As a cash-strapped backpacker, I need to save money wherever I can so I can continue my dream of travelling the world. One of my best budget travel tips and how I have managed to travel for free (almost!) is by exchanging work in hostels for free accommodation. Because this is a kind of work exchange, it is a great way to work in a hostel abroad without needing a visa or a long-term job contract.
Hostel work exchange programs like this offer free accommodation for travellers if they offer their services, skills and time in exchange, so it is a win-win for both parties. However, before you sign up, there are several things you need to know about getting free accommodation in exchange for work as a hostel volunteer abroad.
Where to Find Hostel Jobs in Exchange for Accommodation
The best place to look for free accommodation in exchange for work as a hostel volunteer is on work exchange sites like Worldpackers, Workaway and HelpX.
READ MORE: 6 of the Best Work Exchange Sites Compared
If you’d like more information on the different work exchange sites, check out this comparison here. Work exchange websites act as an intermediary between potential hosts and volunteers, so you can browse available hostel volunteer placements all over the world and easily apply for the positions.
Usually, there is a membership fee to sign up on such sites, but there are a couple of free websites you can use as well, although they offer less support than the paid sites should something go wrong.
I’ve teamed up with one of the best work exchange sites – Worldpackers to offer all Tales of a Backpacker readers a $10 Worldpackers discount, which means you only need to pay $39 USD for a full year’s verified membership. Once you are a verified member you can apply to any volunteer position you find, and message all the hosts on Worldpackers to volunteer in hostels and other projects all over the world.
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If you are already in a destination and decide you want to stay longer, you could simply walk into hostels and ask if they are looking for volunteers. In that case, check the reviews of the hostels online so you can choose the ones with the best reputations and so you have a better chance of enjoying your hostel work!
Hostel Work Exchanges on Worldpackers
Worldpackers is my favourite work exchange site, and the best Workaway alternative, thanks to their customer support and the fact that you can even earn money as you volunteer through their Worldpackers programs. You can read my full review of Worldpackers here.
Worldpackers have over 1700 volunteer hostel jobs advertised on their platform, so you can find hostel work all over the world. Check out some of these highly-rated jobs in hostels around the globe, including hostel jobs in Europe, India, New Zealand, the United States, Bali and many more :
- Work in a Boutique Hostel in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Work as a Kitchen Hand in a hostel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Work as a Housekeeper in a hostel in Zadar, Croatia
- Work the Nightshift at a hostel in Barcelona, Spain
- Work on Reception at a hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland
Common Questions about Volunteering in Hostels Abroad
How can I stay in Hostel for Free?
If you’re looking to stay in a hostel for free, then a work exchange is the perfect answer. You volunteer for a few hours of work in exchange for a free bed for the night. Usually, you’ll need to stay for a couple of weeks to do this kind of hostel work exchange, so hostels don’t have to spend lots of time training people.
How do I Volunteer for a Hostel?
While you can always ask the hostel where you’re staying about volunteer opportunities, the easiest way to volunteer for a hostel is to apply for available placements on a work exchange site like Worldpackers or Workaway. Hostels looking for volunteers post on the work exchange site and once you’re a registered member you can apply for as many as you like.
How Long do you Volunteer For?
Although you can sometimes find volunteer work in hostels for as little as one week, most hostels will require you to stay for a minimum time of two to four weeks. The longer the hostel volunteer works, the less time they have to spend training up new volunteers, and the more knowledgeable the volunteers become about the local area, so they can help the guests by sharing tips and recommendations.
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How Many Hours Will You Work in Exchange for Accommodation?
Again, this varies depending on the hostel. Remember, work exchange programs are supposed to be part-time, so you should expect at least one or two days off, and to work in shifts suited to what the hostel needs you to do. Working hours will probably be 5-8 hours per day, depending on how many days you have off during the week.
I’ve worked in hostels where I’ve done 8 hour shifts but had three days off, and others where I’ve worked fewer hours per day but had fewer days off per week.
Can you Work at a Hostel without a Visa?
Yes, as long as you are doing a work exchange and not getting paid for your work. That said, some countries require specific visas for volunteer work, so check if you need any other paperwork before travelling.
If you get asked at immigration what you’re going to be doing in the country, it’s safer to say travelling than doing a work exchange – as soon as you mention the word work it gets very complicated, but it is your responsibility to have the correct paperwork and answer all questions honestly!
What Do You Get in Exchange for your Hostel Volunteer Work?
Accommodation should always be provided as a minimum exchange for your work. Most hostels usually provide a bed in a dorm, whereas others may provide a private or twin room for its volunteers, or you may be camping or in other accommodation.
