How to stay (and even eat) for free on your next holiday

Savvy travellers are turning to house sitting and work exchange programmes to stay in amazing places – including a castle from Game of Thrones – at no cost

Reading Time:5 minutes

A Workaway volunteer enjoys her time in Cuba.

Published: 12:30pm, 5 Dec 2016Updated: 5:51pm, 5 Dec 2016

If you can find your way to Markethill, a village in Northern Ireland, you could stay at a castle – for free. What’s more, it’s a set in Game of Thrones. However, in exchange for a free stay, you need to maintain its general upkeep and look after the owners’ dog and two cats while they are away.

It is possible to stay in a converted castle in Markethill in Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the internet, travellers seeking memorable experiences without paying too much can choose from millions of places to stay around the world. If you want a more comfortable experience than couch surfing, and are willing to put in a few hours of pet care a day, or do some farm work or cleaning, you can find places to stay free of charge and have some new experiences. You can live locally, meet and interact with people far off the tourist track. Here are two ways how:

Organise a work exchange

Work exchanges involve a host offering free accommodation in exchange for a little of your time and skills each day. No money changes hands; you stay in their home while you assist with whatever is needed.

Farmers needing seasonal help or families seeking childcare can turn to work exchange websites to find travellers who are willing to work an average of four to six hours a day in exchange for free board and lodging.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) was set up by Londoner Sue Coppard in 1971, and now has operations in 60 countries, from China to Costa Rica and Switzerland to Sierra Leone. You can become a member by signing up to any of the country-specific networks (or independents for countries with no official site) for about HK$200 per year.