Online Colleges and Universities' Top Online Budget Tools

These top 50 online travel budget tools were provided to us by Online Colleges and Universities.  This is a great resource as the different sites can help our students in preparing, or while on their study abroad program. We thought this was a great guide to consider as it narrows down and categorizes some of the essential travel related websites that can help you save money. 

We are all for our customers saving money on their trip. In conjunction with offering this list of budget sites we would like to extend a 5% discount to all readers who attend a Spanish Abroad program. Simply enter the code shown in the image here when you first register for your program, and you will receive the discount on your total program cost. 

Budgeting & Money

Make plans and budget your travel money using these tools.

1. Quid Universal Currency Converter: Convert daily exchange rates for more than 180 world currencies on Quid.
2. Mint.com: Mint offers a vacation budgeting tool that estimates how much your trip will cost, and create a savings plan to have enough.
3. Budget Your Trip: Estimate and plan your travel expenses based on your traveling area with Budget Your Trip.
4. Prepaid travel cards: Safeguard your personal accounts and stick to your budget by using prepaid travel cards abroad.
5. Travel Calculator: Plan your travel spending with this travel calculator.
6. GoPlanit: GoPlanit makes it easy to plan your trip, alone with with friends.
7. delicious: Build your own guidebook with this bookmarking site.
8. Trip Little: Trip Little offers complete travel planning and organization on one site.
9. Google Earth: See any place in the world, including buildings and imagery, to plan your trip.
10. Tripwolf: Tripwolf offers a travel guide, tips, deals, and planner for worldwide travel.
11. Dopplr: Share your travel plans and tips socially on Dopplr.
12. TripWiser: Discover things to do in this travel community.
13. TripIt: Organize your travel itinerary using this trip planner.

Flights

Check flight status, find deals, and more using these tools.

14. FlightChecker: Use the FlightChecker to find out when to get super cheap prices on budget airlines.
15. GateGuru: Turn foreign airports into a fun place using this app that can help you discover food, gift shops, and more.
16. Airfare Watchdog: Airfare Watchdog will alert you to the top fares available.
17. Fare Alert: Expedia's Fare Alert will alert you when the best fares come available, right on your desktop.
18. SeatGuru: SeatGuru offers diagrams and notes on the best airplane seats by airline.
19. FareWatch: FareWatch shares a fair, unbiased view of average airfare rates direct from the Department of Transportation.
20. Yapta: Yapta tracks flight prices before and after you buy.

Hotels & Accommodations

Stay at a hostel, house-sit, or even couch surf through these travel tools.

21. The Caretaker Gazette: Find caretaking and house sitting jobs easily on this site.
22. Hostelling International USA: Stay the night for super cheap and find great locations for a good price using this nonprofit site.
23. AirBnB: Find accommodations including sublets and private rooms on AirBnB.
24. WWOOF: Volunteer in exchange for food and accommodation around the world through WWOOF hosts.
25. Roomorama: Roomorama offers a peer to peer short term rental marketplace for world travelers and more.
26. HouseCarers: Become a housesitter anywhere in the world through HouseCarers.
27. CouchSurfing: Open up your spare room or couch to a couch surfer, and enjoy sharing someone's couch in a foreign country later.
28. ConcertHotels: ConcertHotels offers a great way to find a hotel near the concert or event you're attending.
29. Growfood: Get connected with farmers who can provide you with room and board in exchange for work on Growfood.
30. Home Exchange: Exchange your home with someone else to enjoy living in a comfortable house on your international stay.
31. GlobalFreeloaders: GlobalFreeloaders will connect you with people all over the world that can offer you free accommodation.

Food & Drink

Save cash while you dine in a foreign country using these tools.

32. Cor.kz: Find out about the best wines available to you from Cor.kz.
33. OpenTable: Make reservations at restaurants around the world through OpenTable's site.
34. Urbanspoon: Find good eats for cheap by checking out Urbanspoon's site.

Getting Connected

Talk and stay connected on the cheap using these tools.

