Great way to start your adventure!

CIEE provides great support for getting your adventure up and moving. Up and moving to a new place, however romantic the idea, is extremely scary. CIEE gives you advice pre departure (they're really good at responding to e-mails/answering questions) as well as a support system once you're abroad. It's comforting to know there's people looking after you. In my opinion, the peace of mind is worth the program fees. Now, stop reading reviews and get to traveling!!

I will say, the hardest part of the program is finding your own place to live. CIEE doesn't hold your hand and help you find a place, but they do provide you with the low down on what apps/sites to check and how to use them, which is all you really need to know. My advice for this is, when you come out, book yourself a place for AT LEAST 2-3 weeks (I recommend your whole first month). Try and time it to where your reservation would end on either the 15th or the end of the month, as that is when you'll likely be entering your permanent place. But don't do what I did; I booked my first Air BNB for less than two weeks and had to rush into a spot. I ended up paying way more than I should have and had a crazy landlord who lived in my living room (crazy Spanish landlord stories are common). So give yourself time to be selective so you don't have to jump on the first place that gives you an appointment.