Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 9

Celeste and Craig were my first workaway experience and they welcomed me as if I were part of their family. They made me live the kiwi way. I had an amazing time thanks to their attention, care, patience and communication. We shared incredible homemade meals (they are both chefs imo). The work was great as I was able to learn some skills in gardening and they were very flexible and understanding. In addition, we talked and spent a lot of time together, these moments I will cherish forever as they were really genuine. I also need to say, my experience there was even more lovely thanks to the kitties Zebb and Nero. If you want to experience the kiwi life and be welcomed warmheartedly, do not wait and contact them for an unforgettable workaway experience in Tauranga!

The whole family were very welcoming of us and we had a very positive stay over all. The two little ones are lively, friendly and very easy to engage with. They really enjoyed nursery rhymes, action songs, drawing and physical play. Cliff was able to create a roof for the motorbike shelter and also provide the knowledge and find the materials to mend the water tank - a job executed by Matthieu using the ladder Cliff made. I was able to offer Reflexology to Shaun, which I'm hoping helped. Agata and I also cleaned the restaurant/spa space - hopefully this can get up and running soon. The food provided by Fauziah is basic but filling. Unfortunately the kitchen on the upper floor was not very comprehensive, with no gas for the stove. There was a kettle which we used to boil drinking water.

I spent more than four months with this family, and I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have made. Before I arrived, they told me that every Workawayer who comes is welcomed as a family member, but only after arriving did I truly understand what that means. I spent a lot of time with them — birthdays, dinners, and simple daily routines, like playing table tennis with Vicco (be prepared: a 9-year-old boy will beat you 😉), or movie nights, etc. About the tasks: once you get used to them, they are very easy and actually fun. Most days, you finish all the tasks around 1 p.m., which means you have plenty of free time afterward. Feeding the horses, collecting eggs, raking leaves, and my favorite — walking the three lovely dogs in the forest right next to the house. The accommodation you get is beyond what you could ask for. You have your own private apartment with everything you need, including a small kitchen. The area is very green and natural, and still only about 30 minutes from the center of Hamburg , in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Sandra, Sev, Vicco, Jordi, and Sienna — thank you so much for this time. This experience truly meant a lot to me ❤️❤️ You are a wonderful family with a unique lifestyle. peace

Wir haben im November einen Monat zu zweit in Grindelwald verbracht. Die Familie hat uns herzlich und offen aufgenommen. Von der Unterbringung waren wir begeistert. Wir hatten ein eigenes Schlafzimmer mit Küche und Essbereich, sowie ein eigenes, modernes Badezimmer im Erdgeschoss. Dadurch hatten wir die Möglichkeit, auch mal zu zweit zu Essen, falls wir dies wollten. Wir wurden super ins Familienleben integriert, was uns die Unterstützung der Familie und das Zeitverbringen mit den Kindern sehr leicht gemacht hat. Von dem herzlichen Umgang miteinander waren wir begeistert, und kommen gern einmal wieder.

Christian was a dream workawayer ! An absolute pleasure to have him at the farm with our family and animals. Thanks for all Christian, you will always be welcome in our family ! The best for you for the future !

My experience working with the team, especially Kwame, was amazing. I was immediately pulled to how passionate Kwame was to lifting up his community and creating as many opportunities as possible for the girls in the mentorship program. Furthermore, Kwame always was open to new ideas, feedback and new resources to help the girls. Thank you team, for making me feel valued and getting to be a part of something so special.

Lukas was a very nice workaway to have here; he always helped with a big smile, ready to participate in any type of activity. It was a pleasure to have him in my farm, I highly recommend him to others !!

Nico has really beautiful energy. We loved having him. He was really attentive and organized always happy to give a hand and communicate with the guests. We really hoping to see him again and for him to have a wonderful journey!

I had the most wonderful week on LeAnne and Ian's farm in Inglewood. They (and their dogs!) were so welcoming. I much appreciated their flexibility with the work schedule, which allowed me to visit the surrounding area and fit in some hikes and running. I came to feel a true connection to the mountain - perhaps a whakapapa, as LeAnne educated me, and will definitely be making a return visit if I find myself in NZ again. I also loved the emphasis on cultural exchange. We had many deep conversations about the farm industry and I learned so much about how uneducated perceptions of farming might not be accurate, as there is nuance to every situation. I hope others can take the opportunity to stay with Ian and LeAnne to challenge some of their preconceived notions about food production, dairy farming, plant exclusive ;) vs meat diets, and animal welfare. Until next time!

I spent one wonderful week with Dave, Katie, and their kids Delilah and Freddie (and of course their dog Snip and cat Tiko)! The view overlooking their house onto the water and nearby islands is beautiful and experiencing island life was so fun. I mostly helped by watching Delilah (reading, going to the park, playing) and preparing some meals. Dave and Katie are very hands on and want you to do things you are comfortable with doing which is great. I was able to take a day trip to the nearby Stradebroke island which was lovely and enjoyed seeing a new part of the country! Dave and Katie are kind, warm, positive friendly people and I was lucky enough to have many happy memories with them. I already miss our walks on the beach and conversations we had during mealtime. I wish them all the best and hope our paths will cross again soon!

