Host family
Host family
Staying with a host family is the complete cultural experience. You will gain a privileged view of local daily life and come to understand the nuances of local culture. This is a very authentic experience as you dine with your host family and have opportunity to join in their daily home routine.
Host family accommodation also maximises your opportunity to practice Spanish. Hosts will encourage you to speak and make you feel confident in using the language. All our families are carefully selected and vetted, ensuring that you have both a comfortable and engaging local stay.
Host family
By having a private room and keys, students enjoy a homestay experience yet still have the comforts of independence. Each student must adhere to the rules and customs of their Spanish or Latin American family. Please note that a host family is not always the typical family of two parents with children. For example, it can also consist of a divorced woman (with or without children) or a retired couple. Breakfast: includes breakfast Half board: includes breakfast and dinner Full board: includes breakfast, (packed) lunch and dinner Please note that a double room can only be reserved for 2 students who travel together. If you are allergic or vegetarian, or have any special requirements, let us know in advance and we will do our best to guarantee your request.
All destinations
With private bathroom
There is also the possibility to stay in a single or a double room with a private bathroom. The use of the bathroom is exclusive for you, within the host family home. In some cases your private bathroom would be across the hall, rather than an ensuite.
Arrival information::
You can go to the accommodation by yourself or you can book an airport transfer ahead. A driver will then pick you up at the airport and drive you to your apartment. The price depends on the distance from the airport. Take a look at 'prices' for the city you prefer. Please note the airport transfer is a single journey. The transfer back to the airport after your stay is not included. You can arrange this at the school or you can contact us.
Frequently asked questions FAQ
The accommodation price includes all bills, like water, gas and electricity. No extra fees will be charged. In some cases a deposit is required and we will inform you of this in advance. The deposit will be refunded when no damages/problems have occurred. In most destinations, accommodations have washing machines that are free to use. If not, this is specifically mentioned.
By default, accommodation is reserved from the Sunday before the start of the course, until the Saturday after the course. Extra nights are subject to availability and can be booked upon request. An extra amount will be charged per night. Please note that in Valencia you can arrive on Saturday without any extra costs and in Montañita and Tamarindo you can leave on Sunday without any extra costs. If you want to book any of these extra nights, please leave a note on the online enrolment form, or send us an email with your request.
You will always be within 30 minute travel distance from the school, regardless of the destination and accommodation type. But please note the differences per destination. Some student residences are on-site. Shared apartments might be in walking distance, like in Barcelona, Granada, Salamanca and Malaga.
Freshly washed bed linen is always provided. Unless stated otherwise, you should bring your own towels.
Half board includes breakfast and an evening meal. Full board includes breakfast, (packed) lunch and dinner.
If for whatever reason you’re not satisfied with your accommodation, come to the school reception. In most cases small problems can be easily solved. If you still wish to change, you can do as long as we have something similar available, and you have a reasonable motivation. In some cases a change is possible, but you might be charged a change fee.
A cleaning service is included in the price. However, this service usually only covers the common areas, such as the bathroom, kitchen and living room. You will be expected to clean your own room and take care of day-to-day cleaning, washing the dishes, taking out the rubbish, etc.
Yes you can. But please leave a note on the online enrolment form, so we can take this into account and advise accordingly.
Each destination and host family is a little different. Some hosts only have capacity to take one student. Others may have 2 or 3 at any one time. We always avoid placing students from the same country with the same host family. This is to ensure more opportunities to speak and practice Spanish.
In most host families or shared apartments there is no lock on the bedroom. Student residences generally do have a lock.
When staying with a host family you are given privacy and independence. As an adult member of the house you can come and leave as you please. However, we ask you to be considerate and not disturb anybody late at night. If you will not be home for a meal then please inform your host in advance.
Yes, in all accommodations there is hot water. However, sometimes hot water cannot be guaranteed when staying with Montañita host families.
In shared apartments and student residences it is always possible to use the kitchen to prepare your own meals. A fridge is available.
With host families it is usually not possible to make use of the kitchen; you may be able to prepare a light snack.