Hi Reader!

Accommodation prices in Barcelona are some of the most expensive in Spain, especially as we come into the summer season. If you're hoping to visit Barcelona on a budget but are struggling to find good value hotels, I might have the perfect answer for you!

Let's be clear, though, there is no magic wand to get something for nothing - but see if any of these might help you to have a fantastic trip to Barcelona (or anywhere else in the world) without breaking the bank!

Volunteering in Barcelona

Volunteering in exchange for free accommodation can be a great way to enjoy the summer in Barcelona. I recommend using Worldpackers to find your perfect volunteer placement in Barcelona.

You spend a few hours a day working (with some days off), in exchange for free accommodation and other benefits like free meals, free tours, language classes and other cool stuff!

Hostels in Barcelona are always on the lookout for staff for all kinds of hostel work, so if you're a student with the summer off or just want to spend a few weeks having fun in the city without spending all your cash, a work exchange could be just what you need!

If you're not sure if you want to work in a hostel in Barcelona, there are other work exchange placements and jobs with accommodation in Barcelona that you might prefer.

For example, these placements on Worldpackers:

• ​Work at a Dog Hotel near Alella - An ideal placement for women who speak Spanish, caring for the animals while their owners are on holiday
• ​Help on a farm 20 minutes from Barcelona by metro - be close to the city and learn about ecological farming as you work
• ​Work with an NGO supporting their food bank - do good and enjoy a stay in Barcelona at the same time!

➡️ Or you can browse all available placements with Worldpackers Barcelona here​

I've done work exchanges in Mexico, Peru, Belize and the UK, and I loved meeting new people, making friends with other volunteers, and really getting to know the area where I was working.

I've got a whole blog post with everything you need to know about volunteering or doing a work exchange in a hostel in Barcelona - check it out here!

Pet-Sitting in Barcelona

Depending on the time of year you're travelling to Barcelona, house-sitting or pet-sitting could be a great option for you.

Around Easter, Christmas and the summer holidays, many people living in Barcelona take a trip outside of the city, and often have pets they can't take with them. Try looking on house-sitting sites like Trusted Housesitters to see what options are available for your dates.

There can be a lot of competition for Barcelona housesits, so if you're already an experienced housesitter with good reviews you'll have a better chance of securing a pet-sit, but there's no harm in applying even if you're a beginner.

I did some pet sitting in Barcelona for friends before I moved back here, and it was a great way to save money on accommodation!

Home Exchange

Home exchange can be another great way to get free accommodation in Barcelona - if you're willing to have someone else stay in your home while you're away. This is much more sustainable for people living in Barcelona as you won't be staying in an Airbnb rented out by a company, you'll be staying in someone's home.

It doesn't need to be a direct swap either, while there are Facebook groups and other ways to arrange house swaps and home exchanges with a specific person, sites like Kindred allow you to stay in someone's home while they're away - they don't need to stay in your home at the same time.

If you sign up using this link (recommended by my friend Gill) you can have up to 5 free nights to spend somewhere around the world before you have to host yourself. If you do allow your home to be available while you're away, you will earn more credits to spend.

It isn't completely free - you do pay for cleaning and a small service fee, but my friends who have used it say it is way cheaper than booking a hotel or an Airbnb for your stay. I haven't used Kindred myself yet, but once I've got a long-term apartment here I will apply!

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I hope this has given you some ideas on how to save money on accommodation in Barcelona! If you've got any questions about this or anything else about travelling to Barcelona, head over to our Facebook Group and ask away!

Happy travels, Claire x

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