Annabella Virginia

Italy
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Mexico - from Feb 2026 until Mar 2026
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Description
In September, I decided to move to Tunisia for three months, a bit randomly I might add. My time here is slowly coming to an end, and as sad as this makes me, I'm also so grateful for how beautiful it has been to experience living in this country for the last three months. I'm finishing university soon, and my plan, like many others, was to try and start looking for jobs in my field. But I've been able to put a bit of money aside from working in a restaurant, and I thought to myself why start working immediately? Is it me who wants this or it just something I think I have to do? I realised it was the latter. Tunisia has taught me how beautiful it is not only to travel to different places but also to live them. I feel like I've learnt and I know so much more than my September self. I now would like to keep doing that, to learn more about different cultures by experiencing living and working there.
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Culture
Farming
Charity work
DIY & crafts
Music
Books
Cooking & food
Photography
Languages
Writing
Drawing & painting
Animals
Mountain
Beach
Outdoor activities
Nature
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
Teaching
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Charity Work
Languages
More details about your skills
I am a friendly and calm person, and I get along well with others easily. I speak English and Italian, and I can communicate in intermediate French and Spanish. Because I have lived abroad for my studies for the last 6 years, I adapt easily to new places and different routines. I am responsible and organised, and I learn new tasks quickly. I can help with cleaning and housekeeping, basic cooking, food preparation, and café or hostel tasks like serving guests, tidying common areas, or helping with check-in and check-out. I've now worked in hospitality for the last 5 years. I am reliable, and not afraid of repetitive or practical work. I enjoy working both independently and with others, and I am happy to help with any small jobs that might need doing.
Age
24
What else ...
I’m Annabella, a 24-year-old student from Italy and the UK who has been living in the Netherlands for my studies. I am currently finishing off my masters in migration and refugee law, and academically this has aways been my area of interest since I've started university. Through this I've worked with several NGOs and voluntary organisations in Italy to aid and help refugees and people on the move. I’ve now moved places a few times, and I'm currently living in Tunisia where I have been since September. I really enjoy travelling, slow days in nature, good conversations, and discovering small local places like cafés or bookshops. I love taking photos on my film camera and exploring new towns on foot. Friends describe me as calm, open, and easy to share a space with. I’m joining Workaway because I want to spend time working while discovering new places, get to know different cultures more closely, and be part of everyday life instead of just passing through as a tourist.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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9 Mar 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Friendly hostel looking for ...)

I stayed at Carlos’s hostel for a little over three weeks and overall had a lovely experience. I really enjoyed spending time with the other volunteers, the work was generally straightforward and laid-back, and if your goal is to practice Spanish you will definitely have many opportunities to do so with both volunteers and guests who don’t speak… read more English.

You receive your schedule for the upcoming week every Sunday evening. Shifts are either in the morning (9am–2pm, usually with one or two other volunteers), afternoon (2pm–7pm, alone), or evening/night (7pm–12am, alone). You work five days a week with two days off. Carlos is flexible and does his best to take volunteers’ preferences into account, and he is usually very accommodating if you ask to have two days off in a row. The work mainly consists of cleaning the common areas of the hostel, changing sheets, preparing and cleaning rooms after check-out, and helping at reception with guests, check-ins, and check-outs.

Carlos is always reachable by phone and responds quickly if there are any questions or issues. During the first weeks of my stay I only saw him a few times in person, so most of the day-to-day instructions were explained by other volunteers, some of whom had only arrived shortly before me. Because of this, the work can sometimes feel a bit informal or loosely organized . Occasionally, when several volunteers work together in the morning, tasks are not always clearly divided, so some people may naturally take on more than others. In general, though, the volunteers I worked with were very hardworking and helpful. A short initial orientation for new volunteers and a proper welcome would make the transition even smoother. Toward the end of my stay Carlos started to be more present at the hostel, and he even began organizing evening workout sessions with the volunteers, which many of us happily joined and which helped create a nice group atmosphere.

The volunteer living area has a fairly rustic, hostel-style atmosphere. If you enjoy a relaxed, communal living environment you will probably like it, although people who prefer a very structured or polished setup might need a little time to adjust. There is a separate volunteer area in the lower part of the hostel with an outdoor space where you can hang clothes, a small kitchen area with a sink, fridge and freezer, and a table with seating. Cooking is done on the terrace upstairs, which is shared with guests.

There are two volunteer rooms: one with three beds used mainly by longer-term volunteers, and another with several beds and bunk beds for other volunteers. Personal belongings are stored in containers roughly the size of a medium suitcase. Volunteers share one bathroom and, when I was there, there were usually around eight or nine volunteers in total. There are also cleaning shifts for the volunteer area, which helps keep the space tidy.

The beds lockers, and doors to the rooms are somewhat older, which adds to the rustic feel of the place. During my stay there was also occasionally some trouble with rats in the volunteer area and the terrace kitchen, which meant that food had to be stored carefully. Carlos did contact pest control while I was there, and I think this may have been a temporary issue specific to that period.

The hostel itself is beautiful and has several great common areas where you can relax during your free time. The terrace upstairs has a stunning view of the sea, with amazing sunsets and even fireworks around 8pm most evenings. The location is excellent: about a two-minute walk from the ocean and around fifteen minutes from Zona Romántica, where you can catch buses to some of the best nearby beaches.

Puerto Vallarta itself is a nice city. Like many coastal destinations in Mexico it is quite touristy, especially in the central areas, and many businesses cater mainly to visitors. Sometimes it can feel more like a resort area than a traditional Mexican town. On the other hand, this also means it feels very safe and comfortable to walk around, even at night. If you walk about twenty minutes away from the busiest areas you can find more local neighborhoods with beautiful streets, jungle scenery, and views of the sea. If you visit around February, you can also see humpback whales on tours, which is an incredible experience.

Overall, there is always room for improvement in any volunteer program, but I am very happy with the time I spent at Hostal Vallarta. Carlos expects volunteers to take their shifts seriously, but outside of that you have plenty of freedom and time to enjoy the city, relax at the beach, and explore nearby places. For example, I asked if I could have two days in a row off to visit Guadalajara, and Carlos kindly arranged my shifts so that I had enough time to make the trip. It was a good experience and I am grateful for the time I spent there.

Thank you Carlos!

(Very good)