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8 Tools to Help You Travel Forever and Live Rent Free

S o you’ve decided to do it. You have a friend or family member who can store your belongings for an undetermined period of time, you’ve tied up loose ends, and your bags are packed. It’s time to start traveling long-term !

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But now what?

You have a few family members and distant friends who have offered up a couch if you’re in their neck of the woods, but surely they won’t appreciate your arrival on their doorstep with no planned departure date in sight.

How then, do you travel long-term and not run out of money, while staying safe ? Hotels are expensive over time, and finding rental accommodation in every city you visit is impractical. Heck — you don’t even want to pay rent at all! Hostels are a great option as they are much cheaper and it’s a great place to meet others on the road.

Here are eight handy resources to help you get started on your long-term travel adventure:

Caretaker’s Gazette

( http://www.caretaker.org )

By joining this service (annual membership is approximately US$30), you will gain access to a classified system of people looking for caretakers in exchange for rent-free living. The opportunities vary widely in scope from ranch hands, to organic farm workers, campground hosting, motel management, nursing for the elderly, to just plain house sitting. Locales for your next potential gig could be anywhere in the world, from numerous U.S. locations, to Australia, to Europe and even Micronesia.

Some are paying opportunities, while others are simply work-trade arrangements for accommodation. Others yet will supply an additional stipend depending on your experience and the work entailed.

This is what TIME Magazine had to say about the Caretaker’s Gazette.

( http://wwoof.net/ )

WWOOF is an acronym for a number of different phrases, the most apt of which in my mind is “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”. It is an international organization (located in over 70 countries) of organic farms, gardens, businesses, ranches, (you name it) where you can exchange your services for accommodations, food, and training.

Required services include basic garden and farm maintenance, as well as cooking, teaching, caring for children, and handy work. There is usually some work suitable for anybody willing to adopt this lifestyle.

Whilst surfing Wwoofing opportunities, you will likely also find links to volunteer organizations, and other similar work exchange opportunities. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience, friendships, and to cover your living expenses in a constructive manner.

Most countries require a subscription to gain access to their full listings and contact information of the hosts, and the subscription prices vary from area to area but are not over-priced for the value received.

House Carers

( https://www.housecarers.com/ )

If you are happy to spend your vacation house-sitting for somebody else, you may find the right opportunity here. You will find lists upon lists of people requesting house sitters for periods of time from a few days to a few months, anywhere in the world. In many cases there are a few hoops to jump through in order to gain the opportunity with liability and bonding issues, and already living or traveling in the same country carries an added advantage.

You can choose from the limited free membership options or the full US$45 one year membership, depending on your needs.

Organic Volunteers

( http://www.organicvolunteers.com )

Much like Caretaker’s Gazette and woofing, you will find many worldwide opportunities to proverbially “pick blueberries for a living”. The prospects aren’t limited to organic farms though; you will find hostel management jobs, artist retreat internships, in addition to various agricultural and permaculture settings.

For US$20/year, membership will help you gain access to many great listings and a user-friendly system of contacting hosts and searching for opportunities.

Couch Surfing

( http://www.couchsurfing.com )

Couch Surfers are a network of people who are willing to open up their homes and hearts to frugal travelers, as well as be those travelers when they are not hosting guests. The site prides itself on referrals and having only high quality members, and has a comprehensive program in place to ensure the safety of both traveler and host. But as with any chance to stay at a stranger’s place for free, a prudent amount of caution should be exercised.

Global Freeloaders

( http://www.globalfreeloaders.com )

Similar to Couch Surfing, Global Freeloaders is a cultural exchange program for hosts and travelers. Registration is free, but members are required to be able to host as well as travel, so unless you expect to be able to offer up your digs as a host within six months of signing up, you are politely requested to wait.

( http://servas.org/ )

This is the original Couch Surfers and Global Freeloaders. Servas (meaning “serve” in Esperanto), is a non-profit non-denominational non-ethnic organization of good-will and cultural exchanges. It’s been around for at least 50 years, and is recognized by the United Nations. In addition to being a network to connect people and places, volunteers around the world work in relief camps and advocate for peace through various projects.

Hosts offer their homes and dinner tables for two nights (or more, at the discretion of the host) to travelers who contact them and who meet with their approval. Travelers must go through an exhaustive process which includes an in-person interview before being accepted to the program, as a way of screening for quality candidates.

Once travelers are interviewed and accepted into the program, they are given printed lists or booklets of the hosts in their destination country (Servas is moving towards an online platform, but is not there yet). There are also membership fees which vary from country to country.

Hospitality Club

( http://www.hospitalityclub.org/ )

Free to join and internet-based, it appears to be the Servas of the online world. It is kept “safe” through a series of passport checks and online feedback systems with checks and balances.

These are just a few opportunities in the world of long-term travel, as you will discover with a little research. I don’t vouch for any of the services or programs, and a healthy amount of caution should always be exercised when accepting hospitality from strangers. However I think Servas says it best when they say: “We are all friends. We just haven’t met yet!”

Great list, Nora! I’d never heard of most of those.

I’ve had mostly fabulous experiences with Couchsurfing (and the ones that weren’t fabulous, were vaguely annoying at worst) and several of the surfers I’ve hosted have also said great things about Hospitality Club.

If I can be a little shameless, I’ve got some tips here about how to increase your acceptance rates when you’re contacting couchsurfing hosts: http://www.vagablogging.net/07-11/couchsurfingcom-how-to-score-some-sweet-couch.html

Interesting you included the pix of the muslims. They would of course have to be the ultimate free travel abroad exponents managing to infest any country that allows free everything for no-hopers , then like cuckoos attempt to subjugate the host x_x So is that what this site is encouraging, a horde of travelling parasites?

Sounds like somebunny needs a hug =(

There is always that one! Sad really :(

Wow! You have some really great travel for free information here!I bet you have seen some great places! Good luck and happy and safe travels!

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This list rocks!

I just recently decided to take the plunge and travel abroad, “permanently.” (at least a year, hopefully)

Vagabondish, subscribed!

Ah, if only there were a way to build retirement savings while traveling from couch to couch…

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Or you could teach and travel and actually save money while experiencing other cultures. In Korea, you make US$2000 a month minimum, plus an annual bonus of one month’s salary, free airfare, free furnished apartment, and a few other perks. I used to be a teacher in Canada, but I make more money here for a fraction of the work. Email me for more info if you’re interested.

[email protected]

Oops! Wrong email addy!

Pretty good list, but I’d like to contribute my own little snippet of information. For anyone traveling in India (or anywhere in the world, for that matter) if you find yourself in a strange city with no money, find the local Sikh Gurdwara(temple, for lack of a better word) The Sikh religion stresses hospitality, so if you show up unannounced on the steps of a gurdwara begging for a place to stay and a hot meal, you’ll get one for sure in India, and probably everywhere else in the world, though I can’t say for sure.

Awesome article you got here. I will definitely bookmark this for future references. thanks

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This is what I’ve been looking for. I’ve only known about couchsurfing.com, which I’ve had much experience with.

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This is a really interesting blog—I’m a huge traveler, and also a student with a low budget. I’m considering taking this summer to make a long trip abroad but don’t necessarily have the money for it. This blog posed some good ideas that I’m going to look into. Thanks

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You should probably link to the main WWOOF site at http://wwoof.org

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I have given my share of freeloading friends the opportunity to couch crash but didn’t know there were organizations dedicated to it. Great information and I might be willing to share my couch with some investigation.

Great list! Thanks for sharing!

I actually never really gave this a second thought as an option.

Thank you for putting this on my radar.

I am so happy for Stumble Upon to have led me to this valuable resource.

Monique Briand

This is what I’ve been looking for. I’ve only known about couchsurfing.com, which I’ve had much experience with.

Camere IP Supraveghere

I just recently decided to take the plunge and travel abroad, “permanently.” (at least a year, hopefully)

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Thank you for posting this. You’ve educated and inspired me!!

What are the similar sites to help you actually get to places; online hitch-hiking?

Actually Da, there is indeed a way to “hitch” a ride on an airplane! Take a look at Air Tech and Air Hitch for more info on that. Enjoy!

An excellent home swapping directory I found is KnowYourTrade.com. I lists all the HE clubs and rates them.

I wish they had this in the late 90’s when I did a lot of traveling. Great resources. I did use Air Hitch for a memorable Europe at $275 round trip or was it each way. not sure. here’s another resource for travelers http://www.exploringabroad.com

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Thanks for this great article! It’s really inspiring. Great value!

@Greg –

I make 2x as much now per hour as I did working full-time for a startup.

My goal isn’t to stash a ton away for retirement, but it can be done.

I’d rather work 20 hours a week, live anywhere, be my own boss, and travel the world than slave away 60+ hours a week while saving for retirement!

I mean — can you really enjoy retirement all that much when you’re 65!?! =)

Excellent site, good presentation. I’m gonna book mark and link back to you in my blog. please visit my blog and let me have your comments, if you find time.

Very cool article, one of the things i would like to know is can you do any of these things in the UK? I mean the price of hotels, guest houses, hostels etc is all still expensive in my eyes so would be very refreshing to find out ways to travel & stay in the uk thats not as pricey.

Absolutely, you can travel through the UK on the cheap! I haven’t any personal experience with any of the above services in the UK in particular, but I do know of others who have used Couch Surfing, Servas, House Carers, and Caretakers Gazette in the UK area. I’ll bet all the services mentioned have lots to offer. Check it out, and let us know!

Fascinating! I’ve often wondered how other people live the lives they lead… any feedback from past travelers who have tried these accommodations?

Good stuff – I know several couch-surfers!

Who really wants a slacker living on their couch until they can score somebody’s else’s couch.

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I just stumbled upon this link. I can vouch for what a great experience WWOOFing is.

I stayed in a farm in Korea and had a great time. It was an important holiday time of the year and he took us to meet his family and join in the party.

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Try crewing on a sailboat. This could be like a sailing yacht with a youth hostel atmosphere. Sailing, surfing, snorkeling, spear fishing, beach parties, uninhabited islands…. Check out this link: Sailing in Greece

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very informative and helpful list you got there..

If you plan to travel- you shouldn’t think about it. The more you think the more time you waste. I traveled plenty during school, but life gets busy afterwards.

What a great post! I would love to explore one or more of these options in the near future.

http://www.theALTERNAtraveler.com

P.S. – I linked to this article from my travel blog – credit given, of course. You are one of my favorite daily reads. :)

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Fantastic post, I had no idea half these groups even existed.

Fabulously thrifty post! I think it’s most travelers’ dream to travel the world and stay at places for free. I haven’t heard of a few of these sites. Thanks for sharing!

Interesting Blog – very informative

Thanks very much for this info. Didn’t know any of these opportunities existed. Glad I found you through Stumble Upon.

Have a great day.

What a great list! I had heard of some sites but hadn’t come across others (like Wwoof) before. Looking forward to taking advantage of these sites in my travels :)

I\’m love this great website. Many thanks guy

What a great idea . . .will certainly be including some of these sites on our website when it goes live.

