The difficult economic situation is reflected, first of all, in the wallets of ordinary citizens. Traveling abroad for many people becomes a waste of money. However, you can see the world and visit many countries absolutely free.
Of course, it is possible to make an individual tour, compiled exclusively according to your desire, and not spend a penny from your own budget, only in the case of sponsorship from someone else. However, there are many other opportunities around that will allow you to forget about the banal status of a tourist and make a much more useful and exciting journey.
Internships and academic exchanges
As a rule, internships abroad are associated with serious expenses for the layman. In most cases, it is: when you search in a search engine, you will find dozens of companies offering you to go to study abroad for a fairly decent amount. Meanwhile, there are dozens of actively operating programs, with participation in which all your expenses will be fully compensated by the organizers. Among the most famous of them are AEGEE, Erasmus, DAAD, Fulbright Program, MACA.
In some cases, you will need to pay travel expenses. You should not immediately discard such options: sometimes, within the framework of such a program, students are paid a scholarship that can cover these expenses. You can find individual programs of free internships and grants abroad directly on the websites of the universities in which you would like to study.
Volunteer movements
Do not think that volunteering is synonymous with self-sacrifice for those who have nothing else in their lives. This type of activity not only brings undeniable benefits to people, but also implies very exciting trips, meeting new people, acquaintance with amazing places that you would hardly visit as a banal tourist. If you are ready to spend a lot of time on the road, you do not have small children (or, on the contrary, they are already adults and independent), if you are not afraid of far from the easiest work, look for information on projects in the largest Western volunteer organizations - Conservation Volunteers, WWOOF, United Nations Volonteers (UNV).
Guest networks
If you do not want to study, work, or help people, but simply travel, there is a way out for you too. Every year, the development of guest networks is gaining momentum: Internet communities helping everyone to travel the world for free. The largest of them are Couchsurfing, Bewelcome, Hospitality Club.
The main idea of guest networks is free mutual assistance to community members, thanks to which you can make new friends, stay in the host's accommodation for free, visit unforgettable places accompanied by a friend from this country. Often, members of guest networks are looking for travel companions to travel abroad by car, for a company: in this case, you do not even have to pay for a ticket.
