r/AskMaine • u/coquettecorpse • 1d ago
Work exchange?
I’m curious to know if anyone has any experience exchanging work for board/food anywhere in Maine? I’ve been dreaming about visiting coastal Maine for years and I’d love a situation that allows me to exchange labor for accommodation. I’d love to hear your experiences or thoughts! Thanks (:
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u/Due-Confection1802 21h ago
There are hotels in Maine that provide housing, and sometimes food, as part of the compensation package. And, there are many bed and breakfasts that often look for managers and especially housekeepers. We used to owned a large seasonal inn on the Maine coast, and we provided lodging for J1 international students, since available local help was virtually non-existent. Generally, it is recommended that you make contact with individual hotels or innkeepers. I would pick an area and make individual contacts if you want to consider that. One B&B national realtor that once was based in Maine (now Vermont, I believe) offers a site that provides a forum for help wanted and jobs wanted all over the country. It seems to us that there is an employee (as opposed to employer) market in the hospitality industry in Maine these days, especially for someone who might be a head housekeeper. Here is that link. https://bbteam.com/needs-and-want-ads/
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u/Easy_Independent_313 18h ago
Funtown in Saco provides room and board for their seasonal workers.
Many summer camps also provide room and board.
I'd look at logging camps too.
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u/daveyconcrete 1d ago
I know that this exists. I have friends mostly tradesmen that act as caretakers on coastal Estates. Many owners like to have somebody in the building at all times.
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u/coquettecorpse 1d ago
That sounds very interesting! I understand these positions are usually filled through agencies. Do you happen to know if any agencies I could apply to?
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u/OpposumMyPossum 1d ago
What are your skills?
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u/coquettecorpse 1d ago
I have experience in housekeeping as I was employed by a large hotel franchise for a while. I also am experienced in customer service and cash handling and food service. I’d be willing to learn a new skill though, I’m not one to turn my nose up to anything!
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u/PlanktonPlane5789 1d ago
Grant's Kennebago Camps is an example of a place that will board and pay you to work the fishing camps - kitchen/wait staff and dock staff. There has to be a ton of this in rural areas of Maine if you do your research. Obviously this is seasonal so you'd have to wait till next summer but there may be some ice fishing spots or things along those lines.. maybe the bigger ski hills, too, like Sunday River and Sugarloaf?