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Travel to Italy for FREE by Sharing your Skills

Barter Week 2018, free accommodation in Italy, Italy travel, free travel
Photo credit: eutourism.org


Travelers who are short of cash (and don’t mind a spot of dishwashing) could bag themselves a free holiday in Italy this winter thanks to an initiative that facilitates bartering between bed and breakfast hosts and their guests.

This year which is celebrating on its 10th year, from November 19 to 25, 2018 the Barter Week (also known as La Settimana del Baratto) - encourages travelers to exchange goods and services for a free stay in thousands of Italian B&Bs.

Barter Week 2018, free accommodation in Italy, Italy travel, free travel
www.barterweek.com

In this way, travelers have ample opportunity for free accommodation whatever their destination, to the north and south of Italy. All they have to do in return is offer tangible or creative work, or bring along products hosts seek.

To take part, prospective guests can list what they have to offer on the Barter Week site. Alternatively, guests can browse the wishlist of B&Bs and contact them to negotiate their stay.



The wishlist currently includes a huge range of requests. Some hosts, for example, will let you stay in exchange for quality local produce from your home region or country.

Others will give you a room in exchange for a live musical performance, while many are bartering for some help with the business – from translating the website or conducting a photo shoot to painting the shutters or doing some gardening.

Barter Week was launched in 2009 by Italian B&B bookings site bed-and-breakfast.it after the team discovered that one of the B&Bs listed on the site used to practice barter instead of normal payments for its business.

Barter Week 2018, free accommodation in Italy, Italy travel, free travel

Meanwhile, Barter Week boundaries are expanding fast and furious outside of Italy. The international twin scheme has already been welcomed with open arms by B&Bs in 49 countries around Europe, as well as Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. In the first year, around 1,000 B&Bs signed up to offer a barter service for one week during low season. Now the number taking part has doubled.



There are many interesting “B&B wishlist” line-up this year, like the A Casa Di Mei located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II offers free accommodation in exchange of gardening, wall painting, web designing, and took professional photos of the casa. Another is the Locanda del Borgo in Naples is offering free accommodation in exchange of English, French, German and Spanish translation. And some B&B only request for a gym and fitness advice in exchange of free stay.

Some properties are requesting for some help in upgrading their online presence, like this country house located in Brescia, Italy – this Agriturismo Macesina is wishing make a video film of the farmhouse to be included in their web site.

Barter Week 2018, free accommodation in Italy, Italy travel, free travel
II Palagetto Guest House

Or this guest house in Florence, II Palagetto Guest House is offering free accommodation in exchange of learning origami & kirigami lessons for children, and/or street art style decoration.

Although Barter Week fosters a large number of exchanges, some B&Bs accept barters all year round. These can be found on the https://www.barterweek.com/en site, which lists about 1,000 places to stay.


So, are you skilled enough to get a FREE stay in many Italian guest houses? Or better learn now and share your talent soon!


BRB, coz I will also send my proposal for my next Italian sojourn.


xoxo, Blair





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80 comments :

  1. I absolutely love this idea! I have been to Italy a couple of times and it's one of my favorite places. The fact that they add options to make it more accessible for all traveler's is awesome. I think Italy should be high on everyone's travel bucket list.

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  2. Holy cow, I am going to look at this as soon as I hit post! I wonder if any of my skills would be useful? I'm a good writer and I play the viola and I can sing and I can spin things like Sabres and flags like in Color Guard! Think any of those are useful to anyone in Italy? Worth a shot

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    1. Yeah maybe! You can visit the website and check the latest offerings :D

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  3. Really! Thats surprising.The Italian government are currently strict with the immigration process into Italy.

    I will check this out.

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    1. Oh you should check, because this is an awesome opportunity!

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  4. I never know that an opportunity like this was so easy to obtain.

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    1. I know right! There are still many small organizations who are opening their homes to guests like this. I am excited for this. And to this they are celebrating their 10th year!

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  5. I must say this is a brilliant concept. I read the first time here about this but I really ask myself, why I havent heard of this before. It shows that there is a market for everything and if you could help locals in the place that you travel to with something else than money or even more valuable, it is just a great idea. I will check barterweek out more in detail since I am very curious about this now.

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    1. That will be great Hendrik. Many Italian homes still believe on barter exchange, and sometimes we have to bring back this old tradition. And eventually even we gain good reputations.

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  6. Wow, what a great concept. Never head of this before but it makes so much sense. I'm US based and I'm going to look further into this. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I never knew about this! Now I will look into this.

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    1. Hello Devyani, yeah you should! This might be a good opportunity for you.

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  8. Such a great initiative, isn't it? And there are so many lovely B&Bs that take part in it! Locanda del Borgo would be my choice... english translations in exchange of a stay in my beloved Naples? Super!!

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    1. I know right?! There are also hosts that wishes to learn origamis or Asian dishes in exchange of free stay! That's wonderful and I find it very heartwarming.

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  9. Wow! I loved the article and this idea! So funny because I do exactly the same, I barter a Portuguese meal to everyone who invite me to their home. Thank you for sharing this website Blair.

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    1. Oh that's wonderful of you! How I wish that many homes would be open for this. And this way, we bridge many gaps, and have a good community!

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  10. What a great idea! Voluntourism is the best. I am gonna check this out!

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  11. My friend lives in Italy and I am amazed with the beautiful pictures she always shares.

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    1. That's wonderful, you should visit her very soon and enjoy the Italy life!

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  12. Brilliant idea! will go a lot in challenging people.

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    1. Hope many would like to volunteer and engage with the locals.

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  13. I really love this idea, I am going to check out the website.

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  14. Nice initiative..... A win /win approach.... I remember long ago Malaysians welcomed guests to their homes and lived like a local, and doing dishes and other house chores.... I think it even came out in their tourism ads...

