When you get that travel itch, don't ignore it! Here's how I traveled to Europe for 7 months with under $3,000
When I made the decision to leave America and head to France in 2017, I didn't know where to start or how I was ever going to make it happen. All I knew was that I was going to figure it out, some way, somehow. So, I started by doing the first thing I knew I needed to do- I started saving money. While I was busy working, I began researching work exchange programs that could enable me to afford traveling on a low budget. After I decided where and what I was going to do for the first leg of my journey, I bought my ticket and then it was only a matter of working more and waiting even longer.
I managed to stay in Europe for 7 months total, 6 comfortably. (But oftentimes we end up having the most inspiring adventures when we are spending less.) I baked cakes, waxed floors, camped on the Scottish beach, painted, traveled to Venice, danced in Paris, went swimming at abandoned beaches in the South of France, planted vegetables, cooked with them, and had the most breathtaking experience of my life in those short 7 months. I met my husband, found my passion for cooking and realized what kind of life I wanted to have. (I could go on about all of the benefits of traveling through mainly work exchange programs, but you get the picture. Plus, it's an individual experience and only you can decide whether or not to take the leap.)
Leaving your country of origin is scary, especially when you decide to do it on your own like I did. So, I decided to make a chronological list of the steps I took to make it a little easier for those of you thinking about it!
8 Simple Steps to Travel Through Work Exchange in Europe on the Cheap
1. Recognize the travel itch and start saving money immediately. Even if you have no actual plan to leave yet, just do it. You'll be really happy you did. If you have trouble saving money like I do, try cashing 1/4 to 1/3 (Or more if possible) of every paycheck you make and stick it in an empty wine bottle. That way, you can only get to the money if you break it. Grown up piggy bank!
2. Think about what your intentions for traveling are. Is it to visit a specific place? To work and live in an off-grid community? Do you want to learn about animal sanctuaries, teach English to kids or work on a horse farm? Maybe you have no expectations and simply want to travel with no destination in mind. That's okay too, as long as you know that, it's all good.
3. Once you have a general idea of your intentions/interests, choose a work exchange program and make a profile. There are quite a few of them out there, but the most well known and trusted ones are HelpEx, Woofing(More for farming/outside work), Diggers and Dreamers, (For people who want to live in communities) Workaway, or an AuPair website. I chose Workaway because I was interested in a lot of different avenues and wasn't quite sure which one I wanted to take. Workaway has a huge variety of jobs with different work loads and options. I don't know much about the other websites because I didn't experience them firsthand, but a little research could do the trick.
4. Buy your plane ticket. 2-3 months before your now semi-planned trip, buy your ticket! I always use skyscanner.com because it is the absolute cheapest ticket finder I've found. This website is only good if you are willing to have longer layovers, re-check bags and have more than 1 stop, though. According to some research, the best time to look for plane tickets are Tuesdays at 3 pm, and the cheapest days to fly are Wednesdays and Saturdays. Another great but more time consuming option is to search for tickets separately. Big airports in cities like Boston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Portland, L.A and Denver are always cheaper to fly out of. So, sometimes it's worth it to buy a separate ticket to a big airport, then to go to Europe from there. I have managed to get from North Carolina to Paris (one way) for $250 before. (!!!!) I would also recommend checking 1 large backpack and using a rolling suitcase as your carry-on to make it easier to walk more comfortably through airports!
5. Balance your time between work exchanging/volunteering and traveling. Although volunteering can introduce you to many new things and awesome people, you also came to Europe to see some famous places, eat good food, and experience the different cultures. It's a good idea to make a weekly budget plan on how much you are willing and able to spend vs how long you plan to be in Europe. (Because remember, working in another country for any kind of money without the proper visas is 100% illegal!) Figure out if you want to hop around countries through work exchange every few weeks, every month, or if you want to stay in one place during the duration of your stay. Plan accordingly!
6. Take larger sums out of ATM's to avoid spending a lot on conversion fees and International withdrawals. I would also recommend exchanging some money in your country BEFORE you leave, never do it at the airports! They charge a large fee and it's just not worth it. Exchange ahead of time, or just use your card for large ATM withdrawals. This will save you lots of money!
7. Travel by bus or plane through Europe. Us Americans have this dreamy idealized idea that traveling by train long distance in Europe is cheap. Sorry to say, but it's not. (At least not in the places I've been.) Trains are good within local areas, but if you're traveling to another country, try buses, car shares or planes. Buses and car shares are definitely the cheapest and longest options, but they get you to where you need to be! I used MegaBus in the UK and Flixbus in the EU. Surprisingly, planes are the next cheapest. If you buy ahead of time, they're super inexpensive and easy. I will add though, planes are not ecologically friendly and if you are trying to lessen your carbon footprint, go with the trains, buses and boats.
8. Stay open, be safe, and always be prepared for the unexpected. Whether you are traveling alone or with a friend, make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into. Sometimes, you are going to feel scared, confused, and completely lost. Just remember to stay aware of your surroundings and to always have a Plan B for when travel plans don't go as planned. Everything will be okay as long as you stay open to change and even welcome it. The most beautiful part of traveling is that no matter how much you try to plan, you will always be surprised at where you end up, what you're doing, and who you meet.
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