Get your ticket to free travel, from couch surfing to house swapping, teaching English and WOOFing it up.

Couch surf

Would you sleep in a strangers’ house? For many budget-conscious travellers, a free night’s kip is not as dirty as it sounds. Nolan, 29 from San Francisco joined a 10 million strong community of couch surfers for a free place to stay. “I’ve hosted a few times over the past few years and used this site to have great experiences in Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East,” he says.

Couchsurfing’s website “connects travellers with a global network of people willing to share in profound and meaningful ways, making travel a truly social experience.” Strangers all around the world are offering their couches for free, with no strings attached.

Challen, 26 from New Zealand, has been a member of couchsurfing since 2007 and she enjoys being a host. “Let’s face it. The prices for hotel rooms have got out of hand so I am happy to offer my couch,” she says.

Get paid to travel

“I believe travel should be absolutely accessible for everybody,” says Katie Rooke, who funds some of her travels through teaching English. “I taught in Spain, Italy and the Philippines and I got paid in all schools and this turned out to be great fun,” she explains. All you need is the ability to speak English fluently. It is also good to have teaching qualifications such as TESOL and TEFL depending on the country you work in. Katie has experienced a lot in the long run and was able to travel around the countries she visited. “The positive bit is that I learned so much about who I am and want to be as a teacher and was also inspired,” says Katie.

The world is yearning for teachers but remember that this is a job and you will often be  expected to work the equivalent of a full-time job.

Swap your house

Anyone who has seen the movie The Holiday, which sees Iris (played by Kate Winless) swapping her cozy English cottage for Amanda’s (played by Cameron Diaz) L.A. mansion, has probably had this idea on the brain ever since. Thanks to the websites like HouseCarters, HomeLink and LovehomeSwap a home exchange is becoming real.

Caroline Connolly, co-ordinator for HomeLink has been helping like-minded families exchange homes all around the world. “Sharing your home with another family and staying in their home gives a real insight into how that family lives. Many members remain life-long friends with their exchangers,” says Caroline.

House swapping means more than saving more, it adds an extra dimension when you exchange your house.

WWOOF it up

In return for your voluntary help, WWOOF hosts offer room and board and a priceless experience. This worldwide community spreads awareness of organic farms and give people an opportunity to become friends with individuals all over the globe. You don’t need to have any experience with farming as WWOOF is as much sustaining travel and learning as it is about farm work.

Victoria Duggan, who call herself an adventure seeker and a rich non-gmo foods freak, started her WWOOFing experience last June, travelling to Italy and Turkey. “WWOOFing is so much more than just free accommodation, it is a complete cultural exchange. You become part of a family from a foreign country with different habits, traditions, and often language than your own,” reveals Victoria. “The best part is you are not in touristic areas of these countries, it is the real deal”.

Win it!

We all know the old adage that the best things in life are always free. This may sound like a long shot, but to get yourself on a road you need to be willing to take a risk. You will be amazed at how many opportunities there are to travel on an empty wallet. Just google “travel competitions” and there are plenty of options to choose from.

Wojtek, 15, from Poland entered the promotional competition of a popular soft drink and won a holiday to Disneyland for his family. “We had an amazing time, probably one of the best vacations ever,” says Wojtek.  So a little time and energy invested might get you out of here sooner than you think.

So if you have been making excuses that you want to travel but can’t because of $$$, then you don’t need to any more. Travelling for free is now a reality.

 ‘Sin City’

Have you ever watched the movie Sin City? That dark, hopeless city, full of evil doers sends out the breath of despair all the time. On the night we arrived in Athens, Sin city was my first impression of the city.

Narrow and interlaced streets sit closely side by side. The buildings are not as high and delicate as we imagined. In Chinese architect, Jiyuan Tang’s words, “the economic downturn makes the whole city seem pretty bleak.”

Along the streets from Monastiraki to our hostel, trees are bare and seem almost dead while there are many cruel-eyed cats strolling around those old and shabby houses. There is a surprisingly amount of graffiti in different colors and styles. Although some of this graffiti is cute and interesting, the majority of it is really scary. It really is like a scene in Sin City.

We met a friend of those graffiti artists, John Lewis Buchan, who told us that some of the artists did the graffiti to express their discontent about the politics and economics of Athens, although the majority of those artists just want their colourful graffiti to add more energy to this holy city.

 ‘Holy City’

However, as we stayed in Athens longer, we found out that it is not a ‘sin city’: the holy city is still holy.

