Newcomers - Settling in

I’ve been in your shoes before - when I first moved to Barcelona I was really naive and it took me quite a while to figure things out because I didn’t have someone to guide me. I know all of the initial things you need to know to set up and get comfortable with the city and I will show you with the understanding that this may be new. Most importantly, everything will be personalized to you - your needs, your schedule, your preferences, your interests, and your budget!​
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Two important features of this include:

Getting to Know Barcelona
It will be like a kind of tourism, but in addition to seeing the touristic sights we will focus on logistics such as:

• Orientation and understanding the lay of the land - General breakdown of the different neighborhoods in relation to one another and important monuments, touristic sights, restaurants/cafes, shops, etc.
• Important places for living in the city such as where to get your ID cards and documents, where to print, where to go if you get robbed, medical places, best grocery stores, your local embassy and police stations, etc.
• Best ways to get around the city depending on where you want to go - tips and shortcuts
• Local customs - Important things to know when interacting with locals or in local establishments to avoid frustration or surprises.

Local Friend

• Moving - When I first came to Barcelona, I thought I was only going away for one year, and now I live here! As your new local friend, I can help you move here giving you advice for planning and preparation. I can provide tips for what to pack (or how to pack!), whether you should bring it or buy it, and important steps before you leave.
• What’s it like? - When I first came, I remember trying to connect with random people on Facebook to ask them questions like what the weather was like or what kinds of materials I would need for the course I was signed up for. I had no clue.
  
  Unfortunately, I can’t speak for the course materials bit, but I can be that local person who gives you an idea of what it is like here, to prepare you for what your new life will be like.
• Housing and reservations - Where are you going to live? When I first came, I had the name and address of one agency and that was my plan for how I was going to find an apartment. Once I arrived, I learned about so many other outlets for apartment searching. However, because it was a foreign city, I wasn’t familiar with the standards of pricing or amenities or contracts.
  
  I can help guide you with information, recommendations, and opinions (Is this a good area? Which of these should I pick?), I can help you look for a place before you get here by sending you options to look at or physically going on your behalf and communicating with you meanwhile, or I can accompany you to the place if you’re here. 

*No guarantee on actually getting a place as that depends on the availability of places, cooperation, and preferences of the individual.

• Getting around - I will personally be there to accompany you to some of the important places mentioned above. I can even meet you at the airport when you arrive!
  
  In addition to getting to know the city, I can accompany you to some appointments such as ones (yes, plural) for getting your documentation or other things you may need to take care of while here, providing translation if needed. I can also help you with things such as moving or buying stuff from IKEA or the local shops for your apartment.
• Settling in - After you’ve gotten the important tasks out of the way, I can help you feel more comfortable in Barcelona with additional walking routes to get to know the city better and by helping you find ways to connect with others to build your new social life.
• I’m here for you - One of the scariest things about moving to a new place is not knowing anyone. Who do you turn to if you have a problem or need something? I live in the city. I can be that person. This is especially comforting for parents who are sending their precious babies overseas for a semester - you have an emergency contact! 

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PACKAGES
Packages are broken down by extent of service preferred and number of hours. I have chosen to focus primarily on hours instead of task type so that you have the liberty and full control over how you want to spend your time with me. All packages are priced for one person.

Full Package
The Full Package is pretty self-explanatory in that you have full attention before and after the move. This is for if you want to be rest-assured that everything will be set up and okay with no stress. With the Full Package, we will spend a lot of time together, so all questions and doubts will be answered, and you’ll be living like a local too!

I give advice and planning beforehand to help you prepare for the trip*; I can assist with any level of preparation that is needed on site, such as apartment searching. I can collect you at the airport (we go by public transport or taxi as I don’t have a car in the city) and bring you to your place of accommodation. Then I will show you around and help you get set up, accompanying you to appointments and helping you get settled in**. We will communicate with multiple scheduled meetings throughout the course of the following month or two (depending on availability) for a total of 100 hours.
Price: €1500 (€1900 VAT included)
* Hours are counted based on actual talk time (video chats and phone calls or extensive typing chat sessions). Any additional tasks or research performed on behalf of the client will be counted by the hour as well and discussed beforehand.
** Each meeting will be based on time to prepare and time together - but the hours are the important factor, not the nature of the activity.

Essential
Those who want full service, but are able to prioritize based on importance and need are more likely to get the Essential package. You decide what you want help with and I’m there for you!
I give advice and planning beforehand to help you prepare for the trip*; I can assist with any level of preparation that is needed on site, such as apartment searching. I can collect you at the airport (we go by public transport or taxi as I don’t have a car in the city) and bring you to your place of accommodation. Then I will show you around and help you get set up, accompanying you to appointments and helping you get settled in**. We will communicate with multiple scheduled meetings throughout the course of the following month or two (depending on availability) for a total of 50 hours.
Price: €900 EUR (€1140 VAT included)
* Hours are counted based on actual talk time (video chats and phone calls or extensive typing chat sessions). Any additional tasks or research performed on behalf of the client will be counted by the hour as well and discussed beforehand.
** Each meeting will be based on time to prepare and time together - but the hours are the important factor, not the nature of the activity.

A Bit
If you already know specific tasks you want assistance with, but don’t need someone for everything on the list, you probably just need A Bit of help. It is good for those who want to have some pointers and a local friend at their side, but who are also okay to manage a lot of things on their own with guidance. Just let me know what I can help you with!
I can give advice and planning beforehand to help you prepare for the trip*; I can assist with any level of preparation that is needed on site, such as apartment searching. I can collect you at the airport (we go by public transport or taxi as I don’t have a car in the city) and bring you to your place of accommodation. Then I will show you around and help you settle in**. We will communicate with multiple scheduled meetings throughout the course of the following month for a total of 20 hours.
Price: €400 EUR (€500 VAT included)
* Hours are counted based on actual talk time (video chats and phone calls or extensive typing chat sessions). Any additional tasks or research performed on behalf of the client will be counted by the hour as well and discussed beforehand.
** Each meeting will be based on time to prepare and time together - but the hours are the important factor, not the nature of the activity.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!

Let's talk!