out one of our previous blog post on Fundraising for more info.

Step 3: Save up for your flights

International flights are not usually included in your volunteering experience, so this is one expense that you’ll need to cover. If you plan to save up in advance, purchasing those long-haul flights won’t be such a shock to your wallet! Try regularly saving a small sum of money, and you’ll find that your funds adds up quickly. By setting aside $50 each week, you’ll have $1300 in your travel fund in just 6 months time! That’s your international flight covered.

Tips for getting cheap flights:

Booking your flights a few months in advance is a great way to get a good deal. Generally, the closer you get to your departure date, the more expensive flights will be. You should think about booking your flights at least 3-4 months before your trip begins.

Travelling outside of peak season is another way to ensure you get cheap flights. If you’re planning on booking your trip for midsummer, during a school break, or over the holiday season, you may find that the prices for flights are much higher.

It’s also a good idea to be as flexible as you can with your travel dates. Booking a flight for a departure day midweek (Tuesday - Thursday) will generally be cheaper than travelling on or around the weekend, and sometimes moving your travel dates by just a day or two either side can make a big difference to the price.

Step 4: Extend your time abroad

One of the best things about a volunteering trip (aside from that wonderful feeling you’ll get from giving your time to a good cause!) is that you can extend your time abroad. After finishing up a volunteering experience, many people choose to take a few weeks or even months to explore their destination.

Tips for traveling cheaply after your volunteering trip:

You may have plans to venture solo after your volunteering experience, but this can be an expensive way to travel. A great way to travel cheaper is to find others who are looking for friends to travel with. Who knows, you might even meet other volunteers who are keen to share the costs of renting a car and booking accommodations while sightseeing around the country. Why not team up and travel together?

Backpackers are notoriously great at travelling on a dime, so before you leave, check out a few blogs or online articles from people who have travelled to your destination on a budget. They might provide some useful tips and advice on the best hostels to stay at, how to hitchhike along popular routes, and places to find cheap eats. There are so many ways that you can keep your travel costs to a minimum, and research is the key to finding out how. Now go forth and discover some incredible destinations for your volunteering trip!

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