Help Build, Repair & Paint in a Vibrant Hostel! 🛠️🎨

Portugal

4

My overall experience at the hostel was great! The work is quite easy, especially if you have experience, the money you get is more than enough and our room was really nice. Adrian is always available to assist via WhatsApp, however, I only saw him once so I think it would be a good idea to have someone on-site, perhaps a long-term volunteer, to help with day-to-day issues. Btw if you're arriving after midnight, make sure you have the access codes to get in. Even though we had informed about our late arrival, nobody knew we were arriving luckily someone heard us knocking on the door

8 months ago

United States

4

Working at the hostel was truly an experience! There is always something going on and people to meet. The work is pretty simple, Adrian pretty much leaves you to do it on your own so you are expected to be able to handle situations and make decisions on your own but if there is ever a problem, he is pretty quick to respond and help out. He is also very accommodating if you want specific days off or have any special requests! This is definitely a good opportunity to experience the culture in Romania and meet locals!

10 months ago

United States

4

My experience okay! The description could have been clearer to set better expectations. Volunteers are split between two hostels, the hostel and First, and you work at both. The vibe at First hostel was less social and lacking in energy which didn't fit what I was looking for. the hostel had a better vibe with more chances to interact with guests. Adrian, the host, was flexible with schedules and enjoyed taking the volunteers on nights out! The experience had its ups and downs. If your considering volunteering here consider what environment your looking for. Let me know if you have any questions!

about 1 year ago

Adrian replied

Hey Audrey,
I am very intrigued to read your review because you could have told me that you would prefer to work at Nest, and I would've made it happen. Most of the volunteers actually prefer a schedule that mixes shifts from both hostels, because as you mentioned they have different vibes, and it's nice to have busy but quiet shifts also in the same week. Balance is the keyword here.
You also mentioned that you would like to stay in the volunteer room at Nest, I found you a bed there, but you never moved to Nest, so I never imagined that you would prefer it there.
I would suggest you to better communicate in the future what you want or need because just as I went above and beyond to adapt to your other needs and requirements, I would have done the same here.
Safe travels!

United States

1

We were very welcomed at first. But we quickly saw how much everything is falling apart. Volunteers training volunteers does not work. There were some very difficult situations, and Adrian did nothing to help. The hostel flooded, there were guests but no clean beds, the police even came and he did not help. Being payed to buy our own food was very inconsistent. There are many bad reviews on google because Adrian does not care that his business is not run well. He does want his volunteers to have fun but it was difficult to enjoy our time with everything that happened.

about 1 year ago

Brazil

1

The hostel is nice and all areas are very brand new. The problem starts with the management. The owner of the hostel made it very clear we're EMPLOYEES not VOLUNTEERS, as he give us money every week so we can buy food, im ok with that but the problem starts when the psychology pressure starts everyday (even when ur having your day off) the host expose u on the whatsapp group and goes very rude trough private conversations. Its a daily pressure everyday. I also got punched in the eye by a guest that knew that password entrance (even tho she entered inside before and did it with a GUEST)

