History

A bit about us

CIFA travel agency was founded in 1984 and started organising trips to Spain for French schools.In 1992 we expanded to work with groups from other countries. The entry of Spain into the European Union, along with famous events such as the World Expo in Seville and the Olympic Games in Barcelona raised the profile of Spain right across Europe. The country demonstrated that it was not only a holiday destination, but also a place of enormous artistic and cultural interest. Inclusion of groups from Germany, Belgium and the UK changed our visit programs significantly. Arrival in Spain by coach ceased to be the norm, the longer distances made plane travel more appropriate. Therefore, choosing the destination in Spain became dependent on the location of the airports. We also adapted our programs according to the profile of the students; for example, their level of Spanish, age and group size...

At the end of the 90s, with the rise of the internet, we created out first web page. Whilst basic, it was translated into various languages and gave us the opportunity to send our message to a wider audience. Along with the arrival of low-cost airlines came easy transport to Spain from all over Europe. This enabled us to include Italy, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands in our list of client countries. During this time the importance of Castilian Spanish was recognised throughout the world. Accordingly, we received students studying Spanish from many schools in the EU and added morning Spanish classes to our general programs.

The recent advances in communication and technology have proved a great help to a business such as ours. It has allowed us to reach as far as Central Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.

Experience

We have worked in the travel industry since 1984 and more that 3500 students travel with us every year.

We know the difficult job the teacher/organiser has and how to provide the best help.
We are fully aware of the different legislative and administrative rules/requirements for school trips that apply to teachers when abroad and how to fulfil those requirements.
Our extensive experience means that we understand the advantages and difficulties these types of trips pose and we can, therefore, offer you relevant and valuable advice.

Our team

We have an experienced team of language specialists, teachers, and activity organisers who are used to working with young adults.

Trips that include family home-stays can also count on local managers that have been working with us for a long time – we know them personally, visit them regularly and trust they can solve any issues that arise. Their main area of responsibility rests in helping the teacher by giving important local information and coordinating the relationship between the group and the families.

Additionally, our welcoming families are chosen with great care. We visit the families and their homes regularly so that we can guarantee the accommodation is of the proper standard. The vast majority of our families have been working with us for more than 20 years; they know how to relate to young people and know what their roles and responsibilities are. We can count on our families to ensure that your students have a rich and rewarding stay and that each and every one has a positive experience.

Local expertise

We offer you a country we know intimately; all the destinations and the places to visit once there. This enables us to advise the teachers to make a choice suitable for the needs and characteristics of their group (age of the students, origin, level of Spanish, interests etc.).

We are fully aware of new openings, upcoming events and forthcoming exhibitions – we work with the calendars of all the different museums, exhibitions, theatres, concert halls, Flamenco shows etc. Our knowledge of the new trends, things to see, and what the Spanish really get up to, is a key advantage to discovering Spain with us; it enables us to offer varied original programs and activities that really represent both the traditional and modern Spain.

If you speak Spanish, we recommend that you visit our Spanish Blog to find articles and current cultural news all year round.

Our objectives

Our goal is that your students have a great first experience of Spain, one that leaves them with the desire to keep on learning the language and discovering the country.

Our goal is that you, the teacher/organiser, always feel supported and that everything is going to plan. Just like your students, we want you to have a great experience to remember. Our goal is that the visit becomes a continuation of the classroom, an opportunity to put into place the Spanish learned in school. Our goal is for the visit to be a time when the students get to know themselves and each other better, and to discover the importance of knowing foreign languages in different situations and real world contexts.

Of course, our most important goal is that all of your goals are achieved.

References

The loyalty of the teachers/organisers is our reward and proof of a job well done.
Many schools travel with us every year – some have been doing so, without pause, for more than a decade. How do we achieve such a loyalty? Only by making sure teachers/organisers are completely satisfied with our services. (If you wish, we can provide full references from our current clients)

Guarantees

Viajes CIFA is a licensed and bonded Spanish travel company which protects each of its clients by fulfilling every legal, financial and insurance obligation required under European law for retail travel companies.

We are a member of UNAV (Unión de Agencias de Viajes) that promote good practice and safety in all its groups travels.

Viajes CIFA, licensed Spanish travel agency:
Empresa titular: Central Ibérica de Familias s.l
Domicilio social: C/ Ginzo de Limia 55 28034 Madrid España
Inscrita en el Registro Mercantil de Madrid, tomo 1360 folio 47 hoja nº 25359 inscripción 1ª.
Código de Identificación fiscal: B80073661
Título Agencia de Viajes: C.I.C.M.A 1683
Nombre comercial: Viajes CIFA