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Watch my playlist: ‘ Worldpackers ’ for full Youtube videos of all my experiences.
I spent an entire year traveling through South America and Europe using Worldpackers experiences, and I’m here to give you the honest truth about what it’s really like.
What I love about Worldpackers:
• Save money on accommodation
• Meet locals and international travelers
• Connect with people while exploring new places
What I don’t love:
• Some accommodations can be rough or unclean. Volunteer-based places sometimes don’t have designated cleaning staff, so if many volunteers or guests come and go, things can get messy.
• You'll never truly get a sense of who your host is, until you start working with them.
+Below you will find each and every experience I have done. Including the work I did, the duration I stayed, what the accommodation was like, what the hosts were like, some advice for you and my rating out of 5 stars.
+Click the image to be directed to the posting on Worldpackers.
Athens, Greece | 📍Athen Hawks Urban Hostel
Work: Dishwasher
Duration: 1 month
Accommodation: Female dorm at the hostel. The dorm was nice and updated at the Urban location. I would avoid Athens Hawks in Omonia (unless you want to party with Germans).
Hosts: Worked mostly with staff; they were cordial but not personal. The owner is known to try and sleep with volunteers on their last night. Stay away from him, Theo.
Advice: Recommended only if you want to explore Athens for an extended period.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Himara, Albania | 📍Hotel Panorama
Work: Dishwasher/Housekeeping
Duration: 3 weeks
Accommodation: Shared room on top of the hotel, also used as storage. Minimal closet space, but the view was incredible.
Hosts: Family-run hotel — extremely kind and welcoming.
Advice: Comfortable, relaxed experience. Walk to the beach, use the pool, enjoy the location. Keep in mind later volunteers had mixed experiences, so take this review as one perspective.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala | 📍Maya Moon Lodge
Work: Receptionist/Waitress
Duration: 11 days (minimum stay 2 months)
Accommodation: Small, dusty room, where I would wake up with new bumps every morning. Bathroom situation was uncomfortable, which made me leave early.
Hosts: Very kind and caring.
Advice: Accommodation was a dealbreaker for me, so this experience might not suit everyone.
Rating: ⭐️
Pereira, Colombia | 📍Casa Azul Hostel/ Cafe
Work: Content Creation
Duration: 2 weeks
Accommodation: Low season meant a private room most of the time. Shared dorms were clean, and a designated cleaning staff kept everything in hotel-like condition.
Hosts: The kindest married couple ever!
Advice: Highly recommend! The hostel is centrally located, and there are plenty of day trips to nearby towns.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mar del Plata, Argentina | 📍Woodside Hostel
Work: Housekeeping
Duration: 3 weeks
Accommodation: A small shack behind the hostel with 3 bunk beds, total of six beds. Bathrooms to use inside the hostel.
Hosts: Two brothers, very kind and hospitable.
Advice: Despite basic accommodation, I had an unforgettable time. Great people, amazing guests, and opportunities to practice Spanish. I even got to sing at the hostel, which opened doors to perform elsewhere in Mar del Plata. Best time to come is in Summer, December–February.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loule, Portugal |
Work: Cleaning and walking dogs
Duration: 24 days
Accommodation: Trailer with another volunteer. Lucky, we had the larger and warmer trailer.
Hosts: The staff delegated tasks but didn’t try to get to know you — not rude, just distant.
Advice: I left 2 days early because the work (cold mornings, cleaning up after animals) and isolation from town were too much for me. If you do go, come in the summer to enjoy the pool. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Milos, Greece
Work: Housekeeping Rental Properties
Duration: 25 days
Accommodation: Small apartment a 2-minute walk from the hosts' home. Inside were, three beds, kitchen, and bathroom. For the first two weeks, I had it all to myself. The apartment wasn’t clean to my standards at first, but being alone allowed me to deep clean and live comfortably.
Hosts: A Greek man and his girlfriend, incredibly kind. I was shy at first, so some awkward moments affected their perception of me.
Advice: Milos is stunning — if you can do this Worldpackers experience, I highly recommend it. Don't forget to be socialable and outgoing.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👉Final Thoughts + Tips
Worldpackers can be life-changing, but it’s not always glamorous.
My advice:
• Research listings carefully
• Expect some rough accommodations
• Go with an open mind, patience, and flexibility
When it’s right, the experience is worth it — connections, culture, adventure, and growth are priceless.
Love, Kaliah