Barcelona SAE | 2024 Site Visit

JOIN US IN BARCELONA!

July 9th-12th, 2024

You are cordially invited to learn about the Barcelona study abroad experience through a Barce-Local lens with our full team and your education abroad colleagues in July 2024. See what students experience with our interactive cultural orientations, academic field studies such as deep dive walking tours of Barcelona’s barrios (neighborhoods), a hands-on Catalan cooking class, a variety of professional development sessions, an interactive student and intern panel Q&A, and more. You’ll come away with a comprehensive program overview and wonderful shared memories.

At Barcelona SAE, we pride ourselves in being the Barcelona specialists. From our exceptional course offerings at our Academic Study Center and unparalleled student support, to facilitating culturally-enriching faculty-led programs and professional internship experiences, we embed experiential learning into our programming so students get the most from their experience abroad.

This particular site visit will be extra special as Barcelona SAE will be celebrating our 15th Anniversary in 2024! So we we will cap off the week with a very special night of celebration on Friday, July 12th and toast to the next 15 years (and beyond) of partnership and enriching students’ lives.

COST INFORMATION

To maximize participation, Barcelona SAE is sharing in the cost of onsite expenses. For Affiliate Partners, the registration fee is $695.00 with a $500.00 Affiliate Partner Grant, so $195.00 total. For Non-Affiliate participants, the registration fee is $695.00 per attendee. The registration fee includes lodging for four nights in a single room, group activities, most group meals, and group transportation. Not included is international roundtrip airfare, personal activities, some meals, some transportation, and incidentals. The registration fee will be invoiced closer to the departure date.

Aside from the Affiliate Partner grants, we also have some additional travel grants available to support participants who need assistance with their travel expenses. You can indicate if you are interested in receiving more information regarding our travel grants by completing the application form.

Who is eligible to participate on this site visit?

The site visit is intended for U.S. university / college faculty and staff who have an interest in partnering with or learning more about Barcelona SAE's programs. Registrants are responsible for following their own institutional travel policies and approval processes.

What is included in the registration fee?

Included in the registration fee is the pre-departure orientation and onsite orientations, four nights of lodging in a centrally-located Barcelona hotel (breakfast included), professional development sessions, field studies and tours, a Spanish cooking class, an excursion to a cavas tasting, some transportation within Barcelona, some group meals, and a ticket to the Barcelona SAE 15th Anniversary celebration on Friday evening.

What are the additional costs or expenses?

If you'd like to check-in to the hotel a day (or more) before the site visit or stay in the hotel a day (or more) after the site visit has ended, you should book your additional night(s) and pay this additional cost directly on the Sercotel Caspe website. Please wait to book the additional night(s) until after you have received an email from Barcelona SAE confirming your participation in the site visit. The additional cost will vary based on how many extra nights you're looking to book, as well as how far in advance you choose to book. Please note that should you be staying in Barcelona additional nights before or after the site visit, you can also choose to stay in other accommodations.

The other costs that are not included in the registration fee are: round trip flights to Barcelona, some transportation within Barcelona (for example, from the airport to the hotel on the first day), some meals, and anything that you choose to do or purchase during your free time.

Can I bring guests?

You can indeed bring a guest if you'd like! If you indicated in your traveler confirmation form that you'll be bringing a guest, BSAE will invoice you 80 USD extra to cover the hotel's additional fee to upgrade to a double room.

Please note that as far as the site visit goes, guests are only allowed to join us for the pre-departure orientation, cavas excursion (for an extra fee of 75 USD, which includes the bus ride, lunch, and cavas tasting), and the 15th anniversary celebration (for an extra fee of 50 USD, which includes transportation to the event, food, and entrance at the event itself).

What is the hotel booking and payment process?

By registering for the event, we will book a hotel room for you at the Sercotel Caspe for the 4 nights of the site visit, checking in on Tuesday, July 9th, and checking out the morning of Saturday, July 13th. If you'd like to check-in to the hotel a day (or more) before the site visit or stay in the hotel a day (or more) after the site visit has ended, you should book your additional night(s) and pay this additional cost directly on the Sercotel Caspe website. Please wait to book the additional night(s) until after you have received an email from Barcelona SAE confirming your participation in the site visit.

Will I be sharing a hotel room with another site visit participant?

Each site visitor will have their own hotel room, unless they choose to bring a guest whom they wish to stay with them in the same room.

Can I arrive early or stay late?

You can arrive a day (or more) early or stay a day (or more) late, but in order to stay in the Sercotel Caspe for the additional nights, you'll have to book your additional night(s) and pay this additional cost directly on the Sercotel Caspe website. Please wait to book the additional night(s) until after you have received an email from Barcelona SAE confirming your participation in the site visit. The additional cost will vary based on how many extra nights you're looking to book, as well as how far in advance you choose to book. Please note that should you be staying in Barcelona additional nights before or after the site visit, you can also choose to stay in other accommodations.

What are the transportation options from the airport?