Thanks a lot :-)

It’s ambitious to travel on close to zero budget I’ll say, but for those of you who manage it’s probably worth it!

This is a great post! Love it! I will definitely look further into some of these sites. I’m trying to figure out ways to travel more than just once a year. Thanks!

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I bet that with the worldwide markets, this kind of info is going to be even more appealing to lots of people! I came across this site with another extreme – people living rent free in foreclosed homes:

http://livesafely.org/evasion/how-to-live-rent-free/

Some great tools in here. Nicely compiled. Thanks for the share. Linked from my travel site and Bookmarked.

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Excellent tips for frugal travelers!! Thumbs up!!

Wonderful post! I traveled for 6 months last year and even though I mostly stayed in hostels, the costs mounted up. I will definitely check out some of these suggestions next time.

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Such a wonderful article and website list.Great idea.Thanks!

I traveled free for over 20 yrars. I just had to kill people yo do it!

OK so my last comments didn’t go through???

Nice blog post.

I recommend taking a look at Viscape, which is a way to travel creatively around vacation homes. You can swap your home, you can rent a room, you can find an inexpensive studio in the heart of Rome or London on the very cheap. Its a great way to travel on a budget and have a decent place to stay. Viscape.com

Hmmm…I’ll be sure to check out Viscape next time I am looking for a place to stay….which will not be too far off…

me too nora.. ill definitely check it out next time.

Thanks for all the links Nora!

Funding long-term traveling can be a real challenge…

I always found Teaching English or bartending to be a good way of funding travel experiences not to mention meet the locals…

hmmmm…. it must be so hot to have so many people in a small room… :(

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Excellent article, it has some really great travel resources.

mmm.. well im lebanese.. i couldnt get visa anywhere.. im 23 i have nothing and noone.. i have my job.. but i cant afford to finish my last year in university.. studying IT.. i speak english french and arabic.. i NEED to get out.. anywhere,anyway.. any ideas?!

Google search for ‘house sitting’ brings up hundreds of house sitting companies but two more that seem cheap and easy to nav that aren’t listed above are: Aussie House Sitters – for house sitting in Oz & NZ. http://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au/

House Sitters America – For USA house sitting only. http://www.housesittersamerica.com/

Enjoy your free accommodation guys where ever you are :-D

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I don’t know when this blog was written but, with the economy the way it is at the moment world wide, it is relevant now more than ever. People still need to take a break from their work or domestic situation and go on vacation occasionally. The single biggest expense is accommodation. House sitting and house swap home/exchange means people can still travel on the cheap.

This was my inspiration for the trip I am going next week. 3 months in europe. I would like to ask if I could make reference to this in my blog with an image and a link? Congratulations from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

@Clarissa – Sure, we like links! Please just don’t reprint the article in full, as it is copyrighted. And good luck on your trip – congrats and enjoy!

Thanks for this post bud, I am doing a gap year next year and will be on a strict budget so the caretaker website will be real handy for me.

Thanks again :)

I bet you have seen some great places! Good luck and happy and safe travels!

I love these tips. I love traveling, and circumstances are such that I’ll be mobile in my RV, with six rescued dogs and several cats.

Does anyone know how to travel with lots of pets and live at least very close to the beach? I surf, so…and I need to work so they need to be safely parked. I’d work for someone for a nice parking spot near a beach. I can build houses, repair anything. I’m a master builder. I used to be a contractor. Now work is not there.

I’d also be a great house-sitter or property watcher. And I could keep other peoples’ pets and their homes. I love animals and volunteer for wildlife rescuding too.

Thanks for any info. Tai

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Great post – have been a huge fan of couchsurfers for a long time, love letting people stay and meeting new faces. I think my next RTW trip will involve more couchsurfing than my last. I never knew about servas, i’ll look into that more.

A nice listing, thanks! I’d like to add this:

http://www.staynomad.com ; a growing community of travelers worldwide, offering accommodation and cultural exchange. Also the possibility to get sponsored to TRAVEL CHEAPER or even for free after submitting your next sustainable travel project. Joining is FREE.

When you plan on staying a few months and seek mobility:

http://www.amigoexpress.com ; a growing community of people who offer and seek ride share opportunities in East Canada. Very low cost.

http://www.communauto.com ; a car sharing network in Quebec, Canada. Cheaper than owning your own car.

http://www.greenwheels.nl ; a car sharing network in the Netherlands (Holland). Cheaper than owning your own car.

http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de ; a ride sharing network in Germany. People looking for and offering rides. Very low cost.

I’ve tried couch surfing and my opinion is ok, if you meet a wird person you have to stay in his house for a weekend, it will ruin your time….it had happened to me twice

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Very useful and practical – can’t wait to share it with my friends.

hospitality club is good as well, the problem is to find nice people

thanks for sharing! not sure if you are familiar with the book The 4 Hour Work Weeks by Tim Ferris but it is a pretty handy tool for vagabonds and wannabes :) all the best and thanks for the handy tips!

Wow – this is great. Thanks for the useful tips on travelling the globe for free!

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Staying in strangers’ homes is pretty weird, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

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Great list! Haven’t heard from most of them, so I’m glad I stumbled into this page :) And also in the comments I found some interesting links. Thanks for sharing everyone.

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I have over 35 years of knowledge and i want to put it to use i do not want money i just want to eat /sleep and help i can add to most situations please let me

A great list, all I need to do now is find a house full of beautiful girls in Stockholm that wouldn’t mind a 39 year old Scotsman as a house guest for a few weeks, now that would be fun……

great resource here. very useful for those who travel a lot or at least thinking of travelling.

Good article..thanks for the input. Also, here’s another article on why people are having trouble with bills and rent in the first place. http://www.rent-help.com/2009/09/7-reasons-we-cant-pay-rent.html

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You could always just live out of your luggage and sleep on couches.

This is a great list, thank you!! I’d also suggest visiting http://www.worldhelplink.com . It has some links to great opportunities to live abroad by volunteering, interning, working, teaching, and more!

I love that you are sharing this wealth of knowledge; making the world that much more of a neighborhood. Thanks… my daughters have been bugging/inspiring me about possible traveling & i just know it’s not all about the holy dollar! Peace, Nora, you are awesome.

This is a very helpful article,backpackers like me are always looking to save money! Thanks for sharing!

i cant believe it theres so many people in one room, my gosh it must be pretty hot, any thats a great list. thank you.

this is very interesting and informative. I always dream to travel abroad. I don’t have the opportunity and of course money for that. How will I start? any ideas to share… isn’t it scary to meet strangers especially now a days? thanks!

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Great list Nora, thanks! A true Nomad myself, I am able to appreciate the value of the information provided. Many people will benefit from the resources provided when organizing their next adventure.

I’d like to add another valuable source if I may. Imagine you could Get Sponsored to Travel… wouldn’t that be amazing?! Now this is becoming reality for more and more travelers worldwide through a brand new global community for travelers called “StayNomad”. StayNomad.com connects sponsors with travelers, enabling members to realize their travel dreams cheaper or even for free. Happy Travels!

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Yeah ,I’ve been couchsurfing for a couple of years now and I have met amazing people.

It is something special these days that strangers are not fearful of each other and programs like this can exist and in fact thrive with the spirit of the wonderful people involved.

Of course, use your head, your common-sense but most of all, treat people respectfully and then you find that these are not just “cheap” or “free” ways to travel but that it is something even more special that you cannot put a price on. To be invited into a home, break bread, friendship, fun, laughter and see what people are really like in the places we visit. Not just the barman or the concierge of the hotel. :)

People are beautiful.

Thanks for this list Nora and Happy Travels :))))))

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DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO THE CARETAKER GAZETTE UNLESS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WESTERN U.S. ONLY, AND HAVE EXTENSIVE FARMING/OUTDOOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE, OR YOUR MONEY WILL HAVE BEEN WASTED. NO REFUNDS, READ THE “TERMS AND CONDITIONS” – SEE THE TEENY TINY LINK AT BOTTOM OF GAZETTE’S PAGE.

@Mary – I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience with the Caretaker Gazette. I’m surprised at your comment though….I’ve successfully found opportunities in Hawaii, Australia, and made an excellent connection in Ecuador and Belize as well. What gives?

This list is great Nora instant bookmark. I’d like to add helpx.net to the list of host/helper sites.

Travel for free through http://www.roofswap.com I home swap through them in Paris and have two swaps this summer! Travel for free is a great way to be budget-friendly.

Great info! I will try to apply some of these tips. I mean I want to travel on a very low budget or even for free too :)

Your an inspiration, Nora. I’m 42, been happily married for 23 and have a 17 year old still at home but after reading your article I wanna sell everything I own and take my family globe trotting. My husband and I could use our skills to supplement income and it would probably be more educational for my teenage son than what he’s learning in school now.

Nice article. I used to love living like that. I hitched rides from London to Athens and back and had a wild time. I still think it was cheaper to fly though with food and all that … no better experience in the world though.

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I dream of doing this… and I am 100% aware that the only thing stopping me is myself. I am most interested in the Caretaker’s Gazette… if only I was brave enough!!

I had never even considered a few of these options. Thank you for giving us such great resources with websites and everything!

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This is a great article. I just learned the term woofing in New Zealand this year.

What a fantastic article! Well done, Nora! Friends of mine have opened their house to couchsurfers here in Alice Springs and are having an awesome time!

This is an amazing article. It could have been written yesterday. I just registered with the Caretaker’s Gazette and I spent all night pouring over listings! I’ve also had my computer on for 3 days with this article open on my browser. Nora, you are a wealth of information and an inspiration to all backpackers out there. Thank you so much for your work and I look forward to reading your blog.

Thanks to all who have found this article useful! With a few more years of travel experience under my belt, I’ve discovered dozens of more ways to travel and live rent-free, and I maintain that full-time travel is actually cheaper than staying in one place long-term! Funny how that works…. And Thanks, Mica, for your very kind words. It means a lot.

Fantastic resource for wanderlust in all of us. Now that my wife and I have young children (2 & 4), those days are behind us to some extent. We hope to do more globetreking in a couple years. Thanks for putting this all together. Your professionalhobo.com blog is superb!

Those are some great tools for the modern vagabond. There has to be some risk and it looks like these sites can probably help you travel a little safer, thanks for sharing!

Very cool info. Used to travel a lot after college but like Matthew above, I’ve slowed down a little bit since having a new baby with my husband. Definitely going to keep this bookmarked though. ;)

Thanks for this great article! It’s really inspiring. Great value! I just learned the term woofing in New Zealand this year.

Going to New York in a months time and hopefully I’ll have the chance to take photos as good as yours. .

Great post, some of those I’ve never heard of. I have some more free accommodation tips on my website as well. http://www.traveleuropeonanbudget.com Safe travels.

What about paying for traveling between each destination? This is a way to get free accommodations, but what about getting to each place?

@Lizzie – Ah yes, that can be pricey. Traveling slowly is a way to keep your costs down, as well as using various travel hacking ideas.

