Living with a Spanish family is the most immersive way to learn Spanish. It’s also the option that makes people the most nervous. Will I understand a word? What if we don’t get on? What if I’m hungry at the wrong time? Fair questions. This guide is here to answer them honestly, so you can decide whether a homestay is right for you, and if it is, arrive feeling prepared rather than anxious.
The short version
You get a room in a Spanish home, usually with half board (breakfast and dinner) and sometimes full board, and a family who will speak Spanish with you. It costs more than a shared flat, but you don’t need to budget separately for most meals. It suits people who want to practise all day and don’t mind fitting around someone else’s routine. Host families are available for students of all ages. For prices, see What does a Spanish course in Spain cost?
A typical day
You start with breakfast together before taking the metro or walking to school. If you’ve booked half board, you’ll usually have lunch after class, perhaps with classmates, and then a siesta back at the house. With dinner late, you have plenty of time in the afternoon to visit a museum or explore the city, then you head home in time for dinner at around 9 pm.
Meals
With half board you eat breakfast and dinner with the family; full board adds lunch. Spanish mealtimes run later than many visitors are used to, with dinner often at 9 pm or later, so you may have to wait for your meal while your stomach is on a different time zone.
If you have dietary needs, tell the school when you book rather than on arrival, so your hosts can plan. And if you’re going out with classmates, let your hosts know in good time. They’ve cooked for you, and missing a meal without warning is the one thing that’s genuinely not polite.
House rules and privacy
Things like the bathroom, laundry, keys and wifi all depend on the school and the family. We can tell you how it works for your host family on request, so just ask.
Being honest about the privacy side: you’re a guest in someone’s home, so you’ll have less privacy than in a shared flat. You’ll usually share the living space and often the bathroom, and your hosts have their own habits and customs. A little curiosity goes a long way. Ask how things work, say thank you, and you’ll find most hosts are warm, patient and used to students.
How it helps your Spanish
Your hosts are asked to speak only Spanish with you wherever they can. When you’re tired after a morning of lessons it’s tempting to switch to English. Try not to. The rule is what makes a homestay special: you practise Spanish at the table, in the kitchen and when something small goes wrong, which is exactly the Spanish you’ll need outside the classroom.
If you’re a beginner, the first days can be tiring and a bit humbling. Ask your hosts to speak slowly, use gestures and a lot of smiling, and keep a small notebook of the words you hear at dinner. You’ll be surprised how quickly the sounds turn into sentences.
There’s a practical side too. Hosts are used to students and can tell you which bus to take, where to find a pharmacy, what’s worth seeing at the weekend. That support matters when you’re new in a city.
Who it suits, and who it doesn’t
A homestay tends to suit beginners who want maximum immersion, anyone travelling alone who’d like some company, and students who’d rather not shop and cook.
It may suit you less if independence and late nights matter most to you, if you need a lot of privacy, or if you have a strict timetable or very specific dietary requirements (possible, but ask first). Couples or friends travelling together may prefer a twin room or a shared flat.
Our take: if you can honestly say you’d enjoy chatting over dinner even when you’re tired, a homestay is a wonderful way to learn. If you’re not sure, we’d happily talk through the alternatives with you. There’s no wrong answer.
If you’re staying three months or more
Over a long stay a homestay changes. The first weeks are the most intensive, a mix of excitement and a bit of exhaustion. After a while you stop feeling like a guest and start feeling part of the household.
Equally, some people find that after a few months they’d like more independence, and move into a shared flat. That’s perfectly normal, and accommodation can usually be changed, but give the school plenty of notice.
See Where to stay during your Spanish course to compare a homestay with a flat or a residence.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the room single or shared?
- Is it half or full board, and what are the mealtimes?
- Can the family cater to my diet?
- Are there other students staying in the home?
- Is wifi included?
- How far is the school, and how do I get there?
- What are the rules on guests and quiet hours?
We’re happy to find out the answers for you.
Thinking about a homestay?
Tell us your city, how long you’re staying and what you want from the trip, and we’ll suggest schools and homestay options that fit.
Also read: Where to stay during your Spanish course · What does a Spanish course in Spain cost? · Long-term Spanish courses
