23 frequently asked questions (FAQs)
01 Why make a school trip to Spain?
A trip to Spain is the logical way to continue the learning from class. It enables knowledge to be put into practice and moves the students from grammatical exercises to day-to-day language use. It allows the students to practice Spanish in real-life situations and validates the students’ yearlong efforts. However, visiting Spain is not just about the language, there is also great cultural interest. You can find 41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There is a rich and varied history in which different religions (Catholic, Jewish and Muslim) have all left their legacy. In addition, Spain is a country with world-famous museums such as the Prado, Reina-Sofia, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Gugenheim and Picasso Museum…
Last, but not least, it is a destination with a climate and coastline that makes it the perfect location to spend days of leisure and culture in the open air.
02 Why is it good for your students?
For your students it is an opportunity to mark a great occasion during their school career. Students can get to know each other and their teacher better. Equally, they get to demonstrate other qualities and abilities above and beyond their academic ones. They can get to know another country and its inhabitants. Indeed, they will broaden their minds and expand their knowledge whilst making new friends.
03 What is the best amount of time to visit?
We recommend around five days. The average is four to six days but it depends on the budget of each group and the guidance of the headteacher.
04 What is the ideal number of students?
The best number to move around as a group is around 20-25 students. Yet, the “ideal” number varies according to the circumstances of each group. For example, if the group is coming to Spain via coach it is more economical to fill the entire coach and create a larger group of 35-48 students.
We do not impose a minimum number of students - we know that sometimes it is difficult to get the exact number the organiser/teacher wants.
05 What is the best age? And level of Spanish?
Any age older than 11/12 years is best. Every age of student will appreciate and enjoy the trip in their particular way.
If the aim of the trip is to improve language skills, it is always preferable that the students have a basic level of Spanish to gain the most benefit. However, neither does the trip need to be purely language focused.
06 How is this type of trip different to a school exchange?
For a start, this type of trip is easier for the teacher to arrange than an exchange which is much more complicated to carry out. For instance, in an exchange you have to find another school that is interested, find mutually suitable dates, and agree numbers of students and places of interest.
For the families of the students a trip is also more convenient because they no longer have to accommodate students on the return visit. This is especially beneficial given that relationships between students can be strained after the first visit. Whilst a school trip is more expensive than an exchange, the difference is not as much as you might expect given that the cost of the transport forms a significant part of the budget and is the same for both exchanges and visits.
07 What type of accommodation is most appropriate?
For Spanish language students we recommend family home-stay accommodation. This is the best way to practice the language, see Spanish homes and daily life, try Spanish cooking and get to know new people.
For older students who want more independence, to go out at night and choose their own food choice we recommend staying in a hotel or hostel.
08 What about students with allergies or special dietary needs?
As long as we know in advance, both types of accommodation can cater for all dietary requirements.
09 Are Spanish classes essential during the visit?
Classes are always useful and allow greater progress given that the students can put into practice immediately what they have learned in class. However, we do not advise classes for short visits of two or three days.
10 Where is the best place to visit in Spain?
In reality there is no place “better” than the rest, all have their own attractions. Our practical advice is to choose the place with the cheapest flights from your location.
Spain is a richly diverse country; every city has something special and interesting to offer.
11 Is Cataluña a good destination for Spanish language students?
Yes, without a doubt. Barcelona is a city with lots of artistic and cultural offerings and has a pleasant climate.
“Don’t they speak Catalan?” Yes, but they also speak Spanish. In the museums and shops the people will attend to you in perfect Spanish.
Please note: in family home-stay accommodation our families follow the rule of always speaking Spanish when the student is present. Find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of accommodation here.
12 Can you visit more than one city in the same trip?
Although it depends on the destination, it is possible to visit various cities in the same trip. Here you can find example itineraries with circular routes. If you want to visit more that one city during the trip we recommend hotel/hostel accommodation.
Family home-stay accommodation is less advisable as the students would have to stay with several different families in the same week. This would be challenging as your students would not have time to adapt to staying in the different homes.
13 What is the best way to organise a school trip to Spain?
The best way is to contract a Spanish company (like ours) and purchase the accommodation, program of activities and all local services. Regarding transport to Spain, we recommend using low cost airlines as the cheapest and most convenient way to travel. Additionally, if you reserve the flights yourself you save on commission fees and can check for the cheapest dates to travel. If the distances permit, you can also arrive by coach.
