Información práctica

BEFORE DEPARTING

Travel Information
Please enter your travel information into your CASA-Sevilla intranet profile before August 1st.  Tell us from where, by what means and at what time you will be arriving in Seville. This information is very important so that we know when to expect you and can follow up in the event you do not arrive as expected.

Passport and Visa
Make sure your passport and student visa are in order. The student visa can only be obtained in the U.S.  Without a passport and proper visa, Spanish immigration authorities will put you on the next flight back to the U.S.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards and Cash
Talk to your bank or credit card company to make sure that all credit or debit cards you plan to use while in Spain and Europe can indeed be used there and will not expire during your stay. If you plan to use a debit or ATM card, find out from which account (checking or savings) the money will be drawn since depositing money in your home bank account will be more difficult once you are in Spain.  Also, find out what ATM network your card is connected to (e.g., Plus or Cirrus) and how prevalent that network is in the places you plan to travel. Although you will likely be able to use an ATM at one of the Spanish airports to obtain euros when you land (provided your card is connected to a major network), it is recommended you purchase $100 in euros before departing to be sure that you have some cash on hand when you arrive in Spain. Depending on your bank, it may take a few days to get the foreign currency, so please do not leave it to the last minute. 

Packing
If you pack judiciously, you will arrive with two suitcases. Keep in mind you must handle your own luggage through airports and in and out of taxi cabs, so pack as lightly as you possibly can. Furthermore, while U.S.-based airlines determine excess baggage charges based on the number of bags, European airlines determine excess baggage charges based on weight. One strategy is to lay out all of the stuff you think you will need for your stay, and then eliminate half of it. Another strategy is to plan daily changes of clothes for three weeks — one hot, one cool, and one very cold week. Although winter temperatures are not as low as in New York or Pennsylvania, it can be cold and rainy in Seville.  You should plan on wearing several layers (clothes that will serve in summer and winter).  You will definitely need warm clothes (sweaters etc), but the amount of time in which you´ll need them is less than in New York and Pennsylvania. Since Sevilla is in Andalucía, the south of Spain, the summers are hotter and longer than what you may be used to.  Items like toiletries and batteries are readily available in Spain, but you might not find all of the brand-names that you are accustomed to in the U.S. and, if you do find them, they might be slightly more expensive. Style is similar in Europe as in the US, especially for young people, so casual dress for students (nice jeans) is fine.  People wearing shorts are sometimes not allowed in churches and monasteries.  The same can be said about tank tops and short skirts. Women may want to bring clothing with pockets so bank cards and money may be carried on your person rather than in a purse. (Purse-snatchings have become more common in recent years in Seville and other areas of Spain frequented by tourists.). U.S. baggage regulations require that checked luggage to be unlocked at all times, so please do not pack valuable items (e.g., jewelry or electronic equipment) in your checked bags; you should keep them in your carry-on luggage.  Other items which you will want to bring (either in your carry-on or your checked luggage):  

•    raincoat or waterproof jacket 
•    shoes or boots for walking in the rain
•    towel and swim suit 
•    athletic shoes
•    extra pairs of eyeglasses and contact lenses (and prescription)
•    prescription medicines (please see the Student Handbook for more information on prescriptions and health issues)
•    warm slippers, socks, and long underwear to wear in the house and to sleep in
•    nice outfit suitable for an evening out
•    small gift for your host family

Important Documents
While you are traveling to Seville, keep the following important items with you at all times. Hidden, zippered pockets or pouches that can be easily accessed by you, but not other people, are the best idea. It is not a good idea to put really important items in a backpack or purse that can be easily separated from you.
•    Passport with visa
•    Airline tickets, itinerary and baggage claim tickets
•    30 euros for cab fare, and instructions on how to get to your host family’s house
•    Credit cards, cash
•    Contact information (see last page)

YOUR TRIP

We will be expecting you to arrive in Seville on Sunday, August 20. International flights from the U.S. generally depart in the afternoon or evening and arrive in Spain the following morning. Hence, your flight should leave no later than Saturday, August 19. You can and should have your luggage checked directly to Seville from the US. If you arrive earlier than August 20, you will be responsible for finding your own accommodations. Finding accommodation may be difficult in Seville, so make sure you take care of this matter as early as possible. Consider traveling with someone else from the group to make the long trip more enjoyable.

On the Plane
You will be given a customs/immigration form to fill out on the plane prior to your arrival in Spain requiring your name, passport number, flight number, and address in Spain. For your address in Spain, fill in the address for your host family’s house. 

