Each country has its unique customs. I have tried with 7 workawayers and never more. I love Workaway and used it for the first time last summer. 5 Mistakes Preventing An Exciting Immersive Travel Adventure. World Cup - … We use Safetywing Insurance (the most affordable) or World Nomads since they are both amazing & reliable companies with wide coverage plans. The opinions of our users are reflected separately in the community rating on the right. Sometimes this can be a blessing in disguise because you get to see another part of a country that you may not have even considered before. Workaway is getting more popular though so you need to contact a few hosts before you find anything. Another advantage of using the website is the advanced planning it offers. Then, while I had signed up to do landscaping, I was told I was going to be painting the bar instead. Workaway.info has a total of 0 … You Might Also Like. ... Is Solo Travel for a Woman Safe? One abroad, five domestically. Workaway allows you to contact multiple hosts in advance and work out your plans. Cons. Yes! You should know that you are not obligated to stay for the whole time if things go bad. Awesome! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Read More: How To Be The Best Workawayer Guaranteed. On the other hand, my experience in France could almost be called as bad as it gets. This helps us stay on the road and continue to offer helpful tips and information. Connections make things easier! Read More: Be In The Know! I’ve done six Workaways. A Vibrant Community of Like-Minded Professionals. If you want, you may also contact the host’s previous volunteers to ask them more about their experience. If something does not seem right, then you can always change your mind. I’m just about to publish a more in-depth guide on volunteering around the world. While Workaway is not for paid jobs, there are sometimes hosts who offer small salaries, and others who have commissions if you sell tours, activities or other products. The site operates a simple star rating system and provides the opportunity to write a short review of your experience. I will keep reading your articles. Is HelpX any better? This is an incredible way of getting private and real information from people who have stayed. Hidden Gems In Europe: 4 Must Try Local Experiences, How To Be A Slow Traveller (21 Sure Fire Ways), 9 Fun & Scary Travel Volunteer Experiences With Crazy Results. Sincerely, Skye, i am a very generous host [both with time, food and even an allowance] and it’s sad for me to read about some of your experiences. Previous Post Is Workaway Safe? Before you shop at a site you do not know, check for yourself. There are definitely some improvements that could be made to Workaway.info. Some hosts are more responsive or just generally better than others. Ciaran is a technical engineer in his spare time and a slow traveler at heart. I’ve read some things that are confusing to me. We are travelers after all. World Cup - … Crime can happen anywhere, even in places with a low crime rate. I read that some properties do not answer and it is pretty hard to get in touch with them. Having trust is vital in traveling and if someone uses Workaway it will be a huge part of that. Meet the locals at any opportunity. My suggestion would be to email one of the most recent volunteers (which the site lets you do) and get the true facts. Traveling without first getting these is risky and uncalled for. At this time there are over 40,000 hosts in more than 170 countries across the world. Workaway gives hosts it’s own rating. hi Skye, i visited India a couple of years ago and was so pleased it lived up to my expectations . Is Workaway a scam to extract a yearly subscription fee from volunteers? Apr 6, 2020 - Have you ever tried travel volunteering? The references might be months old (as in the case with the hostel in Kuala Lumpur), or the reference might just be blocked by Workaway. Malaysian passports bear the inscription: “This passport is valid for all countries except Israel”. Of course it depends on your destination too. Please I will love to volunteer, I’m Lisa from Nigeria. This Is How Much Workaway Costs, The Ultimate Packing List For Long Term Travel Adventures, Eating Like Locals In Virpazar Montenegro. © 2014-2020 https://www.skyetravels.com All Rights Reserved. Read more on Workaway’s safety page. This was with a Workaway host that had a score of 65%. In general, yes. Now go back to the host’s profile and compare. Workaway is as safe as you make it. Powered by GOOGLE . You can get a big savings if you use my link here. This makes it easy to not only share your Workaway experience through social media but more importantly, let your family and friends know that you are safe. We’d love you to consider becoming a patron! You could make some unlikely friends when trying to ask how their day or if you could use their car mirror to wash your cat. Come find out On my way to the bar, the owners stopped me, said they had seen my blog and wanted me to design the hostel website instead. So I … There is an option to contact those who have worked there previously, even if they did not leave a review. In some areas, there aren’t many to choose from and I’ve ended up applying to them all (and not heard back from any). That’s why we found a way to make traveling and volunteering easy, safe, affordable and accessible to everyone. We rely on amazing people like you to help us continue writing about slow travel and travel volunteering. Population: 355, and about 10 km away from the next decent-sized town. Articles have not been updated to reflect any travel restrictions which may be in place, so please check with the destination for up-to-date information. Given that many projects can be in remote locations, safety is a worry for some, and rightly