35. Google Translate: Google Translate offers automatic translation in over 50 language.
36. Skype: Even if you're halfway around the world, you can make free or cheap calls to family and friends with the help of Skype.
37. HazelMail: Hazel sends your photos as a printed and stamped postcard so you don't have to.
38. Loopt: Use Loopt to find out if your traveling buddies are close by.
39. Yahoo! Babel Fish: Translate blocks of text and web pages using Yahoo! Babel Fish.

Experiences & Reviews

Use these tools to find the best experiences without spending a ton of cash.

40. IgoUgo: Explore hotels and things to do with other world travelers using IgoUgo.
41. Viator: Plan your days on Viator, booking tours, planning trips, and more.
42. Howcast Using Howcast, you can learn about local customs, trip planning, and more.
43. WikiTravel: WikiTravel is a traveler-written guide to destination cities, helping you get the inside scoop on the area you'll be studying in.
44. Yelp: Find things to do and read reviews on Yelp, which offers information for a few European cities in addition to its stateside offerings.
45. The Backpacker: The Backpacker shares the best places to visit, nightlife, and more.
46. 1000 Ultimate Experiences App: Use Lonely Planet's app (or book) to learn about the best things you can do in any given location.
47. Virtual Tourist: Get the inside scoop on nearly 60,000 places around the world from the Virtual Tourist community.
48. TripAdvisor: Get trip ideas, reviews, and plan your trip using TripAdvisor's tools.
49. Time Out: Time Out will help you find out about what's happening in the world's most exciting cities.
50. SitOrSquat: SitOrSquat will help you find a bathroom anywhere in the world.

View their full article with this information at: Online Colleges and Universities

Related Posts: 

• Spanish Abroad Immersion for Backpackers
• Spanish Immersion Touring - The Multi-Country Experience

Top Spanish Schools: Tamarindo, Costa Rica

The Spanish school we offer at Tamarindo Beach is our most popular program by far. The location combined with word of mouth from past students has drawn many of our customers to this school each year. The variety of programs and attractive arrangements for all ages is a big reason why we see entire families, professionals, and college students study here.

In addition to your standard group and private Spanish courses, the school offers a top notch in-house surf program. You can also stay at the onsite student residence only 5 minutes from the beach or with host families that are 20 minutes inland. The families provide 2 meals per day and are located in more residential towns with less tourists. This can be more conducive to a Spanish immersion experience. The school provides free shuttle service to and from the host family towns each day. We can also arrange a Bungalow arrangement if you want more privacy and amenities. 

We have provided an overview of the program from our catalog below, pointing out the key aspects to consider about the program. This school offers programs from ages of Six years and up. 

Spanish Abroad - Tamarindo - Spanish Language School in Costa Rica

Related Posts:

• Spring Discounts on a Costa Rica Beach Location
• Comments from Spanish Students in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
• Family Spanish Program Vacation

Relive the Golden Years of TV in Spain

You don't have to miss your favorite shows while studying abroad with the innovations now taking place on the internet. However, you may find an even more enriching experience by finding your old favorite shows from 10-20 years ago in a completely new Spanish format. We found this great trailer of the classic tv show " The Golden Girls" relived with Spanish actors and cultural themes.  

¿Does your Keyboard Speak Spanish?

Unless you have learned all the codes to type correctly in Spanish, you may find it difficult to write to your pen pal in Argentina or the latest essay due in your Spanish class. In the scheme of things it is simple to learn the key codes such as alt+0241 for ñ or alt+0191 for ¿. However, who wants to keep track considering the vast variety of accent marks needed as well. 

Now DELL has brought a laptop to the market that incorporates these simple letters along with a standard QWERTY keyboard. It would take a minimal amount of time to learn where they are located and adjust from your usual keyboard, but you won't have to reference a 6 keystroke code for one letter. Below is a great photo of the keyboard provided by FoxLatino. At first glance it looks like a typical English keyboard, but a quick investigation shows you the added Spanish characters needed for speedy typing in Español.