 Ancient architecture stands erect among those modern-day buildings. You cannot only see some of them at a distance but also encounter some of them on a casual corner. It is really an amazing experience to think how ancient people built them and to feel the thousand years’ history of those buildings.

The most famous of ancient architecture, the Acropolis, was built on the mountains thousands of years ago which is now in the centre of Athens. It was the origins of Greece culture. If you stand on the top of the mountain, you can see the whole of southern Athens. It is really gorgeous because all those white and yellow buildings compose a spectacular scene in front of you.

Nowadays, it has been a little bit ramshackle and is being repaired, but it is still standing there telling everybody that Athens has its character and a rich history which should be respected.

Maybe different people will get different impressions of this city, Athens. But no matter what they think, I really love it here.

 1. Old City of Edinburgh

In the old city, there is a lot of ancient architecture. Some of it is gothic and black in colour which makes the city of Edinburgh seem a little scary. In spite of this, the old city is really beautiful.

2. Calton Hill

At the top of Calton Hill, there is some Greek architecture which was built by Scots as a scenic spot to attract tourists. It is now a famous place to go where you can look down over the whole of Edinburgh.

3. Glasgow

In contrast to the ancient architecture of Edinburgh, the modern architecture in Glasgow has made the city famous around the world.

4. Loch Ness

There is a famous movie called Loch Ness Monster which is based on the story of the monster in Loch Ness. But if you go to Loch Ness, you will find the lake is very calm and the views around the lake are very beautiful.

5. Isle of skye

You will get the chance to see the most beautiful clouds in the world here, but will be accompanied by an annoying strong wind. If you are a shutterbug, please do not forget to take your camera as there is lots of beautiful scenery to take photos of here.

6. Railway track to Hogwarts

If you are an enthusiastic fan of Harry Potter, how can you miss to the scenery of the railway journey to Hogwarts? The journey to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies was set in Scotland and is green in summer which makes it a beautiful sight.

 7. Oban

After visiting all that scenery, why don’t you visit a small town in Scotland to have a rest? Oban should be your choice. It is a small town with peaceful scenery. It is a perfect choice for the end of your Scotland trip. Don’t forget to eat the fresh fish and chips here!

Pandora, Spotify… Many platforms are offering free music today. According to the latest statistics from Nielson SoundScan, in 2014, the streamed music service saw a dramatic increase of 54% and most of them are free to the users. This seems to be the trend.

However, Taylor Swift, the queen of the global music market whose new album 1989 was sold more than 8.6 million units on iTunes in 95 countries in 2014, removed her entire back catalog from Spotify last November, saying that artists should value their art and make sure that people are paying enough money for it.

YES, music needs to be paid! “[People] can still listen to my music if they get it on iTunes,” Swift told Time. “I’m always up for trying something. And I tried it and I didn’t like the way it felt. I think there should be an inherent value placed on art.

“I didn’t see that happening, perception-wise, when I put my music on Spotify. Everybody’s complaining about how music sales are shrinking, but nobody’s changing the way they’re doing things. They keep running towards streaming, which is, for the most part, what has been shrinking the numbers of paid album sales,” Taylor said.

NO, it can be free! On the contrary, Ed Sheeran has bucked the trend for criticizing Spotify, saying his popularity on the site enabled him to play three nights at Wembley Stadium. “I don’t think I’d be able to do that without Spotify,” Ed told the BBC.

“Taylor has been around for eight or nine years. She comes from an era where you do sell records – it’s only been in the past five years where it’s really deteriorated – so people buy her records and it doesn’t feel too foreign.

“Whereas I came through in the streaming generation. All my fans started off being students at university, file-sharing my music, so it’s a different generation.

“She can sell records and I can get streamed, because that’s the generation I come from.”

1. Icehotel: The First Icehotel in the World

The Icehotel in Swedish Lapland remains famous across the world over as the original and simply the best. The hotel is made purely from ice and snow. Experience sleeping on ice at one of the most special hotels in the world, it will be definitely feel unforgettable!

 2. Katikies Hotels: Luxury Boutique Hotels in Santorini, Greece

These hotels are located in the unique locations of Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani in Santorini. Combining breathtaking Caldera views with luxury retreats that express the ultimate in exclusivity and privacy.

3. The Manta Resort Hotel: Sea World Resort

It is the one and only Sea World resort in the world. A private floating island with your bedroom four meters below the surface. It is incredible to enjoy while sunbathing and stargazing on the top deck. Lounging and dining on the water deck and sleeping surrounded by a tropical marine environment must be the best experiences.

