Feb. 23, 2008
Offers of free or "at cost" accommodation
Added
Feb. 23, 2008
Mattress-on-the-floor type living
arrangement in the north of Moscow, free, in exchange for English, or
very cheap (no more than $25/night) if you'd rather be left alone.
Free
room
in Ramenskoye, Moscow region, in exchange for English. A real and valid offer from webmaster's
friends and colleague in the rural development business[these don't respond to e-mails]
Very
inexpensive (make a contribution to the household upkeep) accommodation in Moscow with a mother and her
two kids. [Still valid as
far as I know - Feb. 23, 2008]Maria from Pechatniki, Moscow, is looking for a
used laptop / notebook. Your old computer may be worth
quite a few days of staying in her spare room in Pechatniki, 10 min. to
subway and another 30 to the city center. Also
contact Maria is you are willing to teach her French, Italian, or
German in a serious way. Please note that relaxed chatter does not count, and I will
personally see that she gets what she needs, not what she wants. [More
about Maria, her homestay and all-around traveller support]
Marisha (Chisinau, Moldova) could use a farm hand at her small retreat near. If you are in Europe and are dreaming of getting rid of your old car, you can also use it to pay for her services. It will be taken into calculation based on its price in Moldova, which is noticeably higher than in West European countries. See www.marisha.net
Speaking of farming and such, Pasha, the owner of this site, would take a Western saddle in exchange for accommodation, horse riding, or other services. And the logic of free associations takes me from saddles to sitting, and from sitting to sitting in front of the computer. Do contact me if you have a combination of both writing and technical skills to work on sites related to travelling to Russia.
Received Feb. 12,
2005
HI ONE OR 2 ROOM IN MOSCOW IN A TWO ROOM FLAT IS AVAILABLE FOR
FREE PER NIGHT. MAXIMUM 2 TWO PEOPLE CAN STAY. RUSSIAN STUDENT WILL TRY TO
STUDY ENGLISH WITH YOU. goodfornothing@mail.ru
A list of
people who put up "Free guide in exchange for English" notices at
the Library of Foreign Literature:
The list is courtesy of Thomas Peters, who also presented my horses with civilized thick rubber-covered bits. This list is quite old (2002 or 2003) but you may want to put up your own notice there. Assistance doing do is available if you are not yet in Moscow. |
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PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT AN AGENT This information on free homestays is was compiled and made available for no other reason than to help travellers who want an immersion experience and hosts who want exposure to English or whatever. DON'T CONTACT ME WITH REQUESTS TO ACTS AS AN AGENT TO SET YOU UP WITH HOMESTAYS UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO PAY FOR MY SERVICES. |
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Recommended
reading |
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Many hosts who submitted their information to my Rooms/B&B/Homestays page are in part motivated by their desire to learn English. In some cases it will be appropriate to ask if conversation practice or other services, such as babysitting, can be used in place of merely financial contribution. |
Some hints & ideas
how to
stay in Moscow
for free
the ultimate in economy accommodation
from HOT AIR VENTS AND abandoned railroad cars
to luxury
apartments
My long term clients please relax. Be assured that I am not likely to actually do that but as of recent I've been wondering what would happen if I just walked away on it all. For this reason I've been observing street people and their survival techniques, and also keeping my eyes open for opportunities to get a roof and a few cubic meters of comfortable heated space around my body, should I after all dare to do the above.
Thus this page, where I share my observations and ideas, and where, with some luck, you will find specific bits of information. An occasional offer of free accommodation in exchange for English practice, will also be posted here and on the Rooms & Homestays page.
ON THE STREET
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Ventilation outlets make great places to sleep. The best ones I've found so far are right in front of the Rossiya Hotel by the Red Square.
Homeless people and dogs keeping themselves comfortable at -10C on top of a vent on Ostozhenka, opposite the Pashkov house near Metro Arbatskaya. Several of these are available, entirely free, along the cast-iron fence. The neighbourhood is beyond prime. Public washrooms are within walking distance. Lots of cafes and restaurants for any budget. Internet cafes on the Arbat. Lots of police and security.
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Bathing and Laundry for Clean Street Living
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CAMPING IN PARKS
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As far as I know camping in public areas is not contrary to any laws or rules. I'll be checking on that to be sure.
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Check out current/recent free accommodation offers |
BASEMENTS, ATTICS, & ABANDONED BUILDINGS
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Possession is 90% of ownership here. The common understanding here is in favour of squatters' right. If you see a building or another structure (kiosk, storage container, etc.) that is not used, move it and make it your home.
This shed for garden containers served as a home for two homeless from August to late November. I spoke to them and was pleased to hear that they were not hassled by the police and property caretakers. Further, many local residents and businesses regularly hired them to do odd jobs, and for the winter they were offered a street sweeper's job and a warm livable basement.
KNOCK ON DOORS
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I don't guarantee success in cities but in remote countryside many babushkas will be happy to see you as their guests. Just make sure to settle for the night long before the sunset because after the sunset even the most hospitable rural dwellers turn paranoid and may let their dog loose on you etc.
MAKE FRIENDS
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I am not an expert at this but, if you have the right personality, this is the best method to find housing and much more. I heard of this done successfully on a regular basis - but you've got to have the right disposition.
