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How to travel the world on a budget?
Money & Budget
From teaching English to farming, discover the unique travel opportunities that allow you to fully immerse yourself in local cultures!
Traveling can easily feel overwhelming when we start considering the price of everything, but it doesn’t have to be. In this blog I share with you my favorite options to save money while traveling. These options not only offer free accommodation, but also provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture and learn new skills. From working on an organic farm in Italy to teaching English in Thailand, these options offer a unique and meaningful travel experience.
So, join us as we explore the world of budget travel and discover how you can make your travel dreams a reality without breaking the bank.
1. The Workaway program
Workaway is a popular option for budget-conscious travelers who want to experience a new culture and gain valuable work experience while traveling. It can also be a great way to make new friends, learn new skills, and support local communities and projects.
What is workaway?
Workaway is a cultural exchange program that connects travelers with host families and organizations around the world who are looking for volunteer help in exchange for accommodation and meals. Workaway aims to provide affordable travel opportunities that allow travelers to immerse themselves in a new culture and gain valuable work experience while supporting local communities and projects.
In exchange for your volunteer work, hosts typically provide accommodation and meals, although some hosts may also offer additional benefits such as language classes, cultural activities, or transportation.
How to find a workaway opportunity?
As a Workaway participant, you can browse listings on the platform to find hosts in the country and region you want to travel to. Hosts can range from individuals and families to businesses and non-profit organizations.
Example of workaway experience
The work you do as a “Workawayer” can vary depending on the host’s needs, but it often includes tasks such as gardening, housekeeping, teaching, animal care, farming or helping with community projects.
2. Volunteer in hostels
Volunteering in hostels is a popular option for travelers who want to save money on accommodation and connect with other travelers while also gaining valuable work experience. Hostels often offer volunteer positions in exchange for free accommodation, meals, and sometimes other perks like free laundry or tours. Volunteer positions in hostels can vary, but they often involve tasks such as reception work, cleaning, helping with events or tours, or socializing with guests. Hostels may also offer more specialized volunteer positions such as marketing or social media management.
What are the perks of volunteering in a hostel?
Volunteering in hostels can provide several benefits for travelers. It can be a great way to meet new people and make friends while traveling, as you’ll be living and working alongside other travelers and hostel staff. It can also be an opportunity to gain work experience in the hospitality industry or in other areas such as marketing or event planning.
How to find hostels offering volunteering work?
There are several ways to find hostels offering volunteering work. Online platforms are very popular, since there are an easy way to connect travelers with hostels that offer volunteering positions. Some popular platforms include Workaway, HelpX, and Worldpackers. Another way to find volunteering work is through hostels’ websites or their social media platforms.
While these options are useful if you are trying to plan your next move, my favorite way is word to mouth. If you’re currently staying in a hostel and are interested in volunteering, you can ask the staff if they offer volunteer positions or if they know of any nearby hostels that do. This forces you to interact with the locals, get a first vibe of the place you are going to volunteer, and it also pushes you to get out of your comfort zone. Obviously, this is an option that is less reliable but most of the time it works perfectly!
It's important to carefully research volunteer opportunities in hostels before committing to a position.
Some hostels may have stricter requirements or expectations than others, and it’s important to ensure that the work you’ll be doing aligns with your interests and skills. It’s also important to make sure that the hostel you’re considering is reputable and provides a safe and welcoming environment for volunteers.
3. Housesitting
What is housesitting?
Housesitting is an arrangement where a homeowner temporarily leaves their home in the care of someone else, known as a housesitter. The housesitter takes care of the property, including tasks such as watering plants, taking care of pets, and maintaining the house’s cleanliness and security. In exchange for their services, housesitters usually receive free accommodation during the homeowners’ absence.
Why is housesitting so popular among travelers?
