Is A Travel Work Exchange Right For You?

Want to travel the world, but just don't know how? A travel work exchange might be a great way to sustain your travels. As professional travelers ourselves, the number one thing we hear is: 'I want to see the world and go explore, but I just don't know how.' If you find yourself asking this question, there are ways that a work exchange can get you abroad without breaking the bank.

What is a travel work exchange?

A travel work exchange is a partnership between you and a company where you volunteer your services in exchange for food and accommodation. Depending upon your skill set, this could be anything from gardening to reception to social media management. Depending on what the company needs, you may be doing a variety of jobs (both skilled or unskilled). You will be a more valuable candidate if you have skills that are harder to come by, such as carpentry or web design.

PHOTO: Working on exchange in the garden.

Who is a travel work exchange best for?

Slow Travelers

Slow travelers will find the most rewarding work exchange experiences. It takes a lot of commitment for a business to get you up to speed on work tasks, and they don't like to see their volunteers’ knowledge walk out the door after just a few weeks. Some work exchanges require a minimum commitment of a few months, some even longer. This also ensures that you can get into a comfortable work / travel balance.

Flexible Travelers

Not in the sense that you can touch your toes, but more like you can pick up and move anytime, anywhere. If a yoga teaching work exchange does open up in Bali and they want you there by next Thursday, are you ready to commit? If you want to travel to Mexico but there is an amazing opportunity in Italy, can you change your plans?

Responsible and Self-Motivated Travelers

If you are committed to a work exchange, keep in mind that you are getting paid in food and housing. You may not be getting paid in cash, but you still have the responsibility of working a set amount of hours and producing results. There often won't be a boss looking over your back either, so travelers who are self-motivated and independent are best suited for work exchanges.

PHOTO: Produce from the garden.

Budget Travelers

If you're keen to stay at five-star hotels and eat fine dining with champagne on the side, then a work exchange will likely be a rude awakening. Before committing to any program, make sure you communicate with the business directly to see what kind of accommodation and food is included.

Tips if you're considering a work exchange:

Ask a lot of questions about what type of work is involved and take your time in deciding if this particular job is right for you. How many hours are you expected to work a week? What type of location are you working at? Do you get weekends free? Is there a town or city nearby where you can go and get a change of scenery? Will you need a visa or will you have to make border runs every 90 days? These are all things to consider.

PHOTO: Delicious food prepared during our exchange.

Where to find a work exchange:

There are multiple websites that have listings for work exchange programs. Workaway is a popular site that pairs willing workers with companies looking for volunteers. They have a database of families, individuals and organizations located on nearly every continent looking for various skills.

Offering everything from painting or building, babysitting to shopping, Workaway's goal is to introduce working travelers to hosts without having to pay expensive agency fees. The price is 23 Euros for two years if you sign up as a single person, which is less than the cost of most hotel rooms for one night.

Helpx is another popular site that specializes in hosts who run farms, homestays, lodges, bed and breakfasts and hostels. Volunteers stay in exchange for free accommodation and meals. In a typical arrangement, Helpx states that “the helper works an average of four hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts.”

You can choose to sign up for a free or premier membership. The premier membership allows you to contact all hosts as well as read all the previous reviews left by those who went before you. The fee is still minimal at 20 Euros for two years.

PHOTO: Teaching yoga in Costa Rica

A specialty website, Yoga Trade, connects yoga instructors and organizations from all over the world who are looking to travel and work on exchange. Here you'll find everything from city yoga centers to rural retreats looking for instructors to exchange or even hire your services.

It might not be a traditional way to travel, but a work exchange can be a great way to see the world on a budget! Have you ever considered or participated in a work exchange before?