Mardi-Gras on Your Gap Year!

20th of February 2009

Let Hostelbookers guide you through Carnival time this February

It’s February; which means time for a break from work for Mardi-Gras! Right across the world, some of the most beautiful metropolises are transformed into one big party come Carnival time. Whether you’re currently working in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans or Venice themselves or want to make the most of your gap year and head further afield on your travels, here’s how to make the most of the Mardi-Gras celebrations!

Rio de Janeiro Carnival – One of the Best Shows on Earth    

Finding gap work in Brazil is a great way to be in the right place at the right time for the Rio carnival. And if you really want to be a part of the action, you can volunteer to help out at the event itself.

Book yourself into a hostel in the city center (although be warned, beds go very fast!) and get behind the scenes of this frenzy of singing, dancing, parades and streets festivities.

Test your artistic skills with costume and float design and stage building for the iconic Samba School competition and experience the culture of the city and people like never before! Hours are typically flexible from Monday to Friday, leaving plenty of time left over to enjoy this most fantastic of parties.

New Orleans – The Big Easy meets Fat Tuesday!

Over in the USA, arguably the most famous Mardi-Gras carnival is held in New Orleans. Now recovering from the devastating hurricane, the city is more than just the stage for amazing Mardi-Gras celebrations, though, and makes a great gap work destination for part or all of your gap year.

Immerse yourself in the city’s unique mix of Southern and European cultures all year round, and then take a few weeks off to experience the carnival in all its glory.  Travelers working elsewhere in America can also enjoy the famous celebrations – simply head down to the city and find a cheap bed in one of the many New Orleans hostels for non-stop partying over the Mardi-Gras holidays!

Venice - The Ultimate Masquerade

Famed for its haunting masques and costumes, the Venice Carnival offers a unique experience for any gap year traveller. And one of the easiest ways to take in the carnival at its height is to get a job in Venice; with the tourist trade at its height, casual work in bars, restaurants and hostels should be easy enough to find!

This beautiful city is a popular haunt of students and backpackers and, even if the glamorous balls prove beyond your financial means, few things can beat the atmosphere that pervades the city during February.

Thanks to our friends at Hostelbookers for this review, check their site out for guaranteed low cost hostels with no booking fees!

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