Working For Your Food And Board

Probably one of the main organizations that will network you with people that are happy to feed you and put you up in their home in exchange for a half days work is WWOOFing. It stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. If you sign up to be a WWOOFer, it’s possible to work all over Europe and get free accommodation and food in exchange. It’s a fantastic way to meet some locals and get a real feel both cultural and visual of an area that you otherwise would not see.

I’ve done WWOOFing in Ireland and France and have generally had great experiences.

Working For Pay

Obviously working for pay is a preferred way to do it all. Then you can use the money to travel Europe! There is always bar work, work in hotels/hostels and ski resorts as well as seasonal work like grape picking or flower and fruit picking. Remember, it’s still work. Don’t get caught up in the ‘glamour’ of working in a ski resort of picking grapes. It can be a great way to make new friends, experience a new place and get some money – but don’t be disillusioned about the fact that you will still need to do WORK.

Working Visa Information

To work in Europe, you will need an applicable visa, unless you plan on working ‘black’ – and earning cash in hand. This isn’t something that is recommended (as it is illegal obviously) but there is also no guarantee you would land a job like this. Of course you may want to keep your options open as well.

There are a number of ways to go about it, use the Internet to get a feel for what visa is applicable to you. Here are a few tips if you’re an Australian like me. It’s possible to get a Netherlands Working Visa for 1 year as there is a reciprocal agreement between Australia and The Netherlands. If you want to go to the UK, you can get a 2 year working visa OR if one of your grandparents is from the UK it’s possible to get an ‘ancestry visa’ which will give you 5 years to live/work in the UK.

This was a guest post from the author Tom of http://www.activebackpacker.com – a site all about backpacking both Europe and beyond and providing helpful tips and advice to other backpackers.

High in the mountains the road enters the Bosque del Cedro, or `Forest of Cedar’, though the vegetation mostly comprises native laurels, beeches, pines, junipers and, most notable of all, tall white-flowering heather trees (Erica arborea), some 20 ft or more in height. This forest is part of Gomera’s National Park, one of the four in the Canaries (there are only nine in all Spain) where the native vegetation is preserved and protected. The air is fresh and cool up here, carrying the scent of pine and resin and heather; apart from the twittering of sparrows and cooing of rock doves there is nothing to break the silence.

Coming out of a long tunnel about 9 miles from San Sebastian the road suddenly affords some of the best views in the island, across thickly carpeted green valleys and rocky peaks to the island of Tenerife and Mount Teide. Soon the descent begins into the valley of Hermigua, one of the island’s most fertile areas with acres of banana plantations divided by a ribbon of red-roofed white houses. Just before Hermigua there is a large new dam to help conserve Gomera’s natural water supplies and to irrigate the precious plantations and terraces. Still descending, the road passes a local tourist attraction on the left, an artesania or crafts centre where you can watch women at the looms and buy souvenirs. Almost opposite is Hermigua’s parish church, part of an old Dominican convent, Iglesia de Santo Domingo (16th century). Hermigua itself used to be the next largest community after San Sebastian, but its population now is barely 3,500.

Beyond Hermigua the road turns inland towards the village of Agulo, with another artesania and a curious Moorish-looking little domed church. Still climbing, some 3 miles from Hermigua you reach the pretty roadside inn of Las Rosas, perched on the edge of a lovely green valley surrounded by terraced hillsides; it’s an excellent place to break the rather tedious drive along twisty roads and to witness the occasional silbo demonstrations. Next village is Vallehermoso (literally ‘Valley Beautiful’), just below the extraordinary rock formations called El Cano. It’s a lush green valley full of bananas and date palms —the palms that give Gomera its delicious miel de palma, ‘palm honey’, derived from the concentrated sap (guarapo) of the tree trunk. A rough track leads north to Vallehermoso’s tiny port, Puerto de Vallehermoso; just round the coast to the west is the natural phenomenon of Los Organos (`The Organ Pipes’). These basalt ‘pipes’ in the vertical cliff face have to be seen from the sea, being inaccessible by land.

