Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 2

I stayed with David and the burgeoning community for about 1 month Dec- Jan during the winter time! I had a wonderful and intimate experience ranging from the winter solstice ecstatic dance gathering, to Christmas festivities with David’s family, and a New Year’s Eve intentional celebration with David , his partner Clarity, and another Workawayer! The land is well-balanced between wild and civilized including forest, pasture fields, and a beautiful little creek running through. There are an assortment of canvas tents, various tiny home like structures, lovely outdoor kitchen and composting toilets, bonfire, big veggie gardens, wood fired sauna and hot tub, sweat lodge, and more! The eating situation is sufficiently stocked with nourishing, natural foods; we usually do breakfast on our own and have communal lunches and dinners. I really valued my time here, especially the weekly check in meetings, deeply and intentionally listening and communicating with each other. I liked it so much I will be returning in the spring to share more lovely and constructively challenging moments together!

I stayed one month at Mireya and Gigi's place. I've had a good time there. Concerning the work, everything happens outside in the garden : cleaning paths, removing grown grass, harvesting fruits, digging a canal for the rain water... and a lot more ! I was working in the morning until lunch time, and then I was free to do whatever I wanted. About lunch, Mireya is a really good cook and I ate delicious and varied meals every day. For the dinner, I usually got the leftovers from lunch, or cooked myself something quick (pastas. 🤪) I also took part of daily chores, like cleaning the dishes or my room & bathroom naturaly. Or filling the water barrels for daily use. There's plenty of things to do here in Cochabamba ! Like hiking on the Cristo's hill, offering you a great 360 view on the city, going to restaurants, or trying zumba classes !! You can easily reach the city center thanks to the trufis that pick you up and drop off right in front of the house. The house is super lovely, and there are two rooms and a bathroom for the volunteers, offering you comfort and privacy.

Wir hatten eine wunderschöne Zeit bei Carolyn und sind sehr dankbar für die Erfahrung, die wir bei ihr machen durften. Sie ist eine herzliche, offene und inspirierende Gastgeberin, bei der man sich vom ersten Moment an willkommen fühlt. Carolyn ist außerdem sehr zuverlässig und organisiert - Absprachen haben immer bestens funktioniert, und man konnte sich jederzeit auf sie verlassen. Besonders beeindruckt hat uns ihr Permakultur-Garten, den sie mit viel Wissen, Leidenschaft und Hingabe für den Eigenbedarf bewirtschaftet. Wir konnten viel lernen – nicht nur über nachhaltigen Anbau, sondern auch über einen bewussteren Umgang mit Natur und Ressourcen. Die Aufgaben waren abwechslungsreich und gut zu bewältigen, und Carolyn hat sich immer Zeit genommen, Dinge zu erklären und uns einzubeziehen. Gleichzeitig blieb genug Raum, um die Umgebung zu erkunden und die Zeit zu genießen. Auch der Austausch mit ihr war sehr bereichernd – voller interessanter Gespräche, neuer Perspektiven und inspirierender Ideen. Wir können einen Aufenthalt bei Caroline von Herzen empfehlen und würden jederzeit gerne wiederkommen!

This was our first experience with Workaway, we were hesitant, but happy we jumped in. Normally we wouldn't accept volunteers for shorter periods because we want them to get used to the environment and get to know the place , but Lucas and Servane did all of that in a minute. They came at the time we most needed help and jumped in doing everything asked for and more. It was so lovely having them and we miss them already. Good travels!

I had an amazing experience there! I originally planned to stay for two weeks but ended up staying much longer (6weeks) because I enjoyed it so much. Mauricio and Jenny are incredibly friendly and kind, and they made me feel welcome from the very beginning. The work is easy and fair, and the place itself is absolutely beautiful. I’m really grateful for this experience!

I spend one and a half week with Kathie and Isa and am really grateful for my time with them in Urubamba. They welcomed me so kind and are a lovely family I am happy to met. Moreover, we had some unforgettable day trips to beautiful places here in the area, where we mostly created content for social media. I had a lot of fun taking pictures and videos, exploring the incredible landscapes and warm culture. But surely to spend time with these amazing girls was the best part, I could draw together with Isa and spend time with her in between editing the content, we had a lot of wonderful Picknicks together and a lot of fun singing together in the car.

