MARBELLA - FAQ'S

Is airfare included?
No - You are responsible for your own airfare. We recommend www.travelocity.com or www.studentuniverse.com.

Is housing included in the price of the program?
Yes - You will live in the Hotel where you are doing your internship in Marbella.  You will most likely share a room with another international intern � girls placed with girls and boys placed with boys.

When does my actual internship work assignment begin?
Program start dates are the first Monday of each month. For the first two weeks you are enrolled in intensive Spanish language classes for about 4 hours per day, 5 days per week IN MADRID. After this intensive course, you will take the train to Marbella and start your actual internship the third Monday of the month.  Plan on arriving in Spain the weekend just prior to the first Monday of the month, and plan on leaving the weekend after the last Friday of the month.

(Note: While in Madrid, you will be living in your own room in a shared apartment.  Some apartments require a $100 deposit to be made upon your arrival. This will be returned to you when you turn in your keys on the day of your departure from the program, assuming you have left the apartment in the same condition that it was in when you moved in.)

All apartments are fully furnished, with most having washing machine, microwave, radio, etc. Sheets, towels, pots, pans are also included.

Do I have to have insurance?
YES - It is strongly recommended that you have insurance. More and more participating companies and institutions abroad are asking for proof of medical and accident insurance and our various Directors in-country also may ask you for proof of insurance (usually a copy of your insurance card showing dates and coverage is valid). You can use coverage you already have or coverage that someone else carries for you, or you can purchase coverage just for our program. You can also buy insurance online once you arrive in Spain. In the past, we have referred people to Arizona-based ASA, Inc. - they can customize a plan for you based on details you provide. (see our 'Links' page for more information). Tell them that Adelante sent you for a small discount 888-272-8288. Another carrier is Insurance Services of America also based in Arizona. They can be reached at 800-647-4589.

Another possibility is purchasing insurance once in Spain. Two companies are Mapfre Insurance Co. and Sanitas www.sanitas.es. The cost is about $45 - $50US per month. Basic medical and accident insurance is all you need. You may have to take out a year policy, pay month by month and stop when you are ready to go home.

Is placement guaranteed?
For this internship it is best if candidates have some Spanish skills, as it is a very busy work assignment and quite international.  Tourism background is helpful but not necessary.  There are a limited number of spots for this particular work assignment and it is only available during the months APRIL to OCTOBER.

Do I need a work visa or a student visa?
Work visas are never required for any of our programs. These are academic, apprenticeship programs. Student visas are required for programs longer than 3 months. Click here for more information on visas.

Can I stay longer than 3 months?
Yes! - We encourage all candidates to stay as long as possible for the most in-depth cultural immersion and language acquisition. Click here for more information on visas.

When can I start?
We place year round, the first Monday of each month.

How much should I budget for living expenses per month, above and beyond what is included in the program fee?
$200 - $300 per month gives you some breathing room to travel a bit, go to the movies or theatre and have some fun nights out. You can go shoestring & make it less, or go shopping-spree-happy & make it more (remember, in this program your meals are included as is laundry and cleaning service)

Is there an Adelante contact in Spain?
Yes - Esther Rodriquez will be your Director and Intern Advisor for this program.  She is from Madrid and has over 20 years in the tourism and education industry, in multiple cities throughout Spain. Esther is a consultant who places interns for Adelante as well as for various other American and European Universities.

Is Adelante an employment agency?
No - We are a company that offers, among other things, a fee-based internship placement services program that works with people who are 1) seeking to massively upgrade their resumes, 2) wish to become bilingual and, 3) are quite independent and have a desire to live and learn the Spanish culture.

What is the deadline for Application packet submissions?
60 days prior to your desired start date is the ideal. However we may be able, on a case-by-case basis, to place candidates who submit their applications later than that.

When will I know if I am accepted into the program or not?
Once you have submitted a completed Application Packet, someone from the main office will contact you to set up a phone interview. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes and is conducted in English.  This is not a competitive program whereby candidates compete against each other or compete for a limited number of spots. Rather, during the interview process a mutual decision is made to determine that you are the right candidate profile for what you want to do for your internship program in Spain (see the "Is placement guaranteed" question above). After the phone interview, your references are checked and usually then we can accept you into the program.

Are only Americans admitted to this program?
No - our only requirement is that you are a native English speaker, so citizens of many countries fall into that category, including Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, etc.

Is there a refund policy?
If you cancel your participation in the program 45 days prior to your start date or earlier, you will receive a 100% refund of the program fee. If you cancel 30 - 45 days prior to your start date, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel 0 - 30 days prior to your start date, there will be 0% refund as well as if you cancel at any time following your arrival in Spain. The $150 application fee is non-refundable.

When is payment for the program due?
Payment in full is due no later than 45 days prior to your desired start date in the program. Invoices are sent via email about 7-10 days before payment is due.

Can I be placed if I speak no Spanish at all?
Ideally our candidates have some Spanish language capabilities, the more the better. For candidates who are truly beginner level, the only options available are some of the Teaching English work assignments in other cities. Inquire for more details.

What should I pack?
Once you are accepted into the program we send out a comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation Packet that will include information on what to pack and much more. It is required reading! Some initial tips on what to take are as follows: your room in the hotel is fully equipped, so no need to worry about sheets, towels, pots, pans etc. For your internship, pack casual clothes such as capris, skirts, collared shirts some sandals (comfortable as you will walk � the Hotel is on the top of a small hill -- and use public transport often) No jeans or tennis shoes during any interaction with your Spanish company. For your own travel and leisure time, wear what you want and you can visit any number of websites to check on weather for any given month.  Bring beach and pool gear.

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