Are you thinking about doing a Workaway in France? If you are, I would say 100% go for it.
It is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, and there are endless available opportunities for work exchange in France.
From helping to teach a family English to volunteer on a farm, Workaway France has something for everyone.
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Top Tips For Workaway France
I spent 2 months volunteering through Workaway at a bed and breakfast in the South of France. I was paired with the most wonderful host family, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
Although doing a Workaway in France is a fantastic way to immerse yourself into a new culture, there are definitely things to consider before committing to a program.
Here are 9 things I learned during my work exchange in France.
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1. Your Work Exchange In France Might Mean More Work Hours
When I signed up to do a work exchange in France at a bed and breakfast for the summer, I didn’t really have any expectations as far as the workload.
I thought I might be greeting guests and helping with breakfast, as well as cleaning a room or two a day. Most days I had 2-3 rooms to clean and some laundry to help fold.
On other days I’d spend 6-7 hours cleaning apartments and rooms, helping with laundry, getting lunch prepared, and so on.
Workaway states that you’re only supposed to work 5 days and up to 25 hours per week. This definitely was not the case with my Workaway experience.
I worked 6 days per week, with only one day off, and at least 30 hours per week.
Luckily, I really connected with my host family and wanted to help them out as much as possible, since they were overwhelmed with the amount of work to do.
This is definitely something to keep in mind, as you may be expected to work more hours than is stated online.
2. Spending Time Outside Of Your Workaway In France
My French Workaway host family was extremely generous and kind.
They offered to take me out to dinner at different restaurants and even drove me to the Mediterranean to stay at their daughter’s place for a weekend.
While I wasn’t expecting to spend so much time with my host family outside of work and meals, I definitely enjoyed getting to know them.
I went into my Workaway experience with an open mind and with the goal of immersing myself in local life.
By saying yes to things, I was able to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences with locals and truly immersed myself in French culture.
Learn how to get awesome work exchanges 🤝 8 steps to finding the best Workaway hosts.
3. Household Help During Your France Work Exchange
Outside of the normal work exchange duties, you may have to help prepare meals and do other tasks around the home. I helped clean up breakfast, prepare lunch, and would often help to prepare dinner as well.
On top of that, I did some weeding around the house, helped clean the pool, and did any other maintenance tasks they needed help with.
It can be a lot of work at the end of the day, but I figured these are things I’d have to do at home anyways, so I was happy to help.
4. Workaway France Is Often Unglamorous
When you think of a bed and breakfast in Southern France, vineyards, picnics, beautiful countryside views, and lavender fields may come to mind.
While all of these lovely things do exist, you’re not going to be living the picture-perfect life on your Workaway in France.
I spent my mornings, from 8AM – 1PM (or longer), cleaning toilets, changing sheets, ironing sheets, folding sheets, and mopping floors. My job was to clean rooms for two months.
This is probably the most unglamorous way to spend a summer in Southern France, and yet, it was one of the best summers of my life.
I went in with the expectation that I’d be working hard and therefore, I had no hard feelings about it. I spent my mornings working efficiently to get the work done as fast as possible.
I then spent my afternoons exploring the area, going on bike rides, eating pastries, or lounging by the pool. In other terms, I worked hard and I played hard.
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5. Access To Transportation During Your Workaway In France
A lot of work exchange experiences are located somewhere remote or in the countryside. This was the case for my Workaway in France.
I didn’t have access to any local transportation during my work exchange in France. Instead, I had a bike that the host family let me borrow.
And let me tell you, I rode that bike everywhere. The nearest town was only a 10-minute bike ride away from the bed and breakfast. I’d often spend the afternoon wandering around town or relaxing at a cafe for a bit.
If I wanted to take the train somewhere for the day or needed to catch the bus, the host family was more than willing to drop me off at the station.
It was a bit of an inconvenience to have to ask to be dropped off and picked up at the station, but I usually only asked to do this once a week.
Related: Amazing hostel jobs in France
6. Workaway France Means Making Lifetime Friends
Not only did I become very close friends with my French Workaway host family, but we have also kept in touch with them many years later.
I even went to visit them 3 years after my work exchange and stayed with them for a week at the bed and breakfast. My hope is to visit them again in the near future.
I also became good friends with a fellow Workawayer at a nearby bed and breakfast. She was from Italy and was staying just a five-minute walk away from my work exchange.
We’d often meet up in the afternoon after cleaning rooms and would hang out by the pool or go on an excursion.
One of my favorite memories from my Workaway in France was when we took the bikes on a half-day trip to a nearby historic town.
My host wrote down directions on how to get there on a piece of paper and off we went. Somehow we arrived in the right place 2 hours later.
I’m amazed that we found our way back to the bed and breakfast without “real” directions, but it’s a memory that I’ll have forever.
7. Get To Know The French City Or Region Where You’re Volunteering
One of the perks of doing work exchanges long-term is that you have the chance to really get to know the region you’re in.
It would have been easy to spend every afternoon inside my room or around the bed and breakfast. Instead, I made a goal to explore as much of the region as I could.
On my days off, I caught the train and went to one or two of the bigger towns in Provence. I’d spend the day walking around and visiting museums (there’s so many French Riviera attractions to see).
On days when I couldn’t travel as far, I rode my bike somewhere new, even if it was just to a small local site.
Making an effort to explore the area will enhance your Workaway France experiences and will help you to understand and get to know the culture better.
8. Your Work Exchange in France Will Help You Practice French
I took French in high school and college and this was the perfect way to spend two months improving my language skills.
During my first week as a volunteer, I had to answer the phone (in French) and check people into the bed and breakfast (in French).
It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but what better way to learn than being thrown right into it? By the end of the summer, I was a much more proficient French speaker.
How to create the best Workaway profile ⭐️
9. Doing Workaway France Is The Cheapest Way To Travel
I have backpacked all over Europe and Asia, and I have stayed in hostels all around the world trying to travel as cheaply as possible.
In all of my experience traveling, I’ve found that doing work exchange programs is the most affordable way to travel long-term.
With your room and board being covered by the host, all you have to pay for is any extra activities and transportation to and from your Workaway.
If you’re looking to travel on a tight budget, then a work exchange might be the answer for you. Learn my tips to get a free Workaway account (spoiler, it’s not easy).
Workaway France Visa Advice
The visa process is different for everyone depending on which country you are from. As a US resident, I can spend up to 90 consecutive days in the Schengen Area in Europe.
Because my work exchange was unpaid and for less than two months, I was able to do my Workaway on a normal tourist visa. Make sure to double check all visa requirements to ensure you are prepared for your trip.
Please note that this blog post is only for information purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for immigration or legal advice.
Final Thoughts About Workaway In France
Doing a work exchange in France is a great way to travel cheaply and experience the culture firsthand.
Not only will you learn how to live like a local, but you’ll also have the opportunity to make lifelong friends and memories.
Whether it’s exploring a new country, learning a language, or wanting to travel long-term, there are so many ways to take advantage of this program and travel the world.
Overall, I loved doing a Workaway in France. It’s a unique experience that I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a new culture!
I hope you found this Workaway France guide helpful. If you’re interested in more country guides, check these out.
Submitted by Jenoa at The Travel Folk