The laptop is now selling for just under $500 at BrandsMart USA Online. A great buy for all those Spanish Majors out there.

Study Abroad in the News: Spain and Jordan

Hearing about other peoples experiences while studying abroad can give many the courage to leave the comforts of home and venture out to a foreign world. There are many great testimonials to study abroad, so from time to time we would like to point them out for you, so you can see first hand accounts of the student's experiences. 

The biggest part of studying abroad is to learn about cultural norms and how to live your daily live in your new host country. It will not help your situation to avoid cultural differences, but best to embrace and modify your outlook to fit in with the general local populace.

Here is a great article from one of our local high school papers discussing the experience of students studying in Spain and Jordan. See how they adjusted to the encounters they came across and what studying abroad meant for them. Read the full article at study abroad around the world.

Nicaraguan Adventure Excursion

Our Spanish school in Tamarindo, Costa Rica offers a wide variety of excursions based on student interest. Here is a great montage of photos from one of these student excursions to Nicaragua. Due to Tamarindo's close proximity to the Nicaraguan border, it easy quite simple to venture into the beautiful and unique country on the weekends and be back in time to start your Spanish classes on the following Monday. 

Students also love to take trips to Monteverde or Arenal, among other beautiful natural settings. Each different location offers a variety of sites and adventures including volcanoes, waterfalls, hot water baths, canopy tours, zip lines, and many animal sightings. Don't just take our word for it. A picture along with several more are worth a thousand words. Experiencing it for yourself is worth a million!

New Student Residence In Oaxaca, Mexico

Street in Oaxaca, Mexico

We will soon being adding the student residence option to our accommodations options for our Option One Spanish school in Oaxaca. This is our most popular school in the state capital and we are quite excited to be able to offer students an alternative to the host family arrangements. 

Oaxaca is one of the most culturally rich cities in Mexico due to its indigenous influence. The families are very welcoming and offer a great immersion experience, but we can understand why some students want the added freedom by being away from "home". 

The new residence is less than a 10 minute walk from the school. It is a fully furnished house with a colonial style architecture. The home includes five rooms that can host up to two students in each with private baths as well as two larger rooms that share an adjoining bathroom. As well as a large dining room and living room with TV for easy entertainment. It also will feature a continental breakfast for all students that choose this option. You will also have kitchen access with the needed tools and appliances to prepare your own meals.

Outside the home you will find plenty of common area to rest and relax while taking in the warm Mexican weather. There is wifi throughout so it is easy to connect home for free via Skype as well as the convenience of connecting to the web at any time. You must bring your own computer to gain access to this service. 

Pricing is slightly higher than the host family option, but you can book this option now with private room and bath at an additional cost of $30 per week compared to our currently listed Oaxaca Spanish Program Prices including host family. We are working on getting some photos and will have full details listed shortly. If you are interested in this option, simply state yes next to the residence option on our student registration, and we will confirm availability for the given dates within 2 business dates of registration. 

Buenos Aires Culture in a Glimpse

Argentina is an amazing country at the end of the Americas and Buenos Aires truly captures some of the greatest cultural aspects of the countries. The city has a rich history with great European influences, and we thought this quick video gave a great inside view at some of the rich experiences to be had in the city and the surrounding countryside. This massive city, being the second largest in South America has a lot to offer in sights and sounds, but what is truly great are the day to day situations you can come across in such a lively urban environment. 

Is Mexico Safe for Study Abroad?

Ek Balam near Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This is a common question that we now receiving on a regular basis as we are still offering Spanish immersion programs in the great country of Mexico. While safety is paramount for Spanish Abroad when sending students to foreign countries, we also want to make the reality of certain situations clear to our students. This way they can take the information and feedback we provide to make an educated decision on what is the right location for them.  

Apparently many study abroad programs at Universities also receive similar questions from their students. The Michigan State Student newspaper reported yesterday on the effects of travel warnings from the US State Department preventing students from studying abroad in certain countries, while some locations are given waivers by the University for exceptions to the rule. Waivers are given for a lot of the Mexico locations specifically because they are not near, or have not experienced the violent incidents occurring in distinct areas of the country. 

