Being a more ethical tourist will ensure you are giving something back to the area rather than just taking. From being a hospital volunteer in Africa to a meals on wheels volunteer in the UK, there is something for everyone. But it is vital to make sure the organisation is reputable and safe to work for, as well as being ethical. Read on to discover 5 perfect volunteering experiences and what you need to volunteer aswell as why you should.

Do I need experience and qualifications to volunteer?

For most roles, you don’t need a particular skill set or any qualifications.

What you do need for volunteering –

• Be willing to give up some of your time
• Need to be able to leave your comfort zone
• Be a caring person
• Open to new experiences

Although, if you are qualified in a particular area then this may open up more volunteering opportunities for you. Volunteering can also be used to further your career and enhance your C.V.. You could perhaps do volunteer counselling, go on humanitarian trips or perhaps be a medical volunteer.

What are the positives of volunteering while travelling?

There are endless benefits of volunteering while travelling! –

• A great way to get experience in a particular field
• Volunteering abroad will show you are a well rounded character not afraid of new challenges and leaving your comfort zone
• You are contributing to a community in a positive way
• It’s the perfect way to travel slowly and fully explore an area
• Volunteering helps to grow your confidence
• You will meet many new like-minded people
• Volunteering is the perfect way to become a more ethical tourist
• You gain many new skills from volunteering

These are just a few of the many advantages that volunteering will bring you. So if you love to travel then look up sites like Volunteer World for your next volunteering experience abroad to start practising ethical tourism!

If you have time to earn money alongside volunteering then check out these ways to earn money online.

7 ethical tourist volunteering opportunities around the globe –

Volunteer in Costa Rica with turtles!

Does living in the middle of the Caribbean appeal to you? Become a Turtle Conservation Camp Supporter! With this volunteering opportunity, you could live off the beaten track in the Barra de Pacuare Tortuguero National Park! Full of biological diversity, you will come across more than just sea turtles.

Requirements –

• Minimum 6 month stay so it’s perfect for those trying out full time travel
• Willing to communicate and co-ordinate with fellow volunteers
• Able to sleep in a shared room
• Willing to do night patrols

In this project, you get to help in the conservation of sea turtles. You may come across many turtle species including leatherback turtles, green turtles, and hawksbill turtles. These species of turtle are being threatened with extinction so your help would be highly appreciated. During your free time, you are able to explore the jungle and enjoy bonfires on the beach!

Be a super eco-tourist and help out with bushfire recovery in Australia!

If Australia is more your style, then why not assist in the Bushfire Recovery! Help land, water and wildlife recover from this travesty. Although I am not sure exactly what the recovery efforts consist of, with around 1.25 billion animals killed during the 2019-20 bushfires, and 18.5 million hectares of land burnt there is lots of work to be done.

Accommodation is not included but this means that you are likely to be able to volunteer as much or as little time as you wish. This way you can volunteer while working alongside. I plan to do this when I hopefully get to spend time in this sunny country!

Volunteer on a Thai island!

Are you a fan of dogs and cats? Then help out at one of their two shelters. Dog and Cat Rescue Samui Foundation welcome any assistance at all. Sadly when there is an over-population of dogs, the Thai government take it upon themselves to poison some of them. There has unfortunately also become a rise in the number of cats so the foundation now helps both cats and dogs.

All sorts of assistance is appreciated –

• Painting walls
• Spraying dogs
• De-ticking dogs
• Bathing dogs
• Looking after the cats
• Simply loving the animals

There is no accommodation available but you can select how much time you spend at the shelter and this leaves you free to work when you need to. Also, it’s Thailand so accommodation is extremely cheap there in comparison with most countries.

Where to find other volunteering opportunities.

Look after donkeys in Greece!

Visit sunny Greece and become a Donkey Carer. You are required to find your own accommodation and help out 5 days a week. However, it is only a 2-week minimum stay so if you can spare 2 weeks then your help would be greatly appreciated, in particular during the Summer as the centre can become very busy then with tourists needing to be shown around.

General day to day requirements –

• Food preparation (some donkeys need a special diet) 
• Administering medication 
• Cleaning stalls and pasture hygiene 
• Providing fresh hay/bedding and water throughout the day 
• General observation and daily grooming 
• Cleaning and feeding of the other animals (dogs, cats, chickens)
• Walking the CDR-dogs 

You may not realise it but by volunteering with projects such as the 4 mentioned above, you are also helping the planet. By helping nature and all animals to thrive, you are helping to maintain biodiversity and prevent future specie extinctions. Having a variety of species helps the Earth because it keeps nature alive which with out, humanity would cease to exist.

Teach English in Colombia!

Perfect for aspiring teachers or any travellers wanting to give teaching a bash. With only 12 hours a week teaching volunteering time required, this leaves you with plenty of time to explore beautiful Colombia! No experience is required, just turn up with a positive attitude! You are provided with some money for shopping, have access to private accommodation and a shared kitchen at your disposal.

Requirments –

• Teach small groups of 4-6
• Be wiling to teach all ages
• Share your culture

With guaranteed weekends off and only 15 days minimum required, this volunteering opportunity seems too good to miss!

Top travel tip – Where ever you are, make sure to pick up any rubbish you come across. If you are at a beach destination then do a beach clean! To go one step further, sieve through the sand in search of micro-plastics as these are getting into the oceans and harming our seababies.

What’s stopping you!? Apply to a volunteering experience abroad for your next travel adventure and become a more ethical tourist!

The post Become a more ethical tourist by volunteering while travelling appeared first on GirlWithTheSuitcase.

However, being forced to travel slowly was not a bad thing. The difference between the typical fast-paced travel-life style and slow traveling is simply slowing down and travelling less often. Therefore, you are able to dive deep into a new culture entirely different from your own and have a truly authentic travel experience. To slowly travel means each new place we come across can be intimately explored. Of course for those short on time to travel, to travel slowly is more difficult but for long term travellers, it is important to adopt a slower-paced travel lifestyle. Read on to discover how to travel slowly and why it is important.

How to travel slowly

To travel slowly simply spend longer in each new place

Let’s try and change the travel habit of spending only a few days to a week in the capitals and most popular cities of a country before swiftly moving on to the next. For example, just as there is more to Australia than only Sydney, there is more to Scotland than just Edinburgh!

Slowly explore the Scottish Highlands

Within one country, cultures and landscapes can vary hugely from one end to the other. There is absolutely no need for constant country hopping. We need to move away from the travel trend of ‘I’ve been to this number of countries’. Who actually cares? Travelling is about the experiences gained and not the number of countries you have successfully ‘ticked off’.

Perhaps start in the North and slowly travel your way towards the south. For example, in Australia, you could go from the bright lights of Sydney on the South Eastern coast to vastly different landscapes in the Northern territory.

Suggestions for slow travel train trips –

Trans-Siberian Railroad Journeys (trans-siberian-travel.com)

7 Reasons to Take the Train from New York to New Orleans

The Indian Pacific Train: Sydney to Perth – Tourism Australia

Top travel tip – places like Australia can be expensive so check out housesitting opportunities to cut down on travel expenses. This way you can still discover the country at a slower pace rather than only being able to have a brief visit. Why not go from house sitting in Syndey to house sitting in Perth!?

Why should we slowly travel?

1. Slow travel is better for the environment

The most crucial reason why you should travel slowly is to lessen your impact on the planet. You could choose to go to the country closest to you and continually explore the world this way in a slow manner. This will help to cut down on flights and constant travel emissions.

