Learn Russian in Riga: Accommodation

• Open to 16 yrs + age group
• Stay with local Russian speaking hosts in single room accommodation on a half board basis
• Allow for a 25/50 minute commute each way
• Half-board = breakfast and evening meal
• Hosts live in apartments (flats), not houses, in the residential parts of the city

How is a host family defined? Hosts are not always a traditional married couple with a child/children. Above all the school look for someone who is sociable, likes to meet new people and can give a warm welcome to students. Hosts have time to talk to the students, be patient, understanding, careful and prepared to provide help with any problem that may arise during a student’s stay in Latvia.

The fee includes private accommodation with a single room, either with breakfast or half-board (breakfast and dinner – full board on weekends). On request, it is sometimes possible to provide double rooms. A student’s room is furnished with at least:

• one bed or sofa-bed
• wardrobe
• desk with chair and light
• a mirror (in a wardrobe or a separate one)

The rooms are clean and, by Latvian standards, spacious. Bathroom and kitchen are shared with the family. All apartments have a  telephone. Maximum travel time to the school is 50 minutes.

All hosts and their homes are personally known to the accommodation officer.
Families are inspected once a year.
The standard of the families is monitored by questionnaires (entry and exit) given to students.

Students’ wishes and needs such as non-smoking/smoking, allergies, vegetarian food, with/without pets etc. are taken into account as far as possible. Normally students should remain with one family for the whole duration of the course, even if things are not exactly the same as expected.

We allow students to change the host family during a language course but we require minimum one week notice.

• Open to 18 yrs + age group
• Popular option for those who prefer more independence and want to live with other language students or Russian speakers
• Self catering accommodation, single rooms
• Apartments are of a simple standard and located in residential suburbs (again anticipate a morning commute to college of 20/50 minutes)

Shared apartments are not recommended for complete beginners, who may find self catering a little too much to handle during their first few weeks studying Russian!  This option works well for those students who prefer to stay on their own but at the same time wish to experience a student atmosphere. The flats provide single bedrooms (usually 2-3 per apartment), shared bathroom and kitchen. Bed linen, cutlery and kitchen equipment are provided. The flats are all equipped with one TV set, telephone, washing machine and vacuum cleaner. The shared-flat option costs about the same as staying in a host-family, but without board.

Arrive: Sunday PM
Depart: Sunday PM

We recommend students fly to Riga’s RIX airport. You can book a school arranged taxi transfer or take a bus or taxi independently in to the city.