Have you always wanted to explore the world but weren't sure you had the resources to do it for more than a week or two at a time? Are you feeling the desire to see new sites, explore other cultures, and meet wonderful people outside your usual comfort zone but don't know where to begin?
Almost every day, I talk to people who want to explore new places and cultures, but they just don't know where to start the process! Through my own journey of trial-and-error (with a smattering of knowledge as a Travel Agent for 10 years thrown in), I have found there are incredible opportunities and places to travel and LIVE that are FREE (or cost next-to-nothing - other than an exchange of your time and energy and an airline ticket to get there)! Some of these opportunities include staying in places most of us have only DREAMED of staying, with lovely accommodations, gorgeous mountain, village or sea views, and wonderful cultures to explore!
So take a minute and start imagining...
House/Pet-sitting:
There are lots of house/pet-sitting websites where people post ads for house-sits (both domestic and international)!! I've listed them in order of which ones I think are best (the most options for house-sits), but it depends on where you want to travel. Each website has an annual fee (between $20 and $120, depending on which site), but I think it's definitely worth it!! There are an increasing number of websites to choose from each day to track down good house-sitting opportunities, but here are some of the links I check every day since I find that some house-sits are competitive (and I seem to have better luck if I can be one of the first applicants).
If it's a popular location or situation, it's important to be one of the first to email the homeowners if possible (which means doing a quick perusal a few times a day to see what's been posted, or set up alerts if that works better for your style). I've heard a lot of homeowners say they get TONS of responses and the further down the line you are, the less excited they'll be to read and respond to your email! However, it's also about trusting that you'll be connecting with the right people/place at the right time, so don't stress if you're applicant #60!!
So here are the links to the websites I use...
TrustedHousesitters provides a 25% discount for first-time users (for both sitters and homeowners) using this link. This website definitely has the MOST options (lots in the UK, but also worldwide)! Their fee is the most expensive, but I think it's definitely worth it for the sheer number of possibilities!!
House Carers will give you an EXTRA 6 MONTHS for the price of 12 using this link!! If you're at all interested in traveling and house-sitting in Australia and New Zealand, THIS is most likely where you'll find your next house-sit! The annual fee is only $55 (and with the extra 6 months, it's definitely worth it)!!
Mind My House is a nice website with a number of new house-sits (but not As many as the other two I've listed above), but it is fairly inexpensive ($29 per year). I've seen some great opportunities on this site and met some wonderful homeowners (and pets) through this site!
Luxury Housesitting probably has the least new house-sits, but is very inexpensive for an annual membership ($20 per year).
House-sit Mexico includes ALL of Mexico if that's where you want to go! You'll find a lot of expats who are looking for house/pet-sitters near Lake Chapala, San Miguel de Allende, and an occasional one in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo. (Normally their fee is $79 per year, but if you check out their website the week of American Thanksgiving, they usually offer a discount!)
Nomador has a LOT of house-sits in France, so it's probably worth it if that's where you want to go! (They offer two options: $35 per quarter or $89 per year.)
I've seen some FABULOUS 3-6 month housesits in Mexico in the summer months, etc. (as long as you don't mind heat and humidity!!), and longer-term ones in France, Turkey, and various other places in Europe (and Canada)....mostly in the winter! It's important to remember that people will usually be looking for a sitter when they want to escape extreme weather - or if they want to get away for the holidays - so plan your trips accordingly.
The main thing to remember is that the tourist visa in most countries is only 90 days (and 90 days TOTAL in most of Europe.... i.e. 90 days total between France, Spain, etc....look up Schengen Tourist Visa for more details)!! You get the Schengen Visa at your first point of arrival (just a stamp in your passport) and then you can usually travel fairly easily in all the Schengen countries, but ONLY for 90 days).
You can spend 90 days every 180 days (so travel to "in-Schengen" countries for 3 months, then travel in non-Schengen countries for 3 months.... then back to Schengen countries....etc). You can try to go to the UK during your "non-Schengen" months since they're not one of the Schengen countries, but I'm a bit skittish about that because of my own experience (tough border guards at Stansted airport who might not allow entry)!! Mine was probably just a quirky incident, but maybe I'll try Ireland or some other non-Schengen option next time!
