Volunteering in a hostel is a popular way for backpackers to extend their travels without breaking the bank. It offers an opportunity to meet other travellers, experience life in a new destination, and give back to the local community—all while receiving free accommodation and other perks. However, hostel work can be a mixed bag of experiences, ranging from social and fun to demanding and challenging. In this guide, I’ll cover what to expect when volunteering in a hostel, including the types of work, hours, benefits, and key tips for making the most of your experience.
What Kinds of Work Do You Do in a Hostel?
Hostel volunteer work can vary depending on the hostel’s size, style, and location. Generally, tasks fall into a few main categories:
Reception and Customer Service
Many volunteers work at the front desk, checking guests in and out, answering questions, and providing information about local activities and attractions. The benefit of reception work is it is often not physically taxing and can involve downtime on shifts between checking guests in. You also get to meet a lot of travellers, so it’s ideal if you’re a people person. You usually need some basic computer and customer service skills for reception work. If someone is going to complain about the wifi not working properly, you’ll usually be the person they come to, so be prepared to deal with guests’ frustrations and try to de-escalate sometimes heated situations. You’ll also be the first point of contact for questions like where the nearest ATM is, how to get to a specific museum or where to find good vegetarian food, so be prepared to learn a lot of local knowledge.
Housekeeping and Cleaning
Cleaning dorms, bathrooms, common areas, and kitchens is often a major part of hostel work. Duties may include making beds, vacuuming, and general upkeep to ensure the hostel is presentable for guests. Many travellers find this the least desirable kind of hostel work (I mean, not many people like cleaning hostel toilets), so it is often the easiest kind of work to get. There are strong positives to housekeeping, such as the steady hours.
Usually, housekeeping hours are in the middle of the day (between check-out and check-in times), and then you have the rest of the day to yourself. It can be repetitive (your whole shift might be making beds), but it means you can listen to music and smash out the work, which means the shift goes faster. Compared to other types of hostel work, it’s relatively simple and doesn’t involve much responsibility or the ability to problem-solve on your feet.
Event Running and Socialising
Volunteers may be asked to organize events such as pub crawls, dinners, tours, or game nights in more social hostels. These roles are often given to outgoing volunteers who enjoy mingling and keeping guests entertained. These roles are usually called or advertised as “social reps” but can also be called activity coordinators. They can be involved mainly in night activities like organising pub crawls, trivia nights, or beer pong competitions. They can also be involved in more day activities, like taking guests around the city. At some hostels, you may have to do a combination of both.
Social repping is often a highly desirable hostel job, so expect competition for popular hostels. However, it is not for everyone. You have to be very extroverted and have a high social battery, as socialising is your whole job. At party hostels, it often involves a lot of drinking and the ability to back it up night after night. The hardest part of the job (in my opinion) is finding the right balance of drinking enough to be seen as participating in the partying but not getting too drunk that you can’t still do your job or deal with situations that may arise.
Bar, Cafe or Kitchen Work
If the hostel has an on-site bar, café or restaurant, they may utilise volunteers for food and beverage service. Depending on the size of the hostel and the kinds of food and beverage services they offer, it can be a pretty chill job. For example, you could greet guests at the free breakfast and ensure the coffee and bread containers are regularly refilled. If it’s a small bar, you may just be opening beers and taking payments. Generally, small hostels don’t require any bar or kitchen experience to be accepted for this role. If the hostel has a large public bar/restaurant, you might be waiting tables and making cocktails. This can be a fun way to develop hospitality skills while interacting with guests in a more relaxed environment. Bigger hostels sometimes require previous bar experience, mainly if they serve a full menu of cocktails.
Maintenance and Handy Work
Some hostels offer general maintenance volunteering jobs, including fixing broken items, painting, or gardening. This type of work is more common in hostels with large outdoor spaces or older buildings. You usually have to have at least some experience to be accepted for this kind of role; however, some hostels may be willing to train you. The work tends to be more physically demanding, but it can also be super rewarding for the right person and offers more flexibility. For example, your hostel job may be painting a mural in the common area, but you have no set hours; you have to complete the artwork by a set date.
What Are the Hours Like?
