While hitchhiking is not always safe, it is undoubtedly cheap. Most people are familiar with hitchhiking in cars, where you are given a lift in a car in exchange for the company you provide, but it is also possible to hitchhike on private yachts and airplanes. Many small yacht owners take on extra people to do a bit of work on long ocean passages in exchange for a free ride. These people often advertise in boating magazines and on noticeboards at small yacht clubs. Small, private airfields are another place to look for a free ride, as some pilots of private planes will take on an extra passenger just for the company or in exchange for a small amount of money to offset fuel costs.
Walking is the cheapest form of travel, but it is very slow. Walking to your destination will keep you fit and healthy, but there are many drawbacks. While the transportation itself is free, it is not practical for anyone who needs to get somewhere fast. There are also hidden costs to walking, such as needing to spend money on hotel rooms and meals while you are on route. You must also consider your route carefully. It is not very comfortable or safe to walk along a highway or other high-traffic route. Don't forget, you'll need good shoes.
Driving is actually one of the cheapest forms of travel, even for long distances, especially if there are two or more people in the car. Gasoline will be your biggest expense, and this will vary depending on the type of car you have. You can save money on long trips by taking along a paying passenger. Cheap travel experts sometimes stretch their dollars with the practice of boondocking -- living out of their cars while traveling. You do not need to sleep inside the car -- boondockers often find an out of the way spot to put up a tent at night.
You may not think of flying as a cheap option, but if you are willing to shop around for tickets or fly at little notice, this is actually one of the cheapest ways to travel. Airline ticket prices vary widely, and many bargains can be found by checking with specialist websites, such as Kayak, that let you compare flight costs using a variety of options, such as changing your departure time or date; or Yapta, which tracks airfares to predict whether a price is likely to go up or down before the flight date. Flying also saves you from having to pay for housing and food while on route.
