Help out in our hostel in Golden, BC, a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, Canada

Canada

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Host rating
Feedback
10
Last activity
03/03/2021
Host offers payment
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Description
Greetings from our Hostel! We are an owner-operated hostel in Golden, British Columbia; a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. We cater mainly to active and outdoorsy people, and not to the party crowd. Our common area is closed after 11pm and we have a quiet time 11.30-7 in order to ensure all our guests can enjoy a good sleep and be well rested for the adventures to come. We have two friendly dogs, a little toddler and we enjoy hosting travelers from all over the world.
Types of help and learning opportunities
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
It's a hostel! What better way to meet and work with people from all corners of the world! Plus we have a car that you may use to go and explore the six national parks that are within day-trip distance. And have we told you about the canoe, the SUP, the bikes and other toys that we have at the hostel and that are yours to play with? On top we can get you deals to go for a thrilling rafting trip, or ride a Gondi to the highest restaurant in Canada (don't forget to visit Boo the Grizzly on the way!)
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.
Help
The work at the hostel involves various cleaning duties, bed making, front-desk, check- ins, building maintenance and assisting guests with activity planning. As there is much to do and learn at the hostel, we usually require a minimum commitment of one month, preferably six weeks.
FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER SEASON WE ARE PREFERABLY LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN ARE INTERESTED IN STAYING THE ENTIRE SEASON (Beginning of December until mid/end April)
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Separate staff rooms, either alone or sharing with maximum one other.
What else ...
Golden is within a 1 hour drive of 6 national parks so there is endless hiking to enjoy. Kicking Horse ski hill is a 15 minute drive away and this is the number 1 winter activity. There are two rivers running through Golden, one used for whitewater rafting and the other is great for canoeing and wetland sight seeing. There are numerous cross country mountain bike trails a mere 10 minute ride from our front door, and the list goes on. We love leading an active life and we strongly encourage our staff to do so also.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Average 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (10)

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)

06/12/2020

Left by Workawayer (Jeremy) for host

Simon and Carolin are super nice and very helpful!! I unfortunately didnt get the chance to work here as planed this winter but do feel like its an experience i am missing out on as i love living and metting new people at hostels. I did have to cancel my winter here with them, but they completely understood and was willing to help me out when… read more

(Excellent )

29/10/2020

Left by Workawayer (Diana & Pia) for host

This was a great experience! We absolutely recommend this workaway, the exchange is more than fair. We were trained and always given clear instructions; the job was easy to be done and the system was very organized. Even in Covid times, things were run smoothly. Simon gave us our schedule in advance, which allowed us to do our planning for little… read more

(Excellent )

15/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host

My first workaway was a great experience! Golden is such a good place to explore from and having use of the (manual) car was super convenient!
The hostel has a cosy ski chalet kind of vibe which is welcoming to a wide range of guests including families and older couples/singles.
Simon and Carolin are a lovely couple and they run the hostel… read more

(Excellent )

28/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Giulia) for host

Super beautiful place, owned and run by super kind people! I enjoyed my time in Golden a lot. The work is not hard and very well organized. Dinner is always a big family style dinner. The cooking rotates and who ever cooked doesn't have to do the dishes :) You get to use a car (you just pay the petrol) & there are soooooo many amazing places to… read more

(Excellent )

24/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Claire) for host

I spent just over six weeks with Simon and Carolyn out at Golden, and it was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Golden is such a beautiful spot, surrounded by mountains every side. The volunteer work was very easy and straight forward, and we were always given the roster well in advance, with time to take advantage of the local area.… read more

(Excellent )

06/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Michael & Rebecca) for host

Well, what should we start with... There are just so many good things to mention.

Rebecca and I spent almost the whole summer at the Hostel. It was such a great time. We worked 22h max. a week and got accomodation in an extra staff room (which was a bit loud but it was a private area just for us two) and awesome dinner (we took turns to cook… read more once a week each) But the best thing ever was that Simon provided us with his second car, which you definitely need in Canada. He let us go everywhere with that car.

Simon really cares for his Staff. He took us out for Dinner, to the local brewery in town and to some really beautiful spots in the mountains. He let us borrow all his outdoor equipment (and maaaan!! He has a lot of good stuff so take care for it) he has a lot of knowledge about outdoor stuff and is totally willing to help you at anything. The evening we told him that we would like to leave some days earlier to explore Vancouver Island he was not mad or something, he even provided us with a bunch of tips what we could do there.