4. Ladera: A Hotel Located on the Soufriere Volcano

Each room offers fine linen, luxurious amenities and four-poster beds made of polished tropical hardwood. And each room is without a fourth wall, which invites the spectacular sunsets and astonishing views right inside. It is unbelievable to be a part of your very private, very special retreat.

5. Attrap’Reves: Bubble Hotel in France

One cannot plan to become a professional of the outdoor hotel industry overnight! With the Bubble Tree, you are guaranteed a bubble tent which meets the French safety standards, as well as a dynamic team at your service to make your stay unforgettable!

6. Elikep Evi Cave Hotel: Original Boutique Cave Rooms and Suites Hotel with Unique Cappadocia View.

An excellent cave hotel, which is located in the caves of the Ürgüp hills. It offers a fabulous atmosphere and a perfectly exotic setting in Cappadocia. Each of the airier cave rooms includes a private cave terrace carved into the nook of the cliff, and gorgeous views over the Cappadocian dreamscape.

As a host:

Appropriate decoration on the table：

There should be some flowers on the table, and they should not be in the line of sight of the guests. Especially for a big feast which includes more than 8 people, small and lower flowers are better as they will not block the sight of guests.

However, flowers have various meanings in different countries. In China, flowers should be as bright as the table decoration, like red roses and pink peonies, white flowers should never be set on table which means death in Chinese culture. In Japan, the amount of flowers on the table should not be 4, 6 or 9 which are pronounced the same way as death, rascal and pain in Japanese. In France, chrysanthemum is the flower which should only be used at a funeral and also should not be set on a feast table.

Use cooking utensils as a decoration. Sometimes when the dishes are too much, plates and bowls may seem slightly insufficient. However, it is not wise to go shopping for tableware whenever you are going to invite guests. If you observe carefully, you will find some dishes do not need to be poured out from the pot to a plate. Setting a good-looking container directly on the table is a clever approach of table setting. This way, you not only save the tableware, but also retain the original smell and taste of the food.

Invite guests to cook together:

The host can invite guests to cook with them. You can not only free yourself, but also avoid the embarrassment of guests having to be alone. Moreover, this time can also be fun with talking and laughing.

In Spain and Italy, it is quite an enjoyable process to invite your guests to cook together. However, in China, it is a little bit impolite to invite elderly people to cook with you.

Games before the feast:

In order to avoid the embarrassment of the guests, games for young and old are essential. Try poker, Monopoly and flying chess.

Most Western people enjoy simple games before the feast like poker and puzzles. On the contrary, in most Asian countries, people usually do not play games before dinner, but after.

As a guest:

If you are invited in an international feast, it will be better to prepared some gifts to the host.Bring a bundle of simple flowers. Put the flowers into a vase on the table after entering the room. Also be aware of the meanings of flowers.Do not bring white flowers for Chinese, do not bring chrysanthemum flowers for French and Spanish, but chrysanthemum is a good choice in Germany.

If you want to bring the kitchenware as a gift, it would be better that it conforms to the design of your friend’s house or choose the simplest shape of knives, forks, plates or tea sets.

A bottle of wine or champagne is suitable for all kinds of family feasts and also can help create a comfortable atmosphere. But do not forget to keep it in the right temperature before bringing it to the host.

Some make exploring and travelling a major part of their life. Explorers were, since the 15th century and the discovery of America, the main source for mapping the still largely unknown world. They were the people who risked their lives to discover virgin territories and inform the rest of the population. Today, although the majority of the world is now traced and mapped, the thrill of exploring has not died down.

Many still want to see with their own eyes the wonders that our Earth has to offer. When a good pair of walking boots and a knife was probably the basic kit for an explorer, today, modern equipment, techie gear and communication technologies enable travelers to live the adventure fully.

Chris Patient, 54, British mountaineer

Chris has done rock climbing, mountain treks, abseiling, extreme skiing photography…and in many mountain chains of the world. He now and lives a quieter life in Switzerland with his wife, Anna, although that has not stopped him from hiking and skiing regularly. “I have never grown tired of exploring but I am now quite satisfied with simple and easy and closer adventures,” he tells Life360, “I no longer need to go to Tibet in search of adventure but I am quite happy finding new single trails on my mountain bike in a nearby forest.”

