Dates
June 3-July 14, 2025
Arrival: Plan to arrive in Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport (Madrid, Spain) on Tuesday, June 3rd no later than 3 p.m. This means you need to depart the U.S. no later than Monday, June 2nd as you lose a day in route.
Departure: Program ends on Friday, July 14th in Madrid. All students must check out of the hotel in Madrid by 11 a.m. on Monday, July 14th. The program will provide bus transportation to the Madrid airport at least three different times that morning. Students may also remain in Madrid/Europe after the program ends at their own expense to travel or sightsee.
Required orientation sessions
Students participating in the Valencia Program are required to attend at least 3 orientation sessions. It is highly recommended, however, that students attend all sessions.
Upcoming Orientation Sessions:
- To be announced
Passports & Visa
A valid passport is required for entry into Spain.
It is very important that students obtain a U.S. Passport (or from your home country) as soon as possible (allow 6-8 weeks). You can download the official U.S. passport application at the U.S. State Department’s Passport Services web site or request one at your local U.S. Post Office. It is recommended that students apply for a passport while their application is being considered. considered.
Spanish Visa
In most cases, U.S. students participating in the Valencia program DO NOT need a visa. However, for students who plan to stay in Spain and/or the rest of Europe longer than 90 days, or students from certain countries, a visa is required. A visa may be required if you are an international student. Specific visa information can be obtained by contacting the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago.
Madrid meeting point
Students are expected to arrive in Madrid by 4 p.m. or earlier on the day the program starts. Program Directors will meet students at a designated meeting point in the Madrid Barajas airport. The location of the meeting point will be discussed in the orientations. Click here for a map of the airport,
Money and budget
Budgeting is a great idea.
Exchange rates vary depending on when and where you convert your money. To see daily exchange rates go to http://www.xe.com. Generally, banks offer the best rates but with a service commission. Listed prices often will appear both in Euros and Spanish Pesetas. Euro bills are issued in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €500, €1.000. Coins (centimos) are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, €1, €2.
When you arrive
It is a good idea to already have some currency on hand or withdraw some from an ATM as soon as you arrive in Madrid’s airport–there are several ATM machines. There are several locations inside the airport to exchange American dollars. Around Spain, you will always find multiple ATM machines where you can withdraw money in the local currency (be sure you understand the quantities you are withdrawing so that you do not withdraw too much).
ATM Cards
An excellent and convenient option is an ATM card or debit card. Check with your bank before departing to be sure that your card will be accepted. Do not wait until you get there to learn that you will not be able to use your ATM card. Be sure you have memorized your 4-digit PIN code before arriving in Madrid. If you remember your code by a 4-letter acronym, it is best to memorize the numbers instead since the number pads in Spain are labeled differently from those in the U.S. It is important that students become aware of the possible fees charged by their home institution.
Credit Cards
Credit Cards are widely accepted in Spain. This is especially true with Visa and Mastercard and, to a lesser degree, American Express. Check with your credit card company before departing to determine foreign withdrawals fees and to make sure your spending limit is high enough to use the card for ATM cash withdrawals and purchases. Be sure you have memorized your 4-digit PIN code before arriving in Madrid. If you remember your code by a 4-letter acronym, it is best to memorize the numbers instead since the number pads in Spain are labeled differently from those in the U.S. Click on the links to find the locations of ATM accepting Visa or Mastercard.
Traveler’s Checks
It is not recommended that students take traveler’s checks. While it is true that traveler’s checks can easily be replaced if lost or stolen, and many banks accept traveler’s checks in US dollar denominations, there are several disadvantages: great difficulty finding a bank to exchange the checks, being charged a fee to cash traveler’s checks, or receiving a less favorable exchange rate. Most stores and restaurants no longer accept traveler’s checks. Cashing traveler’s checks regularly at banks (for a $2-$5 fee) or hotels (for lower exchange rates than banks but with no fee) can be expensive. Please note, it is not wise to carry much cash around in cities. For credit card purchases in larger stores, VISA and Mastercard will be widely accepted. Personal checks are not accepted anywhere.
Exchange Rates
Exchange rates vary from day to day and from source to source. When you are ready to withdraw money, shop around and ask your fellow students. Some ATMs charge a fee, while many others do not. Others give you no fees for a very low exchange rate. Generally, established banks will give the best deal. Ask your fellow students where they are exchanging. Sometimes they have found a good and trustworthy location. Exchange Rates
Value Added Tax
Value Added Tax (VAT of IVA) is a personal use tax of about 12-18% which is refundable if you buy any one single item that costs more than 100 euros. However, instead of VAT refunds, stores could offer a 10% discount on items purchased.
Tipping
Service charges are usually included in hotel and restaurant bills, but it is customary to leave 50 centimos, 1 euro per person in a restaurant and a little at a bar. A 50 centimo tip is average for a taxi ride. Other service people expect at least 50 centimos per person for services. When luggage is brought to your room, tip 1 euro.