Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

Location
  • Spain
    • Santiago
    • Madrid
    • Barcelona
    • Alicante
    • Mallorca
    • Zaragoza
    • Salamanca
    • Valladolid
Length
4 - 52 weeks
Program Tags
After College Au Pair Cultural Immersion Language Immersion Study Abroad

Program Details

Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Primary Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Age Max
30

Pricing

$100
Price Details
Free information video call
Admin fee of 100$: translating docs, checking refs, matching process, follow up stay
Other costs: Round flight fares, visa fares (if applicable), language course (if attending), travel and medical insurance.

Au pairs from outside of the European Union
Depending on how long you plan to stay in Spain, you may have to appy for a student or au pair visa.
What's Included
Accommodation Meals Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Weekly pocket money from 75€ to 80€ per week - minimun
Family pick up at airport
Family support to NON EU au pairs with 50% cost of health insurance

What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 06, 2025
Dec 14, 2025
225 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Would you like to improve your Spanish? Take a gap year? Or just your summer holidays?
Do you like children? Travelling? Family life? Why not being an Au Pair?

Get free board, accommodation and pocket money from a host family + free time to attend language lessons or travel.
In exchange, you will provide childcare and share your culture and language with the host kids.
Vetted and welcoming host families await for you.
You count with the advice and expertise of Destino Idiomas as your au pair agency.

Summer: 4 to 12 weeks.
School year September till end of June: 3 to 9 months. 3 months' stay: September - December / January - March / April - June.

EU citizens no visa needed.
NON EU citizens visa needed for stays over 90 days.
Visa implies booking full time language course at au pair's own expense.
I cannot match nationals from SouthAmerica, Africa or Asia.

More than 10 years of expertise caring for au pairs.

Program Highlights

  • All year round placements
  • Welcoming families
  • Diverse locations all over Spain
  • Continuous support and follow-up from Destino Idiomas
  • Host family provides free board + lodgings + weekly stipend + free time

Program Reviews

4.76 Rating
based on 45 reviews
  • 5 rating 75.56%
  • 4 rating 24.44%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.8
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.3
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 25 - 32 of 45 reviews
Lily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pair - Destino Idiomas - Lugo (Galicia)

I had never been an Au Pair before nor travelled alone outside the UK. Thanks to Ana at Destino Idiomas I knew I was in safe hands and that if anything were to go wrong, I would be able to trust her throughout the process. She ensured that everything ran smoothly from the offset and during my stay by regularly checking up on both me and the host family.

I was so lucky with the family I was matched with, since I had applied so late for the summer season (around June) and I am still in contact with them months later! My host family were so kind and made sure I had experienced every depth of Galicia, from the food to the cities (Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Pontevedra) to the traditions and values. To supplement my day-to-day learning I also undertook spanish lessons 3x a week which I found to be very helpful in building my confidence and which also helped with the structure of my day.

It was a life changing experience and has helped my CV thanks to learned qualities such as independence, responsibility and emotional intelligence - not to mention the improvement in my confidence in speaking spanish. I would urge anyone who is thinking about applying to do it, however to also be prepared to overcome the inevitable challenges the experience brings with it.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The first week of my four week stay was the most nerve-wracking, as I hadn't fully thought about my decision until I had arrived there!! Due to it being my first time travelling solo and for (what seemed) such an extensive period of time, I initially felt very homesick and hesitant. However I thankfully overcame this with the amazing support from my host mum who thoroughly welcomed me into the family, and by throwing myself into the job and everything that came with it.
166 people found this review helpful.
Georgia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au pair Madrid

Going into the au pair experience I really had no idea what to expect, but from the beginning Ana was really helpful and professional, helping me sort out my CV and find the right family to spend the summer with.
I was obviously quite nervous about committing myself to spending a whole summer with a family that I had never met, but Ana made sure that I felt as prepared as possible and so the whole experience was a great success!
The family was great and I really enjoyed spending time with them, as well as experiencing life in Spain. I was really lucky that they also took me on holiday with them so I got to explore several different parts of the country and meet some really lovely people, including their family and friends which was really great!
Throughout my time in Spain, Ana regularly kept contact and was very supportive, so this was an experience that I would certainly recommend to anyone considering it and I would love to try it again in years to come!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Mussels from a can - which were actually from the UK!
194 people found this review helpful.
Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pair in Galicia