Here’s how to fly for way less money: http://www.wisebread.com/the-travel-hacking-cartel-fly-around-the-world-for-almost-free

And here’s my own full-time travel expenses through 9 countries in 2010….it’s not free, but it might be cheaper than you’d think… http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2011/02/my-cost-of-full-time-travel-in-2010-less-than-you-may-think/

How about setting up an internet site and writing about your travels and tips for others and claiming your travel on your taxes.

I found out some interesting options with this article. It’s amazing how just having the will to be abroad can lead one down the path of many different options.

WOOFING and House Carers are news to us. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post, Nora!

There is also a new website called http://www.staydu.com . Travelers can stay with host in exchange for work, money or for free. Everything is free of charge.

I liked the idea of staydu.com. It seems to be a new website, but I just found a job in Australia :-)

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Oh my goodness. This has whetted the wanderlust appetite in me to a crazy degree. I did some Wwoofing in central America a few years ago and it was fantastic. I love the idea of teaching in Korea too. There is so much world to discover, I can’t wait to start travelling again. Thanks Nora!

Most of these things don’t work. People on these websites have either moved away and forgotten they put themselves on it, or just ignore requests for their “couch.” I guess these days no one trusts Internet or email correspondence anymore. There is some kind of assumption that anyone you meet over the internet is going to be some kind of pervert or serial killer or child molester or at the very least, a thief. There is general suspicion of anyone who doesn’t have enough money to stay at the Hyatt or the Ritz. I try these things all the time, I’m a TEACHER and all I see are demands of an additional background check as if they don’t believe I’m a teacher or that they don’t believe teachers have been background checked.

How about this new travel site called Tripping.com? I saw them getting funds over the summer and it looks pretty great. Has anybody ever tried it?

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Good article! If you’re going to travel and you want to stay longer but you’re worrying your money will get shorter. There’s a way you can save money or decreased your bills by looking for a cheap room for rent. It is okay not to sleep in a hotel because hotel rooms are really expensive. You don’t have to worry about room for rents because they also provide a luxury at affordable prices.

Thanks for writing about the Caretaker’s Gazette. I just signed up with them and was accepted for a house sitting gig in Florida later this month. I never would have know about the Gazette had you not posted it here. Thanks again! Jim

Another good site is http://www.ozhousesitters.com.au/ (Australian and New Zealand).

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Great article. I haven’t heard of a few of those so will definitely be making notes from this. Thank you so much for sharing – I’ll be checking out your website shortly :-)

This is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, I’ve always had a dream of traveling the world since I was 10 maybe. I’ve since have gotten married and have two boys 7 years and 2 years. Any suggestions for you veteran world travelers? We live paycheck to paycheck and we live in America, which is NOT the land of freedom. I need to get out, I NEED to get my family out. Is this possible with young children? I already homeschool them, so education will not be an issue. Has anyone else traveled like this with children? I feel the experience would greatly benefit them.

I am currently getting ready to move abroad and am hoping to do as much traveling as possible once I am settled. Your resources I feel will come in handy greatly! I had never realized there were such wonderful opportunities available to me. thank you so much for sharing and opening my eyes!

i am 54 years old i have been a out of work consruction forman for 3 years my ex told me to get out or find a job . 3 years trying should tell you somthing .anyway im on my way out of the house thats in her name . she says go . were do i go from here i heard of travelers aid . i think i can be of some help. i can fix just about anything send an email let me know what you think thank you hope is all i have. bill bell?

There are some good options on this list. I’ve used a few of them and now i know about Care Takers. Awesome idea. I would say another option is heading to Expat bars and in many countries you’ll be able to easily find volenteer or paid work teaching English once you’re in a country. If you’re looking for work as an english teacher Dave’s ESL Cafe is a great place to look and finding work in places like China is as easy as an email! (no experience or degree really needed) Teaching is an excellent way to extend your trips. Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it!

Great list! I haven’t heard of most of these opportunities, but we will definitely check them out! Like Dariece said, Dave’s is a great site to find work, especially in China! We’ve also found opportunities teaching novice monks English in Laos. Sometimes they offer free accommodation. If they don’t, it’s still a good way to enrich your travel experience!

Amazing tips. Heard of a few on here but a great help in our research

happy trails

Hi there, I’m a 19 year old high school graduate, I know quite alot about life and spirituality at the moment as I feel I’m an old soul underneath, so here is my dilemma, I know for sure with out a doubt I don’t want a mundane 9-5 job 5 days a week, I want to be free and travel and spread love to all as life is about freedom and love I believe,, now I know I could just pick up my pack and go and that is under consideration for me currently. I really want to make a positive impact on the world and enjoy the freedom of life with that… Thank you very much! Kind regards, Dylan major

Great list. I’ve used Couchsurfing and a friend of mine used Workaway (his experience is here: http://www.femmebionic.com/?p=9 ) with great success. When I went to Eastern Europe, I met a guy from Lithuania who just decided to call a bunch of hostels and see if he could live there in exchange for work. He landed in a hostel in Tbilisi, Georgia, for about 3 months, so maybe that’s another option…

Happy trails, Clare

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Thanks for these tips! I’d never heard of the Caretaker’s Gazette :-)

i am separated/2children part of the time/am a care provider and a personal trainer/live in morongo valley ca./love the Lord/need a free place to live in morongo valley in exchange for care/cleaning/errands/proofreading/etc.tell me your needs

Nice tips! Thanks!

nice list of tips! cheers

It would be awesome if I can really pull this off. I should have found this list when I was still single.

Hi Nora, Awesome Resources on this Blog! I just got back from traveling to Costa Rica and have decided to try this type of lifestyle as I can work from my laptop. I just want to be sure about Visa, laws and things to look out for before hand.

Great tools Nora.

great article. but it could have gone without the picture of the middle eastern women with the sad white man — especially since it was placed after the warning to travel and stay with caution. really? very poor decision.

Raina, can you clarify your comment? I’m not sure how use of that photo was a “very poor decision”.

Hi Nora, Awesome Resources on this Blog! I just got back from traveling to Crostia and have decided to try this type of lifestyle as I can work from my laptop. I just want to be sure about Visa, laws and things to look out for before hand.

I’ve edited a list resources for finding seasonal jobs which I previously posted on Escape Normal- these have helped me get nearly every seasonal job I’ve had. It’s not exactly rent-free, but the jobs provide housing which is deducted from your wage. So you don’t need to worry about finding your own place to live, and food is often included as well. If you’re willing to work while you travel, it’s a really excellent way to see the world on a small budget.

http://jacquelineboss.com/2017/12/15/work-in-beautiful-locations-close-to-nature-resources-for-seasonal-jobs/

my goal is to build a life i dont need a vacation from then i will travel to the whole world

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How To Live A Life Of Travel and Have A Traveling Lifestyle

W e have all seen them. The travel influencers and social media stars who have a traveling lifestyle. For many, the idea of having a life of constant travel feels like a pipe dream, but we’re here to tell you that you can make traveling your life, too!

You don’t need a million followers on Instagram, nor do you need to sell your home. There are many ways to live a life of travel without making huge life changes or putting in hours of work.

If you’re wondering how to live a life of travel and not sure where to start, in this guide we’ve shared some tips and tricks for adopting a nomadic lifestyle and becoming full-time travelers.

Pros of a Traveling Lifestyle

Cons of a traveling lifestyle, why we adopted a travel lifestyle, 1. make it a working holiday, 2. travel long-term in affordable places, 3. make smart spending decisions, 4. save well, 5. create a lifestyle around travel at home, 6. make travel your focus, 7. have a strong enough why, final thoughts, pin to save on pinterest, is a travel lifestyle for me.

Before we go into how to adopt a travel lifestyle, we do want to quickly touch on whether it’s a lifestyle you really want.

Whenever we tell people we travel for a living, we’re always met with “you’re living the dream! I wish I could do that! You’re so lucky” and don’t get me wrong, we are lucky. But most of that luck we created.

There are some things that you don’t see through the screen about a traveling nomad lifestyle. It takes dedication, commitment, an unwavering desire, and plenty of sacrifices.

First, the positives of a traveling lifestyle. Of course, you get to explore so many countries, which is the number one reason for adopting this lifestyle.

You get to experience different cultures , meet new people , get out of your comfort zone and live life to your leisure.

You can find a slower pace of life while traveling , since you don’t have to rush to beat the commuter traffic to your day job.

You get to live life on your own terms and set a time limit for how long you stay in each place.

The most important thing though, is that it teaches you a lot about yourself. By engaging with the local culture and seeing how other people live, you can reflect on your own life, your contributions to the world, and realign your values.

It allows you to look at your past selves and see how far you’ve grown. Travel can be liberating and freeing, but you don’t need to make it your lifestyle to discover this.

Relevant Reading 55 lessons learned from a life of travel and 10 ways travel helps you to uncover who you truly are

Packing up your things and hitting the road requires some sacrifice, namely your relationships .

This is not always the case, but most digital nomads will tell you that your friends and family may want to deter your plans and encourage you to come back, or harbour some resentment towards you for “living the dream” while they will continue their daily routine back home.

It does become much harder to maintain relationships when you can only communicate digitally, especially with different time zones.

That being said, there is always that family member or friend who supports you 100% and encourages you on your world trip – and who knows, you may find your relationship is stronger with distance.

It’s also a lifestyle that requires some discipline . You will want to go from one adventure to the next adventure, without thinking “oh, I need to earn some money for this.”

Most people who adopt a traveling lifestyle will be remote workers, which means you need to set aside adventure time and work time.

It can also be tiring . While a travel lifestyle is fun, it doesn’t offer stability , and after a few years on the road you may start to miss having a home base and not want to travel for the rest of our lives.

It’s an unconventional life, but we love it. Make sure you know the sacrifices you’ll have to make to create this travel lifestyle . Otherwise, you might quit on your dreams and travel goals.

I left home at the age of 21, with my 3-day old teaching degree, a backpack, and only a few thousand dollars.

If I can be honest with you, that money wasn’t even mine, it came from the bank (I don’t recommend you do this by the way).

I’ve been traveling ever since, purely because I love it. Traveling is my passion, and I always knew I wanted to travel for the rest of my life.

I created a life of travel for myself so I can do this. And now I’ve created a life of travel with, and for, my children.

This does not mean I have endlessly been moving from one country to the next . I often stop for work breathers, a place to stock up again before moving on. We love slow travel and immersing ourselves deeply in other cultures.

The pauses can be acts of discovery, exploration and fun synonymous with travel as well. We’ve lived in 5 countries but have traveled through over 50.

I’m not a big counter, I count the memories, the experiences and the friendships more, because that is why you really travel.

How to Live a Life of Travel

I am often asked how to live a life of travel, and you’ll be shocked to know that I am not wealthy – far from it.

A life of full time travel is not as difficult as you may think. There are many clever strategies you can employ to travel around the world for low cost and sometimes even free.

We have created a lifestyle of travel. It’s what we do everyday, even when we are not travelling. When we are ‘settled” (not sure how to define that) we still have our travel attitude on, which is a major part of what travel is.

But to get to the nitty gritty, here are our biggest secrets to help you live a life of travel.

What? You mean I have to work? Ain’t nothing going to come to you unless you work hard for it. Glinda the Good Witch is a fantasy.