Housesitting is becoming increasingly popular as a cost-effective way to travel and experience new destinations. It is also a great way to live like a local and immerse yourself in the culture of the place you are visiting. Homeowners also benefit from having someone take care of their property while they are away, giving them peace of mind and often saving them money on pet and house-sitting services.
4. Become an Aupair
Being an Aupair is a cool way to combine travel with work and cultural exchange, and can provide a fulfilling and enriching experience for those who are interested in exploring new places and cultures. Obviously, being an Aupair also means you have to be ok with the kind of task related to it, aka taking care of kids.
What is an Aupair?
An Aupair is a young person, usually between the ages of 18 and 30, who travels to a foreign country to live with a host family and provides childcare services in exchange for housing and food, and sometimes a small stipend. Aupairs usually come from another country and stay with their host family for a designated period of time, typically six months to one year. They may also help with light housework and other duties related to childcare.
The term “Aupair” comes from the French phrase meaning “on equal terms,” reflecting the idea that the au pair is treated as a member of the host family rather than an employee.
What are the benefits of being an Aupair?
1. Getting fully immerse in a new country
Living with a host family allows au pairs to experience a new culture and way of life firsthand. They have the opportunity to learn a new language, try new foods, and make new friends.
2. Free time
Au pairs often have free time during the day, evenings, and weekends to explore their new surroundings, visit local attractions, and travel to nearby cities and countries.
3. Low cost
Au pairs often have free time during the day, evenings, and weekends to explore their new surroundings, visit local attractions, and travel to nearby cities and countries.
4. Language learning
Au pair programs often provide additional benefits such as language classes, cultural activities, and support services, which can enhance the travel experience and help au pairs adjust to their new environment.
5. Great working experience
Being an au pair can also provide a unique opportunity to develop new skills, gain work experience, and improve their resume, which can be valuable for future job opportunities.
What are the benefits of being an Aupair?
How to become an Aupair, is more where to look for a family. Well, there are plenty of websites and agencies that can help you find a match. Personally, I used a platform called aupairworld.com and I found it was super easy to navigate and connect with different families. There are also different facebook pages you can join, but obviously it might be a bit less safe from scam then agencies or aupair’s plateforme.
Obviously being an Aupair is not for everyone, so make sure you understand what it involves before considering it! I met a few people that did not quite understand what they were signing for and they had quite an horrible time.
5. Digital Nomad
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is a person who works remotely while traveling the world or living in different locations. All you need is a laptop and good internet connection to perform your work duties. This can include freelance writing, web development, graphic design, social media management, and many other digital jobs that can be done remotely. Especially since covid, the digitalization of work has allowed many people to go fully online, which also opens many opportunities if you always dreamed of traveling, while making money.
Discover the digital nomad visa
A digital nomad visa is a type of visa that allows people to work remotely and travel in a specific country for an extended period of time. This type of visa is becoming increasingly popular as more people are choosing to work remotely and travel the world.
Digital nomad visas typically have specific requirements and restrictions, which vary depending on the country. Some countries require proof of employment, health insurance, or a minimum income to qualify for the visa. Other countries may limit the duration of the visa or restrict the type of work that can be done while on the visa.
Some countries that offer digital nomad visas include Estonia, Portugal, Germany, and Barbados. These countries are attractive to digital nomads because they offer affordable living costs, good internet connectivity, and a high quality of life.
Digital nomad visas can provide a great opportunity for people who want to work remotely and travel the world, as they offer a legal way to stay in a country for an extended period of time. However, it’s important to carefully research the requirements and restrictions of the visa before applying, and to ensure that all necessary documentation is in order.
Why should you consider being a digital nomad?
The lifestyle of a digital nomad is often characterized by freedom, flexibility, and adventure. When you become a digital nomad the main perk is being able to work from anywhere in the world, and being able to adjust your work schedule to explore new destinations or participate in local activities.
See the world without breaking the bank by volunteering, aupairing, and housesitting your way around the globe!
Marie-Pier Allard
Traveller by day, blog writer by night
