Room to Roam (Part deux): Live/Learn/Work/Play

Today’s world voyager has a multitude of choices when it comes to travel; kind of like a rendition of choose your adventure. An integral part of planning this journey is what type of accommodation to choose and at what price range. Moreover, it’s now possible to easily diversify and add to your tourist experience with many interesting, illuminating and off-beat opportunities.

So, the questions is: What do you want out of travel? Do you want to see the sights, socialize, volunteer, learn about the local culture, live for free, work, learn a new language or just chill out? Take your pick, because all of these options are out there and are easily obtained through the power of the interweb.

In part “deux” of this series focusing on travel accommodation options, we look at some nifty alternatives to the mainstream choices out there. Check out part one peaking into the intriguing world of hostels: Room to Roam (Part one): The Art of Hosteling.

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Doesn’t Airbnb and couchsurfing sound like trendy new eccentric sports? Does homestay, workaway, wwoofing or helpx remind you of rehabilitation centers in Delray Beach?

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they are not what they sound like. They are actually affordable, if not free, rooming/living/volunteering/working options that today’s travelers can choose from; and depending on your travel goals, they can expand your experience and completely enhance what traditional tourism offers.

The Obvious and Not-So-Obvious 

The usual choice for most people on vacation is a hotel or resort; which is nice, but you don’t really get a “locals” experience. Hostels, on the other hand, are most popular with budget-minded social seeking vagobonders; but if you’re not in the mood for crowded hostels and the former two choices aren’t your cup o’ tea, there are other great alternatives.

Below we’ll look at some of the “alternatives” to resorts, hotels and hostels

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Air and Surf

AirBnb (www.airbnb.com)

After hostels, I use Airbnb the most out of any in the following list. If you don’t know what this is, simply put: Airbnb allows people to list, find, and rent lodging easily through their app and website. Amazingly, it has over 1,500,000 listings in 34,000 cities and 190 countries. Their growth has exploded in resent years and it’s no fluke. They have a great platform to review listings, prices can be very affordable and the options are almost endless. You can choose between shared rooms (think dorm-style hostels), private rooms in a shared apartment (where you have roommates), or book our very own apartment all to your lonesome.

*I am currently in a private room in a shared Airbnb in La Paz, Bolivia. The place is spacious and clean and a much-needed break from the party crowds at the last several hostels I’ve been to.

Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com)

The next habitational option of choice for many tight-budgeted travelers is the famous and highly recommended Couchsurfing. I have never personally used it, but the reviews are almost unanimously positive. Not only because it’s free to stay on a hosts couch (which is so awesome), but for the opportunity it provides to delve into the local culture with someone who actually lives there. Couchsurfing hosts are known to be some of the most courteous and knowledgeable. They enjoy meeting new people and even hanging out with their guests to show them the insider’s view of their city.

It’s easy to sign up, create a profile and start surfing couches all over the world. And if you’re the social type that likes to host, sign up and offer your own couch to travelers that visit your city; and maybe you’ll even learn something new about your neck-of-the-woods.

Out of the Ordinary

The next several options were very new to me before my travels began. Yet, since my very first country, I’ve have been meeting tons of vagabonders that have used each of these and have told me it was an enlightening and fun experience. Although I’m not planning on using any of these myself, I know it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many to see the world from a unique point of view.

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Homestay (www.homestay.com)

Homestay is a form of tourism and/or study-a-broad that allows visitors to rent rooms from local families. People who use this option sometimes wish to improve their language skills or become familiar with the local lifestyle. From what I’ve heard, you pay a fee per your allotted stay and the family provides your room and at least one meal per day. The meals together are really important, as this is the main opportunity to speak their language and learn about their culture.

Workaway (www.workaway.info)

Workaway is an international organization that enables travelers who are willing and able to work as volunteers to connect with hosts (usually individuals, families or groups) wanting or needing help with their projects or activities. Volunteers or ‘Workawayers’, are expected to contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day in exchange for lodging and food provided by their host. I’ve heard, obviously, that workload varies and hours can vary from one to six hours per day, usually 5 days a week.

This choice is for those individuals that are looking to contribute, learn a new skill or do something off-the-beaten path; yet, not have to pay too much for the time away. Work can be anything from farming, construction or teaching. Seems pretty darn cool to me.

WWOOFing (www.wwoof.net)

Straight up from Wikipedia: World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or Willing Workers on Organic Farms is a loose network of national organizations that facilitate placement of volunteers on organic farms. The aim here is to provide volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and ecologically sound growing methods, to help the organic movement and to let volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country.

WWOOF volunteers (‘WWOOFers’) generally do not receive financial payment. The host provides food, accommodations, and opportunities to learn in exchange for assistance with farming or gardening. The duration of the visit can range from a few days to years and workdays average five to six hours. WWOOF farms can include anything from private gardens to smallholdings, allotments, and commercial farms. ‘Nuff said.

HelpX (www.helpx.net)

HelpX, or Help Exchange, is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.

Though this option is the one I heard about the least, it is still a good alternative to WWOOFing and most definitely provides a unique experience.

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Well, there you have it. A bunch of new ways to travel the world, meet new people, discover new things, have inimitable experiences and even volunteer some of your time for an enriching cause. If any of these options entice you, click the links provided and dig deeper; because the path to self-discovery sometimes lies in mysterious places- like an organic farm in Ecuador.