If I have disappointed you, I’m sorry, you are probably reading the wrong post and were hoping I was going to say we were rich travel bloggers, because then you’d have a good excuse to not follow your heart.

But I won’t lie to you, travel has become increasingly expensive and your hard earned cash doesn’t go as far as it used to. Which is why a digital nomad lifestyle is so popular.

If you’ve not heard the term digital nomad before, it’s simply a term used to describe someone who travels and works full time.

Since the pandemic, many companies have adopted a remote work environment to save on office costs, so you can always start by asking your current employer first if you can work from abroad.

Don’t just quit your job, talk to your employer and tell them what you want to do.

If they say “no”, then you can either look for a remote job such as becoming a freelance writer, an online English teacher, or data analyst – or try looking for work in other countries to fund your travels.

The best way to earn money on the road is to work in expensive countries, such as Hong Kong, Canada, New York, or The Middle East.

It’s better to spend the local currency and save your own money for other adventures. I never could have travelled the UK and Europe on the Aussie dollar, so I lived in an apartment in London with many other travelers and earned pounds to travel on instead.

Craig and I have followed the working holiday through 5 countries since 1997. Some of our richest travel memories come from the experiences we had living in another culture. It is by far the best strategy to have a life of travel.

We’ve had a wide variety of working holiday jobs overseas including teaching, teaching English as a Second Language , working on a pearl farm , hospitality and working for the airlines. There are so many jobs you can do!

Use platforms like WorkAway to find volunteer jobs where they provide free accommodation and meals in exchange for your service.

• Do you want to live and travel in Australia? Here is our complete guide to the Australian working holiday visa.
• Here is information on the working holiday visa in the UK
• Here are 20 ways you can work and travel in Australia – one of the most expensive places to travel in the world. A working holiday will help you make it a reality.
• Here’s another cool opportunity, How to teach English online to Chinese students , from anywhere in the world.
• One of the best ways to organize working holiday jobs – with Global Work and Travel
• Best work opportunities for Australia

Choose the countries that are cheap to travel to for the long-term. Our long-term trips have taken us through South East Asia and Africa – countries where the budget conscious could get by on $30-$50 a day or even less.

It’s much easier to afford than places in Europe or Australia . Plus, countries such as Thailand have remote worker communities, such as in Chiang Mai , so you can meet other travel nomads like you.

Traveling in cheaper countries means you can do more and travel for longer.

Read More : 20 best travel tips from 20 years of travel

It’s all about how you choose to spend your money in order to prolong your nomad life.

Is that luxury 5-star vacation rental really worth it? Especially if you are out exploring from sunrise to twinkling stars? Can you go the comfy 3-star hotel and have a little extra cash for the fun stuff?

Do you need to eat in a restaurant for three meals a day or can you cook your own breakfast and settle for a picnic lunch?

What about that city tour, couldn’t you do a self-guided one?

Prioritize how you spend money. Spend the bare minimum and always have a number in the back of your mind of what you’re willing to spend on things.

Work out what you are willing to sacrifice and what you aren’t, and craft your travel experiences around that.

Some travel experiences don’t have to cost you a penny, allowing you to make your monthly budget go further.

My advice is to make sure you leave with enough money to cover you for at least 3 months.

Read more: The better you get at spending, the more you will have a life of travel. Click to read our 52 ideas on ways to save money on travel.

Yep, not only do you have to become master budget spenders, but expert savers as well.

When adopting a travel lifestyle, there are two questions you must ask:

• How can I create more money?
• How can I save more money?

Just be careful that when you create more money, you don’t suddenly start spending more! Take the extra cash and put it in your travel fund.

Remember you also need to save for insurances, taxes, and maybe putting into a retirement plan if you’re self employed. You may also need to make a big purchase at a later date, such as if you need a new laptop or book a last minute flight back home.

To create more money, you can:

• sell your possessions
• take on boarders/lodgers
• rent out your property
• work extra hours
• work two or more jobs
• invest wisely

Look at your expenses and work out what you can cull and then work to save money in all areas.

To save more money you can:

• move in with your parents or house share
• cut out luxury items
• live off one wage (if you are a couple)
• save your bonuses
• buy in bulk
• eat out less
• reduce your entertainment costs
• use reward cards and frequent flyer programs
• use coupons
• pay off bad debt

Read more: How To Get Paid to Travel and Make Money Travel Blogging

Digital nomads and those creating their own travel lifestyles are becoming more common. If you want a life of travel, discover how you can make it happen before you hit the road.

If your current job won’t allow you to work remotely, and you have to leave to make it happen, don’t panic. There are other ways you can travel extensively without having a full time remote job.

You can travel in your own backyard. Putting the traveler’s eyes on was one way we coped with reverse culture shock and the inability to travel. We now have another site on life in Raleigh and travel in North Carolina that keeps us traveling all the time! Think about why you travel – what feelings are you looking for. Create that with experiences in your own backyard.

A creative way to be able to travel and live abroad is to try housesitting . This is when you look after someone else’s property while they travel.

You can do this locally in your own town, to get more experience before taking on international opportunities.

However, sometimes it can take years to find a way to make your travel lifestyle dream a reality.

When we first hit the road, all we had was a very clear dream of what our ideal travel lifestyle looked like , then we became 200% committed to it, and we took small steps each day with passion and conviction.

And look what the Universe delivered to us a result.

Read more: We had no idea how to create this travel lifestyle through our travel blog. We had no special talents and definitely no money (Read I want to know your secret to discover the truth).

Many people want a life of travel, but they don’t make it their focus.

You don’t always have to travel far and wide. There are plenty of ways you can make travel a focus of your everyday life.

I like to say make travel your magnificent obsession. That means it fills your daydreams and night dreams. Every decision you make from now on is directed towards making that life of travel a reality.

Once you start focusing on something, you start planning, and then usually the Universe helps you by bringing what you need to make it happen.

The small steps start to grow bigger and before you know it you are living the life of travel you thought was only possible for the lucky ones.

I knew from my first travel experience backpacking Indonesia and then living in London when I was 21 in 1997 that I was going to do whatever it took to craft a life around travel. I didn’t know how but I made it a non-negotiable, and travel has showed up in my life ever since – no matter my lifestyle, and even when everyone said it wasn’t possible once you had kids. I’ll show you!!

My keynote will offer some great insights into how you can create a life you love!

Read More: 15 tips for planning a trip – a step by step guide

Constant travel is tough, as I mentioned earlier. I often want to quit, but I never will because I have this huge why – a gigantic urge that only travel can fill.

I’m happy to ride on the back of a pick up, or sleep in a van, and eat two minute noodles for weeks, if it means I can continue to explore and experience newness every day.

There’s no other life that makes sense for me so I continue to leap over the hurdles.

For many people a life of travel would suck! Different strokes for different folks . You have to decide WHY you are traveling. What burning need are you trying to fulfill? How will this life of travel make a difference and why is this important to you?

Work that out all your paths will fall into place.

That life of travel you desire can be yours.

Most people place the idea of a life of travel in the too hard basket, or a basket that’s only accessible for the wealthy or lucky.

I mean, really, how could it be possible for someone with average, or less than average incomes, to travel the world for weeks, months or even years at a time?

Is it constant travel from one country to the next you yearn for? Or is it a slower form, with frequent pauses for a sampling of the “settled” life before travel calls you back on the road?

Or do you want to just have more travel, even if it is only an extra 2-3 weeks a year?

We hope this guide helped you learn a few tips to help you find your travel lifestyle and gave you some insight into what it is actually like. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments.

Unconventional language hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot; travelling the world to learn languages to fluency and beyond!

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Home » Articles » How to travel the world for life (and work while you travel)

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Benny Lewis

Reading time: 16 minutes

Published: Jul 10, 2014

Updated: Jun 29, 2023

How to travel the world for life (and work while you travel)

Today, July 10th , is my 32nd birthday! But it's also my 11 year travel anniversary .

Back in 2003 I left Ireland this day with no return ticket, and 132 months / 574 weeks / over 4,000 days later, I'm still on the road with no home or place I can call a base. Everything I own in the world weighs 23kg/50lb and comes with me.

On my 8 year travel anniversary, I wrote my site's most popular post ever by sharing the 29 most important life lessons I learned while travelling the world. And last year on my 10 year anniversary, I took those top-10 life lessons and presented them in a professionally edited video to summarize my travels visually.

This year, I'm doing something different and sharing my most practical tips on how you can travel the world (long-term) like I have, without winning the lottery (or having a mega savings). All throughout my travels – for over a decade – I've paid my way from money I earned while travelling .

So, how do I travel the world?

First, you don't need to save up money for years before you can travel the world. So many people make this mistake in mentality, and as a result they put off their travel goals for years unnecessarily. In fact, starting a travel lifestyle right now is well within the possibility of many people. I realize that there are exceptions, and some people might not want to travel the world long term like I do, so today I want to give you a heap of ideas for how to manage your own travel goals, whatever they may be.

I'll tackle four key points:

• How to lead a cheap travel lifestyle
• How to score cheap flights
• How to get the cheapest (and sometimes free) lodging
• How to work while you travel

If you're really serious about starting a travel lifestyle, I'll also share the best links for further reading on travel hacking. To get you started, you can't get better than checking out Nomadic Matt , since I learned a lot of the strategies I now use myself from his book How to travel the world on $50 a day .

(Oh yes – since it's my birthday, as a present request I'll ask that you share this post on your favourite social media site ( Facebook wall, retweet , Google+ share etc.) if you found it useful. Thanks! 🙂

How to travel the world for cheap

Before we discuss how to travel cheaper, it's very important to tackle how to live cheaper . This applies to you right now, even while you are settled.

If you have expensive habits now in your settled life, those habits will follow you into your travel lifestyle and rack up unnecessary expenses. It doesn't need to be this way.

So how expensive is your current life? Before you start travelling, track your actual expenses now and see where they go. Do you eat out a lot? Spend a lot on fuel costs? Does most of your money go to car or home insurance payments?

The good news is that if you start travelling for the long-term, you can live cheaper in part because you'll no longer need to spend hundreds of dollars of month to pay for your car, its insurance, its gas… and all the other major expenses that comes with leading a settled life. When you think about it, with all of these major expenses, leading a settled life is expensive!

But if you're finding that the biggest sticker shock comes from your lifestyle habits, then you'll have to make some tough choices.

Can you cut back on coffee, cigarettes and beer in exchange for extra cash you can put towards train tickets to the distant corners of the world?

Not everyone can, or wants to. But if you can save just ten dollars a day by living a cheaper lifestyle … just 10 dollars a day! … that's enough to pay the cost of your entire monthly rent for a hut on the beach in India or Thailand.

Think about that for a minute.

You might consider making other cheap lifestyle choices, like keeping a vegetarian diet and learning to cook from home. In a lot of countries, you can rely almost entirely on the use of public transport instead of a car, or get around on a bike. You can share accommodation costs by having room-mates. You can choose to be happy with the current technology and clothes that you have instead of updating them every few months.

These changes can increase the amount of your expendable cash dramatically .