Spanish Abroad staff understand that the majority of Mexico is safe to visit, while their are key locations to avoid. Much like Michigan state we look to a location in specific to see what the dangers are and mitigate risk by letting our students know what to avoid. The biggest part of Mexico to avoid at the moment are northern border areas where violence is most prevalent. Acapulco and Monterrey have also seen specific violent events transpire, but they are much lower in severity compared to a city like Juarez or Tijuana nor were they targeted at travellers. 

Beach by Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Our programs are far removed from border violence and for the most part have not had any incidents where the drug wars have played a factor in crime reports. Nor have tourists been targeted in a disproportionate amount outside of the typical pick pocketing or other aspects that are common in tourist zones. In fact none of our students that we have sent to Mexico have experienced any violent crime or even reported back any minor thefts over the past year or recent memory. 

While this is amazing and we are lucky that are students have traveled safely to Mexico, you have every right to consider a different choice for many factors. There are various reasons why you might choose to study Spanish in Spain, Costa Rica, Guatemala,  etc., safety is definitely a consideration and no location is 100% safe. In fact you may be safer in some of our locations than your own hometown. I could definitely vouch for this living in Phoenix and travelling to the majority of our locations. 

So, if you are thinking "Should I travel to Mexico"? Think of all the possibilities available. If your are leaning to a different country  to learn Spanish for other reasons, then you can easily decide by process of elimination. If your heart is set on Mexico, but safety is the only thing holding you back, feel free to give us a call and see what our student feedback has been. We are not set on sending you to any destination. Who knows perhaps we will determine that Chile is what you are really looking for, given your individual preferences. 

Be sure to check out the article on MSU's policies regarding their students studying abroad in unstable nations.

Spring Discounts on a Costa Rica Beach Location

Front of Main School Building in Tamarindo

You will only see it here and on our Facebook page, so take advantage of this great promotion being offered by our Spanish school in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. The school is offering a $100 discount on any program that is 2 weeks or longer as long as it includes the full program of courses and accommodations, and must start in April or May. 

The Spanish school is also offering an additional $100 discount for 4 weeks or longer making for a total of $200  in savings. Simply note the promotion code: Tamarindo next to your first name on the online registration form and you will receive the discount. This promotion is only valid for students that register after March 24th. You must mention the promotion code to receive the discount. 

Be sure to become a friend of ours on Facebook to receive additional discounts such as this on many different programs and locations. 

Top Spanish Schools: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio is one of our top beach locations where students choose to study Spanish each year in Costa Rica. The experience of the instructors and consistently amazing feedback from our students, has allowed us to suggest this particular program without hesitation.

Our long standing relationship with this particular school has solidified our confidence in their integrity. They also operate the school we offer at the San Pedro location in the San Jose city area, so they are well established in Costa Rica. The school is located close to the entrance of the famous Manuel Antonio Park with its amazing forest side beaches.

There are a variety of outdoor activities in close proximity to the school, so you can either relax on the beach or get adventurous with kayaking, boat tours, or much more once you are done with the intensive Spanish classes. Below we have provided a quick overview of the school and location for your quick review of what this Spanish Program and area have to offer. Utilize the tools at the bottom of the page to zoom in/out for easy customized viewing.

Spanish Abroad Manuel Antonio Spanish School

You can view additional details on the program including program pricing with accommodations at the following location along with subsequent links: Manuel Antonio language immersion.

Spanish Abroad Gearing Up for Summer

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were sending hundreds of students to study Spanish abroad during winter break and now we already have parents from all over calling to ask questions about our teen and family Spanish programs for the 2011 Summer. In between calls from mom and dad, we are having a lot of College students as well as Professionals asking questions about what would be the right location and program for them for April and beyond.

