Work On A Volunteer Project

~ Why Work On A Volunteer Project?
by Bruce Haxton

Travelling, seeing the world and volunteering are among the most amazing experiences you can ever have. A change of place, pace and people can be wonderfully exciting, but it can also be a little daunting.

Not only are you setting off intrepidly into the great beyond and coming back with a whole new set of skills, you could come back with a new perspective on the world, or even an entirely different person!

A little help
Lots of people want to go out and explore the world and make a difference. But leaving everything they're used to behind isn't as easy as it looks, plus arranging all of the details of the volunteering experience can tricky too. Projects are a wonderful mixture of what's best about most volunteering programs; unique opportunities to be part of schemes that directly benefit the community, and lots of support available before you go. Projects can also give you valuable insights from in country staff and flexible time frames; a chance to really become part of a county's culture in a way you simply couldn't on a normal travelling trip.

If you do want to do some of your own venturing don't assume that being supported means that you'll have no independence! Though help and advice is available but not mandatory you can be as independent as you like. Projects have in country co-ordinators to give you a guiding hand and make sure you get the most out of your experience!

Wise choices
It's a good idea to check out the credentials of the company you choose to volunteer with first. Make sure the projects they work with are set up by the community to directly benefit the community. Organisations who work with local people have usually been there for a while so are in a good position to assess if projects really do help and are worthwhile. By choosing carefully, not only will you know you're making a positive contribution while you're there, you'll also know that the work will continue once you've left.

A bit of culture
Projects set up by the community will give you a chance to work directly with the locals who will benefit from the scheme, so you can see just how much difference your contribution makes. Being so directly involved with the local people will definitely make you feel like part of the community! You'll also get a real understanding of the individual needs of the community; from why wildlife conservation is so important in New Zealand to why teaching is so important in India.

Choosing a project
If you're thinking doing a volunteering project there are literally hundreds of choices out there so it can be tricky to pick the right one! No matter what you do, volunteering will prove a fulfilling experience but it's always best to choose something you're passionate about so you can go into it with real gusto! So all you need to do decide what inspires you; is it working with people, nature or wildlife; or all three?! Generally projects can be placed into four categories;

• Community work
• Nature conservation
• Teaching
• Wildlife Conservation

You'll always have a valuable, unique and worthwhile experience; so it's up to you whether you want to work with elephants in Kenya or do some community work in Goa. Projects will help you step into another life and culture as well as giving you the opportunity to give something back!

Useful links

Careers Advice UK...

Working Abroad...

About the Author, Bruce Haxton
I'm totally passionate about travel, it's been my life and work for a good few years! My travel adventures haven't really been about seeing monuments etc but far more about people and getting off the beaten track. I would like to share my many experiences and offer a little advice if I can to fellow travellers or anyone who is just about to set off on a life changing trip!

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House Swaps: The Practical Way to Holiday

~ My thanks to Nick at the Aussie House Swap website for giving me permission to reprint this article here.

In some ways, this is the easiest article on this site to write.

That's because there are just so many advantages to house swapping as a practical and inexpensive way to enjoy your regular holiday break — or even the vacation of a lifetime, in that exotic locale you've always wanted to visit.

What makes house swapping a very practical way to holiday for most people is the enormous saving all parties make on accommodation costs. Remember, house swapping means just what it says — two homeowners literally exchange houses for an agreed period, at no cost to either party.

For most vacations of a couple of weeks or longer, accommodation is the single most expensive item on the budget. And even if it's not number one, it'll almost certainly be number two.

Just imagine having that cost deducted from your holiday expenses!

Through a vacation house swap, you'll also enjoy the tremendous convenience of a fully equipped kitchen. You won't need to go out for meals day and night, and can eat out purely when you want to. Besides the convenience, you will of course save a great deal more money this way. In fact, you probably won't spend much more on meals than you would if you'd stayed at home!

Some further benefits that house swapping offers are more space, privacy and comfort than almost any hotel, motel or resort can give you. And with Aussie House Swap, you can check out available swaps online, well in advance of your trip. This way, you are able to look at exactly what's on offer. No more arriving at places which don't live up to their glossy brochures. (And haven't we all done that more than once!)

