how to travel for "free" | my *very* detailed worldpackers review | Destany Shelton

How to travel for "free" - jk, but this is a good way to travel very cheaply. I wanted to give a full review of my world packers experience because I felt like it was such a cool opportunity. I would definitely say that there were a few things I wasn't a fan of (because of the hostel - not because of worldpackers, worldpackers is amazing), but overall I would love to try the experience again.
If you aren't familiar with worldpackers, it is a website that allows you to exchange work for accommodation. You pay a yearly fee to use the website, and you can usually find a discount code on KZbin! They have solo and couple profiles so if you want to travel by yourself or with a partner you can. I prefer it more than just going to hostels and asking if you can volunteer there because if anything happens, worldpackers will help you.
The different member plans for worldpackers are:
Solo travel - $49 for 1 year
Couple / friends - $59 for 1 year
worldpackers website - www.worldpackers.com/search
*this is a completely honest unsponsored review*
here are the timestamps so you can see what I talk about:
intro - 00:00
worldpackers website review - 01:54
living experience - 05:25
work experience- 08:02
experience negatives - 16:05
experience positives - 18:18
overall experience - 20:50
ways to make the experience better next time - 21:44
I am posting everyday of 2022 on my insta, so if you want to see more of the behind the scenes and were I'm currently at (my videos are a few weeks behind) follow me on there!
Instagram- destanylshelton
destanylshelton
*music not mine*
Intro - Music by Abby Cole - The Other - thmatc.co/?l=720D30D6
Outro - Music by Eila - Fire - thmatc.co/?l=961B2C8C

[@mehdiazaz7669]

I like people who share their feedback with so much details, it gives a really clear idea about the stuff

[@mattbailey9396]

Fun to hear the details of that experience! Thanks for sharing! 💥

[@ankeeno]

This was super helpful, I wish more people did that detailed reviews! I discovered Worldpackers literally yesterday I'm kinda dreaming of having this kind of experience after I finish the first part of uni next year, and I think this website is exactly what I wanted 😳I'm still super scared tho because I'm not outgoing & social at all haha (I want to work on that tho), but I've seen that there are offers related to running social media for hosts and I'd love to try that!

[@DestanyShelton]

Aww thank you! There are a lot of different jobs that you can do at the hostels! I think it is a really cool opportunity to learn new people, and spend more time in a place. There can be some bad experiences, so keep that in mind. I recommend reading the reviews of the hostels!

[@phoebetang3884]

Hi! relate with you on not being very social but wanting to take that step out of my comfort zone through worldpackers. was wondering if you’ve started your worldpackers journey? since it has been a year now since this comment. i’m gonna start next year june!

[@ankeeno]

@@phoebetang3884 oh I completely forgot about this comment haha, I'm happy to hear someone feels the same & that you decided to try anyway! I hope you'll have an amazing experience

[@phoebetang3884]

@@ankeeno wow!! may i ask where are you going? what kind of volunteer program did you sign up for? i considered that option when I was researching, but as I'm from Asia, I don't think I'm eligible to participate :( Hope you have a fulfilling experience there! :D I'm going on a semester exchange first in Netherlands at the start of the year. then I'll spend the second half of 2024 trying out worldpackers :)

[@ankeeno]

@@phoebetang3884 I'm going to Macedonia (I'm from Poland)! It sounds completely random (it is lol) but I was considering only the opportunities where I'll be able to work with social media/content creation, because it's something I want to do professionally in the future. I applied to a few different ones all over Europe, had some interviews and in the end I was chosen for volunteering in Macedonia, so I'm going there! I don't know which Asian country are you exactly from, because I know some countries outside UE are partners in ESC program & can participate as well, but yes it's mostly Europe :( your plans sound exciting as well!! I love Netherlands, I feel like it's a perfect place when you're a student (apart from prices, lol. But I've seen mostly Amsterdam & Utrecht)! What are you going to do with Worldpackers?

[@natashamargarettemeehleib2205]

Awesome review! Thanks for uploading

[@May-fe1sz]

Thsi is very useful . I’m thinking of working in a hostel so these tips are very handy.

[@jules8029]

I didn’t know about worldpackers, thank you for the detailed video. You included a lot of good info. I literally got annoyed thinking about trying to sleep in the same room with someone who snores that loud lol.

[@DestanyShelton]

Thank you!!! :) Also, omg the snoring was the most annoying thing ever. The overall experience was so great though, just hoping I don’t get stuck in the snoring room the next time I volunteer 🤪

[@angeldelacruz4741]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to Japan next year I'm kinda scared but excited haha

[@DestanyShelton]

Japan will be so much fun! I cannot wait to get to that side of Asia. Traveling solo can be intimidating, but it's definitely worth it. There will be stressful times and times that you probably do something stupid, just know that it happens to everyone haha! Have an amazing trip :)

[@jenniemosora9238]

Thank you for sharing, Destany!