We are getting back to updating the blog more regularly to disperse the most current information as programs start to fill up for key dates. The July 4th start date is already turning out to be our busiest week as is typically the case. This also happens to be the start for many of our Teen programs in Spain, while a few start Mid June along with our Teen Spanish Program in Costa Rica. The Children's Camp in conjunction with the Family Program in Tamarindo is already full for the first week, and we are just about full for the next two subsequent weeks. While we can still take children in the general group courses for this location for all Summer dates. 

All teen programs are open at the moment for the designated dates. Typically around the beginning of April we start to run out of host family spots for the first weeks of July in our most popular Teen program in San Sebastian, Spain. Other popular accommodation options to get a jump on are the student residence for the Spanish program in Tamarindo as well as the shared apartments in Heredia, Costa Rica and Playa del Carmen Mexico, which for the past 3 years have filled up during the month of July. 

Feel free to give us at call to discuss any of our program options at 1-888-722-7623. We are happy to address any concerns you may have about sending your teen abroad or help customize the best program for you as an individual or for your entire family vacation!

Student Comments: Spanish Immersion in Montevideo, Uruguay

One of our long time customers was kind enough to provide us with some feedback on his experience at the Spanish immersion program in Montevideo. Here are Frank's comments: 

"I really need to let you know that I had a wondrous 4 weeks in Montevideo. Very importantly I can recommend the school, to others who may want to immerse themselves in Spanish. The school’s staff were extremely supportive, accommodating, and very approachable. The director was very gracious with her time, because her door was always open to the students. It was great getting to know her family in the outings to the Gaucho ranch or local restaurants. That was a nice personal touch. I loved the teachers, especially Juan & Virginia –they were so engaging and knowledgeable. I felt really comfortable and always looked forward to their classes.

The only complaint that I did get about the facility in Uruguay was from several students who chose to use the school as a residence. That was the issue of ants. Any food left in rooms was ravaged by them. But my family accommodations were great. I was made to feel at home."

Spanish Schools in Costa Rica: Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is one of our most popular locations in which our students choose to study Spanish. Spanish Abroad has been sending students to multiple Spanish schools in Costa Rica since we first started in 1996 and we typically receive similar questions in regards to our Spanish programs. Most of our customers are traveling to a foreign country for the first time, so it is only natural that they have multiple questions, and since this is their first time studying abroad, they will need to learn the basics quick. 

Our staff have all have travelled abroad and visited different spanish schools all over the world, so we are able to give fast and accurate information to provide the proper expectations for any given location. Below you will find some of the more commonly asked questions for our Costa Rica Spanish schools, which tend to carry over for most locations.

Costa Rica Spanish School Programs FAQ's

1. When can I start a Spanish Program? 

You can start your program on any Monday of the year unless it is a holiday. Accommodations at a host family or student residence will start on Sunday. Extra nights are available based on a first come first serve basis and typically cost around $20-$35. 

2. How do I get to my accommodations? 

Upon arrival at the San Jose airport we offer free airport pickup for any of our Spanish programs in the San Jose area. This includes Heredia, San Pedro, and San Jose. We offer private shuttle transportation for $35-$40 to any of our beach locations. Typically you will need to arrive by 11AM to catch a shuttle in time. If not you will need to stay the night in San Jose, which we can arrange at a local hotel that provides airport pickup and a one night stay for $35. The Spanish school in Tamarindo also offers airport pickup from the Liberia international airport which is only 1 hour from Tamarindo for $60. 

3. How do you screen your host families?

We have sent students to our Spanish schools in Costa Rica for a minimum of 5 years and for some over a decade. They have pre-screened families based on providing clean and comfortable homes. Over the years, our Spanish schools have narrowed down their pool to the best families possible based on student feedback and continual visitation reviews. 

4. How much are the Spanish courses in Costa Rica? 

Our entire Spanish programs range from $250-$500 per week depending on the length of time you study and the location you choose. The Spanish schools in the San Jose area are more affordable due to the lower cost of living and range from $250-$350 per week for a standard program including Group classes 4 lessons per day, Host family accommodations, and 2 meals per day. The same program in beach locations come at a higher cost due to their higher real estate costs and higher prices for food, wages, etc. 