After you learn to decrease the cost of your life in general, this will absolutely spill over into savings for your travel life. Then, I recommend you:

• Follow these 25 travel on the cheap tips from myself and Graham Hughes (who has visited every country on earth on a shoestring budget)
• Get rid of all your stuff. Use sites like Ebay , craigslist , gumtree , go to 2nd hand shops, the options are endless. There is no physical item that you actually can't live without unless it is the clothes on your back, food, or your means of earning money (for me, that's my laptop). This will both give you a financial boost and allow you to travel with all your posessions and not need to pay for storage or rent back home.
• Learn how to travel with everything you own carried along with you.
• When eating in a country, don't forget to try to get a place with a kitchen if you can (many youth hostels have one) and cook your meals. Otherwise, try to eat out at lunch time instead of dinner, since many places do lunch specials. Cities like Berlin and Paris have great “business lunch” options that offer several courses for just a few euro. Also, do indeed visit tourist sites, but leave the area when it's time to eat, since you'll be paying tourist rates. Find out in advance where the locals eat .

My number one biggest tip by far for how to travel for cheap is to learn the local language . This will save you heaps of money. I honestly feel this is one of the main reasons that I've been able to afford to travel so long – I've avoided paying the “English speaking tax”, and trust me, that tax exists pretty much everywhere that English is not the native language.

How to find cheap airfares

When your general lifestyle is less expensive, the next biggest expense people imagine is flights .

Flights, I'll admit, can cost thousands of dollars. But if you know where to look, there are several ways to make these dramatically cheaper than you think. Here are some rules to live by when checking out flights.

• Never go to the airline's own website. Instead, use “meta-search engines” while check and compare the rates for multiple travel sites at once. Also, try to book tickets around 3 months in advance, and choose flexible criteria – especially for the exact day of travel. See what the cheapest day is during the week or month around when you can fly. You can save hundreds of dollars by flying even a single day earlier or later! And try multiple searches on several of the following websites until you get the best results:
• www.skyscanner.com
• www.momondo.com
• www.kayak.com
• www.expedia.com
• www.hipmunk.com  [This site ranks flights by “Agony”, taking inconvenience into account]
• For long-haul, cross continental flights, use  flightfox.com. For $49 they can save hundreds or get you nice upgrades. Definitely worth it for many people. I got Lauren's return flight (from US to Spain to live with me for 3 months, then from Ireland to US for Christmas) for $450/€330, because of some strange rule where we added an extra leg to Canada 2 days after she landed in DC that she didn't even take. This website did the research for us in a way you wouldn't get on the above meta-searches.
• If your goal is to fly a lot, you can use “Round-the-world tickets”, which can cost about €3,000+ depending on the number of continents you want to visit. You can book through  airtreks.com  or flightcentre.com , but it's better if you can save miles through credit card sign-ups. This is more appropriate if you want to travel the world for a year and know where you want to go in advance. Using the above options and buying individual tickets still tends to work out cheaper most of the time though, and allows for more flexibility.

How to find cheap or free lodging

For those of you travelling very fast and moving around once every few days, travel will be more expensive, but you can reduce costs by getting last-minute prices on hotels on sites like laterooms.com ,  lastminute.com , hoteltonight.com , priceline.com ,  hotwire.com  (name your price – you won't know where you'll stay until you've paid).

I can understand why people think long term travel is not possible for them, when they think it's a $1-200/night hotel stay, but the fact of the matter is that long term travellers do not tend to stay at hotels .

Instead, we:

• Stay for free with couchsurfing , servas (reference letter required, mostly US senior travellers), hospitality club , globalfreeloaders ( I use Couchsurfing a lot for its search feature to find language learning partners too )
• If you speak Esperanto, Pasportaservo.org is like the above sites with the only catch being that you communicate with your hosts in a language you can learn in a few weeks ! ( Here's how well my girlfriend did with just an hour a day for 6 weeks )
• Use wwoof.org  (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms – about €20 per country membership – you work on a farm and get free accommodation, as well as the amazing experience)
• House-sit at housecarers.com ,  mindmyhouse.com ,  caretaker.org – This is more suited to stays of a month or longer; you get free accommodation in exchange for keeping an eye on pets, gardens, and other chores.
• Stay in youth hostels – as low as just $5/night in countries like Thailand, cheaper across Europe. Find your options on hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com .
• For stays of a few days or a few weeks, I highly recommend staying in a serviced apartment. For mid-range budgets this is my go-to choice. Find your home away from home on 9flats.com ,  airbnb.com ,  homeaway.com , roomorama.com , or wimdu.com .
• Go camping! You are only paying for the space and can access water, electricity and other services as required in specialized campsites for a fraction of the cost of alternatives.
• Here is more on how I find accommodation while travelling

How to work while travelling

Most people think they have to save their pennies for months or years in advance until they have “enough” money to travel and live off of for a while. Unfortunately, this can only last you so long (unless you have won the lottery, in which case send a donation my way! 😛 ). The fact is that you can earn while on the road.

There are two ways to do this:

1) Get a job on-location

If you are an EU citizen you can do this automatically in any other countries in the EU. In most other situations though, you need to obtain a visa in advance.

As an Irish citizen, I got a J1-visa to work in America twice when I was a student (this was part of the 6 months of travel I did before my 11-years-non-stop travel, so I am actually approaching 12 years depending on how you count it…) I applied for this through the Irish organization USIT . They also offer Irish people working visas in many other countries. Your country may have an equivalent service.

In most other situations, you may have to see in advance what your options may be. If you are a student, your university most likely offers study abroad options, and definitely use your network of friends and colleagues to see if any of your fellow students have experience working abroad.

If you are looking for a job on your own, it is actually usually much easier to get hired by a company  before  you travel, and then have that company arrange the visa. This was a possibility for me the first time I went to the US, because I worked as a summer school teacher for a university, which was experienced in hiring foreigners, so I actually didn't need to arrange the working visa myself.

Finally, have a look at the country's embassy website and see what they recommend for working visas.

What work can you do on-location?

The easiest way by far that English speakers can work abroad is to do it as an English teacher . In countries were English teachers are in high demand, the school will arrange the visa and all logistics for you.

I've done lots of work as an ESL teacher myself, all based on an initial weekend affordable TEFL certificate I got from i-to-i , and then building upon my experience earned to get me higher paid jobs with time, eventually working for prominent schools like Berlitz and Wall Street Institute. I've also worked the following jobs on location, to give you an idea of your options (your options expand immensely if you learn the local language – don't forget to sign-up to my newsletter for a week long crash course if you aren't sure how):

• Youth hostel receptionist
• Store manager
• Photographer
• Basic office work
• Engineer (what my undergraduate degree was in – in this case I worked as an intern)
• Go Kart race controller
• Computer repair / on-site tech support
• Lots of English teaching
• On-site translator

You may find other work depending on your work skills and the opportunities available.

2) Get a location independent job

I worked on-location for my first years travel, but the catch was that my wages remained stagnant for all work other than teaching English, since I moved every few months and had to start over from scratch again.

That's why the future of many jobs (not all of course) is that they can be based online , and you can take them with you around the world!

Here are a few ideas:

• If you are good at languages, and willing to go through training for it, become a freelance location independent translator . I found my initial work on proz.com
• Teach your native language online . You can become a teacher on italki for instance and take your students with you wherever you go. My girlfriend did this for her first months of travel with me, and was working full-time with the work she got.
• Become an online coach – while I do this myself to help people expand the popularity of their websites and craft their language learning projects, there are many ways you can implement this. I once met someone who earned her living coaching people to give up smoking (her background was in psychology) over Skype!
• Write an e-book or sell a course online. My site fi3m premium supports this completely free blog (no spammy irrelevant advertising anywhere here – that's a really poor way to do anything but cover hosting costs) through a video course and resource database. I used to sell an e-book too. You can distribute this yourself if you put the time into creating a really high quality free site/Youtube channel/podcast or similar that sends traffic to it. You can also sell it directly on Amazon (self published) or through various other channels. Note that traditional publishing is not a good way to earn a living for most people – my book is an international best seller and this does not translate into money in my pocket because of traditional publishing logistics.
• Take a skill that you have and see if it works online. Here is a list of 64 ideas to work online depending on the skill. You can also see if job openings are available through various online advertising boards, or a job outsourcing site like Upwork .

What kind of working visa do I need?

The question of how you manage the logistics of working online is tricky because there are no international laws that govern such things. What many of us do is simply set ourselves up legally and officially in our home country – so we have a bank, and pay taxes there.

Then we stay in a country on a tourist visa – a grey line depending on where you go. I actually have a business visa while I'm in America right now, since its immigration tends to be the most strict about what I can and can't do here – this is despite the fact that I am not actually technically employed for any of my time here, but my book tour is business of sorts. In most countries though, a tourist visa is OK for online workers. (Disclaimer: Please don't take what I'm saying here as legal advice – I accept no responsibility if you run into issues!)

You aren't legally working in the eyes of many countries as you are not taking any money or employment from its citizens, only spending, as any tourist would. In case you are wondering, the “3 months” in my blog title comes from the 3 month visas I typically have as my limit in most places 😉

How do I set myself up as a business?

Whether you should operate as a freelancer or start your own business depends on too many factors for me to cover here, most important of which being the kind of work you'll be doing, but you can contact a lawyer in your home country if you are unsure.

You can receive payments directly to your bank account (when I was a freelance translator, my clients were European and bank transfers within Europe are free – working with American clients is a pain in the ass to be honest because they are one of the few first world countries that still insist on printing your money on dead trees, i.e. snail-mailing checks/cheques).

Another solution is to set up a pro or business paypal account, but keep in mind that you do pay fees for many transactions and withdrawals.

When everything is combined – working and travelling long-term is easier than you think

A really cool benefit of working location independently is that you can earn in a strong currency like the euro/dollar/pound and spend in a cheaper country where that money will take you really far. Leveraging currency differences is another thing that allows “technomads” to travel so extensively.

The combination of everything I've said in this post, namely

• SPENDING less through a minimalistic lifestyle
• Finding cheaper flights through a bit of research
• Finding cheaper or free accommodation, especially through slower travel
• Working online and earning in a stronger currency, while spending in a weaker one

Means that long-term travel is absolutely sustainable. I break some of these rules sometimes, like this year I'm travelling very fast on my book tour, and accommodation is much more expensive as a result, but flights are still cheap, we eat in as often as possible, we earn online, and we generally don't spend much otherwise.

This kind of fast-travel wouldn't be sustainable for me in the long-term, but we'll be back to three month stays later this year, and back to saving plenty for intensive periods like this.

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

Have a 15-minute conversation in your new language after 90 days

• Jobs Abroad

7 Best Ways to Work Abroad

A recent University of Delaware graduate, Season is a freelance writer and editor. In her spare t...

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How does “working abroad” work?

So, you want to travel and live abroad but your bank account is totally killing your vibe? Consider looking at working abroad. Companies are global and there are opportunities everywhere! Not just teaching. Jobs are diverse and range across industries, so when it comes to finding the best ways to work abroad, there’s always a way. Whether you are looking for ways to work abroad after college, having a mid-career shift, or exploring jobs abroad for the over 50s; it’s never too late to make working abroad work for you!