Arrival in Spain
For many of you, Barajas airport in Madrid will be your first point of entry into Europe and Spain. If this is the case, you will have to go through passport control in Madrid before transferring to your flight to Seville.  In addition to your passport and visa, you will have to show the QR Code that will be scanned at the health control, in order to access the terminal and collect your luggage.

If your first point of entry into Europe is outside of Spain, you will have to go through passport control in that airport. Upon arrival in Spain, you will most likely not have to go through passport control again, unless you are coming from England. Also, save all airline, train and bus ticket receipts that show how and when you arrived in Spain.

Seville Airport
When you get to the Seville airport, follow the Recogida Equipaje (baggage claim) and Aduana (customs) signs. If you have not gone through immigration or customs at another airport before arriving in Seville, you may find that your luggage has been offloaded at a separate carousel in another hall at the airport than that of your fellow passengers.  (In other words, don’t despair that your luggage has been lost—it may simply be offloaded in the other hall, for luggage that has not been previously cleared through customs.)  When you go through immigration and customs, have your passport and baggage claim tickets ready. You may be asked to open your luggage. 

Once you exit the customs doors, you will no longer be in a secure area. Important recommendation: Before leaving the customs area: 1) put your passport, airline ticket and other important documents back in their hidden pouches and pockets; 2) get out the address of your host family’s house; 3) rearrange your money to have cab fare easily accessible and other money safely stored. 

After leaving customs, you will walk out into a lower-level hall. Taxis line up immediately beyond the doors to the outside.  Give the taxi driver the address of your host family.  The fare for the cab ride should be 30-35 euros. Drivers will add to the meter reading a few euros for bags, especially large ones. The number of people should not make a difference, except for the fact you will have more bags.  Tips are not required or expected in Spain, but the usual practice is to round off the fare or add one euro, especially if the driver has been particularly helpful in carrying your large, heavy luggage.  Remember: keep a close eye on your bags at all times, and do not leave anything in the taxi.

FIRST DAYS IN SEVILLE

Upon arrival in Seville, the students must go directly to their host family’s house.The evening of Sunday, August 20, we will hold a virtual meeting at approximately 8:00 p.m. to welcome the group. The following morning, the program will start with icebreaker and team building activities, followed by an info session and language evaluations and self-evaluations.  During the rest of that week, students will participate in several orientation activities.  You will receive a schedule of your first weeks in Sevilla before arrival.

PRACTICALITIES

Money
Euro bills and coins come in denominations very similar to American money, although one and two euro coins are used instead of bills. Until you get accustomed to the money, make sure you pay careful attention to each piece of money in order to avoid overpaying.

The best places to exchange money in Spain are at banks or at American Express offices, because they usually have the best rates. Banks are only open in the mornings (generally 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.), and all banks charge a small transaction fee that is deducted automatically from the euros you receive, regardless of the amount that you exchange (e.g. $10 or $500). You will be asked to show your passport when you exchange money.

You can also obtain euros with an ATM card. There is an ample supply of cash machines on the Plus and Cirrus networks in Seville and in other major cities in Spain. Money is withdrawn directly from your bank account in the U.S. and given to you in euros at the machine. The exchange rate is similar to that at banks, and you generally pay a $2 or $3 fee for each transaction. ATM’s are known as cajeros automáticos or telebancos in Seville.  It is a good idea to bring a backup ATM card in case yours is damaged, lost or stolen. Finally, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) are widely accepted throughout Spain.  Most cash machines and banks will dispense money to you with one of these credit cards, but remember that, unlike the ATM card, it is considered a cash advance (a loan), and, in addition to a transaction fee, you pay interest on the money until it is repaid to the credit card company.

Personal Expenses
Living in Spain is not cheap. Shopping, eating out, and traveling can cost as much or more than in the U.S., especially in large cities and around tourist sites. The amount of money you will need depends, of course, on your personal spending habits. You should think about how much traveling you plan to do, things you might want to buy, and how frequently you plan to go out on the town. The program covers meal expenses and entrance fees to sites on scheduled program excursions. You will want extra money to visit places on your own, buy class supplies, go out for tapas, etc.

Meals
Meal times in Spain are different than those in the US. Breakfast is very light and is served around 8 a.m.; the main meal is served around 2:30 p.m.; and a light supper is served as late as 10:00 p.m.  People often have a snack around 11:00 a.m. and sometimes again around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. at a coffee shop or bar (neither of which are included in your meal plan). Try to get used to the meal routine and the food as quickly as possible since it will make your adaptation to Spain and Spanish life much easier.

