Greenheart Reviews

If you take into consideration that, barely a month after returning home after my three-month homestay in Rome, I've already let the program managers know that I'm reapplying to tutor in another family next January, it's pretty obvious that my review is going to be positive!

The Greenheart Team matched me with a warm and welcoming family on the outskirts of Rome. The WEP rep called regularly and met me for coffee a couple of times throughout the stay. In order to integrate more fully into local life, I asked for and was given the opportunity to collaborate with other ESL teachers in two very different high schools. Being centrally located in Rome allowed me to hop a train on the week-end to explore surrounding provinces, such as Campania, Abruzzo and Umbria.

Rome took a little getting used to, but after the third week, I was hooked, and by the end of the stay, I couldn't bear to leave.

I only have one regret: our neighborhood. It was too far from the city center to be able to take advantage of Rome in the evening and a bit too dodgy for coming home by bus after dark. Rome offers many cultural events in the evening that I was unable to take advantage of.

Deciding to go with this program was the best decision I made once I decided I had my heart set on teaching abroad.
I was in regular contact with the correspondents of the organisation and even met up for coffee with them. I felt fully supported and completely safe throughout my sty, which was a massive comfort as a first-timer!
I cannot thank Greenheart enough for putting me with such a wonderful family. It truly was the time of my life. Apart from spending time at home with them, they took me on a skiing trip, weekends away to different areas of the country and really did treat me like family. Watching them progress in English was also one of the most rewarding things I've ever done and by the end of my stay, I was more attached to them than I care to admit!
One of the most unforgettable moments was the trip to La Giettaz Ski resort. These pro-skiiers had infinite patience with me as I frequented the beginners slopes, being out-stripped by toddlers on snowboards, until they'd trained me up enough to go further up the mountain.
The bonds formed and memories made on this program really are priceless. I was so pleased that I could help them with their English, though we really did help each other as my French escalated to new levels!
I honestly can't recommend it enough. It's safe and secure, and the best choice possible.

If you are considering an internship in Thailand through Greenheart Travel, stop what you are doing and APPLY NOW. My experience has been truly wonderful. I love working for XploreAsia and I am so grateful to Greenheart for helping me through the process of preparing to live on the other side of the world! The staff at both companies are some of the friendliest and most positive individuals I have had the pleasure to know and to work with.

Before I came on this internship, I had never been abroad for longer than two weeks at a time, and I have to admit the thought of living in a third world country (about which I knew almost nothing) for 3 months was a bit daunting. I was anxious about getting my VISA and everything in on time, as I applied so close to the deadline, but I felt very reassured by Kara and the rest of the Greenheart staff that they would make sure everything went as smoothly as possible. They were very informative and quick to respond to any questions I had!

I am now working as a Programs Intern at XA and I am really enjoying life here in Hua Hin. This is my LIFE now, not a vacation, though at times I am having so much fun that it feels like some kind of adult summer camp! The work is very similar to jobs I have held back home - spreadsheets, formatting, emails, coordinating events, conducting surveys, etc. - but in my free time I get to meet new people from all over the world, explore a new country, eat delicious exotic food, and learn about a completely different culture!

My experience in Thailand has been amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure who is looking for a great opportunity to travel, meet new people, broaden their perspectives, and build their resume at the same time.

Currently, I'm two months into this program. Greenheart Travel was always responsive and helpful during the application process and during the months leading up to the departure. After arrival, WEP staff is available to assist with any problems, but I haven't had any. My host family, the teachers, and my students have all been very nice and welcoming and I will miss them when I leave. Also, weekend travel opportunities are plentiful if you like.... but I would recommend spending some weekends with your host family, meeting their friends and seeing how they live.

First of all, the program in Colombia is absolutely amazing. I had just done the Ministry program in Spain, and the two don't even compare. They provide you with a 9 day orientation in Bogota with all expenses paid for. They help you with the entire visa process, obtaining a bank in Colombia and the ID card. They also teach you how to teach English taught by professionals. I could not believe the support, professionalism and resources that this program has provided. Second of all, if you are going to this program, absolutely do it with Greenheart Travel. They were so incredibly organized and help you with every step of the application process. I also got placed in my first choice city which is a huge bonus. I have absolutely zero complaints and I would recommend Greenheart and this program in Colombia 100%. Just do it!!

