Have you dreamt about travelling the world for a longer period of time, but you’re not sure how to make it happen? Need some inspiration what to do during your gap year? Don’t have enough savings to pay for an extensive holiday?
I’ve been there too! In fact, when I finished school in 2009, I immediately knew I wanted to take a year off to travel. My decision was quickly made on Australia since it’s easy to get a working holiday visa if you’re under 30 years of age. Some of my friends went to Canada, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
I scraped some savings together from working as a waitress and hostess at various events during school holidays and bought a plane ticket. Fast-forward a year later, I had worked different jobs across the whole country from Perth to Brisbane and absolutely loved it.
Along the way, I met a lot of other travellers from all over the world, working all sorts of jobs, on farms, in restaurants, construction, marketing, and tourism. Some of them even living rent free in exchange for work. I was impressed.
This was the first time I heard about people doing volunteer work abroad, so you basically get to travel for free!
Why Volunteer And Who Is It For?
First Time & Solo Travellers
Volunteering abroad is especially perfect for first time and solo travellers that want to try something different.
As a first time traveller overseas, you might feel intimidated because you simply have no idea where to stay, how the whole currency exchange thing works or what the weather is like in your chosen destination.
Knowing where your first stop is and who is going to be welcoming you on the other side takes out a lot of stress. It will also ease you into a new culture and help you save some of your hard earned cash and allow you to travel more overall.
Budget Travellers & Backpackers
Budgeting is important when it comes to backpacking for a mid or long term trip.
Working for free accommodation is great, as you’ll save money with room and board. And sometimes there are also other benefits that hosts might provide, like food, free or discounted tours, bike rental or yoga classes.
You might initially set out on a yearlong gap year, but your travel budget will ultimately determine how long your trip will last.
With accommodation and food cost together making up about 70% of a travellers budget, doing a work exchange is in my eyes a wonderful option to make use of your time and money abroad.
Anyone Who Loves A Meaningful Travel Experience
One of the most rewarding experiences when volunteering abroad however may be immersing yourself into a new culture and practicing new languages.
“Travelling is the best form of education.”
Most hosts look for volunteers from 2 weeks to 3 months, which gives you a lot of time to get to know locals and build a real routine and friendships in a foreign country.
How To Find Work For Free Accommodation?
Surely, the easiest way to find free accommodation jobs abroad is through a platform like Worldpackers.
Worldpackers is an online platform offering volunteering positions all around the world.
You can browse all the listings where you can exchange your skills for accommodation for free. Once you decide you want to apply for a position, you simply pay a membership fee.
Worldpackers is offering an exclusive discount to all my readers: Get $10 off your yearly membership and pay only $39, simply enter the code ‘BREATHINGTRAVEL’ at checkout on their website.
The membership is valid for one year and you can apply for as many volunteer opportunities as you wish, all around the world.
Just to give you another insight: Hosts need to be approved by the team from Worldpackers and they have to align to guidelines and quality standards, so you are assured that the hosts are pre-checked and offering a safe volunteer experience.
I’d also advise you to do some research of your own too. Worldpackers has a big traveller community of over 1 million and you can reach out to other members right over the site.
Worldpackers also has a 24/7 support team over their mobile app, email or phone that can help you during your travels if needed.
On top of that, there is Worldpackers Insurance, meaning if you have issues with your host during your stay, Worldpackers will cover 3-nights at a nearby hostel for you and help you find a new host as soon as possible.
Are you ready to find some amazing volunteer opportunities in Southeast Asia?
Top 3 Countries In Southeast Asia Where You Can Get Free Accommodation In Exchange For Work (PLUS Some Projects You Could Be Doing)
#1 Vietnam
It definitely wasn’t love at first sight when I travelled to Vietnam for the first time, however, with a second visit, the country really grew on me and I think is an exceptional place to experience rich history, culture, oh and did someone say delicious food? Make sure you try Pho and Banh Mi!
