Barcelona- Parque Guell

Atlanta Public Schools

Margaret McKenzie Spanish

APS High School Custom Program Spain Spring 2025

10 Day Custom Program to Spain

For over 50 years, Xperitas has provided students life-changing travel experiences all over the world. As an Xperitas traveler, you can expect to gain more confidence in your language skills, be challenged by new and unfamiliar experiences, and develop a personal connection to the world that is simply priceless. Our programs are different because we emphasize language immersion, making the entire travel experience richer and more meaningful. Xperitas’ programs abroad provide a safe place for you to experience the magic, wonder, and surprise that is true cultural immersion through travel. This program will introduce students to the richness of Spanish culture. Students will begin and end their visit by exploring Barcelona. Students will also spend time in a family stay where they will have the opportunity to practice their Spanish in an authentic context while forging lifelong bonds with their Spanish host family. Dates listed are tentative, pending teacher approval and airline confirmation.
Trip Cost: $3799.00
Trip Leader 1: Margaret McKenzie
Start Date: 04/05/2025
End Date: 04/14/2025
Total Number of Days: 10

Day 1 | Departure

En route to Madrid. Meals Included: None

Day 2 | Barcelona

Bienvenido a España! Walk along La Rambla and enjoy finding you way around the labyrinth that is the Barri Gòtic. Visit the Museu Picasso to see one of the most extensive collections of artwork by Pablo Picasso. Enjoy an Xperitas welcome dinner. Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3 | Barcelona

Taking in all of Gaudí’s masterpieces is a must! First, visit the astounding Sagrada Familia Cathedral and then head to Park Güell to see his beautiful mosaic masterpieces. Conclude your Gaudí tour with a stroll along the Passeig de Gràcia. Be sure to spot Casa Batlló y Casa Milà! Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 | En Route to Family Stay

After breakfast at your hotel, travel to your family stay community where you will share everyday life with your Spanish family. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Days 5 - 8 | Family Stay

Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture by experiencing everyday life with your host family! It's your opportunity to use your language skills in real-life situations and make new friends. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 | Barcelona

Bid your familia española, “¡Adiós!” and head back to Barcelona. Then, enjoy a cooking class and squeeze in some last-minute souvenir shopping. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 | Return

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the United States. Meals Included: Breakfast

Price Includes

Insurance for accidents or illness and trip cancellation
coverage due to medical reasons only
Liability insurance for leaders
Estimated international round-trip airfare for the
routing Atlanta - Barcelona - Atlanta, including fuel
surcharges
International phone allowance $10 per day for one
leader while in country
2 airport transfers
Train tickets for the route Barcelona - Family Stay
Community - Barcelona for participants and leaders
5 family stay nights for participants (all meals at home
included for participants during the family stay)
5 hotel overnights in a 3* hotel for leaders during family
stay (leaders in twin rooms, breakfast only for hotel stay)
3 hotel overnights in a 3* hotel in Barcelona for
participants and leaders with breakfast (leaders in twin
rooms and participants in triples/quads)
Tour guide in Barcelona
Pre-paid Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Picasso
Musuem tickets for participants and leaders
Entrance fee allowance of $50 per student
Meal payout of $75 per student
Public transportation payout of $20 per student
Local Family Stay Coordinator on call during family stay
24/7 Xperitas emergency support while abroad
1 Xperitas-arranged dinner and 1 cooking class for
participants and leaders
Activities Included:

Price Excludes

  • Airline baggage fees
  • Increase in air cost due to requests for specific travel dates or airline
  • Costs incurred due to late or missed flights
  • Passport, visa or other document costs
  • Transportation to/from departure city
  • Any meals not indicated on itineraries
  • Spending money and gifts
  • Any fees associated with advanced seating assignments
  • Small-group supplement when group has fewer than 10 participants
  • Tips for guide(s) and/or bus driver(s)

Download Itinerary

German Immersion Family

FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

German Immersion Family

Payment and Cancellation Schedule

Payment and cancellation schedule:

Billing and Payments: Xperitas will email a bill for the final payment approximately three weeks before it is due. For all other payments please refer to this schedule. A payment reminder will be sent to you via email a week before a scheduled payment is due. Payments can be made by credit/debit card via the Xperitas portal or by check or money order payable to Xperitas.

Cancellations: Any cancellation made through October 1, 2024 will receive a refund of the amount paid minus a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations made after this date will be calculated on an individual basis at the time of cancellation and follow the schedule and terms below. 

Payment Schedule

Spring Programs: March and April, 2025

June 15 (Early Bird); October 1, 2024 (Final)

$500 due with application*

November 1, 2024

$1000

December 1, 2024

$1000

January 15, 2025

Balance

*Once the online application and $500 deposit are submitted and processed, participants will receive enrollment confirmation.

