Barter Week: how to sleep for free in B&Bs around the world

It's getting easier than ever to travel for free – and it's not all about hitchhiking and camping. Once a year you have the chance to stay for free at B&Bs all over the world. Here's how you can do it.

Money isn't the only means of receiving services. Indeed, more and more hoteliers and landlords are prepared to offer you a night at their guesthouse in exchange for a small repair, a set of shiny new photos of their property, a new painting, or even some books... The list of all the things you can offer to receive a free night is long. Equally long is the list of B&Bs, hostels and guesthouses taking part in the annual Barter Week.

Inspired by the original concept of Settimana del Barrato – which has taken place in Italy every year for the past nine years – this week-long event now spans far beyond the Boot, from Burkina Faso to Cape Verde and Canada.