Here’s the deal: A little work for a ticket to Fiji

Working on a ship, yacht or sailboat can take you to amazing destinations and far-flung places without costing you a dime. Think of it as work-for-fun. A touch of hard work along the journey offers restful naps on deck and refreshing plunges in balmy waters. It sounds like an amazing opportunity for those with few obligations and plenty of time, who may not have the means to afford such vacations.

Various websites connect boat owners (hosts) with people willing to work as crew members. The hosts provide a bed, meals and transportation in exchange for onboard work. No experience needed, just a willingness to learn and become part of the team. Find a Crew bills itself as “the world’s largest online boat and crew network... with active members in over 200 countries and amazing people from all walks of life.”

For Jorge Estrada, a nurse in Spain, it sounded great. “In three weeks, I’m heading off to Fiji, Tonga and French Polynesia. I’ve worked out a deal with the captain to help out with some basic boat tasks like cooking, steering, setting sails, and night watches in exchange for room and board, and free transportation.” Priya Hill, who signed up to work on a boat headed to the South Pacific, sees the journey as, “a challenge to test my skills and capacity to learn, but also a chance to connect with the sea, enjoy the ride, and grow personally.”

CrewSeekers calls them “sailing opportunities,” and currently include an ocean voyage to Papua New Guinea and one from Albania to Tunisia. Their website says: “It’s free for everyone to browse though all of our current sailing opportunities. Become a member to contact yacht owners and join their crew.”

Before hitching a ride at sea and starting this work adventure, it’s wise to research the opportunity carefully. Crewbay advises: “Remember we are just an introductory service, please take all necessary precautions.” It offers the option to stay anonymous until you’re certain about the trip and captain, and recommends seeking reviews. Also, if a Crewbay ad indicates a preference for women, it’s worth asking why. “This is for sailing enthusiasts; it’s not a dating site.”

The rising demand for this travel experience is linked to a shift in work values and high sick leave rates. “Workers now want more time for reflection and rest,” said Virginio Gallardo of the Humannova consulting firm. “Many of these trends, triggered by the pandemic, aim to rethink how we work.”

Other opportunities

Another interesting way to travel and work is house sitting. It’s a growing business connecting homeowners with house sitters. The deal? Take care of homes while owners are on vacation in exchange for free accommodation. Worldpackers lists responsibilities as cleaning, watering plants, pet care and handling home emergencies. “To succeed, build trust and be adaptable.” Similar websites include Nomador, TrustedHousesitters and MindMyHouse.

One of the most popular websites is Workaway. It offers a wide range of opportunities such as language teaching, helping on organic farms and construction work. Thanks to Workaway, mathematician Inés Milan Sanz has traveled extensively around Europe. “In Hungary, the owners of a campsite were kind enough to offer me a camper with a kitchen and bathroom, and two meals a day. In return, I worked six days a week pitching tents, trimming trees, chopping wood, painting, helping in the kitchen, and cleaning up,” said Milan.

In Istanbul, Milan lived and worked in a hostel. “I put in four hours a day, six days a week doing a bit of everything — cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, showers and rooms, changing sheets, and doing the wash and ironing. In return, I got to share a room with three volunteers, had one free meal a day, and a restocked fridge three times a week.” She said, “It’s a great way to travel without spending much, and also explore the world while trying out new things.” Milan plans to keep on traveling this way, “but maybe I’ll try something different like language teaching, taking care of animals and supporting platforms.”

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