Found a hostel in Prague that let me work 4 hours for a free bed

Last month I was in Prague and running low on cash after a few too many beers in Berlin. I found this hostel called Hostel One that trades work for accommodation, no jokes. I cleaned bathrooms and helped with breakfast for 4 hours each morning and got a dorm bed plus dinner for free. The dinner was actually solid too, family style with other travelers. Saved me about $30 a night which added up over 5 days. Has anyone else stumbled on a work trade deal like this while traveling?

4 comments

4 Comments

morgan_king361mo agoMost Upvoted

Makes you wonder if these places are actually breaking labor laws or just found a smart loophole. Most hostels would rather hire someone under the table than pay a real wage.

the_olivia1mo ago

And honestly I kinda see the other side of this, it's not like hostels are making huge profits either. A lot of them barely break even and offering a bed and a meal for a few hours of easy work keeps costs down for everyone. Travelers who are strapped for cash get a place to stay without having to spend their last dollars, and the hostel gets some help during slow overnight hours. It's more of a trade than a job if you ask me, and people are choosing to do it because it works for them. I don't think every arrangement has to fit into some rigid labor box when both sides are happy with the deal.

kim.nina1mo ago

Honestly it's like that with a lot of gig jobs now, companies get all the work without the hassle of taxes or benefits. Seems like we're all just expected to be okay with getting paid in experience or a free sandwich instead of real money.

kai_webb911mo ago

My buddy Matt actually did something similar in Barcelona like two years ago... He was dead broke after getting his wallet stolen on the metro. He talked to this hostel owner who let him work the front desk from midnight to 4am for a free bed and breakfast. Said he mostly just let drunk people in and made sure nobody puked in the hallways. He stayed for like 10 days and made some solid friends with the staff.