His most memorable experience was climbing to the summit of Cho Oyu (the 6th highest summit in the world) in the Himalayas. At the time, he was 40 and although the technology was advanced, it was not quite as high tech as it is now. He told Life360 how he feels about the technological progress regarding equipment:

“Equipment has improved making exploring easier and more comfortable. The biggest advantage now is communications with the internet and GPS technology. I think actually this has given  modern young explorers more confidence to push boundaries even further and take even more risks to achieve much more.

However, somehow the feeling of always being watched and always having to record and report on modern media has taken away the real spirit and feeling of adventure out of today’s adventure athletes.”

Julien Duval, 31, French travel photographer

Julien has lived in Zagreb in Croatia for five years and his photography is largely inspired by the surrounding landscapes. He graduated in Geography so he has a serious background and knowledge of map reading. However he has nothing against modern technology where travel is concerned:

“As a geographer, I have nothing against GPS but most of the time I use maps,” he explains to Life360, “GPS is good because it’s much easier to find remote places and the Earth has less secrets. You can explore everything.”

He is more concerned that people with techie equipment put on a show rather than actually travel. “Some people never travel,” he says,” they can have all the equipment and everything but maybe they are afraid to cross the psychological fence. Once you cross this fence, you’re done, you can go wherever you want.”

Mikael Strandberg, 53,  Swedish explorer

Mikael Strandberg has 28 years of exploring experience behind him. He produces documentaries about his expeditions which he has toured around the world. On his blog, he gives a list of “25 essential items for the beginner adventurer” and surprises us by clearly saying “don’t bring a GPS”.

“Obviously all the new gadgets have ruined proper exploration where you use all your senses,” he says, “and if you make a mistake with the GPS, running out of batteries for example, now that is when it is a problem. Manually those things never happen.”

However, in the expedition reports that he posts on his blog, he admits that sometimes a GPS is indeed necessary when, for instance today’s maps are not accurate due to mobile populations. In his report on an expedition conducted in Yemen in 2012, he writes:

“We realized that there´s no modern maps marking all the new settlements along the route we choose. So, with the help of the GPS we have marked every permanent settlement in these areas and valleys which are much more populated than any map makes you believe.”

   “It doesn’t matter what equipment you have, all you need is the will to go out there.” Julien Duval

Adventurers and nature lovers at heart with a taste for the finer things in life, get your pen and paper ready (or click ctrl+c) for these camping destinations.

Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle, Thailand

Enjoy a chauffeured river boat ride to the campsite. This place is a top-notch holiday getaway offering pampering services straight to your canvas cabin with recycled-teak floors and rain showers. At this eco-friendly camp, instead of revving a 4×4, you get to learn how to ride your own elephant to get around the jungle.

For more information: www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle

Le Val de Cantobre, Aveyron, France

Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses borders some of France’s most spectacular landscapes, including the canyon Gorges du Tarn. Located in the grounds of a farmhouse from the Middle Ages, this park campsite has pitches arranged on terraces looking down the valley at a picturesque view. The combined beauty of nature and pool facilities make it a great getaway for families.

For more information: www.valdecantobre.com

Longitude 131º, Central Australia

Located in the middle of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia, the palatial tents are actually deluxe hotel rooms under a fabric roof. Longitude 131º gives campers the spiritual experience of sunrise at Uluru from the comfort of your kingsize bed. A perfect pairing of luxury and landscape, and the perfect location for romantics.

For more information: www.longitude131.com.au

 Oberoi Vanyavilas, India

The Oberoi Vanyavilas is a place where the more daring campers get to sleep stylishly in tents next to a tiger reserve. The tents have four-poster beds, marble bathrooms, and gold-thread-embroidered silk canopies, each with a private garden. The nearby lake also houses a spa to relax in after an exotic day out spotting tigers at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve next door.

For more information: www.oberoivanyavilas.com

In a conference named ‘Insects to feed the world’  held in May 2014, eating insects was shown as a trend. Along with the increase of population, humans are facing a threat: a lack of food. By 2050, there will be more than 5 billion people on the earth, however, animal husbandry has brought a heavy burden to our planet. Large amounts of land and water resources have been consumed and animal secretions pollute soil and water as well. As a result, the idea of eating insects in order to feed people with enough protein has been growing in popularity recently.

One advantage of eating insects are their abundance. There are more than 3650 types of edible insects in the world that provide a huge food resource. Besides, almost all edible insects have a rich protein content. For example, bees contain 80% protein and crickets contain 76% protein, which is higher than the protein content of beef. Moreover, the cost of feeding insects is lower than feeding cattle. Insects don’t need as much space as cattle and they have lower emissions of greenhouse gases when compared to livestock. Besides, some species of insect are more resistant to drought than cattle, pigs and poultry, so they need to be fed less water.

