I wish I could give you a more straightforward answer but I unfortunately can’t. As you already know, there is no such thing as a free lunch (or is there?) so you will have to work really hard to get an opportunity like that. As usual, it is easier to get discounted prices on your travel cost, like, a free night stay in a hotel or a free tour in the city you visit. If you’re trying to follow that path, you can take baby steps like volunteering abroad or being a travel writer but here are some other options you can look into.

Have a budget and prioritize your spending. Plan ahead of time. Flight deals are typically more expensive when the dates get closer. Ditch your bucket list. To travel affordably, you need to be flexible. Learn how to fund your travels here.

I swear byGoogle Flights and Skyscanner to help find great travel destinations as well as compare prices. I love Hopper for flight ticket price predictions. I use Tourlina when I am traveling solo and looking for a female explorer to join me.