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Gap year Spain
You can hardly daydream about a holiday in Spain without thinking of fiestas, siestas, sun, and sand. But instead of going on the typical Spanish holiday, why not experience Spanish culture from the perspective of a local worker? Gain work experience and improve your Spanish in a gorgeous holiday destination - in Andalusia, Costa Blanca, Majorca, or on the Canary Islands!
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Do I need special references or experience in order to participate?
Do I need to take a test to prove my Spanish skill level?
How long does the language course last?
Can I participate with a friend?
Can I combine my work in Spain with a TravelWorks programme in another country?
How will I find a hotel job in Spain?
What happens if I cannot find a job?
What sort of work do participants end up doing?
When will I find out which hotel has hired me?
Can I choose the city/region where I would like to work?
In which regions could I be placed?
Will I have to open a bank account in Spain?
Will I have free time for travel?
What will my accommodation be like?
Will I meet other participants when I arrive?
Will I be able to contact other participants before I depart for Spain?
Will I have a contact person in Spain?
Should I buy travel insurance?
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
What kind of clothing will I need for hotel work?
How much money should I expect to spend on costs such as travel, food, and accommodation?
When can I begin the programme, and how long does it last?
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Yes, you may participate in the gap year in Spain programme if you are a citizen of the EU or Switzerland.
Do I need special references or experience in order to participate?
You do not need experience in order to participate in the gap year in Spain. However, any experience that you do have in the field of hospitality work will be an advantage.
In order to do hotel work in Spain, you will need to have good to very good Spanish skills. Your Spanish does not have to be perfect, but you should be capable of communicating well in the language. In some cases, good English skills are also desired.
Do I need to take a test to prove my Spanish skill level?
Yes. With your application materials, you will receive a Spanish test. You will need to complete this test and return it to us. We will then send the test to our partner organisation in Spain, to determine your Spanish level. This test will determine which Spanish class you will be taking and will influence your job placement. It is very important that you take the Spanish test without any outside help, so that it reflects your true Spanish skill level.
How long does the language course last?
If you like, you can enrol in a language course with 20 classes a week, each class lasting about 50 minutes. The language course is in Seville, Andalusia. You will decide before your departure if you would like to take a 2 or 4-week course. You should consider your Spanish level when you decide how long your language course will be. The level of your language course will be suited to your current Spanish skill level.
Is there an age limit?
You must be between 18 and 35 years of age in order to participate in our gap year in Spain programme. This is an age limit specified by our partner organisation in Spain.
Can I participate with a friend?
It is possible for you to take the language course with a friend, but the likelihood that you will be placed in the same hotel together is very slim. We cannot guarantee that you will be placed in the same hotel or even the same region of Spain as your travel partner.
Can I combine my work in Spain with a TravelWorks programme in another country?
Yes. It is often possible to combine TravelWorks programmes in different countries. Please contact TravelWorks for more information.
How will I find a hotel job in Spain?
Our partner organisation is in contact with many hotels in various regions of Spain. When you submit your application, our partner organisation will contact hotels in Spain with your information and search for a job for you.
What happens if I cannot find a job?
So far, no one has been unsuccessful in finding a job in Spain through the TravelWorks programme. If for some reason you cannot be placed, you will be refunded for the fees you have paid. However, it is extremely unlikely that you will not find a job.
What sort of work do participants end up doing?
Participants work in typical hotel and hospitality jobs during the gap year in Spain. You could end up cleaning rooms, waiting tables, bartending, doing room service, entertaining, or providing general assistance around the hotel.
When you apply for hotel work in Spain, you can indicate what type of work you would like to do (cleaning rooms, reception work, etc.), and our partner organisation will try to place you in a job which matches your preferences. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible. Your exact job placement will depend on your Spanish skill level, the hiring plan of the hotel, and the other job applicants.
When will I find out which hotel has hired me?
In most cases, participants receive their travel and placement documents about 2-3 weeks before they depart for their gap year in Spain. In rare cases, we receive this information rather late (1 week before your departure). We make every effort to send you your information as promptly as possible, but hotels often confirm workers’ participation rather late.
