Program Reviews

Bula! My name is Avery Martin and I had the opportunity to go to Fiji this summer with Global Works Travel. The experience was incredible and each day I wish I could go back. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the cultural immersion. We were able to stay with the people of the Namara village. The Fijians in this village became like family and welcomed me into their homes with open arms. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to be pushed outside their comfort zone, experience once in lifetime opportunities, and be immersed fully in a culture outside their own. I want to thank everyone at Global Works Travel for making my experience so memorable.

I think Global Works does an amazing job connecting the kids with the community. My 2 kids (14 and 16) had fantastic homestay experiences and both of them still connect with their Costa Rica families every week, which has been a super cool experience.

I think global works is safe while at the same time creating some really great opportunities for kids to explore and challenge themselves. For example, the kids had the opportunity to attend a local city soccer team game and then ended up getting to play the city champions in an impromptu game which was a really neat experience. I also think it is good to really know that the kids really work hard for the community service - they are digging ditches, pouring concrete and clearing paths.

I think the big differentiator for Global Works is their connections with the community and providing an experience for kids to engage with groups of people that they would not have the opportunity to engage with on a more traditional tour - that connection is pretty special and results in some amazing opportunities. So, combine that with hard work and opportunities to explore the rainforest, zipline, and surf and it definitely is a unique experience.

My 16 yo joined this program in 2022. He was reluctant but we were all so relieved and happy that he did it. He connected with teens from far flung places and valued the camaraderie and support from the leaders. He was proud of his building accomplishments and thankfully he acquired some Spanish along the way. He even read a few Hemingway books, under the night skies. After he returned, he shared amazing stories and has stayed in touch with kids across states and continents. The No screen policy was also a welcome change!

I spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica in the summer 2022. We were a pretty small group of teenagers around the same age, which was a great way to get to know everyone and make friends. We experienced very diverse activities: community service (working with rangers on trails maintenance, participating in local activities) but also surf and meeting with the local community. We even could spend a few night at a families’ house (by groups of 2), to help us do some progress in Spanish but also understand better the culture and day to day life.
I would recommend 100%!

My 15 year old daughter just returned from her trip with Global Works to Peru. She had an amazing time. The trip was incredibly well organized by Global Works; from the communication before the trip which included a video call with everyone on the trip, to detailed packing guides and daily plans. Once in Peru, everything ran smoothly - even when immigration at the airport took so long that a flight from Lima to Cusco was missed. Global Works was able to quickly arrange travel for the entire group on another flight. The guides on the ground were helpful and knowledgable and my daughter's host family was warm and inviting. In her own words, the service part of the trip was real work but also really rewarding, visiting the markets and practicing Spanish was a lot of fun, but Machu Picchu was the best! Along with a great experience, my daughter has also come home with a number of new friends that she's keeping in touch with and already planning to meet with again. We chose Global Works based on the great reviews we read - and our expectations were exceeded!

It’s safe to say that this trip was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I had no clue what to expect when I first arrived. I could tell each and every one of us was excited and nervous, which made it so easy to meet each other and form friendships. Our trip leaders were incredible; helping us adjust, leading us through the day, and always being there if we had questions or needed help. I was lucky to go on a trip with such an amazing group of kids. I met people from all around who shared my interests and were open-minded to getting to know everyone and creating long-lasting relationships. The service was an eye-opening experience. I was touched by the sense of community and love the people who I met valued so much. It was clear how hard they worked, not only to rebuild their own houses but others as well. We enjoyed working as one big group. There was always something to do and help out with, and it felt good to know that the people we worked with truly appreciated our help. The service was an integral and unforgettable part of the trip, but so were the other countless activities and late nights we spent together. Kayaking in the bioluminescent bay was so fun, and an amazing way to end our trip. Our trips to the beaches every day led to a lot of laughs and memories. The nights we spent in the Big Yellow House are something that I will always remember! We had a bake-off, played countless games, volleyball, and lounged around listening to music. You could always find someone to talk to and something to do. We took a dance class, had a karaoke night, and spent one night learning about the culture of Puerto Rico. My trip was so enriching and fun, and I am so grateful I got to experience it with incredible people. I would definitely recommend this trip, or any trip Global Works offers, to anyone who wants to meet new people, learn about cultures, and spend an amazing time somewhere new!

I had never traveled somewhere without my parents before. I was nervous to say the least. Global Works welcomed in our group with open arms and I feel as if everyone was able to have a great experience from there. Making concrete for houses was awesome because you get to know the other people who you are working with. It was also satisfying to see that we were making differences in people's lives. The experiences outside of service were also really cool and stuff you wouldn't see just sitting at home.

Before discovering Global Works and this trip, I was searching for a summer activity that I could attend that satisfied my love for traveling while also serving as a way to help a community in need. Fortunately, I decided to go to Puerto Rico. The trip was amazing! It allowed me to make so many friends, experience a new culture, serve a community, gain travel experience, and to overall learn more about myself. Before going on the trip, I knew almost nothing about Puerto Rico or the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, but after attending the trip, I returned home with incredible eye-opening stories and experiences to share. The trip leaders were all amazing and truly wanted to get to know each and every traveler and make sure everyone was healthy and actively engaged in service and the experiences. All information before the trip was clearly provided and made my parents feel more comfortable with letting me travel alone to the Caribbean, and I was able to call my parents daily, which they appreciated. If you are wondering whether or not you should go, I would 100% recommend this trip!

This trip had an amazing itinerary and very supportive leaders! Adam and Sarah were fantastic and bent over backwards all the time to make sure we felt as safe and happy as possible. We saw some stunning sites on the trip too. One highlight was the three day kayak trip where we got to swim in the pacific ocean and see such cool wildlife. Every guide we met on our journey was very experienced and could answer any question you asked. The trip was packed of fun activities but still had time for sleeping in and spending time getting to know others. However, I noticed this trip had a very specific demographic of upper class kids from private schools who had no problem using slurs and derogatory terms in everyday conversations. If that isn’t you, I probably don’t recommend the trip!

My Global Works trip was truly inspiring, the leaders were great, and I had an amazing time. When I think of my Global Works trip, it’s my home stay that comes to mind. It was really fun to go through your day with another family from another culture, eat food with them, play with their kids, even go to work with them...it was awesome to be part of a Costa Rican household. I never thought I would learn to catch 20-pound tilapia or harvest star fruit, avocados and mangos on my host family's farm (and, I didn't know that limes could be green on the outside and orange on the inside!).

I thought the kids in my group were all really authentic, creative, and open-minded about trying new things and activities. I felt like we really built a community together. I would do this trip again...a thousand times over!