These are some of countries in Europe I've considered or traveled to that are non-Schengen countries.... Croatia, Bosnia (where you MUST visit Magical Mostar if it calls to you!!), Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus, etc. You probably won't find many house-sits in these countries (although I've seen a few in Bulgaria), but there are plenty of WorkAway possibilities (or you can splurge for a month off-season and relax on your veranda by the sea on the island of Hvar for about 25-30% of it's high-season cost)!!
Work Exchange:
Most everything I've done thus far is unpaid (except shorter sits that I've done locally), but the trade-off usually includes free housing, sometimes food, and sometimes even a car. Most of the time, all you need is a few hundred a month for groceries and incidentals (and a plane ticket, of course)!!
If you want to live with a family, help at a hostel, hotel or B&B), the most comprehensive website I've found for these opportunities is through WorkAway. However, there's also WWOOFing (helping on organic farms which provide eco-friendly/sustainable learning opportunities), and Retreat Finder which can connect you with spiritual retreat centers looking for assistance (a few paid, but most offering room and board in exchange for various opportunities to work).
Almost all of these opportunities provide room and board in exchange for about 20 hours of work/help per week, but they also provide opportunities for connecting with the local people and other nomads like yourself!! The trade-off, of course, is less privacy and quiet time than house-sitting.
Teaching Abroad:
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is a great option if you have a teaching background (or if you are interested in working in the teaching arena). Those who want to relocate and LIVE abroad full-time might enjoy this venue, but those who want to travel and explore lots of places in a shorter amount of time might not want to make such a long-term teaching commitment.
If you are looking for that live abroad experience and you're able to commit to a year (or maybe even just six months), definitely check out becoming an ESL teacher (or a teacher working in an International School). There are LOTS of opportunities to explore, but here's a link to get you started: Teaching Jobs Abroad
If you aren't ready to commit to a longer-term teaching job, but you LOVE to chat with people and learn about their culture (and you are kind and patient in supporting people in practicing their English), participating in English Immersion Programs (mostly in Europe at this time) might be a good fit for you! The "win" for the native English speaker is a free room for a week to 10 days, all meals (and sometimes drinks!!), and opportunities to REALLY get to know locals and other travelers who come together in a tight-knit group for a short time.
Some of them (like Angloville) even provide opportunities to get TEFL-Certified (doing a combined Online ESL training program, along with the necessary "practice teaching" experience as a participant/teacher in 3 of their English Immersion Programs)!! I recently spent two very interesting weeks in Central Europe with Angloville (specifically Hungary and Poland), but they also have opportunities in the Czech Republic, Romania, Malta and Ireland that are on my radar for future possibilities!!
If sunnier skies and warmer temperatures are more to your liking (especially in the winter), you might enjoy Grupo Vaughan or Estacion Inglesa in sunny Spain! I had an especially enjoyable time participating in each of these programs and highly recommend applying for them if your travel plans include Spain!
I haven't yet checked out these other possibilities, but here are some other websites you might want to check out for exploring the possibility of participating in English Immersion Programs: Diverbo and Speak In Italy. I'm sure there are more, so please feel free to email me if you learn about additional opportunities!
Short-Term Pet-Sits, Digital Nomad and Seasonal Work:
There are a thousand and one different ways to make some cash to keep your nomadic lifestyle going, depending on what you're looking for and what you have to offer!! As I mentioned previously, some of my shorter, domestic pet-sits are paid positions, and you can find those by placing your "ad" on SitterCity, Rover, Care, etc.
If you are good with words, writing, photography, computer programming, website design, etc., the world is your oyster (literally)!! Most places you go these days (just about anywhere around the world) will provide a pretty good Internet connection. This opens the doors to hundreds of opportunities to make your own money WHILE you travel and live abroad!! I could go into all sorts of details here, but a quick Google search of "Digital Nomad" will provide all the information you need to get your creative juices flowing!!
If you are willing to work in hospitality (e.g. waitressing, cooking or front desk work) and comfortable with shared housing in order to support your travels, CoolWorks and BackdoorJobs have some wonderful connections to hotels, retreat centers, ranches, camps, etc. that usually provide room and board (either for a minimal fee or as part of their employment package)!! These can be fun (but sometimes challenging) opportunities to make a bit of $$ to keep you traveling without having to make a long-term commitment.
If you have any additional questions or need more information, check out my FAQs Page or consider signing up for some Travel/Life Coaching with me to get you started on YOUR Travel Dreams!!
