Plan your stay abroad easily and you’ll enjoy it from the very beginning. This is the rule number 1 when it comes to start a new adventure. How to do so? A checklist, it’s clear! Follow our list and our suggestions in order to manage your departure and your stay.
Budget, documents, exams, public transports, bank accounts, health insurance, accommodation, etc. Planning your stay abroad requires many energies and patience. At the end of all these procedures though, you will live an unforgettable experience. Our first suggestion is to plan everything before the departure: once you have worked out the kinks, you can fully enjoy your experience.
We know you are thrilled to start your experience abroad, but take a breath and take all the necessary time to organize every single tiny little detail. Let’s start immediately with our list.
helpBarcelona Checklist
Budget
This is maybe the worst part, but you have to start with it. If you have clear your financial situation, you can start planning your stay in a more concrete way. In order to enjoy your stay and the city, we kindly suggest you to choose a location only if you can afford it.
When you deal with finances, the location is not the only thing you have to take care of. Things to include in your “business plan”:
- Price of the room or flat.
- Cost of living (expenses, food, drinks, medicaments, etc.).
- Price of public transports.
- Eventual taxes (e.g. university taxes).
- Cost of flights.
Once you have taken into account all these details, you will easily assess how much money you will actually need during your stay.
Country and city information
Now you can select the country and city that you can actually afford. The cost of living is not the only information that you should collect. Weather, laws, traditions, culture, the habits and the language are as important as the documents, the flat or the bank account.
Moreover, these researches will help you during the room choice: if you already know the districts, you know where you have to look for.
Documents
It is always boring to prepare all the documents, but, unfortunately, you have to do it. We suggest you to make a list of what you need before your departure (VISA or any other university/job paper) and what you’ll have to do when you arrive in the city (residence permit, registrations, etc.). In this way you’ll be prepared and organized and you’ll save time. Please collect information about the health insurance: it is of paramount importance and, unfortunately, it works differently in each country. Be sure to have everything fixed before your departure!
Accommodation
And now, you need an home! It’s time to choose your accommodation. Here our four magic steps to be sure to choose the right cosy room:
- Student residence vs shared flat and single room vs double room.
- Location; we always suggest giving preference to the city centre or a neighbourhood close to the university. It will be easier to get around and you will enjoy more the city life.
- Services; supermarkets, bank, doctors have to be close to the flat. You never know what and when you may need something, better not to risk.
- Public transports; bus stops, metro stations, bicycle, etc. Check if the shared flat is well connected with university, city centre or your job location.
Flight tickets
It is time to buy you flight! The sooner, the better. Everyone likes cheap flights and platforms such as Sky Scanner or Go Euro are our best friends. Do it in advance, so that you can find the best price available and you will save some money to travel during your stay.
Public transports
Once you have fixed all those major details, you can focus on another equally important aspect. Check the public transports you have at your disposal and the memberships available. Download the apps, check the schedules, make you itinerary, etc. If you have followed our suggestions, you should have already clear this point. Nonetheless, you may need to recheck some details.
Sooooo much to do! Have you already started to plan? We are sure you did and if you need some help, do not hesitate to contact us. helpBarcelona will be super happy to attend you. We offer housing solutions in some of the best districts of Barcelona and we offer many other services that will ease your stay. We will be your new home away from home.
Are you ready to move to Barcelona? We are waiting for you…