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    1. Isn't this an exciting initiative?! Would you know if Malaysia still continuously doing this?

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  15. How I wish I can visit Italy Someday. Great post from you.

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  16. Barter Week as an initiative by the Italian B&B bookings is so unique and fascinating! What Better way to travel to Italy for free by sharing goods and services! Whether its products you bring along or offer services like music, finding such an option for free stay is always welcomed by budget travelers! Thanks for letting us know about it.

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    1. You're welcome Navita! I wish that many cities will join this initiative. A good way to connect with other people worldwide.

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  17. I've never been to Italy but it's on my list. I'm currently in Argentina and there's a massive Italian culture here. In fact they say there are some pastas here that you can't even find in Italy.

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    1. Many of Italian pastas are homemade :D
      What is your favorite pastas?

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  18. That is such a brilliant idea - lending your skills in exchange for free stay. I wish this concept would be launched globally because I am sure it would be a hit, I'd love to write content, take pictures, build a website or some such thing in exchange for free stay! I love the idea of Barter Week.

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    1. I agree! Because there are still many things that doesn't need money as exchange. Many Italians haven't an opportunity to travel, hence this initiative is a good way for them to connect to the different people.

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  19. La Settimana del Baratto a week long event that encourages travelers to exchange goods and services for a free stay in thousands of Italian B&Bs, interesting! I have heard of this amazing collab from my friend years back. He did participate and worked as a waiter and dishwasher. Pretty neat, I think.

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    1. In Italy and France, being a waiter/waitress is a decent and respectable job.

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  20. I’m definitely checking this out further

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    1. That's awesome Marie, and enjoy your Italy travel soon!

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  21. Never heard of this before, thanks for sharing. I would totally be interested in doing this!

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    1. You still have plenty of time to check, coz this will stay this November.

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  22. As usual Blair, your article never fail to keep me informed. That's why I always comeback to your blog.

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  23. Very innovative concept... certainly worth a try for people who are creative and love travel..
    Thank you

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  24. Wow what a great concept for travelers. Exchanging and learning skills, what a lovely world it would be

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    1. I know right?! Hope many European countries and even here in Asia will do this.

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  25. Ommmmg the picture above is soooo pretty! :D Also, this is actually amazing. I didn't know you could do that. This is so cool :D I gotta check it out. Thanks for sharing :)

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  26. Lovely post, I love Italy. There is so much culture and beautiful places to visit.

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  27. Such a great idea. More People have an opportunity to go on low cost adventures. Awesone initiative

    Jada

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  28. This is such a wonderful initiative! Exchanges like these can foster tourism opportunities while also giving the travelers an opportunity to save their cash. Win-win really. Thanks for sharing, this was new for me, loved knowing about it.

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    1. You should send your intent! This event will happen this November :D

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  29. Great read, Italy has so much to offer for tourists and this is a great way to do it on the cheap!

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    1. That is true, and I wish that many destination would be open for this kind of exchange.

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  30. A very informative post. I had not heard of Barter Week before reading through your article. And looks so exciting. I could go to Italy for free by just exchanging it for my skills. That sounds great.

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    1. Yeah, this is a good help for Italy's local community who can't go out and travel per se. A great opportunity to get to know other people.

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  31. Great opportunity indeed! We wouldn't mind doing housework in exchange for a free stay/travel. Sheila loves to cross-stitch, I build miniatures, and both of us love to cook. Perhaps our "talents" can help us win a free stay/trip. Hahaha! :D

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    1. Yes of course! I even saw a host looking for someone to teach her pottery in exchange of free stay/room, so why not!

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  32. Lending your skills in exchange for free stay is a great idea and something even I did a few times in the past. I wish more people worldwide would use this concept. Thank you for sharing, it was a lovely read

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    1. Bring back the old custom and start reconnecting to people.

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  33. That is true! My sister went there and she is now living in one of the french houses. Her roomstes are cool and nice too!!

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  34. That's really interesting. I'm actually considering it. :)

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    1. Oh you should! I think this should also be promoted here in the Philippines to help connect rural tourism.

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  35. Barter Week sounds fun! I think I would give them a free photoshoot, blog or vlog about the guesthouse. Haha!

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    1. Many beautiful homes in Italy are offering their extra rooms to guests for a little exchange. It is their means to connect to the outside world.

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  36. wow! i also wanna travel to italy .. the idea of going there for free plus a chance to share my passion is just awesome!!!

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    1. Free stays mostly, but who knows maybe one of the many B&B offers free airfare as well.

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  37. Italy for free? That's a really nice concept in exchange of sharing one's skills.

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    1. I know right! If you have schedule trip to Italy, you can actually do B&B hopping for free, for these many offers!

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  38. Ohhh thank you for this blog. Now I know I can go to Italy using those tips! hahahah I really wanted to go there!

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  39. Good tip. Whenever I travel on a budget I sonetimes couchsurf

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    1. Some of my friends does, but I can't imagine I can couchsurf :D One exemption would be at my parent's home.

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  40. This is cool! It's a nice concept that our country should adopt. Let's treat foreigners to our scenic beaches in exchange of waste management initiatives or building houses for the poor. Haha. My wildest dreams. Is airfare included?

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    1. Airfares usually not included, but you can check if a few B&B offers. Yeah it would be nice to adopt this concept here in our country. You see, not all locals can travel overseas, and this is a great opportunity for locals to learn from many guests.

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  41. I've absolutely never heard about this thing: it's amazing! I live in Italy and I've seen that it's plenty of places where you can stay in change for free contents. It's a great opportunity for creative people to travel without spending so much money and let their creativity pop in. I think I will use this initiative when I'll have the possibility.

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    1. Thank you Dagniee! Italy is on top of our travel list, and hope we can travel again soon.

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