Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 6

I had a short and sweet visit to the wonderful house of Alex and Annie at the edge of the Facinas village. As soon as I arrived on the bus I felt welcomed into the clear and peaceful energy of the home. It was so special spending time in the house that was lovingly built by Alex with a beautiful view of el campo on one side and the cork oak forest on the other! To all the workawayers, this is a place where you put down your phone and be present, active and open to conversations! My stay was rainy and I ended up being swept to Tarifa and Morroco though I can imagine how lovely it would be working here for a longer period of time in the spring and sleeping in the indoor outdoor space that looks upon the garden. Alex - thank you for sharing your space, your paints, your passion for climate activism and the Spanish language. Hasta luego! And don't forget to make time to create :)

#redacted# It’s meant as advice for potential workawayers. While there were many positive aspects to this stay, we want to share our perspective so future guests can better decide if this is a good fit for them. Everyone’s experience may differ. It was generally safe, however we were unsure whether we were legally allowed to be in the area and felt at risk. It’s a non-visitor zone, making us feel like we needed to sneak around. Multiple overcrowded car rides without enough seatbelts, which we were not asked about in advance. There was frequent criticism with yelling or strong language. We think a leader shouldn’t have to do this to get their point across. We felt the level of criticism was excessive for a Workaway setting. Jokes were made at our expense that felt uncomfortable given we didn’t know him well. We enjoyed learning and working. However, long daily meetings and continuous chores / presence left less free time than expected, making the experience feel mentally draining especially with language barriers. When we decided to leave because we felt it wasn’t a good fit, we felt harshly judged and dismissed. To a couple of us he said “we are only thinking of ourselves”. This is a crazy accusation and a bit hurtful. We believe workawayers should be able to leave respectfully if they feel uncomfortable. For us, we should’ve been more open with Steve about things throughout the program. The kids are great and Steve cares and takes advice. Advice to future guests: ask questions, communicate openly, speak up early if something feels off, don’t take criticism personally, do great work, be a leader. Don’t blindly follow directions, respect how you feel. This review is not meant to be rude or personal. We appreciate and respect Steve. It’s only to share our experience and help future workawayers know what to expect so guests and hosts can have a better fit.

Through recent hosting experiences, I would like to share an important point. This project prioritizes the daily care and safety of rescued dogs. In practice, participation requires a high level of responsibility, continuous decision-making and #redacted# In some cases, when difficulties arise, participants have left suddenly without proper discussion or handover, placing an excessive and one-sided burden on the host. Such situations demand a great deal of patience and resilience from the host side. At present, the platform does not provide any effective screening methods for individuals #redacted# nor does it assess whether participation in a private home and high-responsibility project is suitable for them. As a result, these situations can pose a serious risk to hosts and to the projects they are responsible for. This recent experience was felt to be one such case. Hosts are human beings who open their private living spaces while carrying full responsibility for animals and daily operations. When sufficient understanding and respect for this environment is lacking, conflicts are unfortunately inevitable. This statement is not intended to criticize any individual, but to highlight a structural risk and to emphasize the importance of careful self-assessment and mutual understanding before participation, for the protection of participants, hosts, projects, and the animals involved.

Words will never come close to describing how greatful I am to have stayed at the finca and to get to know Ane Marie and her lovely family. If you have the opportunity to workaway here you will not be disappointed. The location is stunning right in the mountains and easily accessible to the beach. (10 min bus down to town) I was offered a private room with an ensuite in the woods section of the property which was the perfect space to relax and sleep. This property is stunning. The terraces, the main building, the look outs, the rooms, the garden, the pool, and the weather were better then I could every imagine. Ane Marie plays cinematic music to start the day which is the best way to enjoy this space with a cappuccino as the sun rises. My main duty was cooking lunch for the family and a touch of garden work. I got to use their stunning outdoor kitchen, and honestly had the best time creating meals with local meditation ingredients. During my free time I spent hours hiking the mountains, wandering up to the anchiant Moroccan city Frigiliana and wandering the many beach's in Nerja. I got to know the family very well and loved hearing their stories and spending time with them. I miss them so much and hope to return soon! Thank you for one of the best expirisnces of my life!

