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Tips for studying
Finding a place you can trust is a great step to being able to concentrate on your studies and feel as if you were at home, the Lofttown residence is perfect for this. Exams are just around the corner and in our residence we see all our residents studying like crazy in the study rooms of the student residence.
Xior Lofttown, is a trusted residence especially for foreign students, with an excellent location to live your student experience close to many and the best universities in Barcelona that may be of interest to you, and we know that it is an added value when choosing between others since time and money are two essential elements when you start your life as a student and a good location allows you to save on both.
The Xior Lofttown residence offers you a few tips for your study, these will help you throughout the academic year, and even more during exam time.
Planning
In the previous blog about the planning of the study in the residence we already commented in more detail some tips on how to plan your study. But we want to reassure you and emphasize that you do not have to worry about planning your time because if you live in the Xior Lofttown residence we offer a service of half board or full board depending on the type of accommodation chosen. In the catering service you will find varied, healthy, and appetizing menus with fresh ingredients, if you are vegetarian, vegan, or have any allergy or intolerance, we adapt the menu to your needs.
In addition, another very important service to organize your time is the cleaning of the room and the change of towels and sheets. With these services, you will have free time to dedicate and focus 100% on your studies. Take advantage of it!
Focus
While you study you can play relaxing music in the background, this does not imply that you will concentrate, it depends on the person, but if you are one of those people who need to study with background music, always try to play classical or instrumental music with nature sounds (rain, birds, etc.).
Another factor to concentrate on is to put your cell phone away from the moment you start studying or put it on airplane mode so you can not be distracted by notifications.
Above all, avoid any type of electronic device so as not to be tempted to waste time surfing on them.
Relax
To have a productive study you have to rest, and not only sleep the necessary hours so that your body and mind are energized, but also take breaks of a few minutes to disconnect something that helps a lot to return to the study concentrated and fresh. In our residence you have many areas to make these breaks, for example, the multipurpose room, and the rooftop or you can also do half an hour at the gym or some relaxation activity such as yoga or pilates, and then return to study in our outdoor gym in Xior Lofttown.
Space
The space to study is very important and you have an important advantage in the residence: you don’t have to worry about noise! You can be in your room alone while you study or in an amazing study room that Xior Lofttown residence offers you. In this room you can prepare your exams and papers. In our study room, you are prepared so you can study comfortably and in a quiet and peaceful area.
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Nov 18 2022 
Best Low-Budget Restaurants in Barcelona
While studying in Barcelona or staying at Xior Lofttown, you’ll likely be spending plenty of time out and about in the city, enjoying the city’s famously delicious cuisine. There is so much to try! Luckily Barcelona has plenty of spots where the food is as satisfying as the prices. Here are the best restaurants in Barcelona on a student budget!
Gelida
Gelida is one of those bar-restaurants that are few and far between nowadays, ideal for tight budgets and good eaters. The full breakfast menu is a unforgettable experience. And at lunchtime, get ready for a communal meal with some delicious starters and main dishes. The ‘capipota’, ham hock and cod are great. Wash it all down with a fine wine from the town of Gelida in the Alt Penedès wine region.
El Casal
A typical restaurant in Barcelona located in a perfect place, the Born neighborhood. Their tapas are not the expensive, it is recommended for its excellent menu including dishes from French cuisine. You can eat a first, a second, dessert and drink for €11.25. The menu of this restaurant is one of the best in the city.
Sol De Nit
It’s hard to get more Catalan than Sol De Nit, located in Plaza Del Sol. This tiny restaurant has one of the best terraces in the city, and it’s ideal for gawking at hippie Catalans, buskers, performers, runaway dogs and for sun tanning, especially during the summer. Their food is cheap and tasty and it’s one of a handful of places you can sit for hours and not even notice the time pass you by. You’ll definitely get value for your dime here as portions are decently large and most dishes won’t be more than 5-6 Euros. The service can be a bit slow so just make sure you’re not in a rush before you sit down to eat.
Les Quinze Nits
If you walk through the Plaça Real at lunch or dinner time, you’ll immediately recognize Les Quinze Nits by the huge line of patrons snaking through the plaza. This popular budget restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but your patience will pay off. The food is very cheap and delicious, with mostly regional dishes, but it’s one of the few Barcelona restaurants concerned about turnover, so don’t expect as relaxed a pace as most restaurants. If you’re traveling on a budget and want to feel like you’re going posh without spending more than €13 for an entree, then this is the place to go.
