Every time I explain to someone that I use Workaway to travel the world on a budget, the same question arises – Is Workaway safe?
My answer is straight forward. It will be safe depending on your preparation.
Workaway uses a simple mantra – safety, trust and respect.
Like most things, if you put in enough effort and research, Workaway will be as safe as you want it to be.
I first found out about Workaway and its cultural exchange abroad shortly before leaving for full-time travel back in 2020 (right before COVID unfortunately).
It came up in passing while explaining my plans to a friend. She described how she taught English across Asia.
Can you guess what my first question was?
Is Workaway Safe?
I have been to about 30 countries now.
With this comes experience in what to expect when searching for accommodation and ways to survive when traveling on a budget.
I was excited about having Workaway experiences when it was mentioned to me. I immediately knew it was something that needed to be investigated.
Whether you are a first-time volunteer or a seasoned travel guru, let’s think about what is needed to make your Workaway safe.
Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offer me a little commission for any purchases made. These help me continue to offer helpful tips. Thank you so much for your support.
Read & Re-Read
Check everything multiple times on the host’s profile.
Thoroughly read the host’s description; this will give you a rundown of all the tasks you will expect to do and what you will get in return for doing it.
Usually, they provide accommodation and sometimes up to three meals a day.
Depending on the host, you may receive an extra bit of monetary compensation for your work.
Read More: Want To Know How To Make The Best Workaway Profile?
Check The Reviews
Make sure to check the host’s reviews.
They will be left by people who have already stayed and worked at this host’s property.
Similar to buying something on Amazon, it is crucial check the reviews to get an accurate picture of what you are getting yourself into.
It is essential to understand what it was actually like at that particular Workaway.
Now go back to the host’s profile and compare.
Often times the reviews will help you understand the host’s description better.
Make sure to take into consideration how you feel.
If something just doesn’t feel right about a Workaway, take it seriously because you know yourself better than anyone.
If you get the heebie-jeebies from a profile and can’t shake the feeling, then it’s not worth pursuing it.
Contact Previous Workawayers
There is an option to contact those who have worked there previously, even if they did not leave a review.
This is an incredible way of getting private and real information from people who have stayed.
Though these things can help put your mind at ease, volunteering at a Workaway will always require some level of trust, both on the host’s part and the volunteer.
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. Travel tests our capacity to trust others to the max. Being a long way from home, we rely on others to show us the ropes and re-direct us when we get lost. In fact it would be impossible to leave our homes unless we had implicit trust in the rest of the human race… or the majority of them.”
Having trust is vital in traveling and if someone uses Workaway it will be a huge part of that.
Always air on the side of caution but know the benefit of the doubt is needed sometimes too.
Read More: How To Succeed: You Need The Best Workaway Profile Examples
Host Review System
Workaway gives hosts it’s own rating.
This is not only based on reviews but on how long they spend on the site per day and how fast they respond to potential Workawayers.
Seeing the last time a host was on can be especially helpful if you are looking for a Workaway last minute.
Obviously, a Workaway 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.
This can be hard because they might have a lovely profile that suits you to a tee, but at the end of the day, you don’t want to waste time.
With that being said, I had an amazing time living in Montenegro, in a villa and working 4 to 5 hours a day.
This was with a Workaway host that had a score of 65%.
Don’t judge a book by its cover as you may lose an opportunity.
There are many reasons for low host scores and many of them aren’t negative.
They are people like the rest of us, their sole purpose in life isn’t to answer every Workaway message they receive.
Internet Connection
Internet is essential!!
While doing an urban or rural Workaway, having contact with the outside world is important.
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.
The host’s profile will have a checkmark by ‘internet access’ if they have it, though it wouldn’t hurt to double-check by confirming with the host via private message.
Learn From My Mistake
During my time in Montenegro, I didn’t a get local sim card.
This was a major mistake. One day my friend and I went out kayaking in an inflatable kayak.
It started to deflate so we panicked a bit and got to the nearest bit of land.
We got out and formulated a plan to get back. It would’ve been way less stressful if we had a SIM card to call my Workaway host.
Cultural Awareness
Each country has its unique customs. Something that makes them who they are.
It is important to try to plan ahead and do a at least a little bit of research ahead of time. Of course it depends on your destination too.
If you are going to a place with an extremely different culture to your own then it might be best to put in some effort and preparation.
Read about Carine and Derek, two Canadians, that did a Workaway experience in Asia here.
Vaccinations
Get your vaccinations for each place you visit!