For example, I headed to England from Scotland by train. I house sat in a couple of cities while slowly moving towards London. From there I caught the Eurostar to Paris where I spent around 2 weeks. Following this, I headed to Lille by train for a six week house sit. Nothing has felt rushed and still I have been able to travel and experience new areas.

Flights

According to an article by Transport and Environment, the aviation industry is responsible for about 5% of global warming. Cutting down on flights as much as possible or all together will greatly contribute to you having a greener footprint.

5 tips for reducing your ‘flight foot print’ –

1. No short haul flights
2. Choose flights with bio-fuel
3. Bring your own food/drinks
4. Fly economy
5. Offset emissions
6. Choose the option with the least change overs

Number 6 may seem confusing. Imagine you see a low price with 3 layovers so you think this 36-hour journey option beats the 20-hour expensive option. However, about half of the carbon emissions produced from each flight are caused during takeoff and landing. Therefore, it is important to pick the option with the least layovers. A huge benefit of slow travel is that you are able to check ticket prices for various dates.

Although, if you insist on flying everywhere you selfish human then hop aboard the Hogwarts Express and attend Madame Hooch’s flying lessons to learn how to fly the sustainable way. Buy a broomstick made from sustainable materials to take that extra green step!

Cars

For example, driving alone on a medium-sized petrol car produces around 190g of CO2 for every kilometre travelled.

5 tips for reducing your ‘car footprint’ –

• share the journey with friends rather than each travelling separately.
• Use an electric car.
• Purchase better fuel – ‘super’ and ‘premium’ fuel is often better for the environement as it improves efficiency.
• Take your own food/drinks to prevent purchasing plastic covered items along the way and to reduce waste.
• Wear layers rather than constantly having the heating on.
• Open windows to reduce the use of a/c.

Trains, buses, barge cruises, bicycles, skateboards, scooters and feet are by far the more eco-friendly options. Unbelievably there are even eco cruises so there are plenty of options available. Be careful not to book a ‘typical’ cruise experience as these have an astonishingly negative impact on the environment. Read about the impact here.

Other ways in which slowly travelling can help to lower your carbon footprint –

1. You have time to research where to eat. Choose places that use local ingredients and perhaps try a meat-free establishment!
2. There is more time for mindful shopping. You can take your time to discover sustianable shops and markets.
3. You don’t have to grab food on the go. Instead, you can take the time to make food where ever you are staying to reduce waste.
4. There is time to walk/cycle/scoot around rather than taking transport or driving everywhere.

2. Slow travelling provides the opportunity to become culturally immersed

Travelling slowly allows you the opportunity to deeply immerse yourself within the place you are discovering. No longer do you have to be the erratic looking tourist rushing from one popular site to another. Instead, slow travel now has provided you with the benefit of experiencing new cultures. You now have time to do more than just capture the typical ‘selfie’ at the Eiffel tower. You can get to know locals and spend an evening or 2 enjoying apéro together while learning about the French culture.

Ways to immerse yourself –

• Participate in classes run by locals based on their culture – language, food, dance.
• Learn about the local customs and respect them
• Find out about local events, for example, in Lille, France where I am currently staying, there are Sunday tango evenings at the Vieille Bourse where a local book market is held during the day with frequent games of chess.
• Surround yourself with the language – frequent cafes, restaurants, bars or simply wander the area.

3. You have time to give back to the community

Most often travellers do not consider the positive impact their visit could have. Slowly travelling means you are able to help the community in some way. Rather than just taking, you are able to give back through slow tourism. Before heading off on your full-time travel adventures, check out ways in which you can assist some areas you are interested in visiting. This way, you can make sure you are heading to places where you can make a contribution.

Simple ways to give back –

• Taking part in a local beach clean.
• Buying at the local market.
• Attending a language class
• Trying out a cookery session or food tour
• Helping out in a local conservation project
• Eat at local restaurants/cafes/streetfood stands
• Drink at local bars
• Stay in local accomodation

There will be ways specific to each place on how you can help out so have an in-depth google search to find out! Knowing I was going to be spending 6 weeks in Lille, I found an opportunity for volunteering with their refugee project. However, unfortunately in France, most things are not open in August so all opportunities I came across, even English classes were not available. This is why I strongly suggest looking beforehand. However, due to Covid, it was easiest at the time for me to come to France. In ‘normal’ circumstances (whatever they are!), put volunteering/local projects at the front of your mind when making decisions on where to go.

Vital things not to do!

Remember that your visit can also leave a negative impact. We should always be mindful of how we are impacting the local area and environment.

1. The most basic rule is to not litter because this endangers animals, makes the area look unwelcoming and leaves the locals having to clean up afer you.
2. When it comes to booking local activities, absolutely make sure you research how ethical they are! Be 1000% sure beyond a doubt that they are following ethical guidelines. For example, learn why you should be an elephant-freindly traveller.
3. Don’t go around touching all the statues/flowers/wildlife etc. This leads to eroding, and disturbance of nature and wildlife.
4. Do not stay in big hotel chains – give your money to locals who will appreciate your visit more and will give your stay a more personal touch.
5. Do not eat in chains such as Mcdonals, Burgerking, Weatherspoons etc. Eating locally will give you a far more unique experience. Go somewhere you can’t go when back home.

4. Relationships have a chance to develop

Travellers frequently meet like-minded people while travelling and strike up friendships but rarely do they have time to grow. This is simply because digital nomads are always on the move. This leaves little time for developing friendships. However, embracing slow travel means there’s time for relationships to flourish. Rather than spending a few weeks in one area, slow things down and stay for at least a few months.

Possible connections –

• You may make suitable work connections that further your job opportunities.
• Others might inform you of digital-nomad friendly places to work at.
• You may come across a partner in crime to accompany you on future adventures.
• There will be time to develop deep connections with fellow like-minded travellers and even locals.
• You may come across volunteering opportunities through people you meet.

Although, the downside to flourishing relationships is that you both eventually will inevitably move on. However, you have now built foundations for strong future friendships. The brilliance of this is that you slowly start to gather friends from around the world. This likely provides you with free accommodation and tour guides in many places around the globe. Or at the very least, you have people you can meet up with on future travels.

5. Improved mental health

With frequently having to become accustomed to new places, the full-time travel life can at times feel lonely. Therefore, slow travel is the perfect opportunity to lessen the loneliness by forming connections with others. People back home do not always understand the desire for this lifestyle choice so friendships with more like-minded people is a blessing. You can develop a community to which you can reach out to at any time of need. You all understand the highs and lows of travel so there is no one better to share these experiences with as well as a bowl of melted cheese!

The benefits of slow travel on your mental health –

• Less constant organising and moving about.
• No longer always having to check on visa requirements
• Not constantly booking transport and accommodation
• A lot more free time to relax and to make friends.
• Time to make healthy nutritious meals
• Able to fit in exercise
• Time to do absolutley nothing!
• There is plenty of time for a good work/life balance

Rather than constantly feeling that you have to get out and explore due to being in new places so often, you can instead slow down and take time to truly relax. This will have endless benefits for your mental health. You can take time to truly appreciate the wonderful opportunities that the privilege of being able to travel brings you.

6. Travel slowly and you will save money

Travelling slowly means you have a lot more flexibility in comparison with a typical fast-paced travelling lifestyle. You will now have much more freedom with dates, this can save you a lot of money.

