It seems that most people either love or hate hostels, and it’s true, it’s not meant to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Take that a little bit further, volunteering at a hostel is even more so. Becoming a hostel volunteer is not for the weak of heart, that’s for sure!
BUT it can also be incredibly fun and rewarding. Let’s go over the steps you need to take to start volunteering in a hostel.
7 Steps To Start Volunteering At A Hostel
Volunteering at a hostel can be a great way to make new friends and learn new skills. Many hostels are small businesses that rely on volunteers to keep their doors open.
Volunteering at a hostel isn’t just about helping out—it’s also about getting to know people and making connections that might lead to future opportunities.
Sometimes travel decisions can be overwhelming, even if you have a lot of globe-trotting under your belt.
I remember back to how I felt when I first started traveling. As to be expected, there was definitely a learning curve.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned traveler, starting to volunteer through work exchanges can be daunting, which is exactly why I’ve come up with the 7-step guide on how to start volunteering at a hostel.
Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offer me a little commission for any purchases made. This supports me to continue making content for you! I was also compensated to create this content by Helpstay, but the opinions and advice are 100% my own.
1. Think About Your Intentions
First off, you need to decide what you want from volunteering. You can have vastly different experiences!
Do you want to improve in a language you already know? Volunteering in a hostel can allow you to have a deep-dive refresher course.
Of course, it is also a great environment to start learning a new language, since language immersion has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to learn a new language.
Volunteering at a hostel also means you get to see the nearby sights but at your own pace. Being a hostel volunteer means you don’t have to rush.
There’s no pressure not to miss anything because you have time and aren’t paying for accommodation! This is called slow traveling and I highly recommend it.
If you are trying to get some new life experiences under your belt (like those on a gap year) or consider yourself an eternal student, then you definitely need to volunteer in a hostel.
Not only do you get to learn new skills, but also some really fun activities.
Just to name a few possible hostel jobs, you can learn:
- Painting like this one in Malaysia
- Accommodation management like this one on Madiera Island, Portugal
- Climbing and trekking like this one in Peru
- Surfing like this one in Portugal
Volunteering in a hostel is great if you’re looking for fun nightlife. There are crazy party hostels all around the world – I volunteered at one in Budapest!
Don’t worry, there’s no shortage so you can definitely find one if that’s what you want. Check out this opportunity to live on the Las Vegas Strip for free!
2. Be Realistic About How Much/What Kind of Work You Want To Do
It’s easy to be tempted by a volunteering job because it’s in the best location or a popular city.
While it’s important to look for something that you will enjoy, it’s equally essential to not be desperate.
You need to know yourself – what kind of work you will enjoy, how many hours, how many days, etc.
Don’t “bite off more than you can chew” because that will lead to inevitable burnout.
As an example, doing 5 hours of hard farm labor for 5 days a week doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.
I come from a rural area where farm work wasn’t a foreign concept, so to me, it isn’t something new or interesting. This is why I prefer helping out at a hostel usually.
3. How To Find Hostel Work Exchanges
There are a lot of different ways to find opportunities and start volunteering at a hostel. A lot of ways I have found out about things in the travel community is simply word of mouth!
If you are already traveling, you could easily meet others that have been hostel volunteers so they can give you their personal recommendations.
Of course, this requires you to be out and about already, so yes it’s organic but not the easiest option.
Many start volunteering in a hostel through Facebook groups (and other similar social media platforms).
This is definitely easier than finding recommendations in person but still not the most secure since you aren’t meeting anyone in person to confirm that the hostel job is real and safe, and of course enjoyable!
This might be an option to consider if you are already an experienced travel volunteer.
Last but not least – the easiest and safest way to find a hostel work exchange is through a vetted online platform.
In the last decade, these sites have really taken off and many people are considering them as opposed to traditional vacations.
Due to the popularity, the older, well-known platforms can be pretty saturated with volunteers.
So even though they have a lot of free accommodation opportunities, getting one of them is difficult because the hosts get thousands of messages!
It depends on where you are trying to go, but sometimes you can have better success by using a smaller, newer platform.
Since they are trying to build up their platform, they are a little cheaper usually. The largest work exchange platform, Workaway is €49, while HelpStay is €43.
4. Write A Compelling Message
Once you have scoped out some exciting hostel work opportunities, you will need to write a good message to get their attention.
One of the biggest things to remember is to personalize the message – no copy & pasting!
You need to carefully read the host’s full description, look at all the photos, review any requirements listed, and check their availability to see if it matches.
Think about how you fit into what they want and need, so when you write to them you can highlight how you can help and what you have to offer.
Remember to be genuine about who you are and honest about your skills.
5. Schedule A Video Chat
When applying for a volunteer position you should set up a video call (or audio call at the very least) to ask questions that will help guide your application process:
- How much time will I be expected to commit? (Weekly? Daily?)