In case you are german speakers and you are going to Canada for improving your English do not worry if you tell Simon he will always talk English to you and teach you a lot.

Carolin, his partner was also really nice to us. She took us for a trailrun which was probably just a brief walk for her but it was a colorful early autumn run with many nice colors. She and Simon care a lot for their little son Freddy who was not even one year old. They also have a well treated dog called Chapauline which we had pretty much fun with.

Whoever goes to this place can expect a great time in Summer and we guess also in Winter. You will soon call this place "home" and fall in love with the people and the mountains. There is just one thing that needs to be said. Simon and Carolin are giving so much to people and they deserve to have workawayers who appreciate that and give back via working hard and stay to their promise. We had some workawayers pretending to stay for some month but after some weeks they decided to leave earlier without any warning, what makes it hard to replace staff quickly.

We would recommand to stay at least one month because there is so much to see and work becomes nicest as soon you are familiar with it.

Simon, Carolin, Freddy and Chap, thank you for this great time. We will never forget you and we will definitely come back to Golden.

(Excellent )

06/11/2017

Left by Workawayer (Stacie) for host

It has taken me far too long to leave this feedback, but Abi and Gerald are simply the best. This was my first workaway experience and I was incredibly spoiled and lucky to have worked with such wonderful people in a truly beautiful part of Canada. I'm not sure it can be topped. You cannot, without a doubt, find a place more perfectly situated… read more within the Canadian Rockies. Golden is a quaint, walkable, friendly town that happens to be encircled by six national parks (Mt Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, Banff, Jasper and Kootenay). Most of these parks are within an hours drive, so Golden makes the perfect base to explore in all directions. I was able to hike each park during my stay. Gerald very generously allows volunteers to use his spare car, provided it is used respectfully, so there is no shortage of ability to get out and about. What's so great is that Abi and Gerald really WANT you to get out and explore. Upon finishing work each day they were eager to get us out the door and always had tips for things to see and do. During the summer time, there are lots of opportunities for overnight getaways with the other volunteers, and I had took some seriously fabulous camping/backpacking trips. There's really an abundance of incredible hiking.

I initially spent six weeks working at this hostel. Half way through, I was already talking about returning later in the summer, and I ended up coming back for another six weeks! It was heartbreaking to leave the second time around. On my last day, there were talks of me returning, yet again, a couple months later, and that has only changed due to obligations at home. It's truly a special place that will feel like home very quickly. And the other workawayers (usually 5 in total) throughout the summer have become dear friends! They are an enormous part of what made this experience so enjoyable. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other people from around the world, both as fellow volunteers and those staying as guests.

I just can't recommend this place enough. And dinner every night is AMAZING! This was always my favorite time of the day, as we all ate together and just had the best time sitting around the dinner table. I honestly have never laughed so hard and so often. And Boo and Dorski are the best dogs around! As far as visiting during other times of year, I'm not much for winter sports, but if you ski or snowboard, I've heard endlessly that this is the place to be. The ski hill is only a quick jaunt up the road, and it's not your typical ski hill.

Miss you guys, hope to be back soon!

(Excellent )

11/10/2017

Left by Workawayer (Patricia) for host

The Hostel is an amazing place to stay, I had a really good time there.
Abi and Gerald are super nice and open-hearted people, the work is really fair and I just loved the good food we had every day. Golden is a very nice place to explore and there are tons of things to do. The hostel itself is super cozy and it felt like home from the very first… read more

(Excellent )

30/06/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Henri)

Henri came and stayed with us for a month here at the hostel and we were very sad to say goodbye! He has a brilliant work ethic and made a big effort to be part of our team, whether helping out with cooking, taking care of the dogs, helping guests or general maintenance tasks. We enjoyed his fun company, his spirit of adventure and his willingness… read more

(Excellent )

26/06/2015

Left by Workawayer (Henri) for host

Go to this place!!! They have a fully insured car for you, you only have to pay for the gas. Furthermore you can do activities like Rafting for free, since they want you to tell the guests about them. Most importantly however, Abi and Gerold are amazing people and I had a lot of fun with them and enjoyed every second in this beautiful place! Thank… read more

(Excellent )

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