The number of hours required can vary significantly depending on the hostel. Here’s a general breakdown of what you might expect:
- Part-Time Shifts: Most hostel volunteering positions require between 20 to 30 hours of work per week. This usually translates to 4-6 hours per day, with either a few days off or shorter shifts spread across the week.
- Full-Time Shifts: Some hostels, particularly larger or busier ones, may require closer to 40 hours of work per week. The workload can feel more like a traditional job in these cases, but the social and travel benefits still make it an attractive option for many backpackers.
- Flexible Hours: In some cases, especially smaller hostels, the hours can be flexible. Some hosts allow you to work fewer hours on some days and make up for it on others. Communicating your needs and preferences with the hostel management is important to ensure a good balance between work and leisure time.
What Are the Inclusions/ Benefits?
One of the biggest perks of hostel volunteering is the benefits you receive in exchange for your work. These typically include:
- Free Accommodation: The primary benefit of hostel volunteering is free accommodation. You’ll usually stay in a shared dormitory with other volunteers, although some hostels may provide a private room for long-term volunteers or those taking on more responsibility.
- Meals: In some cases, hostels provide meals or access to a communal kitchen with basic groceries. Larger hostels with cafés or bars may offer free or discounted meals during your shift.
- Free Activities: Many hostels partner with local tour companies or organize their own activities. As a volunteer, you may be able to join these tours or excursions for free or at a discounted rate.
- Drinks: If you work at a party hostel, run night events like pub crawls, or even work as a social rep, you usually get free or discounted drinks. Whether you get these inclusions depends greatly on the price of drinks in the country you are volunteering, and is often not the case in many European countries.
- Access to Facilities: You’ll have access to hostel amenities such as Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and common areas. Some hostels even offer free bike rentals, gyms access, and exercise classes.
- Cultural Exchange: Volunteering offers the chance to meet people from all over the world, making it a valuable cultural exchange experience. It’s not just about travel; it’s also about learning from others and sharing your culture and experiences.
What Is the Accommodation Like?
Accommodation quality varies from hostel to hostel, but here’s what you can typically expect:
- Shared Dormitories: Most hostel volunteers are given a bed in a shared dormitory with other volunteers or staff. This is the most common setup, and it can be a fun way to bond with other travellers, though it may lack privacy.
- Private Rooms: Some hostels offer private rooms for volunteers, especially those staying long-term or taking on more responsibilities. These rooms are more common in smaller or quieter hostels. Private rooms for staff are extremely rare, even if you are volunteering as a couple.
- Basic Amenities: Volunteer accommodation is usually quite basic. Expect simple furniture, shared bathrooms, and limited personal space. Usually, the staff dorm is the worst room in the hostel, as they always give the nicer dorms to paying guests. Often, that means no curtains on the beds, no windows and no A/C, even if the guest dorms have all these features and more. The trade-off is that you’re staying for free and can access all the hostel’s facilities.
Is the work hard in a Hostel?
Working in a hostel can be hard work, but it largely depends on the size and type of hostel and the duties assigned to you. I’ve personally never found hostel work to be anything close to as exhausting as a regular 9-5 job back home. However, how hard you find the work depends on what you are doing, how many hours you work, and what tasks you find hard. Here’s what to consider:
- Physically Demanding Tasks: Some roles, such as housekeeping or maintenance, can be physically demanding. You may be on your feet for long periods, carrying heavy items, or cleaning multiple rooms in a shift.
- Customer Service Challenges: Reception and socializing roles can be mentally exhausting, especially when dealing with demanding guests or navigating language barriers. It requires patience, problem-solving, and staying positive in stressful situations.
- Busy vs. Quiet Hostels: Larger or more popular hostels may have higher workloads due to the constant influx of guests, while smaller or quieter hostels may have a more relaxed pace. Party hostels, in particular, can be demanding due to the need to keep the energy up and manage events.
Party Hostel vs. Smaller Hostel
Volunteering at a party hostel almost feels like a rite of passage for backpacking in Southeast Asia, Europe and parts of Latin America. They generally hire loads of volunteers for various roles and are paid to party: what could go wrong? To be fair, a lot can go wrong. One of the most important decisions when deciding between hostels is what kind of experience you want to have. Do you want to have a crazy two-week bender at a party hostel? Or do you want to balance volunteering with sightseeing, getting to know local communities or even working on your side hustle?
