Most travel is extractive and passive. You show up somewhere, take photos of the same landmarks everyone else takes photos of, eat at a restaurant the guidebook recommended, and hit up some bars. You take some tours to learn about the place and, if you’re lucky, get to meet some locals on your trip. You don’t really go deep.
Even long-term travelers who talk about how they “aren’t tourists” do the same – just at a slower pace and while trying to spend less money.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s just the nature of travel. While we all imagine dropping into a place, befriending locals, and having this crazy time like we’re in some movies. But that doesn’t happen. Because we’re just passing through and, for the most part, locals don’t want to become friends with tourists. In fact, most locals don’t interact with tourists. (I mean it does happen but it’s not the norm.)
If you really want a deep travel experience, you need to stay. If you want to understand a place, you need to stay. The most transformative travel experiences I’ve ever had involved contributing something and staying somewhere long enough to build real relationships. It was being embedded in a place rather than just passing through.
I think that more travelers should give back when they travel. In the old days, it was hard to find out what organizations and opportunities were legit, vetted, and actually made the lives of locals better.
Now, there’s a ton of companies that can help you not only find meaningful volunteer jobs when you travel but also paid jobs when you travel and one of the best ones is Global Work & Travel. Use code NOMADICMATT to unlock a discount on your next trip.
What Global Work & Travel Does
Global Work & Travel is the world’s largest gap year company and has been placing people on working holidays, volunteer programs, teaching positions, internships, and more for nearly 2 decades. They’ve helped over 116,000 people and they cover destinations across, the UK and Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Even for experienced travelers, moving abroad can be difficult. Finding employment as a traveler, securing permanent accommodation or getting stuck in shared rooms for months on end, transport costs in a new city, interview after interview competing against locals… This is just the beginning of what long term travelers need to consider.
Fortunately, companies like Global Work & Travel provide the scaffolding or safety net that makes working abroad possible for people who don’t want to figure everything out themselves. They handle job matching, pre-departure support, visa guidance, placement, and ongoing assistance through their gWorld portal, a personal trip management app that keeps everything organized in one place. For first-timers especially, having that support structure can be the difference between actually going and endlessly deliberating. The programs they offer span a wide range:
- Working Holidays – Get paid job matches in countries like Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan before you even leave home. Global Work & Travel also helps you set up necessary bank accounts, tax numbers, accommodation assistance, visa support and more. Duration: 4+ months. Ages 18–35 depending on nationality.
- Volunteer Abroad – Work with exotic wildlife, immerse into incredible cultures, teaching, community work, construction and more across many countries. Open to ages 18–85, from as little as 1 week.
- Teach Abroad – Gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification and paid job match. Included is accommodation, cultural activities, visa application support, bank and tax set up assistance to ensure everything goes smoothly. Teach English in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico and more. Ages 18–80.
- Au Pair – Become a local by living with a host family in Europe, UK, Australia, New Zealand, or North America. Accommodation, and most living expenses are usually covered.
- Summer Camp – Ever seen the movie Parent Trap? Well, this is pretty much it. Work as a guide, camp counsellor or otherwise at camps in the USA, France, Canada or the UK for 3–6 months. Accommodation and meals included.
- Internships – Real-world placements in international firms. Give your career a head start with specialized international work experience.
Why I Think Working Holiday Makers Are the New “Digital Nomads”
For the past decade, “digital nomad” has been the aspirational version of long term travel. Work remotely, earn in a strong currency, live somewhere cheaper, repeat.
But that model only really works for a small subset of people. You need a remote job, a certain income level, and often a level of career stability that most younger travelers simply don’t have yet.
Working holidays flip that.
Instead of bringing a job with you, you get one when you arrive. You integrate into the local economy instead of floating above it. You meet people through work, not just coworking spaces or short-term hostels. And you build a life somewhere, not just a temporary routine.
In a lot of ways, working holiday makers are having a more grounded and accessible version of what people think digital nomad life is. You’re not just passing through, you’re actually living there. You have coworkers, a schedule, a reason to stay longer than a week, and a chance to build real lifetime connections.
It’s also far more realistic for most people. You don’t need a remote business or years of experience. You just need the willingness to go and the right setup to make it happen.
