When choosing the destination for a much-needed getaway, I imagined sun-soaked beaches with crisp golden sand, poolside drinks and plenty of time to top up my tan.

I did not for one second imagine that I would be spending my week with a group of total strangers, in a sports hotel located in the middle of a Polish forest. Instead of a relaxing stay in Puerto de sol, I decided to save a lot of money and embark on a life-changing experience – all within the space of seven days.

I found this Polish program on a site called Workaway. For those of you who have not heard of this site before, Workaway basically enables those travelling to work in exchange for free (yep, that's right – free) accommodation and food for the duration of their stay. The program itself is called 'JustSpeak' and is situated near Poznan, Poland.

It called for native English speakers to share their language with Polish professionals who wish to improve their language skills. The accommodation provided was a single room in a countryside hotel, with all meals included.

I was intrigued, so I booked the flights, packed my bags, and jetted off to this wonderful country.

I arrived in Poland a couple of days before the program, so I had time to scope out the area. I was lucky enough to have picked the charming city of Poznan as my first taste of this huge country. This beautiful city hosts an array of colourful buildings, quaint taverns, and multiple hostels – well within a low budget price range.

I ended up paying €8 a night for a bed in a six-person dorm, €3 for breakfast and, wait for it… €1 for a pint of beer in the local pub.

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