How does it save you money? –

• You save money by travelling less.
• Being flexible means you are able to select the cheapest transport options at the cheapest times.
• You can look into getting a job locally by staying long-term for 6 months to a year.
• Staying in the same place for a long period of time can drastically reduce the price. Sites like Airbnb offer enticing discounts on monthly stays. The longer you stay the more you save.
• Your flexibility means you have the pick of all house sitting and job/volunteering opportunities around the globe. You will have far more options available to you by being open to how long your stay in each area is.

Taking each of these reasons into account, travelling slowly is clearly a beneficial way of life for travellers. Anyway, with constant Covid testing and quarantining measures alone, now is absolutely the time to adopt a slow travel method. You will have more time, friendships will flourish, your mental health will benefit, and you can save money! More importantly, the less harm is brought to the planet too! There really is no downside.

After all, the tortoise raced the hare and won! So remember, slow and steady wins the race.

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Constantly having to deal with negative opinions can start to feel difficult. Not all families and friends are supportive of the travel lifestyle. And over time this negativity can make it difficult to maintain belief in your ability to keep following your dream of travel. Hence, this article will advise you on the best ways to overcome negativity as a solo traveller and stay motivated and focused on your love for travel when experiencing negativity from people who don’t understand your lifestyle as a full-time traveller.

How to overcome negativity with positivity

First, remember you are either aiming to live your dream lifestyle or are already doing so, while most people only dream of achieving this. This is something to be proud of, not something to feel bad about. The dream is yours and yours alone so when someone does not understand that then it doesn’t matter.

After all, it doesn’t matter if you understand and accept their lifestyle, does it? Just because your way of life doesn’t fit in with their expectations of what a ‘normal’ way of life is, does not make it any less achievable. But for moments when others succeed in making you feel like your dream of travelling is a completely unrealistic long-term plan, creating positive surroundings is super useful. Think of this as a positivity challenge! Follow each step and you will start to find that overcoming negativity becomes easier.

Fill a vision board of places you dream of travelling to!

A vision board will remind you of why it is you’re choosing to live this way of life. It will help motivate you to keep your dream of travelling alive. Simply gather photos and quotes from magazines or websites and compile these together in a sort of collage.

Suggestions to add to said vision board –

• The place you plan to visit
• Local cuisine
• National animals
• Language basics
• Traditions
• Local culture
• Activities
• Travel quotes

You want this board to be a vision of your future plans to inspire you to keep following your dream. This inspiration will hugely help you to overcome criticism that others dish out. You will feel more able to stand firm in the belief that you are more than capable of maintaining a full-time travel lifestyle.

You can either make a digital vision board your desktop photo or if you make a physical vision board then place it somewhere you can easily access it. A daily reminder of what future places you plan to visit is a great motivational tool. If you can do both then even better! So when someone makes you feel like the digital nomad life is unrealistic then take a look at your vision board and it will help you to stay motivated.

Have belief in yourself to follow your dream of travelling!

The most important but easiest thing to forget is to believe in yourself! The more you believe in your ability to follow your dream of travelling the easier this will be. If you truly believe in your ability to achieve a full-time travel lifestyle then you will eventually not feel as bothered by others negative comments. You will find that with your newfound self-belief you are able to overcome negativity quite easily.

How to overcome negativity with positive statements

Another way on how to overcome negativity is to practise saying positive affirmations to yourself. Tell yourself things such as how you are brave to be following your dream. Remember you are strong and can do anything you wish. Positive thinking is a powerful tool when it comes to manifesting positivity in one’s life. Yes, you can’t just simply think away negativity but it definitely helps. We believe negative thoughts about ourselves often enough don’t we? So what’s to say that positive thoughts can’t be believed too? Give it a go!

Positive affirmations for success in overcoming negativity –

I am capable of becoming whatever I want to be.
I feel positive about the future.
Other people’s negativity towards my dream is only their opinion, it is not fact.
I am proud of myself for following my dream.
I am able to overcome any criticism and remain positive about my dream.

Of course, belief in yourself is not always easy especially with negativity from others about your lifestyle choice. Imagine this though, if someone told you their plan was to travel full-time, your opinion doesn’t matter. So try your best to ignore the criticism, it is coming from people who don’t understand the full-time travelling way of life. The only person whose opinion truly matters is you.

Social media can be a force for good

You can fight against all the negativity coming your way by surrounding yourself with positivity about all things travel. Each step mentioned so far is a step towards this. However, what you may be missing in your life is people who are in support of your dream.

Tip – Start a social media account about your plans! You will soon discover many other people who are following the digital nomad dream or are already living it! You will start to feel that your plans are accepted and loved. Having this support available at the touch of a fingertip anytime day or night can be a huge morale booster.

On Facebook, in particular, there are a lot of supportive groups for travellers looking to connect with each other. You will find that many of the members struggle with self-belief due to criticism from others or low confidence in their ability to their dream of travelling. So not only will you gain support, but you can also support others as well. By telling other people that they are more than capable of living the full-time travel life, you will quickly start to believe more in your own ability. If they can do then why can’t you!?

Facebook group recommendations –

• TourNation | Facebook
• Campfire: Remote Workers, Nomads, & World Citizens | Groups | Facebook
• Solo Travellers | Groups | Facebook
• Single Nomads | Groups | Facebook
• Photography & Travel Around The Globe | Groups | Facebook

Cut people out who don’t support your dream of travelling

To further remove yourself from negativity, if possible, cut loose any negative influences from your life. Nobody needs extra unnecessary weight dragging them down!

Of course, removing someone from your life is not just like tearing a plaster off but it can be done. Truly think about whether they are negatively impacting you. If they are then try to lessen contact until eventually, all contact ceases. Think about this ‘would I feel better without this person in my life?’. Friends helping friends is what we want, so get rid of any unsupportive friendships.

Watch, read and listen to positive travel influences

Some of the steps so far are easier said than done but this one is easily achieved! The next time you’re choosing a film why not choose one that’s related to travel. Read books about travel and self-discovery. Or try out some travel backpacking documentaries. There are even travel podcasts and travel radio shows available too! Quite often the things you read and watch inspire your travels without you even realising. They can be as factual as Michael Palin’s travels or as fictional as Doctor Who. Check out wanderlust travel quotes as well! There are endless choices out there so get watching, listening and reading all things travel!

Celebrate accomplishments

Each time you accomplish something related to your dream of travelling you should celebrate it! Whether this is landing a remote job or simply booking some accommodation in your dream country. Each little milestone is a victory as it is leading you towards either starting or continuing your full-time travel lifestyle. This is certainly something to be celebrated. If your friend or family member had an achievement in relation to their work this would be celebrated. So just because your way of life is less ‘typical’ this does not mean achievements should be celebrated any less.

However, we understand that many people won’t view things such as booking flights or starting a website as accomplishments. Therefore, you need to make sure you take time on your own to realise how far you have come. Realise though that just deciding to follow your dream is a celebration within itself. You can have a full-on celebration or simply take time to relax. Even better if others in your life realise your accomplishments for what they are but if not, then still remember to celebrate yourself! Maybe make a note of these accomplishments and when feeling in need of a motivational boost, take a look at them to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

Even if reading this article is the first step in your journey to following your dream of travel, then that is more than worth feeling proud of. Because as I’ve mentioned following your dream is brave so acknowledge that. Then as you progress through your journey allow yourself to feel a sense of accomplishment with each passing milestone.

Organise a plan for money and places to see

Make travel plans

If possible then an excellent tip is to book future plans. Therefore, when friends or family members start throwing doubt at your ability to follow your travel dreams, you can feel confident in explaining what you have so far organised.