CONTACT YOUR ILK
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Get in touch with members of your out-of-the-mainstream church, gang, sexual minority group, those who passionately share your hobby, or whatever. The greater the deviancy, the more problematic is the relationship with the society as a whole, the more welcomed you'll be. I knew one vegetarian who was swamped with offers of free accommodation. What's more these were mostly from young women. Mind you the guy was full of charm inside and out. Think of what sets you aside from the rest of humanity and contact your yet unknown friends.
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Check out current/recent free accommodation offers |
language skills in exchange for accommodation
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This is a true and tested method of solving your accommodation problem. Post notices on language boards in the Internet. Advertise in newspapers. The notice board in the Library of Foreign literature is an excellent place to contact your potential host.
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The nouveau riche will happily hire any educated speaker of English or other European languages to tutor their children. The procedure is to advertise yourself via language or child care forums, or to contact an employment agency that specializes in domestic help.
Russian sites dedicated to English and other languages:
[coming up]
......
HOSPITALITY / APARTMENT EXCHANGE
Seems to be catching on in Russia. Try these:
- www.globalfreeloaders.com
- www.travelroomers.com
- www.couchsurfing.com/
- www.hospitalityclub.org/
- www.couchsurfing.com
- www.stay4free.com
- www.place2stay.net
- Holi-Swaps Vacation Properties Program
- Trading Homes International - Home exchange across the world - Join our worldwide roster of home exchange members and experience an exciting, inexpensive and fun way to vacation. By exchanging homes for your next vacation, you'll save money, make new friends, and live like a local, not like a tourist! Join the fun!
See also the Budget/Alternative travel section of my Russian travel, work, and living resources
FARM SLAVERY
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During the agricultural season, from May to October, there is an acute shortage of men capable of work in the countryside. Old women (babushkas) form the backbone of village economy. When unable to work they still manage and orchestrate the process by hiring men, often in exchange for food and especially drink, to do manual labour. That's your chance not only to save but to enjoy undiluted reality tourism. I know of one young man who is doing his 3rd year on a small horse farm. Unfortunately, this fellow's sensitive nature keep him from telling his story for the benefit of other bum travellers.
Two Americans, Philip and Tomke, picking up garbage along the Volga near the city of Staritsa, where I keep my "dacha". To read more about my countryside project proceed to www.russian-horse-rides.com or www.staritsa.info
Making walkways from natural flat limestone at my dacha near Staritsa. Four hours of work per day got Rodriguez from Argentina a roof over his head, abundant if simple food, and unlimited access to horses to ride.
TRADE YOUR POSSESSIONS
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Got something of value, easy to transport, yet useless to you? Use it to pay for accommodation. Laptop computers that can support Windows 98 or higher make perfect trade items. At the moment of writing this page I know someone who would be delighted to offer you a room for many days in exchange for one.
TRAIN STATIONS, OVERNIGHT TRAIN TRAVEL, AIRPORTS
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Buy overnight tickets. The fare for an 10-12 hour train ride will typically be $30-40, which is on par with cheap hotel, plus you will be getting somewhere.
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No money even to buy tickets? Then sleep at the train station. Many of them have free "rest areas". Others will offer you a bed for a fraction of what even a cheap hostel would cost.
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A story of sleeping in Moscow' s Sheremetyevo airport: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/moscow.htm. Sheremetyevo has cheap food in the small store on the 1st floor and in the staff cafeteria on the 4th.
Sleeping at airports:
www.sleepinginairports.net[do a review of SVO, Domodedovo]
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Domodedovo has fewer cracks to hide it but there are showers (about $7, very clean and comfortable BUT DRAINAGE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY AND WATER TENDS TO FLOW ALL OVER THE FLOOR - WATCH THAT YOUR POSSESSIONS DON'T GET SOAKED. Lots of people sleeping upstairs, and local security don't seem to mind it like they do at some train station. A further advantage of Domodedovo is several 220 volt electric outlets on the 2nd floor. You can easily get to nearly the center of Moscow from there by cheap train or bus. The cheapest ticket is probably 50 roubles ($1.50). An efficient commercial airport, with no vestiges of the Soviet days such as the staff cafeteria in Sheremetyevo-2. .
SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS
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These are available for Moscow residents who found themselves homeless only. My guess is that they would not turn you away at -30C. I will be checking into what municipal shelter will and will not do for non-residents and especially foreigners. Perhaps someone will look into that, and send me an eyewitness report. A translation of the poster will be nice too.
Any other ideas? Please share. Theorizing on the subject of living without a job, money, home, relations, purpose etc. is especially welcomed.
More offers of free/at cost accommodation in exchange for English to be added soon.
Related pages:
Misery Tourism
Oh no not Russian Brides again!
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Hitchhiking in Russia I nearly always interview hitchhikers I pick and ask them about their experiences. The answer I consistently get from those that travelled that way in other countries is that Russia is by far the most hitch-hiker friendly place on the planet. There are lots of articles on the subject floating around. I may not get around to sifting through tehm. Thus links to good resources appreciated. There is an active hitch-hikers' club, called Volniy Veter ("Free Wind"), with its own site, newspaper, and an extensive network of places where you can stay for free. Get in touch with them. Most Russian hitch-hikers are young educated people so language should not be an issue. [Free Wind] .......
waytorussia.net - some general advice |