FAQs

Who are we?

Caledonia has been providing tailormade advice and a personalised booking service for language courses and cultural activity holidays overseas since 1996. We maintain a close working relationship with all our overseas partners and can personally recommend the best places to go according to your particular interests.

When you book with us you can be assured that:

we have personally visited the locations and can vouch for our schools' standards of teaching, accommodation and student welfare . We can also talk to you about the location and how to get there.
we handle all administration, bookings and payments so you don't have to worry about making international money transfers or having to double-check your booking.
you can speak with previous students and group holiday participants before you make your final decision. Word of mouth recommendations are important so ask us to put you in touch with someone who has already been to the place you are considering.
you can be sure that your fees are safe with us as we operate a Trust Account which ensures financial protection and security for your payments.

Who are you?

The appeal of learning a language or how to dance, travelling abroad and immersing yourself in a different culture is that it is not restricted to any age group or type of person. You may want a new kind of stimulating holiday abroad, or you could be a professional who needs languages for international business and trade. You could be at school, college or university as a student, teacher or lecturer, searching for a life changing experience or with a need to improve and maintain language skills for examination or professional purposes; perhaps you are a retired person who just wants to travel with like-minded people, learning something with new company whilst soaking up some of the local culture.

Whatever your background or motivation, all of these are typical Caledonia student profiles - people who share a desire to enjoy a language/culture/adventure experience overseas.

Why learn abroad?

Because it is stimulating, motivating and fun! When starting to learn something new, it can be invaluable to learn the basics by taking locally based classes. But what better way to improve your skills than to be immersed in the culture of another country and to hear, speak and experience things first hand? The structured learning environment in our language and dance schools encourages you to work hard and to make the most of your lessons, whilst after classes you can relax and enjoy being abroad in a new cultural environment in the company of like-minded people.

When can I go?

Courses and holiday trips run all year round and most of them start on any Monday throughout the year. The majority of our language schools are closed for 2 weeks over the Christmas period although some offer special festive programmes. The peak months for language courses abroad are July and August when the average age of participants tends to be younger (18-24 years) than at other times of the year although there will still be people of all ages participating in the classes. Mature students often prefer to travel in the spring or autumn months, when schools are quieter but still offer an interesting mix of course participants.

Our group holidays to Cuba and elsewhere have set departures throughout the year and tailor-made itineraries can be arranged to suit you.

Bookings can be made at any time of the year. A minimum of 8 weeks in advance of departure is advised although it is possible to book with less notice.

What about accommodation?

You can book accommodation through Caledonia in local homestays or in self-catering student apartments, studio flats or school residences where available.

We always recommend homestay accommodation as this is the best way to experience firsthand the everyday life of the country whilst staying with friendly native speakers. You will not necessarily be staying with a family (parents + children) as many hosts are single people, or an older couple whose children have already left home, but it can be very reassuring to have a home from home for the duration of your stay where you are guaranteed a welcoming and safe environment. Breakfast and a main meal per day are included and towels and bed linen are usually provided. Many of our students make friends with their hosts and keep in contact after they return home.
Shared student apartments are self-catering and offer communal facilities such as an equipped kitchen, living/sitting room and bathroom. This type of accommodation varies from fairly basic to the luxury end of the market depending on the location.

Some language schools have their own residences, offering single or twin study bedrooms with private bathrooms, laundry facilities, telephones and communal kitchens.

Student residences can often be quite noisy and may lack privacy although they are an ideal way to meet other international students.

All types of accommodation are usually available from the Sunday before the course starts until the Saturday after it finishes.

Extra nights can be booked upon request according to availability.

How will the school assess my level?

Although on our booking form we ask you to rate your own level of ability, either prior to or on the first morning of the course, all students (except complete beginners) take a placement test which accurately assesses their level of ability. The test can be a combination of written and spoken exercises and your allocated class will usually start later that day or the following morning.

Your teacher(s) will identify if your need to move to another level and will suggest this at an appropriate point during your course.

Does Caledonia book flights?

Yes, we have an ATOL licence (6387) which means we can book your international flights to anywhere in the world. We can also help you with information on ground travel arrangements from your point of arrival in the country. We can arrange for you to be met at the local airport or train station and to be taken to your accommodation on your arrival. There is usually a charge for this meeting service, so please check with us for details. We will provide you with a city map, if available, and will give you instructions on how to get from your accommodation to the school. Unfortunately we cannot book bus or train tickets on your behalf.
As many of our schools will issue you with a student card entitling you to discounts at local shops, restaurants and places of cultural interest, please remember to take a couple of passport sized photos with you on the first day of your course.

If booking an air package holiday or flights only with Caledonia, all monies paid by you for the air holiday package or flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) . Our ATOL number is ATOL 6387.

The CAA offers financial protection to ensure that customers contracted with the ATOL holder do not lose the money paid for the air package holiday or flights, and are not stranded abroad in the case of tour operator or airline failure. If you have booked your flights elsewhere but book your accommodation, language course or other ground services with us, these items are not covered by our ATOL licence. On this case you should either ensure that the flight agent has an ATOL licence or, if booking direct with the airline, pay by credit card or take out SAFI (Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance) to protect your money. We guarantee that if our overseas partner fails before you start your trip, we will find you an alternative trip at the same price.

For travel and health insurance, we are pleased to recommend Worldwide Insurance. Please click on the link to go to their website or call 0870 066 8560 for a quote.

How do I book my trip?

It couldn't be simpler! All you have to do is:

Payment can be over the phone by credit or debit card, by cheque, direct bank transfer or cash. We will take care of all the necessary administration on your behalf and will usually be able to confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your booking request form.

Remember, if you would like to speak to someone who has already been to the location of your choice, please let us know and we should be able to put you in contact with a previous client.

The balance of payment is due 8 weeks before your course/ holiday start date. If you book less than 8 weeks in advance of the start date, you will be asked to pay in full at the time of booking.
Please note that an administration fee of £35 + VAT is included in course fees for all locations unless otherwise indicated. All prices are subject to alteration according to exchange rate fluctuations.

Insure & Go

We are delighted to announce that we are recommending travel insurance specialists Insure & Go for all travel policies. Their competitive rates and excellent customer service have earned them the title of 2009 best and most trusted travel insurance provider in 2009 by the MoneywiseCustomer Service Awards. The Caledonia team all have their travel insurance with Insure & Go so we are practising what we preach...

ATOL: Safe in Our Hands

You may be asking yourself how sure you can be that your money and trip is safe in our hands? Caledonia Languages Abroad has been trading for more than 12 years and is financially steady. We have grown slowly and surely over the years, and are careful about where we take you, who our overseas partners are and how we operate.

When you book a trip with us, both your holiday and your money are fully protected under our ATOL licence which covers your 'air package holiday'. This term means arrangements which we have made for you which include a flight and ground services (e.g. accommodation, language course, activities, excursions). If you book a flight only with us, you are also covered for failure of the airline. If you opt to book your own flights, you should either ensure that the agent has an ATOL licence or, if booking direct with the airline, pay by credit card or take out SAFI (Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance) to protect your money.

If you have booked your flights elsewhere but book your accommodation, language course or other tuition and other ground services with us, these items are not covered by our ATOL licence. However, if our overseas partner fails before you start your trip, we guarantee that we will find you an alternative at the same price. You may also want to take out insurance to cover you if you have to cancel your trip.

Happy (and safe) travelling!