- What is a work exchange?
- Where can I do work exchanges?
- How long are work exchanges?
- How do I know which work exchange to choose?
- What if I don’t like the work exchange after trying it?
- How can I make a good application for the work exchange?
- My experience with work exchanges:
- Conclusion:
The number one question I get asked is, “How do you manage to travel so much?”
My answer is always something along the lines of, “I just make it work.”
Although travel is appealing to many, most people brush it off as something reserved for the future.
“When I have more money,” many say. Or, “When I have more time,” others say.
In other words, travel is not most people’s priority.
The difference between people who travel and people that don’t, particularly those from affluent nations and backgrounds, is that the former actually takes action to make their plans a reality.
Of course, there are many very legitimate and unfair barriers that prevent people from having the same accessibility to the world as others, and travel is ultimately a privilege that is not granted to everyone.
However, if you are reading this, chances are you are coming from a similar background as I — a young, middle-class female citizen of the United States. I self-fund all of my trips.
If traveling more is a goal for you, the next question is: how badly do you want it?
Everyone has different styles and preferences for trips, from extreme budget travel to luxury travel.
If your idea of travel is staying at 5-star hotels, dining in Michelin-star restaurants, and having private transportation, then not having a lot of money is a very valid obstacle.
But if you’re like me, a recent college grad with limited savings and a dream to simply see the world – this article is for you.
There are countless ways to travel on a budget, all depending on how much potential inconvenience you’re willing to take on.
Accommodation can either be the largest or smallest expense when traveling.
One of my favorite ways to save money on accommodation is staying in hostels, which I have an entire guide on here.
But what if you don’t want to spend any money on accommodation?
Allow me to introduce work exchanges.
What is a work exchange?
A work exchange is when you volunteer your time in exchange for FREE accommodation.
There are many different types of ways to volunteer your time, from childcare to farmwork, but the universal compensation is a free stay at the place you’re volunteering at.
How do I find work exchanges?
There are different platforms to find work exchanges, but the primary sites are Worldpackers and Workaway.
I personally have tried searching for opportunities on both, and found Worldpackers is the most user-friendly and ideal platform for finding safe and interesting work exchanges.
Where can I do work exchanges?
Work exchanges can be found all over the world, from rural homes in the countryside to big cities.
Some destinations will have more opportunities than others, and some times of the year are more abundant with options than others.
On Worldpackers, you can refine your search by exactly where you want to volunteer.
How long are work exchanges?
Work exchanges vary in length, depending on the project you’re involved in.
On average, a typical work exchange is about four weeks.
But I’ve seen work exchanges as little as three days to three months.
Every work exchange will list its required minimum length of stay, and when you apply, you make an agreement with your host on how long you will be there.
What are your exact responsibilities and what are your working hours?
This also varies drastically with each work exchange.
Every work exchange should have your exact responsibilities listed as well as how many hours you work each week. It should also outline exactly when your shifts will be, and if they are flexible to rearrange, if need be (if an opportunity does not list this information, be sure to message the host before accepting).
How do I know which work exchange to choose?
Because there are so many work exchanges, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you.
You’re committing your precious time and energy after all!
After participating in several work exchanges myself, I’m grateful to say that I’ve had a positive experience in each one.
Here are my tips for finding the right work exchange for you:
1. What type of work do you want to do?
Worldpackers lists 12 different kinds of work you can offer (you can also refine results by “How you help”):
- Household chores
- Welcoming and helping guests
- Communication and marketing
- Interacting and entertaining guests
- Building and maintenance
- Teaching
- Making a positive social impact
- Farming and eco activities
- Kitchen and bar tasks
- Improving websites and SEO
- Child or elderly care
- Arts and culture
The types of work exchanges depend on a destination.
For example, if you want to do a work exchange in a city, then work exchanges will likely be concentrated in the hospitality and tourism industry, like working at a hostel. If you are looking for opportunities in an island destination, you’ll find more opportunities in agriculture, like working on a farm. Work exchanges for teaching English will be focused outside of the United States.
Once you figure out exactly where you want to do a work exchange, it’s easier to narrow down what kind of work exchange you’ll do.
- Read the reviews
This is SO IMPORTANT, if not obvious.
Reviews are left by previous travelers who have already completed the work exchange. They always have valuable insight and advice to know if the opportunity might be a good match for you or not.
Worldpackers even allows you to privately message past volunteers if you have any specific questions about their experience before you apply.
In addition to the written review, each work exchange on Worldpackers will also list a rating left by past volunteers from one (lowest) through five (highest) stars.
When I research work exchanges on Worldpackers, I only consider experiences with at least 4.5 stars.
This ensures that I am only applying to quality stays with positive past volunteer experiences.
- Do individual research
If the work exchange is a business, there should be more information about who they are and exactly what they do online.