14 What is the best way to arrive in Spain: plane, coach, train…?
If your place of origin is a reasonable distance from Spain, and your group is large enough, you can hire a coach for the journey and duration of your stay. Normally, it is more convenient for the school to hire a coach with a local company that they have already used previously. With a group fewer than 35, however, a coach could work out less economical.
With longer distances, or groups of less than 35, we recommend flying with a “low cost” airline. Once in Spain, public transport or private coach companies can be used for local travel (we can organise this for you).
Travelling around Spain with a local coach driver has many advantages: unlike foreign drivers, not only do they know their way around and where to park, but they can also help with the group.
If the city of origin is unsuitable for low cost airline travel you could travel using a coach-line company but it might be less comfortable and convenient.
15 What are typical difficulties when organising a trip?
Until the group is finalised you may need to make many changes and you will require patience! It is easier if you already know the students that will be making the trip.
Even so, your students may surprise you (positively or negatively!) – because whilst the students are the same the situations they are in are very different. There are always people who are dissatisfied and complain so you will need to help ensure that they do not effect the enjoyment and ambience of the group.
Apart from the pre-planned program, it is always a good idea to have a “Plan B” just in case of a hitch, for example, the weather is bad, the monument is unexpectedly closed or you arrive late and miss your reservation etc.
16 How do you keep the students occupied all day long?
It is a good idea to keep them busy but not overwhelmed. Aim to break up the time. For example, have time to study, time for cultural outings, time for leisure and recreational outings, and free time to go shopping or simply relax. It is always a good idea to give the students a quiz (questions about museums, shops etc.) so that they practice the language in real-life situations.
Family home-stay accommodation can be more convenient for the accompanying teacher as teachers are free from 7.30/8.00p.m. and can, therefore, relax and prepare for the next day.
17 When should we come?
We can organise your trip for any time and date during the year. If you want to visit during a specific time or for a particular event such as Easter, the Fallas, Seville Festival or Carnival, we recommend you book well advance to ensure places. We do not offer a low season discount as, equally, we do not raise our prices in high season – our prices remain the same year round.
18 Is there a minimum or maximum group size?
We neither impose a minimum nor maximum number of participants.
19 How many accompanying adults travel for free?
We calculate our rates on the basis of 1 free adult per 12 students with family home- stay accommodation. In hotel/hostel accommodation there is 1 free adult per 10 students. Upon request, we can recalculate our rates to include more non-paying adult places.
20 How do I book?
After you approve the draft itinerary that we propose, along with the budget and program of activities, we will make a provisional reservation which holds the places for 15-20 days (extendable if necessary) until you have the responses from the students. Once you know which students are coming we can proceed to the final booking whereupon you send us the registration form. Upon receipt of the form we will prepare the dossier for your trip and send you the invoice and contract.
21 Can I make changes?
We allow you to make all types of changes: date, destination (according to availability) and number of participants. There are no financial penalties for making a change.
22 How do you select the home-stay families?
Our families are carefully selected by us and are regularly inspected by our local managers. The condition and quality of the homes have to meet our strict standards of hygiene, cleanliness and comfort. Our families are not only people with high moral and social values; they are also friendly and welcoming.
23 What is the best way to reserve flights to Spain?
If travelling with a low-cost airline, the college/organiser/teacher must purchase the tickets. These types of airlines do not work with intermediaries, nor travel agencies, or third-parties.
Furthermore, reserving the tickets well in advance is the most economical way of travelling. Here at CIFA Travel Agency, whilst we cannot purchase the tickets on your behalf, we will work with you to find the best fares.
We know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to find the flight for the right date, time and price and, therefore, offer you as much as help as possible.
The main reason we do not include the cost of flights in our programs and tariffs is because there is an enormous variation in the prices of flights depending on the destination, dates and time of reservation.
However, if you wish to travel with a conventional airline CIFA Travel Agency can make the reservation for you. It is important to remember that, although having to make your own reservations with a low-cost airline is less convenient, it is the cheapest way to travel and avoids payment of any kind of commission. Of course, once you have arrived in your destination, should you wish we can supply all your local transport needs.