From Vallehermoso the poorly surfaced road heads south-west through the hamlet of Arure to Valle Gran Rey 14 miles away, in a valley of the same name. It’s a beautiful valley (pace Vallehermoso) filled with more banana plantations and palm trees and edged with tiny terraces growing cereals, potatoes and vines, this is one of Gomera’s main agricultural areas. Down on the coast below is a rare sandy beach and two natural rock pools, Los Charcos del Conde y de la Condesa, where, so they say, the Count and Countess of Gomera used to bathe. With one or two small cafés, this spot is undoubtedly one of the tourist attractions of Gomera. Back up the valley, returning by the same twisty road, a fork right leads south-east towards Chipude, following another poorly surfaced road. Chipude is known as Gomera’s pottery centre, producing simple replicas of the Guanche pots that have a distinctly African look to them. A very steep and all but impassable track leads down to La Rajita on the coast, more usually reached by boat, now the site of a fish factory. From Chipude eastwards, beneath the peak of Garajonay, the road heads down to the coast via Alajero with an attractive old church, and through Santiago, a sizeable fishing village with another tuna-canning factory and a small stony beach.

To complete the round trip, it’s possible (just) to follow the rough road up the hills, via the southern edges of the Bosque del Cedro again, and back down to the coast; 17 miles may not seem too much, but the journey will take much longer than you think — take your travel pillow or make sure you don’t miss the boat!

What nobody saw coming was the party culture that was soon to overtake the island. In 1987 house music hit the mainstream with Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley’s number one record ‘Jack Your Body’. The same year a birthday bash was held for a friend in Haad Rin, Koh Phangan. It just happened to be on the night of the full moon. This innocent party changed everything. The Full Moon Party was born. Within a few years all the cheap resorts on Haad Rin beach had been replaced with bars reaping in the profits of the monthly party.

When it was seen how much money party culture could bring to the island other parties started to sprout up, mostly in the peaceful village of Ban Tai. Now locals have to put up with sleepless nights caused by the Jungle Experience, Black Moon Party, Shiva Moon Family and Half Moon Party. If that wasn’t bad enough Ban Sabai on Ban Tai beach started a day after party. So a night of noise would be followed invariably by another day of techno and trance noise. Not being able to sleep for a 24 hour period can quickly run the nerves ragged.

The lackadaisical police force decided to do something. The discreet use of soft drugs had been replaced by the blatant use of hard drugs. It was bad for the reputation of the island. For several years in the 90s and early 2000s they did their best to discourage the use of drugs on the island. What they didn’t do was enforce the 2am national curfew on the selling of alcohol. It seemed the parties were just too lucrative.

It is interesting to note that the party goers that come to Koh Phangan don’t have the same notions as the backpackers and hippies who used to be the mainstay of tourism on the island. They want better accommodation and are prepared to pay for it. Thus, most of the rooms in Koh Phangan went from $3 a night to $40 a night. Again that was great news for many people on the island.

Today in 2011 the parties go on, they are still proliferating and the party scene is getting bigger. There are many fed up locals. Many of the hippy regulars to the island have moved on to different islands such as Koh Phayam. The good news is that the roads have improved and mains electricity has reached most of the beaches. And of course the beaches remain beautiful.

Nicaragua is one of the largest and most beautiful countries in Central America. It boasts a rich history, beautiful scenery and a great nightlife for vacationers to enjoy. The country features many different tourist attractions suitable for tourists of all ages to enjoy and cherish. If you want to go to a beach for example, you can visit San Juan Del Sur, which is the beach capital of Nicaragua. This town in located in the horseshoe bay of the pacific coast in Nicaragua and is home to white sand beaches that provides a natural harbor to many yachts and sailboats. You can go swimming or fishing, or just simply relax underneath the warm sun and get that tan that you have been wanting. Those who enjoy surfing can go to Tola, which offers great waves all year round for avid surfers to ride.

For those who want to experience cultural submersion, then Granada would be the best place to visit. Granada is a colonial city that was founded by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524 and is the oldest city in the continent. It is popular for the beautiful colonial architecture that you can see from the old houses and buildings that are still standing and the post-card cathedrals and churches that they have.

Aside from the architecture and culture, you can also visit some of Granada’s popular attractions like the Volcan Mombacho that is a national park located just outside the city. You can go zip lining with friends and family and enjoy hiking in the mountain trails that lead to their museum and restaurant at the top.  You can also go swimming or scuba diving in Laguna de Apoyo or go island hopping in Isletas de Granada, which has over 365 beautiful island archipelagos founding in Nicaragua’s lake.

If your vacation dreams are larger than simply experiencing some local RV living, then a trip to Nicaragua can make for a very memorable experience.