5. Will I have time to have fun while studying Spanish?

The standard Spanish course in Costa Rica at any of our Spanish schools is 4 hours per day. You will typically have classes in the mornings, so you will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful country. There are many outfitters for any location in which you study that can arrange canopy tours, atv trips, volcano tours, hiking, biking, kayaking, and any outdoor sport you can dream up. 

The schools also offer onsite activities for students which typically consist of city tours, dancing, cooking classes, movie nights and much more. The schools also arrange excursions to popular sites of interest including Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero, and much more. 

6. How far are the accommodations from the school? 

For our Spanish schools in the San Jose area, host families are within 30 minutes walking distance from the school. In Heredia for instance, we have families within a 3-10 minute walk. These families are assigned on a first come first serve basis, assigned at the time of registration. Beach locations have host families within 20 minutes by ground transportation. The Tamarindo Spanish school provides a free shuttle to and from the school each day. Other beach locations have very affordable public buses that are easy to use. 

7. Can I receive University Credit while I study abroad? 

We offer academic credit through Brookhaven College for our Spanish school in Tamarindo if you study for at least 3 weeks. This is arranged at an additional cost and the credit is transferred directly to your school from Brookhaven via an official transcript. 

8. Can I bring my children? 

We have a specific family program in Tamarindo, Costa Rica where you can take Spanish classes, while your children study Spanish with other kids around their age. We offer the opportunity to stay together as a family with local hosts or we can arrange an apartment style accommodations at a local hotel. We also have a children's camp during the month of July that incorporates lunch and specific activities for children. 

9. When is the best time to study Spanish in Costa Rica? 

May to November is rainy season, however the North American Summer (June to August) is when we tend to receive the most students due to Summer break and key vacation times. The rain is typically a tropical down pour that only lasts a few hours. December to January is also a very popular time to visit and is ideal due the the dry warm weather. 

10. Why should I choose a Spanish school offered by Spanish Abroad? 

Spanish Abroad has offered Spanish schools in Costa Rica for over a decade, and only choose those which have a great reputation and maintain the best feedback from our students. These schools choose the highest quality instructors, host families, and provide activities for an overall once in a lifetime experience. We only want the best for our students, so we only recommend schools that we know will fulfill the expectations we develop for our customers. 

Feel free to contact Spanish Abroad with any questions you might have. This may be your first time studying abroad so we understand how you can be apprehensive. We want you to have the right expectations and understanding before you travel abroad, so you have the best experience possible. 

Puerto Vallarta Offers a Great Beach Getaway for a Warm Winter

Puerto Vallarta has long been a popular destination for Americans, Europeans, and Canadians looking to escape their cold winter environments from December to February, and enjoy the warm Pacific beaches of Mexico. Our Spanish students have seen this as a dual purposed opportunity for an amazing vacation while being immersion in Spanish. 

Learning Spanish in Puerto Vallarta has several advantages over other locations. As a large modern city it is quite easy to get away from touristy areas and be immersed by conversing with locals. The host families for our Spanish school are typically 10-20 minutes either by walking distance or public transportation. This means you are just outside the city center where most tourists congregate for shopping, visiting the popular beaches and restaurants. These neighborhoods where the host families live are middle class by local standard and the bus system is amazingly efficient. You can pay around 50 cents for a one way trip anywhere in the city and the major bus line seems to have a bus coming by every 5 minutes. 

While many locals do speak English due to the large tourism industry, you will find that many are quite happy to speak to you in Spanish, so that you can practice the language. The school strictly enforces a Spanish only classroom environment. The host family option provides you with a direct support system through your daily conversational lessons in a practical setting. These experiences will prepare you to speak spanish in everyday environments anywhere you are conversing with colleagues, customers, family members, or any native Spanish speakers. 

The city is full of modern amenities including shopping malls, major grocery stores, and a variety of restaurants with amazing Mexican or international cuisine. I personally tried to stick with Mexican food since I am such a big fan, however I did come across a great French restaurant which had fresh bistro style meals that were world class. I also loved walking around the different markets and seeing many hand made goods that you just don't find back home. 

