Is Volunteer Travel Better if its Structured or Unstructured?
The amount of structure of volunteer travel opportunities varies wildly. If you’re looking for reprieve from that micromanaging blowhard of a boss, you’ll probably be happier with a less structured or “do-it-yourself” program. These allow you to choose your own hours and shape your own experiences, instead of governing your every waking hour. The upside of a relatively unstructured volunteer travel experience is that it allows time for self-discovery. Experiences with tighter structure and more supervision might be better for less experienced travelers (and certainly better for the hand-wringing parents they’ll leave at home). Be sure when looking for a program that it suits your personal disposition and make sure to ask a whole lot of questions before you sign up. • Will you have time to travel independently? • How many hours a day or week is the volunteer work? • Are there planned activities with the other volunteers? • If so, are they optional? Remember, it is your vacation, and get
