Work & travel, au pair & co.: Why staying longer is sustainable

Work & Travel, au pair and volunteer work are different from a short holiday: instead of just a few days, travellers stay in another country for several months to a year.

Nevertheless, the journey is associated with CO2 emissions. Especially if you are travelling by plane. However, this environmental impact can be converted into a longer stay. Other advantages: You can socialise with locals, integrate culturally and gain authentic experiences.

So why not stay longer in the spirit of sustainable travelling?

The European Consumer Centre Germany provides helpful tips on how to prepare and shows why destinations in Europe are also attractive.

Staying longer instead of doing a short trip

For longer stays abroad, the relationship between the journey (often by plane) and the length of stay is more sustainable than for short holidays. Many people think of New Zealand or Canada. However, you can also do work & travel, au pair or volunteer work in Europe. This even has some advantages.

Before deciding on a commercial tour operator, you should find out exactly what services are included in the price.

What types of longer stays abroad are there?

In addition to studying or doing an internship abroad, there are also forms of travel such as work and travel, au pair and volunteer work abroad.

Work & Travel

Work & Travel is a combination of travelling and working. Spontaneous temporary or occasional jobs such as harvest helper or waiter/waitress help to finance the trip. You usually have to be at least 18 years old and speak English. Some jobs also require a driving licence.

Australia, New Zealand and Canada are popular destinations. But there are also many opportunities in Europe, such as farm work in Norway or jobs in the tourism industry in Portugal or Spain.

Au-Pair

As an au pair, you look after the children in a host family and help out in the household. In return, you are allowed to live with the family. Sometimes you also receive pocket money. The length of stay is between six months and one year. The weekly working time is 20 to 30 hours, depending on the agreement. The advantage is that you are immediately integrated into family life. Unfortunately, however, au pairs are sometimes regarded as cheap labour and treated unkindly.

Popular destination countries in Europe include Ireland and France, for example.

Volunteering

Volunteering involves getting involved in a good cause for no financial reward.

This is possible in your home country, but also almost anywhere in the world. Accommodation and meals are often provided.

In Europe, there are programmes for animal and environmental protection in Spain or Croatia, for example. Or for childcare in Romania, for example.

Volunteer work can be organised by the state (e.g. Federal Volunteer Service). These programmes usually last between six and 24 months.

On the other hand, there is what is known as "volunteer tourism" or "voluntourism". This is a holiday trip in which hours of work are invested in a project. The minimum duration is often significantly shorter.

Criticism of "voluntourism" is that commercial tour operators would offer it even if there is no need for volunteers. This would do more harm than good to the local population. The short duration may also be problematic. Especially when working with children, it can be counterproductive if the carers change frequently.

Consumers should inform themselves well before deciding in favour of an offer.

Choose your holiday destination: Why not Europe instead of overseas?

Many people opt for distant countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Canada when travelling abroad. Here you have little choice but to take an aeroplane, which is the least climate-friendly form of travel.

Of course, the carbon footprint can be improved by offsetting CO2. But you can't undo the emissions. This is one of the reasons why closer destinations such as Spain, Portugal, France or the Netherlands are attractive.

Travelling in a climate-friendly way

Within Europe, almost all destinations can be reached by train or bus. Longer journeys can be split up according to the motto "the journey is the reward".

Why not get off in France on the way from Germany to Spain and start your journey there?

You can even take an overnight train from Berlin to Malmö, from Munich to Budapest or to some other destinations.

If you prefer travelling by car, you can take a passenger with you. You can find and network with others via social network groups.

Socio-cultural sustainability

If you take socio-cultural sustainability into account, it makes sense to select the destination country based on your own knowledge of the language and the country. If you already speak the local language and have familiarised yourself with local politics, the experience can be more sustainable for you and the local people.

Another option: Some programmes include language courses (e.g. Erasmus) so that you can learn the language on site.

Getting around: Avoid taking a plane if possible

If you have a car or hire one, the more passengers you have, the better the eco-balance per head. You also get to meet new people, possibly even other globetrotters, while looking for fellow travellers. If the infrastructure is available, you can use local public transport such as trains or buses.

You should try to avoid domestic flights. If time permits, you can also cross a country in other ways and have great experiences along the way.

Eco-friendly accommodation

For longer stays, you are often accommodated in host families or shared flats. Other types of accommodation can also be considered for round trips. Quality seals can be an indication of environmentally friendly accommodation. However, there is also sustainable accommodation without a label. Smaller, private offers in particular are often not only authentic, but also much more environmentally friendly than a luxury hotel complex, for example.

Erasmus & Interrail: travelling sustainably through Europe

The Erasmus programme or Erasmus+ is the largest and best-known funding programme for stays abroad in Europe. It is aimed at young people who want to study abroad, complete internships or do voluntary work. In addition to financial support, the programme also focuses on social and cultural sustainability.

Language courses are offered to facilitate integration in the new country. Through networks such as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), students are supported locally and have the opportunity to take part in numerous events and meet new people.

Information on Erasmus is provided by the European Commission and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), among others.

The Interrail programme offers the opportunity to travel across Europe by train without flying. The ticket at a staggered fixed price is valid for a certain period of time, during which you can travel flexibly in 33 countries. Not only young people, but also adults and senior citizens can use Interrail.

Further tips for environmentally conscious travellers

With these simple tips, you can minimise your ecological footprint and still make the most of your trip:

Save water and plastic: Take a refillable water bottle with you. But be careful: only drink water that is labelled as drinking water. As at home, you can also save water when showering and doing the dishes.

Try typical local food in local restaurants and avoid international chains that you may already know.

Many exciting excursion destinations can be reached on foot or by bike. Sport included!

Avoid places with mass tourism. Locals can name lesser-known places and give insider tips.

Choose souvenirs made by locals or take local specialities such as oils, drinks or long-life food.

After the journey: Integrating sustainability into everyday life

Once you have discovered new tips for a sustainable lifestyle while travelling, you should make a point of applying them at home and integrating them into your everyday life. By passing on your own experiences, others will also benefit and learn about a new culture.