Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 5

I stayed with Massimo for two weeks in October. This was my first WorkAway and I had a great time. I felt very welcomed and the farm is beautiful - there are olive and fig trees everywhere, a river running through the property with a waterfall and a viewing platform to watch the sunset over the hill. Accommodation is lovely as you get your own room. Massimo is an amazing host. He is interesting, friendly and open-minded. He tired to teach me a bit of Italian... I had uova a colazione everyday! Thanks to Massimo I also got to see a lot of places nearby - he took us to see where two rivers meet, to the Chestnut Festival in a local village, to a conference on Tibetan translation, and to the ruins are a former commune. There was a lovely little community of volunteers that made the stay even better. When I arrived there were 6 of us, all from different places (France, Ukraine , England, New Zealand). It was so nice to have shared delicious lunches with everyone (and the cat) in the sun. A hidden paradise. Grazie mille, Massimo.

During the three weeks this volunteer stayed with our family, the experience was unfortunately very negative. From the beginning, the house rules, daily routines, and childcare responsibilities were clearly explained. Despite this, she showed no initiative and had to be reminded every single day of even basic tasks. While she was present with the children, she did not properly care for them: she did not change the youngest child’s diaper, did not make sure the children ate, and did not pay attention when they were doing things they should not be doing. Her help around the house was minimal. She helped with cleaning only once, and avoided it whenever possible. Most of her time was limited to folding dry laundry (when I had already washed it) and washing dishes only when there were very few. She did not clean her room at all, not even on the day she left, and I had to clean her trash myself. She stated that she understood Spanish and English, which was not true. Communication was extremely difficult, as everything had to be translated into her language using a phone, and even then she often did not do what was asked. Additionally, she damaged all of our frying pans, constantly smelled of tobacco, and showed little respect for the household. Despite doing very little, she frequently said she needed to do fewer tasks. During her stay, I had to buy her expensive shampoo and yogurts, which she took with her when she left without saying thank you. She left in a rude manner, despite having been treated kindly and respectfully throughout her stay. Unfortunately, I would not recommend her as a volunteer.

Where do I even begin? I spent 3 weeks with David and Alex on the finca, and I had a wonderful time picking coffee, caring for the chickens and Principe, and getting to try out all sorts of creative projects. They’re incredibly welcoming and kind, and I felt lucky to have landed there in their little slice of paradise! The work was very enjoyable (picking coffee is almost meditative). The work was varied and no two days were the same, which I loved. Because there are so many different tasks, David and Alex also gave me a lot of leeway to choose what I was most interested in. You can really design your own workdays here. Not only is the farm a wonderful place to be, the town of Tepec is very pretty, with amazing views and nice hikes all around. In my time off I explored and had really lovely chats with a lot of the folks living there, and made friends that I hope to see again. David and Alex also showed me some of the other nearby towns and treated me to a lot of local cuisine! I loved sharing meals, either cooking or appreciating each other’s cooking. There’s a lot more to say but I’ll summarize by saying, if you want to have a relaxing, fulfilling experience in one of the most beautiful areas of Mexico, definitely stay with David and Alex! Gracias a ustedes por todo, espero a verlos de nuevo, en Mexico o Vancouver! Abrazos a Hermes y Pan!

Persona fantastica e piena di energia

I spent two weeks with Carlos and Paula helping on the farm, and it was a really great time for me. The hostel is located about 20 minutes from Popayán and it’s a perfect place to truly connect with nature. The place has a very calm, positive energy that makes you slow down and feel present. During my stay, I helped with syntropic agriculture and with different tasks around the hostel. I also really enjoyed the food and the shared meals in the main house, which were a great moment to connect, talk, and feel part of everyday life there. From the first days, I felt welcomed and treated like a member of the family, not just a volunteer. I can honestly recommend this place to anyone who values peace, quiet, good energy, and being close to nature.

If you need someone to arrange things, Isabel is the one to get on board. She took over my job when she started cleaning up the rooms before the new workawayers would arrive. Contacted them, to share the bus schedule or location of the house. All the new arrivals told me she was very welcoming. She's very much a people person. When I was not available she would coordinate the tasks and I've seen her at work. The well-being of the people comes first 🤗 ( first the hair, then the job ;) She's a good person, with a warm hart, that neede to be cooled in an ocean of cold water sometimes.

Thierry stayed in Bernachouat for just 5 days but we could develop in that short time an easygoing relationship based on common interests and confidence. He is able to do a lot of different tasks and was always ready and enthusiast to do something useful, no matter how much time it took and even under the rain! I appreciated this efficient help and I recommend Thierry! Thierry, cou can come again!

J'ai beaucoup apprécié l'expérience d'échange de service avec Chantal. C'est une personne discrète, respectueuse, sérieuse, adaptable, indépendante, autonome, et pro-active avec un grand sens des responsabilités. Malgré un séjour pluvieux, Chantal s'est accommodé a déployer sa belle énergie en tant que super fée du logis. Merci pour cette belle rencontre.

We had a great time at Mirjam and Nils' ! They are both very kind and friendly. We played board games, had great discussons together, and Nils showed us all the pretty places around. We'll never forget this incredible stay for plenty of reasons. We hope to be able to come again on this charming farm , just to visit or to help a bit more. Thank you for everything !