Please email me at: HolisticCoaching@yahoo.com if you have any questions, need additional information, or if you would like to schedule a session!
So take a minute and start imagining...
- Take a deep breath and pause from the busyness of life...
- Close your eyes and picture what you think might be the ideal place to visit...
- FEEL the essence or energy of the place that comes to mind...
- Is it exploring historical sites, cafes and wineries throughout Italy, France and other unique places in Europe?
- Or how about a few weeks or months in an oceanfront home on an island in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Tahiti or Bali?
- For the more physically adventurous, how about doing a Walk-About in Australia, exploring the majestic beauty of New Zealand, or perhaps finding a place to rejuvenate and process your journey after walking El Camino de Santiago through Europe?
House/Pet-sitting:
There are lots of house/pet-sitting websites where people post ads for house-sits (both domestic and international)!! I've listed them in order of which ones I think are best (the most options for house-sits), but it depends on where you want to travel. Each website has an annual fee (between $20 and $120, depending on which site), but I think it's definitely worth it!! There are an increasing number of websites to choose from each day to track down good house-sitting opportunities, but here are some of the links I check every day since I find that some house-sits are competitive (and I seem to have better luck if I can be one of the first applicants).
If it's a popular location or situation, it's important to be one of the first to email the homeowners if possible (which means doing a quick perusal a few times a day to see what's been posted, or set up alerts if that works better for your style). I've heard a lot of homeowners say they get TONS of responses and the further down the line you are, the less excited they'll be to read and respond to your email! However, it's also about trusting that you'll be connecting with the right people/place at the right time, so don't stress if you're applicant #60!!
So here are the links to the websites I use...
TrustedHousesitters provides a 25% discount for first-time users (for both sitters and homeowners) using this link. This website definitely has the MOST options (lots in the UK, but also worldwide)! Their fee is the most expensive, but I think it's definitely worth it for the sheer number of possibilities!!
House Carers will give you an EXTRA 6 MONTHS for the price of 12 using this link!! If you're at all interested in traveling and house-sitting in Australia and New Zealand, THIS is most likely where you'll find your next house-sit! The annual fee is only $55 (and with the extra 6 months, it's definitely worth it)!!
Mind My House is a nice website with a number of new house-sits (but not As many as the other two I've listed above), but it is fairly inexpensive ($29 per year). I've seen some great opportunities on this site and met some wonderful homeowners (and pets) through this site!
Luxury Housesitting probably has the least new house-sits, but is very inexpensive for an annual membership ($20 per year).
House-sit Mexico includes ALL of Mexico if that's where you want to go! You'll find a lot of expats who are looking for house/pet-sitters near Lake Chapala, San Miguel de Allende, and an occasional one in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo. (Normally their fee is $79 per year, but if you check out their website the week of American Thanksgiving, they usually offer a discount!)
Nomador has a LOT of house-sits in France, so it's probably worth it if that's where you want to go! (They offer two options: $35 per quarter or $89 per year.)
I've seen some FABULOUS 3-6 month housesits in Mexico in the summer months, etc. (as long as you don't mind heat and humidity!!), and longer-term ones in France, Turkey, and various other places in Europe (and Canada)....mostly in the winter! It's important to remember that people will usually be looking for a sitter when they want to escape extreme weather - or if they want to get away for the holidays - so plan your trips accordingly.
The main thing to remember is that the tourist visa in most countries is only 90 days (and 90 days TOTAL in most of Europe.... i.e. 90 days total between France, Spain, etc....look up Schengen Tourist Visa for more details)!! You get the Schengen Visa at your first point of arrival (just a stamp in your passport) and then you can usually travel fairly easily in all the Schengen countries, but ONLY for 90 days).
You can spend 90 days every 180 days (so travel to "in-Schengen" countries for 3 months, then travel in non-Schengen countries for 3 months.... then back to Schengen countries....etc). You can try to go to the UK during your "non-Schengen" months since they're not one of the Schengen countries, but I'm a bit skittish about that because of my own experience (tough border guards at Stansted airport who might not allow entry)!! Mine was probably just a quirky incident, but maybe I'll try Ireland or some other non-Schengen option next time!
These are some of countries in Europe I've considered or traveled to that are non-Schengen countries.... Croatia, Bosnia (where you MUST visit Magical Mostar if it calls to you!!), Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus, etc. You probably won't find many house-sits in these countries (although I've seen a few in Bulgaria), but there are plenty of WorkAway possibilities (or you can splurge for a month off-season and relax on your veranda by the sea on the island of Hvar for about 25-30% of it's high-season cost)!!
