Housing guide
www.ehu.es/en
Foreword Finding a place to live lies among the difficulties travelers need to face when visiting a foreign country. Everything is new and, naturally, it takes a few days to get familiar with the city and local transport networks. Besides, many visitors are still not fluent enough in Spanish when they arrive. Although travelling abroad for the first time might seem unsettling, don´t worry too much: around 82 % of visitors claim to be satisfied or very satisfied with their housing choice while at the University of the Basque Country. This guide aims to inform you about the existing accommodation options, offer you guidance and tips for a smooth adjustment and remind you of certain important details as you consider several spots. Every year, at visitors arrival peak dates, our regular International Relations staff is backed up by our Help Centre personnel to support newly arrived visitors. We also have a team of local students ready to help foreign classmates as they arrive in the Basque Country. Feel free to contact or visit us any time, should you have concerns or questions regarding accommodation in our cities.
Acknowledgements The International Relations Office and our Help Centre staff would like to thank Gosia Kuleszka and Philipp Gläser for their support. After their Erasmus stay, they have settled in Donostia-San Sebastián and taken the beautiful photos you can see in this guide. For your kindness and your talent, thank you both!
Contents
What are the options? Halls of Residence ………………………………………………………………………..7 Rented apartments ……………………………………………………………………..9 Rented rooms in shared student flats...........................................10 Living with a resident landlord......................................................11 Subsidized flats for postgraduate students (only in Bilbao) ………12 Where to look Vitoria-Gasteiz, district by district…………………………………..………...14 Bilbao, district by district………………………………..………………………...17 Where to live if you study in Leioa-Erandio………………………..….….22 Donostia-San Sebastián, district by district…………………….…..…….24 Accommodation search: before travelling………………………………………....……27 Accommodation search: upon arrival………………………………….…….……...…….31 Top tips before you sign a renting contract…………………..…………….…....…….33 Where to turn when disputes arise…………………………………………….….…..…..34 Money matters……………………………………………………………………….….….…………34 Staying safe………………………………………………………….……………………..……………35 Other sources of information……………………………………………………..……………35 Different accommodation options for visiting researchers & lecturers…..37
What are the options? Halls of Residence Rented apartments Rented rooms in shared student flats Living with a resident landlord Subsidized flats for postgraduate students (only in Bilbao) 5
What are the options?
There isn´t such a thing as a city campus in the Basque Country. Most of our Faculties and Schools are conveniently located near the city centre and easily accessible on foot, by bike or by public transport. Our university is divided into three different campuses, located in the main cities of the Basque Country. The Campus of Alava, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, spreads unitarily near the core of the city. Our Campus of Biscay might seem slightly more complicated for a first-time visitor: Some of our faculties and schools are located in downtown Bilbao, one of them is in Portugalete, another one in Barakaldo (both in the metropolitan area) and a large number of facilities is located in our Leioa-Erandio university complex, 15 km from Bilbao. Our Faculties and Schools at the Campus of Gipuzkoa, in Donostia-San Sebastiån, are almost all in a body, a short distance from the city centre. We also have a Technical Engineering School in Eibar (40 km from San Sebastian).
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Halls of residence The University of the Basque Country is a partner of several residence halls in our three cities: -Tomรกs Alfaro Fournier residence in Vitoria-Gasteiz -Miguel de Unamuno and Blas de Otero in Bilbao -Manuel Agud Querol residence in Donostia-San Sebastiรกn As they are very much in demand, it is difficult for late confirmation visitors to find vacancies in these residences; often, they are fully booked as early as July for the next academic year. However, it is possible to find availability information, and even process your application, on their websites. In addition, there is a number of private and religious residences in the three cities of the Basque Country. Admission requirements and conditions vary from one to another, so we suggest you browse through our information and contact your preferred one directly.
Student residences Residence rooms usually display a standardized comfort: you are sure to find conveniently preserved furniture and some space for your individual study. Having a permanent address booked before travelling might reassure you while planning your trip.
Student residences It is often difficult to find vacancies, especially in our partner residences or if you are staying for only 1 semester. Certain private and religious residences establish regulations and limits regarding timing and behaviour: if you wish to lead a fully independent life, other accommodation options might be a better bet.