I spent four months with Regine and it was such a wonderful time. After all the stress from school, it was a real change of pace. I wanted to see something new and learn new things, and that’s exactly what I got. I was able to take so much away from my stay, in terms of horses, but also for life in general. The little town of Guardamar is really lovely. It’s not huge, but it has everything you need: lots of nice restaurants and many cafés. My tip: definitely check out La Nube! ;) On top of that, Regine always spoiled me with delicious meals. And the beach is right at the doorstep!! The finca and its horses are simply beautiful. Each horse has its own character, and that’s completely okay. Sometimes it’s a lot of work, but Dorothea and Pedro never leave you on your own. I was able to learn so much by observing Dorothea’s way of working with the horses. I’m just really happy that I had the courage to try something completely new. And one thing I can say for sure: Guardamar has not seen the last of me!

I’ve experienced WWOOF, Workaway, and HelpX, and have met many different hosts, but Andrew was the first host I met who truly prioritised communication. I had a genuinely happy time staying at Andrew’s home. Because he values conversation so much, he is a natural storyteller and knows many fascinating stories. His home itself is also full of history and stories, which made the experience even more meaningful. I especially enjoyed our endless conversations about coffee and plants. He is also incredibly patient. He always waited until I had finished speaking, which made it easy for me to speak English comfortably without feeling awkward or rushed. He is an excellent coffee specialist. As someone who has studied coffee, I can confidently say that his coffee is outstanding. Being able to enjoy the coffee he brewed every day was a real joy. He is also a master of slow cooking. By generously providing healthy ingredients, he helped me restore my disrupted biorhythm and feel balanced again. Although his home is a little far from the city, this was never an inconvenience. Andrew was an amazing “Workawayer Uber driver🚖” always happy to pick me up or drop me off at the station. Thanks to his constant support, travelling to new places was easy and stress-free, and I’m truly grateful for that. His home is also very clean and well maintained. Cleanliness and hygiene are important to me, and at some places I’ve stayed before, I found it hard to sleep deeply. At Andrew’s place, everything was consistently tidy and clean, which allowed me to fully relax and rest with peace of mind. Staying in his peaceful bamboo forest home made it easy to enjoy deep, restorative rest. I spent New Year’s Eve, the beginning of the New Year, and even my birthday at Andrew’s home. I’m truly grateful that he made these meaningful days even more special and memorable. It’s hard to list all of his strengths, but having experienced many hosts through different work exchange and cultural exchange programs, I can confidently say that Andrew’s home was the place where I felt most comfortable resting, connecting, and truly exchanging culture. Until we meet again — “Still alive!” You know what I mean. 🙂

Pauline was a delight to host. She was capable, motivated, proactive and very easy company. She fitted into our household very well and coped well socially with the many staying guests that came and went over her time with us . She saw what needed doing and just got on with it. Her English is good and she followed conversation well. She always seemed to enjoy whatever we did whether it was work or sightseeing or hiking etcetera - everything was done with a smile and when asked how she liked it the answer was always a convincing "perfect". I highly recommend her.

I stayed 1 and a half mounths and it was absolutely fantastic ! Amazing, generous and kind people. The place is very impressive and inspiring. Really one of a kind experience. Poland is a very beautiful and cool country. I have nothing bad to say. Thank you so much <3 Punk is not dead !!!!!!

We enjoyed our stay with Lian and Kieran a lot. We stayed for almost one week and helped on the one hand in the garden with trimming the hedges and moving firewood, on the other hand we helped weeding on their other property next to the beautiful river. Lian and Kieran were very welcoming and kind and gave us a lot of advices where to go in our freetime and we just loved to explore the area by bike, kayak or going somewhere for a hike or swim. Their daughter Ophelia is very sweet and we had a lot of fun. We totally recommend staying with them :-)

Romane was such a pleasure to host! She warmed to her first kiwi family experience, and embraced every opportunity to immerse herself in daily life ~ meal times were especially full of pleasure.. She was focused and determined to complete tasks to highest standard. I highly recommend her to future hosts.

