TRAIL ANGELS
In the modern age, we have more resources than ever to help us design our lives around travel. If you’re interested in budget travel, nomadic lifestyles, seasonal work, road trips, hiking, hitchhiking, or adventure travel in general, the following friends and resources have inspired me or directly helped me to stay on the road. Don’t forget I offer discounts on some of these services here. Happy adventuring!
I am not an affiliate or ambassador for most of these platforms, but I am for some. I recommend products of my own choosing. Read more here.
Basecamp Outdoor Jobs
Mainly United States
A friend of mine invited me to join the Basecamp Outdoor Jobs Facebook group, which is how I learned about it to begin with, but they also have an Instagram account and you can subscribe to their newsletter for outdoor job opportunities. The listings are sometimes seasonal, sometimes remote, but always outdoorsy.
Wildland Trekking
Worldwide
I worked remotely as an Adventure Consultant for Wildland Trekking for four years. Wildland offers guided hiking tours in parks and wilderness areas across the globe, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, North Cascades, the French and Italian Alps, Patagonia, Lofoten Islands, and more. Their local guides are top of the line and the company walks the talk when it comes to conservation. Having seen behind the scenes firsthand, I can confidently recommend them as my top choice for a guided adventure tour operator (if I was a disgruntled employee or thought they did anything unethical, I would have no problem recommending a competitor).
Packs Light Weekly Paid Travel Opportunities
Worldwide
Every Sunday Gabby Beckford sends out a newsletter full of scholarships, grants, and contests you can apply for to win a fully or partially funded travel opportunity! A lot of them are for undergraduate students or people looking to pursue a Master’s degree or research project, which is not quite relevant for those of us who are graduates, but there are also remote job opportunities. My favorite listings are the applications to live abroad or travel for an extended period of time in exchange for, as an example, posting social media content about a brand. Or, recently there was one where you’d be asked to run an AirBnB in Italy. Her listings are here.
CoolWorks
United States
This is how I found my awesome job working at the Activities Desk for Xanterra at the Grand Canyon, one of the most fun gigs I ever had. I got to do all the local tours and excursions, and on my off time I hiked the Big Ditch. Plus, housing and bills were included. CoolWorks can help you find interesting seasonal jobs around the USA; if you want to work in national parks, on a boat, in guest services, at a camp, in conservation, with horses, or at resorts, they’re a great resource!
Wander to the Edge
Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram Live
Adam Asher (from The Edge of Adventure) and Zanne Merkel (from Where Gals Wander) came together to form what we like to call in the music industry a “supergroup”! Together they host the Wander to the Edge podcast (or technically, videocast). Every week they interview an adventurer about their travel style and philosophy, including some of my favorite bloggers, photographers, and outdoors enthusiasts like Susan from This Big Wild World, Tom Thrash, Krista Muscarella, and more! Their motto is #FriendsTalkingTravel – it’s more like a conversation and meeting of the minds than a straight interview; you’re sure to fall in love with them as their own stories unfold over the episodes too. You can watch my episode here!
The Bunkhouse
Minturn, Colorado
I did a work/housing exchange here. The owner Nancy is a badass. She created The Bunkhouse from the ground up, and runs it with an inclusive attitude all about community and adventure. Family feasts and outings on the regular! She encouraged us, the staff, to use our housing exchange time wisely to work towards our goals and think about maybe starting our own businesses. As far as being a guest goes – The Bunkhouse is just about the only affordable lodging in the Vail Valley. Most people who come to Vail Resorts and Beaver Creek are doing the five-star thing, while the skiers and snowboarders coming for the adventure and the love of it get priced out. At least, that was before The Bunkhouse.
Base Camp Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
I did a work/housing exchange here as well. Olé, the owner, is an enigma. When not on some kind of extreme paragliding trip, he would quietly bless us all with wise insights on living your best life, like a true yogi. Base Camp Hostel is a house in downtown Anchorage (Spenard) with a few dorm rooms, a private room, and a yard where campers can pitch their tents. I’ve never met so many interesting people in one place. I met hikers, motorcyclists, fishing boat workers, mountain climbers (including the youngest girl to attempt the 7 peaks, Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru), and van dwellers. There is endless exploring to do in Alaska and staff were encouraged to experience it all. The saddest part was becoming so familiar with cool guests and then having to say goodbye, again and again.
Travel Insurance Master
Worldwide
Now more than ever, as every country’s rules around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to shift and change on a daily basis, it’s important to compare different travel insurance plans to decide which one will be the best for your particular needs. Did you know one insurance company, APRIL Travel Protection, is now offering a Pandemic Plus plan? Or that AIG Travel Guard offers an Adventure Sports Bundle? Travel Insurance Master lets you enter your own special criteria about what type of travel plans you have, and will use that information to bring up options from multiple different companies that you can compare and contrast, before picking the one that will best suit your needs.
