11 Sites To Survive Travelling

Ahoy travelers! I am sure all of us love to travel be it for a day or longer. You will find these sites more than helpful to survive out there in a world full of strangers. I always believe that volunteering comes from within for those who would like to make a change and be the change in  the society today. Many volunteering programs are being offered with fees chargeable for accommodation, food, transport etc. However, I would like to go with a mindset that volunteering doesn't necessarily involves money to begin with unless for membership access requirement purposes only, which grant you access to the contents. 

Let's be part of the mission to bridge the gap with the help of  this list. Are you ready to sail the boat out to the endless sea? Common' sailors..ahoy!


**Some sites are country specific. Please, check before registering.


1. www.couchsurfing.org
I personally use this often during travel. It is widely known for its objective to share our life with the people we encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect. As the name goes, we are expected to surf the couch at the home of our host. We can also search for a host, travel buddy, event and gathering worldwide. Meet  and be with the locals. Expect to sleep on a couch, floor, bed or whichever the host provided. Embrace life with an open heart and welcome this new experience into your travel life if you  haven't already.
Cost: Free registration, search for host and surf.
Note:USD $25 is applicable should you choose to 'Get Verified'. (rate as of 23rd January 2015 )


2. www.pragya.org
A site where people around the world get to contribute their love for a better world in social development, disaster management, natural resource management, appropriate technology, enterprise & livelihood. Locations available for volunteering are India, Kenya, Nepal, UK, USA. Spare some time during travels to embrace humility by giving back to the society.
Cost: Info not available. I've sent them emails, hoping for a respond soon. Please, share if you have any tip on this.


3. www.wwoof.net / wwoofinternational.org
"Woofing" is a site where hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunity to learn about organic lifestyles in return for help from volunteer. If you are a person who wants to live and learn on smallholdings and organic farm, this is the place you should be. Depending on your host requirements, some offer minimal wages for your volunteering effort. Volunteer opportunities are available within Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East region.
Cost: Membership fees applicable depending on region and country intended.
Tips: You can share cost or barter your way should there be someone who wants to give up his/her account. You can then update the profile to reflect your particulars and email address instead before begin searching.


4. www.helpx.net
Similar to Woofing, " HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farm stays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation."
Cost: Free or Premier for registration ( 20 Euros for 2 years )
Tips: You can share cost or barter your way should there be someone who wants to give up his/her account. You can then update the profile to reflect your particulars and email address instead before begin searching.


5. www.peacecorps.gov
All applicants and volunteers are required to be US Citizens to participate in the Peace Corps ( unfortunate for many of us who are interested ). Seeing that this is a government site, "Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level toward sustainable change that lives on long after their service at the same time becoming global citizens and serving their country. When they return home, Volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences and a global outlook that enriches the lives of those around them."
Cost: There are no application fees to apply to the Peace Corps, and there are no fees associated with visas, passports, or plane tickets for candidates invited to serve


6. www.volunteerworkthailand.org
"The Volunteer Thailand section of this site is designed for volunteers to find free volunteer work in Thailand and volunteer organizations that can be contacted directly. Whether you want to volunteer with animals, work with children or teach English, there is no need to pay middle-man or agency fees."
Cost: Free  (depending on the program)


7. www.workaway.info
"Remember it takes a lot of thoughts for someone to invite you into their home, so be prepared to volunteer and help as much as you can! It is not a hotel or a youth hostel it is an exchange- a few hours volunteering per day in exchange for food and board. Housework i.e. cooking, washing-up, etc should be shared."
Cost: 29.00 USD for an individual account / 38.00 USD for a couple account. Accounts are valid for two years enabling you to contact any of the hosts on the host list.
Tips: You can share cost or barter your way should there be someone who wants to give up his/her account. You can then update the profile to reflect your particulars and email address instead before begin searching.



8. Housesitting

"In return for a pet and/or garden care, house sitters get to stay in great houses right around the country for free."

TrustedHousesitters.com – $60 annual fee – The largest site on the web, and also the fastest growing with the best functionality. It’s heavy on UK and European house sits but is also gaining ground in Australia and North America.
MindMyHouse.com – $20 annual fee – Low fee to join, a good number of house sits, and a well laid-out website. Jobs are primarily in North America and Europe.
Housecarers.com – $55 annual fee – Plenty of good house sits with a focus on Australia, New Zealand, and North America, but a poor website structure that is difficult to navigate.
Caretaker.org – $30 annual fee – We have had no success on this site but know others who have. Note that this is the only website where you can’t browse through available house sits online. You need to pay the annual fee, and the opportunities are sent via newsletter.
Reference: http://bit.ly/1EO07ln


9. www.meetup.com
"Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 9,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities."
Cost: Free registration. Fee is required depending on desired activity.


10. www.mealsharing.com
"Instantly join meals that have a date, or send out requests to meals that catch your eye. Some meals have a chip-in cost set by the host while others are free. Your host has everything covered- after joining, all you have to do is show up & enjoy!"
Cost: Free registration


11. www.hovelstay.com
The anti-luxury marketplace is a unique experience for adventure seekers who would like to experience unique accommodation with an affordable price on a whole new level. Select a category that suits your travel bug. You could be staying in a tree house or a bungalow all being under budget.
Cost: Pay according to chosen type of accommodation.  




Sites listed are based on personal recommendations from my own  travel experience and lots of reading. Hope this list somehow help you in getting lost in this world full of wonders. Safe travel!



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