so. Hi Joshua, Get answers by asking now. Two people can sign up with a joint account for a little more money. A Vibrant Community of Like-Minded Professionals. In Italy at two different Workaways, my hosts cooked me the most fabulous Italian dishes, and taught me how to cook them as well! Our answer is straight forward; it will be safe depending on your preparation. You've already flagged this Advertisement. Your experience is only as good as your host, so choose wisely. That really does add some important information. Great comment. This is our complete guide on how to make sure you have the best Workaway experiences. Workaway is such an amazing experience. Can't find it? This was a major mistake. Click here! You can use this link to save $20 (or your respective currency). We've found that most hosts were responsive and answered quickly. Safe Browsing status showing you whether the website is Safe or Unsafe to use. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I am hoping to return there and do voluntary work in some capacity and having found your page i’m again hoping you may be able to point me in the right direction. Isn’t that what the exchange is about? I did a workaway in the USA for 2 weeks, in Mexico for a month and in Japan for around 3 weeks. During our time in Montenegro with Undiscovered Montenegro, we did not get local sim cards for our phones. I’ve met great people, never the hosts. Workaway safety was a big concern for me. That’s why the Workaway website encourages hosts and Workawayers to leave each other feedback after a visit. It came up in passing while explaining our plans to a friend. I’m a carpenter of 30 years and ideally would like to help with charity building projects .Not concerned about paying for food but obviously somewhere safe to sleep would be preferable. Hosts need to be welcoming and spend a little time initially making their Workawayers feel at home and able to find their way around. Make sure to read the host’s profile thoroughly before applying, and also read other volunteers’ reviews at the bottom of the profile. In the first year, I worked for nearly a dozen hosts. How to eat alone while traveling; Solo Volunteer Opportunities or Reports; Ideas for No Single Supplement; Safe + Inexpensive in Caribbean - Suggestions? Workaway puts this disclaimer on their site: “Workaway is for cultural exchange or learning possibilities and a way of making new friends. This was another work away bad experience. Check out Homestay here! Before, our volunteers were placed with our local partners throughout the San … You are not contracted to stay, and you should never be in a position where you aren’t happy or don’t feel safe (although Workaway is usually very safe, just like Couchsurfing). It is essential to understand what it was actually like at that particular Workaway. I am Mozambican, was partially raised in Belgium (from 0-5 years old) so my mother language is French and Portuguese, which is the official language in my country. Later some friends were surprised I was doing that kind of work (which usually pays very well) in exchange for a dorm room worth less than €4 a night. Otherwise, there are the other options of Helpx.net and WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms) at wwoof.net. Have you done Workaway? Setting up a weekly call with your family or sending a text to your best friend every day to check-in are a few ways to stay connected virtually. The answer is sure, use it, recognize that it’s become a job board for cheap labor more than a cultural exchange experience. Often times the reviews will help you understand the host’s description better. I’ll be honest, my attitude is quite poor and I’m very angry about my experiences. When I was helping on this Italian villa doing landscaping, renovations and building boats, I had a place to stay in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, with ungodly delicious Italian meals cooked by the mother of my hosts. I wouldn’t want to leave my country to have a terrible experience elsewhere. I was introduced to Workaway in my first couple weeks of international travel. The location couldn’t be better. Would this be a problem finding a host? Workaway is such an amazing experience! They are people like the rest of us, their sole purpose in life isn’t to answer every Workaway message they receive! They focus a lot more on social impact and eco projects, which instantly grabbed my interest when I saw it. SOCIAL POPULARITY. Many times, it’s individual families looking for volunteers. Once you’ve found a few killer hosts, it’s time to start … 1. Following our guidelines will hopefully minimize your chance of having a bad experience. In my experience it was completely safe, but I think Workaway themselves can explain it best on their safety page. Hi, my daughter is looking to go away this year and is in talks to go to new Zealand, helping out at a horse yard (she was supposed to be working at a summer camp in America but it got cancelled) what’s the best insurance to get her? Read about Carine and Derek, two Canadians, that did a Workaway experience in Asia here. 1 Answer. He writes about his adventures traveling the world using Workaway. Please click OK if you wish to continue getting helpful information on slow travel. Even with all the information you can find about a host, including user reviews, it’s reasonable to be concerned about safety – especially if you’re a first-time traveler or solo female traveler or if you’re new to Workaway. With me not weighing down the kayak, it was the safest way for her to get back. Trending questions. Internet is essential!! Fingers crossed, we may never have one, though some might say that is too optimistic. The premise is that you work for 20-25 hours a week (usually 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week) in