Ever wondered how people travel for months on end...?
Have you ever heard the saying that there are many paths to the same destination?
Traveling is exactly the same! There are so many different ways to travel- you can do quick trips, long trips, you can tourist, you can work, you can backpack, you can volunteer. You can budget travel or choose luxury travel.
OR! You can do Work Exchanges.
TBH, this is my personal FAVORITE method of traveling.
Which is why I am going to teach you EXACTLY how to do it for yourself.
In this course I will teach you how to solo travel internationally through Work Exchanges and Volunteer programs.
This method is best for people that are interested in traveling for AT LEAST a month.
Ideally, you'll be looking to travel for 3 - 6 months.
Honestly though. you can travel for a year or more fairly easily doing this if you really want to.
If you're new to traveling or have never slow-traveled before, that can sound kind of crazy. You might now be wondering how you can afford it... why 3+ months... and what IS a Work Exchange anyway?
FAQ's
What is a Work-Exchange?
Work Exchanges are exchanges between hosts and volunteers where volunteers help hosts with projects in exchange for food and accommodation.
How long does each Exchange last?
Each stay can last from two weeks to three months+. Most stays will last between three weeks to a month but it will be up to you and your host to agree on the duration! As you can see, the time can add up really easily!
Are work exchanges free?
Yes, work exchanges are free. In nearly every instance your food and accommodation will be provided for you and participating will not cost you anything. The only exception to this is if you chose a true "volunteer" option, such as volunteering in an extremely rural and poor country. In these cases you may be asked to cover your own expenses. *If* a host requests that you cover your own costs it will be shown on their profile. You will have to pay for a membership to a work exchange platform. This will cost around $50 USD. Once you join the network you won't need to pay anything else for the Work Exchanges.
Do I need to have previous international experience?
Nope! You don't need to have experience traveling, living, or working abroad.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you will need a passport. If you don't already have a passport, I cover how to apply for one in the course.
What are examples of Work Exchanges?
The options really are endless. You could volunteer in a hostel, stay with a family as an au pair, help with a surf school, teach a language in a school, help harvest fruits or vegetables on a farm, repair houses or work as general construction labor. You might help in a yoga studio, write blog posts, lead community trash clean-ups, or help on a family vineyard. You get to pick and choose whatever you want to do.
Do I need special skills?
Nope! Most work for Work Exchanges is not specialized work. If there's something you need to know, the host will be willing to show you how to contribute and participate if you don't know already. Also, many stays just need general labor! So, no need to be a genius coder or expert electrician. Occasionally, a host will only be looking for people with a certain skill set, for example if their project has gotten more advanced and they need someone with corresponding advanced skills. This is pretty rare though, and you will have no issue finding stays that match you!
Is this safe?
Yes!!! But, like all things you should use your best judgement before deciding to travel and stay with any hosts. Hosts will have reviews left from previous Work Exchangers and I recommend that you read though the reviews and make sure the situation sounds like something you will be comfortable with. That being said, I have never ever had an experience where I felt unsafe and the platform does work to make sure that this is a safe experience for both hosts and Work Exchangers. I have done many Work Exchanges in many countries and have loved every experience.
Is this method of travel totally free?
I wish, but no, it's not totally free. You will still need to be able to cover certain expenses, such as your transportation and outside activities/food/drinks you'd like to get. WorkAways provide an extremely cheap manner of travel because nearly all of your accommodation and food is free, however there will likely be other trips you will want to go on or excursions/ activities that you want to participate in and these will be up to you to pay for. There is an entire module on finances and budgeting in the course. Your biggest costs will be transportation. In the course I go over how to find the best (cheapest) transportation.
Is this the same as backpacking?
It has some overlap. Backpacking generally refers to when people travel really lightly and move between locations camping, couchsurfing, and staying at hostels.
Is it lonely/weird to do alone?
Not at all! TONS of Work Exchangers are solo travelers. I was a solo traveler Work Exchanger! There are people who travel with friends or their partner, but there are just as many, if not more, that travel solo.
Is this only for certain parts of the world?
Nope!! There are stays in 170 countries which makes the world SO much more accessible. Can you imagine being able to visit 170 COUNTRIES?!
Course Curriculum
Work Exchanges will change your life.
Travel in general will change your life, but the value that you will receive from participating in Work Exchanges will truly change your life.
Because of Work Exchanges, I have made lifelong friends across continents, done entirely too many ridiculously cool things to count (attended a VIP art gallery opening in Casablanca, helped plan a garden wedding in Lisbon, spent Semana Santa in Cordoba), learned about myself, learned about other cultures, and learned a variety of skills that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else. It's also allowed me to travel to a LARGE number of countries that I wouldn't have been able to afford to see if I hadn't been able to have had my room and board covered for free.
Travel has changed my life and I want nothing more than to be able to share this joy with every other woman that has dreamed about seeing the world but wondered how she could possibly make it happen.
