Hostel in San Jose, Costa Rica looking for help

Costa Rica

updated

Favourited 591 times

Host rating
Feedback
43
Last activity
05/03/2021
Nº of Facebook friends
1429
Reply rate
84.4 %
Average reply time:
within 1 day
Host offers payment
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are a small hostel in the Sabana neighborhood of San Jose. We offer a relaxed atmosphere, a bit of tranquility in the busy city. We are convenient to the airport and most major bus terminals, so we have a lot of travelers who use us as a stop-over between destinations around the region.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
It's a great way to interact with people from other countries, all in the same spot. Volunteers will learn a lot about customer service, practice Spanish and learn some basics of hotel management as well.
Help
Most of the time is spent with our clients, checking them in and out, helping them find their way around town, etc. Each shift has some light cleaning duties as well. We ask for a 3 month commitment,
with senior staff available to help with any issues.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
I'm a native English speaker and I studied Linguistics at La Universidad de Costa Rica (en español, por supuesto). I'd be more than happy to share my knowledge with any or all volunteers that come my way :)
Accommodation
We have a staff dorm that you will share with no more than 5 other volunteers. Pancakes, fresh fruit, coffee and tea are provided everyday for breakfast. You will also have access to laundry, internet, hot showers, a full kitchen and fresh produce delivery provided by the hostel.
What else ...
This is the perfect position for someone who enjoys interacting with people from around the globe. Our clientele is mainly travelers, but it includes a variety of expats and locals as well. We are located in a great neighborhood, close to a variety of sodas (cafes), the Sabana Park, museums, and shops. You can easily reach any part of the city by bus, as well as the airport.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have 100 mps connection and several work spaces. Headphones are recommended while working to avoid distractions. The hostel is within walking distance of just about anything you'll need. UberEats is widely used as well.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
25 hours/week- food provided

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Feedback left by and about host (43)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

05/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Maria Belen) for host

It was a really nice experience and i’m glad that i expended a few weeks there. So sorry that i couldn’t stay longer.
Thanks for everything, Mike, and wish you all the best!

(Excellent )

04/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (mirko & Elena ) for host

La nostra esperienza all ostello di Mike è stata più che positiva!!!!!Mike è una persona molto disponibile, gentile, onesta e simpatica. Ci siamo trovati molto bene sia con lui che con gli altri volontari che ci hanno sostenuto i primi giorni di volontariato. All ostello ci siamo sentiti come a casa..abbiamo conosciuto molte persone e anche gli… read more

(Excellent )

29/12/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Sandra)

Sandra is a very kind and responsible person. She acted in a professional manner and was a great addition to our team. We wish she could have stayed longer :)

(Excellent )

04/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (Sandra) for host

I love that place and the people there! I stayed one month and left to see more places in Costa Rica, but I liked it a lot. The work is easy and the hostel is a nice place to stay. I would love to come back. Thank you for the beautiful time:)

(Excellent )

26/09/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Samantha)

Sam and Laura were excellent helpers. They are two very responsible, polite, hard-working people who would be a great addition to any project. Highly recommended :)

(Excellent )

05/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Samantha) for host

Mikito!! My friend, Laura, and I spent a month at the hostel and we had the best time. It wasn’t just the fact that this place is truly laid back but also the people were amazing. The cultural exchange was the best one we had through all of our three months in Costa Rica. You will have times when everyone is drinking and having a good time and… read more

(Excellent )

11/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Jesse) for host

Where do I even start, this place is just beyond amazing! From the moment I flew into San Jose and Mike picked me up at the airport was just an amazing welcome. The entire Relax Team is super laid back and dedicated to providing the best service to our fellow travelers - plus, can't forget those pancakes in the morning!

Just wanted to give a big… read more

(Excellent )

14/04/2019

Left by Workawayer (Margot) for host

I just couldn't leave this hostel without saying how great this experience was!
Really quickly the chilling atmosphere is taking the step over the noisy activity of San Jose.
If you want to travel around the country, this is definitely the best place to go! Mike is super accommodating and the hostel is well situated with the bus stops all… read more

(Excellent )

11/04/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Sara)

Sara is an excellent worker with great attention to detail.