Most people may remember the old Carnival cruises from New Orleans to Cozumel on the Fantasy that were basically just a cheap cruise to Mexico for first time cruisers and those who lived close to the port. Those cruises still exist on the recently upgraded Carnival Elation and Carnival Ecstasy but with the addition of the Carnival Triumph, Carnival Conquest, Norwegian Spirit and Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, seasoned cruisers have something to get excited about.

Instead of just offering five night trips to Cozumel, you can now find 7 night Western Caribbean cruises that stop in Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Belize, Roatan and even Key West. The best part however may be the price. Prices for the old Mexico trips start at just $219 and the 7 night Caribbean itineraries start at an amazing $339. Balcony cabins can even be booked for around $600 a person.

Those prices alone would be enough to get most cruisers to head to New Orleans for a cruise. The city on the other hand provides even more incentive for vacationers to pick The Big Easy for their next cruise. Having rebounded for the most part from the devastating Hurricane Katrina, the French Quarter with Bourbon Street, Jackson’s Square and Harrah’s Casino are alive and well and offering vacationers the good times they have always provided visitors to the city.

Making things even better is the fact that the Port of New Orleans is situated in the heart of all the downtown action. One pier is even located in the same building as the River Walk mall at the end of Canal Street. The other is just up the road and an inexpensive trolley ride can get you there in just a couple of minutes. This means cruisers visiting the city can pick any of the great hotels in the downtown area and have no problems getting to or from the port.

One issue that you may however run into is parking. Like most big cities, downtown New Orleans has limited parking spaces so finding hotels that will let you park your car for free are few and far between. The port does offer around 1000 spaces for around $15 a day which is similar to valet rates at many of the hotels. This may be one cruise you are better off parking just parking at the port.

Check Your Destination

Make sure you know where you’re going and how to get there and, if your staying on a camping site check the facilities – cold morning showers and long, dark walks to a cold toilet block in the night are not going to be persuading your reluctant partner that camping is the best way to spend their vacation.

Plan Your Meals

Camping food needn’t be all baked beans and burnt sausages. With a decent camping stove you have a lot of flexibility and could whip up a gourmet evening meal of you make sure you plan it in advance (a trial run might not go amiss if you’re trying to impress!).

Make it Comfortable

Waterproof your tent and check your sleeping arrangements. A thin and restrictive sleeping back, with little else protecting you from the hard and lumpy ground, is hardly conducive to a good night’s sleep and more likely to inspire complaints that romance. Get yourself a foam sleeping pad (or even better, an air mattress) and a double sleeping bag to make the whole experience warmer and more comfortable.

Know Your Stars

One of the best things about an evening spent outdoors is time spent gazing at the stars and speculating about the universe. If you take the time to learn a few of the constellations, and perhaps some of the myths and legends associated with them, you’ll be all ready to impress with your knowledge and get more from the experience.

Bubble Tents

Taking this idea further for the ultimate luxury campers are the recent innovation of Bubble Tents. Unfortunately, only available in Europe at the moment, the bubble tents are completely clear so that you can view the night sky from the comfort on your tent, perhaps over a glass of champagne which suits the beautiful set-up of the interior. Luxury camping at it’s most luxurious – this one can’t fail to impress!

Even if you don’t take it this far then you can see from the ideas above that it really isn’t too hard to make your camping experience comfortable and fun. Just try to see their point of view and stop any possible objections before they become and issue, and you might convert them for life!

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a wonderful city for walkers.  Chalk-full of canals, there is rarely a time when you won’t be awestruck by the view in front of you.  For some reason, this city is often overlooked by many tourists.  There is no doubt Bruges is among the best of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe.  It is also fairly easy to get to, as it is only about 3-4 hours from London, Paris, and Amsterdam, and only an hour from Brussels by train.  The city is well-known for its Gothic architecture.  World-famous chocolate is sure to tempt any foodie while on vacation in Belgium as well. (Not to be confused with the Granada in Nicaragua).

