Student guide
In this guide, we want to facilitate your stay and help with general information about our city, school, and life in Alicante
How to get to Alicante?
By PLANE:
Alicante Airport is located 9 kilometers southwest of the capital, in the municipality of Elche, just 20 minutes drive from the school.
To get from the airport to the center of Alicante you can choose from several alternatives:
Taxi: There is a taxi rank in the terminal. Choose yours, give the address to the taxi driver and he/she will take you to your destination. The duration of the trip is about 20 minutes to the city center and its approximate cost is 25€.
Bus: A bus line (C-6) runs from the airport to the city centre. There are buses every 20 minutes. The duration of the trip is about 35-45 minutes and the cost is 3.85€. Download here a map with the complete itinerary and bus schedules. Schedule link: https://bit.ly/3h8l4Qr
Private transfer : If you want to relax, you can hire our private transfer. A person responsible for the school will wait for you at the terminal carrying a sign with your name at the airport exit and will take you to your accommodation. It is very important that you communicate the day, hour of arrival and flight number in advance If you want to read more about our private transfer click on the following link:
By TRAIN:
The train station (RENFE) is located in the city center of Alicante. From there you can walk to your accommodation or directly to the school. In case you would like to visit other Spanish cities during your stay, the train station offers you direct connections with all major cities in Spain such as Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona,…
By BUS:
The bus station is located next to the Port of Alicante. A very strategic point, from there you can reach all the places by foot. The school is a 20-minute walk away.
How to get to school?
Once in the center of Alicante, reaching the school will be a very easy task, as it is located in one of the most central streets of the city.
We are on the first floor of a building, you can easily find the directions. In case you can’t reach us, call us and we’ll assist you.
Our address is: Calle Bazán 20, entreplanta. https://goo.gl/maps/tL3ybNhV6xDPpVVx6
HOST FAMILY ACCOMMODATION
If you want to know the Spanish culture during your Spanish course, the best option is to live with a host family during your stay in Alicante
All families are located in the center of Alicante so you can walk into the city. Families are between 5-20 minutes walk from the school. The family will provide you with a room with a comfortable bed, desk, and wardrobe. The family will also offer you daily meals. You can choose full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or half board (breakfast and lunch/dinner)
It is very important to know:
- Families live in flats in different areas of Alicante and
they have been rigorously selected by our accommodation team.
- Meals and schedules are made according to Spanish traditions. Adapting to new customs is part of your journey and learning. Independent, the family will be available to listen to your tastes and preferences.
- The family will provide you with sheets and towels. Personal toiletries, hair dryers or other personal hygiene items must be brought with you on the trip or requested before your arrival.
- You will have one washing machine per week to clean your clothes.
For more information about the host family, you can visit our accommodation section. https://www.escuela-elcano.com/la-escuela-de-espanol/
What will my first day in Alicante be like?
Timetables in Spain are quite different from the rest of Europe.
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 13.30 and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. Large shopping malls and businesses in central areas usually have a continuous schedule from 10 to 21 or 22 h and also open on Sundays and holidays. In coastal areas where there are more tourists, such as Alicante, shops can be open until after 23 h, depending on the season.
Our school opens its doors every morning from Monday to Friday at 8:30 and starts the first class at 9:00. The Elcano Spanish Academy is open uninterruptedly until 19:30 in the afternoon and you can request any information at reception. Our team will be waiting to answer any of your questions.
Museums in the city are usually open every day except for one, (usually on Mondays) with reduced hours in winter and longer during summer periods.
As for lunch times in Spain, breakfast is from 8 to 10 h, while lunch usually goes from 13 to 15.30 h and dinner from 20.30 to 23 h.
As in the shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars usually do continuous hours.
At night, pubs, bars, and nightclubs usually open until 3 or 4 in the morning, although there are also those that stay open until dawn.
Finally, you have to take into account before selecting the starting dates of the course that in Spain there are different local and national holidays. Check the school calendar.
LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS:
| Links | Phone numbers |
|---|---|
| Alicante airport: www.aena.es | Taxies: +34/965 10 16 11 |
| Alicante city hall: www.alicante.es | Police: 091 |
| Tourist information: www.alicanteturismo.com | Local police: +34/965 10 72 00 |
| DELE exams: diplomas.cervantes.es | Tourist information: +34/965 125 633 |
| TRAM – Schedule: www.tramalicante.es | Firefighters: 080 |
| Real Academia de la Lengua Española (Royal Academy of the Spanish Language): www.rae.es | Emergency: 112 |
- Meals and schedules are made according to Spanish traditions. Adapting to new customs is part of your journey and learning. Independent, the family will be available to listen to your tastes and preferences.
- The family will provide you with sheets and towels. Personal toiletries, hair dryers or other personal hygiene items must be brought with you on the trip or requested before your arrival.
- You will have one washing machine per week to clean your clothes.
For more information about the host family, you can visit our accommodation section.