Luna stayed with us last summer. It was a very good experience! We had a lot of workawayers at that moment. She came with a good energy and helped us a lot at home, cooking, cleaning... Coming from a big family, she is very mature and proactive. She is responsable and reliable. That is an important quality. Luna understands quickly the chores and what a community needs 😉. I recommand Luna without hesitation!! 👍

Felicie stayed with us for three weeks and was an excellent addition to our team. She integrated quickly and naturally, contributing to a very positive group atmosphere throughout her stay. She is an exceptionally friendly and warm person, always smiling and willing to help wherever needed. Felici approached every task with enthusiasm and care, completing all assignments to a very high standard. Her work ranged from helping create a path to our river, to landscaping and painting, and she handled each responsibility with dedication and reliability. During her time with us, we had a fantastic group dynamic, and Felicie played an important role in maintaining that positive environment. It was truly a pleasure to host her. We were very satisfied with her contribution and would gladly recommend Felicie to any future host.

My stay with Xavier in Biot was truly one of the best experiences I’ve had, not just on Workaway but in general. This experience honestly raised the bar very high for any future hosts I will stay with. Xavier is an incredibly generous, kind, and welcoming person. From the moment I arrived, he made me feel at home. He cooked three meals for me every single day, and not just simple meals, but rather real, good food, shared together, which made the experience feel more like living with a friend than volunteering somewhere. He also introduced me to his friends and many locals in the village, and I quickly realized that Xavier is basically the guy in the village... he knows everyone, and everyone knows and likes him. Thanks to him, I didn’t feel like a tourist at all, I felt like I was actually part of the community and local life, which is something very special when you travel. Many times, if I was out and he had the chance, he would pick me up from the train station so I wouldn’t have to walk or wait... small things like this show how much he cares about the people he hosts. He also took time to teach me new things, show me how to do different kinds of work, and I improved my French a lot just by talking with him every day about french expressions and slangs. The work was fair, the environment was relaxed, and the whole experience was based on trust, respect, and good energy. But what really makes this place special is Xavier himself and the atmosphere he creates around him... friendly, open, social, and welcoming. I can honestly say this was a 10/10 experience, and I would recommend Xavier to any Workawayer who wants a real cultural exchange, to meet locals, improve their French, eat well, learn new things, and have a genuinely great human experience, not just a place to work and sleep. Thank you again Xavier for everything.

We had a lovely 5 days with Bernado. He is a very talented artist, and we loved learning about Mexico. He worked diligently and left us with a lovely mulched vege garden! We recommend Bernado as a terrific workawayer!

I had a really great experience staying with Shiva Sir and his family for 20 days, I felt like part of the family rather than a guest. Shiva Sir is very kind, hospitable, and knowledgeable. Sharmila is a cheerful and caring person, and her food is really delicious.Siddhartha is an energetic kid who brings a lot of joy to the home, and Sabinaya is a very intellectual and thoughtful person.The whole family is very welcoming and positive. The work was simple and manageable, and everything was well organized. I also appreciated having a spacious private room and tasty meals. I’m very grateful for the cultural and language exchange experience. Thank you, Shiva Sir, for the opportunity!

We will thank Elea for a wonderful stay with hardworking attityde and a positive approch towards the dogs as well as all humans. Hope we will see you again! Allways welcome back🥰

Juri stayed withy us for a week & she fitted in our daily activities very smoothly. we had good conversation & cultural exchange, loved the food she cooked & everything she did was so helpfull.. take care & njoy your further travels..we re all guests on that planet..warmly, lars, maria & pema-lou

I stayed 12 days in beautiful, quiet Paseka, filling in a last-minute gap to become part of this beautiful family. Libor and Anna are very passionate about what they do. They have a good sense of humour and we had interesting conversations around the table. I had the opportunity to try their delicious homemade food, savoury as well as sweet, (and often typical) even their homemade ginger beer! The tasks consisted of feeding the (very cute!) goats and chickens, some construction woodwork, organising firewood and cleaning. I also became the "home baker" after Libor initiated me in the art of Czech sourdough bread. I had hoped to help a bit more in the farm and garden, but I arrived just before the right season. Though Anna made sure I could try my hands on milking the goats :) Work was not a fixed schedule, but rather helping when needed and according to the families schedule. There was always enough free time to go exploring and anyway you'll never be bored with Ferdi and Hugo asking for playtime, or the cats ;)

La experiencia que he vivido fue excelente. He pasado aquí una semana, el lugar te encanta y la compañía también! He trabajado en la huerta y he cuidado los animales, la vida en el aire libre nunca falta. He reconectado con mi misma, y gracias a la ayuda de Matteo y su familia he reflexionado mucho sobre el tema de una vida más sostenible. Gracias por todo los aprendizajes y por haberme hecho sentir como en casa, fue un placer que voy a llevar en mi corazón!🌿