Simply type in the name of the organization in your search engine and see if it’s a business that seems aligned with who you are and your interests.
4. Consider these factors:
- How many hours are you willing to work?
Some work exchanges require up to 32 hours a week volunteering.
- What do you wish to gain from the work exchange?
Besides free accommodation, are you hoping to learn new skills, better understand a culture, meet new people, or spend more time alone in nature? Identifying exactly why you want to do a work exchange will help you narrow down your choices.
- Are additional benefits important to you?
As we covered, the baseline compensation for work exchanges is a place to sleep.
But often, work exchanges will include other benefits such as free meals, free excursions, and even a free car to use.
If a work exchange does not explicitly state they will provide these benefits, expect to pay for them on your own.
What if I don’t like the work exchange after trying it?
Sometimes, a work exchange may not be a great fit, even after doing extensive research and speaking with the host beforehand.
If the type of work or living arrangements is not what you and the host agreed on beforehand, you have the full right to leave immediately.
At the end of the day, you are a volunteer, not a paid worker, and you don’t have to stay somewhere you are not happy in.
Worldpackers does offer insurance to travelers (the amount depends on your membership level) which covers short-term accommodation should you have to leave your work exchange early.
But I would recommend always having a backup plan that you can turn to in an event like this.
Whether it’s having a local contact who could host you, knowing a cheap hostel nearby, or researching other work exchanges near you is always advisable.
How can I make a good application for the work exchange?
Worldpackers has many resources on how to make your profile stand out to hosts, especially ones in high demand.
My advice would be to treat applying to work exchanges as you would apply for any real job (though the stakes are admittedly much lower).
Emphasize that you are an easy to get along with person who is willing to work hard, and highlight any skills or past experience you have related to the work you’re applying for.
The tone of your message does not have to be too professional sounding, as hosts would prefer to hear your personality, so they know if you’d be a good fit.
Ensuring that your profile is completely filled out with lots of photos and links to social media is helpful too.
My experience with work exchanges:
For nine months, I traveled across the islands of Hawaii thanks to work exchanges.
Hawaii is notoriously one of the most expensive vacation destinations in the world, and I spent $0 on my accommodation during my time exploring each of the major islands.
- I volunteered at My Hawaii Hostel on Big Island, where my responsibilities were reception, making beds, and doing laundry.
Here’s my review I left on Worldpackers:
“This was my first time doing a work exchange at a hostel and it exceeded all my expectations.
Easily one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in my life.
I met the most amazing people, from cool coworkers, guests and locals on the island.
7 weeks flew by!
The work is definitely fair and you have plenty of free time to explore the island and tag along with guests on their plans or on your own
Jenaya and Jaelyn are both very patient and friendly to work for — 1 am grateful for them for providing the opportunity to work at this special hostel.”
- I volunteered at Howzit Hostels on Maui, where I did housekeeping and hosting events for guests.
Here’s my review I left on Worldpackers:
“Another life changing experience on the islands:)
I’m so grateful for my time at Howzit Hostels — my second work exchange at a hostel.
Everyone was welcoming and friendly from day one. It truly felt like a community and I feel like I have life long connections during my almost 6 weeks here.
Since my total time was under 3 months, I was assigned housekeeping which was usually super easy and nice to work with other volunteers as a team.
Work hours were fair and respected, I had plenty of outside time to explore the island and other volunteers always had plans to join.”
For more information on this work exchange:
- I volunteered at a lovely local family’s garden on Molokai.
Here’s my review I left on Worldpackers:
“I’m incredibly grateful for this experience my first time to Molokai. It was my first farm stay so l wasn’t sure what to expect, but Mark and Paula went above and beyond to make sure l had a memorable stay.
Work was not too hard and you really get to see the island from a true local’s perspective that you could not get on your own.
Mark is absolutely hilarious (though he claims he is not) and has many entertaining stories to share; Paula is so intelligent and has lots of knowledge about Molokai.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a non-touristy experience of Hawaii. Mahalo nui loa!”
For more information on this work exchange:
- Finally, I helped around the house for a family on Kauai.
Here’s my review I left on Worldpackers:
“Jenna and her family are awesome people. Their property is so nice and accommodation is a very comfortable, private room.
Work is not difficult at all, mostly household chores/projects which can be done at your own pace, which I appreciated.
Hours are respected and super fair so there’s plenty of free time to explore beautiful Kauai!”
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about my work exchange experience!
Conclusion:
Ultimately, doing work exchanges when traveling has allowed me to build deeper connections in the places I visit and stay longer term more sustainably.
It’s the ultimate form of slow travel to truly experience local life in a destination, which is one of the best ways to be a more responsible, sustainable traveler.
If you’re young and on a budget, I would HIGHLY recommend trying a work exchange — they might just change your life.
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