Puerto Vallarta offers some of the most affordable flights to Mexico from many locations in the US, as well as many directly flights from major international airports. Our Spanish school also offers free airport pickup direct to your host family accommodations. You can opt to stay with a local host family or we can simply arrange your classes while you book your hotel separately. We can reduce the cost of accommodations from our program cost if you opt to stay at a hotel or condo. This is a popular option for those that want the comforts of some of the amazing resorts that are in this major beach city. 

While Mexico has suffered drastically from a decline in tourism due to safety concerns, Puerto Vallarta has not received any reports of an increase in tourism related crime or safety issues. Our students have currently provided great feedback in terms of their overall safety while studying Spanish in Mexico. As always any of our students should travel with caution, but be open to new experiences and cultures. 

Beginners Can Study Spanish Abroad Too! ~ FAQ Answers

Even if you are a complete beginner in learning the Spanish language, you can still start from scratch and study abroad. We have classes of all levels at all locations. The majority of our programs in Latin America allow complete beginners to start classes any Monday. For Spain, the schools tend to have more specific start dates, but these are typically twice per month and usually every Monday during the high Summer Season.

Beginners have to start somewhere and it doesn't have to be in a classroom where full immersion is not utilized. Spanish Abroad also offers one month of free online courses with any registration. You could warm up with some go at your own pace Spanish classes on your home computer prior to the start of your study abroad experience. You can also just save the month and use it upon return as a carry over from your full Spanish immersion experience. 

Many of our students never had the need to learn a foreign language until later in their professional life. As the world grows into a more global marketplace, it has become more apparent that learning Spanish can provide a huge plus on a person's CV/Resume. It is the third most spoken language in the world, so jumping in head first and learning the language with any time you have available can increase your overall appeal to potential employers or clients. 

Spanish immersion is the quickest means of learning a language as it is a natural process that you utilized to learn your first language. It may feel like you are going to back to kindergarten at first as you learn the basics such as numbers or colors, but you have to build a base in order to fully incorporate new vocabulary and progress to more advanced levels of proficiency. These basics work as good reference points when moving through a curriculum and help students follow the course materials given in a full immersion courses where no other languages are utilized for teaching than Spanish. 

You certainly did not have an instructor speaking to you in a different language in kindergarten to teach you these basics, so it follows a similar logic but with more advanced methods to allow you to progress quickly as a professional with limited time. You have to start any new subject somewhere and you are never to old to gain proficiency in a new language. Certainly don't say otherwise to our 80 year old retired Spanish students that simply enjoy gaining new knowledge. 

Top 5 Best Beach Spanish Immersion Programs for Winter

Beaches of Uruguay

Many of our students study during the Winter break in order to best take advantage of the amazing weather that Central and South American can offer during the months of December and January. Many families also have the advantage of the school break, in order to combine their Family Vacation with a Spanish immersion program. 

Central America is moving out of their rainy season come mid-November, and it is Summer in South America, so overall you can't beat the differential in weather, especially for those of you living in the Mid-West, North, or East Coast. 

Not all beach location are ideal for every student, so it is important to consider your options and choose the one that best fits with your interests. We have provided 5 top choice beach locations to consider for your winter Spanish Immersion program. These locations are known to book up in advance so start considering the right location now to ensure availability. 

1. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Great North Pacific Beach location with an outstanding Spanish school only 5 minutes walking distance from the beach. Three major beaches close by and a great nightlife. Offers host family, onsite residence, and private bungalow housing. Full service family programs for adults and children. This program attracts all ages and also offers an amazing surf program. Easy transfer options from Liberia Airport. 

2. Bocas del Toro, Panama

Enchanting island location off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Great beach area for those looking to vacation in  a quaint rustic town and lower cost program prices. Host family, Student Residence, and hotel options. Amazing snorkeling, scuba diving, and other water sport activities within the vicinity. There are also water taxis to visit the various islands in the chain. Easy connecting flights from Panama City.