A trip to Spain is the logical way to continue the learning from class. It enables knowledge to be put into practice and moves the students from grammatical exercises to day-to-day language use. It allows the students to practice Spanish in real-life situations and validates the students’ yearlong efforts. However, visiting Spain is not just about the language, there is also great cultural interest. You can find 41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There is a rich and varied history in which different religions (Catholic, Jewish and Muslim) have all left their legacy. In addition, Spain is a country with world-famous museums such as the Prado, Reina-Sofia, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Gugenheim and Picasso Museum…
Last, but not least, it is a destination with a climate and coastline that makes it the perfect location to spend days of leisure and culture in the open air.
02 Why is it good for your students?
For your students it is an opportunity to mark a great occasion during their school career. Students can get to know each other and their teacher better. Equally, they get to demonstrate other qualities and abilities above and beyond their academic ones. They can get to know another country and its inhabitants. Indeed, they will broaden their minds and expand their knowledge whilst making new friends.
03 What is the best amount of time to visit?
We recommend around five days. The average is four to six days but it depends on the budget of each group and the guidance of the headteacher.
04 What is the ideal number of students?
The best number to move around as a group is around 20-25 students. Yet, the “ideal” number varies according to the circumstances of each group. For example, if the group is coming to Spain via coach it is more economical to fill the entire coach and create a larger group of 35-48 students.
We do not impose a minimum number of students - we know that sometimes it is difficult to get the exact number the organiser/teacher wants.
05 What is the best age? And level of Spanish?
Any age older than 11/12 years is best. Every age of student will appreciate and enjoy the trip in their particular way.
If the aim of the trip is to improve language skills, it is always preferable that the students have a basic level of Spanish to gain the most benefit. However, neither does the trip need to be purely language focused.
06 How is this type of trip different to a school exchange?
For a start, this type of trip is easier for the teacher to arrange than an exchange which is much more complicated to carry out. For instance, in an exchange you have to find another school that is interested, find mutually suitable dates, and agree numbers of students and places of interest.
For the families of the students a trip is also more convenient because they no longer have to accommodate students on the return visit. This is especially beneficial given that relationships between students can be strained after the first visit. Whilst a school trip is more expensive than an exchange, the difference is not as much as you might expect given that the cost of the transport forms a significant part of the budget and is the same for both exchanges and visits.
07 What type of accommodation is most appropriate?
For Spanish language students we recommend family home-stay accommodation. This is the best way to practice the language, see Spanish homes and daily life, try Spanish cooking and get to know new people.
For older students who want more independence, to go out at night and choose their own food choice we recommend staying in a hotel or hostel.
08 What about students with allergies or special dietary needs?
As long as we know in advance, both types of accommodation can cater for all dietary requirements.
09 Are Spanish classes essential during the visit?
Classes are always useful and allow greater progress given that the students can put into practice immediately what they have learned in class. However, we do not advise classes for short visits of two or three days.
10 Where is the best place to visit in Spain?
In reality there is no place “better” than the rest, all have their own attractions. Our practical advice is to choose the place with the cheapest flights from your location.
Spain is a richly diverse country; every city has something special and interesting to offer.
11 Is Cataluña a good destination for Spanish language students?
Yes, without a doubt. Barcelona is a city with lots of artistic and cultural offerings and has a pleasant climate.
“Don’t they speak Catalan?” Yes, but they also speak Spanish. In the museums and shops the people will attend to you in perfect Spanish.
Please note: in family home-stay accommodation our families follow the rule of always speaking Spanish when the student is present. Find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of accommodation here.
12 Can you visit more than one city in the same trip?
Although it depends on the destination, it is possible to visit various cities in the same trip. Here you can find example itineraries with circular routes. If you want to visit more that one city during the trip we recommend hotel/hostel accommodation.
Family home-stay accommodation is less advisable as the students would have to stay with several different families in the same week. This would be challenging as your students would not have time to adapt to staying in the different homes.
13 What is the best way to organise a school trip to Spain?
The best way is to contract a Spanish company (like ours) and purchase the accommodation, program of activities and all local services. Regarding transport to Spain, we recommend using low cost airlines as the cheapest and most convenient way to travel. Additionally, if you reserve the flights yourself you save on commission fees and can check for the cheapest dates to travel. If the distances permit, you can also arrive by coach.
