Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

I stayed in Gijon, which is a costal city in Asturias, in the north of Spain for a period of 12 weeks. Overall the experience was really good for me. I initially wanted to come to improve my Spanish, learn more bout the culture, and explore a bit too- in the end, I feel that as well as doing this, the experience has helped me further improve my confidence, learn how to deal with language barriers, and in my case due to befriending some international students in the area (from Europe and Latin America), my cultural knowledge of not only Spain significantly increased too.

Ana (from Destino Idiomas) was very helpful throughout the process, and patient with me. She made the matching process much easier, and consistently checked up on me once I was in Spain too. The family I was with had had au pairs before so were very welcoming from the start, didn’t mind clarifying things when I was uncertain, and all of my au pair duties were completely manageable. I found that I very quickly got used to the routine.

In terms of money, I ended up saving up less than I intended to, as my weekly spending was much higher than usual, but this was due to doing more than usual- my main costs were bus/train tickets to other cities, buying things such as snacks on trips, some hygiene products, and even a few souvenirs. But even though I personally didn’t end up saving up much, I still made enough to cover the costs of coming, so I had no net loss, and many of these costs could easily be reduced.

I believe au pairing is a great way to be completely immersed in the culture of a certain country. Personally, in my free time over the weekends, I often went out either exploring Gijon or other nearby cities and villages. Spain is a beautiful country and even in the early spring, there was lots of nature to be seen. I was able to do some short hiking routes, and I got to try some ‘typical’ Spanish foods from different places too.
Overall it was a great way for me to see another part of the world and experience another culture, I would highly recommend au pairing to anyone thinking about it and using Destino Idiomas to do so.

This was such an amazing experience for me to improve my Spanish, be fully immersed in Spanish culture, and form a strong relationship with my host family (who I continue to be in touch with to this day). Destino idiomas greatly helped the smoothness of the process and it was very easy for me to find a host family that suited me best. As I was offered a range of families in a range of locations.
I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone of a range of ages and previous experience. As even those with a lower language ability will still highly benefit from this.

I stayed in the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela for 8 weeks with a wonderful family. I felt immediately welcomed and put at ease, and had a lovely home to stay in. The family were very relaxed, but it was still good to check in with them about my responsibilities as an au pair. They were very flexible with my needs and even helped me arrange local trips and Spanish lessons. I would spend my set hours with the children during the day, and then in the afternoon I would visit the city, go to Spanish classes, or spend time with the family if they were going to the beach! At the weekend the family would always invite me to join them with their plans if I wanted to.

Ana from the agency was also extremely helpful, she gave me potential options that would suit me and helped me find the perfect family. A major positive of this agency was that they were able to accommodate the length of the trip I wanted whereas other agencies expected a 3 month stay (whereas I could only go for a duration of 8 weeks due to work commitments). Ana regularly checked up with me throughout my time in Spain and I felt I could talk to her about any problems I had (luckily there weren’t any) and we even met up for coffee! She also made sure I was in contact with other au pairs in the area in case I got lonely.

Santiago de Compostela is a very historical city with a grand cathedral and lots of tourists during the summer due to the Día De Santiago occurring on 25th July, with lots of pilgrims attending from around the world. This meant that there were always events and celebrations on during the month of July and even in August. Everything is within walking distance in the city, as well as having good train links to other key areas in Galicia.

This was the most incredible experience I have ever had. I got to learn a new language while staying with an amazing family. They were so welcoming and I felt like part of the family. I was full immersed in Spanish culture and loved every moment. We attended most of the festivals that occurred during my stay as well as family events. The children were very energetic and we spent most days running around in the park, exploring the area or playing in the pool. This was honestly the best experience I have ever done and I would highly recommend.

I was an Au Pair in Vigo for 4 weeks and I had the most amazing experience. I was with a family who were so supportive and they took me to see amazing things and I saw so many places. However sometimes I got lonely but I think this was due to me being out of season. Ana was amazing and was always checking up on me and I met her for a coffee. I also did some solo travelling on one of the weekends which was amazing also. I would 100% recommend this agency to anyone and also the chance at becoming an Au Pair.

