Why Do You Need to Know the Real Value?

There's stories of volunteers creeping out of hostels at night because they realised the exchange wasn’t for them, only when they got to the hostel. They thought the hours they had to work and the experience offered wasn’t worth the bed. But now, they're stuck in the hostel, worried about telling the owner. The only thing they could do is creep out.

Sounds like a horror movie right!?

It has always been my aim to make volunteering safer and fairer for backpackers.

I created a tool that gives you a better way to weigh up exchanges.

Before you commit.

The Value Calculator gives you total transparency. It combines a money-value breakdown with a points system for you to see exactly what your time is worth.

Seeing the money and experience value will ensure the trade is fair and prevent you from taking an exchange you'll later regret.

What Does The Calculator Do?

The calculator analyses your exchange across two key areas:

• 💵 The Money Breakdown: It calculates your Total Stay Value plus the cash value of added perks like free breakfast or tours.

• 💯 Experience Perks: The points system weighs up the bits you can’t put a price on—like access to the kitchen and near transport links to give you a final Value Score.

• 🎉 Bonus: It also shows what you can get from the money you saved based on global average prices for the continent you're volunteering in.

What Can The Value Calculator Be Used For?

1. Comparing Exchanges via a Price and Score 📊 Comparing two different exchanges is impossible! One offers free meals, the other offers a private room, but which is worth more?

With the calculator you can see the exchange via a price and score to properly weigh up Exchange A against Exchange B.

2. Using the Calculator to Negotiate a Fairer Deal ⚖️ Having the whole perspective of the exchange will help pinpoint where the value is unbalanced. It allows you to negotiate a better deal. Exchanges are about give-and-take. My tool ensures you get a fair deal every single time. 🤝

How It Works

Step 1: The Stay Value Start by entering the price per bed (per night) and the total length of your stay. The calculator will immediately show you the Total Stay Price. This is how much you’re saving on accommodation.

Step 2: Bonus Next, select the continent of the exchange. This uses global average prices for beers, local meals, activities, day tours and flights (things you usually spend on) to calculate "what you can get" based on your savings.

Step 3: Added Monetary Perks Most exchanges include other perks like laundry or tours. It uses global averages to calculate these. As you tick these off, your Total Exchange Value will climb. 📈

Step 4: The Experience Points System Lastly, it looks at the stuff money can’t buy. Is the hostel surrounded by nature? 🌲 Does it give you the chance to build work experience in something you're passionate about? If for example, an exchange allows you to gain skills for your future career, it might be a fair tradeoff even if the money value seems low.

The Result 

🎉 Once you’re done, you’ll have a complete breakdown. If the money value is a bit low, but the points are high, you might decide it’s still a great trade!

Now you can confidently apply, look for a better deal, or use these figures to negotiate a fairer exchange.