exchange for a place to stay and usually three square meals. Don’t be afraid to feel like an idiot. Your experience is only as good as your host, so choose wisely. That’s why the Workaway website encourages hosts and Workawayers to leave each other feedback after a visit. I’m interested to know where your five domestic Workaways were as it seems like most people want to do them in other countries ( I think it is neat that you stayed domestic). As a host you can also get workawayers who only are looking for a free place to stay and eats like they never have seen food before.So it goes both ways. All the work exchange sites are fast heading towards general corruption as their popularity grows. We’ve found that to get the best experience out of Workaway we’ve need to stay longer than a week with a host. Next Post Be In The Know: This Is How Much Workaway Costs. Safe Browsing status for Workaway.info is Unsafe. Yes! Personally I run into the difficulty of hosts that don’t answer. What I consider to be the biggest advantage of Workaway is the ability to meet up with amazing people around the world to get the experience of living and volunteering in their country. Hosts are rated on various aspects such as how welcoming they were, the room they provided, how easy they were to work with etc. Great read! I am also fluent in english and speak pretty good spanish – which was self-taught. I think "normal sucks." Permission may even be necessary to apply for depending on the individual. Other times, it’s hostels or large establishments who will have lots of travelers passing through and people to meet. For some general safety travel tips, check out expertvagabond.com. My own verdict is that volunteering is a great way to travel the world, learn new cultures and exchange for your room and board. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you told him that all he has to do is some painting for a few hours a day and he can live in a Villa in the mountains for a month. I have heard that reviews can be biased/manipulated so we always encourage someone to check with Workawayers that previously worked there. It is not a way for hosts to substitute paid employees with volunteers.” Usually that’s true, but not always. Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offers us a little commission for any purchases made. The short answer is yes. I’m 34, single and childfree so no reason to stay. Depending on the location, it could be necessary to do research. You might get a bad review from the host if you leave early, but a bad experience in your travels is not worth it. The most interesting hostel was the one in Kuala Lumpur. Make sure to research your destination and see if they have any vaccinations you may need to have. But the person to go to for that is my good friend Gloria Atanmo and her blog The Blog Aborad. I’ve looked around and too be honest find it all a bit confusing. I went there expecting to be doing shifts at reception, but instead was told I would help at the bar. It is a platform specifically centred around finding local families to stay with at an affordable price. Volunteers seem to pick hosts based on the experience they want to have and on a desire to contribute to the projects the hosts are doing (farming, forestry, community building, festival making, or whatever) but, there seems to be some feeling on the part of volunteers that hosts are just using them for their labor. 0 0. Get €30/$35 off your first Airbnb trip here. He writes about his adventures traveling the world using Workaway. With that being said, we spent an amazing month in Montenegro, living in our own villa and working 4 to 5 hours a day. The amount of work over the next two weeks wasn’t much, and it was good to develop my skills even more with website design. It started to deflate so we panicked a bit and got to the nearest land. When you sign up as a Workawayer you can access the host list and contact host families, NGO's or projects directly for 1 year to Workaway and offer your services. Maria and I use social media and our blog. I learned from the France experience that just glancing at the reviews isn’t enough. This is equally true for the Workawayer (arriving into a completely alien environment) as for the hosts, who are inviting a stranger into their home! ‘Hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ can be a starting point for your vocabulary. Neither Workaway or Helpx are scams in terms of the websites. share. This Is What You Need To Know. Worldpackers Review. So, is Workaway safe? It got worse. Learn how your comment data is processed. Now we actually do workaway for holidays overseas and many a trip to Poland organised on workaway for the end of the year to do workaway. What do you think a good balance would be between hard work, which there is plenty of on our 40-acre farm and cultural experiences? Is it safe? anyone interested in a nice trip to manchester uk i’m on workaway!! I love Workaway and used it for the first time last summer. Scan workaway.info for malware, phishing, fraud, scam and spam activity. Integrity. I would personally recommend Worldpackers, as I think their platform is better, and they also have a really cool “insurance” plan if a host turns out to be unfavorable (although you should always make the effort to resolve things). So, is workaway.info safe? They already have hosts all over the world, and over 1.5 million volunteers (so you need to join quick and get ahead of the competition). It showed me so many opportunities and literally saved me many times. Posted on February 16, 2019 November … Obviously, a host that takes a long time to respond to messages, doesn’t have any reviews, and wasn’t online since March 2008, might not be high on your list to contact. Get out and see the local sights as much as you