Brynn's Adventures

I’m headed off on another spontaneous adventure next month and I literally cannot wait. I feel like I haven’t been on a truly foreign adventure, where I am unsure of what awaits me, in a long time. First, I was so wrapped up in completing my undergrad. Next I was busy applying, and getting rejected from, ‘real’ jobs. Now I’m a bit bored of my fun-employment. What better way to spice things up again then to book a volunteer travel experience?

I’ve done a Workaway experience in the past, at a similar transitional phase in my life. I quit my job and flew to Portugal where I laundered hostel linens and evaded bedbugs while I learned how to surf and indulged in pastries and port wine. It was a dream! This time I’m travelling with Worldpackers to Costa Rica and I couldn’t be more excited.

While I was speaking to my host the other day I was asking for all the nitty gritty details. You might think that’s not spontaneous at all, and to be honest, I still don’t really know much about what will be going on while I’m there. BUT, I know about the things that are important to me.

Here are some must ask questions to ask a potential host before selecting a volunteer travel experience:

What is the accommodation like?

This question is vital. You definitely want to know what your living and sleeping situation is going to be like. Are you sharing a room? With how many people? Who are the people, are they other volunteers, hostel guests, family members? Is there high-speed wifi? What about laundry or AC?

When I was volunteering in Portugal I didn’t ask these questions and found myself in a staff dorm with 8 people, in a room in the attic of the hostel. Oh, and you had to walk through the hostel chain’s head office to get to the staff dorm AND the bathroom. Kind of awkward when you forget your change of clothes in the staff bedroom and walk out of your shower in a towel to 5 people having a business meeting lol.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

While I was browsing Worldpackers, I noticed that many of the experiences offered food included! AMAZING! But, if you have dietary restrictions this is something you should consider asking. That way, if the host is unable to accommodate your dietary restrictions you can either choose a different host or budget for buying and cooking your own meals while volunteering.

Is there anything that you recommend I bring?

This question is not necessarily vital, but, it can be really helpful. For example, my host specified that I should bring my own sunscreen and bug spray because it is quite expensive in Costa Rica. Additionally, they mentioned that for the activities I will be doing while volunteering, I’ll be in the river and around waterfalls a lot so I should pack quick dry clothing. Your host will provide you with some great tips on things that could make your experience even better than it already will be.

Are you able to pick me up from the airport or am I to arrange my own transportation?

This is especially important for the initial meetup when you have just arrived. It’s great to know in advance, depending on where your experience is located, if you have to find your own transportation or if your host can help you out with that. For volunteer experiences at hostels or stays in more central areas, it is probably more uncommon, especially if public transport is accessible. It really depends on the host and the location, but worth asking.

What are your expectations for volunteers?

I recommend asking this question because sometimes the host’s expectations differ from their website posting. It could be a language barrier or perhaps it’s outdated. Either way it’s great to confirm the expectations of the host when it comes to your volunteer responsibilities but also overall behaviour or conduct. For example, some hosts may prohibit alcohol on their premises, so it’s good to know of any rules or expectations beforehand so you don’t start off on the wrong foot!

Why do you enjoy hosting volunteers?

This is the vibe check. It’s just a fun question to ask to get to know your host a little bit and find out why they like having volunteers come help out at their business, project, home, whatever you’re helping out with. Think of it like when you are in a job interview and then you get to ask the interviewer a question. Usually this is my last question before ending the call.

Hopefully these questions can help you feel more prepared and confident in selecting a host for your volunteer travel experience. There is nothing wrong with being a bit nervous, especially if it’s your first time! The answers to these questions should help calm your nerves, even just a little bit. Is there a vital question that I missed? Let me know in the comments so I can ask it when I’m picking my next Worldpackers experience.

P.S. If you want to try out Worldpackers and embrace slow-travel by fully immersing yourself in local culture through volunteer travel you can browse the website here. Also, code BRYNNSADVENTURES will save you some cash on your membership!