That’s why I think we’re seeing a shift. Less “how do I work remotely?” and more “how do I actually live and work abroad for a year?”
And that’s exactly where structured programs like Global Work & Travel come in. They remove the biggest barriers, finding a job, navigating visas, getting set up, so people can actually make that shift from idea to reality.
For a lot of travelers, this isn’t just an alternative to digital nomad life. It’s a more sustainable, accessible, and realistic way to actually live and work abroad.
Why I think Volunteering Matters
Volunteering abroad has a complicated reputation, and it’s worth being honest about that. There are lots of bad volunteer programs out there in the world. Programs that don’t really give back and are designed to make travelers “feel” like they did something but really are just profit driven campaigns. Global Work & Travel’s vets programs in the areas such as wildlife conservation, community development, education, and healthcare in the locations and countries it operates so you know the program you sign up for is legit.
The case for ethical, well-structured volunteering is genuinely strong. When you work alongside local Zanzibar communities on problems they’ve defined as priorities, or with wildlife and conservation in South Africa or Elephant rehabilitation in Thailand — something shifts in how you understand the world. Not only are you helping to give back to a place but you also understand the true needs of a the people and ecosystems living there, but also helping overcome the struggles they go through. It opens your mind and shifts your perspective.
Their Global Animal Welfare Fund also channels resources directly into conservation projects at their partner sites, so the impact extends beyond individual placements.
What I Love About Working Holidays
Working holidays let you truly experience a country instead of just visiting it. You immerse yourself in the culture by living like a local every day. You meet more people both locals and fellow travellers while building real friendships. Best of all, you get paid to travel, so you can stay much longer instead of rushing through in a few weeks. This lets you experience local life deeply, discover hidden spots, and understand how people really live in different places. You also build valuable skills, boost your resume with international experience, and make long-term travel more affordable since your income covers the costs. Plus, you gain a real cultural understanding that no short holiday can match. All that while stil getting paid? Not bad right?!
Working holidays turn travel into a true lifestyle, not just another 2 week vacation.
What I Like About How Global Work & Travel Operates
Global Work & Travel are the world leaders in long term travel and offer a ton of options for travelers looking to volunteer, work, or spend extended time in a destination. Some things I like about them.
- Their lifetime deposit policy is genuinely unusual: if your plans change, your deposit doesn’t disappear. It stays on your account indefinitely and can be transferred to a different program or destination
- The gWorld portal is genuinely useful. This pre-departure tool that helps you with your visa application, access exclusive deals, connect with others on your program, and even begin language learning before you arrive.
- They have transparent 24/5 worldwide human support. When something goes wrong abroad, being able to reach a human in local time is worth more than any amount of pre-trip planning.
- With over 619k followers on Instagram, it’s easy to connect with and make friends with people before you go.
- A structured start to your trip is the best way to save money, time and stress. The Global network and support are there to help and guide you from start to finish. Use code NOMADICMATT for a discount on your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior experience to work abroad with Global Work & Travel? For most trips, generally nothing more than basic work experience is required. Teaching programs include TEFL training, and volunteering can be started from no experience.
What’s the minimum age? Most programs are open from age 18. Working holiday visas typically cap at 35 depending on the destination country but volunteer and teach programs are open to ages 18–80.
How long does the whole process take? It varies by programs and destination. Most people book their trips 6-12 months in advance for proper planning, job matching and visa quotas. You can get started for as little as $1 here.
Is my money safe if things change? Global Work & Travel and their lifetime deposit policy means your initial payment doesn’t expire. They are also members of many consumer protection services to further support travelers.
Can I go as a solo traveler? Yes, and this is actually one of the most common scenarios. The gWorld Community and programs group connections mean you’ll be meeting others in the same position quickly.
Travel has always been best when it’s been more than tourism. The moments that stay with you — that you actually tell people about five years later — are never the ones where you queued to see a famous landmark. They’re the ones where you connect with people. They are the moments where you did something.
Global Work & Travel makes doing something deep accessible in a way that genuinely wasn’t available a decade ago. If you’ve been thinking about doing something like this but the logistics have felt too complicated, check them out and use code NOMADICMATT to unlock a $100 discount on your trip.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
