4 Cool Ideas For
Short Term Work Abroad

Long term travel does not have to come at the expense of long term debt. In a nod to Buy Nothing Day (which is the day after the American Thanksgiving which occurs on the 4th Thursday in November), Spot Cool Stuff takes a look at five jobs that can be weaved into travels abroad. Obviously, this isn’t a comprehensive list of work abroad possibilities. Instead, it’s a glimpse at four ideas for defraying the cost of a long trip while also getting an immersive cultural experience.

Yacht Crewing

Especially in: The Caribbean

What: Island hopping around the Caribbean or the South Pacific is usually an expensive proposition. Crewing on a private yacht can be an amazing way to experience tucked away beaches and exotic ports of call without all cost of, you know, actually having a private yacht.

Advantages: You’re on a boat in some tropical locale—pretty tough to beat. The Caribbean is an especially good place for crewing since islands are close together (at least relative to the other region where yacht crewing is especially popular, the South Pacific)

Disadvantages: Yacht “workers” may not be paid and might be asked to chip in on food and other expenses. This is particularly true if you lack yachting experience, less so as you are more experienced and have more specialized skills you have.

When: Key to getting a crewing job is understanding the movement of yachts throughout the season. Because of winds and weather, yachts tend to run in predictable patterns. The best reference to yacht movements we’ve seen is the map in the otherwise information-light The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Oceans guidebook.

Learn more: No online sources we’ve found is as full of practical information as the book Working on Yachts and Superyachts. The Sunday Times has an interesting first hand account on Crewing the Caribbean on the Cheap. The CrewSeekers International website has a good selection of crew job postings.

Related SCS post: Cool, Affordable Caribbean Hotels & Resorts

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Live-In Pub Work

Especially in: Ireland & United Kingdom

What: Some pubs throughout the British Isles house and feed their workers. In London, pub-provided accommodations tend to be crappy and, in any case, the English capital is so expensive that taking informal pub work can be a money loosing proposition. In rural areas though, especially in Scotland and Ireland, working in a pub can be a wonderful way of experiencing local life.

Advantages: With most pub work shifts beginning in the early evenings, your days will be free for other travel pursuits.

Disadvantages: The hours can be long and late; the accommodations and food provided is often meager.

When: Year ’round but the competition for jobs is generally less outside of the summer months.

Learn more: Especially for under-the-table gigs, getting a live-in pub job can be as simple—and as difficult—as asking around locally and hoping you get lucky. For planning in advance, Transitions Abroad has a page with more general information. There’s also a small list of openings on irishpubjobs.com. If you are in Australia, STA Travel might be able to help set you up with work.

Related SCS post: Inamo: The London Restaurant with Interactive Tables

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Grape Picking

Italy & France

What: At grape harvest time extra workers are almost always required. Most vineyards look for experienced grape pickers and, of course, who they hire is supposed to be subject to national work laws. In Italy and France, though, some family-owned vineyards are willing—and sometimes even eager—to host energetic travelers willing to help out with the harvest. These “grape picking vacations” don’t necessarily pay but don’t necessarily require work permits either.

Advantages: In the best of circumstances, small family vineyards will involve you in the production of their wine and provide a fun, communal atmosphere to work in.

Disadvantages: Picking grapes is surprisingly difficult and sweaty work. Many grape pickers are able to rest height of the afternoon heat, particularly in Italy, but they also start work very early.

When: Depending on the location the harvest can be in late summer (eg. western France) or September/October (eg. Lazio or Tuscany, Italy).

Learn more: Frommer’s has a great intro article on Grape Harvest Vacations. The Italian chapter of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms can help set you up with a host farm if you are a member ($25). For a short but forthright account of working on a French farm check out Go Work Abroad.

Related SCS post: The Unusual Restaurant (and Cooking School) Above Paris

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Au Pair

Especially in: United States & Western Europe

What: Helping a family take care of children is one of the easiest ways to find work in another country, especially since the messy issue of work permits is often circumvented by families paying in cash. Some countries, including the United States, also have visa schemes especially for au pairs. This makes au pair work one of the best ways for Europeans (fluent in English) to spend significant time in the America without paying significant money to do so.

Advantages: Au Pairs gigs are easy to plan a trip around since they are often hired for pre-determined periods of time, from two weeks to several months. Sometimes host families hire au pairs specifically to help tend to their kids during a family vacation, meaning the au pair gets to go along on the trip.

Disadvantages: Sadly, if you are a man chances are slim (though not completely zero) that you’ll find au pair work.

When: A plurality of au pair jobs, and also arguably the best positions, are available during the school vacations. For Europe and United States this means the summer months, especially August.

Learn more: Of the four work abroad options reviewed in this post none is as organized—and has as much information online—as au pair work does. So, target your research towards your particular situation. The International Au Pair Association has a country-by-country list of au pair placement agencies. For au pair gigs in the United States try Au Pair America. For Europe, check out Planet Au Pair or InterExchange.

Related SCS Page: Family Travel Ideas (That are Cool for Adults Too)

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	Interested in more ideas for travel-on-the-cheap (or even travel-on-the-free) ideas? Check out the posts from these cool travel blogs:
		Top 10 Tips for Integrating Buy Nothing Day into your Travels	By Wandering Educators
		Thanksgiving, Buy Nothing Day and Budget Travel	By The Vacation Gals
		6 Tips to Make Solo Travel Cheap	By Wanderlust and Lipstick
		30 Free Things to Do in Santa Barbara	By Traveling with MJ