WORK & HELP EXCHANGES | YOU NEED HELP WITH A PROJECT AND OFFER ACCOMMODATION IN EXCHANGE
What is a 'Work or Help Exchange Host'?
A work or help exchange host is someone who offers room and board to travelers in exchange for help with their projects.
These type of hosts can need help with a wide variety of things, including:
- Gardening/Farming
- Hostel/Tourism Support
- Au Pair/Childcare
- Eco Projects
- Art Projects
- Computers/Websites
- Language Practice
- Etc...
Hosting volunteers can be a great way not only to save money and complete your projects but also to meet and socialize with people from around the world.
How can I become a 'Work or Help Exchange Host'?
To become a host you must simply sign up with Hovos and complete a detailed profile that includes what type of project you have, the accommodation you offer, the amount of work you expect, etc... The more information and pictures you include, the more appealing your profile will be to travelers.
It is important to make sure that the amount of work you require in exchange is fair and reasonable. The travelers will need time to explore the area and have fun.
What does it cost?
There is no fee to create an account with Hovos. However, to become a member which allows you to contact as many travelers/volunteers as you like, there is a membership fee of $25/year.
How do I sign up?
The sign-up process is simple. When you click the "Sign Up" button, you will be presented with 3 options. Once you choose 'Host', you'll be prompted to create an account and then fill out your profile.
How do I find volunteers?
Once you have an active profile, it will appear in our 'Work Exchange Hosts' or 'Help Exchange Hosts' category. It will then be available for all our travelers.
As a host, you can also contact travelers who you think might be a good fit. When a traveler creates a profile, they include the places they want to visit as well as their skills. Hovos matches these with your requirements and will suggest possible travelers for you to contact. Additionally, you can search through our database of travelers at any time.
Can I contact travelers outside of Hovos?
Communication outside of Hovos is blocked for non-members. (Emails, websites, phone numbers, etc... are blocked from the chat.) Once the membership fee has been paid Hovos will un-block the filters and contact information can be sent. Regardless of how you communicate, please be sure to finalize any deals through Hovos, as this is the only way to ensure that a deal is valid. Please see "Are there reviews?" for more information.
What is a fair 'deal'?
An average deal is around 5 hours of work per day/ 5 days per week in exchange for meals and accommodation. If more work is required it is a good idea to offer additional compensation. The more generous the deal, the more travelers will be interested.
If you offer free bicycles or transportation for your travelers, or any other perks, be sure to include these in your profile.
Are there reviews?
Yes, absolutely. To ensure quality, all travelers will be given the option to review their hosts following their trip and vice versa. Please take the time to review all your travelers.
Note: The ONLY way that you can review the traveler is to officially accept them through Hovos. If you do not use our contact forms to make an arrangement we cannot add in reviews after-the-fact.
If you have additional questions about becoming an work exchange host, please read our FAQ's or Contact Us.
TRAVELER | YOU OFFER YOUR HELP IN RETURN FOR ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
As a traveling volunteer you offer your help in return for accommodation and food. Host all around the world need help and you gain unique experiences and learn new skills.
What is a 'Work or Help Exchange Host'?
A work or help exchange host is someone who offers room and board to travelers in exchange for help with their projects.
These type of hosts can need help with a wide variety of things, including:
- Gardening/Farming
- Hostel/Tourism Support
- Au Pair/Childcare
- Eco Projects
- Art Projects
- Computers/Websites
- Language Practice
- Etc...
Volunteering with these hosts is a great way to travel on a budget as it saves travellers the cost of food and hotel rooms. Staying with hosts is also a unique cultural experience, an opportunity to learn new skills and practice a new language and meet new people.
How can I volunteer with a 'Work or Help Exchange Host'?
To volunteer, you must simply sign up with Hovos and complete a detailed profile that includes what type of skills you have, where you want to travel, when you are available etc... The more information and pictures you supply the more appealing your profile will be to potential hosts.
What does it cost?
There is no fee to create an account with Hovos. However, to become a member which allows you to contact as many hosts as you like, there is a membership fee of $25/year.
How do I sign up?
The sign-up process is simple. When you click the "Sign Up" button, you will be presented with 3 options. Once you choose 'Traveller', you'll be prompted to create an account and then fill out your profile.
How do I find hosts?
Once you have an active profile, it will appear in our 'Volunteers' category. It will then be available for all our hosts to see.
As a volunteer, you can also contact hosts that interest you. Hovos matches your skills and travel dates/locations with potential hosts and will suggest possible hosts for you to contact. Additionally, you can search through our database of hosts at any time.
Can I contact hosts outside of Hovos?
Communication outside of Hovos is blocked for non-members. (Emails, websites, phone numbers, etc... are blocked from the chat.) Once the membership fee has been paid Hovos will un-block the filters and contact information can be sent. Regardless of how you communicate, please be sure to finalize any deals through Hovos, this is the only way to ensure that a deal is valid. Please see "Are there reviews?" for more information.
What is a fair 'deal'?
An average deal is around 5 hours of work per day/ 5 days per week in exchange for meals and accommodation. The important thing is that a deal is worthwhile to you. If the host requests longer hours than you are interested in, be upfront and either find a new host or come to an arrangement that suits everyone.
What is the difference between a 'Help' and 'Work' Exchange?
The only difference is that 'Work' Exchange Hosts offer possible monetary compensation. Everything else is the same.
Are there reviews?
Yes, absolutely. To ensure quality, all travellers are given the option to review their hosts following their trip and vice versa. Please take the time to review all your hosts.
Note: The ONLY way that you can review the host is to officially accept them through Hovos. If you do not use our contact forms to make an arrangement we cannot add in reviews after-the-fact.
If you have additional questions about traveling with Hovos, please read our FAQ's or Contact Us.
