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Australia

5

I adored my time at the hostel/Galway City Hostel. More than anywhere in the thirteen months I've been travelling I feel like I became part of the community in Galway, going to open mics and making local friends everywhere I went. All the staff and volunteers are lovely, and I was invited to different events and happenings in their lives. I hope to return one day!

9 months ago

Malta

4

My volunteering experience at the hostel was good; I felt welcome by the hostel staff and found comfort in the friendships that I made with the staff and the other volunteers. Overall, the hostel was a good space to meet people and be immersed in a social scene. It would have been nicer if a similar friendly attitude had been shown by the managers and supervisors; I felt that some shifts were very strict and found this rather demotivating. Given that the work is voluntary, I expected that I would have been made to feel that my efforts were appreciated, but this was not always felt.

3 months ago

Spain

3

My experience at the hostel was a mix of emotions. The tasks are heavy and exhausting, especially the morning shift. The afternoon shifts are more bearable. Despite the workload, the employees and volunteers are incredibly friendly and willing to help you at any time, making your stay more enjoyable. I'd like to thank Aisling and the team for being flexible with the shifts. My recommendation regarding work would be for the shifts to be less stressful. I recommend this experience if your goal is to meet new people and experience Irish culture.

3 months ago

Australia

3

My the hostel experience was mixed. I made so many beautiful friends from fellow volunteers and hostel staff. The housekeeping shifts were really rough for me. I found it hard to work 10:30-3:30 without feeling weak because we aren't allowed lunch breaks. You are mostly by yourself during this shift and aren't allowed to listen to music, which makes the shifts feel longer. Aisling was helpful with being flexible with our shifts if you want days off which was very appreciated. The location in the hostel is incredible, reception staff are extremely warm and very helpful for any volunteer questions.

4 months ago

Spain

3

We spent the whole summer at the hostel and we both feel really grateful with all the managers and the staff. They were always friendly and kind. The hostel is clean,big and very well located. Most of the shifts are ok, but housekeeping is hard.5 hours in a really fast pace with no break and apart from the typical tasks like toilets and beds, the volunteer has always to hoover the whole building(3 floors and all its steps) and sometimes clean the steps one by one on their knees. Apart from that, we had 3 days off per week and we really enjoyed our free time in Galway and felt sad when we left =)

4 months ago

Australia

4

My experience at the hostel was made special by the other volunteers. We became like a little family. I'm grateful my hours were adjusted to fit my daytime commitments. Thank you to Aisling for being flexible. The hostel is lovely with great amenities, and I enjoyed the Pub Crawls. Some shifts felt isolating and overly monitored, with little feedback or appreciation. When I was sick, the response from management felt more about scheduling than care. However, the receptionists were always kind, welcoming, and made a big difference to the overall atmosphere.

5 months ago

Brazil

4

Galway is a lovely city, the hostel is very well located, everything was very clean. Pub crawls were really fun. Aisling was very flexible with the schedule, which was great! The group of volunteers and all the receptionists were amazing. Even though the working hours were fair, some shifts were very demanding and could be a bit exhausting. Especially during housekeeping shifts, where some days we had to clean every step of the stairs manually. Also the common areas were always noisy, and sometimes there were drunk men around the hostel which was very uncomfortable.

5 months ago

Finland

4

My experience at the hostel was overall pretty good. I met many amazing people and formed friendships. Galway is a lovely city that I will truly miss. The volunteer work was easy, but not particularly enjoyable. One downside was that volunteers were often on different shifts, so we didn't get to work together as a group. This made it harder to spend time together. I also occasionally felt that the management didn't fully appreciate the effort we put in, which affected the overall experience.

5 months ago

Spain

3

Bittersweet experience at the hostel in Galway. The city is amazing and the staff and volunteers are lovely. However, volunteers are treated more like free workers than part of a cultural exchange—because, even though 20h a week is fair, the 5h shifts are strict and demanding. Also, safety was sometimes an issue, especially with drunk men, and management often ignored them. Great location to explore Galway, but not ideal for a true volunteering experience.

7 months ago

Germany

4

Working at the hostel's has been a good experience in many regards, whether it being learning all the different housekeeping tasks or doing pub crawls! Aisling is a super kind volunteer coordinator who tries to make every wish possible. The other workers are super sweet as well, making work super fun! The hostel is literally in the middle of Galway, getting anywhere is super easy within minutes. As a woman I can say that I felt save walking around at night, the people in general are so kind. The only problem that might arise is the lack of privacy, but you'll find a spot! Definitely worth a stay!

7 months ago

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