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Manizales Cost of Accomodations and Lessons

Hello everyone,

While cruising the information super-highway I stumbled upon a website maintained
by a couple in Manizales. A Dutchman and his Colombiana spouse are offering me
a package for Spanish lessons. I will be staying in a home with teachers
from a local high school and university.

He’s very vague on location, itemized list of costs, and the type and duration of lessons I will be engaged in.
His only explanation is that this package will cost $50.00 per diem.
This seems a little high to me. In Ecuador I received home stay in a vary nice house owned by a pediatric doctor who provided 3 meals a day, laundry service,
warm water, and a spacious private bedroom. I also received 5 hours of one to one Spanish lessons in a professional school. This was in the capital Quito and cost $690.00 total.

I would like opinions, since I am aware that different locations require a financial adjustment for the same services.
My Quito costs were for services 2 years ago (but their rates have not changed on
their website), but my opinion is that Manizales is off the beaten gringo tourist
trail and would be less expensive than in a capital of a country.

The difference is approximately $360.00 for 3 weeks. Quito was $690.00 and this
package in Manizales is $1050.00. Also bear in mind I will have to pay for the flight from Bogota to Manizales which I did not have to pay in Quito.

Please give me insight into the pricing structures of Colombia compared to Ecuador.
Do you think this is a fair amount to spend for 3 weeks for this type of service.
Do you think I’m being cheap and I should jump at the chance? :)

The main problem is he is not being very detailed despite my direct requests for
a breakdown and explanation of the services provided. The Spanish schools I am
experienced with provided all this.

Anyway, any help you can provide will be dearly appreciated. Bob.

By Roberto99 on Aug 19, 2004, 10:49 in Friendly Talkzone.

vicshere says on Aug 19, 2004, 11:33:

smells like fish if something smells like fish...i mostly likely is fish

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MaverickII says on Aug 19, 2004, 16:28:

Definitively is FISH First let me apologize for my English, and second, definitively that smells like fish, the thing is, Manizales is a really cheap city, even if you plan to stay for 3 weeks with that $1050 you can live as a king, you can find a very good hotel, with all your meal included for just $80 per nigth, now the Spanish class I don't think that cost more that $200 per 2 and half months, so pls don't believe that crap.

Let me suggest something really good, ( http://www.javeriana.edu.co/Facultades/comunicacion_lenguaje/centro_lat/in_courses.htm )
These are really Spanish courses, offered by a really good institution like a private university, this is located at Bogota, and I'm pretty sure that you'll find a complete course (more that 3 weeks) for less that $300, now you can get an apartment(1 or 2 rooms, bath, etc. etc.) close to there for just $200 per month, the food and trasportation is really cheapper, you could find great food for just $3 - $8, and the transportation.. use the bus, or a taxi

0 funny, 0 helpful.