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University of the Basque Country: Partner residences
Tomรกs Alfaro Fournier. Vitoria-Gasteiz
Miguel de Unamuno. Bilbao
Manuel Agud Querol. Donostia-San Sebastiรกn
Blas de Otero. Bilbao
All contact details available on our website http://www.ehu.es/p200content/es/contenidos/informacion/servicio_alojamiento/es_alojamie/serv_alojamiento.ht 8 ml
Rented apartments Most of our visitors decide to find accommodation in the private sector. Our accommodation database contains a number of apartments to let in the three cities. This option is referred to as Piso completo. You will need to get in a group so as to share the monthly rent and bills. Attending the August intensive Spanish course is a good way to meet people and find ‘flatmates to be’. Most often, owners prefer to have students staying for the whole academic year; if one or several of you are leaving earlier, you might be asked to find someone as a replacement.
Rented apartments This option guarantees freedom and independence throughout your stay. If you are sociable or like to organize home dinners, this is probably your best bet. Living with people you know can help you at difficult times; homesickness is a momentarily common feeling, so your flatmates can be of great support.
Rented apartments Signing a renting contract entails certain responsibilities and makes it difficult to back out of your arrangement. We always recommend our visitors to check the location and the state of the places before signing a contract or paying a deposit; that is why, if you decide to rent a full apartment, you will probably start looking upon arrival. It takes a little time and patience to find a place that suits all of you renting together.
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Rented rooms in shared student flats Our accommodation database includes, other than apartments, rooms you can individually rent. These appear under the tag Habitación con estudiante. No need to go hunting for flatmates with this option: here, you deal exclusively with your own room and it will be the owner who decides on the rest of the house. Kitchen and bathroom access are available. Your flatmates will be other students. If you havent´met anyone yet at the university or at the Spanish course, it might be easier for you to start looking for a room. This is also a good alternative for 2 and 3-month visitors at the University of the Basque Country. Rented rooms in shared student flats This option makes it possible for you to meet other students while having a limited liability: your only duty is to punctually pay your landlord for your room. You can find a number of double rooms or other alternatives to keep monthly prices down.
Rented rooms in shared student flats You don´t get to choose your flatmates, you do not have any say over who the leaving tenant or the landlord finds to replace them. Living with people takes different skills than enjoying a night out: tidiness, noise, friends staying overnight… are subjects on which you will need to reach a consensus with your flatmates.
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Living with a resident landlord
Vacancies tagged Habitación con propietario in our database refer to rooms in flats where the owner lives. Sometimes it is young professionals who wish to share expenses with a student, often a couple living alone with a spare room, or even a family willing to host young foreign people. Although most visitors´ preference is to share with other students, it is worth considering both angles of this option:
Living with a resident landlord You are sure to improve your Spanish, for you will be surrounded by locals. Also, this might be a good chance to fully integrate in the city and mingle with your landlord´s acquaintances. The atmosphere is usually quieter than a student flat, so this is a safe bet for students who need to carry out important work and for visiting researchers staying for short periods.
Living with a resident landlord Even though a large number of landlords leave freedom to visitors, it still is not your home and this can sometimes make you feel uncomfortable. It is more difficult to bring friends over or organize dinner parties if your landlord leads a quiet, regular life.
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Subsidized flats for postgraduate students (only in Bilbao)
Postgraduate students coming to Bilbao can apply for a number of subsidized flats in Otxarkoaga district. In exchange, beneficiaries need to carry out some weekly volunteering work. If you wish to obtain further details or apply for this opportunity, contact the Vice Rectorate of the Campus of Biscay:
Programa de viviendas subvencionadas en Bilbao Contact details: +34 946012041 +34 946012199 www.bizkaia.ehu.es
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Where to look ♦ Vitoria-Gasteiz, district by district ♦ Bilbao, district by district ♦ Where to live if you study in Leioa-Erandio ♦ Donostia-San Sebastián, district by district 13
Vitoria-Gasteiz, district by district
Photo: Quintas, Ayto. Vitoria-Gasteiz
The main decision to take when coming to the Campus of Araba is to choose either living in the area of the university campus or in the centre of the city. There is not a big distance between them (Vitoria-Gasteiz is not a very big city and everything is walking distance or well connected by public transport). San Cristobal- Adurtza - Judimendi These are the closest neighbourhoods to the campus; in fact, they are walking distance from the university (Judizmendi is a short ride by bike). All of them are very quiet districts with small shops and supermarkets. Most of the rooms and flats (approximately 33%) of our accommodation database are located in these districts. As a result, the great majority of visitors decides to rent a room here.