(Excellent )

01/04/2019

Left by Workawayer (Sara) for host

I've been travelling for a few years and I haven't felt this Home in many of them. I think that a few moments after I came in.. gently and warmly greeted by Lisa, followed by Mike... felt like home.. this wave of love and happiness kind of took over me. I spent three months at the hostel... I loved every single moment of it. You all became my… read more

(Excellent )

12/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Lisa) for host

My unexpected home away from home. This place has all the right energy and of course at the end of the day it's about the people you share the space and work with. In my case the people were amazing, the work was very fair and it just made my whole stay in San José special. I recommend this place 100%. Love you Mike, Sara, Edgar, Alvaro, Carmen,… read more

(Excellent )

12/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Lisa)

Lisa is a very dedicated volunteer and always kept up with her duties while tending to guests. She brought very good energy to our house and was always easy to get along with. Highly recommended :)

(Excellent )

12/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Cristina) for host

As I work my last shift (for now) at the Hostel I have a bit of sadness about leaving this place. There is a beautiful sense of family here at the Hostel. Our guests and our staff are happy. It is truly a great place to just “Realx.” Mike is extremely accommodating and understanding. I believe we became instant friends and I have a lot of respect… read more

(Excellent )

29/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Andrés ) for host

I was a volunteer at this fabulous hostal for almost 6 months. Mike is an amazing host and i learned so much about the hospitality business. I worked as a front desk agent and my duties also included assisting the guests and making sure everything at the hostal was clean and tidy. It was a great experience, one of the best ones in my years of… read more

(Excellent )

21/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Laurenz) for host

I had a great time at the hostel, the work is easy and fast learned. I can highly recommend to volunteering there, time pretty much flew by.
Big ups to Mike, he got a cool place there!

(Excellent )

20/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Gianni)

Gianni is a very nice guy and a super hard worker. His wealth of experience and good nature makes him a great volunteer. Also, his input helped us make our volunteer program even better. We wish him well.

(Excellent )

20/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Mariana)

Mary is the BEST!! A very task-oriented, business-savvy and caring person. I wish she could have spent more time with us. Best of luck to her in her future endeavors :)

(Excellent )

05/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Mariana) for host

What to say!!!?
This place is like home! The vibe it's really nice and chill, the location is very good (near the main street where you can find banks, shops, restaurants and all you might need and also very near from a big and amazing market selling fresh fruits and veggies) and Mike is also the best!
Apart from many others things Mike really… read more

(Excellent )

21/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Lucette) for host

¡Que Xopa! :v:
¿Qué e' lo que e'?
To'o Chill?
Estuve casi dos meses en este maravilloso lugar donde conocí personas increíbles, el tiempo se te pasa volando. Y eso que mi idea era menos tiempo.
El trabajo es super fácil y muchas veces es en equipo. So, We are champions! :woman_tipping_hand:

Siempre hay algo por hacer y algo por aprender.
Es… read more

(Excellent )

16/01/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Christa)

Christa is THE BEST!! She is very kind and proactive in her duties. Her knowledge of languages was indispensable during her time with us and we only wish she could have stayed longer. I definitely recommend her to any other host.

(Excellent )

16/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Christa) for host

Ich kann das Hostel als Host weiterempfehlen. Die Arbeit ist einfach und schnell gelernt. Hauptaufgaben sind die Betreuung der Gäste und das Sauber halten des Hostels. Mike, der Hostelbesitzer, ist stets hilfsbereit und beantwortet dir alle Fragen. Ich persönlich habe das selbständige Arbeiten während der Schicht geschätzt. Es gibt ein Plan, was… read more

(Very good )

28/12/2017

Left by Workawayer (Benita) for host

I've had a great time at Mike's hostel. The people are awesome, the hostel has a really good vibe and the work isn't too bad. You only have to do 4 shifts a week, so you have plenty of time to explore Costa Rica. Within only two weeks this place became my second home. I wish I could've stayed longer and I recommend everyone to stay for at least a… read more

(Excellent )

26/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Benita)

Benita is a super responsible person, has a professional attitude, and is very easy to get along with. I recommend for any volunteering position, short or long term :)

(Excellent )

07/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Francesca)

Francesca is a very polite and responsible person. She always acted in a professional manner and was very easy to get along with.

(Excellent )

01/12/2017

Left by Workawayer (Francesca) for host

I really enjoyed working here. Mike, the owner is a really great guy and business owner. He strikes a good balance of knowing when to jump in and help the team and taking an easy going approach. He's also very friendly and courteous to the hostel guests which makes it an all-around good environment. I met a lot of great people - guests, other… read more

(Excellent )

07/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Martina Inés) for host

I worked here for a month last summer, and I absolutely recommend working here.
You can really tell Mike cares about his hostel and the people working and staying there. He is always there to help, very sympathetic and easy-going. Also, the working arrangements are super confortable and convenient.
A true pleasure working there!

(Excellent )

21/07/2017

Left by Workawayer (Linda) for host

Hola! I helped here for around 2 months. It was my first workaway experience and it was great. Mike is a super cool, friendly, hardworking guy. I liked it, to spent time with him and the guests/workawayer in the evening. I'll come again! Miss that time so much.

The work was pretty chilled. The location of the hostel is also perfect. Not to far… read more

(Excellent )

16/06/2017

Left by Workawayer (Agostina) for host

Fue mi primer experiencia en Workaway y me lo he pasado de lujo, han sido dos meses incrreibles!
El hostel esta en una hermosa ubicacion cerca de un parque lindo como es el Sabana y con la predispocision de ayudarte en lo que necesites! El equipo de voluntarios se transforman en amigos y eso es muy lindo si viajas sola.
Te agradezco Mike por la… read more

(Excellent )

19/02/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Kyle)

Kyle is a very responsible, hard-working kind of guy. We wish him lots of luck in his journey through Central America and his mission to become fluent in Spanish. ¡Súper recomendado!

