How to Travel for Free This Summer

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Traveling offers a world (pun intended) of possibilities, including everything from great new cultural experiences to fantastic designs and rituals you might start adding to your own daily routine. (Might we suggest lagom, the Swedish art of relaxation?)

But as much as travel has to offer, it can also be incredibly hard on your bank account, no matter how many travel deals you find—which is why we’re suckers for a good contest (or two, or three, or four…).

Ahead, check out some great contests going on right now that’ll literally pay you to travel—seriously. It’s time to start packing those bags.

Iceland (and the World)

Talk about the best summer job ever: Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW Air wants to give two friends the opportunity to work in downtown Reykjavik this summer, all while traveling to several of the airline’s 38 destinations and creating content for the brand. For approximately $4,000 a month, with all living and transportation costs covered, the lucky winners will get to assess each location on its nightlife, cultural experiences, hospitality, and more. So basically, you get paid to travel the world—not a bad gig at all, right?

To enter, fill in an application on the company’s site by May 14, where you’ll have to submit a two-minute video of a travel guide to your hometown. Winners will be announced on May 18.

Hawaii

Can’t take any more time off work? You’re in luck: You can work in paradise now, thanks to this deal by the Hawaii Tourism Association, aptly titled “Work From Hawaii.” It offers a choice of six islands—Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island)—each one designed with a specific career in mind and offering a specially curated itinerary. For example, Kauai boasts a location scout for aspiring photographers and videographers; Molokai, a writing desk for the creatives; the Big Island, a sound space for musicians; Oahu, a design loft (our favorite, naturally) for decor lovers; Maui, a tech hub for Silicon Valley types; and Lanai, a corner office for entrepreneurs.

Each work adventure will take place some time in September 2018 for seven days, with a daily stipend for meals and included accommodation. Unfortunately, however, it’s only for stressed out New Yorkers between the ages of 24 and 36 who have a public Instagram account—but if that’s you, enter on the official Work From Hawaii website now.

Wherever You Want

What does living your best life mean to you? Well, if you’re lucky, you’ll get paid $60,000 to find out: Seltzer company White Claw Hard Seltzer is holding a contest to find two travelers who’ll become “Best Life ambassadors” and basically go around the world working on themselves and living their best life for six months, no matter what it is they might want to do: Think surfing lessons in Hawaii, or learning yoga in India. The only restrictions? You have to be 25 years of age, and your activity should promote a healthy, active lifestyle.

The company is looking for one male and one female by June 2, 2018—simply enter on the website by submitting a photo of yourself living your best life.

Scandinavia

Okay, this deal is more for your kids than it is for you, but if visiting Scandinavia (and checking out all its amazing design stores IRL) is on your list, you’ll want to take advantage this great promotion by Scandinavian Airlines: US travelers who book a trip that takes place between August 20, 2018 and March 30, 2019 will be able to take their kids for free. The deal will include roundtrip base airfare for any kid 11 or under—all you’ll really have to pay is taxes and fees per child.

To buy, simply purchase your ticket on the company website by May 13. Hubs are located in Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.

America’s Sunniest Cities

Hotel chain Days Inn is offering the chance to travel all throughout America’s sunniest cities and take part in some really exciting activities, including sailing in Miami and having a yoga class in San Diego. The lucky winner, who will be called a “sun-tern,” will have to photograph these bright days soaking up the sun, which will then be featured on the company’s social media channels and in select Days Inn properties across the country.

The job will take place for a month (with Sundays off) at some point in the summer, and include a $10,000 stipend and paid travel expenses. To enter, all you need is the ability to take compelling photos and a thrill-seeking attitude. Applicants must submit their best original outdoor photograph and a short 100-word paragraph explaining why they’d be the best person for the job on the company’s website by May 20 in order to be considered.

Atlantis The Palm Hotel, Dubai

If Kim Kardashian is a fan, you know it’s pretty much one of the most opulent hotels around… and now, you can stay there for free. Atlantis The Palm in Dubai is one of the most Instagrammable hot spots in the world, thanks to insane amenities like underwater suites, a three-million-gallon aquarium, and 24-karat gold trimmings in suites—so basically, it’s a social media dream.

In order to celebrate hitting 1 million likes on Facebook, the hotel is offering a free night in a specially created “Fan Suite” that has all these fixtures and so much more, including an on-demand butler called “Alfred” and a digital mirror that doubles as your Facebook news feed. All you have to do is like to the hotel’s Facebook page and enter on the Atlantis Fan
Suite website by picking your preferred dates and answering a few questions about why you want to win. A lucky winner is picked every single day.