over 1 year ago

Adrian replied

Rapha, you did a lot of mistakes while you volunteered for us - mistakes that affected guests experience in the hostel or made the hostel lose money. There is a language barrier between us because we don't speak in our first language, because my first language is Romanian and your first language is Portuguese, and we communicate in English - so I might say things like - I'm expecting you to do your job - even if this is only a volunteer position.
I've never told you that you are an employee - why would I say that if you are a volunteer? No, I've asked you to do your job or I told you that I'm expecting you to do your job. It's a figure of speech. Next time when I'm in a similar situation I will say that I'm expecting you to do your volunteer duties because I don't want to be misunderstood.
But I was never agresive to you and your review is portraying me as if I was.
If you think being a volunteer means that you have no responsibility, I'm sorry, but I don't agree with that. It's ok when people make mistakes, all volunteers make mistakes in the beginning, and its ok, we're human, but when you are doing the same mistakes over and over again - I will be disappointed. I had to show you 4 times how to change a locker lock - and it's not rocket science - there are 3 simple steps to take, but for people doing it for the first time it might be confusing. This is why during the training period, and every time I was giving you feedback - I asked you to write it down if you have problems remembering things - rules of payment, locks, anything - write it down! But I don't think you ever did because you continued doing the same mistakes over and over again.
Your excuse every time was "I have some problems, I've been out of myself lately, it will not happen again". And it did happen again. Simple mistakes but with big consequences.
I even told you that you are probably the smartest volunteer I've ever had, so at one point I was so frustrated with your mistakes I even told you I didn't understand why you had so many problems adapting to the reception duties.
Also, a lot of my conversations with Rapha took place on the whatsapp volunteer group because when she had a problem during her shift she would ask it there - so I would answer it in the group. I didn't expose her, she wrote on the public group. And because every situation is different, I was using it as an example to what to do in a situation like that for the other volunteers reading. Going forward I will stop offering any type of feedback on the volunteers group because I do not want volunteers to feel exposed.
Also Rapha left before our arrangement on World Packers because she was hit by a female guest. Although I offered my support and empathy when it happened, I also told her that the situation could have been avoided if she acted differently. The guest came and asked her to pay the next day - to which Rapha refused because we don't accept that. For an hour after that the guest tried different methods to convince her. After an hour, both frustrated, Rapha showed the guest with a very "in your face" attitude that she pushes the panic button, to which the guest approached her and hit her.
So after that even if I will take all the necessary steps that a situation like this does not happen again, even if I will offer my support to Rapha, it's also my job to tell Rapha what she did wrong. And she never accepted that 1. She shouldn't have waited for an hour to ask for help - she should have pressed the panic button as soon as the guest started to insist. 2. Whenever you press the panic button you have to do it in a discrete way - because it can be perceived as a provocation. The security company will arrive in 3-4 minutes and the situation de-escalates automatically.
I can understand that this was a traumatic experience for her - and I'm here for everything that she needs. But I don't think it's fair that she started attacking me and put the blame on me.
She said that her glasses were broken when she was hit so I offered to pay for them. I didn't allow her to work at reception anymore because I thought it would be too traumatic for her and she agreed to stop her shifts. I also told her that she can stay in the hostel without volunteering for as long as she needs, but she decided to leave the next day.

Brazil

3

I had the opportunity to have good friends from this experience, because was mid winter i didn't really go out and to a lot of parties but every weekend Adrian was inviting to go out with him. The schedule its alright u work four days and take 3 off. You just need to be precise about the details working at the reception, i learned a bit about n improved myself a bit, Adrian was very easy with my mistakes and teaching me, some volunteers complained about he is not being the same with them but my experience was different.

over 1 year ago

Brazil

5

Adrian is a very nice host! The hostel facilities are awesome and our schedule is really good as well. Apart of that, the hostel is rly close to the centre, like 15 min walk or 8 by uber (which is also cheap and usually around 3-4euros). Adrian is very fleible and make sure you feel welcomed. Simply loved this place and will probably ome back <3 Thx Adi for eveything

over 1 year ago

Colombia

5

Definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had. Since the begining Adi(Host) makes you feel as if you were in home, he is a generous and helpful person, more than a worker you will feel part of a family. Besides that, all tasks and days off are as agreed, the hostel has a wonderful location, the city got me impressed, the people, food and everything else made my days there the best.

almost 2 years ago

Brazil

5

It was the first time that I volunteered in a hostel and totally worthy it. Be prepared to the challenges about dealing with people. The shifts are respected (8h/day). It's possible to arrange some days off to visit Romanian cities. The allowance to food is enough to cook. Adrian is flexible and try to welcome everyone. In the beginning, it was strange not having him physically in the hostel, but he is always reachable by phone. The volunteerings were amazing. I loved my Latin America squad. Adrian, Daniel, Luiz, Adi, Manu, Santi, William, Marlon, Rodrigo, Ema, Stefani and Mariana, thanks!

almost 2 years ago

Colombia

5

I would like to say a lot, but the app doesn't let me write that much! the hostel was my first experience as a volunteer and it was incredible, Adrian is an amazing host who promises what was agreed, he is very kind and loves his job at the hostel, he is always on top of everything, willing to help and protect you, he makes you have very good experiences in this amazing city, getting to know places, culture, eating and having fun. Thank you very much Adi for giving me this opportunity, I will always remember it, definitely if I come back, I will be at the hostel✨🤍

almost 2 years ago

Apply Now