My experience was incredible. I stayed with the most accommodating family, who made me feel very welcome and cared for. Looking after the children was very enjoyable, and taught me a lot about not only childcare, but about myself. Ana was very supportive; I was fortunate to have no issues but I know if I had, Ana would have been on hand to help me. The communication process when choosing a family and being chosen was very clear and Ana made it very smooth and easy. Definitely stick it out longer than 1 week; it may feel very overwhelming when you first get there, but once you get to know the family and children and the routine, it’ll become enjoyable and you’ll feel much more confident, even if the first week you feel like it’s not for you or you’ve made a mistake. Learning the language is a must; I only had 4 weeks of lessons during my trip but they instilled so much confidence in me when speaking to everyone that I would definitely recommend. Also a great way to make friends, I know I’ll continue learning now I am home. I made many memories with the children that I will value forever, and learned a lot about myself from my trip. It was a great experience and I’m so glad I decided to au pair, and choosing to go through destino idiomas was the best choice.

At first I was scared about taking a gap year and what I would find to fill my free time but it was by far the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Choosing to be an au pair in a small town in Spain was such an amazing experience I would do anything to do it all over again. I met so many incredible people and visited amazing places. My host parents were incredibly welcoming and spending time with their children was so special. Three months flew by and I already can’t wait to come back and revisit :)

Thinking of doing a gap year but are worried it’s “irresponsible?” I’m here to say it is the most responsible/wisest decision you will make.
In high school and college, I was always the “over-achiever.” I had my course schedule jam-packed every semester, took honors classes, and wore many hats with extracurriculars. Before applying to law school, I knew I needed a break. I only knew school, so I wanted to see the world and travel before getting into more studies and then a career. While I did have some hesitancies prior, I am so thankful I chose to be an au pair. The love of a family and community I experienced is something I cannot put into words. I was nervous last October because I had no idea what the town/family would be like. Yet, like always, God had wonderful surprises in store. I was blessed with the most loving and fun family I have ever seen. My parents acted like newly weds, even though they had been married for fourteen years, and took me in as a daughter. I even have Spanish grandparents 😊.
Not only that, but my little town of Casasimarro was extremely supportive. Despite cultural and language differences, I gained intentional friendships I hope can withstand the thousands of miles in distance. I joined a “stay-at-home mom” walking group, who always had my back. One even introduced me to their daughter, who is now my best friend. We celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Gal-entine’s Day together. They shared their language and advice with me, and in exchange I shared my traditions. I also was part of an English class (don’t worry, the teacher spoke Spanish with me so I was learning, too). Together, we baked treats, shared countless laughs, and even entered musical competitions. Even though Casasimarro was small, I encountered a world full of blessings. “Casasimarro devino; pan, chorizo y…” donde vivo ❤️.
As well as fostering connections, I also experienced self-growth. I grew in both my confidence and faith in this journey. I learned that I am weird, and I am totally okay with that. Rather than complaining about being stuck in a situation or not able to travel, I am determined to do things. When you get creative and refuse to let barriers stop you, you can travel anywhere you want, and for pretty cheap! I visited over 20 cities in Spain, plus small towns the locals shared. I also traveled to Morocco, Portugal, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Because of the connections I made, I made friends and fellow travel gurus. I also traveled with my violin- playing in the streets and with locals. Sure lugging the violin was a hassle, but it opened so many doors. From playing in a friend’s holiday band, to meeting Scottish fiddlers, I was overjoyed I could live out this musical dream. My town was small, but I still took advantage of every opportunity to learn and meet someone new. Everyone has a story, so talk to them! Locals love sharing their food and homes with a foreigner who wants to learn about their life. Because of this year, I have no fear in asking for help. When you travel, you have to rely on strangers. You have to shed the self-pride and feel okay with really being helpless navigating somewhere new.
My advice for anyone considering a gap year: do it, just be smart. In my free time I did continue studying for the LSAT, so I would not be behind with graduate school. As long as you plan your time, you can have a fun and wise time off.
Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and be open minded about stories you hear. If someone who has never traveled tries to get you to not board the plane/stay in a hostel, listen to people who have adventured and loved it. So, for my review I give Destino Idiomas a 100,000,000/10. Ana was extremely helpful and encouraging. I was never charged any fees to be an au pair; I only had to buy a plane ticket. Whenever I had questions, I knew she was there to help. She even put me in contact with the former au pair, who is now a sister to me. If you’re still questioning, just please go au pair; go abroad to gain a new family and perspective of yourself and the world.