Thank you so much for your feedback and for your kind words about the studio, we’re really glad you felt inspired by the space. We’d like to share a bit more context for future Workawayers. This stay was very brief, lasting less than one day, and ended before there was any meaningful chance to settle in, share daily life, or experience the rhythm of the studio and environment. Because of this, we feel the review reflects a misunderstanding rather than a full experience of what we offer here. We always try our best to create a warm, open, and respectful atmosphere where people can feel both supported and independent. As we are in a rural mountain setting, we have a few simple safety suggestions, especially at the beginning of a stay, which we make sure to share both over communication before arrival as well as in person to help ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe. You are welcome to explore the village and beautiful paths surrounding us both alone and in groups, but in regards to complex mountainous trails due to the remote nature we feel a responsibility to share some safety suggestions, for example such as hiking in groups or communicating with us on plans so we can potentially reach if needed. We believe these are important safety suggestions especially as we are local to this environment, but in this case, it seems they were understood differently. Of course, we completely respect the decision to leave early if something doesn’t feel like a good fit. At the same time, we did feel it was unfair for such a short experience to result in a negative review, which is also why we have chosen not to respond in kind with negative feedback. Over time, we’ve been lucky to host many wonderful Workawayers who have fully taken part in the studio, daily life, and surrounding nature, with a beautiful balance of creativity, independence, and shared experiences here. We remain committed to offering this kind of environment and always aim to facilitate open conversations to make sure it’s the right match for everyone. We wish you all the best moving forward.

Chaya and Jack stayed with us for about two months. During this time, they supported the teachers at Villa Soleada Bilingual School by giving tutorials and assisting with classroom activities. Additionally, they were happy to help out wherever they could. Mr. Jack primary responsibility was assisting applying speaking assessments for middle and high school students. These sessions helped students build confidence, improve fluency, and identify areas that need further development within the English program. In addition, Mr. Jack served as an assistant in 9th and 11th grade Arts classes. He performed exceptionally well in this role, demonstrating creativity and initiative. He collaborated effectively with the classroom teacher and introduced engaging and dynamic ideas, such as short film projects. These activities encouraged students to express themselves, improve their spoken English, and become more comfortable in front of the camera. His contributions significantly enriched the learning experience in these classes. Ms. Chaya supported the school by applying diagnostic assessments for K4 and K5 students. These evaluations were essential in measuring student progress over the first two academic terms and provided valuable data to guide instructional planning. She also temporarily covered Math and Science classes for 5th and 6th grades. During this time, Ms. Chaya demonstrated strong preparation and commitment. She consistently planned her lessons in advance and incorporated engaging, interactive activities that helped capture students’ attention and interest in the subject matter. At times, she experienced difficulty maintaining discipline and establishing authority in the classroom. However, despite this challenge, her lesson delivery remained clear and effective, and students were able to understand the content presented. Together, Mr. Jack and Ms. Chaya collaborated on creative projects within the school, including the design of a mural representing the institution’s logo and decorations for the Math Fair. Their artistic abilities stood out as one of their strongest qualities, and their work added significant value to the school environment. In addition, they spent several afternoons at the Children’s Home, helping the children with their homework and reinforcing their English skills. They were highly motivated and built a great connection with the students. They stayed in our shared apartment and were always respectful and easygoing. Even though they stayed only a short time, they adapted quickly to the local way of life :)

Working with Francesco and Sara has been an incredibly heartwarming and precious experience for me. They are both exceptionally kind-hearted, generous, and always radiate such positive energy to everyone around them. As volunteers, they didn’t just come to help with the work; they truly became a part of our family. I feel so lucky to have had them both assisting with our students and preparing our classes with such dedication. Their class preparation was filled with thoughtfulness, creativity, and a high level of professionalism. All the children were so happy to learn and participate in activities with such lovely and kind teachers. Beyond their teaching skills, Francesco and Sara’s cooking is absolutely world-class and delicious. Every meal they prepared was flavorful and made with so much care and attention in every step. Their generosity and willingness to share made our working atmosphere full of smiles and joy. They are highly responsible and always stepped in to help with everything without even being asked. Their friendly and charming personalities made communication and living together completely seamless. I am deeply grateful that they chose to share their valuable time and experiences here with us. The memories we created together, both in the classroom and at the dinner table, will stay with me forever. I highly recommend this couple to any host looking for volunteers who work with both skill and heart. Thank you, Francesco and Sara, for everything, and I truly hope our paths cross again in the future.

Everything perfect

We had a wonderful time staying with Jackie. For our first experience, we stayed in a small detached cottage in the garden. Jackie is so warm-hearted and goes out of her way to make sure we feel at home. It was a truly enriching experience; the setting was beautiful and there was plenty of variety in our daily routine. The cats are adorable, we loved living alongside them. Thank you again for all those lovely moments!