This isn’t a typo, you CAN work abroad!

The term working abroad means a lot of different things. Depending on where you go, who you work for, and the length of time you plan to stay; working abroad is a process. As you determine the best way to work abroad it’s important to think of all the details involved. But don’t worry we got you!

Age considerations when working abroad

Usually, age is nothing but a number but when it comes to working abroad it can sometimes limit your options. Rule one in the world of working abroad is that you’ll always need a visa. Second to your passport, your visa is the key to working and staying in your country of choice legally. Now here is where age comes in. A snapshot:

• There are many ways to work abroad after college. Your college graduation date always seems so far, until it isn’t. When it finally arrives all you find yourself thinking about is finding a job and starting a career. It’s a lot of pressure to put your experience and degree to use (trust us, we’ve all been there.) But for first time job seekers like yourself, it’s also the perfect time to expand your opportunities and look abroad. Even if you’re not too sure about what you want to do, working abroad is a great idea. The best way to work abroad in this case is to snag a working holiday visa and use sites like LinkedIn or UK site Neuvoo. Check out this resource: The Busy Student’s Guide to Finding Work Abroad After College
• Find career break jobs abroad. Escaping from your regular 9-5 job will probably be on your wish list at one point or another, so why not take a career break abroad to really amp up your time away. While a career break is far from a vacation, working abroad is one of the best ways to spend it. You can gain a global experience and get a more refreshed look at what you want next in your life and career. It’s a total career booster! Kick Off Your Career Break Planning Here!
• Yes, there are absolutely jobs abroad for the over 50s. While you may not qualify for the working holiday visa, there’s still jobs after 50. Whether you are looking to relocate to a different country to continue your career, deciding to take a career break, or choosing the volunteer route for your retirement years; know that you have options everywhere. 

[Download our FREE eBook for even more tips & tales from first time workers abroad]

Imagine ditching the cubicle for an office with an open view

More info because you're not too old for a working holiday

The typical visa of choice to work abroad is the working holiday visa which typically serves those between the ages of 18-30 and sometimes 35 depending on the country you’re going to. You can stay up to two years and get to know your country and fund some extra travel stops. Holiday visas are great ways to work abroad after college since they require little to no experience and are simple to apply for. For the 18-35 age bracket, this is the way to go.

However, if you’re looking for the best way to work abroad after 35, being ineligible for a holiday visa isn’t the end of the road. Instead, you would just apply for a work visa. Unlike holiday visas, these are a little more difficult as they longer to get, so plan in advance. For these visas, be prepared to show off your qualifications and flaunt your professional skills, you will need these to be impressive in order for employees overseas to sponsor you. If you’re on a career break or more seasoned professional, your resume and experience level are a huge advantage. Once you nab a sponsorship its smooth travels from here.

When it comes to getting your dream life abroad, age won’t stop you from getting to your destination. Your journey there is just different.

[ Download the expert guide on how to get a visa for anywhere ]

7 best ways to work abroad, 1. through an agency / program provider.

Program providers, regardless of where they are based, offer a wide range of work, intern, and volunteer abroad opportunities around the world. Supporting you from when you first show interest to your return home agencies like these help you sort out everything you did and didn’t think of. For a fee that ranges from agency to agency you can get help with your visa, phone, and job placement among other things. It’s one of the best ways to work abroad if you find yourself needing an extra push or organizer through the process.

• Pros: These people are here to make your transition abroad super smooth. They’re going to help you get your visa, driver’s license, health insurance, even helping you set up an international bank account if you need it. If this is your first time working abroad these are your peeps!
• Cons: Depending on the support you need, the fees for these agencies can end up on the high side. Leaving you less money to spend once you arrive. However, budgeting ahead can make this big con a minor one.
• More info: How to find the perfect work abroad program provider

2. Work abroad as a teacher

You believe the children are the future, so teach them well and lead the way as a teacher abroad. If you have a TEFL certification , you can teach almost anywhere in the world to leave a lasting impact on the students you teach. Teach students English and maybe pick up a little bit of the local language in return. You will have flexible hours, and with your salary have time to explore other places in your chosen country. It’s a work abroad option anyone can do, young or old, experienced or not. The only requirement for these positions is that English is your native language. Not too shabby, eh?

• Pros: While it’s never about the money, your teaching salary combined with the low cost of living of the country you’ll be teaching in is a major pro! While you can always stash it away for your own travels, the money you have left over can always go towards beating those student loans. (super pro!)
• Cons: While temporary, culture shock is sooo real and will definitely be a challenge when it comes to adjusting to your new life overseas.
• More info: Get hired—browse teaching jobs abroad

BEST lunch break ever!

3. Move abroad, then find work

For all the explorers out there! You don’t always need a job before you reach your destination. If you have the means to get up and go, definitely do it. Don’t let people make you second guess your decision either; just because your decision isn’t conventional doesn’t mean your move is doomed. Our organized checklist is a must have if you choose this route and can also make your move go smoother. Start applying to positions before you land, network with recruiters, and hit the ground running.

• Pros: You make your own path. Being completely independent is a surefire way to not only get immersed in the ways of your new country but have complete control over your experience.
• Cons: Moving abroad this way is like having another full time job. Pressing the restart button on your life will be overwhelming especially with the heavy paperwork you’ll have to deal with. So if you like to avoid stressful situations at all time you might want to skip this way of moving abroad.  
• More info: How to find a job in another country  

4. Get a working holiday visa

If you don’t want to work abroad on a permanent basis snagging a working holiday visa is a great option. Travelers aged 18-35 are eligible and can stay for up to two years depending on the country they choose to stay in. While your working holiday visa determines where you can work and live legally for a period of time, this visa has no restrictions on any free travel you wish to do.

• Pros: One of the best things about a working holiday visa is the work experience you will get on your resume. Once you choose to start applying for jobs back home your time abroad will be a standout experience that will set you apart from other applicants. Your experiences here are also going to make some unique interview answers.
• Cons: There’s an age limit. While other visas aren’t as easy to obtain as working holiday visas thankfully there are other opportunities to work abroad after 35.
• More info: How to work abroad for a couple of months… or more

Make lifelong friends with your international co-workers

5. Do a work exchange

Ideal if you have a tight budget, completing a work exchange is the closest you can get to traveling abroad for free. Through a work exchange you can do a range of things from pretty much anywhere in the world. You can be a video production intern in Israel, a marketing intern in Bali, or work in a hostel in Argentina. As you work in exchange for your room and board all you have to worry about is securing a visa! So, if you’re into wanderlust with little financial pain, a work exchange is the perfect move.

• Pros: Your housing is free and depending on the program your meals will be free too. Not having to worry about food or where you’re going to stay is a huge relief. The only budgeting you’ll have to worry about is planning for trips of your own.
• Cons: While your housing will be free for the program, you can’t control where you stay. Most of the time, your accommodations will be far from the 5-star living you might be used to at home. While you certainly won’t be living in squalor be prepared to give up “luxuries” like privacy or convenience.
• More info: Check out work exchange programs here

6. Volunteer

The act of giving back isn’t just restricted to your community at home. Take your passion for a cause and help people from all over. In addition to traveling, you get to be a part of something that is important and meaningful. As a volunteer, these working experiences won’t be paid, but the work you put into aiding communities, problem-solving, and practicing cross-cultural communication are experiences that have more value than any paycheck you’ll receive. Since there is so much you can get out of this experience volunteering is definitely one of best ways to work abroad after college

• Pros: As a volunteer abroad, you can truly get to know the world around you. A destination is more than just its tourist brochure or visiting guide. Get to know the locals, culture and language outside the vacationer bubble. It’s only by immersing yourself in these communities that you can truly achieve an impact and aid in positive change.
• Cons: Problems just don’t solve themselves overnight. With this being the case, be ready for the unfortunate reality that you can’t help everyone. While your efforts will always be appreciated, real change takes time and can be a complicated journey itself.
• More info: Everything you need to know about service learning projects abroad

7. Freelance/digital nomad

Travel Writers, Web Designer, Photographers, and Vloggers are some of the many things you can do as a digital nomad. Earn your money and grow your clients while traveling the world. If you can’t stand the idea of having a 9-5 within a tiny cubicle, then becoming a digital nomad is one of the best ways to work abroad while pursuing your passions. This lifestyle is definitely ideal for self-starting entrepreneurs looking for a flexible schedule.  

• Pros: As a digital nomad you work your own hours and you can finally be your own boss! Taking your career into your own hands is a powerful statement and one you should be proud to make!
• Cons: The downside to this life is that your income won’t always be consistent. Before you jet off and become a digital nomad make sure you have enough savings in the bank to cover the days you won’t be making money.
• More info: The newbie guide on how to be a digital nomad  

[ Browse ALL available jobs abroad ]

Since were sitting here, let make our travel dreams a reality!

Next steps to finding the best way to work abroad for YOU

Before you jet off to your new life in the country of your dreams, check out our articles to make sure you get your life together before you go abroad. You can also get more into the planning stages by looking through all our resources below. Get your dream job and your dream life at the same time! Choosing a work abroad program isn't as hard as it sounds, especially if you follow these steps:

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should work abroad is paramount. Have a short list of locations that sound ideal for your goals. Don't let your experience (or lack thereof!) hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Pick your job. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which type of company or organization—and role within—would best benefit from your time and energy.
• Choose from the best work abroad programs in the world. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right job program for you . Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Be sure to raise a little extra money to donate to the organization that you'll be working with. Learning how to save for jobs abroad is essential prior to your travels!
• Get prepared! Preparing to work and move abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.

[ Prepare Early: Download This Planning Timeline We Made Just for You ]

You’re informed, so what’s stopping you.

When it comes to working abroad, there are plenty of opportunities. You just need to make sure you have organized all your paperwork and have a clear plan for what you want to do. Although the process can seem annoying, and never-ending there’s always going to be light at the end of the tunnel. So get organized for these visa applications and let’s get to work!

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Travel Companies Adapt to a Livestreaming Trend That May Outlast the Pandemic

Sean O'Neill, Skift

October 26th, 2020 at 12:00 PM EDT

The pandemic rapidly sped up a trend in livestreams. But the early success of Trip.com Group's and Alibaba Group's Fliggy webcasts marketing travel suggests that the phenomenon is here to stay.

Livestreaming has been around for years, but only a few travel companies and organizations have embraced it with vigor and generated significant bookings.

A rare travel success story is Trip.com Group, China’s largest travel company. Its co-founder and chairman of the board, James Jianzhang Liang, has done more than 25 weekly live streams since March. Liang’s webcasts have sold $294 million of travel packages and hotel room reservations.

Many travel companies worldwide have done live streams this year, especially experiences operators and museums . But some have done a better job of building awareness or making money than others, as we heard from several speakers during Skift Forum Asia earlier this month.

Livestreaming may not be the fad that some people assume it is. Consider that China has seen a notable rebound, though not complete recovery, in its domestic tourism. Yet the relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions didn’t stop the popularity of livestreams. Trip.com Group reports that viewership and bookings have continued to grow over time rather than the opposite. That fact suggests that the livestreaming trend may outlast the pandemic.

