May Term Travel & Tourism Study Abroad Programs

I had a wonderful experience with Barcelona SAE! They have been a huge help in every step of my study abroad experience, from coordinating my housing, providing an academic mentor to turn to with any questions, their curated website full of resources and recommendations, and hosting various social events throughout the semester to connect with fellow students. They made my transition to and time in Barcelona so much easier. I also can’t recommend the UB track enough. I felt like it was the perfect balance between rigorous language instruction and accommodation for non-native speakers, and all the professors were so enthusiastic and responsive to any questions or confusion. I can confidently say that my Spanish skills grew this semester largely due to my classes at UB, so if you’re looking for a great opportunity to improve your language skills, I would highly recommend!

This program truly exceeded my expectations. From the program staff to the professors themselves, everyone is so excited about assisting us students and making our experience so special. My housing was amazing and other students felt the same, especially with the apartments and home stays.

This program is for students who want to strike a balance between cultural immersion and familiarity. The program is very well organized with cultural activities and excursions every week to help students explore Barcelona and its surrounding areas with fellow students from the US. I especially enjoyed the “dinner with a local host family” event where I got to dine with a local family and learned more about Barcelona from the local perspective. Besides organizing these events, the program also sends out a weekly newsletter about what’s happening in Barcelona so students can explore on their own. The staff members are all very friendly and helpful; extremely responsive with any needs.

Altogether, I had a great time. We got to see so much and I believe the pacing of the program was great, spending the right amount of time at each location. La Fortuna was my favorite! Traveling in a large group brought up trouble with waiting on students, health issues, etc. but I still think they were able to make the most of it. Having a flexible schedule and being open to adjustments definitely helps. Our guide Rodrigo and our bus drivers were the best!

I really enjoyed this experience. My review is based off of a free trip less expenses such as food and transportation, as I received scholarships for this course. I do know that many students paid upwards of $7,000 on this study abroad trip, which I do find to be a bit much. Considering we were staying in $80 / night hotels with non-working lights, mediocre amenities, and bad air conditioning and bedding coupled with the scarcity of included meals, the figure should have been more around $3,000 without airfare cost. I do not understand how the cost was so high for what was received. I also found living in the dorms with random Costa Rican people to be fun, but a bit restrictive. The morning meals were literally eggs, a piece of bread, and really bad coffee. I was also staying in a really small bunk bed which was uncomfortable. Staying in an affordable hotel would have been better. Next time I recommend the school book out Ester’s Place which is closer to the tech campus and run by a lovely lady who has many rooms available in her home hotel. She also had a much better breakfast and the cost was only $65 / night per person. I stayed here my first night flying in on the 12th and wish I could have gone back but due to restrictions I was not allowed. My family of four at the time in 2019 went on an all inclusive cruise to Italy, Spain, and France for under $10,000 with included meals, drinks , stay, etc. So this trip being $7,000 + for just ONE PERSON is a bit crazy. Regardless, the activities were awesome and for me, price was not an issue as stated before. So, my review without price factored was it was amazing. Great tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable and a very nice guy. He took us to authentic places and not just generic touristy places. I enjoyed seeing the stark contrast in sustainability initiatives between exotic resorts, quasi-governmental organizations, and design firms. I truly did get a wonderful experience with understanding how firms work and the metric process used to gather sustainability info, as well as how to tell if a company may be kind of BS-ing the situation with their sustainability initiatives, or holding themselves accountable. I loved the zip line tour and the coffee and cocoa bean tour. The history tours around the towns was cool, but truly was not necessary. I feel we could have just had an informational PDF sent to us instead of touring these relatively boring historical landmarks. Activities are always more fun than learning about history. I think it would have been much more effective to fly into Liberia, tour the beach and Penninsula Papagayo’s HOA office, then make our way back to San Jose and visit firms, then fly out of SJO. The amount of time driving was frustrating. Or, instead, we would just fly into SJO and tour the Caribbean side of things and skip the western side of Costa Rica altogether. This way the time could be allocated more effectively. I also wish the professors would have split us into groups so we could have gotten to know everyone. There were certain folks I never really got to have conversations with because the groups would naturally clique and we never had forced exposure to each other. Overall it was a wonderful trip and, with a few adjustments I know the next one will be awesome as well!