Whether you dream of travelling abroad to several different countries or simply dream of backpacking Jordan while in Western Asia, making plans will give you something positive to focus on. Knowing you have invested in future nomadic plans will keep you motivated to continue following your dream of travelling. This is particularly important in times such as these when travel is currently not possible for most people. A plan will help to keep your passion for travel alive.

If you can’t afford to book plans just yet then still plan out your future adventure anyway as much as you possibly can.

Create a budget

A useful thing to do to help get you on the road as soon as possible is to make a budget. It will be surprising what you can save when you really put your mind to it. If you don’t have regular paid work at first, then maintain this budget while travelling to keep your lifestyle going. Even if this does not reduce doubt from others, you will at least feel more confident within yourself about your dream lifestyle being achievable.

Basic budget tips –

• Look at how much money you have coming in versus how much you have going out.
• Look at where you could make cutbacks. For example, maybe you could cut down on takeaways and start cooking at home more often.
• Make enough cutbacks so that your out goings are eventually less than your incomings.
• Stick to this budget and you will soon see a little nest egg developing!

Make a plan for earning while on the road

Oganise a plan for how you will earn money while travelling. This is particularly useful for if you intend to travel full-time. Making travel plans and figuring out a plan for work as well as sticking to a budget will show yourself and others that you have thought everything through.

My main travel job recommendations –

• Find jobs with free room and board in exchange for work
• Apply to jobs looking for house and pet sitters
• Teach on Cambly or teach English abroad
• Start a travel blog
• Become a freelancer

Go follow your dream of travelling abroad!

Whether you have had to return home, are working towards full-time travel or are already on the road then bear each of these points in mind throughout your journey. After all, even while on the road, we understand the family phone call for many can carry with it a ‘so when are you coming back and getting a real job’ tone of voice. So, follow these steps and you full soon be surrounded with as much positivity as is possible for whatever travel situation you are currently in. Try your best to overcome criticism and to not let the negativity get to you.

If you want to do something then go out there and try it! It’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t work out or if you change your mind. Whereas many people act as if once you decide this way of life that it’s a dangerous life-altering decision forever affecting the rest of your life. This isn’t the case though, you can travel while working for as little or as long as you wish. So believe in yourself!

The post How to stay positive and achieve your dream of travelling appeared first on GirlWithTheSuitcase.

Most people live a ‘typical’ lifestyle with a 9-5 job with no moving around, just the occasional 2 week holiday abroad. So for you to come out and say ‘oh, by the way, I’m off travelling around the world’ will perhaps be difficult for people close to you to understand. Some will be happy for you, some will be utterly complexed and others may even be downright condescending. However, you won’t know until you tell them and this can be anxiety-provoking. So read on to discover tips on how to overcome the fear of criticism as a solo traveller.

1. Why do you dream of travel?

Remember why it is that you dream of travel. For me, there is an abundance of reasons.

Living in different places around the world will allow me to –

• Work and volunteer with various different conservation and climate change projects.
• Learn about different cultures around the world
• I will have the opportunity to learn about various animal species.
• I can assist projects in bringing global warming awareness to local communities.

Hold your reason or reasons close to your heart and truly remember them. Then when you are ready to tell people about your plans to travel the world, you will find it easier to explain your plans.

2. Having other reasons prepared will help the fear of criticism

For some people, there will be no issue in telling their family/friends about their plans. They may know that their plans will be accepted 100% with no doubt or criticism. However, for those who have a fear of criticism, announcing their travel plans may not be as straightforward. Therefore, having certain things to say will help ease the worry of trying to explain your plans. Along with the reason you have for your love of travel, I recommend having other things in mind.

Things to mention –

• Ideas you have for how to make money on the road such as ski season jobs or teaching English online!
• Any savings you have or ways to save money while travelling.
• Ideas on where you will stay. How about house sitting in Sydney!
• How you will ensure your safety as much as possible.
• The benefits of travelling alone versus the disadvantages of travelling alone.

If you have extremely critical close family/friends whom you feel you have to explain your plans to then try to remember these points mentioned above. They should help to reassure any worried friends or family members.

3. Not all criticism is intended in a negative way

Yes, of course, there are many whose criticism comes from their own discomfort at the thought of solo travel. However, criticism can often be meant in a constructive way.

Imagine your friend/daughter/mum or whoever says to you ‘I am going to travel the world’, this may come as a surprise. And of course, even if you are completely on board with the idea, you are still likely to have questions.

Therefore, it is natural to have apprehension about explaining your travel plans because whoever you tell, you are likely to be questioned. But this does absolutely not mean that the questioning is intended in a negative critical way. Remembering this will help to reduce the fear of negative criticism.

4. Criticism is often jealousy camouflaged

Try not to worry too much about the fear of criticism. To travel is a wonderful life-enriching opportunity. Therefore, it is likely that people will be jealous. They may simply criticise you out of pure envy. Yes as mentioned criticism can be beneficial, however, remember that, if you are feeling anxious about relaying your wanderlust adventures to others then remind yourself that the criticism you fear receiving may come from a place of jealousy. Therefore, this criticism can be completely disregarded.

5. You are in control of your fear of criticism

You hold all the power!

Do not let the fear of criticism put you off from travelling.

Yes, for many solo travellers, it may be difficult to explain their plans. However, you have control. If you want to travel, then…

#1. Remember the tips on what things to mention and your reason for travel.

Think of it this way, if someone you knew was worrying about telling you about their plans, would you truly believe that your opinion of their plan matters? NO, probably not. So…

#2. remind yourself that you have complete control. This is your plan and no one else’s. Therefore, it doesn’t actually matter what criticism you may receive because it is only your opinion that matters.

Therefore, if you have a fear of criticism as I’m sure many solo travellers, do, try not to worry about it! It is either coming from a place of care or a place of envy. Therefore, either way, you don’t need to worry because either they are simply trying to understand and help you or they wish they were you. If it is from a positive place then you can use this to your advantage. However, if from a negative place, you can simply brush this off. As hard as it may be, you are better off cutting out these negative influences from your life. Throughout your travels, you will meet many an abundance of like-minded people.

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1. One of my favourite benefits of travelling alone is that you are in complete control

The main reason I love travelling alone is that I can do what I want when I want! This is definitely one of the major advantages of travelling alone. If you want to get up at 5am to see the sunrise, then you can do it! However, if you are with friends, then generally I have found in my experience with fellow humans that they prefer to lie in after a night out drinking before lazing on the beach all day. Whereas I would rather be up early to go and explore! They say the magic happens outside of your comfort zone. Although I agree with this as solo travel has many magical moments, you still have to have a certain level of comfort. Otherwise, the situation just feels stressful.

Travel anecdote – Around 2 years ago, I spent a few days travelling solo and had the best time by myself. Following this, I spent a week with a friend in a nearby city and instantly felt completely out of control. I was very much outside my comfort zone and not in a good way. I was staying at the girl’s parents house which made things worse as I generally was eating what they made. However, I feel very anxious about eating unknown foods and certain textures. To make matters worse, I generally didn’t like the food. This was just one issue, there were many but my point is that if I had been alone or even staying in my own accommodation then I would have felt comfortable and in control of the situation. Instead I was hungry and frazelled because my friend would not give me a seconds peace.

2. Travelling alone means not being let down

A huge disadvantage of travelling with friends is that it means you are relying on others for plans to fall into place. I’m sorry but this is rarely successful! Three months leading up to a trip away, another friend was supposed to be joining us but all Summer she kept making excuses. Rather than saying she wasn’t coming, she would just be vague. I can’t be bothered with that, I far prefer just making my own solo travel plans. This way, I am not let down by others.