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Ensanche Ensanche, the 19th century enlargement of the old town, is the central and commercial neighbourhood in the city. Walking in the centre you will immediately notice that the main shopping area lies between Dato and General Alava Streets. If you like fancy bars and peaceful pubs and nightclubs, try the pedestrian area downtown (Dato, San Prudencio and San Antonio Streets). Our accommodation database includes 9% of rooms and flats to let in this district. It is just a 5 -or lessminute walk to the campus. Casco Viejo The Old Town emerged in the Middle Ages. It is settled on a gentle hill and dressed with narrow streets whose names evoke traditional occupations (Cuchillería, Herrería, Zapatería…) and medieval houses. Its almond shape gathers the great part of the artistic and architectural heritage of the city, as well as small and charming shops, night taverns and cultural spaces. This is where you will make a habit of Txikiteo, local version of wine (txikito) or beer (zurito) pub crawl. Approximately 8% of the flats included in our database are located in the Old Town. From here you can walk or cycle almost everywhere in the city, also to the campus, in 15 minutes.
Coronación- Txagorritxu – El Pilar Coronación is a peaceful neighbourhood well-known for its Pintxo-pote, an easy and cheap way to taste local pintxos (Basque tapas) every Thursday. Txagorritxu is a residential area with few shops and restaurants, but it is perfect for Nursing or Medicine students as the Hospital where their courses take place is nearby. El Pilar is also a good area for the abovementioned visitors; a modern hall of residence lies here. To reach the campus, you can cycle all the way, take the tram (13-minute ride) or bus no. 8. Around 9% of our rooms and flats are located in these areas. 15
El Pilar Coronaci贸n
Ensanche
Judimendi
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San Cristobal-Adurtza
Bilbao, district by district
Bilbao is the largest Basque city and a thrilling destination for visitors. Our Faculties and Schools located in Bilbao are accessible by metro , bus or walking . Your decision on where to live will depend on your favourite lifestyle. 17
Deusto San Ignacio, Sarriko and Deusto altogether make up ‘Distrito Deusto’. Our Faculty of Economics and Business studies is located in this area. All kinds of shops, grocery stores, sport centres, etc. are to be found here. This is a calm district and it is well connected to the rest of the city (metro stops San Ignacio, Sarriko & Deusto) and to Leioa university complex with bus lines A2314 and A2322. Castaños & Uribarri Lower Castaños area and upper Uribarri are lively areas, full of traditional shops. The metro doesn´t make it here, but you can take a bus from the city centre and even walk, for it´s only a short distance. If you need to reach our faculties in Leioa, take Bizkaibus line A- 2324. Txurdinaga Txurdinaga is a residential, quiet rea with large green areas and a big sports centre. It might seem far away from the centre, but it is very well connected by metro. Bizkaibus line A-2321 stops nearby on its way to our faculties and schools in Leioa. Basurto & Rekalde Very lively districts, full of shops, coffee bars and supermarkets… City buses take you downtown; you can also walk anywhere in Bilbao from here.
