Budget Friendly Adventures: How to Travel For Free with Workaway
Ready to explore the world without breaking the bank? Dive into the transformative experience of Workaway, where your sk...
Jan 6, 2024
Grace Plant
If you're looking for a way to travel the world without breaking the bank, Workaway.info might just be your ticket. This innovative platform allows travelers to volunteer their time and skills in exchange for food and accommodation. In my opinion, it’s the ultimate cheap travel hack.
This type of exchange enables you to explore the globe for a fraction of the cost of a typical international trip. If you enjoy immersing yourself in local cultures, Workaway offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with locals and become part of their world for a while.
How Does it Work?
Each opportunity on Workaway varies, and it's up to hosts and volunteers to find an arrangement that suits both parties.
Workaway recommends:
Around 5 hours of work per day
5 days per week
In exchange for food and accommodation
The website connects you with hosts in over 180 countries, offering diverse opportunities in:
Hostels
Campsites
Organic farms
Yoga centers
Animal rescues
Schools
And more
The possibilities really are endless. Anyone over 18 can sign up to become a Workaway host or volunteer. All you need is a can-do attitude, a willingness to learn, and a sense of adventure.
Volunteering through Workaway allows you to stay for free in tourist hotspots and off-the-beaten-path locations around the world. It’s the biggest cultural exchange platform on the internet, and it’s EVERYWHERE. Check the full host list, and you’ll be amazed by how widespread it is.
If staying for free isn't enough of a draw, here are a few more reasons why you should try Workaway at least once:
Immerse Yourself in Local Culture: By staying with locals, you can better experience a culture and understand how people in your chosen destination live. This is often hard to do when you stick to hostels and hotels.
Practice a New Language: You’re bound to pick up some of the local language (if you’re not already able to speak it). Some volunteering placements even offer organized language exchange sessions to help you on your way.
Learn a New Skill: Always wanted to learn basket weaving? How about bricklaying? Many hosts are happy to help you learn on the job, even if you don’t have preexisting skills.
Encounter Amazing People: The best part of volunteering while traveling is meeting kind and open-hearted people. Working on projects with locals and fellow international volunteers allows you to make connections that wouldn’t be possible on the regular tourist trail.
How Much Does it Cost?
You can browse the Workaway website for free, but if you want to contact the host, you’ll need to sign up for a paid annual membership.
As of 2024, the membership fee for a single person is:
£42 for UK-based applicants
$44 for US-based solo travelers
For couples volunteering together:
£49 for UK-based applicants
$56 for US-based couples
Once you’ve paid, you can apply to volunteer with as many hosts as you like for a full year.
Are There Other Cultural Exchange Opportunities Similar to Workaway?
While Workaway is the big daddy of cultural exchange opportunities, it’s not the only player in the game.
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is another long-established and hugely popular platform that connects travelers with sustainable agricultural farmers seeking help on their land.
With WWOOF, you’ll be fed, housed, and watered in exchange for around 4-6 hours of labor, 5 days per week.
Just like Workaway, WWOOFers need to pay an annual membership fee to connect with hosts. The fees are:
£25 per person or £35 per couple for UK-based applicants
$40 for a single membership or $65 for a joint membership in the US
But what if you’re really strapped for cash? Are there other ways to find cultural exchange opportunities without forking out for a membership fee?
This private group is UK-based, but people frequently share opportunities from all over Europe. Most hosts are looking for practical help on farms, smallholdings, and homesteads (many of which, as the name suggests, are off-grid). In exchange, they’ll provide room and board, and in some cases, they may even offer paid work.
Because it’s Facebook, there are no fees to pay, so you can find an opportunity for free. However, be cautious, as there are no clear guidelines for hosts. Make sure you’re being offered a fair deal.
What If It Doesn’t Work Out?
Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll have a great experience. You could end up stuck somewhere boring, the food might be terrible, or you might not hit it off with your hosts. But remember, without risk, there are no rewards.
The best way to avoid potential problems is to read reviews from other volunteers who have gone before you. Both Workaway and WWOOF encourage volunteers and hosts to review their experiences. This gives future travelers an idea of the kind of people they'll be working with and what might be expected of them before they commit.
Unfortunately, a Facebook group doesn't always offer the same kind of reliable feedback. So, if you choose to go down this route, you're taking a bit of a gamble.
Make Your Next Adventure Free
Workaway—and other cultural exchange opportunities like it—offer a different way of seeing the world. For me, these kinds of adventures have been even more fulfilling than regular backpacking or holidaying.
So, don’t let money stand in the way of your adventure goals. In 2024, redefine your travels and explore the world for free.
About the Author
Grace Plant
Grace is a freelance travel writer from Lancashire, England. In 2019, she embarked on a year-long adventure across India where she discovered her passion for crafting engaging travel content. Since then, she’s turned that passion into a full-time career, making her mark in various international travel publications. When she’s not writing and exploring, Grace enjoys foraging for wild plants and fungi and spending time in nature with her border terrier, George.
