How to Travel for Free (No, You Don’t Have to Be an Influencer!)

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These days, you can’t scroll Instagram without seeing some ad promising How to Get Paid to Travel—and let’s be honest, it’s tempting. Who wouldn’t want free flights and luxury stays?

But what most people don’t realize is that being a travel influencer is a full-time job—one that often requires endless content creation, brand partnerships, and a ton of behind-the-scenes work.

Luckily, there’s another way to travel for free without turning your life into a social media production.

The Secret? House Sitting & Credit Card Points

Instead of chasing sponsorships, savvy travelers are hacking the system with house sitting and credit card points—two of the easiest ways to stay and fly for free.

A close-up of a woman's hand with black nail polish holding a blank credit card, wearing a black sheer polka-dot sleeve against a white background.

View of Paris rooftops through an open window, with terracotta chimney stacks and the Eiffel Tower in the distance under a soft, overcast sky.

House sitting & pet sitting:

Stay in beautiful homes worldwide for zero dollars just by watching someone’s pets while they’re away. Homeowners get peace of mind, and you get free accommodation—it’s a win-win!

Credit card points:

Use a strategic travel credit card, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, to rack up points on everyday spending and redeem them for flights, hotels, and rental cars.

Now, let’s break these down…

The Secret to Free Stays in Europe? House Sitting.

Let’s be real—accommodation is the biggest travel expense, especially in Europe, where even the most “budget-friendly” options can bleed your wallet dry.

But what if you could stay in a chic Parisian apartment, a countryside villa in Tuscany, or a townhouse in London—for free?

That’s exactly what house-sitting lets you do. Homeowners need someone trustworthy to watch their pets while they travel, and in exchange, you get a free place to stay. No rent. No hotel fees. Just you, a cozy home, and maybe a fluffy dog or two.

And no, this isn’t some obscure travel hack. There’s one platform that dominates the game:

TrustedHousesitters –

The go-to site for scoring stays across Europe. It’s the biggest and best, period.

Do You Need Experience? Nope. If you’re reliable, responsible, and genuinely like animals, you’re golden.

Pet owners just want someone who won’t flake or throw a wild party in their home. Write a solid profile, get a few good reviews, and you’ll have your pick of stunning European stays.

So, while everyone else is burning through their savings on overpriced hotels, you’ll be sipping espresso in an Italian courtyard—for free. Sounds like the better deal, doesn’t it?

👉 Learn More about Trusted Housesitters here!

Earning Free Flights with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

Now that you’ve got free places to stay, let’s talk about getting there—for free.

Credit card points and miles are like collecting little travel treasures every time you swipe. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can turn everyday purchases into flights, hotels, and rental cars.

Travel for Free, No Social Media Required

With house sitting and credit card points, free travel is totally possible—no need for brand deals or a massive following.

By swapping hotel costs for pet-sitting gigs and leveraging miles for flights, you can explore the world without breaking the bank.

Curious About Travel Blogging and Becoming an Influencer?

As a travel blogger, I can say it’s not all bad, but it isn’t as easy as it is made out to be. And truthfully I much rather earn points or miles to redeem for travel than hustle for what I could get in a partnership with a brand.

If you do still want to learn more about blogging, consider taking a course on SEO and Instagram.

In the short term, research the more attainable ways to travel free, like getting one of these credit cards.

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. All information about Capital One cards has been collected independently by A Solo Woman Traveling. Capital One cards are no longer available through A Solo Woman Traveling.