We are living in the world of alternatives. In most cases we can decide on a life path, figure out our future and set specific goals for the life we actually want. To put it simply, we always have a choice. It seems like an introduction to an elaborate essay about life but in fact, it has nothing to do with philosophy nor with profound existence. The main aim of this article is to present an alternative, cheap and often free, ways to travel. There are plenty of possibilities and this is the time for you to choose wisely. And if you can choose to travel at a low cost it is even better!
I encourage everyone to travel around the world and to take advantage of CouchSurfing, Airbnb, carpooling, and hitchhiking, to name just a few. Just select a particular travel destination and enjoy life at a low cost!
When you are young, life is your oyster and opportunities seem endless. The only obstacle that is usually encountered is the lack of money. Find the suggestions below and become convinced that exploring the world does not have to cost an arm and a leg!
Use Couchsurfing to find a place to stay for free or share your home and hometown with travellers. Just sign up and create an account to discover amazing people, find a host and join events. Having a complete profile, you can easily find people you might want to stay with. What is important, is that the registration is free.
Remember that it is not only about ´having a couch´, this portal offers you much more – from meeting new people, to have unforgettable memories. The first time I used Couchsurfing was during my Erasmus Exchange. Our hosts not only gave us a couch but, they were totally involved in spending time with us and having fun, they saved us from being couch potatoes!
To continue, imagine that you can choose an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to travel as well as save money at the same time. Carpooling offers you the opportunity to share a car with other travellers either on short or long-distance journeys so more people can travel in one car while there are free seats available. The benefits of this way of travelling are numerous – from reducing wear and tear on your vehicle, reducing pollution and traffic congestion, and saving parking places and money.
Last but not least, I wholeheartedly recommend you, as a current volunteer, the participation in various Exchange Programs (Erasmus+, EVS, SaltoYouth) as they give you a tremendous chance to explore the world in the best possible and truly unique way! The lack of money should not be by any means an excuse. There is always a way to find solutions, at the beginning it can be difficult but with time more doors are opened and you can easily see that the world has never been closer and the opportunities are endless. Once you start travelling, you simply cannot stop and you ask for more. At least it happened to me. Remember, travels open your mind. What are you waiting for?
Elwira Kozak
Students’ Union Polish Volunteer
Project financed by ERASMUS+.