REI
United States
I’m proud to be an affiliate for REI, a brand that has always made me feel welcome and confident as a woman in the outdoors. As one of the most massive outdoors store chains in the United States, they were accessible to me when I was first dipping my toes into the hiking world. They have a ton of sales, and when you sign up as a Co-Op member you’re eligible for additional discounts. You can also buy used gear and take classes (I took an orienteering class about map- and compass-reading at the Flagstaff location). I like exploring mom-and-pop stores too, but REI has a location in many of the cities I visit. They are a go-to where I know I can find anything I need.
I list the latest REI discounts on my Swag, Discounts, and Downloads page.
Hostelworld
Worldwide
I think every hostel that exists in the entire world must be bookable on this site. Third party aggregators like this do take a percentage of the hostel’s earnings whenever you book through them instead of direct with the hostel, but the ease of searching all your options in one place is pretty nice. The way they list the amenities is clear and cohesive and you get to see reviews from past guests.
GAIA GPS
Worldwide
GAIA is an offline navigation application for your cell phone. When you download offline maps in advance of a hiking trip or offroading adventure, the app continues to show where you are on a topographical map even without cell service. It’s my main navigation tool for my trekking trips. I also sometimes like to reference it on road trips when the reception is too poor for my Apple Maps driving directions. There’s a free version and then two additional tiers which give you access to more map layers for things like snow depth, cell reception, and Motor Vehicle Use Maps. If you can’t find the hiking trail route you need, just download the gpx files online from AllTrails or elsewhere and upload them to GAIA before your trip.
AllTrails
Worldwide
AllTrails is the leading online resource for trail descriptions, trail reports, and maps. Before embarking on any hike, I always find it on AllTrails first and read the recent experiences other hikers have logged. This gives me a heads up about any potential obstacles I might encounter, such as recent rockfall, muddy or icy conditions, wildfire danger, or wildlife sightings. And, a lot of the time, I can’t find the gpx tracks I need on GAIA, so I download them off AllTrails and upload them to GAIA. This might be silly considering you can just upgrade to AllTrails+ which allows offline navigation just like GAIA does, but this combination of using both apps works for me. Other hikers agree that AllTrails is best for finding trails, while GAIA is best for navigation, but if you want to keep it all in-house and only use one app, you can use AllTrails+ for most purposes.
Freecampsites.net
Worldwide
Freecampsites.net, The Dyrt, and iOverlander are all examples of apps for finding free campsites that I listed in my article Apps and Resources for Full-Time Vanlife and Car Living. In addition to dispersed Bureau of Land Management and wilderness campsites, you can also use these platforms to find truck stops, rest stops, and Walmart parking lots where you’re allowed to park and sleep overnight.
The Dyrt
United States
The Dyrt is my number one resource for finding free dispersed campsites near national parks where I can get good enough cell signal to work remotely from my truck camper, but you can also use their platform to find paid campsites with more amenities. The reviews and photos from other campers are invaluable. You will have access to some features for free, but PRO allows offline access, plus more advanced search functionality and map layers. Sign up for a 7-day free trial of The Dyrt PRO here.
Workaway
Worldwide
I learned about Workaway through word of mouth – I was standing on a train platform getting ready to board the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, when a girl noticed my massive pack and asked me about my travels. Turns out she traveled and worked seasonally for a living, and was returning to Big Sur where she lived in a little cabin for free in exchange for being a caretaker for the property. Before this she lived in a yurt in the Redwoods in exchange for working at a Bed & Breakfast, and before that she lived in Costa Rica while volunteering at hostels and teaching English. She recommended Workaway to me, which I would later use to find Base Camp Anchorage. It includes all kinds of work/housing exchange opportunities, not just hostels/B&Bs, so there’s something for everyone.
Worldpackers
Worldwide
Worldpackers is a very well-rated alternative to Workaway that more and more travelers seem to prefer these days. Worldpackers offers insurance plans in case your trip doesn’t pan out like you expected, and they have a built-in community of travelers you can chat with about their previous volunteering experiences. It’s worth searching for hosts on both Worldpackers and Workaway as you might find different opportunities depending on the platform.
HipCamp
United States
You can find any style of campsite your heart desires on HipCamp. There are glamping options but there’s also tent camping, safe parking spots to pull over and sleep in your car, treehouses, and yurts. There is quite a range of price points, the lowest usually being about $15 per night. It works like AirBnB where your host offers up their private land for booking and people are able to leave reviews so you know what you’re getting into. When I have trouble finding free dispersed campsites, I often resort to HipCamp.