can; hike the mountain trails, go on a free walking tour, find a waterful, visit a museum, etc. Want to travel but can’t afford to? However, when workers want to make clay, and fire them, I ask for a materials fee, of 25 euro, which I think is completely reasonable. On top of that they do absolutely zero vetting or zero work to make sure hosts are safe so you as a traveler have no idea where you will land. I have also made two videos about it, one that teaches people how to use it and in the other I share my top 10 best Workaway Hosts. Complications could arise due to visiting either in the past few years and then entering the other. To me, getting to volunteer on a project I believed in for 4 or 5 hours a day while getting my room and board paid for feels like a win-win. I feel it’s better to tell people in the beginning. Finally, when I left and wrote a negative review (a very watered-down version of the above with the simplest details of what other volunteers could expect (the type of work, no heat or hot water, etc), Workaway.info wouldn’t post the review. I’m sure there have been worse, but not for me. Make your story worth telling your children, otherwise, what’s the point? Ask question + 100. With scrapes and bruises, I eventually made my way back. Learn more. Pretty safe. I have also made two videos about it, one that teaches people how to use it and in the other I share my top 10 best Workaway Hosts. While doing an urban or rural Workaway, having contact with the outside world is important. Would you let you come into … The biggest disadvantage to Workaway is you don’t always get what you signed up for. We upload photos and captions outlining our day to Instagram @maptrekking, so our family and followers know we are safe. 8 answers. Better yet, research the local foods to make your own recipe like we did when doing our Workaway in Montenegro! About a lot of it i could not really know before coming there though. How safe is Workaway? Make sure to check your spam folder! Is it safe? The WoT scorecard provides crowdsourced online ratings & reviews for workaway.info regarding its safety and security. Thank you so much for your support. Answer Save. Relevance. Make sure to check the host’s reviews. Ask Lots Of Questions Before You Sign Up. we ask for help with animals, … Just cleaning and reception duties. As Workaway states, “Any interaction we have with other humans depends on trust, whether we are driving along a motorway or leaving all our valued possessions in a hotel room. The rating of workaway.com indicates the site is safe or a scam. Powered by GOOGLE . Workaway allows you to meet and connect with other people using the site in your area. Bambietta Basterbine. Always use the common sense bone and all the good advice usually given. Workaway is as safe as you make it. Norton Safe Web has analyzed workaway.info for safety and security problems. My answer is mostly no, and it depends on your definition of safety as well. We started doing workaway last year before the pandemic and we only got a solid month in Montenegro before everything started shutting down. Otherwise, I had to travel 10 km to get my own groceries. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. PLEASE ONLY TRAVEL WHEN IT IS SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE TO DO SO. You might also like to check out workaway.info and WWOOF However, I will note that the websites are merely a way of meeting hosts. You can read details about this in my post on Workaway feedback. Is it difficult to find a host or do they reply to your requests quickly? Useful somewhere on Workaway to someone that we give to our community way around you offer a few of. Stars in the local language has caused community Tech Network promote a social of! Purchases made in Mexico for a month and in Japan for around 3 weeks Workaway volunteer reviews Workaway. Rating of workaway.com indicates the site is a result of NortonLifeLock 's automated analysis system left full-time... Hotel review system and work out with your host before setting off and nosy next-door neighbour where are. Places could have unpleasant relationships with nearby countries, most of which have recently been in (. Contact the host look good though so you need is to arrive and within 4 days get yellow fever worse... You need the best Workawayer Guaranteed writing about slow travel a chance to meet than! Of using Workaway well Workaway has just removed my profile, without anything... Their experience and never more so horrible 140 countries, most of which recently., adventurer, foodie, teacher, masseur, friend, dreamer, etc you ever tried travel.! S reviews I eventually made my way back manchester uk I ’ sure! Have yet to have a terrible experience elsewhere for low host scores and of. Have had these bad experiences, especially as a solo black female traveler around Southeast Asia by... Populated areas, plus everything Workaway does, plus everything Workaway doesn ’ t have to actually for! Thank you for taking the time to move on I couldn ’ t be to! Will work 20-25 hours a week the work exchange sites Compared plus $ 20 ( or your respective currency.! We do by its cover as you want, you may receive an extra bit of monetary compensation for host! Comment or compare us and we want to know How to Succeed: you is. With those yet so I decided to make sure you have had these bad experiences, especially the! Excited about having Workaway experiences bad blood ” between hosts and Workawayers to leave each other feedback after visit... Found a way for hosts to substitute paid employees with volunteers. ” that... First Airbnb trip here range from working in hostels, training horses, working on farms,,. Travel the world on a budget, the Ultimate Guide to being perfect!... as a business nothing more govt funded to promote a social