Harborside Academy Spain Expedition

Homestay Headquarters FAQ

Living with a homestay family is the BEST way to learn about local culture — language, customs, cuisine and everything in between. Homestay experiences can be intimidating for new travelers, but are always one of the biggest highlights reported by student adventurers following a trip. To clear the air on what it’s really like living with a homestay family, please read through the following FAQ. If you have any questions, please reach out. Your Global Treks team is here for you. Feel free to call the office or email anytime!

Homestay FAQ

How are families selected?

Families working with our students pass an extensive process of interviews, home inspections, reference checks, formal background checks, random spot-inspections and undergo constant evaluation prior/during and post expeditions. Global Treks has partnered with Centro Mundolengua, a local school based in Seville. Centro Mundolengua runs the study abroad program for several universities in the United States and has successfully housed, educated and supported American study abroad students in Seville since 2005. Global Treks staff works closely with our Seville-based families and Centro Mundolengua to ensure Harborside students are matched with the best families of the region. Harborside families will have all information pertaining to their child’s matched family a month prior to the trip. If any changes are desired by parents, they will be honored.

Can I stay with my friends?

Yes! Homestay families can house 2 - 4 students a time. Students will all complete a questionnaire and can identify any fellow travelers they would prefer to be housed with in Spain. Students are placed in single-gender groups, and whenever possible, student preferences will be honored. After all, life is more fun and more learning can take place when you’re smiling!

What is a typical homestay family experience like?

Homestay families are your home away from home. Our homestay families are thoughtful, caring, dedicated and excited to provide the most comfortable and safe living arrangements possible for our students. Above all, they are FUN! Some families have young children (host brothers or sisters) while others are without children in the home. Students will have their own space in single or shared rooms with individual beds, a closet, bathroom and typically a desk or workspace where students can relax. All houses have wifi access and are within walking distance of the other homestay families for our group. Meals are eaten together with your host family and families are carefully instructed to accommodate for any and all food preferences outlines on student medical forms. Meal time is the perfect time to practice Spanish, ask questions and learn about typical life in Spain. And, considering most of our families have been hosting students for over 10 years, the atmosphere is extremely relaxed and comfortable for our visiting American students.

Do we find out our homestay family information prior to the trip?

Harborside students will receive their homestay family information several weeks prior to departure to Spain. This allows for Harborside families to review the details of their host families in Spain and have plenty of time to ask questions or seek changes, if desired.

What if I get sick or hurt?

Unfortunately, sometimes we get sick while traveling. While it’s never fun to be sick, Global Treks makes sure to provide the very best medical care possible. Not only is your guide a paramedic here in the States, Spain has excellent medical facilities to utilize while abroad. Any participant feeling ill or injured abroad will be accompanied to the clinic to receive care. Communication with families in the US will be established as soon as possible and regular updates provided. Our team is never without cell phone coverage abroad.

Do I need to bring a gift for my homestay family?

Gifts for homestay families are completely optional. Harborside Academy families will be notified a few weeks in advance if there are young children in the home and other pertinent family dynamic information. IF you choose to bring a gift for your homestay family, anything sharing your home culture with your homestay family is appreciated. Postcards or other types of things that share your world with your homestay family can serve as an excellent conversational piece, but again, is completely option and not expected or required.

Can chaperones and adult participants stay with a homestay family?

Absolutely! Our adult participants will have the opportunity to stay with a homestay family and enjoy their very own home away from home in Seville. We encourage all accompanying adults on the trip to participate in the homestay opportunity for the same reason as our student participants — it’s the very best way to enjoy a personalized experience in Spain and learn about Spanish culture from up close. Adult participants will be housed with homestay families located within walking distance to all student housing locations, have wifi access, and be separate families than our student participants.

Have another question not listed here? 

Please reach out to your Global Treks Program Director Jen at Herdina@Global-treks.com or

give our office a call at 507-301-6466 anytime. We are happy to help!