When describing my travel plans, so many people ask the reasonable question–how do you afford this? Three months, eight countries, fifteen cities. There are many things I can (and will) teach you about budget travel, but let’s start with one of my biggest cost-cutting tips.
This website is a miracle worker. You can find simple work in practically any country in exchange for free accommodation and an amazing experience. Help run an international guesthouse in Spain, spend time at a farm on the edge of the jungle in Costa Rica or run a Bed and Breakfast in Argentina while the owners go back-packing themselves! There are opportunities in every corner of the world, from farming to child care to simply helping with a creative project.
Murals at the hostel I worked for in Istanbul
While having a free bed to sleep in is amazing, the true beauty in this experience is the people you meet. My first Workaway experience was volunteering for two weeks at hostel in Istanbul, and I truly cherish the friends I made while working there. It is also a great way to get to know a place rather than just passing through as a tourist. I felt that I got to know Istanbul as a local, learning the in’s and out’s of the city in order to better assist the guests staying there. As excited as I was for the rest of my trip through the Balkans after my first Workaway experience, I felt like a part of the family at Stray Cat Hostel by the time I left and it was difficult to say goodbye!
For $29 you receive a one-year membership on the website, enabling you to create a profile and contact the plethora of hosts who are open-minded individuals eager to share their country and take part in the cultural exchange that Workaway promotes. Each host has a page that describes their location and the work you will do while volunteering. There are also reviews from previous travelers who offer testimonials to their experience there. Though I have not yet used Helpx, this is another website you can join that has similar opportunities.
During my first solo-backpacking trip I volunteered at hostels in Albania and Kosovo, which I fell so in love with I ended up moving there for a year! If you have a flexible amount of time during your adventure abroad, I highly recommend this opportunity to travel on a budget and make life-long friendships with the people you meet along the way.
