Flights

Once you have your internship work dates confirmed, it’s time to organize your flights.  Booking as far in advance as possible will ensure the most reasonable flight prices and availability. 

Remember! European flights typically leave in the afternoon or night from the US and arrive the following day.  Keep this in mind when planning your trip and dealing with jet lag as there is a 5-6 hour time difference between Spain and Cambridge. You may want to arrive a few days in advance to get to know the city and get over jet lag. 

For the summer internship program, you are responsible for booking your own flights. You may book flights through an MIT approved travel agent or on your own. If you book through the travel agent, you do not have to put funds up front.

Book round trip flights from any US airport to your city in Spain and back to US. Prices start to go up the longer you wait. Please note that if you book your own flights, you will get reimbursed when we process your summer stipend payment. Most international flights include 1 carry-on and one checked bag. You can add it if it is not included.

If you purchase your own flight, please upload itinerary and invoice/receipt to Dropbox. Please use the following naming convention when uploading documents: 

• FIRST_LAST_Flight Itinerary
• FIRST_LAST_Flight invoice

Important! Before booking flights, please check with your host organization in Spain and/or Alicia regarding dates if you are unsure.

• You can leave from your hometown
• You can arrive earlier or leave later to travel (responsible for your own accommodations)
• You CAN fly early to a different European city or LEAVE from a different city (as long as the cost is comparable to flying in and out of Spain; you are responsible for your travel to and from Spain)
• You CAN fly early to Spain
• You must buy a roundtrip ticket, not 2 one ways.
• The duration must be under 90 days (unless you have a visa for longer)
• Make sure that baggage is included as part of your ticket
• MIT-Spain will not reimburse for additional baggage charges
• MIT-Spain will not reimburse for additional travel insurance
• MIT-Spain is not responsible for any date or routing change fees after the ticket is purchased.

Most of you will enter Spain as a tourist with your passport (please check expiration date!). Remember: If you are traveling on a US passport, your total time in Spain/Europe may not be more than 90 days.

If you are an international student, you may need to apply for a tourist visa to enter Spain. You will need to make an appointment and gather documents to bring to your appointment. All of the information is listed on the BLS website: usa.blsspainvisa.com/boston/ . You need to ensure that you have the proper visas to re-enter the United States. Please check with the International Students Office if you need anything else prior to flying out.

The Madrid and Barcelona airports are both connected to safe, clean and reliable metro systems. You could also choose to take a taxi.

Madrid Metro: Take Línea 8 (pink line) direct to the city center or to your place of residence. 

Official taxis in Madrid are White and Red. There is a flat rate of 30 euros to the city center.

Barcelona Metro: Metro line L9 Sud departs from both terminals to the city center.

You can also choose to take the aerobús shuttle.   

Official taxis in Barcelona are yellow and black.

Yes! There are so many fantastic places to explore in and around Spain. Don’t forget to explore the city you live in as well. Transportation via bus or train around Spain is inexpensive and easy. There are also several low-cost carriers for inter-European flights.

You are permitted to have personal travel either before and/or after your official work dates. You are not permitted to take vacation days during your internship period. If you would like to request a day off, you must discuss this with MIT-Spain prior to approaching your host.