A Solo Travel Account:

Evaluna Sander, 19, is one of many who have visited the up-and-coming European destination, Albania. Google Trends shows more people searching for ‘holidays in Albania’ over the past five years – and it’s now gaining recognition as “the best new country in Europe for backpackers”.

After hearing this, she booked a 12-hour ferry from Puglia (Italy) to Saranda (Albania). She hadn’t booked a hostel and so spent her arrival day refreshing Hostelworld in a café. A bed eventually became available at Wallaby hostel, Saranda – an Aussie-run accommodation, located close to the bus station. It features a rooftop terrace, with great views of the town and Ionian Sea. Evaluna described the atmosphere as “refreshing” and “relaxing”.

There’s something about those primary moments of arrival that set up what your stay, or experience of a destination, will be like.

While checking in at reception, she noticed a poster advertising a volunteering opportunity. After expressing her interest, the owner put her on the rota the following day. This shows how quickly things can turn around when travelling – from the worry of not having a place to stay for the night, to getting offered a job!

Tasks ranged from reception, to cleaning and cooking. Prior to Albania, she’d been traveling for four months, so this was a nice change. Some available activities were karaoke - where one person would sing, and the whole hostel would join in - and quiz nights – where “you could shout anything in the quiz, and no one would judge you”. Once the volunteering ended, she travelled with a fellow volunteer for around two weeks. Now back home, she says “I miss the hostel every single day and the people I worked with”.

This type of exchange is becoming more and more popular amongst the younger demographic. Many have realised that they can exchange a few hours of work a day, for accommodation and food. Worldpackers and Workaway are common platforms which offer these kind of volunteer opportunities worldwide.