Are you a teacher planning a school trip to Spain? Spain is a country teeming with culture, history, and natural beauty that will inspire and educate your students. However, before you embark on this exciting journey, there are several essential steps you need to take. At Estudia-España we have helped countless high schools and vocational colleges across Europe to plan and book an unforgettable educational study trip to Spain. In this guide, we'll explore the key aspects of planning a school trip to Spain that will make the experience smooth and memorable.
Preparing for your Spanish Adventure
As a teacher, you will already know that preparation is crucial. Here are a few of the first tasks you need to tackle:
Define your goals: Determine the educational (and perhaps also the cultural) objectives of your trip. Whether the aim is improving your students’ language skills or exposing them to new cultures, having clear goals will help you with your planning.
Define your budget: Your budget will decide where and for how long your trip can be. With Estudia-España a 5-day, 4-night trip can start at approximately €360 per student for a small group (2024 prices). But the price can vary a lot depending on your chosen city, course type and any additional activities, as well as accommodation type.
Choosing a destination
The next thing to consider is the destination. Estudia-España offers school packages at more than a dozen destinations in Spain, and all of them are a great place to learn Spanish.
Choose a location that is easy to reach from your local airport. You probably won’t want a long journey after arrival to give you and your students more time and energy to explore and enjoy your stay. Most major European cities offer direct flights to Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga. If you are lucky you might also find flights to Seville, Alicante or Valencia. Having said that, our tailor-made packages can also airport pick-ups and onward transport to other locations such as Salamanca or the beautiful student city of Granada.
You should also check the departure days and times as well, to make sure that flights are available on the days you plan to travel, at reasonable times.
How long should the Spanish course be?
The length of the stay is entirely up to you. Most groups book between 4 and 6 nights.
Usually, no lessons or events are planned on the arrival day. The school will arrange a private transfer to pick your school group up at the airport and bring you to the school. Here your students will meet their host families and be given some time to settle in.
The next morning is when the programme starts: the mornings will be filled with Spanish language lessons and then, following lunch together, you can enjoy an activity organised by the school. This could be a tour of the historic city centre, a trip to a local historical site, or simply an afternoon of games on the beach.
But don’t forget: each additional activity comes with a price. If your budget is tight you might want to plan a couple of non-activity days, where you can just spend an afternoon relaxing on the beach or exploring the city centre shops.
Accommodation Options
Two popular accommodation options for school trips to Spain are student residences and host families, both offering the full-board option. Student residences provide a communal environment, while staying with host families offers a more immersive cultural experience. Choose the option that aligns best with your trip's objectives and student preferences.
Teacher Benefits
Many of our schools offer one free teacher spot for every 10-15 students who enrol in the trip. This not only ensures that your students have adequate supervision (in addition to the school's own) but also allows teachers to actively participate in the learning experience if they wish to do so.
Any questions? Contact us!
Planning a school trip to Spain can be a rewarding and enriching experience for both you and your students. At Estudia-España we have many years of experience helping schools to plan this kind of trip, and will be happy to help you with the organisation. Contact us for more information!