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Begoña & Santutxu Santutxu is the most populated district in Bilbao: you will find all sort of shops and stores and it is easy to reach the city centre by metro (Santutxu & Basarrate stops) and bus. To go to Leioa, take Bizkaibus line A- 2321. Casco viejo, Bilbao la Vieja, Atxuri, Miribilla The Old section is a pedestrian, commercial and leisure area bursting with snack bars, restaurants, museums… The subway, tramway and city buses connect the area to the rest of the city. Bilbao La Vieja is just opposite the river from the Old section and Atxuri. Miribilla, the highest area of Bilbao La Vieja, is a residential and green area where you can enjoy a calm lifestyle. For our Faculties in Leioa-Erandio, take Bizkaibus lines A2324,-2314 y A-2322. Abando This is the core of the city, together with Indautxu: you will find clothing and shoe stores everywhere, supermarkets, offices and restaurants. Very lively area, both day and night-time. Iralabarri This district is slightly far away from the city centre. Communications are not good with the rest of the city, and reported safety issues argue against settling in this area. Indautxu One of the most famous districts in the city: Here you will find the famous Alhóndiga, a fancy sports and cultural centre open to the general public (metro stop Indautxu). To go to Leioa, take bus A-2322. For the airport, take bus A-3247 at Plaza Moyúa. For Termibus, the local bus station, take the metro to San Mamés or bus A-2318. 19
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Where to live if you study in Leioa-Erandio
Lecture room building ground floor, students services, Vice Rectorate of the Campus Faculty of Law, Bizkaia section School of Labour Relations Studies Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences Teacher Training School, Bilbao Faculty of Fine Arts Faculty of Science and Technology Faclty of Medicine and Dentistry, Dental Care Centre Nursing School, Leioa Central Library Rectorate Assembly Hall Sports Centre Sports Service Culinary Arts School Self Service restaurant Animal facilities Biophysics Unit - CSIC-UPV/EHU Joint Facilities Wood of Life ARBORETUM
If your Faculty or School is located in our university complex of LeioaErandio, you can settle in central Bilbao to enjoy the city life and take a public bus to the campus, or live in smaller and closer towns to the university: Leioa, Algorta, Romo or Getxo might be a good bet. Anyhow, you will probably end up using the public transport, for our faculties are located on top of a hill.
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Getxo Getxo is a beautiful coast town surrounded by surfing beaches. It is located 17 km from Bilbao and counts about 80,770 inhabitants. Getxo´s intensive cultural programme (especially in the summer) is one of this town´s attractions. There are 4 districts in Getxo: Las Arenas, Neguri, Algorta and Santa María de Getxo. The subway and several bus lines connect Getxo to Bilbao and to the campus. 15-20% of our rooms and flats to let in our accommodation database are in this area. Las Arenas In las Arenas you can find countless shops, supermarkets, a little theatre , cinemas (about 15 minutes´walk or 10 minutes drive)… You can take the subway or the bus to Bilbao and to the campus (15 to 20 minute ride).
Algorta Algorta is a lively town, very well connected to Bilbao and to our university complex in Leioa (15 to 20-minute ride. Here you can find a theatre and cinemas. The beach nearby is one of the main attractions of Algorta. Santa María de Getxo Santa Maria de Getxo is a residential area located near the cliffs and Arrigunaga beach. It neighbours Algorta. Buses connect this town to Bilbao and the faculties in Leioa-Erandio. Leioa Leioa is a small town of about 30,000 inhabitants. You will find all kind of shops, schools and other services in the centre of Leioa. Around 15% of rooms and flats included in our accommodation database are located here. Our faculties sit on top of a hill and you can reach them on foot (30 minute walk) or by bus (10 minute ride). 23
Donostia-San Sebastián, district by district
Centro The city centre boasts beautiful Frenchy buildings and plenty of pedestrian streets. Most international retail shops are located in this 1900´s enlargement of old San Sebastián. Around 20 % of our rooms and flats to let are located in this area. From the centre, you can walk or cycle almost everywhere in the city in approximately 15 minutes. Bus lines 5 & 25 connect the city centre to the campus (12 minutes) and bike lanes cross the bay of La Concha on their way to the university. Breathtaking views of the beach at dusk! 24
Gros Gros is a distinct neighbouhood in the city. Zurriola beach and the Kursaal auditorium are both nearby, which makes a lot of events for this area of town. This is the most popular surfing spot in Donostia-San Sebastián. Approximately 10 % of the flats included in our accommodation database are located in Gros. There are cycle lanes all the way from Gros to the campus (20 minute ride) and bus lines 33 & 40 cover the distance to the university (between 17 and 22minute rides). Parte vieja Pub crawlers´ favourite spot, the old section of Donostia-San Sebastián has over 200 restaurants, coffee bars and pubs. Every festivity throughout the year starts or ends in the main square of the old section. This particularly lively district is perfect for sociable visitors, but might be a little too noisy if you need do carry hard work while visiting us. Take bus 5 or 25 –and cycle lanesto reach the campus in just 13 minutes. Amara Despite its assets, this district remains relatively unexplored by visitors to the University of the Basque Country. Amara is a residential area with shops, supermarkets and restaurants. Located walking distance from the city centre, you can take buses 24 and 27 to reach the campus in just 10 minutes. Housing prices in Amara are lower than in other districts and this is the perfect location for Nursing or Medicine students, for the Hospitals area is just 5 minutes from here. Antiguo This is the closest neighbourhood to the campus. El Antiguo has its character and displays a large number of local festivities and traditions. The icing on the cake is, it is next to Ondarreta beach. Our accommodation database includes 30% of rooms and flats to let in this neighbourhood.