Klook , an online agency for travel and local experiences, debuted a mobile-friendly live stream feature in late September. By offering exclusive promotion codes on tours, restaurants, and other offerings, the Hong Kong-based startup was able to drive bookings. Some staycation deals sold out in minutes.

Klook COO and Co-Founder Eric Gnock Fah said at Skift Forum Asia that the events have been popular.

“In one of the live stream events, we had more than 350,000 exchanges with the viewers in that one hour,” Gnock Fah said. “We saw a four times uplift in conversions on experiences that we were featuring.”

Tourism organizations in North America and Europe tend to take a lackadaisical approach to live-streaming. They point webcams at animals in zoos or run webinars with panels of guests.

Given the vacuum of brand-created livestreams, audiences gravitate instead toward user-generated livestreams. A case in point is the “where in the world” channel on the online forum Reddit . It features a rotating series of live streams, such as a recent bus ride through Nairobi and a trip outdoors during a rainstorm in Texas.

A more professional approach to live-streaming by travel brands can deliver better results. Examples show the value of playing up the entertainment factor and being willing to sound a bit like a cheesy infomercial. Loosening up appears to work well in live video right now. Ctrip’s Liang often acts silly in his videos, dressing up in costumes or engaging in light banter with guests at destinations he visits in person.

To be sure, Ctrip and Trip.com has been able to ride a broader China’s national fascination with live streams that’s been around since 2015. The country has more than 200 live-streaming apps and services. About a third of the country’s internet users watched an e-commerce-based live stream last year, estimated China Internet Network Information Center . Mass-market platforms like Douyin , which owns TikTok, and Tencent’s WeChat lead the pack in impressions.

Yet there are also travel-specific platforms. Trip.com Group has built a live-streaming platform with engagement tools. Its webcasts support English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

E-commerce giant Alibaba’s travel brand Fliggy has rolled out hundreds of travel-themed live-streaming shows since February. The Shanghai-based online travel agency has held virtual tours led by Chinese-speaking guides of the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Prado.

It matters what tech a company uses. Enabling audience interaction helps boost engagement. Examples include having a comments section, running audience polls, or running question-and-answer sessions. Most of all, it’s critical to have a straightforward way for customers to click and buy the travel shown in the live-stream.

Putting in the work can pay dividends. Trip.com Group said its live streams have so far sold travel products in the mid- to the high-end range for China’s domestic market. Transactions averaged $180 (1,200 renminbi). More than 60 percent of customers made repeat purchases throughout one or more of its live-streaming sessions. The webcasts had more than 100 million cumulative views this year.

On November 8, the Japanese National Tourism Organization will live-stream a tourism promotion event from Okinawa on Facebook. The broadcast will be targeting users in Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand in light of Japan’s plans to lift a ban on overseas travel between it and several of those countries next month. The broadcast will include a live folksong performance and a quiz event, mixed with pre-recorded footage of the island’s charms. The organization plans to offer live streams once a month through March as a test.

Livestreaming on many platforms at once is possible with the help of software, such as OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). Having a high-quality camera and internet connection are keys. In August, camera maker GoPro made it possible for more than 400,000 subscribers to a premium service to live stream from their higher-end GoPro cameras on GoPro.com and then text the live stream link to their family and friends.

On October 29, Alibaba’s travel services platform Fliggy and Jing Travel will have a webinar on live streaming, with an aim of offering strategic and tactical advice. Jing Travel has intensely covered the livestreaming trend. You can also learn more about the livestream trend by watching the on-demand recording of Skift Forum Asia .

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Tags: alibaba , asia , ctrip , fliggy , Klook , livestream , online travel , trip.com , trip.com group

Photo credit: James Jianzhang Liang, chairman of Trip.com Group and co-founder of Ctrip.com, has done a couple of dozen "Boss Live Stream" webcasts in 2020. Trip.com Group

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There is constant communication with each client throughout the complete journey, making your trip as easy and comfortable as possible. Please know that Live and Travel gives a portion of the revenue to helping different charitable organizations in all destinations. Remember that traveling and giving equal happiness.

When visiting our home page, www.liveandtravel.org, you will see journeys in Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Italy, Spain, and France. These are countries, amongst others, I have visited and love tremendously. Nevertheless, along with the operators, we can accommodate any «A La Carte» destinations there, or across the globe.  Affordable rates, insider knowledge, and altruistic mission – that is the Live & Travel difference.

We invite you to LIVE AND TRAVEL with us.

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2. Patagonia

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4 travel tips to put your mind at ease during your next trip

The season of summer holiday travel is just around the corner. 

You might find yourself heading to one of the U.S.’s many national parks, exploring a historic European city or jetting off somewhere tropical, like the Maldives.  

That all sounds like fun, but unfortunately, travel mishaps may also happen. Luggage gets lost, passports get misplaced and phones may not work at international destinations when they aren't connected to Wi-Fi.  

To avoid the headaches and prepare for whatever may come your way (or what accidentally gets left behind), follow these simple tips.  

Watch this video to see the four things you should do before your next trip.

Learn more: Best credit cards of 2023

Pre-Travel Tips 

All you need to get travel-ready is your smartphone.

• Take pictures. 

Take pictures and screenshots of the important items and documents before you leave for your trip. 

This would include: 

• Your luggage
• The photo page of your passport
• Your ID cards
• Any travel-related confirmations
• Location and contact details for the places you’re staying

Creating an album on your phone or marking the images as favorites will make it easier to find them should you need them. 

It couldn’t hurt to also share these pictures with a trusted loved one, like a significant other or close friend.

• Turn on Notify When Left Behind

Turn on Notify When Left Behind if you use Apple products.  

The feature, available on some iPhones, iPads, Macs, and AirPods, will notify you if you are separated from your items, like if you forget your AirPods in your hotel room. 

To turn Notify When Left Behind on or off, open the “Find My” app, select the device and then toggle the setting on or off.  

• Tell your credit card company about your plans

Have you ever had your card payment declined when paying for something on a trip? That’s probably because your credit card company is picking up unusual activity and flagging it as suspicious. 

Prevent that from happening by informing your credit card company of any upcoming domestic or international travel by setting a travel notification. 

Many credit card companies allow you to set the notification online or via the app, though some companies may not require one at all. 

• Check international phone plans

If you want to use your phone when you're not connected to Wi-Fi while traveling, see what international phone plans your mobile carrier offers that fit your budget. An international plan will allow you to do things like make and receive phone calls, access social media and find directions as long as you have cell service. Without a plan, those functions will only be available when the device is connected to Wi-Fi.

Bonus tip, you can download maps to use offline and easily navigate a new place!

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EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas

Most eu students in the u.k now pay annual international tuition fees of up to $47,300.

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission proposed Thursday to start negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.'s departure from the EU four years ago.

According to the EU, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following a referendum in 2016 has damaged mobility between the two areas.

EU, BRITAIN AND SPAIN SAY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS MADE IN TALKS ON POST-BREXIT STATUS OF GIBRALTAR

"This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges," the Commission said.

The European Commission is proposing to open negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.’s departure from the EU four years ago.  (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

When the U.K. was still a member of the economic and political bloc, its nationals had the right to live and work freely in the EU, with reciprocity for EU nationals in the U.K. Under the agreement proposed by the EU's executive arm, EU and UK citizens between 18 and 30 years old would be eligible to stay up to four years in the destination country.

The deal would also allow equal treatment of EU and UK students in the field of university tuition fees. Most EU students must now pay international tuition fees if they want to study in the U.K. The Commission says these vary between 11,400 and 38,000 pounds ($14,200-$47,300) per year and are a strong deterrent for EU students who generally don't have to pay as much within the bloc.

The Commission’s recommendation will be discussed by EU member countries who must give the green light before the executive arm can start negotiations with the UK.

"We have successful Youth Mobility Schemes with 13 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and remain open to agreeing them with our international partners, including EU member states," the British government said in a statement.

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The U.K. has its own Youth Mobility Scheme, which it has offered to some EU member states. The Commission believes the British plan is less ambitious than its own proposal.

"Our agreements provide a valuable route for cultural exchanges providing partner countries are also willing to offer the same opportunities for young British people," the British government added.

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What questions do you have about national parks? Ask our reporters.

Join travel reporter andrea sachs, environment reporter kasha patel and climate coach michael coren for a live chat on monday at 1 p.m. et..

For more than 100 years, the National Park Service has been working to preserve land that inspires awe and wonder. This Monday at 1 p.m. Eastern time, on Earth Day, join travel reporter Andrea Sachs , environment reporter Kasha Patel and our climate coach Michael Coren for a special live chat about America’s national parks .

How have the parks changed over the years? How is climate change threatening the parks? When is the best time to travel to them? What are our favorite parks? We’ll be answering those questions and more on Monday.

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Venice - Postojna Cave - Ljubljana - Zagreb - Plitvice - Mount Triglav - Zadar - Split - Sarajevo - Mostar - Perast - Kotor - Dubrovnik

Windhoek - Solitaire - Sesriem - Sossusvlei - Swakopmund - Khorixas - Etosha National Park - Etosha East - Rundu - Guma Lagoon - Divundu - Kasane - Chobe River Front - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

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Oslo - Longyearbyen - Liefdefjorden - Monacobreen Glacier - Lomfjordshalvøya - Alkefjellet - Torrelnesset - Kongsfjorden - Ny-Ålesund - Ny-London

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Bogernes - Iceland Golden Circle - Keflavik - Reykjavik - Skogafoss Waterfall - Reynisfjara Black Beach - Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Saariselkä or Ivalo - Alta - Tromsø - Hammerfest - Kiruna - Kittilä - Hella

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London - Stratford - Oxford City – Keukenhof or Madurodam – Brussels – Paris – Zurich – Lucerne – Engelberg – Schaffhausen – Trier – Black Forest – Vaduz – Innsbruck – Venice – Florence – Pisa – Rome – Vatican City – Lauterbrunnen

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Rio de Janeiro - Sao Paulo - Iguazú –from Brazil & Argentina - Buenos Aires - Lima - Cuzco - Lake Titicaca - Manaus – Amazon

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Maasai Mara - Serengeti - Ngorongoro - Tarangire - Mount Kilimanjaro - Nairobi

Stockholm - Turku - Helsinki - Santa Claus Express - Rovaniemi - Kiruna - Narvik - Tromsø - Ranua with Ranua Zoo

Nature, Art & Culture

Rome - Vatican City - Polignano - Bari - Matera - Amalfi Coast - Sorrento - Capri - Pompei - Naples - Mt Visuvius - Herculaneum

Nature, History

Istanbul - Cappadocia - Pamukkale - Kusadasi - Mykonos - Santorini - Athens - Pella - Corfu

Nature, Art & Culture, History

St Petersburg - Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Lake Baikal - Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar - Kharkhorin - Gobi Desert - Dayanzadgad - Beijing

From the wilderness of Masai Mara to the pristine pure snow in Switzerland, from the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip to the spectacular and breathtaking view of Aurora Borealis from a glass-topped Igloo in the Arctic Circle, our destinations are handpicked and curated to provide travelers with the best experiences.