[@DestanyShelton]

Thank you! ☺️

[@notarydenise]

THANK YOU DESTANY SHELTON! WE ARE CONSIDERING BECOMING HOSTS

[@DestanyShelton]

It is a wonderful opportunity for the hosts and volunteers! I hope you enjoy it :)

[@friederikewemheuer1281]

Thank you for this amazing video. I want to do the Same, so those infomations an tipps really helped me😍

[@DestanyShelton]

Awww you’re welcome!!! Good luck!

[@venividivicipartita3750]

what else do you pay out of pocket? travel insurance, airfare to and from & is it extendable and other possible fees related to the travel.

[@cindygarshong2091]

thank you

[@elliejane4372]

Hi! How would you start with contacting hosts. I'm not too sure what to say etc!

[@armybby1]

I snore so I make sure to get my own space or room no matter the cost so I don’t bother others plus DO NOT wake me about something I can’t control 🤣

[@DestanyShelton]

Haha I love that you're aware 😂 honestly though with hostels you just have to plan on never getting any sleep. But I REALLY wanted to throw a shoe at that guy not even going to lie 😂

[@marielena4066]

thanks for this deep insight!! do you habe tips for the application? I am not sure how long it should be to maybe have a higher chance of approval

[@NolithaHopkins]

Hi, thank you so much for sharing, and in such honest details. I just created my profile on Worldpackers yesterday. Is it bad if you don't appear flexible on your profile? For example, if I check my filter and preferences and not check housekeeping. Although I would definitely help out if it is busy or urgent and there's no one to fill in but not on as a full-time thing?

[@marcwaldfee6112]

Hey from Germany/ Switzerland. I am planning to Make Worldpackers Next Years around the World. And i am really interested to Explorer and Make something

[@austinfarber3438]

Thanks for the video! Did you feel comfortable leaving your bag somewhere or was there a place you could put your bag so it wasnt stolen?

[@DestanyShelton]

In the volunteer room I didn’t lock it away, but I felt completely comfortable. Once we moved to the dorm room and lived with guests, I locked my bags under my bed. If you watch my hostel tour you’ll see that each bed has its own lockable area. I think that’s the same in most hostels!

[@hamzamachkarmaroc5058]

Hello I am Hamza from Morocco I would like you to make a small request please about volunteering to Spain or Germany and thank you

[@isabellazegarra7554]

Hey! Happy I found your video :) I had some questions: Did you know that you’d be sharing a room with other girls? Did you share a room with guys? Was your stuff safe?

[@DestanyShelton]

Hey! So I did not know if I’d be sharing a room with other girls or not. Whenever I first got there I was in a staff room with 2 other girls and we decided to actually move to the dorms. In the dorms it was a mixed dorm, but it was a really fun experience. If you don’t want to share a room with guys then I’m sure you could message the hostel that you want to volunteer at and ask if they can accommodate that. My stuff was definitely safe! In the staff room we didn’t have proper lockers, but I never felt like my stuff was unsafe as the only people who were allowed up there were us 3 girls, so if something went missing then you automatically know who took it. When we moved to the dorms we had lockers underneath our beds, and I had a lock with a key that I brought from home that I used! I never had any problems with anything being stolen. You can see the “lockers” under the beds if you watch my KZbin video where I did a hostel tour! Overall it was a really cool and fun experience. I highly recommend it! Although living in a hostel for a month can be exhausting 😂

[@madisongass2504]

I am curious how you packed for this? I am about to do world packing for 2 months in Europe and I’m from America. I want to pack In a suitcase but wondering if it will be too much for a hostel or if it will be okay. Thanks!! :)

[@idontkbow7699]

Good luxk

[@DestanyShelton]

For anyone seeing this comment I have a video on my channel of everything I packed for this trip! :)

[@biologymathematics1827]

Have you visited India? And volunteered

[@kyllimarie5812]

Do you get an hourly rate of pay? Or is that the free accommodation + food?

[@DestanyShelton]

No hourly rate. For the one I did it was free accommodation + free breakfast. Some have just free accommodation and some do all three meals free as well. You can adjust the search filters if you want to have all three meals for free (this is usually in smaller cities/smaller countries that are a lot cheaper, in big cities it’ll usually only be free accommodation and maybe 1 free meal) Most don’t pay!

[@danielsimon5559]

Is it really that hard to fall asleep in a shared dorm ? I am for example a person who really needs those minimum 5 hours of sleep every day otherwise my next day is completely dead haha. I honestly would like to experience Worldpackers soon but the sleep is like the only barrier that keeps me from doing this 🙈

[@DestanyShelton]

I was definitely able to get at least 5 hours of sleep! But it really depends what kind of hostel you stay at. There are chiller hostels and there are party hostels! My only complaint was a guy who snored, but I would just bring earplugs next time. It’s a great experience, a couple nights of bad sleep is well worth it!