Granada, Spain

Granada is often overlooked in Spain due to cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.  However, this wonderful city has a major sight going for it: La Alhambra.  This massive complex is called a “palace city”, and is part castle/part monument/part garden/part temple.  The views in the complex and from on top of the complex are absolutely breathtaking.  The whole area takes many hours to sift through, so be sure to allow ample time for exploring.  Apart from La Alhambra, Granada is an extremely walkable city full of shops and tapas bars. It feels like no one is ever working because of the massive amount of people just sitting around enjoying life outside in the parks.  For a taste of Spain, go to a tapas restaurant and drink some Spanish wine.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn isn’t the cheapest holiday destination, but it is quite a bit more affordable than a city like London or Rome. Staying in budget accommodation will allow you to spend more money on great food and attractions.   Tallinn is known for its stunning architecture and cool monuments. There are a number of view platforms that are great for viewing the city in a different light.  Be sure to head to the one on Toompea hill and bask in the picturesque views.  Tallinn food is quite different than food Westerners are used to, so be a little daring and try some marinated eel or jellied meat. I advise going to Tallinn sooner rather than later, because tourism is up and coming very fast.

The valley offers not only great wine tasting opportunities but wonderful hillsides to sit and relax and drink that wine you just purchased. Picnic under an oak tree while you sip your wine and pass the time away. And when you are done with the day, you can get a revitalizing massage at a local health spa and prepare for a wonderful dinner at one of the valley’s great restaurants like the Ballard Inn or Los Olivos Café.

But for those intensely focused on the wine, the thing you will remember the most are the distinguishing tastes of local wineries. The many tasting rooms and wine bars are riddled throughout the valley. There is no way to miss tasting at least one of the most spectacular varietals you have ever tasted during the weekend you spend in Santa Ynez Valley.

But if you still don’t think you can make it to this beautiful valley right now, then you can always turn to the internet. Many wineries have online stores right on their websites. One of the more overlooked smaller wineries is called Sobriquet Winery, located in Los Olivos. Its wines have a great reputation with wine competitions and wine press alike. Visit the site to see some of the best red wines as well as the best Chardonnay wine the valley has to offer. That should give you your Santa Ynez fix – at least until you can visit it for yourself.

1.Make the most of the Green Space – London is one of the greenest cities on the planet and it’s parks are the envy of the world. When here it would be a shame not to visit a few. If you like to be central try Regents or Hyde Park or if you fancy going a little further afield then why not head to Richmond Park? The park has it’s own collection of deer and is also great for cyclists.

2.Shop for Vintage – London has an amazingly varied range of shops and is rightly proud of it’s vintage stores. So whether you are into retro chic or one off period pieces you should find what you are looking for in London. Head to Brick Lane, Islington, Camden and Soho for the best choice.

3.Get Cultural – London has an abundance of art galleries, museums and photography galleries that you would be foolish not to try at least one of during your stay. If Modern Art is your thing you really must try the Tate Modern or try the Tate Britain for something a bit more traditional.

4.Step Back in Time – If you’re are a history buff or just want to entertain the kids then try the fantastic Tower of London or the London Dungeon. Both are like stepping back to a different time.

5.Just Relax – Don’t forget to take some time out to enjoy the city. Take a leisurely boat trip on the Thames, a stroll down lovely South Back or just get a deck chair in one of the parks and watch the rest of the world go by!

Crystal clear water, pristine white beaches and rugged cliffs are just some of the characteristics that make up Negril’s beautiful landscape. If a vacationer is searching for a getaway spot in which to simply relax and unwind, it can be found in Negril. Fondly called the “Capital of Casual,” the island still features the ambiance brought by the influx of hippies decades ago. Perfect weather, quiet relaxing beaches, and friendly people are just a few of the benefits of a Negril vacation.

Canopy tours boast immense popularity among visitors in this area of Jamaica. Negril, as seen from a birds-eye view, is stunning as one takes a ride on the zip-line for an amazing sightseeing experience. For those who are not quite so adventurous, tubing down the river is the perfect leisure activity. Off-road adventures such as ATV riding are also gaining popularity and guests can ride their ATVs through working plantations in order to catch a glimpse of daily life in Negril. With so many options to appeal to even the most discriminating vacationer, it is not uncommon to meet visitors who have been to the island multiple times.

Negril hotels can be found to suit any lifestyle and budget; including beach homes, apartments, condos, traditional hotels and villas. Whichever type of accommodations one selects, he or she will most likely be well satisfied with the outcome. The relaxing and rejuvenating tropical paradise welcomes those from all walks of life. The islanders enjoy making new friends and welcoming tourists back to the island again and again. Most people who visit the island agree that it is an excellent place to relax and forget the cares of the world in which they live.