Your house swapping partner/s will also be able to fill you in on what's hot and what's not in their neck of the woods, with up-to-date local knowledge, and their own recommended spots to visit. Places that won't necessarily be in the tourist guides. Possibly even places of great natural beauty, or fine cuisine, that are free from hordes of tourists. Or great eateries where you need to make an advance booking to get the best tables. Remember, local knowledge and personal recommendation always beat paid ads in a tourist guide or a weekly "What's On" magazine.

Lots of people even swap cars when they exchange houses during their holidays. If your swap involves a flight, you'll save on car hire — or avoid the inconvenience of always having to rely on public transport — that comes with a traditional hotel, motel or resort vacation to a distant destination. Once more, a significant cost saving accompanies the choice to house swap.

And talking of car swaps, even if you're going to a city to which you could have driven, by flying you'll be there much more quickly. You may well have a full extra day, or even more, in which to enjoy your holiday, by not having to drive there and back. And the cost of a flight (especially one booked early at cheaper rates) will be more than affordable due to the absence of accommodation costs.

Furthermore, partly because of the big cost savings, you may find yourself considering holiday spots you wouldn't otherwise have thought of. Perhaps even out-of-the-way places, far from the normal tourist beat, with no hotels, motels or resorts within miles. For example, a pristine beach, a trout stream or an outback cattle station may grab your attention as you scan the available swaps.

And there's no need to settle for the "same old same old" every year. This year, why not cross the Tasman and visit our friendly neighbours? Then next year, check out some of the islands. Followed by a visit to the mountains the year after that. There really is no end to the wonderful opportunities and possibilities that house swapping vacations can present. You can literally make each holiday a new and exciting adventure, with the extensive and growing Aussie House Swap database to choose from.

There's also, of course, the security you gain by exchanging houses with another swapper. Instead of leaving it empty, with mail, junk mail and newspapers piling up (in between being collected by the neighbours) — a virtual invitation to vandals and thieves — your house will continue to be occupied while you're away.

Not to mention that your swapper will be able to take care of your pets, saving them the trauma of going to an unfamiliar kennel or cattery, and you the trauma of paying the bill when you get back home!

In fact, there are really only two problems with taking a house swap holiday: firstly, choosing between the many delectable alternatives which are available, and secondly, deciding what to do with all the money you'll save!

Image for illustration purposes only

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Tips For Flying Standby

Tips For Flying Standby
by Tom Tessin

If you travel a lot or you haven't travelled before, you may still be familiar with the term "flying standby". Flying standby is a term the airline industry uses when a traveler wants to fly on a flight with an open seat. Travellers that usually purchase a ticket the day of will usually have to fly standby if there a limit number of tickets available.

If you find yourself flying standby in the future, there are a few tips you can follow in order to make the trip at the airport a lot easier.

Don't check your luggage
If you're flying standby, don't check in your luggage. A lot of the times an airline will look for people that have carry on only. If you have checked in luggage, it's just going to be a bigger hassle for the airliner to find your luggage and throw it on the plane. If you just bring carry on luggage, you're going to increase your chances of getting on the flight.

Early flights work
If you can get to the airport early, you'll find that earlier flights are usually easier to get on since many people technically don't travel early in the morning. If you find yourself travelling in the afternoon, this is peak travelling time and you may find that the flights are going to busier compared to the mornings.

Try calling the airline's customer service department
Before you make the trip to the airport, check with the airline before hand and see if there are flights available that you can possibly standby for. Most of the times, the airline will be friendly and give you some flights that you can possibly fly standby on. If you do find that airline you call doesn't have a standby flight available, try and call other airlines to see if they have possible solutions.

Stay at the gate
It's important that you stay near the gate when you're on the standby list. If you tend to walk away during the time when the flight is about to be boarded, you may find that the employee tried to call your name. Sometimes, you're not the only one on the list. This is why it's important that you stay nearby so that if your name is called, you can be there to get on the flight as soon as possible.

You may find that most of these tips will help you in your standby success. If you find that the situation is too stressful, always remember that it's best to be patient. When flights generally board, you will find that most employees are pretty stressful during this time. Always remember to treat others as you want to be treated. Trust me, the employees will keep note of this and will treat you a little nicer than the other customer is furious with the staff. If you keep your head on your shoulders and have a lot of patience, flying standby should be a piece of pie.

Tom Tessin writes regularly about airline travel on his website Find Airline Cards…
Thanks to Tom Tessin and Article City for the free use of this article.

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