Want a travel experience like no other and on the cheap side of things? Do a workaway – save money when you travel while having unique experiences! This tip for travel Tuesday we here from Amanda, blogger from ‘My Backpacker Life’ about a workaway and why it is a great option to see the world a little differently than most.
Why is a Workaway a great way to travel?
I love traveling to hidden gems around the world and meeting locals – but I’m also focused on traveling on a budget, and sometimes these are not the easiest things to combine. Luckily, two years ago, I discovered Workaway – a website that was going to have a huge impact on my way of traveling!
Workaway is a platform where hosts and volunteers from all over the world can connect. It’s very easy to sign up and start looking for a host in the country or countries you would like to visit. You can find all types of volunteer work – everything from helping out on an oyster farm to helping out at an eco-lodge. (Yes, I’ve done both!) If you want to find volunteer work for just a couple of days or for several months is completely up to you. You will also find that different hosts offer different things in exchange for your help, but the most common way to do a workaway is helping out for 25 hours/week with two days off, in exchange for food and accommodation.
To be able to connect with hosts on Workaway, you’ll have to pay a rather small fee. That will give you access to the site for a whole year. If you just want to have a look at the different hosts though, you don’t need to pay anything – but you won’t be able to contact them.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pay to be able to completely use the site at first, but I’m so glad I did! For the last two years, I’ve been doing eight workaways and they have all given me unique experiences and taken me places I didn’t even know existed.
My first Workaway was in Switzerland where I helped a family on their farm. I lived far away from any big city, on a beautiful hill with amazing views – we could even see the mountains from the house! I stayed for two weeks and got amazing experiences. I met many locals and learned a lot about their culture. After that, I was sure this was something I wanted to continue doing.
Later on, I went to Canada for a year and crossed the whole country, doing seven workaways on the way. Most of them were in smaller towns and villages that I had never heard of before! Since I got food and accommodation for free, and often other perks too such as free transport or free use of bikes and kayaks, I didn’t spend much money during this time – while having some of the best experiences abroad I’ve ever had!
If this sounds just as exciting to you as it is to me, have a look at Workaway’s website and see if you find any hosts you’d like to connect with for your next trip!
About My Backpacker Life Blog
Amanda is a full-time backpacker who left her job in Sweden to explore the world instead. She’s traveling on a low budget but she’s still aiming for having great experiences. Connecting with locals and getting unique experiences is her favorite part of traveling – she wants to see more than just the touristy side of the places she visits. Follow her adventures around the world on My Backpacker Life.
About Tuesday Travel Tip Series
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