La Taqueria Barcelona
La Taqueria Barcelona is a mexican restaurant Barcelona near Sagrada Familia. Real Mexican street food. Authentic atmosphere, simple decoration, simple menu and very popular with great reviews. Small but cosy reasonably priced Mexican food including street style tacos, nachos and delicious margaritas.
African Foni
In the deep heart of Raval, you will find the only Gambian restaurant in the city, and they serve MAFFE! Chicken tossed in a deep and heavy peanut butter gravy, laid on a bed of fluffy rice. The food and specially that Gambian hospitality makes it such a pleasurable food experience. Don’t forget to order the ginger drink!
Bar La Plata
This small corner bar just one block from the old port of Barcelona has been serving the same four dishes since 1945. Though the salted anchovies, fried sausage, and tomato salad are all delicious, the floured and fried boquerones (anchovies) are the true star. Now run by the grandson of the original founder, Bar La Plata sells over 40 kg of the little fishes per week. This place is nearly always busy and only has a few tables, so do as the crowds do and eat standing up at the bar or even in the street if no seats are available.
We hope to see you very soon in Barcelona and become a new member #TheLoftowner!
We also invite you to follow us on Instagram so that you are always up to date with the latest promotions and news in our university residence.
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Nov 14 2022 
Why You Should Study Abroad
Studying abroad may be one of the most beneficial experiences for a college student. By studying abroad, students have the opportunity to study in a foreign nation and take in the allure and culture of a new land. If you thinking about coming to Xior Lofttown residence, here is a list of reasons why you should study abroad!
Experience a whole new and different country
Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to actually live in another culture, we believe there isn’t a more exciting privilege in life than to be able to discover new places, meet new people, and to just surround yourself in traditions and cultures that are entirely different from your own. Being a student in another country allows you an opportunity to experience the traditions, culture, and society from the inside. Also, not everyone is blessed with such an opportunity, making it even more priceless.
Learn a different language
There is no better way to learn a language than to be immersed in a country that speaks it. Living, studying and working in English might seem to be challenging at first, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly it becomes your second nature. Communicating confidently in English will help you to excel in your studies and make new friends from other parts of the world who may even become professional connections down the road.
Also, if you have studied Spanish for years and are just okay at speaking it, this might be a chance for you to truly become fluent. Study in Spain. Having some fluency in a second language will be valuable as you move into the business world so it will benefit you in personally and professionally.
Can find attractive employment opportunities
Graduates who’ve chosen to study abroad are highly sought after by employers. Studying internationally also gives the chance to explore the foreign job market where opportunities are generally more rewarding, career and salary-wise. Pursuing a degree overseas signals employers that you have courage, flexibility, cultural awareness and an understanding of how other people work and think. This experience puts you ahead of the pack when it comes to internships and job applications.
Make Lifelong Friends
One of the biggest benefits of studying abroad is the opportunity to meet new lifelong friends from different backgrounds. With their own set of unique backgrounds, there’s no shortage of fun times as well as opportunities to learn more things about another country, without even getting on a plane.
While studying abroad, you will attend school and live with students from your host country. This gives you the opportunity to really get to know and create lasting relationships with your fellow students.
After the study abroad program ends, make an effort, stay in contact with your international friends. Aside from the deep personal connections, friends are also a great way to establish networking opportunities which could be beneficial in the future.
Become Independent
No matter where you go, moving away from the place you grow up in is when you become truly independent from your family. This is especially true when you go to another country. Becoming independent is a challenge in itself, but will shape you into an adult ready to take on the world and succeed later on in life.
You’ll look back and feel amazed by how much you’ve grown by the end of your program, and this newfound self-confidence will provide all sorts of additional opportunities.
Life Experience
For most students, this time may be the only opportunity they ever get to travel abroad for a long period of time. Eventually you will find a job and career, and the opportunity to study abroad may turn out to be a once in a life time opportunity.
Your study abroad experience doesn’t end at the campus gates. During weekends and holidays, you’ll have the chance to travel to tourist hotspots or get off the beaten track in your chosen country. That means you will be able to experience different geographies and come back with interesting stories for your friends and family. You never know you might end up finding an activity that you enjoy doing and make a career in it.
Living in another country exposes you to things you cannot experience in your home country and in the future, it will help you stand out from the competition as you apply for jobs and your experience of studying abroad is something you can share on your resume.
