I am just finishing up my first Workaway experience in Switzerland and wanted to share my reflections, plus some things to consider for those wondering if this type of travel could be for you. My first experience was in Schwarzenburg, which is half an hour by train from the Swiss capital, Bern. You can check out the description on this specific Workaway here.
Overall Experience
I have loved my first Workaway experience. It was a great way to figure out if Workaway and volunteering in exchange for lodging and (sometimes) food was going to work for me as a traveler. While this setup may not work for everyone, for me it has been a cool new way to spend some time in a beautiful country. I have done work that made meaningful contributions to my host, explored a new area, saved money by not having to spend on lodging or food, and most importantly, I have felt accepted and invited to join my host family. This host-traveler interaction is one of the biggest differences from my traditional solo travel, and it’s also turned out to be one of my most rewarding experience so far.
Host Family
My host is Monika. She has three boys ages 13, 15, & 17, and her mother lives in a connected apartment. They are a wonderful family and I feel very fortunate that my first Workaway experience was with them. They are kind and very excited to host travelers from around the world in their home. Based on my experiences with them, I’m trying to figure out how we might be able to host volunteers back in Fort Collins once I return home.
One particular thing I am really grateful for is that Monika was so willing to share the area with me. We did a wonderful hike and visited the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum. It was spectacular to explore some of Switzerland’s countryside and history with them, and was a much richer experience than if I had been venturing out alone.
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum 
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum
The Work
While I have been here, I’ve done a wide variety of work, mainly in their garden and yard. I now consider myself a weed-puller of the highest order. I even enjoyed mowing their small yard, which is not something I typically like doing. I have done a few small carpentry projects that have been really satisfying and allowed me to challenge myself in ways I did not expect. I have cooked for the family and folded laundry, and have tried to help in any way I could. Overall, I had a lot more fun doing these things than I could have anticipated and ended up surprising myself with how enjoyable it all turned out.
The Location
Switzerland is fantastic and I have to come back to explore more. I arrived in Bern to stay a few days before starting my Workaway, and immediately had the feeling that it was a city where I could live. The Aare River runs right through Bern and swimming in it is something I will never forget. The mix of old warm charm and sleek modernism is very attractive to me.
Schwarzenburg is a beautiful area of rolling hills with access to the Swiss Alps in just under an hour by car. It is a small, quiet village that is filled with green, natural beauty. I have swum in two rivers and a lake and loved all of them.
Switzerland is a small country with a wonderful train service so getting around is easy. It is also a VERY expensive country so this affordable and convenient local travel made it that much better. Thanks to their excellent infrastructure and Workaway, I have been able to enjoy so many incredible experiences and spent less money here than any of my other stops.
Should You Consider Workaway
My first Workaway experience exceeded my expectations, and I am excited to use it in my traveling toolbox going forward. But this approach to traveling might not work for everyone. If you’re wondering if it might work for you, here are some realistic things to consider:
– If you don’t mind working hard while you are traveling…
– If you are willing to talk about expectations and work to fully understand what is expected of you…
– If you want to travel to new places and you are on a budget…
– If you like meeting new folks and interacting with people a lot while you travel…
– If you don’t mind creating a strong profile and selling yourself a little when you message potential hosts…
– If you are open to new experiences and are willing to be flexible if things are different than you expected…
– If you like sharing meals with people (and understand this may not be true in all locations)…
– And if you will take the time to fully read the description of the opportunity BEFORE messaging a potential host…
… then Workaway might be just what you are looking for.
I went into this not knowing exactly what to expect, and while that initially gave me some anxiety, now at the end of it I am so grateful that I took a chance on opening myself up to new experiences. It was so wonderful that I hope to be able to provide this opportunity to other travelers once I’m back at home (with DeeDee’s blessings, of course). This certainly built up my confidence in being able to travel this way and has only gotten me even more excited for my next volunteering travel adventures to come.
If you have any questions or want to talk more about Workaway feel free to email me at wrightus@gmail.com.
What a fabulous experience! I’d looked into Workaway and lots of travellers talk about it, but this is the first time I’ve actually read a personal account. I feel much more comfortable doing a Workaway now!
Lance,
What a great experience. This is the first time I hear about the Workaway concept, and I am glad I am reading a positive review. It seems like you had fun doing it which is most important. Your photos are great, and now Switzerland is move up on my bucket list.
I have never considered workaway as a possibility for me but reading this, I am inspired to look into this further. Thank you for sharing.