Adventure Stories
Please fill out the basic application form and we'll get you to your destination!
Your First Flight: A Comprehensive Guide for First-Time Travelers
Embracing Mistakes as Powerful Learning Opportunities: Lessons Learned from Seasonal Work in Customer Service
Winter Wonderland Awaits: Must-Try Activities in Aspen, Colorado
Embracing Adventure: Tips for the Solo Traveler
Leveraging Gap Year and Seasonal Work Experience on Your Resume: Showcasing Your Transferable Skills
The Value of a Gap Year
How to Pay For Your Meaningful Travel Experiences
Immerse Yourself in Peruvian Culture with AdventureEXP
Participant Spotlight: Kyle Mortimer – Aspen, Colorado
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Adventure Application & Placement Profile
Please fill out these basic application forms and we'll get you to your destination!
Step out of your comfort zone
Traveling and working takes courage. Take the leap of faith to discover yourself and the world around you. we're here to guide you.
We'll Be There Every Step Of The Way
We simplify your experience by handling all the logistics of getting you hired, organizing the travel to your destination and securing your housing. Follow our 6 easy steps and you’ll be on your way to traveling, having fun and getting paid.
Spend less time on our application and more time dreaming up your perfect experience – we’re here to help!
Step 1
Start Here - Explore Your Options
We partner with employers across the country to offer you a location and job that match what you are looking for. Since our specific employer needs are always changing, we list sample jobs and current program locations for your exploration.
Complete your application here
We keep it simple – tell us about your background, interests in a destination work experience and specific programs that meet your needs.
Step 2
Onboarding
Now that you have completed your basic application, schedule time with one of our Adventure Guides to talk through all the details of our programs. Once accepted into the program, you will sign our Program Terms & Conditions to officially accept your participation in our program.
Remember there is no cost to participate in our program above the cost of you traveling to your location.
Now you’ll submit the following documents:
- Existing Resume - we can make your first one together if you don't have a resume yet
- Letter of Intent
Your Adventure Guide is here to guide you – ask them all the questions you have!
Not Ready to Apply Yet? Fill Out Our Interest Form
Our team will follow up with you on next steps and help answer all the questions you have as you’re exploring your options.
Step 3
Getting Hired
Now that you’ve been enrolled, we will start sending you positions that match your profile. You tell us which ones you want to pursue!
In the meantime, your Adventure Guide will prepare you for your interview(s) and update your resume in our proven-template.
Your Adventure Guide is your personal contact with AdventureEXP – don’t hesitate to reach out for anything and everything!
Important Information on this Step
This step takes the longest because we’re finding you the right placement for your experience and that takes time! Because our partner employers have seasonal needs, depending on the time you submit your application will affect how quickly you move through this step.
Expect to have multiple interviews.
You will have a secured placement at least 4 weeks before your departure.
We will stay in touch with you weekly with new positions and all of our travel resources.
Step 4
Departure
It’s happening! All your hard work is paying off!
- Your Adventure Guide will coordinate your travel itinerary with you – driving or flying – we’ve got you covered!
- You will meet your Career Coach who will be supporting you during and after your experience
- We will plan your onboarding with your new employer and communicate all position-specific information to you
Awesome Resources
Check out our Travel Tips and Pre-Departure Resources here.
Your housing will be secured and you’ll meet the people joining you at your destination work experience.
Our Adventure Guides have all traveled around the US for long-periods and have endless tips & tricks to help you have the best experience!
Step 5
During Your Program
Our philosophy is in simplifying the logistics of realizing your dream to live on your own in a cool place. Then we make it affordable (and a net financial gain) while you’re there with meaningful work. Through AdventureEXP, our support doesn’t stop there!
- Airport pick-up / meet at your destination
- Check-in to housing
- Experience Orientation
- Assistance with onboarding at your new employer
- Optional career coaching and personal finance education while on your program
- Local excursions
- Emergency Support – we’re there when you need us most.
Stay in Touch With Us
Our programs are customizable because we understand that everyone’s situation is different.
Call/Text your Adventure Guide about specific support you need and how AdventureEXP can help you pursue this destination work experience.
Our Core Values
Courage | Social Equity |Fun | Impact | Freedom
Step 6
After Your Program
You did it! You moved out on your own and gained life experience!