Now, I am free to say ‘come visit me if you want’ and if they don’t then it doesn’t affect me because I am still able to do what I want. It’s my plan and no one else’s! This also means your plans are flexible. Not enjoying Timbuktu? Then head to Gao instead. The world is at your feet (well check where is safe first of course and where is open – silly Covid).

3. I can choose when to have company

As I explain in my first blog post, I am highly sensitive, also known as sensory processing sensitivity. This means many sensory things affect my nervous system more strongly than they affect most people. For example, if I am in a noisy place then I can’t stay for as long as most people. I become overwhelmed and tire more quickly compared with others around senses such as loud noise. This means that I require a lot of time alone, otherwise I experience sensory overload. This means, the entire next day is required to be a day of complete rest. So I would rather take an hour here and there to myself to prevent this from happening.

So for this reason, one of the many benefits of travelling alone is that I can choose when to have company. I absolutely love to read and with modern technology these days, I am able to put my earphones in at any time and read a book curled up in my bed whenever I wish.

However, I do enjoy being around people (well certain people), so when I feel re-energised, I can choose to go to a communal area in the hostel or a local bar if I’m house-sitting. I can simply feel the buzz of the surroundings or join in if I feel like it. The beauty is that it is entirely up to me. Whereas if I was travelling with friends, they would likely want to go clubbing which I absolutely refuse to do from now on – my idea of hell!

4. Solo travel is a complete escape from reality

A simple but wonderful advantage of solo travel is that it provides an entire escape from reality. Obviously, it is still real life but your other ‘back home’ reality has been left behind. You can now truly be yourself. You have no one with you from ‘back home’ so be you and feel free.

Many people don’t understand a love for travel because it isn’t something they would be comfortable with. Therefore, there can be many doubters. A large part of their doubt can simply be due to jealousy. The comments like’ lucky for some’ can be very irritating. However, you can leave that all behind when you travel solo and be surrounded by positivity instead.

5. A vital benefit of travelling alone is that it increases your self-confidence

Travelling alone boosts your confidence a lot. Yes, there are moments where you will think ‘what am I doing?’. But in general, when you start to see the progress you’ve made, you feel a sense of accomplishment and belief in yourself that you never had before. You realise you are capable of more than you thought you would be.

Travel anecdote – Upon arrival in Lille, I headed to the hostel to be told I might not be allowed to stay as I didn’t have the French health pass QR code. However, I had not realised that this was a requirement for non-Europeans. I had thought, only residents of France could get this pass. However, since then, I have realised that the hostel is letting anyone in with a QR code, even English people but just not Scottish because we don’t have a QR code.I was made to feel like I absolutely should have had the pass and that I would not be allowed anywhere without it. I started to feel like I just shouldn’t be here, as if I’m not allowed and should just go back home.

Travelling alone always will have moments of uncertainty but you have to push through as best you can. For me, this means watching comforting tv shows with a cup of tea. However, the hostel kettle looked quite disgusting and had no mugs :S.

Go travel solo!

I do feel more confident with every issue I overcome though. Travelling alone is an incredibly enriching experience. There are many more benefits of travelling alone, I could write about it for hours but I need to get out and explore Lille! Well, the streets at least seen as I can’t go in anywhere or even sit outside a cafe. But like many mishaps or unfortunate moments in life, they often provide funny stories for later. So the more ridiculous the better I guess!

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Of course, money and commitments are very much real issues for many people so I do realise that travel is not possible for everyone. However, a lot of people who dream of travel are more than capable of it. Although, many people are able to travel but use their committments as excuses. This is often simply due to the fear of travelling alone causing doubts to start appearing.

The fear of travelling alone leaves you with many ‘what ifs’ –

• What if I run out of money?
• What if I get lost?
• What if I’m assaulted?
• What if I get ill?
• What if lose something important?
• What if I feel completely alone?
• What if I don’t make any friends?

I could go on and on. However, the ‘whats ifs’ above are what I think of as negative ‘what ifs’. So, how about the positive ‘what ifs!?’ –

• What if I make money while travelling?
• What if I come across the most amazing places?
• What if I help people and communities along the way?
• What if I try lots of new food?
• What if I have life transforming experiences?
• What if I grow in confidence?
• What if I make life-long friends?
• What if I have the best time of my life?

Don’t let negative thoughts make you scared to travel alone –

It is far too easy to slip into a negative mindset. This allows us to make excuses not to do the things that scare us. Anxiety about travelling alone is real but it is entirely possible to overcome the fear of travelling alone! I have conqured it and am currently living in France for a few months while working online. I’m relishing in all the boulangeries, idyllic cafes, their tasty restaurants and exploring all the sights. Every day, I feel confidence in my ability to travel alone continue to grow.. Read on to find out my advice on how to stop being afraid to travel alone.

1. Imagine yourself travelling

Do you often find that you dream about travelling? Then, in that case, you already know you want to do it. Like many things in life, if you want to do something then generally you give it a go. But because travelling alone feels like such an enormous thing to start, people develop a fear of travelling alone.

Picture yourself at your dream destinations. Do you want to go on a safari? Then imagine yourself on one. Use this feeling of excitement and passion to push through with your dream travel plans. Positivity will hugely help to keep you moving forward with your plans. Just as things can go wrong, they can also go phenomenally well! So rather than focusing on the negatives, focus on the positives of travel.

To help make this image clearer, make a vision board. Gather pictures of places you dream of travelling abroad too. Organise them in a sort of collage. Look at this whenever you need a motivational boost!

When you have moments of doubt, simply remember all the travel dreams you have.

2. Take small steps to overcoming the fear of travelling alone

If you dream of travel to a faraway foreign place, you don’t necessarily need start with this plan. Stepping out of your comfort zone is not easy.

So how about starting with a small trip and building up towards heading to your dream destinations. Taking small trips is a great way towards feeling capable of leaving your comfort zone. You could spend a weekend in a nearby city and gradually increase the length and distance of your trips.

Although, if you are very new to doing anything alone then I recommend doing a 30 day comfort zone challenge. Start with solo trips to the cinema, solo dinner dates and walks alone.

Before you know it, you will be on that Safari in Africa! You will start to realise that the magic happens outside your comfort zone!

With each solo trip, you will feel your self-confidence start to increase. Over time you will have fewer doubts. These trips will help to quash the negative thoughts in your mind. You will start to find yourself simply accepting that possible negative experiences might happen but rather than worrying about them. Take small steps and positivity will start to rule your mind!

3. DOn’t fear travelling alone – You won’t be alone

This is the 21st century. There are so many ways to meet people now, it is actually quite ridiculous!

• There are apps and sites for travellers to meet each other
• Hostels are a great place to meet people
• Attending events in the local area
• Trying out classes – language, cooking etc.
• Using co-working spaces

Most people are a ‘comfort zone fan’ so you will feel alone occasionally. This is normal and to be expected though. In these moments, do something that you would do back home to relax.

Of course, just because there are many ways to make friends, this doesn’t mean it will always happen. However, you will find that you come across like-minded people frequently throughout your travels. During a solo trip to Iceland, a group of us from the hostel went out to the Golden Circle late at night to watch the Auroa Borealis.

In those moments where it feels like your travels are not going well, you are able to contact your friends and family at the touch of a button. So, there really are endless ways to interact with others.

Although travel won’t always feel like a magical trip down Hogsmeade (imagine!), I promise you as someone who needs and enjoys most of their time alone, you will 100% meet people. And the magical thing with travel is that there are usually always like-minded people around. I find that I fit in far more when travelling in comparison with people I’ve met back home. Now home for me feels like where whereever my suitcase and I lay our tired heads but also where my parents and their dog (soon to be dogs) stay too of course.

