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FAQ - Hotel Work in Spain
Spain - how can one be blamed for not immediately thinking of fiestas, siestas, sun and sand? This is, for many people, the essence of a holiday in Spain. But how about trying something completely different? Experience work where other people spend their holidays: e.g. in Andalusia, Majorca or the Canary Islands! Work is a lot more rewarding when you are surrounded by beautiful beaches, inspiring idylls and friendly fellow people!
Due to Spain's tremendous tourism industry, there are plenty of possibilities in the hotel- and catering fields. The money you earn here will finance your stay on the palm-fringed beaches. Those seeking a sunny work experience in a Mediterranean atmosphere need look no further than here! Viva el trabajo (= the work) en España!
Set off on your Spanish adventure. Your experience of hotel work in Spain will be unforgettable.
Which basic prerequisites must I fulfil?
When can I start the programme and how long does it take?
In which regions can I be placed?
How much influence do I have on the region or jobs in which I will be asked to work?
When will I find out which hotel I will be working in?
Which previous knowledge do I require?
What will work in the hotel be like?
How long does the language course run?
What kind of clothing do I need for work in a hotel?
How are the accommodation and meal times organised?
How much money do I need per month?
Which costs will I have to pay?
Can my boy/girl friend /friend come too?
Can I also participate if I’m over 35 years old and / or do not have EU citizenship?
Which basic prerequisites must I fulfil?
In order to participate in the hotel work programme in Spain, you should be between 18 and 35 years old and have good knowledge of Spanish. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you should be capable of - after a language course of maximum 4 weeks - making yourself understood.
Preliminary knowledge or experience in the hotel industry or catering are not necessarily required, but are helpful.
When can I start the programme and how long does it take?
You should plan your stay so that you can start the programme from April to the end of July. From September until March, there is less demand for personnel as this is not peak season, but we are happy to forward individual requests in order to see what the situation is at the requested time periods.
Your stay in Spain should last at least two months (only in the summer months; otherwise 3 months) and a maximum of 6 months.
In which regions can I be placed?
You have the possibility of being placed in hotels or a country guesthouse in Andalusia, the Balearic Islands (usually Majorca) or the Canary Islands (e.g. Fuerteventura). You will usually be working in a 2 to 5-star establishment.
How much influence do I have on the region or jobs in which I will be asked to work?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee your special requests concerning the job locations. You are welcome to write in your application where you would like to work. Our partner organisation will, of course, try to fulfil your wishes, but please be aware of a possible placement somewhere else. This is mainly dependent on the season and the amount of personnel available in the hotels.
When will I find out which hotel I will be working in?
In most cases, participants receive their travel and placement documentation approximately 2- 3 weeks before departure. In exceptional cases, however, the placements may arrive very late (approximately 1 week) before you leave. We will do our best to send you all information as quickly as possible and to keep you informed. However, the hotels often confirm placements very late!
Which previous knowledge do I require?
Your Spanish skills should be on the level of understanding and speaking fluently. You need these in order to understand and carry out work instructions and deal with hotel guests. Should you wish to refresh your knowledge, you have the possibility of taking a language course in Seville for two to four weeks.
Practical experience in the hotel industry is a great advantage, but not absolutely necessary. You can add to your application documentation in which areas you would like to work (room service, reception etc). Our partner organisation will try to take your requests into account, but cannot guarantee anything.
The position of your work mainly depends on how good your knowledge of Spanish is, what the staffing situation is like at the hotels, and how many others are applying for the job. Please remain flexible in this matter! The main target is work experience abroad and not mainly career qualifications!
What will work in the hotel be like?
Hotel work in Spain is more demanding than most people expect. Please be aware that you will work a minimum of 40, but a maximum of 45 hours per week! You will generally earn around 200 € (approximately 150 £ or 300 US$) for hotel work, maximum 300 € (approximately £225 or 450 US$) pocket money per month (dependent on the season, the hotel and the tasks assigned to you).
During the main season or if hotel guests arrive late, you may have to work overtime. The activities of the hotel basically determine how your daily work is organised. In principle, you will have to work on weekends or public holidays, but you will have 1-2 days off per week.
How long does the language course run?
You will have 20 lessons of 45 minutes length per week. The language course will take place in Seville in Andalusia. You will decide before you leave whether you wish to take the course for 2 or 4 weeks. This depends on your level of Spanish. The language course will be adapted to your language knowledge.
What kind of clothing do I need for work in a hotel?
In some cases, a uniform is provided by the hotels. Often, however, you are responsible for your own clothing. Therefore, bring smart clothing with you. It has to be appropriate for work in a hotel, consisting of black trousers or a skirt, a white shirt or blouse and black, comfortable shoes.
How are the accommodation and meal times organised?
In general, the participants live in the hotels in which they work; in staff accommodation or in a hotel room. They usually share a room with other working guests. In the peak season, it may be that you have to change rooms.
The hotel is also responsible for your meals. The accommodation and meals in the hotel are included in the programme price. Should you take part in a language course in Seville, you will be living in residential accommodation together with other course participants. Here, accommodation is included in the price, but not the meals.
How much money do I need per month?
Basically this depends on your own personal demands. With the money you earn from the hotel work you should be in a position to cover your most important costs. However, if you have a more expensive lifestyle or if you are planning larger excursions, you should calculate higher daily expenses accordingly.
As you generally receive your money at the end of each month, you should bring a sufficient amount of cash with you for the first four weeks.
Which costs will I have to pay?
Of course, the final costs depend a great deal on you personally.
As well as programme costs, you should also expect the following expenses:
- Travel costs: journey to and from Spain (dependent on the travel time and the airline)
- Travel insurance: e.g. from 37 £ (74 US$ or 49 €) per month (you can take out travel insurance with TravelWorks)
- Personal expenses (weekend, leisure time etc)
Can my boy/girl friend /friend come too?
Yes, you can state a travel partner when applying and generally start the programme in Spain at roughly the same time. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in the same hotel.
Can I also participate if I’m over 35 years old and / or do not have EU citizenship?
No, unfortunately participation in this programme is only possible up to the age of 35. This limitation is stipulated by our partner organisation on location.
We only offer this programme to EU citizens.
What are my next steps?
If you go for this programme, simply fill out the online or PDF booking form. Please notice that online booking is only available with credit card payment. If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill in, sign and either post or fax it to us. As soon as we receive your application, we will process your booking and, if necessary, get back to you for additional information. At this point your application is legally binding. You will also receive further information and diverse application forms, which need to be filled in and sent back to us.
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