I think work stays are one of the best, cheapest ways to travel. Here are 7 things to know before you try it.

Work-stay programs can take travelers around the world.Trent Burns for Insider

• I think work stays are one of the best ways to travel because you can stick to a tight budget, meet new people, and do things you've never done before.
• Work stays, also called work exchanges, are when you agree to do labor for a family in exchange for a place to stay and sometimes food.
• In my experience, it's been important to set boundaries, expectations, and parameters with my hosts before starting any kind of work-stay program.
• When I've gotten to know my hosts and embrace hard work, I've been able to enjoy all the benefits of working for accommodation and food.

As my partner and I travel across New Zealand in our camper van, we routinely stop at public libraries, coin-operated showers, and outdoor kitchens to give ourselves short reprieves from van life.

But sometimes we're looking for a longer break.

We have Working Holiday Visas, which give us tax ID numbers so we can work for pay, but it's hard to find jobs when we're only spending a week or two in each location. Thus, work stays— also called work exchanges — have become one of our favorite ways to travel.

Work stays are when you agree to do labor for a farm or an individual family in exchange for a place to stay and sometimes even food, too.

Here are seven things I've found to be helpful when doing a work-stay travel arrangement.