4. It is possible to earn money while travelling

For those worried about running out of money, you can earn money while travelling or you can simply save by getting free room and board in exchange for work. There are many ways such as –

• Teaching English online
• Housesitting
• Volunteering
• Working in Hostels
• Aupairing
• Get a working-holiday visa

You honestly do not need to worry about money. Travelling can be as cheap or as expensive as you want! Do housesitting long-term while teaching online. All that money saved on rent can be put towards future travels. So, if the travel bug well and truly bites you, then it is entirely possible to travel full-time!

5. You can always return home anytime

Remember that leaving for solo travels does not mean that once you have left, then there’s no point of return. Remind yourself that your home, whether it’s an actual home or just an area you think of as home, will still be there. You can return at any time. Think of this when you have moments of doubt. And remember to look at your vision board!

Wouldn’t you rather attempt your travel plans than live your life wondering ‘what if’? You will never know if you don’t try. If it doesn’t work out, then it’s okay to come back. You don’t even have to tell anyone for a while. You could do a Miranda Hart and stay in the local hotel!

Travel will teach you that you are more capable than you realise! Fear is of course there to keep us safe but living our lives in fear of everything we want to accomplish is not a way to live. We need to follow our dreams! So, for the love of travel, just step out of your comfort zone and go explore the world!

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Jobs with Free accommodation

Become an aupair

Aupair jobs usually always involve free accommodation in exchange for work.

How to become an aupair

There are many aupair programmes avaialble. You can find aupair jobs all over the world from aupairing in Australia to becoming an aupair in Europe! Scour the web for all the sites. There are lots of families looking for help offering free room and board in exchange for help.

What does being an aupair involve?

Being an Aupair most often involves looking after children while their parents are at work. Typically, you will carry out general household chores, help the children with homework. You might also teach them a bit of language if you are from a foreign language speaking country.

The amount of work differs within each family. Some jobs may be too time-consuming leaving you with little time alone to explore while others provide you with ample time off. Check beforehand how much you will be required to work.

Aupair perks

Although the hours may seem like a lot, there are often perks such as –

• Family holidays
• Free food
• Free accommodation
• Experiencing a new country
• Free language classes

Get housesitting jobs with free accommodation

This is by far my most preferred and recommended option for free accommodation for travellers. You can even get paid housesitting jobs! House and pet sitters just simply have to look after the house and pets in exchange for free rent. Best job ever! Fancy house sitting in Sydney, Australia!? Sign up to a house sitting site right now and get applying for your dream house sit!

What does house sitting involve?

House and pet sitters just simply have to look after the house and pets in exchange for free rent. Keep the house clean as well and that’s pretty much all there is to it!

How to become a house sitter?

I strongly recommend applying to Trusted Housesitters. Here is a code for 25% off https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF473296/?utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friend&utm_source=copy-link. Or check out this post for other sites to apply to.

Perks of house sitting

• Free accomodation
• Entire house to yourself
• Kitchen at your disposal
• Often owners say help yourself to food
• Usually a furry friend or 2 to play with

Look for hostel jobs with free accommodation

Hostels often provide free accommodation in exchange for work. The amount varies from hostel to hostel so again, check beforehand. Sign up to Work away for a multitude of options. If you are unlikely to use Work away much, then I personally recommend just emailing hostels and asking rather than paying for Work Away.

What does being a hostel worker nvolve and how to become one?

Some hostels have workers doing a bit of everything. Some have workers only at reception or perhaps in the laundry section. If you are suited to a particular area then let them know.

Hostel job perks

• Free accommodation
• Abundance of people to meet
• Regular events
• Surrounded by many different natioanalities
• Staff available for any help issues

Grab jobs with free accommodation working on a yacht/cruise ship

Personally, this doesn’t appeal to me because there is a limited amount of alone time. I think I would crash and burn pretty quickly. However, for those who thrive at being around others and enjoy public-facing jobs then travellers looking for a job with free accommodation, this could be the perfect fit!

What does working on a yacht/cruise ship involve?

You should watch Below the Deck. Although, I’m sure parts are dramatised for effect but this shows life as a ‘yachtee’. The work onboard cruise ships and yachts can be intense with varying hours depending on the size. You may be a server, cleaner, performer, cook or you might jump between things.

How to become a yacht/cruise ship worker?

I have no personal experience with this but there are various sites advertising jobs for cruise ships and yachts. There are so many aspects to boat-related jobs that you will most likely be able to fit in somewhere. Also, they take people off all ages so experience and degrees are not necessary for every position.

Perks of yacht/cruise ship work

• You’re on a cruise ship or yacht!
• View of the sea
• Fresh sea air
• Generally good pay
• Some positions receive great tips
• Meet loads of people
• Party atmosphere
• Usually great food

Look for campsite jobs with free accommodation

Campsites may require you to have a van or tent of your own. However, sometimes jobs in campsites come with a place to stay. Even if jobs with free accommodation are not advertised, there’s no harm in emailing or phoning to enquire.

What does working in a campsite/camp involve?

Typical campsite –

involves reception work and cleaning while assisting the guests with any issues. It will be much like hostel work but out in nature instead which may be more far more preferable to many. There are many sites that are full of fun activities rather than just the basic campsite. There will be sites looking for performers and waiting staff as well as cleaners and receptionists.

Camp –

generally involves helping kids with activities such as water sports and crafts. Can be a lot of hours but also very rewarding.

How to get a job in a campsite?

Typical campsite –

Start by scouring the internet but the benefit of this type of job is that you can approach them first. So send a few emails out or make a few phone calls showing your interest.

Camp –

Again check out GoAbroad.com. Also, have a look at Camp Canada and Camp America

Perks of campsite work

• Meet many people
• Often events on
• Nature relieves stress
• Animal sightings
• Plenty of vitamin D
• Exercise
• Rewarding helping kids in camp.

Work in a ski resort

There are many seasonal Winter jobs up for grabs from chalet host staff to ski instructors. France, Austria, New Zealand, Canada and many more places have spots available for seasonal jobs in ski resorts! Because new Zealand is on the other side of the world (well it is to me), you can have seasonal ski season jobs all year long!

What does seasonal ski resort work involve?

Well obviously it depends on your role. Generally you work a typical 5 day week not necessarily with weekends off. You will definitely have time to hit the slopes though. After all, fun in the snow is the perk of these jobs! You can be many things including –

• Chalet host
• Waiting staff
• Receptionist
• Ski rep
• Snow sports instructor
• Nanny
• Chef

How to get a job in a ski resort?

The best way is to scour sites such as Jobs | Anywork Anywhere and Ski Resort Jobs Abroad | GoAbroad.com. There are seasonal ski resort jobs scattered throughout many sites so just get Googling! Want to work in Canada, why not have a look for Sunshine Village jobs. Jobs at a ski resort don’t necessarily all require experience and generally don’t require any serious qualifications so there will be something for you!

Perks of working in a ski resort

• Free accommodation
• Working in a ski resort!
• Slopes near by
• Tasty food everywhere
• Try out Winter sports
• New friends
• Bars and restaurants galore
• Ski pass discount

There is a multitude of jobs around the world with free accommodation. These 6 are just the tip of the iceberg so get looking! Have you tried any of these free accommodation options? I’d love to hear about them! I’m going to do a future collab on volunteering experiences so send me an email on my work with me page if interested!

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What is house sitting?