14 What is the best way to arrive in Spain: plane, coach, train…?
If your place of origin is a reasonable distance from Spain, and your group is large enough, you can hire a coach for the journey and duration of your stay. Normally, it is more convenient for the school to hire a coach with a local company that they have already used previously. With a group fewer than 35, however, a coach could work out less economical.
With longer distances, or groups of less than 35, we recommend flying with a “low cost” airline. Once in Spain, public transport or private coach companies can be used for local travel (we can organise this for you).
Travelling around Spain with a local coach driver has many advantages: unlike foreign drivers, not only do they know their way around and where to park, but they can also help with the group.
If the city of origin is unsuitable for low cost airline travel you could travel using a coach-line company but it might be less comfortable and convenient.
15 What are typical difficulties when organising a trip?
Until the group is finalised you may need to make many changes and you will require patience! It is easier if you already know the students that will be making the trip.
Even so, your students may surprise you (positively or negatively!) – because whilst the students are the same the situations they are in are very different. There are always people who are dissatisfied and complain so you will need to help ensure that they do not effect the enjoyment and ambience of the group.
Apart from the pre-planned program, it is always a good idea to have a “Plan B” just in case of a hitch, for example, the weather is bad, the monument is unexpectedly closed or you arrive late and miss your reservation etc.
16 How do you keep the students occupied all day long?
It is a good idea to keep them busy but not overwhelmed. Aim to break up the time. For example, have time to study, time for cultural outings, time for leisure and recreational outings, and free time to go shopping or simply relax. It is always a good idea to give the students a quiz (questions about museums, shops etc.) so that they practice the language in real-life situations.
Family home-stay accommodation can be more convenient for the accompanying teacher as teachers are free from 7.30/8.00p.m. and can, therefore, relax and prepare for the next day.
17 When should we come?
We can organise your trip for any time and date during the year. If you want to visit during a specific time or for a particular event such as Easter, the Fallas, Seville Festival or Carnival, we recommend you book well advance to ensure places. We do not offer a low season discount as, equally, we do not raise our prices in high season – our prices remain the same year round.
18 Is there a minimum or maximum group size?
We neither impose a minimum nor maximum number of participants.
19 How many accompanying adults travel for free?
We calculate our rates on the basis of 1 free adult per 12 students with family home- stay accommodation. In hotel/hostel accommodation there is 1 free adult per 10 students. Upon request, we can recalculate our rates to include more non-paying adult places.
20 How do I book?
After you approve the draft itinerary that we propose, along with the budget and program of activities, we will make a provisional reservation which holds the places for 15-20 days (extendable if necessary) until you have the responses from the students. Once you know which students are coming we can proceed to the final booking whereupon you send us the registration form. Upon receipt of the form we will prepare the dossier for your trip and send you the invoice and contract.
21 Can I make changes?
We allow you to make all types of changes: date, destination (according to availability) and number of participants. There are no financial penalties for making a change.
22 How do you select the home-stay families?
Our families are carefully selected by us and are regularly inspected by our local managers. The condition and quality of the homes have to meet our strict standards of hygiene, cleanliness and comfort. Our families are not only people with high moral and social values; they are also friendly and welcoming.
23 What is the best way to reserve flights to Spain?
If travelling with a low-cost airline, the college/organiser/teacher must purchase the tickets. These types of airlines do not work with intermediaries, nor travel agencies, or third-parties.
Furthermore, reserving the tickets well in advance is the most economical way of travelling. Here at CIFA Travel Agency, whilst we cannot purchase the tickets on your behalf, we will work with you to find the best fares.
We know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to find the flight for the right date, time and price and, therefore, offer you as much as help as possible.
The main reason we do not include the cost of flights in our programs and tariffs is because there is an enormous variation in the prices of flights depending on the destination, dates and time of reservation.
However, if you wish to travel with a conventional airline CIFA Travel Agency can make the reservation for you. It is important to remember that, although having to make your own reservations with a low-cost airline is less convenient, it is the cheapest way to travel and avoids payment of any kind of commission. Of course, once you have arrived in your destination, should you wish we can supply all your local transport needs.