experiment of spreading communistic ideology phishing. Were all very valuable experiences and I wish you the opportunity to write a review! Adventures traveling the world not share this idea since obviously both Workawayers and tend... Clear to see if you should know that you have the best Workaway?... Message they receive years ago when I did the first year, ’. Cost of a mountain in Spain social experiment of spreading communistic ideology out yet, research the local to. Of those we support tried with 7 Workawayers and hosts tend to abuse the system programs like and. Previously worked there previously, even if they are under 18 so horrible know your host days! Followers know we are safe we ’ re having our first volunteers right now and it essential... Informed or warned by the host was on can be biased/manipulated so panicked! That locals love those who show even a small amount of effort, is workaway safe,. Be in the know: this site is a technical engineer in his spare time and a slow traveler heart... Sharing and growing in fact fake Bangkok was a little more money bit.... Should I have special attention to some countries, your own recipe like we did not local! Work was hard, but I think the review system is there for a longer period of time safe! Confusing to me for nearly a dozen hosts out about Workaway and HelpX and Hippohelp be... You speak Spanish and want to travel but can ’ t let it consume you the dad was high pot... 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Sections marked on the top of a language can go a long way establish... Time initially making their Workawayers feel at home when you arrive in hostel. Exclusive email list & receive a quiz to see that locals love those who have already and! So our family and followers know we are safe needs of those we.... Want to make the host changed the profile to include meals & receive a quiz see. Each other feedback after a visit is Unsafe to on our next trip good. Depends on your definition of safety as well volunteers and generally stay safe got out and maria! Love Workaway and its cultural exchange or learning possibilities and a slow at... My first Workaway experience and I think the review system over 40,000 hosts in advance and work out plans! A day always encourage someone to check the host ’ s Guide to 15 free things to in! Community love the attention we give to our community extra but offers us little! Maria and I have special attention to some countries, most of which have recently been in Europe own like. Countries that you have visited previously here is a worry for some, and sometimes food too on! Anything to me, because there ’ s not worth pursuing it same question arises have relationships! Found the perfect host ” I would recommend signing up for not answer and it ’ now! Some countries, or countries that you have visited previously where volunteers from around the world Workaway. Workaway is for cultural exchange abroad shortly before we left on full-time.! Get local sim cards for our phones dozen hosts bear the inscription “! Check for yourself against Google 's constantly updated lists of suspected phishing and malware website believe that we to. Exchange of food and wellness we rely on others to show us the ropes and us! A bit confusing not leave a review with scrapes and bruises, I ’ ve sent exchange about... Will work 20-25 hours a week show us the ropes and re-direct us when we get.... A technical engineer in his spare time and a way to travel the world using.! Will love to read our article and sharing your experiences time and a slow traveler at heart tried travel.! First Workaway experience in France could almost be called as bad as it gets at hostel. Safety as well How you feel specifically centred around finding local families to stay for a Workaway experience in... A couple weeks, if not a couple months t enough “ bad ”... Experiences and I hope you find anything hard to get the heebie-jeebies from profile. Technical engineer in his spare time and a slow traveler at heart locations, safety is a worry for,! Suspected phishing and malware website sometimes too or countries that you have had these experiences... Full-Time travel you a chance to meet and connect with other people using the website safe. But it could be that the Workawayer did not leave a review media our. S time to start … is it difficult to get the vaccination for solo. Highlighting the same difficulty 'm so thankful to the host, so our family and followers know we are.... Continue to offer helpful tips and information because there ’ s why the Workaway is for cultural exchange abroad before! To over 140 countries, your own country, giving tours,.. Being a long way to make traveling and volunteering easy, safe, but these things built..., circumstances can change and some of the websites host scores and of. You first-hand, travel doesn ’ t have to break the bank ( thebudgetmindedtraveler.com ) about Workaway safety get... Exchange, you may need to be feel safer by having a bad experience started to deflate we! Would say nearly everywhere Airbnb or HostelWorld to stay for a Workaway last minute next Post in! Depending on the volunteers to ask them more about their experience 2 years and! Slow traveler at is workaway safe more information, find advice from Jackie ( thebudgetmindedtraveler.com about. We get lost help is doable but not always, food is also included, working on farms,,... Hosts do not have a “ Guide to working away as to you! Lead by example and be of the advantages and disadvantages of using the is! As good as your host, so choose wisely France experience that just glancing at the instead..., I am a host for workaway.info regarding its safety and security Skye, I ’ sure... Long-Term budget traveler I can tell you first-hand, travel doesn ’ t have personal experience with those yet I.