I was an au pair for a lovely family in a small town near A Coruña for one month in August 2021.
This was my first time being an au pair and I didn't really know what to expect before I came to Galicia (I didn't know much about the region either) but from the very moment I met my host family, I was made to feel welcome and like I was part of the family and it really was an amazing experience.
My host family were incredibly kind, patient and eager to teach me about the Spanish culture which meant I found it very easy adapting to their lifestyle (which included eating dinner as late as 10.30pm!!). Outside of my 'working hours' I had a lot of freedom and independence to do my own thing, but my host family were also eager to spend time with me and show me Galicia and so we went on many day trips to places such as Santiago de Compostela, Finisterre and other sites along the Costa da Morte.
I also made the most of my weekends by organising my own travels to nearby cities such as Pontevedra, Vigo, Lugo and Ourense which meant I saw a lot of the region in a small space of time.
Overall, this really was an experience that I'll never forget. Although I was only there for a month, I've made some wonderful memories and now have a strong connection with my host family which means I can always come back to Galicia in the future!
I would really recommend being an au pair with Destino Idiomas, as Ana made sure the entire process went smoothly and I knew that Ana would be able to help with any issues I had (although I didn't have any issues during my time out there!)

Thank you Ana!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Mussels, octopus, razor clams and pigs' ears! The food in Galicia is incredible, especially the seafood, but pigs' ears was not one of my favourites
195 people found this review helpful.
Ellie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pair Spain

I was an au pair near Valencia in summer 2021.
Ana, who will be your main point of contact at Destino Idiomas, was extremely helpful during the entire process. For the application she made a template document which was easy to fill out. Then for the matching process she tried her best to meet my preferences, although this is not always possible. I must also say, Ana is very polite and you can never ask her too many questions, she always replied quickly and with good advice.
Being an au pair at a young age has been a challenging but very rewarding experience. I would say that, make sure you are prepared to be away from your family and friends for a long period of time, especially during covid as meeting new people (other than the host family) may be reduced depending on your host family!
Being an au pair is not easy, getting used to a completely different country and family can be scary but luckily my host family were very supportive and helped me fit in with them as quickly as possible! They have taken me to several places across Valencia. I have also improved my Spanish a lot and learnt a lot I’d have never learnt in a class room.
As well as this, I’ve formed a very special bond with my host family, especially the children which I will never forget. My host family were very helpful especially when I began to miss my family, they supported me.

Therefore, I 100% recommend destino idiomas as Ana is very helpful and there is no fee unlike other au pair programmes. Just have in mind that there will be other expenses including your DBS check, passport, flights, travel insurance etc!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make sure to choose your family well. I’d recommend doing several video chats and once you’ve decided on the host family, keeping in contact with them before the stay!
I’d also say, if you have an issue, don’t be afraid to talk to Ana as she will always have some advice to help you, no matter how big or small it is.
Also, remember being away from your family for so long is hard so make sure to regularly video chat them etc and if you are feeling upset, make sure to tell your host family as they can most likely help you.
174 people found this review helpful.
Sharleen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Au Pair Programme

Destino Idiomas is amazing! The application process is extremely easy as Ana made a template and prompts that allow you to know exactly what you need to in order to create a great application. I recommend this programme to everyone; there is no fee and you are able to earn money without having to pay rent or for essentials!

