I work for you and in return I bathe in the waters of Fiji

Sailing the sea by boat, yacht or sailboat, traveling to paradisiacal destinations or exploring remote areas can be within the reach of anyone without spending a single euro. It can be an exchange: work for pleasure. Although putting in the effort while the journey lasts also has its reward. The worker can enjoy a few hours of rest in the middle of the ocean or dive into its waters. Quite an option for the 26% of Spaniards who cannot financially afford to travel this Easter, according to the recent survey by the YouGov platform, or to reduce the average spending intention in this holiday period, of 429 euros, as pointed out by the Cetelem Observatory.

Different maritime crew websites serve as a platform for owners of these vessels, the so-called hosts, to connect with their cabin boys among all those who upload their profile in search of this experience. The hosts as “employers” offer lodging and transportation in exchange for work on board. Previous experience or professional knowledge is not necessary and the willingness to learn, teamwork and the desire to contribute is valued. One of the most popular, FindaCrew, makes it easy. Their page reads: “Connect directly with members from 200 countries. View, register, list, search, filter, combine and say hello.”

This is what Jorge Estrada, a nurse by profession, has done on this platform. “In three weeks I will embark for the islands of Fiji, Tonga and French Polynesia. I have reached an agreement with the captain to perform basic maintenance tasks, such as cooking, navigation assistance (steering the helm or setting the sails) or night watch shifts in exchange for living on the boat and providing free transportation.” For Priya Hill, who will also travel as a volunteer through the Pacific islands, this journey is “a challenge to test my skills and learning capacity, and also an opportunity to connect with the sea, enjoy the process and grow on a personal level.” ”.

On another website, CrewSeekers, they call traveling in exchange for work a Work Ticket. Among his proposals for these days are a trip to Papua New Guinea or the Albania-Tunisia crossing. Its page clarifies: “It is free to browse all our browsing opportunities,” although, like most, it has a premium service that requires a membership fee.

Before hitchhiking at sea and embarking on this work adventure via exchange, there are those who advise caution and verification. This is the case of the Crewbay page, which offers the possibility of “remaining anonymous until you are sure that the trip and the captain are suitable” and advises “asking for reviews.” He also warns that “if a Crewbay ad requests the female gender, you have every right to question the reason.” And ditch: “This is about people who like to sail. “It is not a dating website.”

The proliferation in demand for this traveling adventure has to do “with a change in values ​​at work, with a record of sick leave (450 per 1,000 workers, according to a study by Univalle Activa and the Valencian Institute of Economic Research), where the worker needs periods of reflection and rest,” says Virginio Gallardo, partner of the consulting firm Humannova and author of the book The Skills Revolution: Learning to Change. And he adds: “Many of these processes, generated as a result of the pandemic, have the mission of rethinking work activity.”

Other formulas

Other ways to move around the globe in exchange for work are equally interesting. This is the case of House Sitting, a growing business that connects homeowners with so-called house sitters. The deal involves taking care of their homes during the owners' vacations in exchange for free accommodation. An option that entails responsibilities such as those specified on the Worldpackers website: “Keep it clean, water the plants, take care of the pets and attend to possible domestic emergencies.” To be successful in negotiating with homeowners, this page recommends “generating trust and knowing how to adapt to different schedules.” Other platforms that offer this same type of free exchange are Nomador, Ttrustedhousesitters or MindMYHouse.

One of the best known and most used, which also includes a community in Spain, is the Workaway platform. It has a greater variety of opportunities, including teaching languages, helping on organic farms or with construction projects. Through it, the mathematician Inés Milan Sanz has traveled throughout Europe. “In Hungary, the owners of a campsite offered me a caravan (with kitchen and bathroom) and two meals in exchange for six days of work setting up tents, pruning trees, sawing wood, painting and varnishing, even helping in the kitchen and cleaning,” says Milan.

Also in Istanbul, she narrates the exchange in a hostel: “I worked four hours a day, six days a week (cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, showers and rooms, changing sheets, putting on washing machines and ironing) in exchange for a shared room with three volunteers, a meal and filling the refrigerator three times a week.” He recognizes that “it is an attractive option to travel on a low budget, but also to see the world and do different things.” He plans to repeat “although in other options, such as teaching languages ​​in schools, taking care of animals or supporting platforms,” he concludes.

Follow all the information Economy and Business in Facebook and xor in our weekly newsletter

The Five Day agenda

The most important economic quotes of the day, with the keys and context to understand their scope.

RECEIVE IT IN YOUR EMAIL

_