It's important to remember that coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
What’s next:
- Work with your AdventureEXP Career Coach to use your experience as a tool for future success in your career (it’s included in your program fee)
- Interested in another destination work experience? Apply to be an On-Site Program Coordinator and work for AdventureEXP part-time supporting other Adventurers while having another experience of your own
- Share your story with us – we need your feedback to make our future experiences even better
What is an On-Site Program Coordinator
For those Adventurers that want to have another destination work experience, apply to be an On-Site Program Coordinator and you will work part-time for AdventureEXP while working full-time for another employer in your desired location. You will support the other Adventurers in that location during your experience and represent AdventureEXP
- Work on the front lines of helping young people travel and have meaningful experiences!
- Paid weekly work from AdventureEXP
- Host excursions of your choice for your cohort of Adventurers
- Take a leadership role in a travel and customer service centered role
Our Story, Mission & Team
We are Travel Lovers and Matchmaking Experts
A destination work experience is for the bold adventure seekers chasing new experiences in a structured and supported way.
It’s a choice to live intentionally, step out of your comfort zone, travel, have fun, try new things – gain life experience. All while earning money to cover the cost of your adventure.
Our Mission
At AdventureEXP, we believe in the power of meaningful travel. We believe in individual potential and how it is empowered when you take that leap of faith and choose to take charge in your own life.
All our programs have four basic cornerstornes
1. They are tangible – we make the connection to employers in destinations throughout the US, get you hired and then faciliate all the logistics of travel and housing.
2. They are affordable – all of our programs are paid opportunities that enable you to actually earn money on your experience.
3. They are supported – we are there when you need us most – coordinate your arrival, onboarding to your new employer and hosting regular excursions.
4. They are credible – you gain interpersonal skills from the overall experience, professional skills from joining a company and technical skills from your job – these are all building blocks for your future.
Our mission is to guide you on an adventure of transformative change. Choosing a destination work experience is a choice to be independent, to be courageous and to discover your passion. The destination is important to help you decide where you want to go but the real learning comes in the journey and the skills you gain along the way.
Our Leaders
Adventure Matchmaker
Adam works directly with our partner employers and Adventure Seekers as our Lead Matchmaker. His mission is to help people be the best version of themselves and that traveling helps you achieve this. He has traveled to 20+ countries, has lived in 3 states and traveled/worked in China for almost a year.
Adam’s Life Philosophy:
1. Do honest, ethical, quality work
2. Be here because you want to be
3. And have fun
Director of Enrollment
As an avid traveler herself, Anna has travelled to over 55 countries and visited more than 35 states in the USA. She finds exploring different cultures, creating new experiences, and meeting new people to be invigorating. Anna has studied abroad twice, in France and Latvia. In addition, she took a gap year in 2019 that allowed her to grow personally. Professionally, she has worked with students in higher education through admissions, student advising, and student coaching. Impacting students' lives meaningfully and purposefully is what Anna's passionate about. When she is not traveling, she enjoys being outside, trying new restaurants, and painting.
Program Coordinator
Maria has lived in 4 different countries and has visited more than 10. She truly believes that traveling can change the world. Her professional life has always been centered on inspiring and helping adventurers to go on life-changing experiences. From college students to retired explorers Maria always finds a way to make a journey unique and authentic. She is also a Yoga Teacher. When she is not on the computer or the mat she enjoys hiking, biking, and reading about the mind and magic realism as she believes that there’s nothing more magical than real life.
Content Creator
Justin is the Content Creator for AdventureEXP. His mission is to share his passion for travel and inspire others to take journeys of their own so they can widen their perspective on the world – in his opinion, that’s what matters most. He has traveled to over 30 countries while teaching ESL, volunteering, and learning about new cultures along the way. When he’s not writing or traveling, he enjoys hiking, trail running, snowboarding, yoga, and studying languages.
Story Teller
A digital marketer by trade and avid outdoorsman at heart, Andy leverages his skill-set and passion to tell unique brand stories. His holistic approach includes developing a data-driven strategy, creating targeted content, and fully optimizing the website experience to evoke emotion and drive conversions. Growing up in Hawai’i, Andy studied abroad in Costa Rica and Spain, and has lived in Aspen for almost a decade – all of which have taught him valuable life lessons. Andy believes that new experiences cause change, transformation, and growth, and he enjoys creating that opportunity for others. Fueled by the will to travel and the ability to effectively create content while there, he seeks to tell the untold stories.
