Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 7

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.

This is a special place. Bartending on the beach with easy access to surfing and yoga was like a dream. The staff and guests feel like family, many people stay long making it truly feel like a community. I highly recommend! Thanks for everything!

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 :)

The EcoEspacio is located on a hill in a beautiful valley. The views, and especially the sunsets, are stunning. However, I decided to leave earlier than intended. This feedback is not meant to speak negatively about this WorkAway, but rather to offer a different perspective alongside the many very positive reviews. For me personally, those reviews created expectations that did not fully match my experience. Although there is a focus on community, I personally missed a proper introduction to how things are organised within the community. I didn’t really feel welcomed or guided when I arrived, and I had to ask a lot of questions or figure things out myself. For me, that felt a bit unusual when arriving somewhere new as a WorkAwayer. Perhaps the quick turnover of volunteers plays a role in how newcomers are introduced. The work seems mainly focused on constructing the bio/eco buildings and helping in the garden. Although I missed a lot of working and safety tools, that were not broken. I think you can learn quite a lot about the construction side of things, though less about agriculture. Each day a schedule is made showing which volunteers are responsible for preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as doing dishes, cleaning, and compost. I thought this was a fair and well-organised system. For future volunteers it is good to know that the place is quite back to basics. There is an outdoor shower, a compost toilet, no washing machine, and no hot water. In general the environment felt quite rustic and dusty. We were with many volunteers (around 15), so keeping shared spaces clean can be challenging. Especially the set up of the kitchen was problematic in my opinion. So its good to know you have to be okay with lower standards of hygiene. Around the property there are many nice places to relax. There are hammocks and seating areas around the natural pool, and a lovely yoga shala. There is a lot of free time. I believe this place could be a great experience for people who enjoy very simple, off-grid community living. I wish the project the best for the future.

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

Thank you to Brahim and his family for taking my partner and I into their home and treating us like family. We got a small glimpse into their rich culture, food and celebrations during Ramadan into Eid. His wife Naima cooks wonderfully and we ate (I quote my partner) 'the best tajine in all of Morocco'! His kids are all a delight. We travelled with Brahim into the desert for 3 days and two nights which was a very special experience. We saw the sunset and the stars, rode camels and hiked up to the highest dune barefoot led by Brahim. In terms of work, we helped him with his social media and business promotion, which as other workawayers have mentioned, is established and clear. I also helped with washing the dishes after enjoying their delicious dinners. It's definitely an out-of-the box experience, one that we won't forget!

I’ve been staying with Kristy and her family for over two weeks now and I had a really smooth start. It was very easy to settle into the daily routine and the tasks are quite simple and quick to understand. Kristy is very organized and plans everything well, which makes it even easier to structure your day and feel comfortable right away. We also have a lot of free time which I really appreciate. Sometimes I even get the chance to join them on trips, for example we recently went towards Boston, which was absolutely beautiful. You also get to meet so many great people along the way. This is my first Workaway experience and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better one. I get along really well with the boys Conner, Logan, Lukey and Dylan. I probably spend the most time playing with the youngest, which has been really fun.Of course it takes the boys a little time to get used to you at first, which is completely normal when a stranger comes into their home haha. But overall they are very open and welcoming. One important thing to know before coming here is that a big part of the work involves driving. So you should definitely feel confident and comfortable behind the wheel. In the U.S., things like parallel parking are quite common so it’s good to be prepared for that. That said, driving here is actually pretty easy overall once you get used to it. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have my Workaway here and would absolutely recommend it. I’m staying for another two months and will definitely keep updating on how things go. The cultural exchange aspect is also amazing. I’ve already had the chance to experience the American lifestyle in a very authentic way. There are so many activities around here that it never gets boring. Overall, I’m just really happy and thankful to be here!

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!

Amanda was a very good and patient au pair. She took care of our 1-year-old, prepared his lunch, and left everything clean and tidy. She's always smiling, and it was a pleasure to host her. It was great to learn so much about Hong Kong customs! She even made us delicious fried rice! Thank you, Amanda!

I stayed at Sydsel’s house for 10 days. This was my first Workaway experience, and it was absolutely wonderful. I was able to experience Christmas and New Year in Norways, which had always been my dream. There were two other Workawayers staying as well, and we all had such a great time together—it truly felt like a dream. Sydsel is a very kind person with a beautiful smile. When I suddenly had to take an important test, she was very understanding and supportive, which helped me a lot. Her cooking is amazing, and I really enjoyed spending time together playing board games and going for walks. It was such a fun and meaningful experience. Her cat, Dreym, was also very cute. I also loved the cultural exchange, and the whole 10 days were very fulfilling. I would love to visit again someday! Thank you so much for everything!

Sunshine was a spectacular host. Very kind, organized and accommodating. She has this invigorating energy that makes you feel welcome and at home from the moment you meet her. She offers great recommendations and options for things to do and her family is so lovely, not to mention the sweetest cats! Anyone looking for a place to house sit would be lucky to stay here.

Timothy is another great person we ever met too, we were so lucky to have him at the Hostel, handyman, easy going and chill vibes, we were so sad when he left, and we hope he can come back and visit us here on Nias island again.

Giovanni is one of the best person we ever met, handyman and easy going that bring a very good vibes for the Hostel, we were so lucky to have him, and we hope he can come back one day and join us again on the island. Thank you so much for everything bro ❤️

We were fortunate to meet Sarah, who stayed with us for over a month. She was very attentive and responsible, always completing the tasks entrusted to her perfectly. She was very empathetic and helpful. We were very sad to see her leave due to a serious family matter. We hope she can return!

Jane es una chica muy colaboradora y proactiva. Se adaptó enseguida al ritmo familiar y a la convivencia con otros compañeros. Muy servicial y hasta el último momento comprometida y agradecida. Jane es muy recomendable como workaway.