On the face of it, you are simply house sitting for free rent. Sometimes, people simply like to have their house sat if they are away for a long time. Although, most often, you will be pet sitting. Whatever the job, you simply follow the owner’s guidance throughout your stay.

On sites such as Trusted Housesitters, they ask the owner to provide a home/pet manual, so this is basically your guidebook to follow.

The basic requirements are –

• Turn up on the agreed date and time
• Feed the pet/pets
• Give them some exercise, often sits say no walk is needed as they have such large grounds
• Keep the house clean as you go along so that there is no stress at the end.
• Put the bins out
• Put mail where required
• Enjoy your stay and relax with your new furry friends!

If housesitting sounds like a great opportunity to you then sign up to my email list and I’ll send you a 25% discount code for Trusted House Sitters!

Is it worth the responsibility?

You must remember that you are responsible for another person’s home and most often their beloved pets. Just as things go wrong in your own home or travels, things can go wrong while house sitting too so it is quite a responsibility.

But YES, of course, it is entirely worth it for the free accommodation! I mean, how does an Australian house sitting experience sound? Nab yourself a job house sitting in Sydney! I’ve just had a look at what’s available on Trusted Housesitters and there are some super sweet Ozzie sits available! Whether you want to do housesitting in Canberra or house sitting in Perth, there are often plenty available. We just need the borders to hopefully reopen again! I will be house sitting in Europe next month. 6 weeks in Lille!

What if something does go wrong?

There will be information in the guidebook on who to call. For example, the pet gets ill then there will be vet information. Or maybe the electricity stops working, there will be guidance on all things like this. Quite often, the house owners give you their family or friends numbers of those who live nearby to call so all will be perfectly fine.

Who is house sitting for?

House sitting is for all types of travellers as there are all lengths of sits from overnight stays to long term house sitting jobs. Most involve pet sitting so being an animal lover will make your membership more worthwhile. You don’t have to absolutely adore animals though. Some sits such as one I recently had only involve putting food out for the pet so they don’t always require you to be intensely involved with the animal. However, you should at least like animals of course!

If you are a true animal lover, then house sitting is perfect for you! You have free accommodation often with a garden and a furry friend to watch tv with!

Can I get paid house sitting jobs?

Yes you can but only certain sites do this and it is harder to be accepted for those jobs as it will involve a more formal process. You will essentially be a ‘professional house sitter’ so experience would be preferred.

Don’t expect payment for a house sit on ‘non-paying’ house sit sites. If you are offered payment then I’m not sure what is supposed to happen here, I suppose the site wouldn’t know you had accepted the money. I think it would be up to you whether to take it or not.

How to get a five star review!

• Message the owner throughout your stay. Every day for short stays and perhaps less often for the longer the sit is.
• Send the owners photo updates and little videos if it is a pet sit
• Either bring a little gift for the owners or buy them one to see upon their return. Flowers are a nice touch!
• Make sure the house is spotless.

It isn’t rocket science, just follow any rules, clean the place and look after the furry babies!

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life in a hostel

What is a hostel?

You can define hostels as places where fellow travellers meet each other and exchange stories from the road. There are usually various events on the go and often even a bar with drinks aplenty. Or rather, this is what a hostel was like prior to the pandemic. My first ‘pandemic’ hostel experience was very unusual. With social distancing in place, I had a room to myself so I explored the different lounges in search of other people. There didn’t seem to be anyone about and with around 70 rooms, it was no small place! It felt as if the hostel had lost its soul.

Now that restrictions are being further lifted in the UK, I have decided to give hostel life another go again before starting my housesitting job. The hostel appears to so far be like ‘old times’. Not crazy but a comfortable casual friendly atmosphere with people getting to know one another

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Meeting people in a hostel

Upon arrival, at the hostel, I was pleasantly surprised to see other humans mingling about. Strange that that should be a surprise in a hostel! In no time I was invited along to watch a choir sing at Christ Church. It’s an incredible building and home to one of the many Harry Potter locations in Oxford! The Great Hall was based on the Christ Church Dining hall. I’ve been asked if I want to tag along to a few other things including cafes, going out for dinner and exploring the market. Hostels are wonderful places for those looking to meet new people. Most guests are fellow travellers so that’s what I love most about hostels, being able to meet like-minded people.

If you have no luck with roommates, then you can head to the common areas and mingle with people in there. More often than not you will come across someone with a plan. Before you know it, you are away having a completely spontaneous outing to somewhere random.

At first, it can seem intimidating talking to complete strangers. Just start with a simple ‘hi’ and take it from there. Hostels are designed to be sociable places so don’t feel strange approaching people, it’s expected.

Hostel anecdote #1 – While in Iceland, a huge group of us headed out to a bar and the sight of us looked really quite funny! Because of the cold temperatures, we looked like we were all dressed for a day of skiing! No one knew anyone, we all just seemed to get along well and felt like a sort of adopted family.

So is life in a hostel only for super sociable young travellers?

Absolutely not! In the case of sociableness, I myself, need a lot of time alone or either time around a ‘calm’ presence to be able to spend time with most other people. Otherwise, I feel tired very quickly. There are currently a few other guests sitting reading and watching tv shows on their tablets enjoying their own company. You can absolutely spend as much time alone as you wish. Many hostels now actually have curtains or ‘pod’ like beds so you can hide away for a while to recharge.

The hostel I am currently in has a ‘Netflix’ room, a room with some tables and chairs for working/eating at and a roof covered terrace bar area with seating available. One part of the hostel is usually more sociable than others so being in a hostel does not mean a bombardment of noise and busy surroundings. I spent yesterday morning and am spending this morning in the terrace area where it is most peaceful. After working or relaxing by yourself, then either head out on a solo adventure or see if there is a partner available to roam around with.

Is there an age limit for hostels?

As for age, there are people of all ages in every hostel I’ve stayed at. There is absolutely no such thing as an age limit for hostels! I was talking to a 60 year old woman last night so there is a huge variety of ages.

Hostel anecdote #2 – When I first stayed at this hostel in Oxford, I and 2 others went along to one of the Harry Potter locations. Remember the part when they have to practise dancing for the Yule Ball when Ron is selected by Professor McGonagall as a partner. Well we took some photos at this very spot beside the benches! So not all socialising has to be alcohol-related, you have lovely days out such as this.

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Does life in a hostel mean being able to cook?

All hostels come supplied with different appliances but most at least have a kitchenette. The hostel I’m in has a fully equipped kitchen so last night I was able to make a veggie garlic pasta dish. So life in a hostel can mean being able to make budget meals! Even if fully equipped, I would still plan to make basic dishes though because other people may be wanting to cook and it’s annoying when the kitchen space is crowded. Also, this makes cleaning dishes fast especially difficult as well.

Hostel anecdote #3 – in Iceland (the country not the shop) I bought a pizza with a fellow traveller but there was no oven so the best we could do was to put it in the microwave! Was not good :S So remember to check the kitchen appliances beforehand or either buy food that involves minimal cooking and preparation. Also, the less ingredients yo buy, the less space you take up in the fridges. They can get pretty full!

Also, do not be alarmed at the idea of cooking in hostel kitchens! Every hostel kitchen I have been in has had clean kitchen equipment. I have always felt comfortable using the kitchens and I am someone who can be very fussy about how clean and tidy things are.

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Showers and toilets in a hostel

Some hostels do have private rooms with ensuites but most have only shared bathrooms. Many hostels have a plentiful supply of toilets, showers and sinks but some do not so plan ahead for showers if this is the case. That being said, I have not yet had a problem with having to wait for a shower or queue for the toilets.

