Is Workaway right for you?

Should you use Workaway to travel?

Workaway connects travellers who want to give back and immerse themselves into unique local experiences, with host projects and families families  across the world for a meaningful travel, volunteering and cultural exchange. It is a great way to travel cheaply, as the Workaway hosts provide accommodation and food in exchange for a few hours of your help. It also allows you to see parts of the world you might not otherwise encounter, and discover various experiences beyond those you would find at home.

However, before embarking on a Workaway exchange, it is important to consider whether this type of travel is right for you.

The help

The range of opportunities on Workaway available is enormous; eco project and farm helpers, animal carers and lovers, language teachers, au pairs, social media savvy content creators… are all in demand. Before making any decisions, be honest with yourself about the sort of work you realistically can – and want – to do.

Duration

How long am I expected to stay at a Workaway project? On our trip, we found that two to three weeks with each host was perfect. Less time could mean that you don’t learn as much or won’t have time to settle into a good routine. Allow yourself some flexibility if possible, as some hosts may invite you to stay longer than initially arranged if you turn out to be a great match for each other (or conversely, if you decide you are not a good fit you also have the freedom to cut the exchange short, although this is a lot more rare). 

You should also consider how long you want to Workaway overall. We found that after three months of travelling as workawayers, we were craving some comfort . Meaningful travel is about learning new things, meeting new people and seeing new places. While Workaway allows you to tick these boxes, you should bear in mind that simply enjoying yourself and relaxing are also important aspects of travelling.

If you are planning to Workaway for a number of months and flit between several hosts, it may be worth booking in long weekends in a hostel or hotel between stints. This will give you some down-time and can also break up long journeys between hosts.

Location

This brings us to the location of your travel and Workaway experience. Hosts will often be based away from city centres or even in rural areas, particularly if you are looking at workawaying on a farm or small-holding. Even host families looking for animal care or house sitting help may be in lesser-known towns or villages. This is one of the many benefits of Workaway, as it takes you to places that might not feature in the guidebooks and can give you a taste of authentic local life.

While rural areas are great for nature lovers, if you tend to gravitate towards the hustle and bustle of large cities, you ought to be realistic about how much time you want to spend in a quiet village off the beaten track. Luckily, there are still plenty of Workaway hosts based in large cities, particularly those looking for help around the house, babysitting or  or with language learning.

If you are planning to stay with a number of different Workaway hosts, you ought to look into public transport options. Hosts will usually offer to pick you up if they are very remote, but you should speak to them well in advance to get their advice on local travel so you have a better idea of how to get around.

Another factor to consider is the weather, especially if you are going to be working outside. Beach-lovers may be lured to the gorgeous coast lines of South-east Asian or Caribbean countries, but bear in mind that outside work in the sun can take its toll. Conversely, working outside in cold and wet conditions can be difficult too – even if that husky farm in Norway is your dream project. Try to look at climate charts and speak to your hosts about your volunteering hours; in hot countries hosts may ask you to startwork early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. 

Related blog post: Advice for Solo Travellers: Chicken Bus Ride in Guatemala

Packing

Having a good idea about the weather will also help you to pack appropriately. As a general rule of thumb, if you’ll be spending a lot of time gardening or farming, you should bring a sturdy pair of boots, a sun-hat and some trousers which you don’t mind getting dirty. It’s also a great idea to ask your host if there’s anything you need to pack for the trip; that raincoat or mosquito repellent could make all the difference.

Of course, you won’t be spending all of your time working – in fact, volunteers generally only help up to five hours per day. This allows you plenty of time to explore the local area. Make sure to pack nicer clothes and keep these for your off time to ensure they don’t get messy!

One of the reassuring things about Workaway is that your hosts will often have first aid supplies and medication in case you forget anything or need something additional. However, as always when travelling, it’s a good idea to bring some basic medication with you.

Related blog post: 10 essential things to pack on your Workaway trip

Sleeping Arrangement

Communication

Safety

Final thoughts

You can follow my adventures as I travel, eat and fumble my way through the mysteries of the Spanish language here!