Because Vietnam is a pretty long-stretched country, it has a huge coastline as well as mountain ranges, caves and rice terraces. There is lots of little towns to explore as well as the metropolis of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Projects You Could Work On In Vietnam In Return For Free Accommodation:
Social Media & Language Teaching In Ha Giang
Experience the mountains of Vietnam in Ha Giang, the homeland of Snow Shan tea plantations as wide as the eye can see.
In some other perks like free or discounted tours exchange for about 16 hours of work a week helping with social media, video making or teaching languages, you will get a bed in a shared room as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as around the area.
Check out the experience and what other travellers say who have volunteered here before on Worldpackers.
Work With Kids In Hanoi
Have you ever wanted to work in an NGO? Do you love kids? Well, you could be helping young Vietnamese students who are less fortunate and whose families cannot afford private English classes by teaching them English.
In return for about 20 hours of work a week, you’ll get a bed in a shared room, free lunch and dinner as well as free laundry and bike use.
Check out the position and what others say about it on Worldpackers.
#2 Thailand
In my opinion, Thailand is the best and easiest country for first time travellers to Southeast Asia.
Beautiful tropical beaches, ancient ruins, beautiful rolling hills and the skyscrapers of Bangkok next to opulent palaces and welcoming locals, make a trip to Thailand memorable. While I am a beach bum by nature, however, I especially am a huge fan of Northern Thailand and have lived in Chiang Mai and travelled around there extensively.
Work On A Sustainable Farm Near Chiang Mai
Do you love nature, peace and quiet and sustainability living? You could be helping to build a self-sufficient community in the mountains of Chiang Mai and help with growing plants and learn about gardening and farming as you do.
In return for about 21 hours of work a week, you’ll get a bed in a shared room plus daily meals provided. The family also often takes their volunteers for little tours around town or hiking for free.
Check out the position and what others have to say about it on Worldpackers.
Work In A Hostel On Koh Phangan
The possibly easiest way to meet other travellers from around the world is to work in a hostel. Travel to the island of Koh Phangan, known for its crazy full moon party but otherwise also an incredible island with rich nature and beautiful beaches.
You will work for about 20 hours a week, helping with painting, graffiti and art around the hostel. If you are here during the full moon party, you could be doing a lot more like check ins or helping around the bar.
In return you get a bed in a shared room as well as discounts on nearby parties and clubs, and free or discounted drinks at the house bar. Truly an experience if you are a young and happy party goer!
Check out the position and see what others say on Worldpackers.
#3 Myanmar
I loved every minute of my trip to Myanmar. Surely, it wasn’t all easy, travelling throughout the country is definitely slower than in other Southeast Asian countries, things just move a little different around here.
However, you will be impressed by the beautiful locals who are real curious about foreigners, the shimmering pagodas everywhere in cities, small towns and on mountains around the country, bustling markets and the ancient ruins of Bagan are something to behold for a lifetime.
Help At The Buddhist Meditation Center Close To Yangon
Do your good and help patients at the meditation center near Yangon with general care, physiotherapy or teach English to the kids. You could also be helping with cooking, gardening or maintenance of the building. You usually do what’s needed at the time of your arrival, so I suggest you have an open mind to immerse yourself in the experience.
You work about 18 hours per week in return for a bed in a shared room with other travellers, as well as free breakfast, lunch and dinner and yoga classes at the center.
Check out the position and what others say on Worldpackers.
Worldpackers Discount Code For Breathing Travel Readers
If you want to check out any of the opportunities above, remember that Worldpackers is offering an exclusive discount to all my readers: Get $10 off your yearly membership and pay only $39, simply enter the code ‘BREATHINGTRAVEL’ at checkout on their website.
Final Thoughts
You can go see all the sights in a country and still be a total stranger to its culture.
However, having experiences with locals in a foreign country bring you so much close to their life, what they do day in and out and help you form friendships for a lifetime. You somehow become part of a country for a while and are not a tourist.
Wouldn’t it be incredible to take off a few weeks, or 3 or 6 months and just volunteer around Southeast Asia and truly immerse yourself in local life?
I have travelled to over 40 countries in my lifetime, but no memories are as vivid as those I have from living immersed with locals and sharing their life, language, stories and friendship.
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Worldpackers. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
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