This hostel has only about 4 showers I think which is not nearly enough but fortunately, with Covid, the hostel isn’t overly busy. Another benefit of Covid is that everything is cleaned often. For example, in this hostel as you come out of the shower room you have to switch the sign to say ‘not ready’ so that a member of staff will clean it before its next use. (This meant there are even fewer showers available though). However, even before Covid, I have never had an issue with the cleanliness of showers/toilets. Life in a hostel does not mean broken, dirty showers! They are absolutely fine.

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Does life in a hostel involve activities?

There are often many activities available in a hostel. There is usually a board up in the main common area with details of daily events. These typically include free walking tours, bar crawls, food/drink tastings, movie nights and other random things.

Hostel anecdote #4 – When I stayed in this hostel a few years ago, they had a Harry Potter weekend with popcorn on the terrace. I loved it! Every hostel is different though, I recommend reading the reviews beforehand to check what hostel activities they usually have on.

Just now, there are no events on which I was quite surprised at as restrictions have lessened. Perhaps with Covid though, they don’t want the responsibility of having to deal with possible positive Covid tests as a result of activities planned by them. Usually, though, there are many things to get involved in or not if you feel like taking a back seat. You can always plan your own event though, in this hostel you could ask around about putting a movie on Netflix at a certain time and maybe supply popcorn. Or head out on your own bar crawl with fellow hostlers. Sometimes you may happen to be staying while there is a less sociable atmosphere. In this case, head out and you may make friends in bars.

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Hostel Rooms

Sharing a room with complete strangers will also feel a bit weird at first but honestly, it’s usually fine. The only issue I’ve had so far is people that are generally a bit annoying, you know you’re not going to like them but they insist on constantly talking to you. That can get irritating for anyone and the unfortunate thing with this is that if you just want to relax on your bed for a while, you have the issue that they can walk in at any moment. This is where pods and curtains come in handy! But apart from that, I have rarely had any issues except for below.

Hostel anecdote #5 – when I was in London visiting a friend, a homeless guy took my bed even after being told I was using it. I wasn’t a fan of the hostel anyway so I headed off to stay at my friend’s place instead. Don’t worry though, this was a bit of a random occurrence! And the staff are more often than not very helpful with any issues.

Is life in a hostel dorm clean?

More often than not, my room has been clean but one time, there was one that was full of dust so that was quite off-putting. However, all others have been clean to a good standard.

Is life in a hostel dorm safe?

Every hostel room I’ve stayed in has always had a key card that you use to get in and out of the room. As for your belongings, I have always had access to a safe. So far, there has always been one for each bed. However, you sometimes have to purchase padlocks so recommend bringing your own.

I have never felt unsafe while staying in hostels before. You are either in your own room or with others in a room that is usually automatically locked. Anything bad is highly unlikely to happen. If you feel uncomfortable in your room for whatever reason then you can always let a member of staff know and they will help you out.

As for your stuff, there is usually always as far as I am aware, a safe for your belongings. Make sure to bring your own lock as you often have to pay for one. I have never heard of or personally had any problems with things going missing. But be aware and use your locker for important things.

Will you be experiencing life in a hostel anytime soon? I definitely recommend it! If your first experience isn’t great, don’t be put off because they will not all be the same. Like most accommodation, some hostel stays are spectacular while others are nothing to write home about. Also, I’d like to point out that the hostels I’ve stayed in have only been in Europe and the UK. Hostels all around the world can differ greatly but many offer great experiences. Let me how your life in a hostel goes!

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Make a budget

Write down your budget

First, start with thinking about what is the bare minimum you believe you can spend on each of the categories below per month.

• Rent
• Phone
• Grocery shopping/essentials
• Fun
• Presents
• Transport
• Miscellaneuos
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Internet

2. Compare budget to income

Secondly, add each section up and compare the total amount with how much money you earn. If it is more than you are earning then it’s time to make some drastic cuts but nothing is impossible! Things like Spotify, tv packages, takeaways and alcohol are not completely necessary in life so perhaps for a few months you could have less luxuries in order to meet your budget.

Once you have perfected your budget so that you are seeing some savings then keep this in mind when making any purchases. Also, bear in mind that miscellaneuos spending may not be needed every month so this can either be saved or go towards other categories.

3. Transfer your money

Savings – Whatever amount you believe you are realistically able to save then have this transferred into a savings account the day after you are paid. In case your paycheque is late, do not transfer on your payday to prevent overdraft fees.

Spendings – I recommend using the Revolut app. It has helpful saving things like rounding up your ‘change’. For example, imagine you buy your morning coffee for £2.70, that then gets rounded up to £3.00 and £0.30 is automatically added into your Savings Vault. This will help to increase your savings! Likewise, with your savings account, transfer your ‘budget’ money over to Revolut the day after receiving your paycheque. Revolut shows very clearly what each purchase is. I find it to be a very useful app for keeping track of my spending in comparison with a typical banking app.

4. Stick to your budget to save money for travelling

So now that you have your budget, it is time to stick to it! This is easier said than done for many people, especially if substantial cuts have had to be made. One way to keep focused and motivated is to simply think about the travels you have planned. Would you rather have those morning coffees now or save the money for a meal out in Bali. You could even make a travel vision board filled with photos of your dream travel destinations.

Grocery shopping/essentials

A great and healthy way to save money is to make all your own meals. Forget about all those dinners out, takeaways and ready meals and instead get in the kitchen and start cooking! On average, a UK homemade meal for one person costs around £1 – £2 and can cost even less, especially if you don’t constantly buy branded items. Let’s say you have a takeaway or go out for dinner at least once a week, buy a few premade meals each week and grab lunch out when working 5 times a week. This would add up to a cost of around £40 minimum. Swap these to homemade meals and you could be making a weekly saving of around £30. This would add up to £120 saved each month and £1440 per year!

For tips watch programmes like Eat well for less and Jamie Oliver’s money-saving meals. Also, reducing meat will not only benefit the planet but can benefit your savings too.

Fun and presents

I think of the fun category as including most non-essential things such as theme parks, spa treatments, ‘non-essential’ new clothes etc. As these are not actually needed, this is where you can easily make cutbacks. Also, you can choose alternatives such as using charity shops more often which also brings no harm to the planet and attend activities with free entry.

A major thing that costs a huge expense in the UK is going out. Go out less – this will majorly help to save money for travelling! The amount people spend on drinks can rapidly build up. So if you cut down on anything, make it the amount you drink on a night out – this will certainly help save those pennies. Let’s say you spend only £20 each week on drinks out, if you cut this down by half then you will save £520 a year!

As for presents, the same can be applied – choose cheaper alternatives but also only buy for those who you really feel you should. Don’t go buying presents for every family member and friend under the sun.

Transport

Transport can be tricky because many people need their car. However, if you don’t then perhaps think about selling it and using public transport instead or catch lifts with others. Cycling and walking will help your savings too as well as your health. If a car is needed, then simply cut down on its usage. Money on gas soon adds up!

Utilities

Like most points in this post, this may seem obvious but it is not always something people think about. Turn down your heating and use it less often. Wear warmer clothing instead. Get a hot water bottle for at night. Also, turn off any appliances that are not being used. Stop leaving TVs on standby. These little things will help to save money on your utility bill.

Even if you are looking for ways to save money on a tight budget, making little changes here and there will definitely make a difference to your travel fund. Let me know how you get on! I’d love to hear whether budgeting has successfully helped you to save money for travelling!

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