We stayed for a week after getting in touch with Vishal and Aditi via Whatsapp. After seeing so many wonderful reviews, we were looking forward to meeting them, despite the last review being from 2023. They gave us all the information necessary on how to arrive (contact info for a driver familiar with the farm; 1000 rupee rickshaw ride from Chikkamagaluru). When we arrived, it turned out that Vishal and Aditi were not at the farm, but in Calcutta for a family emergency, so unfortunately we weren't able to meet them, which was a big bummer for us. I was particularly interested in talking with them about the organic/regenerative aspect of the farm as well as some of their conservation initiatives. We completely understand that these things can't be planned for, so we wish them well and hope to return some day to meet them in person :). The rest of this review will focus on the farmstay itself. We were greeted by two of the local staff, Ganesh and Sheshi, two young guys that do general cleaning and some of the coffee processing. They were joined by Stefan, the new property manager. It sounds like none of the staff that appears in the previous reviews are there anymore, and these guys are recent hires. The staff were very accommodating and easy to get along with, despite not speaking much English. We actually enjoyed very much learning some Kannada and trying to communicate with them. Stefan, who does speak more English, was very accommodating during our stay, gave us some tasks, and helped out with the cooking, as there was no cook for half of the stay. We also helped with cooking and cleaning the kitchen before a new cook, Pavatri, and her family arrived. Pavatri quickly became the heart and soul of the place, with her wonderful cooking, her big smile, and her adorable son Bargo. She immediately cleaned up the kitchen, which was quite dirty and disorganized when we arrived. Stefan was kind enough to invite us to participate in a pooja (ceremony) he and his family held with the farm cows one afternoon, as well as walking to one of the local waterfalls together. Definitely one of the highlights of the stay. Stefan also introduced us to Maesh, the supervisor of the coffee harvesting. We had a few great afternoons talking with him while picking coffee cherries (this was January, so full coffee harvesting season). The previous reviews are accurate in saying that the location is truly spectacular. The grounds are really beautiful, with flowers, ponds, and abundant birds + wildlife everywhere you look (note: look out for ticks; we were bit by a couple, which we later found out is quite common in these mountains. Wear long pants/shirts in the forests and do tick checks, these things can carry some nasty diseases). The various rooms and buildings are well-thought out, if rustic. But the views from some of the rooms are just amazing (Sunbird room!). You can tell that some of these buildings could use a little bit more attention in terms of cleanliness and organization (there is evidence of mold under mattresses, for example, and sheets should be washed more often). I'm sure that with a bit more time, this new crew can get this place up to its full potential. Most of our time was dedicated to general cleaning, picking up trash, participating in coffee processing activities (though not a huge amount to do beyond picking), and washing the many windows, which had accumulated a lot of algae/moss over the months of monsoon. Guests should be able to enjoy the beautiful views much more easily now! I think if the work were a little bit more well-defined and organized, volunteers' time could be used more efficiently. We consistently asked how we could help and ultimately just did the things that seems obvious to us (washing windows, cleaning, cooking). Overall, it was a pleasant stay in a stunning location with very friendly and kind locals. With a little bit of guidance on cleanliness and organization/communication around tasks, this would easily be a 5-star review. Once again, we wish Aditi and Vishal the best and would love to meet them one day. They sound like super interesting people. Best wishes, K+M

I cannot express enough how grateful I am to Ramon and Paula for hosting me. The five days I spent here have become unforgettable memories. They always thought about how to make my stay better and sincerely listened to me, even though my English is not very good. They truly valued the time we spent together. We talked a lot during meals and tea time, and I really enjoyed watching Japanese anime and movies together with them. My main tasks were helping to lay the stone pavement in the garden and helping Paula's vintage clothes shop, and both were truly enjoyable and valuable experiences for me. They always prepared delicious Southern Italian meals, which became something I really looked forward to every day. Thank you so, so much from the bottom of my heart. 本当に素敵な滞在でした。 ラモンとパウラはとても日本に関心があり、日本の文化などについてたくさん話をしました。彼らはいつも私の滞在がより良い経験になるようにと、街に連れて行ってくれたり、一緒にマーケットへ行ったり、カフェで名物のスイーツを食べさしてくれたり、家で南イタリアの美味しいお肉や野菜、魚、手作りのパンを食べさせてくれたりしました。そのどれもが新しい経験で忘れられない思い出です。仕事というよりまとも、共に過ごす時間を大切にしており、友人のお家にお邪魔しているような、そんな気持ちになります。Rossanoのポツンと一軒家ではありますが、大自然の中で田舎暮らしを楽しく体験することができます。

Aw Jesssi!!! sorry about the late feedback which is only due to not having had internet for some time, being on the road and sick etc... Jessi's been great on all levels, really enjoyed having her company and help here with the harvest. She's a fab and fast learner and really got the job done which is so essential for us. We had such good laughs ( oh if chickens had all their eggs...) and hope she'll have the best of times on her further travels! All the best for now Jessi and thank you!!!! Antje and Pavlos

We stayed with Ahri and Ellen for three nights. They were super welcoming, sharing their food and knowledge with us. We spent most of our working hours out in the garden where we were building the chicken coup with Ahri, helping dig out the base, cut the wire and tie it to the fence. On our last day we even had the chance to go mango picking alongside Ahri which we had a blast doing!! Overall we had a great experience and both feel we've learnt so much. Thank you both again. 🙏🏼