These are just some of the advantages of studying abroad. The benefits of this experience really can’t be explained in such a short article. At Xior we guarantee an optimal environment for personal development. Boost your language skills as you live in another country, get out of your comfort zone and meet people from different places of the world and at the same time get the best education.
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Nov 07 2022 
10 Interesting Facts About Barcelona
There’s so much to discover about the city, that most people don’t just stop at one trip to the city. If you staying at Xior Lofttown and to give you a head start on all of the treasures you can find in the city, here are 10 things you probably don’t know about the Catalan capital.
Barcelona has the largest metropolitan park in the world
The city of Barcelona is known for its parks, and in fact is famous for having nearly 10% of the entire city dedicated to parks in general. Barcelona’s Parc de Collserola is 84.65 km² / 32.4 sq mi large, making it the world’s largest metropolitan park. Is more than 22 times the size of Manhattan’s Central Park.
This is truly staggering once you decide to take a morning jog through it!
There are 68 parks in Barcelona
The recent tendency in large cities is to reduce green spaces and to add buildings.
If that makes you sad, you should go to Barcelona. There are 68 parks there and they represent more than 10 percent of the city’s area, and that’s growing from year to year!
Camp Nou, Barcelona’s football stadium, is the biggest in Europe
FC Barcelona is probably the most famous football club in the whole world. Tons of the best players ever have played at least once there, and it remains to this day one of the most successful organizations.
Camp Nou is the name of the team’s home stadium, and it’s the largest football stadium in all of Europe. Camp Nou has a capacity of a staggering 100,000 visitors; that is nearly 10,000 more seats than the second largest stadium in Europe at Wembley.
Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain
Europe’s most visited cities are Paris, London, Istanbul, and… Barcelona.
In Spain, it is the most visited city, with over 8.2 million visitors per year. In the world, it is ranked 12th.
There are more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona
Catalan cuisine, just like all other Mediterranean gastronomy, is mostly made of fresh vegetables, olive oil, fruits, and seafood. With mild temperatures and almost 5000km of coastline make it impossible not to cook with fresh, quality ingredients and seafood. The Catalan capital boasts a number of top chefs including brothers Albert and Ferran Adrià, Joan Roca and Cristian Escribà.
The most visited museum in the city is actually the FC Barcelona Museum
While there are lots of amazing museums in Barcelona, the most visited one is not the most obvious one. Over 1.5 million visitors go to the FC Barcelona Museum every year.
The football club is so famous that their museum is a huge success. You can see trophies, jerseys, and the whole history of the club. The museum was founded in 1899.
The Sagrada Familia Remains Incomplete
Gaudi’s last gift to the city and she is still largely incomplete. The construction of the Sagrada Familia began in 1882. That’s going on a century and a half of work on the project. Currently there are plans to finish the structure by 2026, just in time to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the death of the original architect, who is himself even buried inside the Basilica.
Ready or not, the Sagrada Familia is a welcome sight on the Barcelona skyline, viewable from almost every rooftop in the city and the free guided walking tours that scour the streets.
Eiffel was first pitched to Barcelona.
Paris might be known for the Eiffel Tower, but originally the tower was supposed to be in Barcelona. Rumor has it that Gustave Eiffel and his team made a bid for their design to be accepted in Barcelona for the World Exposition of Barcelona in 1888.
Barcelona is one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world
The city of Barcelona, and in fact the population of the city as a whole, is truly committed to future sustainability. This commitment reflects in their public transportation, accommodations, and even their food service industry.
Barcelona was named the world’s first ‘Biosphere World Class Destination’ because of this. If you are looking to visit a city dedicated to creating an eco-friendly atmosphere and sustainable future, Barcelona can’t be beat!
Barcelona has 2 official languages
Although Barcelona is located in Spain, it is the capital of Catalonia. Spain is divided into 17 different autonomous regions and Catalonia is one of them. Catalonian is a completely independent language, and will be featured on all of the street signs and restaurant menus, as well as public transport
Many locals defer to their native Catalonian in their everyday activities and business. In fact, speaking only Catalonian is a way for the Catalans in the city to maintain their independence.
These Barcelona facts will make your stay at Xior Lofttown even better. It’s always good to know a bit of history and interesting info about the destinations you visit.
These facts about Barcelona will give you a bit of background, so enjoy!