3. Malaga, Spain 

Close to the Southern tip of Europe right on the Mediterranean. Birthplace of Picasso and houses one of his museums in the city center. Within close distance to some of the cultural hot spots of Spain including Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba. Close proximity to Morocco by ferry and a decent bus ride to Gibraltar. The city provides world class golf courses close by and is a stones throw from the top rated resorts of Marbella. Malaga is a moderate sized city, which is great for Spanish immersion. 

4. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 

With the many bad headlines hitting Mexico, Playa del Carmen which is 45 minutes South of Cancun has proven to be a bastion of safety for our students looking to learn Spanish in Mexico. Laying claim to the 2nd largest reef in the world, you can find some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. This beach location on the Mayan Riviera has long been a popular spot for Spanish immersion and a cultural gold mine given its Mayan roots and amazing ruins within close distance to the town.  

5. Montevideo, Uruguay

Perhaps a little off the beaten path, but this is a much overlooked option that offers an amazing immersion experience, as it is far less touristy than its neighbor of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We receive many students that are 30+, since they know it will attract less of a college crowd. There are some great city beaches within close proximity to the school and some more stunning beaches further afield in more natural settings. You are also a quick ferry ride for a weekend excursion to the big city of Buenos Aires that dwarfs this South American Capital. 

Pan de Muerto: Mexican Recipes (Oaxaca)

Photo by Gicela Morales

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Halloween is now over, however you can continue in the ghoulish Mexican festivities tomorrow with Dia de los Muertos (November 2nd). Food is representative of some of the greatest aspects of Mexican history and culture. 

We can see many cultures that have put their stamp on Mexican food today, including Mexican recipes influenced by Indigenous peoples, Spanish, and French. Here is a classic recipe from Oaxaca, Bread of the Dead that is made for the holiday. This is a very tasty bread to celebrate the day, and to honor loved ones that have passed on from the living world.  

Bread Ingredients: 

2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Beaten Eggs

3 Cups Flour

1/4 Cup Milk

1/4 Cup Butter

1/4 Cup Water

3 Cups Flour

1 Package active dry yeast

Pinch of salt

2 Teaspoons anise seed

1 Teaspoon Orange Zest

1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest

1/8 cup Raisins

1/8 cup Chopped Walnuts

Glaze Ingredients: 

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1 Teaspoon Orange Zest

1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest

Dough Instructions: 

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl including the yeast, anise seed, sugar, and only 1/2 cup of the flour. In a sauce pan heat the water, butter and milk over low heat till lukewarm. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the warmed wet ingredients. Mix for 30 seconds. Add the eggs, raisins, walnuts, lemon zest, and orange zest. 

Mix lightly just until all ingredients are mixed together. Mix in another 1/2 cup of flour. Keep mixing in additional flour until you have a soft wet dough ball that is not soggy and holds its shape. Do not mix too vigorously. Put the dough in a bowl and cover with a dry cloth.  Let the ball rise at room temperature. The dough should double in size after 2 hours. 

After it has doubled in size. Lightly flour if needed to keep it from sticking to your hands and counter. Knead for 5 seconds and shape into loaf.  Put the dough on a dry cookie sheet and cover with the cloth. Let it rise for 2 more hours. Gently poke eyes, 2 nose holes, and shape a mouth on the loaf like a skull. 

Cooking Instructions: 

Pre-Heat Oven to 350 Degrees just before the 2 hour rising process has completed. 

Bake for 35 Minutes or until lightly brown. I typically check after 30 minutes just in case. 

Before the bread is done combine all of the glaze ingredients in a sauce pan and bring just to a boil. Lower heat to low and reduce by half. Once bread is done lightly brush half glaze onto hot bread. Keep syrup warm while bread cools for 5 minutes. Brush on remaining glaze. Put bread back into 350 degree oven for 1 minute. 

Quickly sprinkle on a pinch of sugar all over bread after pulling out of oven. 

Feel free to decorate with colored sugars, powdered sugar, or strings of icing. Make it your own!

Enjoy with Coffee and Milk.