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.

How to Work For Free Accommodations

Do you want to have adventures and backpack all over the world?

If you do, then you have to know how to manage your resources and how to cope with the financial burdens brought about by traveling. Backpacking is fun and wonderful but you will quickly lose money on the way. You must either have lots of money or you have to cut costs. A great way to save money is to work for free accommodations.

Is it really possible?

Actually, it is completely possible and it’s fairly common these days. Backpacking is more practical than ever.

You will be surprised how accommodating and welcoming people can be these days to travelers. They may be willing to let you stay for free in exchange for menial labor. You can work for free accommodations and sometimes even food at farms, ranches, lodges, backpacker’s hostels, even sometimes on yachts, and sailboats.

Arrangements may vary and the nature of work can be very simple, straightforward tasks to highly specialized jobs but the former is very common. Therefore, any traveler can work for free food and accommodations, and sometimes you may even be able to make a little extra.

Typically, the traveler will work an average of 4 hours per day and will receive free accommodation and meals for their efforts. They will either help with farm work, clean-up tasks, or simple household chores.

Others may ask you to do some specialized jobs like plumbing and carpentry, although rare, it happens. Some locals may even let you work for 2 hours daily just for the accommodation alone. Some jobs may require you to work for 6 or more hours but you will most likely receive free food and accommodation plus extra pay. This is great if you need more than just a free stay.

Depending on the hosts, it is not uncommon that you can receive more than you bargained for. At times, there can be other benefits such as free Internet use, horse riding, kayaking, bikes, local sight-seeing trips, yoga or fitness sessions, etc. Helpers often live with the host family and are expected to join in and offer a helping hand with day-to-day activities. You get to discover new friends thus making your trip more worthwhile.

This type of arrangement is quite common in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. As travelers, you just need to be on the lookout for available positions. Usually, there are notices on hostel notice boards. You can sometimes find booklets that list places that need help from backpackers.

You can also find job listings online. So, all you have to do is search for available temporary jobs on the web. You can also ask other travelers for recommendations.

The nature of this deal is mainly founded on trust. It is imperative to thoroughly discuss with hosts so everything is clear and unambiguous. Never hesitate to ask questions and you should encourage your prospective hosts to ask as well.

Working for free accommodations is a common practice. Be sure to be honest and always aim for a win-win situation. It can make your trips more meaningful and economical.