A big part of our EUROACE Programs is our accommodation services and how they can improve the overall experience during of your  internship, your Spanish classes and just in general the whole journey of your program.

EUROACE offers two main accommodation offers: A stay with a host family or a stay in a shared apartment. Both options offer students the chance to challenge themselves, promote a bit of self-discovery and also help them learn some great lifeskills that will be useful way after the end of one of our EUROACE programs.

This blog will weigh up the positives of both a stay in a host family and also a shared apartment to make sure you choose the best and most comfortable deicison for you!

Cultural Immersion:

Although a stay in a shared apartment allows you to meet new people and discover different cultures and traditions through each one of your housemates, it is safe to say that a stay with a host family offers numerous benefits for individuals looking to deeply understand and integrate into a new culture. Not only do you get firsthand experience of local culture, traditions and lifestyle in Valencia, but you also have locals living with you who can help with recommendations and great spots for you to discover all around the city.

Another big plus about staying with a host family is that you can constantly speak Spanish and improve your language skills as each day passes. Daily interactions with native speakers help improve conversational skills and comprehension, as well as give you the chance to learn idiomatic expressions and the colloquial language which is often not taught in formal education.

You will be suprised at how different each locals pronuncation and accent is so having  a whole family to communicate with on a daily basis with help to expose you to new phrases as well as accents. There is no better way to improve than practising conversing in Spanish every day so if that is one of your top aims, we would definitely recommend a host family stay!

Personal growth & Development 

As with any big trip or program far away from home, our EUROACE programs naturally  foster significant personal growth and development. Our students are able to gain independence as they navigate a new environment, manage daily responsibilities, and are forced to make decisions on their own. A stay in a shared apartment can do all of this and more as our students are encouraged to socialise with new people and manage all of their internship and Spanish classes alone.

An important advantage about staying in a shared apartment is having the opportunity to manage daily responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, and budgeting, which all effectively build self-reliance. Instead of having meals provided at all times like with a host family, a shared apartment experience encourages students to be more creative with their meals and even encourages them to go out to eat and socialise a bit more.

Making independent decisions about living arrangements, cleaning tasks and social activities also enhances decision-making abilities. Students are able to build a network of connections and relationships just by staying in a shared apartment with other students or interns from all over the world. A shared apartment also provides the perfect amount of personal space so students can chill and enjoy their own time as much as they´d like.

Cost Effective

Both a stay in a host family and a shared apartment can be seen as cost effective and economic options but it is important to note that your stay with a host family may include some extra perks, which of course depend on your preferences. If you prefer meals to be provided, then a host family stay can offer either a half board or full board service but it is important to remember that you aren´t permitted to use the kitchen during your stay. If you prefer cooking and enjoy making your meals each night, then maybe a shared apartment is the better option for you.

It is also true that you may have more freedom in a shared apartment as you can invite your friends over for drinks, dinner or other social events. That isn´t to say that you are restricted with a host family, but it is definitely  important to always respect the family environment and rules of the house. In both cases, you will have a lot of time to explore the outdoor wonders of Valenica and you probably won´t feel like staying in for most of the time!