Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 7

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.

Roberto and Diana were kind, and we could ask them for things or ask questions. We could manage our time flexibly. The weather wasn’t kind to us; an electric blanket is a wonderful thing at times like this. My main tasks were: gardening, digging, repairing the fence, weeding, and cleaning the yard. But I was never alone, because the dogs were always there with me. My son played with them a lot, and taking them for walks was a daily activity that we loved in the nearby forest, which is wonderful.

Victoria ha pesar de su poca experiencia en Workaway se ha adaptado muy bien a la convivencia familiar y con los otros compañeros. Ha desarrollado inteligentemente las tareas encomendadas esforzandose por realizarlas correctamente y de una manera proactiva. Recomendable para otros anfitriones.

Jose is a thoughtful considerate person. He persevered through 3 weeks of wet windy weather and did not complain once despite having to walk the dogs every day in very un-seasonal weather! Once given a list of tasks to complete he worked through conscientiously and solved any problems he encountered. Jose would be welcome back anytime.

In a rainy day I can finally sit and right about the unexpected pleasant experience we had hosting Paulien! She filled with harmony and passion the farm, giving her best and her love to everyone and everything. From people to animals to plants! Calm and gentle she knows a lot about food and coffee, which we have enjoyed beautifully together during her staying! I don't think I could explain properly how lucky we have been to meet Paulien! Aaaand.... she moved in Italy! So she's still coming to stay with us sometimes!!! Thank you Paulien and to the universe!

My stay Sally's was so nice! I was there to watch her dogs while she was away at a dog show during the weekend. It was a short trip (4 days) but overall it was great to meet her and her SUPER cute dogs (+ her cat Mr. Darcy). All of her dogs are so sweet and its hard to choose a favorite because each of them have their own personality which makes them special :) The area around sally's is super calm and peaceful and I was able to do some walks during the day to enjoy the scenery. Sally and I ate together at all the meals and she taught me a lot about dogs! She truly loves all of her animals ad you can tell they are all spoiled. I loved sharing a glass of wine and watching game shows in the night with Sally. Overall a great stay and would recommend for anyone who loves dogs and is looking for a calm trip!

Simon’s place is amazing, everything is as described in the profile and sooo much more! I stayed there for a month during Christmas time and had such a colourful and wonderful experience. Simon is a really caring host who truly tries to make this the best experience for everyone. The work is varied, sometimes simple, sometimes more interesting and requiring certain skills (and there’s also space to learn them). The hours are very fair, and the accommodation is great. A huuuge bonus is Simon’s cooking and the sweet pets that are always around. I was also so lucky to meet some great people there ❤️ thank you for everything!

Kenneth and Ingvild have been incredibly welcoming, easygoing, and kind!! We felt at home from the very beginning. We're so grateful :) We enjoyed the times we ate together and all the great and funny conversations we shared. Learning from each other; especially languages, from Norwegian, to Spanish and even French with Pierre), was such a special part of the experience. We really loved that mix of cultures. It was also nice to explore the area, we truly enjoyed it. And every day felt different: from removing tiles and preparing the floor with concrete to doing some carpentry! We learned so much in just two weeks! We’re very grateful for your generosity and for everything you shared with us. Best regards!