Usually, breakfast is included, and some hostels might provide other meals, as well as free tours, language classes or other benefits. Check each volunteer listing carefully to see what is provided.
What Kind of Hostel Work will you do?
Each hostel volunteer placement will be different, but usually, hostel work exchange programs will expect you to work on reception, checking guests in, helping with guest inquiries, changing the beds and some cleaning work.
Other hostels may be looking for bar staff or people to work the night shift, while some may need help with their social media presence or website design. New hostels might also be looking for people to help finish building or decorating work, gardening or painting murals. Make sure you know exactly what is expected of you.
What Kind of Skills do you Need for Hostel Work Abroad?
Any previous experience you have working in hostels or hotels will help you out, but it isn’t essential. Before you consider working in a hostel abroad you should definitely stay in several hostels to make sure you enjoy the environment and atmosphere.
You will need to be friendly and helpful with guests, and a relaxed and fun personality will mean you be able to deal with any challenges while you’re working. Language skills also help – some hostel jobs require at least a basic grasp of the native language, wherever the hostel is.
Other languages are certainly useful so you can speak to guests from different parts of the world, and usually, a basic level of English is required.
Should I Work at Hostels?
If you are a sociable person and want to save money while travelling then YES, working in hostels is great fun and can save you a ton of cash. It’s a great way to meet people – both from the destination where you’re working, and other backpackers and travellers and you can learn a lot too. Read on to see what hostel work is really like – from my experience working in hostels in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize:
What is Working in Hostels REALLY Like?
Benefits of Hostel Work
There are lots of benefits to working in a hostel abroad. Being a hostel volunteer is a fun and varied job. You get to meet travellers from all over the world, hang out in a chilled-out or party atmosphere (depending on the hostel) and travel the world for free.
I made some good friends while I was working in a hostel – when you work together for several weeks you have a special bond that you wouldn’t normally get when just passing through.
Staying in the same place for several weeks is also a nice break from constant travelling. You can really get to know the place, explore like a local and go beyond the usual tourist activities.
Working in a hostel can also be a great way to learn a new language or to improve the language skills you already have. You’ll be speaking with people from many different countries, but also chatting with other staff members, local people and getting to know the community so learning to speak their language makes a big difference to your experience.
As you’ll be spending more time in one place you can also learn a whole lot about the culture there, and share your culture with the people you meet too. Cultural exchange is an important part of travel, and helps us all to learn more about the world around us.
Disadvantages of Working in a Hostel
However, you could end up working long hours, not sleeping very much, and grow tired of having to make the effort to talk to people all the time. Even when you’re not working, hostel guests might still ask you questions or advice, so it is good to get out of the hostel and enjoy the town or city where you are on your days off.
I found that working more than a couple of months at a time got quite tiring, so I was glad to take some time off, travel to the next place and catch up on sleep before taking on my next hostel job. Then, when I started hostel work again I was ready to be friendly and sociable again!
Other Considerations
You should also calculate how much money you will be saving by not paying for accommodation (or food), to make sure it is worth your time. If a dorm bed only costs a few dollars a night, is working for several hours a fair exchange?
Volunteer hostel work abroad is never going to make you rich, but if your goal is simply to travel for free or for very little money, then getting free accommodation in exchange for work as a hostel volunteer can work out as a good deal.
How to Prepare for Working in a Hostel in Exchange for Accommodation
Contact Hostels for Available Jobs
If you sign up to a work exchange site, then you can contact hostels that offer volunteer work in exchange for accommodation before you even leave home. Create a detailed profile, with photographs of your (smiling!) face, information about your personality, hobbies and work experience so you present yourself as a good person to work in a hostel business.
When you reach out to hostels, try to mention something about their specific hostel so it’s clear it’s not just a copy and paste application – show them you really want to work at their hostel and they’re not just the first place you found. Make an effort!
Plan your trip a few weeks in advance so you have plenty of time to arrange a volunteer placement, and so you can contact several different hostels if you don’t get your first choice. That said, you might not be able to get confirmation of a placement until closer to the time as the hostel might not know when current volunteers will be leaving.
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Get Your Paperwork Sorted
Unlike most paid jobs abroad with accommodation, work exchanges don’t usually require a visa as you aren’t getting paid, but check with each country you plan to visit for the entry requirements to make sure you know which paperwork you need for travelling. iVisa can help to arrange any visas you might need.
Make sure your passport is valid for the whole duration of your time abroad, bearing in mind that most countries require an additional 6 months of validity on your passport from your return date.
Book Your Transport
Once you have arranged a work exchange with a hostel and agreed on the dates of arrival, you can book your flights or other transport to get there. Consider arriving a day or two before and staying somewhere else so you can get your bearings, and see some of the destination before you start work – or you could stay on for a few days afterwards. Don’t forget that you also need time to explore!
