IT'S A FREE WORLD:DON'T DISMISS couchsurfing, WWOOFing (worldwide opportunities on organic farms) and global freeloading as just a single person's game. Families can avail of free accommodation around the world too, according to the organisers of the following websites.
Couchsurfing (couchsurfing.org) is a worldwide network of sofa beds offered to travellers for free through an online system of profiles.
The family welcome group section on the website lists people offering their spare rooms or sofa beds to a family. These are usually people with children who love to socialise and meet people from other countries.You can vet the host family by reading their profile and checking the feedback. You can also return the favour and become a host family.
Family WWOOFing (wwoof.org) is also doable. It provides a network of people offering bed and board on farms around the world in exchange for three to six hours of work per day, which could involve anything from cooking, carpentry, teaching English or sewing.
If the farm is amenable to you bringing children along, you might be asked to provide food for them or make a financial contribution and they’ll have to be supervised by one parent at all times.
Catch:the bigger the family the harder it will be to find accommodation. "We receive many reports of excellent WWOOFs with children but there have also been some disastrous ones. Those that go wrong are usually due to poor arrangements prior to the visit," according to wwoof.org.
Take note:other organisations include globalfreeloaders.com, helpx.net and servas.org.
- IF YOU'RE planning a trip to the UK why not try to get free audience tickets for your favourite TV show.
You can visit TV audience company SRO's website (sroaudiences.com) and register your interest for shows including Alan Carr, Chatty Man, which is recorded in ITV studios near Waterloo; BBC's The Graham Norton Show; or Channel 4's Countdownfilmed in Manchester; or you could sign up for tickets for Ant and Dec'snext TV show.
Catch:you'll have to act fast to get tickets for some of the more popular shows and, if you have plans to wave to mammy, make sure you choose a show where the audience is on camera.
Take note:another useful website tvrecordings.com is offering free audience tickets for the 10th series of Harry Hill's TV Burpand comedian Russell Howard's series of intimate warm-up gigs in preparation for the third series of Russell Howard's Good News.
- A COMPANY called Sandeman (neweuropetours.eu) offers free walking tours of Amsterdam, Dublin, Berlin, Edinburgh, Jerusalem, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Tel Aviv, Prague and Hamburg. Guides share their personal stories and insights during the walks which are not for the faint-hearted because they can often take up to three hours.
Catch:it's free but the guides make their money from tips.
Take note:if you're travelling in a large group of more than 10 people, you must pre-register at least 24 hours in advance.
- STOCKHOLM IS an expensive city, but free attractions include the changing of the royal guard (part of the Swedish armed forces) which consists of around 30,000 guards. A free 40-minute event in front of the King of Sweden's residence, it takes place during autumn on Wednesday to Saturday at 12.15pm and Sundays at 1.15pm. In the winter it's scaled down somewhat but is on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 1pm.
Kungstradgarden is a popular destination for both summer and winter travellers and in winter has free ice-skating. From mid-November until March, there’s also live music and stands with hot drinks and food.
In summer, Kungstradgarden is an outdoor venue for free events.
Catch:the ice-skating may be free but prepare to pay for the food and drinks.
Take note:even visiting a museum can be free in Stockholm. There's free admission at both the Moderna Museet (modern art and sculptures) and the Arkitekturmuseet (architecture and design).
- Found a freebie on holidays? Email the details to emorgan@irishtimes.com