This program is absolutely life changing. I went into the program unsure of what to expect as this was my first home stay program. When I arrived in Brazil, I was greeted with open arms. I stayed with two different families and both were amazing. Greenheart travel did a great job organizing these home stays and making sure that both families were friendly, reliable, and safe. I was very impressed with the work that Greenheart Travel put in ahead of time to ensure that my trip would be absolutely perfect. Their partnership organization in Brazil checked in several times and I received several check in emails from Greenheart Travel staff while I was away. I would definitely recommend this program!

Last October, I spent two weeks volunteering with Greenheart Travel in Sri Lanka with my partner. We had a fantastic experience overall.

The placement is remote, in the middle of the jungle, but there’s electricity and running water at (almost) all times and if you pick up a SIM card in the airport on your way in, you’re able to get 3G and phone reception on your phone.

Staff on the ground were super friendly and welcoming, though I will admit that we weren’t given the most thorough introduction to the field house when we first arrived — a film crew from the U.S. was arriving the same time as us, and I think it ended up being a little chaotic.

I also want to make it clear that to get to the site, you have to take a 2-3 hour train ride and then a 4 hour *bus* ride. Totally fine, but if you’re like me, you don’t really want to go chugging a bottle of water before a trip like that.

Apart from logistics, the area surrounding the field house and most of the areas where we conducted research were stunning. We were only able to see elephants on one day when we went into the national park, but hey, it’s wildlife, they do what they want, right?

Also, the food was delicious, but I’d suggest volunteers bring a few snacks of their own… especially if you want more fresh produce with your meals.

Impact: I was only there for two weeks and, although I learned a lot about the human elephant conflict and can now educate others on it, I didn’t really do much to directly contribute to the project. Still, the organization itself is doing great work to support the community and elephant conservation, so regardless, I feel very good about supporting this organization.

Support: Greenheart’s staff was incredibly supportive from the start. They checked in with us several times before and during our trip to make sure everything was going well. Staff at the local Sri Lankan organization was a little hands off (which, as an experienced traveler, I liked), but available to answer any of our questions, help us figure out bus times, etc.

Value: A little expensive considering that travel in Sri Lanka is very, very, very cheap.

Fun: Okay — I gave this one a 7 because yes, I had fun (I brought a fantastic book, was there with someone I love hanging out with, and enjoyed the company of the other volunteers), but if I’m supposedly “rating the social scene”, well, er, lets be honest: there’s not much of a social scene in the middle of a jungle.

Safety: Overall very good. I do think it would have been worthwhile to go over some safety protocol for being around wild elephants though.

Overall: There are definitely a few small things that could be improved with this program, but fortunately Greenheart and the local staff both were incredibly receptive to our feedback, and I have full confidence that they’ll take it to heart. Nonetheless, it was an incredible and completely unique travel experience — even for someone who has been to over 30 countries!

Bonus: The house had 6-week old kittens while we were there. So cute.

Exchange is something that everyone should try out either in college, high school, or after college, doesn't matter. Lots of fun and you have no idea how many brilliant people you will meet :) choose a culture you are Interested in. As normal as this sounds, if you choose a country you are iffy with, your time is not as great as if you chose a country you adore. It's about immersing yourself into normal life elsewhere, easier to do if you're happy with the country amirite. Point being have fun, if you're not having fun, change something. Don't force yourself to do anything because it's meant for the program, do it for you and for the people you're with and love.

If you're looking to teach abroad in Thailand and want an easy and smooth transition abroad, choose this program! Sara is AMAZING and makes the process very simple. She answers any emails, phone calls or questions you have within what seems like 30 seconds of reaching out to her! Obtaining your visa is made very easy and the program is definitely worth all of the other pre-departure assistance you receive. Once you've transitioned abroad you are paired up with another agency, but Greenheart continues to reach out to you and make sure you're adjusting smoothly. If for no other reason, go with Greenheart for Sara! She's wonderful!

I couldn't be happier with Greenheart Travel. I entered into the English Teaching Fellowship Program in Colombia and was recruited by Greenheart Travel. While things work a little differently in Colombia (everything last minute and changing), I felt confident that Greenheart was keeping me as informed as possible and I never felt hesitant about asking them questions. Sara Dorsey, who I was in communication with most during the recruitment process, is professional, solutions-oriented, and super prompt in all communication when it comes to questions and concerns. I honestly don't know how she does it. What I love most about Greenheart is that even after I was already recruited and in the program, they continued to keep in communication with us (even though they don't have to and are not really expected to). We all are on one facebook group and it really helps maintain the awesome support network we have here in colombia.