Use my referral code THEDETOUREFFECT to get $10 off your first camping trip! Or, if you are a landowner and want to host campers, HipCamp a great way to earn passive income and meet travelers – you can also use my referral code THEDETOUREFFECT when you sign up and we’ll both get $100 after you host your first camper.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
Worldwide
WWOOF is kind of like Workaway and Worldpackers, but focuses on farming, gardening, and livestock. You get the chance to learn new and practical skills while living rent free and helping small businesses thrive. I only tried this once but I don’t think my experience was representative of what WWOOFing is typically like (that’s a wild story for another time) – there are hundreds of amazing hosts out there and I’d love to try more of them!
Trusted Housesitters
Worldwide
If you love animals, Trusted Housesitters could be an especially fun way for you to travel the world cheaply! When people leave their homes for an extended time period for whatever reason, perhaps traveling themselves, they want assurance that whoever is looking after their home or their pet is vetted and trustworthy. Queue Trusted Housesitters. As a sitter, you’ll create a profile that shows homeowners that you have past experience and that you’ll take good care of their home while they’re gone. You can search for housesitting/petsitting opportunities all over the world. If hired, you’ll volunteer your time in exchange for a free homestay.
Roadside America
United States
When I’m planning my road trips…I don’t. I just go, and figure I’ll find interesting pit stops along the way. Sometimes billboards will alert you to something unique, and sometimes you can just click around your usual driving map application and see what’s nearby. Often those methods come up short, and when the philosophy of going where the wind blows fails me, thank goodness for Roadside America. There are maps of every state with hundreds of pins you can zoom into to see what strange attractions are nearby your location. Atlas Obscura is another great resource in a similar vein.
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
Worldwide
If being a digital nomad or working abroad appeals to you, getting certified for teaching English as a second language will open many opportunities. The TEFL course is internationally recognized and you don’t need any prior teaching experience to take it. With certification you could tutor students online while working remotely from anywhere, or in-person in a classroom in a foreign country.
Not sure if teaching English is right for you? Check out Creative Travel Guide’s interview with Candace from Traveling Strange about her experience as a digital nomad via online English teaching.
Wanderlog
Worldwide
A good friend recommended Wanderlog to me when I was trying to keep everything straight for a year’s worth of upcoming travel plans. You can forward all of your flight tickets and hotel, transit, and tour confirmations to Wanderlog and it will upload the information into an itinerary for you. You can also go in and manually edit details about your trip, adding special notes and places of interest that you hope to visit. This has been massively helpful to me; previously I was creating elaborate excel spreadsheets and word documents to keep track of all my plans. You can also share your Wanderlog itinerary with other collaborators if you’re traveling with a group, or set it to “view only” so your family can simply keep track of where you’re at. It can also be used as a budgeting tool since you can input how much each flight, hotel, and attraction costs.
Wanderlog is also a maps app, similar to Google’s My Maps, so you can create and share visual itineraries. Check out my Wanderlog profile and map guides.
Squat the Planet
Worldwide
Squat the Planet forums offer community-based tips and tricks from and for dirtbags traveling via bike/hike/hitchhike/boating/van-dwelling/train-hopping/you-name-it. You can even find other people to meet up with who are traveling the same direction as you. I’ve gotten rides from people after searching online, which is sometimes safer to coordinate than sticking a thumb out depending on where you are. Lots of adventurous ideas were planted in my brain by those in the forum, and I’ve also been able to research advice about keeping safe and being efficient while on the road from people who have been there/done that.
Airalo
190+ countries
I will never use a regular SIM card again when traveling internationally now that eSIMs are available. There is no cheaper or more convenient cell data solution. When you use an eSIM, everything is automatic and you don’t have to find a physical SIM card at the airport. I wrote about how and why to install an eSIM here.
Use my discount code CLAIRE7365 to get $3 off your first purchase of an Airalo eSIM for affordable international cell coverage.
Jackery Portable Power Stations
United States
I use a Jackery portable power station and solar panels in order to work remotely from my truck while traveling nomadically. I use it to charge my laptop, wifi hotspot, and phone when I’m at campsites with no power outlets. I would not be able to live this lifestyle otherwise.
A lot of Jackery products are admittedly quite expensive, so it’s awesome that they have a refurbished program. If you purchase a refurbished Jackery product, you can save up to 50%. Keep an eye on my Discounts page as well, because I list all of Jackery’s seasonal sales there.
Honorable Mentions
I haven’t used these yet, but they might be useful to you:
Worldwide health insurance for full-time nomads.
Medical insurance for outdoor adventurers.
Job board for remote work.
Facilitates travel and accommodation for people working remotely.
Give back and get paid.
Similar to Workaway. I’ve made a profile but haven’t volunteered anywhere yet.
Bob Wells is helping people live nomadically out of their vehicles.
WiFi gear reviews and tips designed to help you stay connected while traveling.
Find your brethren.
“The last free place in America.” I visited briefly to check out the art.
It was like a movie all the time. Everybody around me was a great story that never stopped, and for the first time, I realized how much freedom you have to do what you want. – Daniel Johnston