Can I choose the city/region where I would like to work?
You will be able to list a preference for where you would like to be placed in Spain, and we will do what we can to place you in a hotel in this region. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find a job for you in this particular region.
In which regions could I be placed?
You could be placed in a hotel or country guest house in Andalusia, Majorca, Costa Blanca, or on the Canary Islands (for example, Fuerteventura). Participants usually work in 3 to 5-star hotels.
Will I have to open a bank account in Spain?
You will probably be paid in cash and therefore most likely will not need to have a bank account in Spain.
Will I have free time for travel?
Yes. You will be working 40 hours per week, usually with 2 free days per week. You are free to use your days off and free time after work to explore the country during your gap year in Spain!
What will my accommodation be like?
During the language course in Seville, you will be living in a single room in a shared flat with other students and possibly Spanish citizens. Meals will not be provided. At the hotel, you will be living in worker accommodation, which varies from place to place. In rare cases, the worker accommodation is not directly in the hotel itself. You will most likely share a room with other hotel workers. During the high tourist season, you may have to switch to a different room. The hotel will provide you with meals.
Will I meet other participants when I arrive?
If you are taking the language course, you will most likely meet other TravelWorks participants during your gap year in Spain. If there are no other participants from TravelWorks, you will definitely meet other travellers and holiday workers like yourself. Many people from various countries travel to Spain to do hotel work there, and you will live and work with these fellow travellers at the hotel where you are placed.
Will I be able to contact other participants before I depart for Spain?
We will send you a list of the other international TravelWorks participants and their e-mail addresses before you depart for your gap year in Spain.
Will I have a contact person in Spain?
The staff of our partner organisation in Seville will be your contact people during your gap year in Spain. Our partners will be available to help you if you have any questions, problems, or concerns during your stay in Spain.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes, you should definitely get travel insurance to protect yourself abroad. WorldNomads offers flexible travel insurance for short-term and gap-year travellers like yourself. Note that this is only a recommendation. Feel free to search for the travel insurance which is right for you.
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
Accommodation will be included in the programme price during the language course in Seville, but you will have to take care of your own food expenses.
Your accommodation and food will be provided during your time at the hotel.
What kind of clothing will I need for hotel work?
For many hotel jobs in Spain, you will need to bring along appropriate clothing, or buy clothes once you are already in Spain. Typical attire for hotel jobs in Spain includes a white button-down shirt and nice black trousers/a modest black skirt. If your hotel job requires a uniform, the uniform will most likely be provided by your employer. Hotel jobs in Spain require a neat and tidy appearance (short hair for men, etc.) You will receive more detailed information from your hotel before you depart for your gap year in Spain.
How much money should I expect to spend on costs such as travel, food, and accommodation?
The amount of money you will spend each month will depend to a great extent on your personal lifestyle. You should be able to pay for your most important expenses during your hotel work with the money that you earn at the hotel.
If you have an expensive lifestyle or have big travel plans, you should calculate more money into your budget. Take into account that you will not receive payment from the hotel until the end of the month.
In general, you should expect to pay about £ 180 (US$ 300 / 200 €) per month during your work at the hotel and £ 360 (US$ 600 / 400 €) per month during the language course in Seville.
You should factor the following expenses into your budget for your gap year in Spain:
- Travel costs to reach Spain
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra travel, etc.)
- Meals during the language course
When can I begin the programme, and how long does it last?
You should plan your gap year in Spain so that you can start between April and the end of June. During the off-season, from September through March, it is more difficult to find a job in Spain, but we can still send your application materials to see if you can find work during your chosen time period.
Your stay in Spain should last at least 3 and at most 7 months (during the summer months at least 8 weeks), not including your language course.
What are my next steps?
If you decide to participate in the gap year in Spain programme, just fill out the PDF or online Booking Form. Please note that if you are booking online you will need a credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard). If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill out, and sign the form before faxing it to TravelWorks.
You will receive various application materials by e-mail after you have applied for the gap year in Spain programme. These documents need to be completed and returned to TravelWorks.
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