Work Exchange:
Most everything I've done thus far is unpaid (except shorter sits that I've done locally), but the trade-off usually includes free housing, sometimes food, and sometimes even a car. Most of the time, all you need is a few hundred a month for groceries and incidentals (and a plane ticket, of course)!!
If you want to live with a family, help at a hostel, hotel or B&B), the most comprehensive website I've found for these opportunities is through WorkAway. However, there's also WWOOFing (helping on organic farms which provide eco-friendly/sustainable learning opportunities), and Retreat Finder which can connect you with spiritual retreat centers looking for assistance (a few paid, but most offering room and board in exchange for various opportunities to work).
Almost all of these opportunities provide room and board in exchange for about 20 hours of work/help per week, but they also provide opportunities for connecting with the local people and other nomads like yourself!! The trade-off, of course, is less privacy and quiet time than house-sitting.
Teaching Abroad:
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is a great option if you have a teaching background (or if you are interested in working in the teaching arena). Those who want to relocate and LIVE abroad full-time might enjoy this venue, but those who want to travel and explore lots of places in a shorter amount of time might not want to make such a long-term teaching commitment.
If you are looking for that live abroad experience and you're able to commit to a year (or maybe even just six months), definitely check out becoming an ESL teacher (or a teacher working in an International School). There are LOTS of opportunities to explore, but here's a link to get you started: Teaching Jobs Abroad
If you aren't ready to commit to a longer-term teaching job, but you LOVE to chat with people and learn about their culture (and you are kind and patient in supporting people in practicing their English), participating in English Immersion Programs (mostly in Europe at this time) might be a good fit for you! The "win" for the native English speaker is a free room for a week to 10 days, all meals (and sometimes drinks!!), and opportunities to REALLY get to know locals and other travelers who come together in a tight-knit group for a short time.
Some of them (like Angloville) even provide opportunities to get TEFL-Certified (doing a combined Online ESL training program, along with the necessary "practice teaching" experience as a participant/teacher in 3 of their English Immersion Programs)!! I recently spent two very interesting weeks in Central Europe with Angloville (specifically Hungary and Poland), but they also have opportunities in the Czech Republic, Romania, Malta and Ireland that are on my radar for future possibilities!!
If sunnier skies and warmer temperatures are more to your liking (especially in the winter), you might enjoy Grupo Vaughan or Estacion Inglesa in sunny Spain! I had an especially enjoyable time participating in each of these programs and highly recommend applying for them if your travel plans include Spain!
I haven't yet checked out these other possibilities, but here are some other websites you might want to check out for exploring the possibility of participating in English Immersion Programs: Diverbo and Speak In Italy. I'm sure there are more, so please feel free to email me if you learn about additional opportunities!
Short-Term Pet-Sits, Digital Nomad and Seasonal Work:
There are a thousand and one different ways to make some cash to keep your nomadic lifestyle going, depending on what you're looking for and what you have to offer!! As I mentioned previously, some of my shorter, domestic pet-sits are paid positions, and you can find those by placing your "ad" on SitterCity, Rover, Care, etc.
If you are good with words, writing, photography, computer programming, website design, etc., the world is your oyster (literally)!! Most places you go these days (just about anywhere around the world) will provide a pretty good Internet connection. This opens the doors to hundreds of opportunities to make your own money WHILE you travel and live abroad!! I could go into all sorts of details here, but a quick Google search of "Digital Nomad" will provide all the information you need to get your creative juices flowing!!
If you are willing to work in hospitality (e.g. waitressing, cooking or front desk work) and comfortable with shared housing in order to support your travels, CoolWorks and BackdoorJobs have some wonderful connections to hotels, retreat centers, ranches, camps, etc. that usually provide room and board (either for a minimal fee or as part of their employment package)!! These can be fun (but sometimes challenging) opportunities to make a bit of $$ to keep you traveling without having to make a long-term commitment.
If you have any additional questions or need more information, check out my FAQs Page or consider signing up for some Travel/Life Coaching with me to get you started on YOUR Travel Dreams!!
Please email me at: HolisticCoaching@yahoo.com if you have any questions, need additional information, or if you would like to schedule a session!
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