Workaway.info

Workaway.info is an online platform that connects hosts with travelers, in order to provide a culturally enriching experience for both parties. Travelers get the chance to learn about a country while living rent free, while hosts offer accommodation and board in return for a few hours of work per week. The website, that offers opportunities in more than 170 countries, is free to use, however contact details of hosts are only available with a paid membership.

For me, the greatest facet of Workaway is in the simplicity of the website. Searching for hosts is easy; all you have to do is enter which continent you’d like to travel to, which country within that continent, and then hit go. The website will display a whole range of different hosts that can then be sorted by applying filters, such as host rating, whether the place has internet access, smokers allowed and job type. I particularly like the ‘Last Minute Page’, which displays a list of results from hosts requiring instant help, meaning you can quickly embark on a new adventure without having to wait for an available space.

Finding the perfect host is also made easier by the fact that past travellers – or Workawayers – are able to leave reviews describing their experience with that particular person. Hosts can also leave feedback for the Workawayers, providing an incentive for them to behave well and conform with what the host expects. I find the blog especially useful, as you can find out in-depth stories of different countries, including people’s top tips, as well as their dos and don’ts.

One of the problems with being a Workawayer is that some hosts require you to work as if you were doing a full-time job, making it difficult to find time to do much else.

David Jones

I am a professional travel writer and travel enthusiast who traveled the world twice, so I am sharing my firsthand knowledge about everything related to travel and spending time abroad.