Our Core Values
Social Equity
An active commitment to fairness, justice and equality in our programs and resources. We design our programs with minimal barriers to entry so all people have the opportunity to travel and grow
Courage
The unique ability to persevere in the face of overwhelming adversity. Traveling, living on your own and working in a destination takes courage.
Fun
This to us answers the question “why are we here”. At the end of the day we value fun and the potential fun has to pave way for future excellence
Impact
Through intentional travel you impact your own life and the lives of those around you. This is power that we treasure and work everyday to cultivate
Freedom
This is what we are chasing – whether it be financial freedom, emotional freedom or time freedom. We believe this is where we find our joy.
What We Do
Connect People With the Right Jobs For Them
Get Your Job Postings & Company Info Out to the World
Career Advice & Travel Resources
Free Resume Feedback & Connect with Employers
What Are Destination Work Programs?
Immersive experiences where participants live and work in resort locations across the country and abroad. We help young people secure internships and seasonal jobs which provide legitimate career pathways and unparalleled real-life experiences that result in enormous personal and professional growth.
We find you a role at a company during their busiest season.
You earn money and work experience while traveling.
They provide accommodation and hands-on job training.
You don't pay us a dime for our matchmaking services.
What Makes AdventureEXP Different
Program Preparation
Work with your personal Adventure Guide to:
- Build your resume
- Choose the right program
- Prep for your interview
- Plan your door-to-door travel logistics
- Access all of our travel & work resources
Access to Top Employers
Once you complete our simple application and confirm your participation in our program, you get access to our network of top-tier employers that are hiring throughout the US and abroad. We present you with Offer Packages that match your interests, location, timeline and goals to then set up an interview between you and the employer.
Accommodation
Living in some of the coolest places typically means accommodation is difficult to find. We subsidize housing to make living costs more affordable.
Housing varies based on location but is typically shared housing in dormitories, hotel rooms, apartments and on-site housing. All housing comes with basic furnishings.
Coaching
AdventureEXP offers coaching and mentorship support during your program placement to optimize your experience.
Included in your program, an AdventureEXP Career Coach will help you grow your professional network as well as provide real-time support as you adjust to your new environment.
Guaranteed Work
In order for you to get the experience you deserve and to ensure you can afford your destination work program life, we require our employers to provide you with a minimum of 35 scheduled work hours for every week.
You may also be eligible for overtime, depending on the job you select.
Future Participation
We are only as successful as our Adventurers. We help you build your resume for this year and the next. Past participants qualify for paid leadership opportunities on future programs through AdventureEXP.
What's Included In Your Destination Work Program?
All travel jobs are paid. We consider all locations and placements on your potential to complete the program with a net financial gain. Check out our Budgeting Calculator to see what we mean!
AdventureEXP will connect you to our network of employers in great locations, secure your housing and help you plan your travel from your home to exciting new work destination. If you want to participate for multiple seasons, we will work with you during your rotation to set you up with your next opportunity somewhere else across the country.
Eligibility
Candidate Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Legally able to work in the US
- SUBMIT AN APPLICATION including your Letter of Intent and two Personal References
- Completed high-school or high-school equivalent
Location
Depending on the time of year you decide to participate, some locations around the US may be hiring more Adventurers.
No one place is better than any other, it depends on you and what experience you want.
Position
Your work-life experience will be a big piece of your overall program lifestyle. Think about your current skill set and what skills you are hoping to gain during your adventure. All positions are guaranteed a minimum of 35 hours per week to ensure you get experience and can cover the cost of living during your adventure through AdventureEXP.
Program Dates
How long are you comfortable being away from home? Pick the length of program that fits into your school schedule and other goals:
- Typical program lengths are 2-12 months with 3.5 months being the most common length
Work Environment
Think about your Adventure location and what amenities you want to have nearby. We work with employers all across the US, including Urban, Remote, Suburban, and Rural.
Food and Accommodation
Being comfortable in your housing is an important piece in your overall success. We have four housing options to choose from: dormitory, hotel, apartment and homestay.
Destination Work Programs
Seasonal & Gap Year Experiences
Why Choose Us?