Have you got Travel Insurance?
- Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, stolen items, trip cancellation and more.
- Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers. Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.
Other Ways to Get Free Accommodation in Exchange for Work
A hostel work exchange isn’t the only way to get free accommodation in exchange for work. In fact, there are lots of different volunteer jobs you can do without even setting foot in a hostel. Work exchange websites like Worldpackers have hosts from all over the world looking for volunteers for all sorts of different kinds of work abroad.
Here are a few ideas for different kinds of work exchanges you can do:
Work in a Surf Camp
Love surfing? Or maybe you want to learn how to ride the waves! Volunteering in a surf camp usually means that as well as free accommodation in exchange for work you will get free surf lessons too! Work varies from cleaning dorm rooms to heading up reception, helping out with social media to teaching surfing or yoga classes.
Check out these surf camp jobs on Worldpackers:
- Work on reception at a surf camp in Colombia
- Teach yoga at a surf camp in Nicaragua
- Help with blogging and social media at a surf camp in Morocco
Work on a Farm
Farm work is perfect for people who love spending time outdoors and aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty! If you want to learn about permaculture, animal care and a sustainable way of life, volunteering on a farm in exchange for free accommodation is a great way to expand your knowledge and get valuable work experience.
Check out these farm jobs on Worldpackers:
- Help on a small holding in Romania
- Volunteer on a coffee farm in Nepal
- Work on a farm near Pisa Italy
Volunteer for an NGO
If you really want to make a difference in the world, volunteering for an NGO can be a wonderful way to help the local community where you are travelling. NGOs are “non-governmental organizations” and are often non-profit, relying on donations and volunteers to help them with their projects.
You can volunteer with lots of different NGOs, aiming to help with causes such as women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, fighting poverty and homelessness, environmental protection and many many more. Find a cause that you are passionate about and do what you can to help.
Check out these NGO volunteer opportunities on Worldpackers:
- Volunteer as a women’s rights support officer in Uganda
- Help at a Nature Conservation Project in Indonesia
- Help with arts and social work in Colombia
Work in a School
If you have experience working in a school then teaching children or adults abroad could be a great way to enjoy a cultural exchange as you work in exchange for accommodation. Make sure you research the placement carefully and prepare for your placement by getting some qualifications or experience in a school back home before you go.
Check out these teaching jobs on Worldpackers:
- Help pupils with English lessons in Zambia
- Volunteer at an English House in Japan
- Assist at a NINJA Summer camp in Spain
These are just a few ideas for other work in exchange for accommodation, but there are thousands of different volunteer placements available on work exchange websites like Worldpackers and Workaway. Browse the opportunities and see what kind of jobs you would like to do.
Have you worked in a hostel before? Would you consider working in a hostel in exchange for free accommodation? I’ve love to hear your thoughts, please leave your comments below.
More Hostel Work Exchange FAQs
Can you work while living in a hostel?
Yes you can, although if you are working outside the hostel you might find your working and sleeping hours don't match very well with your roommates! If you are travelling for a long period and want to live and work in a hostel that can be a great way to save money and travel for longer.
How does working in a hostel work?
Working in a hostel can be great fun as you get to know travellers from all over the world! There are different kinds of work available in hostels, from cleaning rooms and working on reception to cooking in the kitchen or working at the bar.
If you're travelling abroad and want to work in a hostel, it is usually working in exchange for free accommodation, unless you are looking for a permanent job and have the correct work visa.
Do you get paid to work in hostels?
If you want a full-time job in a hostel and are eligible to work in that country then yes you can apply for paid hostel jobs abroad or in your own country. However, for most travellers who don't have a work visa, you won't be paid to work - instead you will work in exchange for accommodation as a hostel volunteer
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Hi Jacqueline, I hope you find a good placement – try looking on Worldpackers and Workaway to start with, they are your best options as I say in the article. Good luck!
hi , i am jacqueline , iam intereting to work for acomodtion , i like to stay in New york. in Dicember 2022. I am peruvian , i know clean and cook
I work online and tried helping out at a hostel. It was hard to balance both things, maybe because my hostel was just so lively it was easy to get distracted. But I definitely think a more low-key place would be great for still completing your online work while volunteering.
A very thorough post, Claire!
Hi Altaf, thanks for reading! You will need to apply for the jobs through one of the work exchange websites I mentioned, I can’t help you get a job I’m afraid 🙂 Good luck!
I want to work in Spain for free stAy please I can work any where cleaning kitchen work gardens work Handy man please anything