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Accommodation search: before travelling Booking a place to stay during your first nights Accessing our accommodation database Booking a room at a residence Requesting a buddy to help you upon arrival 27 Photo: Quintas, Ayto. Vitoria-Gasteiz
Accommodation search: before travelling Even though most of our visitors find a permanent place to stay upon arrival, there are certainly some things you can anticipate to make things easier. Booking a place to stay during your first nights We advise all our visitors to book a place to stay for their first few nights in the Basque Country. Youth hostels or Pensiones (Spanish equivalent to B&Bs) have more reasonable prices than standard hotels. Contact details of all hostels and Pensiones in every city on our website. You can also email our Help Centres for hostels or pensiones contact information.
Accessing our accommodation database If your first choice is to rent a room or flat in the private sector, you can request access to our accommodation database: https://www.ehu.es/ostatu/pisos/index.html, click on Registrarse. The system will ask you to attach your learning agreement or a document certifying your acceptance at the University of the Basque Country. You will be given access for a 30-day period.
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Accessing our accommodation database Once you have got your user keys, you can browse all rooms and apartments to let in each of our three cities. Clicking on each offer, the system displays a number of features (rooms, available appliances, internet connection, special requests‌) and gives out location details. Accessing this database makes it possible for you to check the areas where it´s most popular to live and anticipate the average monthly cost of housing in the Basque Country.
Accessing our accommodation database Discovering all facilities and characteristics of a flat does not mean you will necessary like it: certain aspects, e.g. noise, tidiness, state of the furniture and likely flatmates cannot be predicted. That is why, even though useful, accessing the database before travelling is yet insufficient when it comes to choose a place to live. Although the volume of contents published in English in our website is increasing, browsing through our accommodation files takes the visitor to have a few notions of Spanish.
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Booking a room at a residence If you are certain you want to stay at a student residence while among us, feel free to contact them and proceed with your booking as soon as you hold confirmation of your stay at the University of the Basque Country. Contact details, a brief description and monthly prices of all residences are available on our website. You can also email our Help Centres for further information. Requesting a buddy to help you upon arrival If you wish a local student to help you get settled in the city and the campus, you can fill in the form you will find on our website: http://www.encuestafacil.com/RespWeb/Cuestionarios.aspx?EID=1095846&PGND=1 &MSJ=NO#Inicio What a great way to make a new friend and get oriented throughout your first moves at our university!
