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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Mar 2026
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90.9 %
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Description
UPDATE FOR 2026:
Olá! We are Fabio & Maris!
We are a happy, music-loving Brazilian couple living in the beautiful district of Coimbra.
If you read our reviews, you know that our home is filled with laughter, guitar jams, and the smell of Maris’s amazing cooking!
The Project: Renovating with Love
We are currently in an exciting phase of transforming an old house into a beautiful home. We already have professional builders covering the heavy technical work (electricity, plumbing, etc.), but we need energetic, handy volunteers to be part of the team!
We are looking for you if:
💡You have some experience with renovation, DIY, or using tools (you don't need to be a pro, just capable and willing!).
💡You are proactive, enthusiastic, and put "love" into what you do.
💡You want to see a project come to life and say, "I helped build that!"
How it works (The Exchange + Support):
We believe in fairness. Since this project requires real effort and dedication:
💰 We offer the Portuguese Minimum Wage for your help (5.30€ per hour)
🏡 Accommodation is included (private bedroom).
🍲 Meals included (Get ready for delicious, healthy food!).
Life with us:
When the tools are down, we enjoy life! We love sharing stories, playing music. Fabio is a black belt in Karate and plays guitar and saxophone, and exploring the river beaches and castles of Soure and surroundings.
Note: We are laser-focused on the house right now, so we can't offer language exchange at the moment.
But be sure that the cultural exchange will be 100% real, with good conversations and lots of fun.
Ready to get your hands dirty and your heart full?
Send us a message telling us about your DIY/Renovation experience and why you’d like to join our family for a while.
You are welcome as a family member. You'll be eating with us, but you're free to prepare your own food if you wish.
VERY IMPORTANT: It's your responsability to have personal insurance. We don't cover any expenses and we cannot hold you here if you can't help us (for any reason).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
History
Music
Languages
Books
Blogging
Fitness
Beach
Technology
Movies & TV
Events & social
Culture
Self development
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have travelled to 49 countries so far, so we have some experience about travelling to share with you :)
We can speak (Brazilian) Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, and basic/intermediate Italian. Always keen to improve these languages. We would love to pratice more Italian and Japanese.
If you can sing or play a musical instrument, that would be great as Fabio can play the guitar and saxophone and is learning how to play piano. We have two acoustic guitars and a digital piano at home.
Fabio is black belt in Shotokan Karate practicing for over 38 years (and have basic training in Aikido), so he can teach you self-defense techniques. He's also a Master Healer in Usui Reiki and Kundalini Reiki.
Maris is Master Healer in Kundalini Reiki.
We are both NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) Master Practitioners and Trainers. So, we understand about mind, behaviours, beliefs, emotions...). We have done hundreds of personal sessions, coaching one-on-one with many people with different goals. If you like, we can talk about it.
Do you want to find out when people are lying to you? It's so easy... we can teach you.
We've been working with digital marketing for the last 8 years, so we have some experience in everything (website building, e-mail marketing, paid ads (PPC, media buying), Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, SEO, Local SEO, copywriting, blogging.
We don't have kids. We also don't have any pets.Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
»»» HELP «««
Depending 100% on the project phase, but basically you'll help with:
# carrying debris and rest of old constructions away
# cleaning, cleaning and cleaning
# preparing the ground for the professional builders
# using building tools and power tools, like hammer, screwdriver and drilling machines
# sanding and painting walls and doors
# working with wood, like drywall panels and wooden floors.
»»» We'll organise your helping time WITH YOU, 5 days a week with the other 2 days free. «««
Maybe, if the project phase matches, we can organise for you to help 3 or 4 consecutive days, so you can have 4 (or 3) free days in a row.
»»» Total helping time: max 25 hours/week «««
If you prefer to earn extra money, we can adjust your schedule, so you can help more hours (up to 40 hours/week). Of course, paid hours!
In your leisure time you're free to walk around and discover our beautiful region.
»»» IMPORTANT «««
In the beginning of the project you'll stay in our home. As the project advances and we have a new kitchen and a new bathroom built, maybe you'll stay at the house being renovated. If that happens, we'll provide free good internet for you. And sure, you'll have food for you in the house!
»»» IMPORTANT «««
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YOU ARE ALSO INVITED TO COME IF YOU:
💡HAVE an ongoing and lucrative DIGITAL BUSINESS: we also work online and would love to share experiences
💡HAVE knowledge of SEO and Technical SEO
💡SPEAK languages (native or professional level): French, Spanish, Italian, German or Japanese
💡PLAY musical instruments: piano, keyboard, saxophone, vocal » SINGERS WANTED
💡HAVE been trained in Neurolinguistic Programming or other mental training
💡HAVE been trained in any energy healing system
💡HAVE any other interesting skills to teach (soft or hard)
So, if you have any of these skills, you're welcome to apply.
The EASIEST workaway in Europe!
Please refer to my name, FABIO, in the subject line. Otherwise, I know that you haven't read our profile, and we're absolutely not interested in having you with us :)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
German: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Japanese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Always keen to practice the languages described in our profile. It is not our main goal now, as renovations will keep us busy, but still love to exchange languages, even if it will be informal, during luch, dinner or off working hours.
Accommodation
You'll have your own bedroom. We'll share the same bathroom.
