When you travel, you stay in a hostel, B&B or hotel. When you’re traveling for a long time though, you have several options to explore. On a working holiday you may be forced to live in certain places because of your job, or you choose to stay somewhere for a longer period of time. What are the options?
If you’re planning to stay in a hostel for more than a week, it pays off to look for hostels that have weekly rates. Long term it can save you a lot of money. If you have some spare time, you could also see if they have work in exchange for accommodation. Usually it’s better value to find a full-time job, but if you are short on cash, this is worth exploring.
When staying in a city for at least 3 months it also pays off to look for shared houses and apartments. Often landlords require you to commit for 3 months, but there are also some short-term options available. Check websites as gumtree.com.au for shared houses. Prices vary a lot per city, but mostly it is cheaper than living in a hostel. Look at what you get though, because landlords can get quite cheeky. Read about my experience in looking for an apartment in Sydney for some tips.
When doing farm work, or work in remote areas, you’ll often find that accommodation is provided to you. You pretty much have to take what you get. Before going to these areas, ask what is provided for you and what you should take. I arrived at a farm and found out I needed bed sheets and a sleeping bag, although I wasn’t told that in advance.
So many people, so many preferences. I enjoyed having a lot of different experiences; staff accommodation in the snow, a crowded apartment in Sydney CBD, living in an old backpacker shed on a farm, staying a in hostel for two months and living in a house in the suburbs. See what suits you best. There is a lot of furnished accommodation available for a decent price. Good luck.