- What tasks would I be doing during these hours?
- What is included in my ‘role’—like transportation or housing?
This will give you a better idea if the hostel job fits what you want. It also gives you the chance to gauge the safety of the position by speaking with a real person.
6. Book Your Transport & Travel Insurance
Once you get that wonderful message from the hostel confirming your stay, you can start planning your trip and booking things.
This is your opportunity to ask the host any questions you have, about packing, how to get there from the bus or train station, the airport, etc.
Make sure to confirm how long you will be staying so you can purchase the right travel insurance.
Though it’s important with any travel adventure, having travel insurance is even more important when volunteering at a hostel since you will likely be more active than usual.
Many volunteer opportunities are set in gorgeous, but remote settings, so it’s important to be covered. It doesn’t matter where you are, emergency evacuations are expensive.
If you’re on a budget, check out SafetyWing for affordable coverage – their coverage is incredibly competitive ($45 for 4 weeks).
7. Re-Confirm With The Hostel A Few Days Before
Hostel life can be hectic, so make sure to check in with them a few days before you arrive to confirm everything is still set.
This also gives you a chance to get any arrival information that you might need, like a digital code for entry or a contact phone number.
Further Tips Volunteering In A Hostel
Be Open To New Experiences
Being a volunteer at a hostel is about more than just cleaning rooms, emptying the dishwasher, and folding towels. It’s also about learning from other people and being open to new experiences.
Asking questions is important because it shows your interest in what you’re doing, so don’t be afraid to ask if you’re unsure of something.
If you make mistakes, don’t worry about them too much—the staff will understand that this is your first time volunteering and will help guide you through everything!
Remember that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so try not to compare yourself with others too much – especially if they’ve been volunteering longer than you.
Check out why a volunteering membership makes a great gift for travel lovers ❤️
Be A People Person
The first rule of volunteering at a hostel is to be a people person. You will be working with a lot of people, both staff and guests.
You’ll meet many people from around the world and will need to interact with them to fulfill your duties as a volunteer.
This means that you must be good at communicating and listening, as well as being flexible enough to work alongside both guests and staff members who may have different work ethics/backgrounds than yours.
Apply Yourself Everywhere, But Avoid Being A Know-It-All
Volunteer at a hostel and you will be around people who are as different from each other as you can imagine.
The best way to get along with everyone is to be open-minded and flexible: don’t let your ego get in the way of your work!
And if someone has ideas about how to improve the place or just wants to share their experiences with you, try not to dismiss them outright.
Be adaptable and willing to listen first – then ask questions later if there are concerns about their suggestions.
Be Reliable
If you’re going to volunteer at a hostel, make sure you’re reliable.
If a hostel requires that volunteers commit to at least two hours per shift, then don’t say yes and then show up after one hour and leave early.
Not only is this inconsiderate, but could result in losing the volunteer position, getting a bad review, etc.
Be Helpful
Asking how you can help is often the best way to find out what needs doing. If you see something that needs tidying or fixing, just offer to grab some tools and get stuck in!
A little goes a long way when it comes to volunteering: even small acts of kindness will win over your hosts by showing that you’re invested in making their experience more enjoyable.
Remember volunteering is both give and take – what you put in is what you get out of it.
Safety Precautions You Should Take
You should take other safety precautions besides doing a video call with the hostel manager. If possible, check the other help exchange reviews on the host’s profile.
Most platforms allow you to message the other hostel volunteers so you can always ask them for more details in a private message.
Another great part of volunteering in a hostel is that they normally have a public booking system and a google maps location.
This allows you to read reviews on those public platforms to see what guests have to say about the hostel.
Seeing this information provides reassurance that the hostel is well-established and legitimate.
What To Expect On A Day-To-Day Basis
There are a number of different positions that you might be filling.
Every place has its own needs and of course, it will also depend on what areas you are capable in. Here are some examples.
Many hostels will operate with ‘shift work’ – if you aren’t familiar, a shift will mean a certain set of hours in a row. Like this:
- Staying at reception to check guests in 2-6PM
- Cleaning and making beds 10AM-2PM
- Bartending (some hostels have a bar too) 7-11PM
- Breakfast (many hostels provide free or paid breakfast) 8-10AM
Another option isn’t based on doing your duties all at once but more spread out throughout the day. This is more of a work at your own pace/when it’s needed.
So you might have certain areas to keep clean but don’t have a set time, this requires you to be more proactive though.
Final Thoughts For Hostel Volunteers
Volunteering at a hostel is a great way to help people, learn more about the city/area, and meet new people.
Hostels attract a diverse group of people with one thing in common: they all want to have new experiences through travel.
Being a hostel volunteer puts you right in the thick of it, who knows the connections and cool experiences that will come from it!
I hope these tips will give you a smooth start to volunteering in a hostel.
Check out these ➡️ 6 amazing places to stay for free in Hawaii
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