High School Experiential Learning Programs Abroad

Great experience but not because of AFS. Communication was terrible throughout the entire process. Completely disorganized- I arrived a week AFTER school had started. Significant program fee for zero support from the company. I would strongly recommend the experience, but don't use AFS.

I thought that the teachers were all very friendly and made me feel included and welcome. The activities were perfect for my age group and all very fun. The accommodation was very nice, however the only negative thing was the food wasn’t very good.

I made lots of great friends, the accommodation was really nice. Food was very good and we did a good variety of activities. All the staff were lovely and supportive. Spanish teachers were very good.

Expanish responded to this reviewSeptember 05, 2026

¡Hola Nyrie! Thank you so much for your comments :) We're so glad you made lots of great friends during your time with us — those connections are often what people remember most! It's wonderful to hear the accommodation and food were a hit, and that you enjoyed the variety of activities we put together. We're also really pleased that our staff came across as lovely and supportive, and that our Spanish teachers made such a positive impression — we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to the team! Thank you again for sharing your experience! We hope to see you back at Expanish again soon! ¡Un abrazo!

first off i wanted to thank everyone that has acompanied me during my time on the malaga expanish camp. ive met dozents of new friends from all over the world and i couldnt have imagined my summer without them however there were some things that could be improved to a higher standard to make my and other future goers experience even better. the most crutial of these and the one im gonna start my critique with has to be the food. OMG the food was horendous(with some exaptions i must admit) that i barely ever ate it. IN FACT, although it could be argued that it is inaproriete to speak of I engaged in a ritual of release every 3 DAYSSS. The only other annoyance i have been aware of during my stay was the "suite" i was inhibiting. although it wasnt a complete dissaster it didnt live up to my expectations i expected more but maybe thats my fault. however i dont want anyone to think porly of this experience because of this review the bottom line is that i think very highly of this camp and everyone involved in it and i have to say that i remember every moment of it with joy in my heart.

My 15 year old son did this program for only a week and had an overall good experience. He had a lot of good things to say about the people and the program. His only negative comment was about the food. He said the food wasn't very good and a lot of the kids would supplement the food with snacks from the store. He also got food sick near the end which wasn't a lot of fun for the last few days. Overall a good experience, but it sounds like there could be some improvement in the food quality.

Our 3 kids joined the 4 weeks Expanish summercamp 2026. We were worried at first and later on were very relaxed as everything were very organized and easy for them. They travel alone from the USA to Madrid. They tell us many fun stories but the thing jump out are the new friendship they have build with so many international camper from Germany, Italy, Russian, England etc. And if anybody ask them about the camp, the answer is "they love it and had the best summer ever!!!".

Expanish responded to this reviewSeptember 05, 2026

¡Hola, familia Pham! Thank you so much for sharing this — it truly warms our hearts! We know how big a step it is to send your kids all the way from the USA to Madrid on their own, so hearing that your initial worries turned into peace of mind because everything felt organized and easy means so much to us. We're so happy they've come home with so many fun stories, and especially that they built such special friendships with campers from all over the world — that international connection is really at the heart of what we hope every camper experiences at Expanish. And knowing they'd tell anyone it was "the best summer ever" is the best compliment we could ask for! Thank you for trusting us with your kids for these 4 weeks. We hope to welcome Mya, Maia, and Nam Hoang back for another unforgettable summer soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

My daughter Ayla really enjoyed the experience - however there were a few aspects which she mentioned that could be improved. 1. I think more emphasis on speaking Spanish between the young people would be appreciated - they often conversed in English. 2. As a vegetarian she struggled to eat nice meals during the day - on various occasions the restaurants selected were shwarma places etc which had a poor vegetarian offer so she just had salad and chips. 3. As an additional payment, we paid 30 euros for a textbook - however when I asked her about this, she said she wasn't given any textbooks to supplement her learning. In summary, she had a good time and made friends, but I don't think her Spanish improved greatly and she wasn't given support materials to track her progress.

My daughter of 13 did her first language camp in foreign country, of course, as parent, I was very much worried whether all would go well, especially her safety. So I booked one week for her. I am very glad that everything was well-arranged, and very safe. My daughter would like to stay longer , she learned new friends , the language and the culture there. Her classmates were from different countries and they had wonderful time together.

All of the staff were so kind and generous. The activities were super fun to do and the Spanish classes were really helpful and enjoyable. Everyone at the camp was so kind and helpful. The entire process was really easy.

Expanish responded to this reviewSeptember 05, 2026

¡Hola Sofía! ¡Qué lindo leer esto! Thank you so much for such a warm review — we're thrilled to hear you had the best time with us! :) It means a lot to know our staff's kindness and generosity really came through, and that you enjoyed the activities and found the Spanish classes both helpful and fun. Hearing that everyone at camp made you feel welcome, and that the whole process felt easy from start to finish, is exactly what we hope for every student. Thank you again for sharing your experience! We'd love to have you back with us again soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

I had a great experience with my friends in the Malaga Summer Camp. Although i was a bit too old for the activities, that the staff provided, I still had fun during some. I met awesome people and made many new friends.