Getting Around Seville
Seville has an extensive and convenient bus system. It is highly recommended, and many of you may find it the most efficient way to get to your classes and the program center. We will provide you with a map of the city and an orientation outing on the bus to get you started. Taxis run at all hours of the day and night and tend to be less expensive than in the U.S.  You can also get a ride with Uber/Cabify, or take the underground.  Many students use Sevici, a bike share program that has stations all around the city.  A long-term subscription + insurance only costs €40.

Safety
While crime, and most certainly violent crime, is less prevalent in Spanish cities than in similar-sized cities in the U.S., we urge students to be cautious and alert to all possibilities. As is the case with any large city, there is a lot of petty thievery in Spanish cities, and tourists are always a favorite target of criminals.  This is namely a problem in downtown Seville and other tourist-heavy areas.  The most frequent form of thievery consists of removing a pocketbook or wallet from a shoulder bag or backpack while the person is wearing it. The task is made even simpler when the bag is left hanging from a chair or sitting on the ground at a street-side cafe or on a bench at the airport. A favorite scheme is for one person to distract you while another empties your pockets, purse, or backpack (chances are you will not know it has happened until sometime later). Another, more blatant scheme consists of thieves running by or speeding by on a moped and snatching a backpack or shoulder bag. Crossing a shoulder bag across the chest does not prevent robbery, for they may cut the strap. You can avoid many problems by being cautious, by not carrying more money than you need for the day, and by keeping money and documents on your person, rather than in a purse or backpack.

We recommend you leave valuable jewelry and such in the U.S.; avoid carrying shoulder bags and backpacks when not essential; use hidden pouches; carry your wallet in a front pocket rather than in the back (pickpockets are very skillful in Spain); do not carry excessive amounts of money around; and make a photocopy of the identification and visa pages of your passport to carry with you and leave your passport in your host family’s home. The only times you will need your passport once you are in Seville are when you change money, travel outside of Seville, and check into a hotel on your own.

Even though Spain is not a frequent (or obvious) site of terrorist activity, in 2004 and 2017 there were major attacks in the country, so you need to be careful and cautious. We urge that you always be aware of your surroundings and your belongings, especially in crowded places like on the bus and the train, and in tourist areas. Avoid large public gatherings that are political in nature. In addition, neither men nor women should go out alone late at night: go out in groups and take taxis to and from your destinations. You can ask the restaurant, bar or hotel to call a taxi if there is not one in sight, or you can get a ride with Uber/Cabify.

The above are preliminary suggestions for your safety while abroad, and we will be discussing them further in our first meetings during the orientation period.

Electricity
Spain uses 220 volts, 50z (the U.S. uses 110/60).  Electric appliances purchased in the U.S. (hair dryers, electric clocks, stereos, computers, etc.) must have a dual voltage switch or will have to be used with a voltage transformer.  (Many laptop computers come with transformers.) You will also need an adapter plug for the round European sockets. These items can be purchased in electronics shops, travel stores, or in international airports. If the only appliance you will need is a hairdryer, you might consider purchasing one in Spain rather than buying a transformer.

Mail from the States
Mail service through the U.S. and Spanish postal services is generally reliable, but it may take more than two weeks for letters to arrive in Seville (and even longer to the U.S.). Currently, the most rapid and reliable way to mail important documents from the U.S. is to use DHL — which has outlets in Seville. Other delivery services (including Federal Express) do not have extensive distribution systems in Spain, and hence, although a letter or package may make it to Madrid overnight, it then continues its journey with another carrier or through the Spanish mail system.
If the packet you are waiting for has commercial value or contains used personal effects it will be subject to customs procedures.  All packages entering the EU from non-EU member states are first filtered through Spanish customs, or Aduana, to assess a duty, VAT (Value Added Tax) and import costs. The total of these fees is then fixed to your package and must be paid upon arrival, usually in cash.  How do customs calculate what to charge? Before mailing any package your handler will ask you to fill out a form naming the contents of your package and estimating their value for insurance and customs purposes.  Expect to pay 21% VAT, up to 17% duty and a flat fee for the processing of each package.  Alternatives are to try Spanish, French or UK Amazon and eBay to search for products before resorting to US or Canadian based sites. Second, if a friend or family member is making a trip to Spain in the near future, ask them to make room in their suitcase for your things. Or, simply say no to people offering to ship you packages to Spain.  If you are still set on shipping a package to Spain, take the following into consideration: packages that are specifically marked as gifts and whose value does not exceed €45 are exempt from customs fees.
Please have friends and family send your mail to the program center. However, please do not have anything sent to the center prior to your arrival on August 22, since the office staff will be on vacation throughout most of August.

The mailing address is:
                CASA-Sevilla
                C/ Balbino Marrón 6 (Edificio Viapol)
                Planta 6ª Módulo 15
                41018 Sevilla
                SPAIN