Working abroad for board and lodging: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
What is working abroad for board and lodging?
- Working for board and lodging means doing work in exchange for a place to stay and meals instead of money.
- The board part is the food provided, and the lodging part is the accommodation you receive.
- In general, the board and lodging are provided at your workplace or by your host family.
- Sometimes you will additionally receive some salary or pocket money.
What do you need if you want to do work abroad against board and lodging?
- Flexibility: you will have to adjust to the house rhythm and their eating habits.
- Initiative: many board and lodging options are not listed on websites but require a pro-active approach.
- Ability to communicate: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
- Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and this will increase your self-confidence.
- Being aware of your surroundings: an important element for your stay abroad.
- Collaboration: also abroad, it is important that you learn, or can collaborate when you work with others. When you live at the same place as your colleagues or boss, this is even more important.
- Empathy: your hosts are not staff; sometimes the standard of living can be very basic.
Where is the best place to work abroad for board and lodging?
- This kind of arrangement is most common in hostels, on farms, and households that need an au pair or private tutor.
- In agriculture: Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
- In fruit picking or grape picking: France, Spain, Greece or Chile.
- As au pair: France, Germany, USA, Australia.
- In hostels: backpackers hotspots like Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Morocco.
What are the risks of working abroad for board and lodging?
- The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled when, for example, you go and work abroad.
- You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it and prepare for it!).
- You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
- What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in the hospital? If you end up in the hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.
Are you insured for working for board and lodging abroad?
- Working abroad for board and lodging will be covered by your current travel and health insurance when you are not going abroad for too long and are not going to do paid work or undertake special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary.
- Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
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