I am – a volunteer! Or how to travel for free

Are you ready to go to travel today, whenever it has everything you need: crisis, lack of work, small savings and uncertain future? If not now, when? Our friend Evgeny talk about his version, how to do it practically for free.

If you do not have a mortgage on a lot of years, loans for infinite sums, young children and other constraining circumstances – it's time to hit the road! Freedom – a priceless gift and feel all its infinity – this is the real happiness! Every minute is filled with hitherto unprecedented sense, and the mind – new ideas.

The fates decreed I was out of work with a small margin money. Did not want to rush back to look for a new position and re-immersed in the monotonous routine. I have long dreamed of without obstacles and doubts to travel, finally to practice language skills and, maybe, to discover something new for yourself.

Учитывая, that the court in January, and like heat, world, and even practice Spanish – choice clearly fallen on Spain. But here's the problem – the euro has become more expensive 2 times, for Spanish courses have to pay, for accommodation and food, too, and as a result of such a journey can be very expensive. Good old couchsurfing is not so good here help – agree on a long stay is not so easy, And then – for the food still have to pay, and even if it's only supermarket – keep, eg, in 500 rubles / day (it is 6 Euro) can be very difficult.

And so, decision comes by itself. The only way to catch all the birds with one stone – is to find a job, but such, that it does not limit my freedom, As a traveler. That I was free to choose, where I am today, and where tomorrow. And the whole of Europe (and not only) already knows the answer to this question – it's time to become a volunteer!

So, let's see, What is so good volunteering:

• Any expenses – owners provide food and shelter.
• Constant practice of a foreign language, tk. work with the owners and other volunteers every day.
• Interesting new skills and hard work, not more than 5 hours a day.
• No need for a work permit, quite a tourist visa.
• Absolute freedom of movement – working in the same place, You can already look for another, though, that the current owners, как правило, do not limit the time of residence.

Как найти работу

And now you can start looking for a place, where I work. There is an important point. At The Moment a lot of travel companies are trying to make money on those, who are willing to volunteer. They offer you a limited list of places, where people are required, usually limited to certain dates, and even take “membership fee” for participation in any volunteer project, an average of about 150 Euro. Quite useless middlemen feed, you still can find themselves, direct contact with the owners of farms or other places, requiring assistants.

Personally, I use the site helpx.net, where the hosts themselves spread all job offers with detailed description, and also you can see the real feedback of, who have already been to the desired location. Similar resource – workaway.info, where the base is a little more. All, what do you need – select a country, region, место, then write to the owner and wait for a response. Unfortunately, registration fee for both sites, but the price is much lower than any “membership fee” Travel Agents, and you get access to a few years.

So, given the, I am constantly in a dirty and noisy city – Of course you want to nature, where clean air, sun and tranquility. In Spain not find a better place, than farmers. After writing a few favorite farm the next day I received an invitation from one of them, and then, agreed all the details, began to collect suitcases.

Transportation

The only, for which he will have to pay a volunteer trip – this transport. First, and armed Skyscanner! Forum Vinskiy, find the cheapest tickets to Barcelona from Peter. For those, who are not afraid of long journeys, the best option is the bus to Riga, St. Petersburg and then a direct flight from Riga to WizzAir Barcelona. Last worth all of 25 euro with all taxes. With regard to land transport, it is best to explore all advance – very often held sales and buy a ticket on the internet can be much cheaper, than on site. For example in Spain train tickets look here – renfe.com, and cheap tickets between cities can be easily found at major bus carrier ALSA – alsa.es. While on the ground and may reach hitchhiking, but I personally have not yet reached such heights budget travel. 🙂

Ночевка в городе

If you're heading to the farm, then it is likely, I did not get everything done in one day. So I had to spend the night in the first Barcelona, and the next day I went to the train station, where I was greeted by. For one night stay we quite suitable favorite couchsurfing, but I chose another way – Hotel body. This project of the famous search engine hotels trivago. In list available for testing hotels in Barcelona I choose the, for testing which relies a great prize, than the cost of living. After living answer about 300 questions and getting to your PayPal account, the prize. In my case,, I gained as much as 2 euros for accommodation in fairly good hotel. 🙂

The following article will describe in more detail Evgeny about living and working in the eco-farm.

Travel Free!