Free Accommodation for Holidays and Travellers

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Free Accommodation for all travellers; whether backpacking around the world or a budget family holiday

If you're a single person packpacking around the world, a couple planning a world trip, looking for a different type of family budget holiday or looking for a dog friendly holiday I'm sure one of the following will suit you.

There are many different organisations that offer free accommodation and basically fit into five categories.

1. Being hosted by locals

2. House Sitting

3. Vacation home exchange

4. Exchange work for accommodation

5. Working holidays abroad

1.Being Hosted by Locals

It could be in a city, country town or a rural area and being hosted by locals is a great way to enjoy travelling. Couchsurfing is one of the many organisations and now has over 1.5 million members worldwide. Most of the people doing this type of travel are young people backpacking around the world, however there are families and older couples doing it too. We did and we tell our story.

You may stay one or two nights but if both parties get on well you might be invited to stay longer. You may sleep on a couch, in a spare room or in a tent in the garden.

In return you might offer to cook a meal, do a bit of gardening or if you are an IT expert you might offer to fix the the hosts computer, if it needs fixing! Maybe the hosts just want to listen to all your wonderful travel stories.

The system is not just about free accommodation but about cultural exchange and developing friendships.

2. Vacation Home Exchange Vacation home exchange or house swapping for holidays has been around for over 40 years. If you are looking for a budget family holiday it's ideal.

There are many organisations you can register with, so look at the testimonies from people who have been involved. See what the organisation offers for the membership fee. Of course you will need a home of somekind to swap. See our page for organising a successful swap and this will give you some valuable tips.

3. House Sitting You may not have a home to swap so a house sitting job can be a wonderful way to experience a budget holiday with a difference.

We have had many great house sitting experiences looking after peoples homes, gardens and animals.

You don't get paid as such but you get to enjoy a different home, meet new people and often experience a new country.

4. Exchange Work for Accommodation

The most popular is an organisation call WWOOFing, Willing Workers On Organic Farms. You work for a few hours each day on a farm or in a garden to obtain free meals and accommodation.

Many young people use this system to travel around the world as a budget form of accommodation. Most of the people have a common interest in organic gardening and farming but also share an environmental interest.

We know many people who have done this and is a great way to meet others who are interested in the environment. WOOFING is located all over the world and we have some stories from WWOOFer's and their experiences.

5. Working Holidays Abroad This a an exceptional way to travel. Learning about new cultures, new skills and sometimes being able to make a difference in a small community.

We have several stories for you to read including our own when we worked for a small community in a remote area of northern Australia. Other stories include, a young backpacker working in a pub in London, a nanny in the UK, a brick layer in Canada, Nursing in Australia and more. There are also opportunities to teach English overseas at various levels.

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