You'll have all the food included (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Maris is a great cook but you are allowed to cook by yourself if you like. During weekends, you probably have to cook by yourself. Sometimes we have barbecue together.
We have a very healthy lifestyle, that's why we eat meat everyday.
If you are vegetarian we can't cook especially for you. So, or you will adapt your meal or cook by yourself or maybe it's better not to stay with us, specially if you don't like to see meat in someone else's plate. We cannot host you if you're vegan.
Free good wi-fi is available.
Calm neighborhood. If you only like parties, this is not the best place for you. That being said, we play the guitar and sing frequently. Besides that, Coimbra and Figueira da Foz are not too far, and there are quite a few interesting pubs and bars with live music we like to go during the weekends.
NO smokers, please. NO drugs. If that happens, you'll be leaving the SAME day!
REMINDER (due to last experiences): If you use anything in the house, please clean it and put it back to the original place. And don't leave your personal belongings all over the house ;)
What else ...
From SOURE:
Figueira da Foz: 33 km
Coimbra: 25 km
Aveiro: 85 km
Porto: 140 km
Lisbon Airport: 180 km
Montemor-O-Velho (1000-year old castle, one of the most preserved in Portugal): 15 km
Nazaré (giant waves): 90 km
Fátima (sanctuary): 68 km
Conimbriga (roman ruins): 13 km
Óbidos (medieval walled city): 115 km
Tomar (templar knights): 80 km
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Depending on our work schedule we can spend time driving/sightseeing the region, specially during weekends.
We are very interested in cultural exchange and language practise, so feel free to contact us.
It will be a pleasure to meet and host you!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes, we have good internet conexion.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (16)
Fabio and Maris
transmit dedication and lightness in many ways, also with sweet musical notes and inviting smells and flavors.
I learned about cuisine, music, current life, maintenance works and languages. I also appreciate the… read more
Even though he spent only about ten days here, he left our home as… read more
Her dedication as a volunteer helping me to improve my French and helping my wife with Spanish was inspiring. Her enthusiasm, clarity and dedication was a pleasure to watch and to live with.
As a youthful elder, Joëlle vibrant spirit shines, inspiring us with her passion for living.
Bravo! Muchas… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Fabio and Maris
transmit dedication and lightness in many ways, also with sweet musical notes and inviting smells and flavors.
I learned about cuisine, music, current life, maintenance works and languages. I also appreciate the… read more
Even though he spent only about ten days here, he left our home as… read more
Her dedication as a volunteer helping me to improve my French and helping my wife with Spanish was inspiring. Her enthusiasm, clarity and dedication was a pleasure to watch and to live with.
As a youthful elder, Joëlle vibrant spirit shines, inspiring us with her passion for living.
Bravo! Muchas… read more
I recommend him to your project for sure!
Next time, we’ll speak more italian :)
The memories of the time spent with you, your hospitality and the positive energy you shared during my stay make me smile :)
I hope one day our paths will cross again, all the best to you Fabio and Maris!
This guy is a real asset for everyone who host him. He spend almost 5 months with us and we'll definitely… read more
Estive lá uma mês e esta foi a segunda vez que lá estive.
Obrigado por tudo.
Always keen to help in whatever we needed. He has a huge range of skills, and helped us in many aspects. David was extremely important in the last steps of our home renovation, with excellent and practical ideas.
I hope the best for him… read more
He's a very nice person to deal with, positive, trying all the time to find the best solution.
He's really an asset. I surely recommend him.
I wish him great success!
Easy to communicate with, respectful and kind person. Searching for adventures and deeper connection with himself, he's open to learn and experience life.
I wish Miguel a great journey (outside and inside) with lots of discoveries.
Cheers!
First of all, he's a very kind person, really easy to deal with.
He has different certificates in a wide variety of areas, so you can speak with him about different subjects.
He's a smart guy and his contribuitions to our projects were amazing. He helped us mainly fixing and renovating things in… read more
In our spare time, we had long and amusing conversations about absolutely everything. It was so much fun, and I was able to learn… read more
She's very easy to deal with, kind, cheerful, quiet, and always eager to learn.
She helped us in many tasks related to our house and also she's an excellent therapist (massage and reiki).
We were SO busy we almost decided no to host anyone else during a few months, but we're really happy we hosted her.
So, if… read more
I am so glad I had a chance to share… read more
He has lots of interesting ideas about wellness and we had the opportunity to chat about many subjects.
He helped us mostly in sanding, painting and cleaning. He left the place organised.
Even though we were far too busy, I'm happy we could at least play… read more
The work was all related to their ongoing renovation project and was never too difficult. Maris is a great cook and after work we would have an unreal meal and a glass of wine :)
Was a short but sweet stay in the… read more
It was a pleasure to host you here! Wish you the best.
It was just amazing during these more than 2 months I was with them. From my arrival on 04/12 until my departure on 06/20, we had days that will definitely be marked in my life. This was my first experience using the workaway platform, and my first international experience, and without a doubt it… read more
He has spend 2,5 months with us, helping us in every single aspect, mainly house renovation. Sanding, painting, helping a professional builder in different tasks, and many other small duties.
Daniel is a reliable person, easy to talk, positive, always in a good mood, quiet (some days during… read more