Coming to TTU Costa Rica was an amazing experience and allowed me to try lots of new and unique things. Rodrigo was the absolute best and the entire trip wouldn't have been half as great and smooth without him! Gonna miss him back in the states, thank you so much for an amazing time!

When you are a Bulldog at Butler University, it’s hard to leave your vibrant campus life behind for a full semester. Still, choosing to study abroad became one of the most rewarding decisions of my college experience. Thanks to Calie Dickey and staff at Butler's Center for Global Education, the decision quickly became a no-brainer. I took my international business and Spanish studies from our campus classroom all the way to Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Living life as a Madrileña, every day brought something new. Spanish language immersion was central to my goals, and living with my incredible second family as a host daughter in their home became the most impactful part of my experience. My family welcomed me into every part of their lives - their gastronomy, daily rhythms, friends and family, evening street culture, and cherished traditions. I learned that Spaniards can always find something to celebrate. During my time abroad, three things stood out: • Discomfort turned into confidence • Curiosity turned into cultural exploration • Strangers turned into family As a student at the Instituto Franklin-UAH, I was challenged in nearly all Spanish-speaking courses and connected my daily experiences with coursework in Spanish poetry and traditions. I also completed a marketing internship with local business Buceo Alcalá, where I grew as a professional in my secondary language - proving to myself that growth lives on the other side of discomfort, even amid cultural and language barriers. The International Business major in me was eager to absorb everything around me. Before I departed, even my former colleagues at Eli Lilly and Company were excited to send me off. I was later invited to visit our Government Affairs team at the international office in Alcobendas, Spain, an unforgettable opportunity to see one team working across seas. My time with Teresa Millan and her team Cristina Escudero Marquez, and Claudia Penzol López will always be cherished. Now back in Indianapolis for my final semester as a Butler undergraduate student, the golden question remains: “Do you miss it?” And while yes, I miss the adventure, the unknown, and the beauty that is Spanish living, I am grateful to be home. I smile with contentment for the life-changing memories and apply my broadened perspective to my life every day.

Studying at BLCU was intense and rewarding. The professors were experts, and the immersive environment—from classes to daily life on campus—pushed my Mandarin from intermediate to advanced. It was challenging, but the progress was real and has opened so many doors for me.

Go Abroad China Ltd. responded to this reviewJanuary 11, 2026

Hi Chloe, We're so proud to hear that your time at BLCU gave you true fluency and pushed your Mandarin to an advanced level! It's wonderful that the intense, immersive environment led to real progress that's now opening new doors for you. Thank you for sharing your rewarding journey. Warmly, The Go Abroad China Team

My 6-month AI internship in Shanghai gave me unparalleled hands-on experience. I worked on real machine learning models alongside senior engineers. GAC handled all the complex logistics, from visa sponsorship to a great apartment, letting me focus 100% on coding and professional growth. This experience was a direct line to my current job in tech.

Go Abroad China Ltd. responded to this reviewJanuary 11, 2026

Hi Chloe, We're thrilled your AI internship in Shanghai was such a powerful career catalyst, giving you hands-on experience with real machine learning models! It's fantastic that our logistical support allowed you to focus entirely on coding and professional growth—and that it led directly to your current tech role. Congratulations on your success! Warmly, The Go Abroad China Team

My Canada study visa experience was smooth and well-guided. The team provided clear information, timely support, and professional assistance throughout the process. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend their services.

BrainEdge GoAbroad offers expert study abroad guidance with transparent counseling, scholarship support, and smooth visa processing. Highly professional and reliable service. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable, professional, and result-oriented study abroad guidance.

