Learn Spanish in Madrid: Accommodation
When studying in Madrid you can choose to live with local Spanish hosts to give you the best exposure to Spanish culture and the language out of class, stay with other students in shared apartments if you’d prefer greater independence or select to stay in a 2* or 3* Pension or local Hotel (all categories) if you’d prefer your own space. If you’re not clear which option would best suit you, please contact us.
Spanish hosts /Private households
- Open to 17 yrs + age group
- Single room
- Shared rooms (friends or couples only)
- Half-board (breakfast and the evening meal)
- 20-40 minutes commute to school
Students staying in Madrid can stay with local hosts who live approximately 10 to 30 minutes from the college. The metro system in Madrid makes the daily commute easy, cheap and efficient. Private household accommodation can be booked on a single or shared room (friends or family can book together), half-board (breakfast and evening meal) basis. By staying with local people students can experience daily life first-hand and really feel a part of the city.
Homestay or family accommodation is the most popular choice in Madrid. Students have the opportunity to live with a host family, sharing meals and facilities and practicing Spanish in a traditional and friendly environment. Public transport (subway or bus) normally takes about 20 – 40 minutes on public transport.
Most students book a single room, however two people travelling together may request a double room.
Living in a Spanish home
Homestay or family accommodation is the most popular choice for language students in Madrid. You live with a host family, sharing meals and facilities and practising your Spanish in a traditional and friendly environment.
Hosts
Hosts can be couples, families or people living alone. They are chosen because they can offer you an authentic slice of Spanish life. Some work, others don’t. Some are young, some middle aged and others are retired. There is no standard host description. If you have a particular preference please discuss it with CESA, but we cannot promise to meet very specific needs unless there is a practical reason for them (allergy, dietary need etc).
Before you arrive
We require your arrival information (flight or train time) in order to ensure that your family is at home to greet you. You should call, fax or email this information to CESA at least one week in advance, or to your family directly five days in advance.
Arrival
Families are not required to pick you up from the airport. You can book an airport transfer through the Spanish school, via CESA Languages. You must arrive at the family by 11 o’clock in the evening. If delayed, please telephone the family to let them know.
Location
Most of our families are located not far from the school. Walking distance is usually 20-25 minutes. Public transport (subway or bus) normally takes about 20 minutes, however a journey of up to 40 minutes on public transport is possible.
Minimum stay
The minimum stay in a family is one week.
Three or more extra nights are treated as an extra week.
Room type
Most students book a single room. Students under 25 years can book double rooms.
Only two people travelling together may request a double room.
Meals
Breakfast is a light meal in Spain, consisting of coffee and biscuits or bread. Lunch is the main meal for many Spaniards and is taken between 1.30 and 3pm. Dinner is usually tortilla, cold meats, salads, sandwiches, etc., and is taken between 8 and 10pm. The following meal plans are possible in family accommodation:
Half-board: breakfast and dinner, Monday to Friday and all meals at weekends.
Internet access
Most host families have WiFi internet access. Either way, the school has WiFi and computers for the students’ use.
Changing your family
If you are not happy with your family, speak to the school director in your first week. We will offer you three alternative families, which you can visit before choosing one. We do not charge a fee for changing families in the first week.
Shared Apartments
- Open to 18 yrs + age group
- Single room
- Shared rooms (friends or couples only)
- Self-catering
- 15-40 minutes commute to school
Students can book apartments on a single room, self catering basis. Students then share the apartment with other students or local Spanish people in simply furnished accommodation, with a communal kitchen and bathroom, but private bedroom. Again allow 15 to 40 minutes for the daily commute to college.
Renting a student room gives you a more independent lifestyle. At Student Rooms, you share an apartment with two to four other people, usually other language students, with whom you also share certain expenses and the household tasks. You will have a private and basic room (bed, table, closet, lamps, window). The kitchen, living room and bathroom are communal. You may pay for small household expenses such as toiletries and house-cleaning materials. You will all be responsible for keeping the apartment clean.
The minimum stay in a student room is one week.
We advise long-term students to book the first four weeks before arrival.
Once in Spain, you can extend the rental period.
You have a private, but simply furnished room (bed, table, wardrobe, lamps, window). The kitchen, living room and bathroom are communal. You pay small expenses in the apartment such as gas, soap, cleaning material, etc. You are collectively responsible for keeping the apartment clean.
Before your arrive
Arrival is on Sunday and departure on Saturday. There is a daily extra charge for early arrivals or late departures, which must be requested in advance. You will be given the name and telephone number of the owner of the apartment before your departure.
Arrival
You receive your keys from the owner on Sunday afternoon. In some cases, the owner requires a deposit of 100 to 150 euros. The owner will refund you this deposit at the end of your stay, provided all items in the apartment are in the same condition.
Location
Distance from the school varies, Madrid is a large city so potentially it could take up to 40 minutes on public transport.
Minimum stay
The minimum stay in a student room is 1 week.
Room type
Most students book single rooms.
Two people travelling together may request a double room.
Changing student rooms
Student rooms must be booked in advance for a period of at least one week.
Apartment Studios
- Open to 18 yrs + age group
- Single occupancy only
- Self-catering
- 20 minutes commute to school
Apartments are available for individuals or two people booking together. The studios offer one or two beds, a fully equipped bathroom with towels, kitchenette with refrigerator and other services for an enjoyable and comfortable stay.
The address of the apartment is provided once you have booked. You will also receive the telephone number of the key holder. You should contact this person a few days before arrival to confirm your arrival time, which should be from early afternoon until 11pm on Sundays. The school is not responsible for any expenses arising from late arrivals, changes of plan or failure to contact the key holder.
Pensions & Hotels
In addition, should students prefer a greater degree of independent living, the college works with local 2* and 3* Pensions (single rooms, B&B) and apartment buildings that offer sole occupancy small (or larger) studios with kitchenette and bathroom and also a range of Hotels in Madrid.
Please contact CESA for a Madrid Accommodation fact sheet with current prices and full details.
Travel
Arrive: Sunday PM
Depart: Saturday AM
We recommend students fly to Madrid’s Barrajas airport and then take a taxi, bus or train/metro to their accommodation. Public transport in Madrid is good value for money, efficient (allowing for traffic congestion) and easy to tackle even if this is your first visit to Spain. You are welcome to take the college transfer service at additional cost from Madrid airport to your accommodation if preferred (one or two way service offered).
All transfers are “one way”.
Two friends or people from the same family, travelling together will only be charged the single person, transfer rate.
The “Transfer” service is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:00 AM to 23:00/11:00 PM. Students arriving before 8:00 AM will have to wait at the airport. Students arriving after 23:00 or on any other day should contact CESA to discuss the best course of action.
Transfer from accommodation to the airport is also available, only on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:00 AM (Departure time) to 23:00/11:00 PM (Departure time). Students departing before 8:00 AM or after 23:00/11:00 PM, or on any other day should contact CESA.
Flights to Madrid
Daily flights link Madrid Barajas Airport to the capitals and large cities of Europe, America and the rest of the world. There is a very good bus and underground (metro) service, with departures every 10/15 minutes, runs between Madrid and the airport or you can take a taxi to the city centre, from the airport.
