Free Housing and Home Exchanges

When you first arrive to a new country, it might be difficult to find housing right away, especially if you don't speak the language and your employer doesn't help out. Never fear, there are long and short term options for you until you find home sweet home.

Short Term
If you are just looking for a place to crash then try these places. They have rating systems, and you can choose who you stay with, so they're pretty safe.

• couch surfing 
• global freeloaders
• helpx 
• hospitality club

Long Term
There are a couple ways you can stay long term: home exchanges and house sitting are the two most common. You can stay for free if you're willing to trade homes, try these

• caretaker
• digsville
• GTI home exchange 
• home base hols 
• home for swap 
• home exchange  (their blog) 
• home link
• know your trade

There are also house sitting jobs out there. Take a look at intervac and house carers. Some tips on house sitting can be found at NuNomad. The Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum also has a house sitting and swapping section that's worth checking out.