[@userlt1738]

which hostel is this???

[@cetinozden6937]

Hello 🌼🌸

[@riotoledo4900]

Do I need visa to travel or just my flight ticket?

[@DestanyShelton]

It depends on where you're from, where you're going, what hostel you're working at, and how long you will be staying there. Most of the hostels that require visas will put that in their description! You can also check your countries consulate website to see if you need a visa to visit that place.

[@davidhope3264]

weird question but do they help you with flight?

[@DestanyShelton]

They do not! You apply and then they tell you the date to be there, but it’s your responsibility for the flight!

[@11sharu]

What kind of Visa do you need in order to work at a Hostel?

[@ishady27]

Tourist visa because you are volunteering and not working

[@shaikhjunedjuned7859]

Hey, did they provide the flight tickets or not?

[@ishady27]

No

[@pauladine6216]

Hello

[@nathancecchini7140]

I'm assuming they also pay for your travel to wherever you are volunteering?

[@DestanyShelton]

Some may, but all of the ones that I looked at did not! I was responsible for getting there.

[@melissagoodwin2602]

How many hours of work you did? Sounds a bit unorganized and alot of work

[@Expo2020-be6cl]

Come to Uganda sister

[@Creditplayer]

Once you get accepted do you need to buy your flight?

[@DestanyShelton]

Yes! I had a flight already booked when I got accepted actually 😂

[@goblinbrewdaddys]

How much money did you save to bring with you before going since you weren't being provided every meal and weren't paid and was the flight your biggest expense?

[@DestanyShelton]

I knew that I wasn't leaving after Portugal so I had a considerable amount of money saved up. If you aren't planning on going on a several month trip then probably $2,000 would be a good amount (if you're getting your accommodation free and including plane tickets in your budget). The flight was definitely my biggest expensive, but I had bought a one way ticket months before so I didn't count it in my expenses. In total I spent $400 for my month in Lisbon. Depending on which city you go to you'll spend more or less, but for me this included going shopping several times and eating out a lot.

[@mehdiazaz7669]

@@DestanyShelton Is it 400 or 2000 dollars !? I didn't understand

[@jannathamid]

Is this suitable for young people only? I'm a mature professional with many skills I'd like to share.

[@DestanyShelton]

I don't think it's just for young people. Each volunteer opportunity has a description of the job and what you'd be doing, so you can always check that and see if you would be interested.

[@edith3693]

Do u have to pay for your visa and flights?

[@DestanyShelton]

I didn’t need a visa for this one, but I did have to pay for my flights! If you need a visa you would have to pay for it.

[@Phatboy414]

Do they pay for flights?

[@DestanyShelton]

They do not. At least not usually. Most give you just a bed in a dorm room for free, however some will offer a private room, free meals, and even free activities. It just depends where you’re looking.

[@poutama_]

How much money do you need to take? Spending wise

[@DestanyShelton]

It all depends on how much you like to spend! I was in a pretty affordable place so even though I went out to eat a lot with friends and went shopping and stuff, I only spent about $400 for the month. If you like to go out to clubs and drink a lot then that will be more expensive, but I’d say that you can do a lot for around $500 a month (as long as your hostel is free).

[@poutama_]

@@DestanyShelton thanks so much 😊

[@lizalvarez3173]

Ya if I go iam gonna end up bringing my Mexican soap 🧼 and a full bottle of bleach 🙃

[@DestanyShelton]

hahah, yes! I recommend flip flops/ shower shoes for the showers as well!

[@sullebasi]

The Title is exactly what worldpackers don't want :( I'm sad you use it as clickbait. It's NOT a cheap travel, not even free. It's wrong. I hope you learned more :/

[@DestanyShelton]

I appreciate the comment, however it seems a bit condescending so I’m going to explain my thought process! In my title I use the quotations to indicate that this is not free travel. Titles are short, KZbin limits titles to 100 characters, only 70 of which actually get shown. The purpose of a title is to catch someone’s attention, but also to inform them about the video. In my title I stated that this is a “free” way to travel, because for many people that’s what they are going to look up, and also the trip was free for me. Using this clickbait as you call it, more people are learning about worldpackers, and volunteering while travel. Neither of those things are bad in my opinion. Also, the monetary aspect doesn’t exclude the valuable experiences and connections I made. Hopefully this makes you feel better!

[@user47236]

you complain too much, try to be more grateful about stuff

[@natashamargarettemeehleib2205]

Awesome review! Thanks for uploading

[@DestanyShelton]

Thank you! 😊