FAQs for Volunteers

Joining FairestBnb is completely free for both hosts and volunteers. We believe in facilitating connections without barriers, allowing everyone to explore their potential for impact. Your registration supports the ongoing operations of our platform, enabling us to continue bringing together dedicated individuals and organisations.

FairestBnb applies a nominal service fee of €18 per booking only when a volunteer’s booking is confirmed by the host. This fee is essential for covering the costs associated with maintaining, enhancing, and expanding our platform, ensuring an effortless connection between volunteers and hosts. Please note, this fee does not include charges from third-party payment service providers, which will be clearly outlined during the booking process.

FairestBnb adopts a booking site approach to streamline and simplify the process of connecting volunteers with hosts, aiming to mobilise individuals and organisations efficiently towards common goals. This model allows hosts to opt for instant bookings or to approve bookings based on their discretion. To ensure a smooth and effective connection, we ask hosts to respond to booking requests within 48 hours and volunteers to finalise their bookings within the same timeframe once approved. This system is designed to benefit all parties by facilitating clear and accessible engagements.

At present, the absence of a forum or review system on FairestBnb is primarily due to the resources required to establish and maintain such features while ensuring they remain free of spam. Our long-term vision includes creating avenues for open communication and feedback. Until then, we are committed to enhancing your experience with the platform as it currently stands, focusing on connecting volunteers and hosts in the most effective and straightforward manner.

To update your password, please start by logging out and visiting the ‘login page’. There, you’ll find a ‘Forgot password?’ link. Clicking on this link will direct you to the password reset page, where you can set a new password for your account.

At FairestBnb, we’re committed to fostering a trustworthy community. While we review host profiles before they go live to ensure authenticity, our role primarily facilitates connections rather than acting as an intermediary. We conduct regular checks across profiles but encourage our users to exercise due diligence. For added security, we recommend arranging a video call with your prospective hosts or volunteers before committing, to confirm their identity and intentions.

In instances where an exchange doesn’t unfold as anticipated, we encourage open and respectful dialogue between hosts and volunteers. Recognising and respecting each other’s perspectives and cultural differences is crucial. View these experiences as valuable lessons on your journey. Remember, both parties have the option to end the arrangement at any point. Should you choose to do so, we urge you to proceed with kindness, understanding, and a willingness to assist, ensuring a smooth transition for everyone involved.

To initiate the closure of your account, please reach out to us directly at info@fairestbnb.com. Upon receiving your request, we’ll proceed to deactivate your account. While we retain certain account details to help prevent fraud (for instance, to identify and block attempts by individuals involved in fraudulent activities from creating new accounts), rest assured that your personally identifiable information will no longer be actively used by us, nor will it be sold or shared with third parties, except as necessary for fraud prevention, to aid law enforcement, or as legally required. For more information on how we handle personal data, please refer to our Data and Privacy Policy.

Volunteering is a powerful avenue for contributing to both global and local communities, catalysing positive change. It allows you to lend your expertise to non-profit organisations (NPOs), supporting their vital missions while fostering your personal and professional growth. Engaging in volunteer work connects you with a network of individuals and organisations dedicated to making a difference, enriching your life with new skills, experiences, and perspectives.

This experience not only enhances your sense of purpose and community connection but also positively impacts your mental and physical well-being. The act of giving back offers a unique fulfillment, contributing to your overall happiness and well-being.

For inspiring stories on the impact of volunteering and how it drives collective actions, visit the United Nations Volunteers’ success stories at The Value of Volunteering. These narratives highlight the transformative power of volunteer work, both for individuals and communities worldwide.

Joining FairestBnb opens up a world of opportunities for you to make a tangible difference. Our user-friendly booking system instantly shows you the availability of accommodations, simplifying the process of finding where you can contribute your skills and passion. With free registration, you can explore what our platform offers without any commitment. Still curious about what makes FairestBnb special? Discover our mission and the values that drive us by visiting this page: Who we are.

At FairestBnb, we value open-mindedness and warmth above all. While anyone can browse our platform for travel and volunteering opportunities, to engage more deeply and make bookings, we ask that you register and create a comprehensive profile. This should include a photo and essential details about yourself, providing hosts with a clear understanding of who you are. Our platform operates on a booking system designed for ease and efficiency, aiming to mobilise individuals towards impactful volunteering. Once a host approves your booking, we expect you to finalise it within 48 hours, facilitating a smooth and beneficial experience for both parties.

Once your booking is successfully completed, you can easily find the host’s contact information on your dashboard under the “Bookings” tab. This ensures you have all the necessary details at your fingertips to communicate effectively with your host, plan your visit, and make the most of your volunteering experience.

“Require confirmation” is a setting chosen by hosts who prefer to review booking requests before finalising them. This allows hosts to verify details such as the requested dates or to learn more about their potential guests. As a volunteer, you’ll initially submit a booking request under this setting. Once the host reviews and approves your request, you’ll be notified to complete the booking. This confirmation step ensures that both you and the host are fully prepared and in agreement with the booking details, allowing you to proceed with planning your volunteer trip with confidence.

“Instant booking” is a feature designed for efficiency and convenience, enabling volunteers who match a host’s specified criteria to secure their stay directly, bypassing the traditional booking request and waiting period for host approval. This streamlined process facilitates immediate confirmation, allowing both volunteers and hosts to expedite the planning of the volunteer engagement. It’s an ideal option for those looking to quickly and seamlessly connect with opportunities, ensuring that volunteers can commit to their chosen projects without delay.

Booking requests may be cancelled by hosts due to a variety of reasons and circumstances, ranging from scheduling conflicts to changes in availability. If your booking request is cancelled, you have the flexibility to reassess your plans, considering alternative dates or exploring opportunities with different hosts. This ensures that you can still find a volunteering position that aligns with your availability and preferences, keeping your journey towards making a positive impact on track.