I was able to match with a family in the exact area I wanted to stay and I loved being in Cordoba! Despite coronavirus I was still able to enjoy being in Spain, improve my Spanish and be immersed into the culture. I learnt so much and am so happy for the experience. It is completely different to the tourist experience of Spain and I was able to understand the country and Spaniards a lot better! It was a great segway to my university studies (I am studying Spanish) as I was able to improve my fluency and learn a lot about cultural customs. I was able to go to socially distanced concerts, outdoor cinema, visit Castles and Churches, historic sites, go hiking, swim in a stream by a waterfall, eat lots of paella and get to know a family really well!
Ana is very professional but also very kind, I can't thank her enough!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Mussels (just a lot of seafood in general!), aubergines with honey, and olive oil with bread with every meal including breakfast
177 people found this review helpful.
Sive
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pair in Spain. Destination Ourense

I stayed in Ourense for 9 months and had an incredible experience. My host family was very welcoming and helped me adjust to the differences in life here. They truly want their au pair to be part of the family, and the whole time I felt valued and loved. My host mom was very understanding and gave me a lot of freedom to go out at night and travel to other cities on the weekends. Ana from Destino Idioms also helped me when I had some small problems and periodically checked in to make sure I was doing well.
I had a unique experience because I decided to stay with my family during the Coronavirus quarantine, which was especially strict in Spain. My host family was very understanding during such a difficult situation, and my host mom and I shared the responsibilities of taking care of the kids. Ultimately, we spend 6 weeks indoors and were able to get even closer through the experience.
I feel that during my au pair year, I was very lucky in terms of finding my family and choosing to live in Galicia. The people here were all very friendly, and the surrounding country and cities are beautiful. My Spanish improved a ton, I became part of a family here, and I made memories that will last a lifetime. I would recommend that anyone considering taking an au pair year should do it!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Explore other cities too - trains and buses are cheap!
195 people found this review helpful.
Agnieszka
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A massive growing experience

I contacted Ana as a bright eyed 18-year-old wanting to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and improve my language. I left my host family feeling like a completely new person- I built a strong connection with my host family, I experienced working hard for the first time and I improved my Spanish massively. It’s definitely a life changing experience, but Ana was available for support whenever it was difficult. I grew up a lot through this experience and I recommend it for anyone seeking a challenge!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Choose your family carefully and manage your expectations. It will be difficult but it will also be rewarding.
190 people found this review helpful.
Eva
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Big challenge

Wow! One word: Challenge. But a good one. It was a great experience, and I grew a lot as a person. Why challenging? Because you will have to adapt to another lifestyle, living with a family you do not know and far away from your friends and family. But that is exactly at the same time the beauty. Your host family will guide you and will make you feel at home, so no worries! It is almost guaranteed that you will grow! so dont doubt it and just go for it. to me it has been an experience i am happy i did not missed it.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Choose your family wisely and take time to choose one. You have to live for a long time together! So it is important to have a good feeling about your future family.
174 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi, Amelia, Sure you can, the only thing you need to consider is that depending on your citizenship you may have to apply for a visa to enter Spain. Generally speaking any non EU country will need a visa for any stay over 90 days. Visas to enter Spain as au pair are called "au pair visa" but you could also be told by the Spanish consulate in your country about "student visa". Either case, you will...

Hi Lockie, thanks for your interest in au pairing in Spain. Of course you get time off during your stay. General rule is during the week to attend language lessons + at least one complete weekend a month. However, average families offer au pairs full weekends on top of time off during the week. And you also get some holidays: For every 12 months of stay, the au pair has the right to 2 weeks paid...

HI, Lockie thanks for your interest in au pairing in Spain. Basic knowledge of Spanish will help you settle in quicker, but many families host au pairs with no Spanish. What it is most important is that you speak good English regardless of your nationality as English is by far, most requested language by Spanish families. You will interact at all times with the kids in English. Host parents will...

Hi, Anabella, Thanks for your enquiry. Yes, you can. There are a couple of things to be taken into account. Being a Mexican citizen I think your motivation is not learning the language - as we share one - but about our culture, traditions, way of living and so on. That is fine, but you have to bear in mind that Spanish families' motivation to host an au pair is that their children learn a foreign...