Cancellation Schedule

Spring Programs: March and April, 2025

Date of Cancellation

Refund Amount

Cancellations received through October 1, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS a $100 adminstrative fee*

October 2 - November 14, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS a $250 administrative fee*

November 15, 2024 or later

Refund of all money paid MINUS a $500 administrative fee* AND any air/land expenses incurred by Xperitas

(Varies by program and cancellation date)

30 days prior to departure

No refund possible

*This fee is to help cover the cost of organizational resources incurred in the planning of the language/cultural immersion experience.

Summer Payment Schedule

Billing and Payments: Xperitas will email a bill for the final payment approximately three weeks before it is due. For all other payments please refer to this schedule. A payment reminder will be sent to you via email a week before a scheduled payment is due. Payments can be made by credit/debit card via the Xperitas portal or by check or money order payable to Xperitas.

Cancellations: Any cancellation made through October 15, 2024 will receive a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations made after this date will be calculated on an individual basis at the time of cancellation and follow the schedule and terms below.

Payment Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

June 15 (Early Bird); October 15, 2024 (Final)

$500 due with application*

November 15, 2024

$1250

January 15, 2025

$1250

March 15, 2025

Balance

*Once the online application and $500 deposit are submitted and processed, participants will receive enrollment confirmation.

Cancellation Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

Date of Cancellation

Refund Amount

Cancellations received through October 15, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS $100 adminitrative fee*

October 16 – November 30, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS a $250 administrative fee*

December 1, 2024 or later

Refund of all money paid MINUS a $500 administrative fee* AND any air/land

expenses incurred by Xperitas

(Varies by program and cancellation date)

30 days prior to departure

No refund possible

*This fee is to help cover the cost of organizational resources incurred in the planning of the language/cultural immersion experience.

Enrollment Information

$3,799-3,899 based on 15-19 students and 2 leaders out of Atlanta*

*Ranges based on estimated numbers of participants and leaders. Final prices are determined by dates, air arrangements, family stay communities and other program components as confirmed by Xperitas, as well as the total size of the group and number of leaders at the time of final billing. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel prices, exchange rates, and airfare costs beyond the control of Xperitas.

All activities to be paid on-site using entrance fee allowance provided, unless listed in Program Inclusions.

The order of this itinerary and all itinerary items are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances that may arise prior to or during the program.

Registration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a family stay, and why is it important?

Xperitas believes that living with a family, speaking their language and participating in their customs is the best, most authentic and rewarding way to experience another culture. This is what distinguishes our programs from any other individual, family or group travel experience. Our host families are volunteers who genuinely want to welcome the student into their home and daily family routine. 

After almost 50 years of arranging family stays, we are no longer surprised when students consistently report that living with a family is the best part of their experience abroad. Our success with family stays is thanks to our network of dedicated people around the world who work to ensure a wonderful experience for our students. 

How does Xperitas find host families?

At Xperitas we take great pride in helping world language learners and host families create lifelong connections. All of Xperitas’ host families are carefully screened using culturally appropriate practices and selected by local coordinators in the destination country. Many of Xperitas' family stay coordinators abroad are educators and other well-connected members of their community. They network through local schools and community organizations to select families who not only speak the language being studied by the visiting student, but also are eager to share their home and their culture with an American teenager. We select host families who are not financially motivated but motivated by the genuine desire to share their home, language, and culture with our student travelers. Our primary concern is the safety of our participants, and we hope almost 50 years of experience will put your mind at ease. 

When will participants receive information about their host families?

We generally distribute host family information when it is received from our family stay coordinators, approximately two weeks prior to the group’s departure. We know you’re anxious to get this information and we’ll pass it on as soon as we get it! 

How can participants best prepare for the Family Stay Experience®?

Xperitas has many helpful resources for participants to prepare for this exciting part of their program. These include the "How Host Families are Chosen" document, monthly Navigator parent newsletters and articles on our blog.

How should participants thank their families for hosting them?

Host families very generously volunteer their time and open their homes to students. Xperitas recommends that participants write thank-you notes before the last day of the family stay and leave them with their host family.

Xperitas also recommends that participants bring small gifts to thank their host families for their hospitality. Gifts given to the host family do not need to be expensive or extravagant. Think about what would be unique and meaningful. Some ideas include:

  • Something that comes from or is made in your town, city or region
  • Preserved food items from your region that you can cook with your host family
  • Clothing or souvenirs featuring sports teams from your school, city or state
  • A book or calendar about your town or state with lots of pictures
  • A personal photo album with photos that depict your life at home – pictures of your family, school, pets and things that you do are best
  • Games that can be played with your host family

What is the leader’s role during the family stay?

Xperitas requires at least one leader to remain on-call during the family stay. Leaders may stay with a family as well, or in a nearby hotel. The on-call leader is available to address any problems that arise during the family stay. If everything is running as planned, the leader is not expected to check in with students individually, and we also encourage leaders not to do so in order to allow students to interact with their families.  

What if an issue arises during the family stay?

Xperitas has staff on call 24/7 while our groups are abroad to address any issues that arise. Participants will have the group leader and local coordinator’s contact information in case an emergency arises. Participants should feel comfortable reaching out to their leader, and the leader should work with the local coordinator to address any issues in collaboration with Xperitas.