My great time spent in Barcelona started from being picked from an airport and transported to accommodation, to accommodation i have only one con and thatt was a little complicated communication with staff, the school looked really good from outside and inside so it was nice being there, with the school i had a little problem and it was that i had a feeling i learnt almost nothing and from the trip i think i have improved more in emglish than spanish, but maybe that might be my fault too. After all i really enjoyed and made some friends and it was totally worth it.

Expanish responded to this reviewSeptember 09, 2026

¡Hola, Marie! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us and for your 5-star rating! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Barcelona, liked our school, and, most importantly, made some great memories and new friends along the way. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and feedback with us. Your comments help us continue improving and providing the best possible experience for our students. We’re glad to hear that, overall, you enjoyed the experience and felt that it was worthwhile. We hope to see you again at Expanish in the future! ¡Un abrazo!

Hello, I highly recommend the Expanish Malaga, Spain, summer camp, especially a two week experience. This camp exceeded our expectations for both the Spanish learning and cultural experience. The native teachers and the camps specific speaking workshops go above and beyond and both my sons learned with such comprehension and ease. The cultural field trips, restaurants, sports, and fun activities were diverse and so much fun for my boys. This was our sons, ages 13 and 15, first 2 week overnight summer camp and they keep thanking us for allowing them to go. Upon my son’s return to school their teachers were so impressed by their Spanish speaking, writing, comprehension abilities. Both my sons are talking Spanish much easier at home and school. My youngest her son took a placement exam at school and skipped two levels of Spanish to Spanish 3 honors. My older son is in his final AP year and says his class is already easier because of this camp! We owe a big thank you to Expanish Malaga teachers and camp staff for an unforgettable and edifying experience. We highly recommend it and definitely go for a minimum of two weeks for the best and most optimal immersion and learning experience.

I had a very excellent time on my Arcos Journeys Abroad program, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and on the Camino de Santiago. The host families were incredible, as were all the chaperones and teachers. The activities were always very fun, and there was a nice balance of structured time and free time. The Camino was also amazing, and I was unexpectedly delighted by that aspect of the trip. Thank you!!

Excellent summer camp. The staff were so good and helpful, especially Katrina, Axel and Fernanda. They made the week so fun and special. Thank you to them all. The activities were well organised and the staff made them even better,

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Kate! What a lovely review — thank you! :) We're so happy this was your best summer and full of great memories! It's wonderful to hear Katrina, Axel, and Fernanda made the week so fun and special — we'll be sure to pass along your thanks to them. So glad the activities were well organized and that our staff added that extra spark to it all! Thanks so much for choosing Expanish — hope to see you again soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

I spent two weeks of July in Barcelona with Expanish School and it was one of the best experiences of my life. In two weeks I learned a lot thanks to the teachers and the trips we did during the week and in the weekends. I got to know some amazing people that became my friends and with them I shared this magnificent experience. My host family was so lovely, they immediately made me feel comfortable and at home. Now that my experience has finished I find myself thinking about the days spent in Barcelona with Expanish. I already recommended the school to my friends because I think it is really really valid.

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Sofia! What a beautiful review to read — thank you! :) We're so happy your two weeks in Barcelona turned into one of the best experiences of your life! It's wonderful that you learned so much thanks to our teachers and all the trips along the way, and even better that you made friends who shared it all with you. Hearing that your host family made you feel so at home too just makes this even more special. Thank you for already recommending us to your friends — that truly means so much to us. We hope to welcome you back to Expanish soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

aswell as improving my grammar, speech and understanding in spanish, I had a great time on activitys, excursions and free time. met a lot of new people and had a lot of fun with them and interacting with others

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Jordi! Thank you so much for your comments! We're thrilled you improved your Spanish grammar, speech, and understanding while having such a great time doing it — that's the perfect combo! It sounds like the activities, excursions, and free time gave you the chance to really connect with new people, and that's what summer camp is all about. So glad you had this experience with us — hope to see you back soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

My host family was amazing, the teacher was very nice and helpful and I could learn a lot. The activities were fun and were helping me learn more about the place and the culture. Unfortunately not many people my age were attending them but they were still very fun

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Teodor! Thank you for sharing this with us! :) We're so glad the program let you dive into the city, culture, and language all at once — and it's wonderful to hear your host family and teacher made such a positive impact on your experience. We're happy the activities added to that too, and we hear you on wanting more people your age around — we'll keep working on bringing in a wider crowd! Thanks again for choosing Expanish — hope to see you again soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

We had a wonderful experience with Expanish! Communication was excellent from the time we enrolled and throughout the entire program. They were always very responsive whenever we emailed with questions, and everything was extremely well organized. The paperwork was easy to complete electronically. We dropped our 14 year old son off and picked him up in person, so we also had a chance to see the facilities and meet the staff. The facilities were clean, modern, and well maintained, and the counselors were very friendly and welcoming in person. Most importantly, our son had a great time. He attended just one week this summer and enjoyed it so much that he’s already asked to go back for three weeks next summer. I think that says it all! We would definitely recommend Expanish!

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 29, 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that our communication and organization made the enrollment process smooth for you, from the paperwork all the way through pickup. It means a lot that you got to see our facilities and meet our team in person — our counselors truly love what they do, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. But honestly, the best part of your review is hearing that your son had such a great time he's already asking to come back for three weeks next summer! That's exactly the kind of experience we hope every student has. We can't wait to welcome him back! Thank you for trusting us and for recommending Expanish. See you next summer!

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.