(Excellent )

08/02/2017

Left by Workawayer (Kyle) for host

Working with Mike in the hostel was quite the experience and on top of that the work is "relaxed" just as the business. Outside of the normal cleaning and checking in and out guests; you will have time to read, watch a little television and entertain the guests, if they are not already entertaining you. I stayed for a month and a half the hostel… read more

(Excellent )

11/02/2017

Left by Workawayer (Ali) for host

My first Workaway experience and I'm glad I chose this place. During my stay here I met great people, the vibe of the hostel is great, work was always easy and flexible. Made great friends with guests and other volunteers, plus the conversations were always interesting at the hostel.

Mike, the owner of the hostel, became a close friend of mine,… read more

(Excellent )

14/12/2016

Left by Workawayer (Reece) for host

Very long overdue. Working for mike is easy peazy.. he doesn't ask for anything more than being ready and present for your whole shift, show ownership and authority when your working and mingle with the guests. The crew when I was volunteering was amazing and I'm sure it always is. Mikes an awesome guy and runs an awesome hostel!

(Excellent )

17/08/2016

Left by Workawayer (Liana) for host

Mike is a fun, easy-going, yet responsible boss- and an awesome woodworker to boot. He's also extremely proficient in Spanish and knows a lot about Costa Rica. I never hesitated to come to him with issues or to approach him regarding scheduling. He is very flexible with your shifts and very understanding if something arises. I spent approximately… read more

(Excellent )

25/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Liana)

Liana is very kind and responsible, and definitely took advantage of her time here in Costa Rica. She traveled to many different places in the country, but never failed to work her scheduled shifts at the hostel. She's very dedicated and was a great addition to our team.

(Excellent )

25/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Djordje)

Djordje is one of the hardest working guys I've ever met. He's always looking to work on something and has a patient, professional attitude. We accomplished a lot during his time with us. I know that he will be a positive influence where ever he works in the future.

(Excellent )

25/07/2016

Left by Workawayer (Djordje) for host

Ok...I spend here like 6 months. And i meet a lot of nice ppl. This is my first workaway experiance and i need to say that was very nice.
There is a great atmosphere at the hostel, and its location is in a fun and active part of the city. I spend in this hostel like half year and i really dont know what to say...i hope so that i will back one day… read more

(Excellent )

01/03/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Bradley)

Bradley is a really smart guy and a proactive helper. His upbeat personality and business savvy were a huge help during his time with us. It was nice having him around.

(Excellent )

28/02/2016

Left by Workawayer (Bradley) for host

Volunteering in this hostel was a wonderful experience. The owner is an amazing guy who is always willing to help; he is intelligent, friendly and really laid back. The hostel is in a beautiful neighborhood and in an ideal location to enjoy San Jose. I definitely enjoyed my time here.

(Excellent )

13/08/2015

Left by Workawayer (Henrik) for host

I certainly had a nice time here, and learned a few things. The hostel is in a great location for enjoying San Jose, with the Sabana, a farmers' market, and many buses nearby. The work is relaxed, the people are fun, Mike is great about giving directions and suggestions, and you can definitely fit in some trips around Costa Rica. And if you're… read more

(Excellent )

06/02/2015

Left by Workawayer (Julian) for host

I stayed here for over 2 months, and easily could have stayed longer. There is a great atmosphere at the hostel, and its location is in a fun and active part of the city. The owner is here flexible and just a great guy to work for or with. Volunteering here is an awesome time, I highly recommend it.

(Excellent )

06/01/2015

Left by Workawayer (evander) for host

I want to thank Mike and his staff for making me feel right at home in a country so far away. Mike is the perfect host, knows Coast Rica inside and out, and is bilingual, which is great. He attracts fine people to work in his hostel, and if you are ever to be in San Jose, this is a great place to work or stay.

Highly recommended. Thanks again,… read more

(Excellent )

27/04/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Sam & Allyx)

Sam and Allyx were a pleasure to have around! They are both responsible, friendly, and wonderful to talk to. We had a great time hanging out with them, as did all of our guests. Additionally, since large parts of our shifts are unsupervised, it was good that they were so dependable.

We wish you guys the best of luck with your travels in Asia!!

(Excellent )

09/04/2014

Left by Workawayer (Sam & Allyx) for host

We worked at this hostel for a couple of months and would definitely recommend it! The management and staff are all really friendly and accommodating, and the guests that came through were fun to meet and talk with. The work was mostly dealing with guests, which was fun because we got to meet people from all over the place. The location of the… read more

(Excellent )

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