Spain – Eco-friendly Hospitality Internship in Barcelona

Please note that this volunteer program is temporarily on hold. We recommend checking out our available Volunteer Programs in Spain:

  1. Barcelona Volunteer Program: Work with an NGO in a multicultural migrant neighborhood in Barcelona to combat food waste, tackle hunger, and help build a sustainable community.
  2. Marine Conservation in the Spanish Mediterranean: Dive into the Mediterranean waters to help clean up pollutants and protect local marine life, while experiencing the unique culture of Barcelona.

These programs offer a chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying the rich cultural and natural beauty of Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have the time of your life living in a bustling Spanish hostel, as you gain experience in the field of hospitality during this 6 to 12-week internship. The hostel is also committed to the promotion of sustainable travel through projects such as alternative energy, recycling and promotion of sustainable travel and the Catalan culture.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Meet travelers from all over the world during your internship
  • Learn how to lead and promote social activities such as beach days, nights out and group dinners
  • Explore Barcelona as you escort travelers to places of interests around the city
  • Take trips and tours at a discounted rate through hostel partners
  • Live volunteer in Spain – what more can we say!

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum six-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN). Make your way to the hostel in central Barcelona and spend the day settling into your accommodation and new life in Spain.

Days 2-7, Monday-Saturday: You will begin your internship on Monday and are expected to work five to six hours a day. Tasks may include setting up for breakfast and assisting with dinners, cleaning, planning social activities and working in the hostel bar.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of doing your internship five days a week and having two days off. Use these days to explore Barcelona or take a trip to surrounding cities and enjoy a taste of Spanish life. Departures are on Monday.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Barcelona, Spain

Project length Project length: Minimum 6 weeks – Maximum 12 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Hosting tourists, ecological initiatives, planning social activities, kitchen and light cleaning

Age Age: 20-30

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 3 international interns

Important Note Important Note: Please ensure that you are eligible for a visa to enter Europe before registering for this project. The program cannot provide visa documentation or support; obtaining the proper visa is the sole responsibility of the intern.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Staff dormitory at the hostel (up to four people per room)

Food Food: Breakfast is included daily

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, lunch and dinner, personal expenses, transportation to project

Barcelona is a modern cosmopolitan city, with an important cultural, architectural and monumental historic legacy. It also offers fantastic climate, beaches, and after the sun goes down, great restaurants and nightlife. It is this amazing mix that makes Barcelona an extremely popular tourist destination.

The project is situated in the area of Poblesec at the base of Montjuic, the site of the 1992 Olympic Games and just walking distance from Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous street. It also boasts easy access to many of Barcelona’s most visited tourist attractions. The core centre of town, focused around the Ciutat Vella, provides days of enjoyment for those looking to experience the life of Barcelona while the beaches the city was built upon provide sun and relaxation during the long periods of agreeably warm weather.

 

Interns will become an important reference point for guests and therefore will play in important role in ensuring guests enjoy their stay in Barcelona and this hostel.

Interns will be called on to perform several functions such as breakfast (preparation, control and clean up), the bar at night (preparation, serving and clean up) and other general cleaning duties. Interns will also be called upon to plan, promote and run social activities such as beach days, beach volleyball, group dinners, nights out or accompanying groups to places of interest, such as the magic fountain and the bunkers.

The hostel recognizes that each person who joins our team can bring valuable ideas to the successful operation of the hostel and therefore encourages the participation of interns through the contribution of new initiatives. Possible projects could include, but are not limited to, other sustainable tourism initiatives; website translation, social marketing initiatives, new group activities and new tours.

Rosters are prepared on a monthly basis enabling participants to plan trips on their days off. Interns are expected to assist between five-six hours per day, five days a week during their time volunteering. Participants will generally receive two days off per week.

 

Some examples of how volunteer may collaborate with the hostel include:

  • Breakfast: setting up, serving and cleaning up
  • Bar: serving in the very informal hostel bar
  • Dinners: coordinating and preparing group dinners
  • Cleaning duties
  • Planning and/or promoting social activities
  • Sorting recycling as part of the hostel’s ecological initiatives
  • Other daily tasks such as cleaning and rubbish removal

 

A typical day depends on the duties assigned. Interns are encouraged to arrive on a Sunday so that they have time to settle in and adjust before getting to work on Monday. In general, a typical day may involve setting up and serving breakfast between 7:30-10:00AM, cleaning up after breakfast and ensuring that the recycling is separated and taken to the appropriate containers. The breakfast shift ends at 12:30 PM. Interns are then encouraged to mix with guests and enjoy all that Barcelona has to offer.

Another volunteer may accompany guests for the activity planned for the day, or in the absence of an activity, would attend to light cleaning activities such as assisting in the laundry or cleaning the fridges.

The bar shift, starting at 6:45 PM, may see another volunteer preparing and opening the bar and, on occasions, another volunteer may prepare a group dinner. During the bar shift, the volunteers organize a ‘Meet and Greet’ to encourage interaction among the guests and gives the volunteers a great chance to meet guests from all cultures!

Later the volunteers escort guests to the nightclub.

Internet icon Internet: The hostel has several computers with Internet access and also provides free WiFi.

Laundry icon Laundry: There are laundry facilities available for a small fee. There is also a small terrace where you can hang clothes outside to air-dry.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Interns will stay in the staff dormitory. The room has air conditioning/heating. Bed linens and towels are provided. Interns will also have access to the use of the hostel kitchen (when open) and guest computers.  The interns are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their living areas. A roster system will be used to ensure all interns share these tasks equally.

Food icon Food: Breakfast is provided daily, all other meals are the responsibility of the volunteers. There are several supermarkets located within minutes of the hostel. The very popular fresh food market, “La Boquería” is only a short walk from the hostel.

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Age 20-30 years
  • Highly social
  • A minimum 6-week commitment
  • High level of English
  • Spanish highly valued, other languages a plus
  • High level of independence, responsibility and flexibility
  • Motivation to work and interact with guests a must!

 

A phone interview will be conducted following reservation.

This is a highly social internship. We see it as a very important way of encouraging education and peace: via an interchange of cultures through guest to guest, and guest to volunteer interaction. People looking simply for a place to stay in Barcelona, while being constantly connected to home/friends/family via computers or phones should not apply. Use of such devices during shifts is not permitted.

Barcelona has many national and local festivals during which the city organizes concerts and celebrations in the streets and plazas free for all to enjoy! Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in certain activities/trips organized by third parties at a reduced rate.

Volunteer Experiences

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