5 Ways To Work At A Hostel

Backpacking is an adventure filled experience; hopping from city to city, enjoying the local culture and interacting with lots of interesting new cultures. Since backpackers are constantly on the move, they are most likely staying at various hostels in different locations.

Hostels are cheap venues set up mainly for young and young-at-heart travelers. They are low-priced bed space and accommodations that offer a place to rest, eat, and work. Some hostels recognize that some travelers are low in cash and may need a quick buck. Hostels can sometimes offer jobs that may help you get out of your financial rut.

This leads to the question, “What kind of job can I get at a hostel?”. If you are resourceful and assertive enough to offer the skills you have, it's easy to work for the hostel or for your fellow travelers.

Here are some job possibilities at hostels that you can take advantage of…

1) Teach English At Your Hostel

If you are an English speaking individual — which you are because of the fact that you are reading this, you can tutor non-English speaking travelers for a fee. Be charitable with your fees. You are teaching to get some extra money.

This can be rewarding because if you are passionate about teaching. You may even find you have fun getting over the language barrier. The best thing about this is that you are making international friends.

Knowing the local language is even better because you can get paid for translating between travelers and locals.

2) Local Hostel Tour Guide

Are you familiar with current location? If you are, you can advertise to other travelers at the hostel and they can hire you as their personal tour guide. Travelers new to the place will be more than willing to pay you to show them around Think about it, you are getting paid to tour the place which is probably your intention in the first place.

3) Hostel Musician or Performer

Hostels would sometimes want a bit of entertainment. If you have skills in entertainment like in music or other performing acts, you can negotiate with the hostel manager. Usually, you will be compensated with free lodging and occasionally, free food. You can also get tips from spectators which will help you earn extra spending cash.

4) Hostel Artist

Ever heard of the term “starving artist”? This time around, it is your artistic skills that will spare you in your travels from starvation. The time you spent sketching your friends’ faces will finally pay off.

Offer to sketch or paint (if you have the materials) your fellow backpackers. As travelers, they will always want to try something new and fun in their journeys.

5) Hostel Maintenance

Having skills in electrical arrangements, plumbing, IT networks, carpentry, etc. can help you earn extra cash at hostels. Armed with your technical skills, inquire with the management of the hostel and ask if your skills may be of use to them. Hostels are just waiting for people like you. Someone they can hire cheap to give their place a bit of improvement. In exchange, you will can given free food and lodging and sometimes even get paid extra.