We offer destination work experiences which are customized to your life and career goals with no cost to you to participate. We help young people secure internships and seasonal jobs which provide legitimate career pathways and unparalleled real-life experiences.
Live in the coolest spots | Get paid | Gain experience | Learn professional skills | Step out of your comfort zone | Travel with purpose
Ready for your adventure?
We call our jobseekers ‘Adventurers’ because of the courage, responsibility and commitment it takes to participate in a destination work experience. It’s a unique chance for you to explore a new place, gain work experience and have fun in a structured & guided program where you can earn money to help offset the cost of your travel. We see our programs as experiential learning to help you in your future life. Our programs range from 2-12 months. We have the perfect connections for your experience.
Talent Searching?
We work with employers across industries to help them find the right people for the job.
Our unique recruitment strategies allow us to effectively support you in hiring seasonal positions and interns. We market your positions to our qualified candidates and use our winning formula to match you with candidates that have been looking for jobs like yours. We make your life easier by simplifying recruitment.
Our Story
We believe there are many different paths to be successful and that success walks hand-in-hand with happiness. We host meaningful experiences so you can get out into the world, have fun and grow in a safe space. Our programs are about traveling the US and working to help offset the cost of that travel.
Check Out Our Adventure Portal
We know you’re awesome, motivated and inspired. It’s our mission to provide you with the tools you need to be the best version of yourself. Our Adventure Portal is your One-Stop-Shop for planning your experience and getting the help you need.
Build your budget. Understand your taxes. Connect with our Career Coach. And So Much More!
How long is the experience?
Whether you are looking to travel to one location for a season or see multiple locations throughout a year, we have the right experience for you. We partner with employers all throughout the US to place Adventurers like you on either a One Season Placement or our Two Season Rotation. We set you up with a job so you can work to help offset the cost of your travel. Check out our programs here to see your options. Choose your adventure!
How old do I have to be to participate through AdventureEXP?
While our diverse program types cater to people in all stages of life, the minimum age requirement is 18 years old.
I'm interested in a job. How does the process work?
AdventureEXP makes Destination Work Experience in the US attainable by simplifying the process and supporting you through every step of the way.
1. Explore your options and submit an application – easiest 5 minutes of your day!
2. Pay your deposit and get enrolled in our Hiring Portal
3. Meet with employers – interview and find the right experience for you
4. Once you’re hired we handle all of your experience logistics – book your travel, secure your housing and plan your onboarding with your employer
5. We’re available during your experience – stay in touch with your personal Adventure Guide for anything and everything you need
6. Join our alumni network and apply to be an On-Site Coordinator for future experiences – you’ll work part-time for AdventureEXP while working for another employer. Sounds cool, right?
What types of jobs will I be offered?
We primarily work with employers in seasonal areas of the country so the available jobs do depend on the time of year you are traveling. A few of our most popular positions are:
- Hotel/Resort Worker
- Food and Beverage – Barista, Bartender, Server
- Grocery Store worker
- Retail/Apparel Associate
- Kitchen – Chef/Prep
Review Our Programs and Apply Today to speak with your personal Adventure Guide and review available positions.
I am interested in a program. How do I pick the right one for me?
It is important to start with what is most important to you. Are you traveling with a group of friends? Interested in a specific destination? How long do you want to have on your Destination Work Experience? Submit your Application then participate in a 1:1 advising session to explore your options
I'm an employer. How can I find the right candidates for my open positions?
AdventureEXP partners with universities, professional societies, community centers and much much more to find the best & brightest for your hiring needs. Submit your interest to showcase the positions you need help hiring and we’ll offer your positions to our ever-growing candidate pool. Once we learn your business and understand your needs, we facilitate the hiring and on-boarding process for all Adventurers to join your organization for their Destination Work Program through AdventureEXP.
I have completed my program. What do I do now?
AdventureEXP is here to help you along your career path. Whether you need help deciding your next steps, putting your experience on your resume or just want to share your experience – we are here to help! We help people be the best version of themselves through life experiences, empowerment and support.
1. Sign up for your 1:1 Career Coaching session to update your professional portfolio (resume, LinkedIn, etc.)
2. Apply to be an On-Site coordinator for a future AdventureEXP placement
3. Join our network of Adventure Alumni
4. Share your experience on social media and tag us @aexp_travel