Fehmi and his family were such incredible hosts! They treated us like family right away and went above and beyond for us. We helped around the farm with Fehmi, especially with the chickens and sheep, and worked alongside him which was really nice. The food is also so good and traditional (along with lots of cups of tea you'll have it with :) We also did a road trip to the Black Sea and to Istanbul where Fehmi gave us a great tour around! We will never forget our time here and would highly recommend going to such a caring host!

I stayed with Elisabeth and her family for a month. I really enjoyed getting to know Elisabeth and Jos and spending time with their family. Being included in family moments, especially the birthday celebrations, made the experience feel extra special. They are both so kind, welcoming, and easy to talk to, and I always felt cared for during my stay! One of my favourite parts of the day was sharing meals together. Elisabeth’s cooking was always so lovely, and she made the most delicious tea. Jos’s coffee became a highlight too. Spending time with the kids was such a joy. Each of the boys has such a unique personality, and I loved getting to know them. They brought so much life into the home and made my time there very special. I really enjoyed my time with this family and am so grateful for the month I spent with them. I left with beautiful memories and a lot of appreciation for how kind they were to me.

Conocer a Caterina fue una experiencia muy especial!! nos alegra mucho haberla conocido, es una persona de gran calidad y con un corazón enorme, nos habria encantado recibirla por mas tiempo pero deseamos tenga un viaje lleno de bellas experiencias!!! la extrañamos mucho por aqui!! Totalmente recomendada.

Ben and morgan are amazing people. They are super kind and lovely and made me feel right at home. They provide you with very easy tasks and explain them very well. They are also very flexible. It very thankful for the time i had here and how much they helped me to make my experience special.

Sahiela has been a great help for us. The students miss her and this is the perfect answer to say how good she was . Always ready to help with every tasks, always with kindness . She was also helping to welcome the other workaway and she did amazing well.

It was lovely tho have Marie, Arnauld and the kids over. They have build a door, that was clean cut and fitted well ( which was a bit of a challenge due to the funky entrance shape of the frame) .well done! They're friendly, good to Converse with, respectful. Autonomous on their working hours which was supporting me. Fully recommend. Thank you!

Hosting Hong was a delightful surprise for everyone here! When we discovered she was a certified teacher of Chinese, we knew we had to make the most of her talent. She made her 'dream come true' by teaching our students, but honestly, she made our dream come true too! Her classes were engaging, and her cultural workshop was an unforgettable memory for our students. Beyond teaching, Hong fully immersed herself in life here—from learning Arabic letters with the kids to celebrating the Amazigh New Year (2976!) and hiking to the villages. She handled her local fame with such a great sense of humor and grace. We are so glad she and Anayatzin liked the certificates; they were truly well-earned. Hong is a dedicated, professional, and joy-filled volunteer. We miss you already!

Normally, I do not plan to host volunteers during the winter season, but after talking with Erica and Andrew, I was deeply impressed by their beautiful energy and decided to invite them. They truly have an amazing vibe — always joking with each other, smiling, and spreading positivity around them. Having two people by your side who constantly ask if you need help with anything is, in my opinion, something truly wonderful. I would like to sincerely thank them for being helpful in every way, for their understanding attitude, their excellent communication skills, and their gardening abilities. Unfortunately, due to a family loss, we were only able to spend one week together. I truly wish we had been able to spend more time together. I am very grateful for their mature, respectful, and understanding behavior during such a difficult period. If you are looking to welcome a new energy into your home and host a couple who look at each other with love and care, you should definitely host Erika and Andrew. You can always be sure that they will support you and help whenever needed. I wish you both a world tour filled with lots of laughter and unforgettable memories.

Lolly came to stay with us through the month of January 2026. What lovely girl! During her first couple of weeks she was working with another girl called Anne. They immediately got on together and it was like they had known each other for years. This is a gift that Lolly has, ( to embrace whatever life brings). Lolly was particularly, astute and she did everything she was asked and more with keen and eager hands. I trusted her to look after all the animals while I went away for 4 days. She was super with the animals and spent a lot of her own time petting them. Lolly only had a few days off while she was here as she preferred to work most days. Lolly did some lovely riding on the horses and had a couple of lessons with the local instructor. She was always keen and eager to learn. Lolly did some cooking while she was here and this was extremely welcomed. Lolly got on very well with Peter, my mother and myself. She is a very pleasant, friendly girl. We loved having her here.

J'ai passé près de six semaines chez Sandrine et Jean-Marie, et chaque matin, j'étais tout aussi heureuse de les retrouver pour le petit-déjeuner. Nos échanges étaient chaleureux, légers, pleins d'humour et de profondeur à la fois. C'ètait un plaisir d'aider Sandrine dans ses tâches quotidiennes et tout aussi agréable de voir sa gratitude. Elle déborde d'énergie et c'est merveilleux de voir avec quel enthousiasme elle gère cet endroit magnifique. Merci également à Jean-Marie, qui imprègne l'ambiance au prieuré de sa fiabilité et de son grand calme. Une combinaison formidable. Je me réjouis déjà de la prochaine fois. Merci du fond du cœur à vous deux.