Where to stay in Catania
In a study stay abroad, the choice of accommodation is an important factor because needs vary from one person to another.
Some people would prefer to stay with an Italian family to have the most immersive experience in Italian life and culture possible. Some prefer to have their own privacy and to have their own place where they can retreat to and enjoy peace and quiet. There are others who would prefer shared accommodation with other people because it is simply more fun and they can meet new people and share experiences.
What accommodation does IH Catania offer?
IH Catania tries to meet all these needs by selecting and offering the following types of accommodation – single or double rooms that can be booked directly through the school.
Homestay with B&B option (breakfast only)
Families have been carefully selected with comfortable accommodation, family cultural standards and empathy skills.
| Single room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | Double room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | € 385 | € 630 |
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Homestay, with “half board” option (breakfast + dinner) option
Families have been carefully selected with comfortable accommodation, family cultural standards and empathy skills
| Single room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | Double room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | € 525 | € 770 |
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Shared-Apartment
You will have your own private room (no private bathroom) in an apartment where there are also other rooms occupied by other guests and you will share all common spaces (kitchen facilities for your own prepared meals and a bathroom). Breakfast is not included in the price.
| Single room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | Double room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | € 385 | € 630 |
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Bed & Breakfast
B&Bs are legally licensed facilities where you will have your own private room with a private bathroom in an apartment where there are also other rooms occupied by other guests. Breakfast is included and there are usually shared common areas. In general, there is no use of the kitchen to prepare your own meals.
| Single room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | Double room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | € 595 | € 840 |
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Mini-Apartments (Studio-Apartments)
You will have a mini-apartment all to yourself, with a kitchen/living room, bathroom and bedroom. You will have total privacy and can prepare your own meals in your kitchen.
| Single room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | Double room, total price 7 nights (1 week) | € 630 | € 910 |
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A double room means a room that you can share with another person who you know (e.g. your friend/partner/wife/family member etc.). We do not ask two people who do not know each other to share a room.
Do I necessarily have to book accommodation through the school?
It is not necessary to reserve through the school, you can choose and book your own accommodation if you like. We suggest you take a look at the most popular sites in order to be able to view photos, location and services. The most popular sites are: Airbnb, Booking and Bed & Breakfast.it
Is the accommodation close to the school?
The Bed & Breakfasts and independent apartments (studios) we work with are all quite close to the school. In general, the school can be reached on foot with a 15 to 20-minute walk at most.
The Homestay families are located in various different points of the city and in some cases may require the use of public transportation (bus or subway).
Has all the accommodation been inspected?
All of our partners have been visited and inspected and all meet the quality criteria required by our school in our Service Checklist.
How is accommodation assigned by the school?
All accommodation is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and whenever possible we try to meet student needs and requests. Since all accommodation is privately owned and operated, there are small differences in services, but all meet our standards of quality and convenience and are regularly inspected by our school.
Is the accommodation search free or do I have to pay?
There is no fee for the accommodation search and assignment, it is absolutely free for our students. This service is only offered to facilitate the study-stay at our school in Catania.
How can I book the accommodation?
In order to book accommodation, you must first pay a deposit of €250 at the time of registration. To learn more about payment methods, go to the page enrolment.
Is there a Tourist Tax to pay?
There is no tourist tax to be paid for homestays in a family. If you stay at a B&B or apartment there is a tourist tax to be paid directly to the accommodation owner.
Do I have to pay a security deposit for any damage to the accommodation?
A security deposit of €150 is required in case of damage to the accommodation. The security deposit must be paid to the landlord and will be fully refunded on the last day of the stay.
Can I change accommodation?
It is possible to change accommodation if there is a structural problem or something broken. It is not possible to change accommodation for reasons of personal taste. All requests to change accommodation will be screened by our office and each request will be assessed individually.
What is the procedure for complaints?
If you have a complaint, you may contact our school office. You will be asked to indicate the details of the complaint in writing on a specific form provided by the office.
After the complaint has been submitted, the school must have time to check its validity (48 hours, excluding holidays) to determine whether there are justifiable reasons for the complaint. The school will try to resolve all minor issues immediately.
Complaints will be investigated provided that:
- the complaint was received during the course stay
- the complaint was initially recorded in writing
- payment has already been made in full
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, there is no exact answer but the honest answer is that the more you are immersed in an intensive Italian course, the more fluent you will become in Italian. A longer Italian language course is always a good choice for those who want to achieve satisfactory results. However, not everyone has time available, so the truth is that even a one-week intensive course in Italy is still beneficial, although we recommend immersing yourself in the language for at least two or three weeks to really see the benefits.
In general, after two or three weeks of full exposure to the language our students automatically start thinking in Italian and sometimes even dream in Italian. If you have the privilege of more time, a six-month or even a year-long Italian course in Italy would be ideal to become fluent in Italian and no longer find yourself struggling to read a book, newspaper or magazine article, or even watch a film.
‘Rome was not built in a day’ and similarly ‘Italian cannot be learned in a week’!
Above all, in order to answer this crucial question, we have to remember that each one of us has our own time, way and style of learning when it comes to studying a foreign language. Just like with music or sport, learning a foreign language also partly depends on your natural talent.
If you have any questions or need more information, do not hesitate to contact us. We will welcome you with a quick response and a big smile!
When choosing an intensive Italian language course, make sure that the language school you enroll at has full accreditation.
When a school is accredited by national or international third-party bodies or is a member of a national or international association, it has successfully passed a series of inspections. These inspections check the quality of the school’s staff, organization, teaching methods, teachers and compliance with laws, all essential elements for ensuring quality for students. Bearing that in mind however, not all certifications mean that an independent third party has inspected the school. Some of these certifications are rather self-referential and only provide a ‘label’ for membership of the organization/association, without any actual school inspection. Your time and money are precious, so make sure that you are paying for a high-quality service. Certifications and accreditations serve to guarantee you of a transparent and professional service that meets all legal and professional requirements.
The school is closed on:
- Easter Monday
- Liberation Day (25/04)
- Labor Day (01/05)
- Republic Day(02/06)
- August bank holiday (15/08)
- All Saints’ Day (01/11)
- Immaculate Conception Day (8/12)
A discount will be made to make up for Public Holidays directly on the invoice on the following basis:
- INTENSIVE course – € 30
- COMBO course – € 70
- SUPER INTENSIVE course – € 65