Merci à Aline et Jorg pour ces quelques semaines passées chez eux ! C’était hyper enrichissant de les voir travailler dans ce beau projet qu’est le jardin botanique, avec autant de passion on ne pouvait que vouloir aider un maximum aussi:) J’ai pu apprendre pleins de choses sur la botanique, découvrir la Désirade et passer de super moments avec eux et les autres workawayers. Merci beaucoup pour cet accueil, évidemment je recommande!

Arthur stayed with us for 10 days and he helped with the woodwork in our newly built rooftop apartments. His practical crafting skills were useful for the progress on our site. Arthur played the guitar beautifully in the evenings and also enjoyed us playing his big didgeridoo. We liked his sense of humour and what he shared from his life with us. Thank you Arthur for your help. Looking forward seeing you again.

Christian ist der fleissigste Gast, den man sich vorstellen kann. Er arbeitete weit mehr, als wir erwarteten, auch wenn es schwere und schmutzige Arbeit war. Trotz sprachlicher Verständigungsschwierigkeiten verstand er schnell worauf es ankam und konnte mir bei diffizilen Montagearbeiten mit geschickten Händen zur Seite stehen. Nebenbei machte er sich immer wieder unbemerkt und ohne ein Wort darüber zu verlieren nützlich, ganz ohne das wir einen Auftrag ausgesprochen hatten.Wie schön, wenn ich den großen Holzvergaserkessel anheizen wollte und schon eine Ladung Holzscheite bereitgelegt war. Christian ist kein Mann der vielen Worte, aber ein Mann der Tat und er hat ein ruhiges und freundliches Wesen. Danke Christian, dass Du uns so viel geholfen hast ! Du bist immer wieder willkommen hier.

Sumire "Suu" was a reliable helping hand during her stay with me. She always confirmed the details of my requests to make sure she was performing well on tasks. She made the most of her time in LA each day sightseeing at so many places from Malibu to Griffith Observatory. When I had spare time, I also took her to places focused on LA culture.

I absolutely loved my stay at Mar and Jasmin’s place!! I was only supposed to stay for a week, but they were so kind to let me stay longer. The dogs were super cute and well-behaved, I really enjoyed taking them for walks and cuddle them. The other tasks were easy enough, so I had plenty of free time to explore the nature around, which I loved. Mar and Jasmin are incredibly caring, they always checked if I needed anything, often offered to drive me into town or to the shops, and Jasmin even helped me look for other workaway hosts for the future. The location is perfect for anyone who loves being close to nature: mountains, the sea, and so many orange trees all around. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better first workaway experience. Mar and Jasmin are awesome hosts!!

Cycy was a great volunteer. She has a positive attitude, communicates well, is a hard worker and took initiative to get things done without being asked. When we had issues with the animals and her friend was unable to work, Cycy helped by working more and was really understanding of the situation. I loved having Cycy and her friend Linde with me, they are a lot of fun and easy to share space with. Cycy loved my animals and has a lot of experience caring for them and it shows. Thank you for everything!!

Linde was an amazing volunteer. She is super positive, hard working, CLEAN, communicative, and loves animals. We had a couple big issues with the animals while she was here and I've never seen someone so calm and understanding. Stoic was the word I used at the time. You will be very lucky if you have Linde as a volunteer. She has a lot of experience with animals, and you can tell she picks up whatever it is you ask of her quickly and can do it independently. Thank you Linde for being you!!!