From the airport, we recommend that you take a taxi to the Sercotel Caspe after arriving in Barcelona. Getting a taxi at the airport is very organized, so you don't need to pre-book transportation. When you arrive at the airport, after collecting your luggage and heading out into the arrivals hall, you can follow the signs for taxis. There are airport staff waiting to guide you to the next available taxi. A taxi ride from the airport to Sercotel Caspe costs about 30-35 euros and takes about 25 minutes. Taxi drivers accept credit card, so it is not necessary to have cash on hand.

You can also choose to take the Aerobus - after getting to the arrivals hall, follow the signs for the Aerobus. Tickets can be purchased at the vending machines just in front of the buses, and they cost about 6 euros. The ride will take you about 35 minutes to get into central Barcelona and there are 2 stops that you can get off the bus at - Plaza Espanya or Plaza Catalunya. Plaza Catalunya is closer to the Sercotel Caspe - about a 15 minute walk, 10 minute metro or bus ride, or 5 minute taxi.

You can also choose to take the metro (Line R2 - Nord), which goes from Terminal 2 of Barcelona's El Prat airport to the Sants Estació and Passeig de Gràcia train stations. Passeig de Gràcia is closer to the Sercotel Caspe - about a 15 minute walk, 10 minute metro or bus ride, or 5 minute taxi. You can purchase a metro ticket in the metro station of the airport - when you get to the arrivals hall, simply follow the signs for the metro. If you land at Terminal 1 but you'd like to take the metro, there is a free airport shuttle that will take you from one terminal to the other.

You can find more information on getting to and from the airport on this page of our Barcelona Student Guide.

What is transportation like in the city?

Barcelona's public transportation system is very thorough and comprehensive. There are options to take the metro, bus, train, and tram that connect all parts of the city. For your time in Barcelona, we recommend that you purchase a T10 (otherwise called T-Casual), which gives you 10 rides on all forms of public transportation for just over 11 euros. They can be purchased at the machines in any metro station. In the pre-departure orientation we will be explaining the public transportation system in more depth, and if you'd like help from a BSAE staff member to obtain a metro pass, please let us know and we'd be happy to help once you're in Barcelona.

How much walking is expected?

For the site visit itself, we won't be doing much walking (other than a casual stroll before dinner the first evening), a 1.5 hour field study with SIS professors, a campus tour of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and any walking that you choose to do on your free time.

What will the weather be like in Barcelona during the site visit?

The weather in Barcelona in July can be quite hot - it usually gets up to around 85 degrees Fahrenheit most days. While there is indeed air conditioning at the Sercotel Caspe and the SIS Study Center (where most of the indoor sessions will be taking place), it is not common to have air conditioning in public places, so you should be prepared to manage the heat throughout the day. This includes wearing appropriate clothing, staying hydrated, bringing a fan or sunshade, and taking necessary breaks.

What should I pack or bring specific to the visit?

We are a casual group and it's summer, so please don't feel obligated to wear business attire. There will be one official university visit and our evening reception, for which you may want to think about dressing up a bit for the occasion. Otherwise, we recommend packing light, loose clothing, a sunhat and sunglasses, and don't forget sunscreen! You can find more info on what to pack for Barcelona in July here.

Will we be touring student housing options?

As we do not want to disrupt our students who are onsite with us, we will not be touring any student housing options. However, we will indeed be giving you an overview (with plenty of photos) of each option and reasons why they may be the best option for students when advising.

Will we be meeting with partner universities in Barcelona?

You will have a chance to tour the School for International Studies (SIS) study center as well as the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). We'll be meeting with Academics Team and some of the SIS faculty, as well as the study abroad department at the UPF. We will also be going over all of the other academic options in Barcelona, along with why they may be the best option for students when advising.

I would like to meet with my students who are onsite. When and how can I do that?

If you'd like to meet with your students who are currently on a program with us, please let our Senior Coordinator of Student Life & Marketing, Laura Hommema, know via email (laura.hommema@barcelonasae.com) and we will do our best to organize a meetup with them. Otherwise, please feel free to reach out to your students directly - we're sure they'd love to hear from you!

I would like to meet with the [internships/faculty-led/health and safety/housing/etc] department to learn more about what they do. How can I arrange individual meetings with BSAE staff while there?

We'll be doing overviews of each components of our program (student life, academics, customized programs, etc.) throughout the site visit, but you'll also see that we've built in a few hours into the site visit schedule should you wish to meet 1 on 1 with a specific department or with your students. If you already know the specific department that you'd like to meet with at that time, please let us know and we'd be happy to coordinate a meeting!

My university is an affiliate partner. Does that change the registration fee?

¡Por supuesto! Barcelona SAE provides an automatic $500 grant for particpants coming from any of our affiliate partner universities.

My university is interested in becoming an affiliate partner. How would I initiate that?

¡Excelente! Our University Relations team (universityrelations@barcelonasae.com) would be happy to chat with you about options to affiliate with us.

I would like to attend but my university does not have the funding. Are there travel grants available to help offset travel costs?

