will work for travel

Ever dream of traveling around and getting the true sense of each new destination from a local insider. If you have, and you have skills and talents to share, there are some great opportunities that just might put you on the path to adventure.

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By Nick Steele

Sitting Pretty

If you’re an animal lover who is looking to get away, TrustedHousesitters.com may be the answer for you. This online service allows pet owners to find pet sitters for both short- or long-term periods, who will care for their animals in exchange for a free stay. Create a profile, and browse listings from all over the world (138 countries) for durations of up to six months. There is a yearly registration fee. Soon you will find yourself minding a furry friend at a Chalet in the French Alps, a cool flat in London or a beach house in sunny California. For just $20, you could also register with global house sitting matching service MindMyHouse.com, which provides the tools for house sitters and homeowners to find each other from around the globe or around the corner.

Give To Get

If you’re willing to swap your skills for a stay abroad, there are plenty of online platforms that connect volunteers and hosts. Popular among them are Workaway.info and HelpX.net

Workaway connects travelers and locals (workawayers) with families and projects around the world (hosts) to create a fulfilling experience for all parties. These programs are meant to focus on cultural exchange and learning possibilities, rather than being viewed as a way to score free food and accommodations. One of the most important things is to be honest about your skills and find out what is expected in exchange for your stay. Look for hosts with great reviews from former workawayers, as well as the hosts themselves. You can learn a lot by reading what the hosts thought of their former guests and vice versa. Ask plenty of questions, from what your accommodations will be like, if meals are included and how many hours your hosts expect you to put in a week.

You can choose from hosts that need assistance at a horse farm in Montana or help in the o ce at a Paris youth hostel. There are even Workaway hosts right here in Ocala, looking for guests to do everything from provide extra hands around the garden to construction projects.

Help Exchange, HelpX for short, calls their community “hosts” and “helpers” and has much in common with Workaway, although they focus more on hosts who o er stays at ranches, lodges, B&Bs, hostels, farms and even sailboats. These opportunities tend not to be in urban areas, but for those interested in learning about these sort of occupations, it can be a great experience.

If you have a passion for organic farming, however, then go directly to Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, which is an established organization and hosts a portal to connect travelers to country-specific sites around the world (wwoofinternational.org). The exchanges are a chance for growers, croppers and cultivators to share their world with like-minded travelers. But be forewarned, farm life isn’t easy—in fact, most will tell you it’s hard and humbling. If you’re not afraid of rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty, you can have a truly meaningful experience on one of these picturesque farms or ranches.

Put It In Park

Every year, the National Park Service (nps.gov) o ers internships, full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs to those who are interested in working at one of our nation’s more than

400 national parks and o ces, from Maine to Guam, the Virgin Islands to Alaska, and most places in between. From being a summer intern to a seasonal ranger, it’s worth checking out their career page to discover opportunities for students, volunteers and those interested in permanent paid positions.

In all these scenarios, what you’ll need to do to make the trip a mutually successful endeavor is to first do your homework. Research what available options will best fulfill your expectations, communicate with hosts or potential employers before you commit. There are opportunities that can last a week, several months or even a year. Be honest with yourself about what you want to get out of the experience. And although you will be saving money on hotels and likely meals, you’ll still need to figure travel costs and pocket money into the equation.