This study abroad program truly transformed my life. I fell in love with Barcelona almost immediately, and over time, the city became a place where I learned, grew, and discovered more about myself. By the end of the program, I realized I had become a more confident, independent, and open-minded person than when I first arrived. The experiences I had, both inside and outside the classroom, shaped the way I see the world and my future. I made unforgettable memories, built meaningful connections, and gained perspectives that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am incredibly grateful to this program for allowing me to experience Barcelona in such a meaningful way.

Studying at BLCU through GAC provided an academic intensity I craved, paired with a living, breathing context you can’t get from a textbook. The professors are experts who teach you to dissect the language's logic and history, not just memorize it. Campus life is a continuous, immersive dialogue with students from across China and the world, turning the cafeteria and library into extensions of the classroom. The program expertly blends rigorous instruction with cultural application, ensuring you don't just learn to speak Chinese—you learn to understand the worldview it contains. A truly foundational experience for serious learners.

Go Abroad China Ltd. responded to this reviewJanuary 03, 2026

Hi Chloe, We're thrilled your time at BLCU provided the academic intensity and living context you were looking for. It's wonderful that campus life itself became an immersive extension of the classroom, helping you understand not just the language, but the worldview it holds. Thank you for sharing this foundational experience for serious learners. Warmly, The Go Abroad China Team

Studying abroad in Barcelona was genuinely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. From the start, BSAE made the semester unforgettable through incredible student activities like cooking, pottery, and flamenco classes and beautiful day trips to Montserrat, Girona, and more. Many of these experiences are now some of my favorite memories from abroad. SIS offered classes with a variety of topics that were especially interesting because of the field studies woven into the coursework. Being able to connect what we were learning directly to the city and its culture made everything feel more meaningful and engaging. I also made some of my best friends from my home university and from around the world through this program, and I’m incredibly grateful for the community and connections it gave me. Overall, the combination of academics, travel, and daily life in Barcelona made the semester both exciting and deeply impactful, and it’s an experience I would recommend to anyone considering studying abroad.

My Arcos director Andrea was amazing. She adapted the schedule and routes to accommodate our interests while ensuring our safety. The trip was a life-changing opportunity, opening my worldview and teaching me about Latin American cultures. It encouraged me to be adventurous, from zip-lining to trying new foods. A key challenge was the language barrier; I recommend putting effort into learning basic Spanish beforehand, bringing a rain jacket, and exchanging currency before arrival. Highly recommend this enriching program to students considering studying abroad.

Arcos provides an academically enriching study abroad experience, fully immersing students in a new culture. My homestay interactions were excellent, though clearer communication about housing and meal preferences (asking students before making meals) would be helpful for future participants. The experience offered invaluable benefits, fostering deep appreciation for my life and teaching me the power of kindness. This trip is best for those seeking full cultural immersion, not a vacation. Be sure to save extra money for eating out, as costs add up quickly.

Andrea was an excellent, professional, knowledgeable, and personable director, ensuring clear communication and smooth operations throughout the trip. While the CELIUM lecture was sometimes hard to follow due to the language barrier, the overall experience was fantastic. Being immersed in the culture, learning about Costa Rican businesses, and enjoying the excursions made this an experience I will always remember.

This program is highly recommended! Our director was amazing, always organized and accommodating. My homestay family was incredibly sweet and welcoming, making me feel right at home. The trip taught me valuable business insights and pushed me out of my comfort zone, turning strangers into good friends. Be ready for early mornings, and consider brushing up on Spanish to overcome the language barrier challenge.

Everything was fantastic! The learning content, focused on company visits and real-world interactions, was excellent. Our homestay hosts were incredibly kind and generous. Be prepared for unpredictable weather, and knowing some Spanish is helpful as English is not widely spoken. I met great people, tried new foods, experienced Costa Rica's natural beauty, and truly understood "pura vida."

Andrea was an awesome, knowledgeable guide who was readily available to assist with questions and booking extra activities. The lessons were very interesting and informative. While being away and the food were challenging, this study abroad program forces you out of your comfort zone, providing deep cultural insight into Costa Rica. Investing in a good raincoat is advised.