Our motto is to make our travelers live the journey, to capture the essence of the destination, to make them experience the many thrills and unique offerings of the place concerned, to provide comfort as we move from one adventure to the next. But most importantly, our priority is to ensure that you enjoy every moment of exploration at every single destination.

A myriad, vibrant landscape of stunning sceneries, inclusive cultures & warm people.

Virtually uninhabited, breathtaking melting point of the ice, the ocean and wilderness.

Pristine mountains, picturesque beaches, the seat of history & culture, the ultimate destination.

The thumping heart of wilderness. Primal, raw and unfiltered.

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From the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney to the Twelve Apostles, Australia is an amalgamation of breathtaking beauty.

Venture into an unexplored territory at the heart of Antarctic wilderness.

Embrace nature and experience its untamed magic at its unspoilt best.

Revel in the grandiose of artistic & cultural exuberance across the world.

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Experience real wilderness in the heart of untamed landscapes.

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Are you ready to start investing in the stock market?

Join Take Your First Trade LIVE

April 15 - 19

Live Online

7pm - 9pm CT

Don't miss your opportunity to start investing in just 5 days.

It's not too late to start your investing journey.

You've thought about buying your first stock, but you keep procrastinating.

You're ready to start earning additional income, but feel overwhelmed by the idea of stocks.

You've heard terms like "IPO", "ETF" or "Index Funds" but still have no clue what it all means.

You understand that there's money to be made by investing, and you're ready to take the first step.

You're hard-working, willing to learn, and eager to start building a life of financial freedom, but you need some guidance.

Good news. That's exactly what you will learn in this LIVE challenge.

I will show you how to invest your money in low stress stocks so that you can have your money work for you and not just sit idle in your bank account.

General Admission

5 lessons from Teri Ijeoma

5 lessons from guest speakers

5 additional exclusive interviews with the speakers

Bonus session with Teri

Replays of the entire event

VIP Admission

Everything in General Admission Plus...

What you will learn...

Each night on April 15 - 19, from 7pm - 9pm CT, you will learn a lesson from Teri Ijeoma in order to buy and sell your first stock and then you will be motivated and encouraged by a phenomenal speaker to get over your fears and take your first trade.

Understanding The Stock Market

Teri will explain the basics of the stock market and its history. Plus, you’ll hear from guest speaker Anthony O’Neal.

#1 National Bestselling Author and Host of The Table With AO

Host and Executive Producer with HGTV and OWN

Learning About Indexes

Teri will teach how to invest in the overall market using indexes and something called an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). Plus, you’ll hear from guest speaker Robert Hartwell.

Opening A Brokerage Account

Teri will talk about how to open an account and what you should look for in a broker. Plus, you’ll hear from guest speaker Rachel Rodgers.

CEO of Hello Seven and Bestselling Author of 'We Should All Be Millionaires'

The Budgetnista and Author of the New York Times Best Seller 'Get Good with Money'

Buying The Stock

Teri will teach how to buy a share of a stock and place your first trade using the ETF knowledge we learned the day before. Plus, you’ll hear from guest speaker Tiffany Aliche.

Selling The Stock

Teri will teach how to actually sell a stock on this day. She will go through the steps of selling a stock, the only way to take profit is by exiting the trade. Plus, you’ll hear from guest speaker Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon.

Inc. 5000 CEO and Bestselling Author of Move to Millions®️: The Proven Framework to Become a Million Dollar CEO with Grace & Ease Instead of Hustle & Grind

If I had known what I know now when I was 17, I could have made $500,000!

I could have made over $500,000 when I was 17.

I’m 17 years old…

Google has just released their Initial Public Offering (IPO) for $83 a share…

I ask my teachers. Nothing.

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I ask everyone I know how to get in on the action and… Nothing!

No one knew how to choose a broker or open an account, let alone place an actual trade!

Fast forward, the share that once cost $83 is now worth $2000 a share!

If I had the knowledge and resources to make my first trade at 17, my life would have taken a different path.

But, you know what?

I wouldn’t change that experience for anything! My mission is to give anyone who wants to learn about trading the tools they need to confidently and fearlessly enter the world of the stock market. I help people make their first trade and get closer to a life of financial freedom.

I'll take you through what you need to know step-by-step in just 5 days!

Each day I will teach a lesson live so that you can watch the video and do the homework. In just two hours per day, you'll be able to take your first trade in less than a week.

First, you'll get an overview of the stock market and the stocks available to invest in.

Next, I'll show you how to open an account, and what to look for in a broker.

Then, we'll move on to how to select, buy and sell your first stock!

By the end of this Take Your First Trade Challenge LIVE, you'll understand the basics of investing in the stock market and how to make money from trading.

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Oh, hey! I'm Teri! Nice to meet you!!

I'm a former elementary school assistant principal, turned full-time trader.

My passions include: learning, traveling the world, and of course, homemade mac-n-cheese. My background in education, combined with lived experience as a trader, has allowed me to reach millions of people across the globe. I've personally taken over 35,000 students under my wings to teach them how to trade with confidence, strategy, and intention. Once a teacher, always a teacher!

I believe this calling has been placed on my heart for a reason! We all start somewhere. It's my mission to empower as many people as I can to make their first trade, and start building a life of passion, purpose, freedom and adventure.

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A general admission ticket gives you access to the virtual LIVE event. VIP PASS holders will get extra time with the guest speaker each day. PLUS! A bonus Q&A session with Teri on April 20th from 7 PM - 9 PM CT, along with 6-month access to the entire event replay.

Yes, if you are worried about missing a day or just want to hear the information again upgrade to VIP. The replays are included for VIP pass holder for six months.

This is a virtual LIVE event. You will receive your personal link to access class online every day. We will be coming on LIVE from a special venue. You wouldn’t want to miss this experience!

Due to the nature of digital sales, automation, and products, all sales are final, and no refunds are issued at this time. Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Advertisement

The U.S. issues new travel guidelines, warning that Iran will avenge the killings of senior commanders.

The State Department has barred its employees from traveling to large parts of Israel. Iran has repeatedly vowed to strike back over the deadly bombing this month of an Iranian Embassy complex in Syria.

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By Liam Stack and Eric Schmitt

• April 12, 2024

Several countries including the United States have issued new travel guidelines for Israel and the surrounding region, as the Israeli military said its forces were “highly alert” for a possible Iranian strike in retaliation for the killings of several commanders.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to strike back at Israel over the bombing of an Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, this month that killed three generals and four other military officers. An American official said on Friday that Washington expects an attack by Iran against Israel that would be bigger than recent attacks in the long shadow war between the two countries, but not so big that it would draw the United States into war. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday barred its employees from traveling to large parts of Israel, the first time the U.S. government had restricted the movement of its employees in this way since the war in Gaza began more than six months ago.

On Thursday, Britain told its citizens that they “should consider leaving” Israel and the Palestinian territories “if it is safe to do so.” On Friday, India told its citizens “not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice,” while France advised people not to travel to Israel, Iran or Lebanon and evacuated the families of French diplomats from Iran.

Asked about the U.S. travel warning , Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, said at a news briefing Thursday: “We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days.” He declined to provide details about any specific information that prompted the warning.

The new guidelines bar U.S. government employees and their families from traveling to locations outside the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba metropolitan areas “out of an abundance of caution” until further notice. The State Department said U.S. personnel could move among those areas for personal travel.

The top American military commander for the Middle East, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, traveled to Israel to coordinate a response to possible Iranian retaliation, U.S. officials said.

“Our enemies think that they will divide Israel and the United States,” the Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said in a statement on Friday after meeting with General Kurilla. “They are connecting us and are strengthening the relationship between us.”

If Iran attacks, he added, “we will know how to respond.”

On Thursday, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that the armed forces were “highly alert and prepared” for any action Iran might take, even as the timing and scale of any response remained unclear. Analysts say that Tehran, which has long used a network of proxy forces to project power across the Middle East, wants to avoid igniting a full-fledged war that could drag in the United States and threaten the survival of Iran’s regime.

“For years, and even more so during the war, Iran has been financing, directing and arming its proxies — in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Yemen — to attack the state of Israel,” he said. “An attack from Iranian territory would be clear evidence of Iran’s intentions to escalate the Middle East and stop hiding behind the proxies.”

Liam Stack is a Times reporter covering the Israel-Hamas war from Jerusalem. More about Liam Stack

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

Gazans released from Israeli detention described graphic scenes of physical abuse  in testimonies gathered by U.N. workers, according to a new report.

Britain, the United States, France and other allies of Israel have voiced their anger over the death toll in Gaza, but when Iran launched a missile barrage at Israel, they set it aside . At least for the moment.

The Israel pavilion at the Venice Biennale is closed this year, since its creative team decided not to exhibit work  until there was a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, but it was nonetheless the site of a large demonstration .

A Surprising Rift: The Israel-Hamas war, which has roiled cultural and political institutions far beyond the Middle East, is causing divisions in a prominent Japanese American group .

Mobilizing the American Left: As the death toll in Gaza climbed, the pro-Palestinian movement grew into a powerful, if disjointed, political force in the United States . Democrats are feeling the pressure.

Riding Rage Over Israel: Jackson Hinkle’s incendiary commentary  has generated over two million new followers on X since October — a surge that some researchers say is aided by inauthentic accounts by the online celebrity.

Psychedelics and Trauma: Thousands of festival-goers were using mind-altering substances when Hamas-led fighters attacked on Oct 7. Now, scientists are studying the effects of such drugs at a moment of trauma .

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EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a media conference at the conclusion of an EU Summit in Brussels, Friday, March 22, 2024. European Union leaders on Friday discussed plans to boost investment and the economy. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission proposed Thursday to start negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.'s departure from the EU four years ago.

According to the EU, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following a referendum in 2016 has damaged mobility between the two areas.

“This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges,” the Commission said.

When the U.K. was still a member of the economic and political bloc, its nationals had the right to live and work freely in the EU, with reciprocity for EU nationals in the U.K. Under the agreement proposed by the EU’s executive arm, EU and UK citizens between 18 and 30 years old would be eligible to stay up to four years in the destination country.

The deal would also allow equal treatment of EU and UK students in the field of university tuition fees. Most EU students must now pay international tuition fees if they want to study in the U.K. The Commission says these vary between 11,400 and 38,000 pounds ($14,200-$47,300) per year and are a strong deterrent for EU students who generally don’t have to pay as much within the bloc.

The Commission’s recommendation will be discussed by EU member countries who must give the green light before the executive arm can start negotiations with the UK.

“We have successful Youth Mobility Schemes with 13 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and remain open to agreeing them with our international partners, including EU member states,” the British government said in a statement.

The U.K. has its own Youth Mobility Scheme, which it has offered to some EU member states. The Commission believes the British plan is less ambitious than its own proposal.

“Our agreements provide a valuable route for cultural exchanges providing partner countries are also willing to offer the same opportunities for young British people,” the British government added.

Follow AP’s coverage of Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/brexit

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Trump hush money trial

Israel-Hamas war

April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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