I already did some workaway volunteering in different countries but this one was really great. The animals are really kind, some also appreciate every single cuddle they'll receive. Once someone understands the working schedule e.g. cleaning and preparing food is great fun with other volunteers from all over the world. The community is patient and willed to explain the schedule and its details in English and Spanish as well, so also when you aren't fluent yet, people will understand you. Both the food for us humans as well for the animals is rescued from the supermarket bin, so there is a great impact about sustainable resource management as well. There are still a couple of big plans about expanding and improving the shelter situation on the table. So if you are interested in doing something beneficial in the warm canarian sun and learn about animal care and creating a great place for everyone, you need to check out the refugio! all the best for you and the implementation of your future ideas. Alex

In all my years of hosting, Lou and Chris have set a new standard for what's possible :) They took initiative at every turn. Tidying the yard, reorganizing spaces, motorhome maintenance and repairs... they have a wealth of knowledge and experience, fabulous self-directed attitudes, infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy. I felt able to trust them completely... they both just radiate positivity! and seamless teamwork, complementing each other perfectly. Any host would be extraordinarily fortunate to have Lou and Chris stay... truly exceptional volunteers who bring skills, heart, and an outstanding work ethic to everything they do!

I had such a great time during my two weeks with Sascha, Oli, and the two littlies! Ivar and baby Jonin are hilarious and spirited, and Oli and Sascha are amazing hosts, easy to communicate with, happy to recommend good spots, and generally just cool people to be around! I did the most amazing hike over the mountain right behind the house, with fantastic views from the top, and also got involved in some freezing river swimming 🥶 Working was easy to navigate and always flexible, so I never felt like it got in the way of experiencing the beautiful environment. I absolutely recommend staying with this lovable bunch of humans!

Dear Maren, Thank you so much for your beautiful words and for being part of our project. We’re very happy to know that your time here was meaningful and that you enjoyed working with the monkeys and seeing their progress. Your energy, care and dedication truly made a difference. You will always be welcome back — we hope to see you again one day. With gratitude,

Dear Shayde & Raja, Thank you both for such kind and thoughtful feedback. It truly means a lot to us. We’re grateful you chose it here and that this experience became so special for you. Your support, commitment and respect for the animals were deeply appreciated. We wish you many more beautiful journeys ahead, and you will always be welcome here. Warm regards,

Sorry for the late review, but I worked at Lise and Feri's place from September 9th, 2025 to October 5th, 2025. It was my first time doing a Workaway, and I couldn't have asked for a better time! I learned so much about taking care of the sheep and goats, cutting/pruning trees, and just doing random tasks around the farm. I was lucky to be there with 3 others like me helping around the farm, so it was great connecting with them throughout too. Lastly, how can I forget about Feri's amazing meals! He made us knafeh, lamb soup, a Mediterranean platter, and so much more.

Dear Angelika, Although I only spent a few days with you, my stay was a wonderful and interesting experience. I learned so much from you and am grateful for the time we spent together! You are a fantastic woman with great values ​​and a wonderful attitude, and I believe that if more people thought and acted like you, the world would be a better place. During my time with you, I learned a lot about communication, sustainability, permaculture, wildlife in the garden, plant species, and gardening. I really appreciated the well-structured daily routine, which we always started with a short chat. You were always there to listen, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your stories. :) You showed me organizational strategies that allowed us to work as efficiently as possible and prepared me well for the rest of my Workaway trip. My work consisted of a good mix of hands-on gardening and computer research, which allowed me to discover topics I would never have encountered otherwise. You also showed me your hometown of Ludolfshausen and told me a lot about the history of the village and its surroundings. During my stay, I also had the pleasure of meeting your cat Luna and some other lovely people who made a very positive impression on me. You are a very inspiring person, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit! Thank you so much for everything, Linn :)

I truly recommend her to future hosts. She is absolutely worth hosting and shows genuine hospitality and kindness. I honestly don’t know how much more I can say thank you for all the support she gave me. I deeply appreciate her help in every way. She is not only a volunteer but a true friend. She is reliable, responsible, and someone you can truly trust. Any host would be very lucky to have her. She made a real difference during her time with us, and I will always be grateful.

Dom spent time with us for a week .It wonderful time and he is helpful. Dome is a kind person and helps teach children well. And cooperate with us in everything and we have fun and work with each other happily. And hope he will find only good things and come back to us again.