Volunteering at party hostels or smaller hostels is a very different experience. Neither is better or worse than the other (I’m not here for the party hostel slander), but choosing the right one for you will make a world of difference to your volunteering experience.
Party Hostels
Volunteering in a party hostel can be an exciting and lively experience. These hostels often have a young, energetic vibe and are known for nightly events, pub crawls, and a more social atmosphere. A party hostel could be a great fit if you’re outgoing, love socialising and don’t mind late nights.
Usually, party hostels have a large volunteer workforce and many jobs to fill, from social repping, running pub crawls, bartending, tour guiding, and more. Often, this is attractive as you work closely with many different volunteers, making it easier to make friends. You also usually get a lot of benefits from working at a large party hostel, such as free events, tours, pub crawls, and food and drinks.
The downside to working at party hostels is it can be A LOT. For some personality types and energy levels, this is the ideal. But for many, it can lead to burnout and exhaustion if you get swept up in the party lifestyle and don’t take care of yourself. If you’re working at a party hostel, you are often expected to drink most nights and create a party atmosphere. While this sounds fun, it can become a chore when forcing yourself to do it 5+ nights a week. The constant partying and late nights can also make it difficult to balance volunteering with sightseeing or working on the side as a digital nomad.
Smaller Hostels
Smaller hostels tend to have a more intimate and laid-back atmosphere. The work might be more varied, and you’ll likely have more opportunities to interact with guests on a deeper level. These hostels are better suited for those who enjoy quieter settings and more personal interactions.
Depending on how “small” the hostel is, you may be the only volunteer, or there may only be one other volunteer. This definitely limits how much you can socialise, particularly if the hostel is in a more remote area or it’s low season for tourism. However, it can also mean you socialise with people on a deeper level, as new faces aren’t constantly coming and going. At smaller hostels, you can often sit down and get to know guests or other workers (volunteers or paid staff) more intimately.
The workload at smaller hostels is often much less chaotic and can be more varied, as there are fewer staff. This could mean you work a bit of housekeeping one day, some bartending the next, cover reception for a few hours on Thursday, and then run a hostel movie night on Sunday. Even when you are on shift, if there are no guests checking in and not much to do, you can often just chill out, which makes the workload much easier.
How to Find Volunteer Work in Hostels
There are several platforms and methods to find volunteer work in hostels:
- Work Exchange Websites: Websites like Worldpackers are great resources for finding hostel volunteer positions. You can search by location, read reviews, and see what specific hostels offer in exchange for your work. I have a whole guide explaining how Worldpackers works and everything you need to know, which you can read here.
- Direct Applications: If there’s a specific hostel you’re interested in, don’t hesitate to contact them directly. Many hostels are open to volunteers and may not advertise positions on larger platforms. A direct email, Whatsapp message, or social media DM with your experience, availability, and enthusiasm can go a long way.
- Social Media Groups: Facebook groups dedicated to backpacking or work exchange are also a good resource. You can find other travellers’ recommendations or even see hostel postings looking for volunteers.
Key Tips for Volunteering in Hostels
- Set Clear Expectations: Before committing to a position, clarify the expectations regarding work hours, tasks, and benefits. Ensure you and the hostel are on the same page to avoid misunderstandings.
- Be Flexible: Volunteering often requires flexibility. Be open to taking on different tasks and adjusting to the hostel’s needs. Your willingness to help wherever needed will make you a valuable team member.
- Stay Organized: Even though hostel volunteering is more relaxed than a traditional job, staying organised and punctual for your shifts is still important. This ensures you can enjoy your free time without worrying about work.
- Maintain Boundaries: Working in a social environment can blur the lines between work and play. It’s important to maintain boundaries and ensure you’re getting enough rest and personal time.
- Enjoy the Experience: Hostel volunteering is as much about the experience as the work. Take the time to enjoy your surroundings, meet new people, and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Ready to start your adventure and dive into hostel work in 2025? Head over to Worldpackers, create your profile, and explore the world! Use my code “BIGSISTRAVEL” to receive a $10 discount on your membership.
