Alternative Travel: Volunteer, Learning and Homestay Vacations

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Sometimes the best way to learn about another culture is by experiencing things firsthand. For those travelers who are interested in being immersed in a culture, a volunteer, learning or homestay vacation is the way to go.

Alternative travel takes you out of your element and provides you with an opportunity to learn more about yourself. However, being out of your element means you'll probably encounter difficulties you otherwise wouldn't, have to deal with people who you might not care for and perhaps find that your high expectations aren't being met. It's guaranteed that an alternative travel vacation will result in a memorable, significant experience.

To some degree, a volunteer, learning or homestay experience will be what you make of it. Here are some suggestions on how to find the alternative travel vacation that will be the most rewarding for you.

Volunteer Programs

If you want to be a part of positive social change, a volunteer vacation can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it's important to maintain realistic expectations about a volunteer vacation, since it can be just as much work as if you were at home.

Some Things to Consider

Plan on beginning your search for a volunteer program about a year in advance to allow time for applications to be processed. Because there is such a wide variety of volunteer programs, consider these factors to help narrow down your options.

• Skills: Some programs require you to be familiar with or fluent in the local language. Other requirements range from unskilled (but willing to do manual labor) to professional or technical skills in the fields of teaching, business, health and engineering. Decide what type of volunteer work you'd like to do and are qualified for. Opportunities run the gamut from restoring a castle to observing wildlife to teaching in a remote village.
• Time commitment and location: Time commitments can range from less than a week for some programs to 2 years for the Peace Corps. There are volunteer opportunities in locations all over the world. Consider how much time you're willing to spend volunteering and where you're interested in going.
• Money: Some short-term programs charge a fee, but will provide training, support and, sometimes, academic credit. Fees vary from program to program. Many programs provide room and board but do not cover travel or personal expenses. Most long-term volunteer programs (longer than 1 year) cover all expenses plus a small stipend.

Learning Vacations

Learning vacations are centered around specific interests such as culture and the arts, history and archaeology, nature tours, language study and culinary classes. They can be an excellent way to learn about a culture within the structure and guidance provided by the classes.

Some Things to Consider

The first step is to decide what type of learning vacation you'd like to take, for example, cultural, nature-oriented, language study or culinary. Next, narrow your options by considering these factors.

• Duration and location: Learning vacations can range from just a few weeks to several months for some language programs. Consider the amount of time you want to spend and the country you're interested in visiting.
• Accommodations: Some programs include a homestay with a family. You may be given your own room or required to share a room with another person. Other programs provide a single or double room in a residence hall, or your own apartment or hotel room. Often, accommodations in hotels are the most expensive option but they will allow you more freedom. A homestay could provide a wonderful experience with a local family, but you will have less privacy. The kind of experience you're interested in having will determine which type of accommodation is best for you.
• Cost: When comparing programs, look at what's included in the cost. Some programs are all-inclusive and cover transportation, tuition, room and board. Others only cover tuition and charge extra for room and board, depending on the type of accommodations you request. Sometimes, optional field trips cost extra.

Homestay Vacations

A homestay with a local family allows you to be truly immersed in a culture. When participating in a homestay, you typically join the family for meals and other daily activities. Some hosts go as far as offering to be your personal guide, while others simply provide suggestions about local sites. Homestay programs try to match your interests with selected hosts in the area you'll be traveling to, and some require that you be willing to host travelers once you return home. These programs are increasingly popular with seniors and women traveling alone.

Another option is home exchanges, where you swap homes with travelers from another country. Organizations who arrange home exchanges typically charge a small fee for a yearly membership and access to a database of homes. This option allows you to live in another country with 1 location as a base for your travels. Home exchanges are a great money-saving option, especially for families.

Some Things to Consider

Living in a different culture can be a much more rewarding experience than just passing through. Despite the benefits, staying with another family or exchanging homes requires some considerations that aren't an issue for independent, free-wheeling travelers.

• Advance planning: Homestays and home exchanges often need to be arranged far in advance and usually don't work well with spontaneous trips.
• Flexibility: If you're participating in a homestay, you'll need to be somewhat flexible to your host's routine, schedule and customs. Home exchanges require you to be flexible with dates and exact locations in order to work out an exchange with another traveler.
• Open-mindedness: With a homestay, you'll need to be open to people's habits and different customs, while a home exchange requires you to adjust to different lifestyles. For example, you may find the refrigerator in the Paris apartment you're staying in is tiny so you'll have to shop for groceries every day.

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