For some people, vacation means relaxing and letting their legs dangle. Others are active: they hike, swim or do lots of things.
Another type of vacationer prefers working on vacation for room and board. One important point here is that this work is not paid. Even so, the appeal of something new is big, for example helping out on a "farm" or a ranch in Austria.
One advantage is that, basically, only the trip has to be paid out of your own pocket.

Working on Vacation for Room and Board - The Requirements for Working on Vacation

Under German youth employment protection rules, young people can take a proper holiday job from the age of 15. All that is needed is the parents' permission.


Adults aged 18 and over are free to decide what to do with their vacation. There are exceptions, though. For example, if the employment contract says that a temp job or mini-job has to be approved by the employer. In addition, some employers want their employees to stay fit and concentrate fully on their main job. They can themselves prohibit working on vacation for room and board. The reason given is usually that the employee should take it easy and rest.

Some people, however, rest very well through physical work in the countryside and in a new, beautiful setting. Everyone should talk to their employer to convince them. English skills are a clear advantage. In Austria especially, employers offering jobs for vacationers often speak English with staff from different countries.

Working on Vacation for Room and Board - Choosing the Right Limited Work

Before working on vacation for room and board, everyone should think carefully about exactly what they want to do. How many hours should be worked? Over what period should the work run?
Mountains, wide fields and meadows, clean air and Austria's fantastic nature attract many people. For example, there are farms that are happy to take on an extra pair of hands.

working on vacation for room and board

Tending animals, mucking out the stable, collecting eggs from hens, filling the manure pile, sweeping and many other things are jobs that require a sturdy physical condition.
Not only farms but also monasteries are glad to take in people willing to work for a limited time.

Working on Vacation for Room and Board - Negotiating the Terms

In Austria, working hours for a holiday jobber are usually 5 hours a day. The employer should grant 1 to 2 days off.
On farms and ranches especially, everyone is immediately integrated into the family and can experience Austrian customs and traditions first-hand.
If you work at a riding stable, for example, you can negotiate something with the owner. A riding lesson, for instance, might be discounted or even free. That gives working on vacation a little highlight.

Setting the duration of working on vacation for room and board in writing beforehand ensures a good start.

Tips:

  • Get permission from your employer
  • Settle working hours and free time
  • Choose the place and type of work carefully in advance
  • Check your physical health (for example: any allergies to animals or grasses?)
  • Enjoy your vacation despite the work