The last thing you need is to arrive and within 4 days get yellow fever or worse.
Make sure to research your destination and see if they have any vaccinations you may need to have.
Traveling without first getting these is risky and uncalled for.
If you can not afford to get the vaccination for a particular place, that probably means you can not afford to travel there.
Here is a list, sorted by country and needed vaccinations.
Local Language
It is clear to see that locals love those who show even a small amount of effort.
Learning the basics of a language can go a long way to establish goodwill. ‘Hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ can be a starting point for your vocabulary.
Use them when going for a walk or shopping. Get comfortable with these and then start expanding.
Challenge yourself by ordering food at the restaurant in the local language.
Better yet, research the local foods to make your own recipe like I did during my Workaway in Montenegro.
Don’t be afraid to feel like an idiot. You could make some unlikely friends.
Geopolitical Standings
Depending on the location, it could be necessary to do research.
Some places could have unpleasant relationships with nearby countries, your own country, or countries that you have visited previously.
Take Georgia for example, it is currently at war with Russia.
The sections marked on the eastern and western side of Kutaisi, Georgia are currently active war zones and should be avoided.
Similarly, Israel and Malaysia do not have a great relationship.
Complications could arise due to visiting either in the past few years and then entering the other.
Permission may even be necessary to apply for depending on the individual.
“The two countries currently do not maintain formal diplomatic relations (as of 2019). Malaysian passports bear the inscription: “This passport is valid for all countries except Israel”. Israeli passport holders are not permitted to enter Malaysia without written permission from the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs.” -An excerpt from the Israel-Malaysia relations page of Wikipedia.
Meeting A Host
Make sure to meet your host in a public place for the first time.
This gives you the opportunity to test the waters before diving in.
If something does not seem right, then you can always change your mind.
Workaway Location
Whether the Workaway is urban or rural, the location matters for your safety.
Crime can happen anywhere, even in places with a low crime rate.
In unfamiliar cities, it would be good to take pre-cautions.
If doing a rural Workaway, especially as a solo traveler, make sure to get to know your host before setting off.
If the Workaway experience does go awry, it can be difficult depending on how remote it is and whether there is transport away from the place.
Always remember that you have options. In the worst case scenario, you can use something like Booking.com or HostelWorld as a back up option.
Plus, there are so many alternatives to hostels and hotels now that you have to check out!
Homestay is great for finding local families to stay with at an affordable price.
You get to feel right at home when you arrive and it’s perfect for short or long term stays.
Get €20/$25 off your first Homestay trip!
TrustedHousesitters helps you stay in wonderful places for free by house sitting and caring for cute pets.f
You can find unique & amazing accommodation that would normally be hundreds per night!
Find out more about these on my TrustedHousesitters vs Homestay comparison!
Meeting Other Workawayers
Workaway allows you to meet and connect with other people using the site in your area.
Doing this will give you a chance to meet other like-minded travelers and feel safer by having a sort of community.
Connections always make things easier.
Check-In With Family & Friends
Once you have finalised your Workaway details, let everyone your plans.
Tell your family, friends, and overly enthusiastic and nosy next-door neighbour where you are going.
Having people know where you are will give reassurance.
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.
In any case, protection is a must when traveling.Having a back up plan is crucial just in case something goes wrong.
I advise getting travel insurance when planning your trip. I always use Safetywing Insurance since they are amazing & reliable with wide coverage plans.
Check out these 12 tips for finding the best work abroad travel insurance!
Remember Your Purpose
Once you arrive and start your volunteering, don’t let it consume you.
You are a traveler after all.
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.
Figure out with your host which days off you should take and the days you will work.
Remember to experience the places you are visiting.
Find a balance between completing tasks for your host and taking time for yourself.
Meet the locals at any opportunity and do your best to immerse yourself in culture.
Make stories worth telling your children or nieces and nephews, otherwise, what’s the point?
Workaway Is Safe
So, is Workaway safe? Yes! Workaway is as safe as you make it.
If you put time into understanding exactly where you are going and who you are going to spend time with, then you can usually prevent issues from arising.
There are some pretty crazy and fun volunteer stories out there, and unfortunately also some Workaway horror stories.
It seems like many of these are due to bad hosts or when a Workawayer did not go to the exchange correctly prepared.
This is why I wrote an article about how the be the best Workawayer, so you can do your part to prevent a Workaway horror story.
Following my guidelines will hopefully minimize your chance of having a bad Workaway experience.
Love This Post? Pin It For Later!