However, eating insects is not commonly accepted by people. One reason could be the bad image they have. To most people, insects always live in dirty areas and are linked to feelings of disgust. Moreover, the bacteria in or on insects concern many people. In this case, some insect food producers or restaurants try to change their appearance or improve the impression that they give to people.

There’s a new trend among the clubbing set at the moment: conscious clubbing. No, it’s not a reference to successfully making it through the night without passing out, this is about being – and staying – sober. While this admittedly sounds like the antithesis of any good party, Teagan Hecht, from the event team at conscious clubbing brand Morning Gloryville insists it’s actually rather good.

“It’s about breakfast raving like it’s the 80’s,” she explains. “We’re bringing the same sense of euphoria, ecstasy and oneness only you’re completely sober, awake, conscious and authentic. We are trying to change how people feel about the word rave. We’re turning clubbing on its head and subverting morning culture.”

Teagan isn’t the only one looking to challenge the social norms of clubbing in favour of a more meaningful going-out experience. In fact, a number of alternative events have sprung up all over the world in the last year which is testament to the fact that there is a genuine demand for something different.

Here’s the Life360 guide to a banging night (or morning) out minus the banging headache. Vive la différence!

1. Morning Gloryville

If a spot of healthy raving before work sounds about as appealing as mouldy old toast this may not be your cup of tea, but Samantha Moyo and Nico Thoemmes’ midweek morning events are proving surprisingly popular with those wanting to ‘rave their way into the day’. Their 6am start is quite early, although Gloryville’s own ‘Wake Up Angels’ are on hand with massages, superfood smoothie bars and of plenty of gourmet coffee to help you lose the snooze and get moving!

Gloryville has gone global since its launch in East London in 2013. The last 18 months has seen them set up in 15 cities worldwide, with more in the pipeline this year. You can find parties in Amsterdam, Bangalore, New York, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Montreal, Paris, San Fran, Sydney, Tokyo, Zurich Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton.

morninggloryville.com

2. SOBER

Swedish comedian Marten Andersson only launched his drug and alcohol-free club night in September 2014, but this nighttime sober clubbing event is no joke as it’s even been endorsed by the Swedish Temperance Association. While this may not sound like a barrel of laughs, the first event sold out weeks in advance with subsequent events receiving rave reviews. Expect top class electronic beats, a pulsating dance floor and more mocktails than you can shake a sober stick at. A word of warning though – everyone is breathalysed on entry so lose the booze if you want to boogie.

Iconic music venue and oldest theatre in Stockholm, Södra Theatren, plays host to Sweden’s only booze-free rave. Don’t be fooled by the 800 person capacity though, these events sell out fast and expect a lengthy queue on arrival.

sobersweden.se

3. Ecstatic Dance

Originating in Hawaii in 2000, this fusion of DJ culture with conscious dance hit the US mainland in 2009 and has since been exported all over the world. Advertised as ‘spiritual, barefoot dancing’, these three hour moving meditation sessions are geared more to hippy types looking to get their free-form groove on rather than hardcore clubbers. Just remember: no shoes and no booze.

Spiritually-minded movers can find Ecstatic Dance parties all over the USA as well as in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Ibiza, Byron Bay and Ghent.

ecstaticdance.org

4. The Conscious Club

The brainchild of Australians Tim Brown and Gary Gorrow who, tired of the regular pub and club routine, have created ‘enlighter-taining’ drug and booze-free evenings of music, film and talks. Their aim is to make socialising more meaningful, not to mention memorable with a little bit of meditation thrown in for good measure.

Conscious Club events currently run in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra with plans to extend to the USA and UK in 2015. If you can’t find an event close by, you can also apply to host your own Conscious Club meaningful meet-up via their website.

consciousclub.com

5. The Get Down

Not strictly sober, this one, but New York house DJ Tasha Blanks’ midweek, early-evening dance party is aimed at those who love to rave but don’t want to part with their precious snooze. Kicking off with a 6pm yoga class, the party proper starts at 7pm and finishes no later than 10pm meaning there’s ample time to rest up before that dreaded morning meeting. Raveolutionary!

Electronic music haven Cielo in New York’s Meatpacking District is more commonly associated with all-night forays into America’s  commercial EDM scene, nevertheless, this fashionable venue is proving extremely popular with the clean clubbing crowd.

www.tashablank.com/events

Photo credit: carnagenyc / Foter / CC BY-NC