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Accommodation search: upon arrival Help Centres directory 31
Accommodation search: upon arrival
Help Centres directory HELP CENTRE CAMPUS OF ARABA Pabellón Universitario Los Apraiz 1 Phone: +34 945 014 333 helpcentre1.internacional@ehu.es HELP CENTRE CAMPUS OF BISCAY (BILBAO) Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Desk OE, building G Phone: +34 946 017 365 helpcentre3.internacional@ehu.es HELP CENTRE CAMPUS OF BISCAY (LEIOA) Central Library building 5th floor Phone: +34 946 015868 helpcentre2.internacional@ehu.es HELP CENTRE GIPUZKOA Ignacio Mª Barriola building 1st floor Phone: +34 943015192 helpcentre4.internacional@ehu.es 32
Top tips before you sign a renting contract
Adverts often overrate accommodation and photos don´t necessarily reflect the size, quality and state of rooms and flats. It is important for you to see the places before you sign any contract. Read the contract carefully before signing. Ask for help if there is anything you don´t understand or if you have trouble reading Spanish. Check that everything works in the flat (hot water, gas and electrical appliances). Should there be any problem, report it immediately to your landlord before you sign anything. Also, make an inventory of furniture in order to avoid potential problems. Don´t sign on behalf of other students and always check that the duration of the contract matches the period of your visit. Check the terms of your deposit: How much, when to pay, when to get it back. Deposits are usually equivalent to a month´s rent. Before leaving, allow a few days for the landlord to inspect the state of the flat and agree on the moment to get your deposit back. Read our complete recommendations list on our website.
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Where to turn when disputes arise In case of a severe disagreement with your landlord or unjustified eviction, you can turn to the following free of charge mediation services.
BIZILAGUN ARABA Samaniego 2 01008 VITORIA-GASTEIZ Tel: 945 01 55 00. Appointments : 012
BIZILAGUN BIZKAIA Henao, 9 48009 BILBAO Tel: 94 423 97 04
BIZILAGUN GIPUZKOA Plaza Bilbao, 3 -20005 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN Tel: 943 46 41 33
Money matters Housing will probably be your most important expense while in the Basque Country. Our cities have a similar standard of living than other European capitals: Barcelona, Paris… In Vitoria-Gasteiz, prices for a rented room are slightly lower than in Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián. This is the approximate cost break up: Accommodation Bills Deposit Transport
250-500 € 20-40 € 1 month pay 15-30 €
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Staying safe The Basque Country is an extremely safe region. The crime rate recorded in Euskadi is one of the lowest in Europe. Even in big cities, there are hardly any places to be best avoided at night. Although violent crime is extremely rare, the usual precautions still apply; avoid being alone at night in side streets, keep an eye on pickpockets, and you should do just fine. Basque emergencies coordination unit no:
Other sources of information Join us on Facebook! International UPV/EHU Facebook page for official news and events Help Centre UpvEhu profile for practical information while you plan your visit Several Facebook groups gather local buddies and visitors who comment on accommodation vacancies Information on the web: external accommodation sites www.segundamano.es www.alkila.net www.easypiso.com www.elidealista.com Walls and boards of faculties and schools are filled with accommodation adverts. Don´t miss them! 35
Remember! Contact us whenever you need advice:
As you are trying to choose a destination for your stay
While planning your trip
Upon arrival We will be pleased to offer you guidance and support. How to contact us: ANE, our virtual assistant, can offer you some online guidance E-mail our help centres (see contact details on p. 30) Skype us on Tuesdays, 3 to 4:30 pm (GMT+1) Name: Help Centre Surname: University of the Basque Country Join us on Facebook and ask questions to our buddies and current visitors
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Accommodation for visiting researchers and lecturers 37
Accommodation for visiting researchers and lecturers
Everything abovementioned applies for all visitors at the University to the Basque Country, including researchers and lecturers. Nevertheless, their specific profiles and needs sometimes require different accommodation options. Newspaper adverts: El Correo and Diario Vasco, the most popular local newspapers, include extensive real estate sections every Monday. Local agents: There is a number of real estate agents in our three cities. Directories of agents can be found on the Páginas Amarillas website. ♦ Specific accommodation options for researchers: VITORIA-GASTEIZ Apartments for researchers and visitors to R+D+I corporations: www.irenaz.com DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN The Talent House is a first-class researchers residence in the city centre. Availability details, prices and application forms can be found online: www.fomentosansebastian.org/talenthouse Apartments for researchers and visitors to R+D+I corporations: www.irenaz.com 38
The University of the Basque Country Vice Rectorate for International Relations Paseo Arriola, 2 20018 Donostia-San Sebastiรกn, Spain Phone no: +34 943015192 E-mail: helpcentre4.internacional@ehu.es
www.ehu.es/en