We do have some travel grants available to support participants who need assistance with their travel expenses. Please contact universityrelations@barcelonasae.com and we'll do our best to accommodate your request!

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

*Please note all items are subject to change and will be confirmed closer to July 2024.

DAY	DATE	ITINERARY ITEM
Monday	8-Jul-2024	Depart USA
Tuesday	9-Jul-2024	Morning: Bienvenidos a Barcelona! As you step off the plane at El Prat (BCN) airport, you’ll gather your luggage and make your way to the hotel via taxi or the Aerobús. If your room isn’t quite ready, you can leave your bags at the front desk and kickstart your adventure solo by uncovering the hidden gems in our city. This is your first chance to navigate the city like a local! Afternoon: We’ll meet in the hotel lobby and head over to the nearby Barcelona SAE office, where our friendly equipo will be eager to meet you. Then you’ll get to experience our Cultural Orientation, which will give you an insider perspective on Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain’s cultural intricacies to ensure a fun and immersive week ahead. Evening: Connect with your fellow site visitors and Barcelona SAE staff at a welcome dinner featuring a variety of delicious Spanish tapas. Get ready to indulge in local cuisine, lively conversations, and start your week of unforgettable memories!
Wednesday	10-Jul-2024	Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll introduce you to our variety of study abroad programs, with a focus on Barcelona SAE’s Academic Study Center at the Barcelona School for International Studies (SIS). A mid-morning break will provide the perfect opportunity for you to experience Spanish coffee culture as a Barce-Local, before we introduce you to our award-winning commitment to D/E/I, TODOS, which is at the heart of everything we do. Afternoon: Follow in your students’ footsteps! You’ll become a study abroad student again during an immersive field study as we use the city of Barcelona as the classroom, followed by a group lunch with SIS faculty and the opportunity to feel like a true local as you try your first Menú del Dia. Afterward, the afternoon is yours to explore the Barcelona SAE Bucket List activities at your own pace. Evening: For dinner, we’ll regroup for a Spanish cooking class…because nothing brings people together quite like la comida! Learn how to prepare traditional dishes alongside a professional chef, and get to know our lovely homestay families along the way (who are arguably some of the best chefs in all of Barcelona).
Thursday	11-Jul-2024	Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, a private bus will chaufer our group to a beautiful offsite venue that provides the perfect backdrop to learn about our internship programs. We’ll then host a Barcelona SAE student & intern panel for you to hear about the participant experience first-hand, before a coffee and networking break to chat with our students more in depth. Next, we’ll offer a professional development workshop to explore the frameworks that guide experiential learning. Afternoon: Let’s get out and explore! We’ll hop on the bus to embark on an incredible excursion in the Catalan countryside – we’ll start things off with a delicious group lunch followed by a Cavas (Catalan champagne!) tour and tasting under the Spanish sun. Evening: After you’ve indulged your sense of taste with sparkling cava bubbles, we’ll get on the bus back to Barcelona, where the evening is yours to explore the vibrant nightlife.
Friday	12-Jul-2024	Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll meet back at the Barcelona SAE offices to learn all about our Customized Programs. Then, a quick coffee break provides an opportunity to grab a cafe con leche or light bite on your own at a nearby cafe, before our Student Life team provides a comprehensive overview of the unmatched level of personalization and support that we provide to all Barcelona SAE students. Afternoon: We’ll head over as a group to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) for a tour of a local university campus, followed by a farewell group lunch on the golden Mediterranean coastline. The afternoon is yours to “choose your own adventure” – whether you’d like to set up 1:1 meetings with our staff to talk more about the topics that you’re most interested in, or if you’d like to take a more experiential approach by exploring the city and checking more items off from your Barcelona SAE Bucket List. The choice is up to you! Evening: We’ll end the amazing week with our special 15th Anniversary Celebration as we reflect on the past, present and future of Barcelona SAE and the student lives we’ve been able to enrich together. Join us at a remarkable venue – an 11th-century farmhouse – where we’ll host our own vibrant summer Fiesta Mayor, embracing the rich local culture of Barcelona. We’ll celebrate this special milestone together underneath the stars with our site visitors, local partners and dedicated staff. 🥂 Get ready to indulge in traditional Catalan cuisine while taking in a captivating show…the details of which we’re keeping a secret for now. Live music will be the soundtrack as we all dance under the Barcelona moonlight until la medianoche, celebrating all that we’ve accomplished together over the past 15 years and toasting to the next 15 years (and beyond!) of valued partnership. 💃
Saturday	13-Jul-2024	Hotel Check Out & Departure…or if you’d like to extend your stay in our beloved Barcelona, you’re welcome to work with the hotel directly or transfer to your own accommodations.

“I greatly enjoyed my time and learned so much about Barcelona SAE. Every staff member I encountered was wonderful and consistently went above and beyond to make the site visit run smoothly. The itinerary was very thoughtfully planned and there was a nice balance of scheduled and free time. There are so many elements of Barcelona SAE that are unique and I left the experience feeling so very positive, wanting to encourage more and more of our students to participate on these program opportunities."