-
Sep 15 2020 
¡CHECK-IN TIME IN XIOR THE LOFTTOWN!
The new academic year has started and we have some photos of our students arrivals.
We are very happy to welcome them to our #XiorFamily.We are preparing a lot of surprises for our Lofttowners, which ones we will keep you informed through our Instagram @thelofttown_bcn and very soon in our Facebook The Lofttown.
There are more arrivals for the coming days and we still have some rooms available, if you are reading this and you are looking for a place to stay in Barcelona.. this is your moment! –> https://thelofttown.com/es/reservas/
We are waiting for you! ¡Check In time in Xior Student Housing Barcelona The Lofttown!
#CheckInTime #NewAcademicYear #StudentHousingBarcelona #XiorTheLofttown #ResidenceBcn
YOU ARE WELCOME!
-
Mar 06 2020 
Preparing your trip to Barcelona
Preparing your trip to Barcelona is simple and beautiful. You know that soon you will travel to the Catalan capital to carry out your studies, meet new people and live a typical Erasmus experience.
That’s why in XiorLofttown we thought we’d give you a roadmap so you know, step by step, what you’re going to find. We will also give you some tips to make your stay more comfortable and practical.
We put ourselves in your situation when preparing your trip to Barcelona: from your sofa or bed reading this blog; guiding you through the steps to follow when arriving in Barcelona.
As a student you will have a wide range of opportunities and options to enjoy this wonderful city. From its beaches and mountains, through its architecture and gastronomy to its cultural variety, Barcelona is the city you chose and we are sure that you will have an unforgettable experience. Look: you can tempt yourself and choose to live here.
But enough of the preamble and let’s get to it. As a student residence in Barcelona, from XiorLofttown we tell you how to prepare your trip to the city and enjoy your Erasmus or stay as a student.
Climate
Barcelona is characterized by good weather and this is not a minor fact when preparing your trip. It’s March, and Spring begins to give its first signs. Maximum temperatures will be around 20 degrees and the minimum 13 degrees. Don’t worry as the sun will be present during the day so the feeling of warmth will be higher. You’ll arrive in perfect weather!
Already thinking about the summer, the maximums will be in the 30s. Why are we talking about this? To keep it in mind when putting together your suitcase: you can come with summer clothes and some other clothing to be a bit warmer at night.
We’ve already talked about this in another article , which we invite you to read. There you will find in detail all the recommendations for the rest of the year.
Then you already know: pack a suitcase with the beach in mind. If you like the mountains you can add specific elements for those activities.
Do you have it clear? Well, come: you arrive at your city airport, get on the plane and land in Barcelona. With your suitcase in your hand you leave El Prat and ask yourself: how do I get to the city centre? Well, read on.
How to travel from the airport
Without a doubt, when preparing your trip you should know how to get to the city centre from the airport. El Prat (Barcelona Airport) is very well connected and you have different options. Since you’re a student, and I’m sure you’ll want to spend money on other activities, we’ll tell you the most accessible.
Public transport
From either of its two terminals -T1 or T2 – you can take the bus or the metro. Both services can be paid in cash.
During the day the bus that will drop you off in Plaza de España is the 46. We remind you that the Plaza is in the heart of Barcelona and, from there, it will be very easy to get around.
However, during the night, bus number 46 doesn’t run. Don’t be scared: Barcelona has everything in mind. Buses N16, N17 and N18 will deposit you in the heart of the city: in Plaza Universitat, a few steps from Plaza Catalunya.
The metro is also an option thanks to Line 9 (L9). This metro line is new and still under construction, so you’ll have to make a change once you get closer to the city. Please note that the metro provides service between 5 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Note: You can purchase a Casual or Usual card. It will be cheaper and you will have more trips for the future. Here we leave you the link with all the information. You can find the ticket vending machine at Metro stations.
Aerobus
The Aerobús is a service that joins Barcelona Airport to the city in 35 minutes. The cost of the ticket is €5.90 and you can pay by card, cash (€20 note max.) or make the purchase online. Here’s the link.
This service has stops at Plaza de España, Urgell, Universitat and ends at Plaza Catalunya. Inside the bus you will have free Wi-Fi service.
Places you must visit
You have arrived; at the XiorLofttown student residence in Barcelona we welcome you with open arms. You leave your bags and… now what? A little sightseeing is not bad: walking and getting acquainted with the city is a good plan.
Once you are comfortable in our student residence, you can choose to go out to visit different places of interest. XiorLofttown has a prime location within the city: everything is close by!
You can go out to know the Passeig de Gracia and visit its shops and bars. You can’t leave out going to the Sagrada Familia, a Gaudí architectural work of art that will leave you with your jaw dropped.
We also recommend you walk the streets of the district of Gracia, its squares and its cultural diversity of young people who make their social life in the streets.
Now with more time, and having known the neighbourhood, you must go for a walk through the Gothic Quarter, the Rambla, the Born, Barceloneta (its beaches and its gastronomy), and the harbour promenade.
Then… you will discover all the options that Barcelona offers you: Park Güell, the beaches of Bogatell and much more. That’s it… we leave it to you to be surprised on your own.
Getting around in Barcelona
You’ll walk a lot at first. Come on… everything is close. But then you’ll want to get about using other means.
In Barcelona you can find Bicing, the public bicycle system. To use it, you will need to meet two requirements: have a NIE or DNI, and pay €50 for the service. Don’t panic: payment is made only once and is valid for one year.
You can use the mechanical bikes for free as many times as you want; unlimited service. You will also find electric bikes. These have an additional cost of €0.35.
Finally, as mentioned above, you will be able to purchase the Usual or Casual cards. Once you choose one of them you can take any public transport service: train, metro and bus.
For more detailed information, we leave you this article on mobility in Barcelona.
Ready! You already have all the necessary information to prepare your trip to Barcelona. A roadmap for you to start imagining your student days in this beautiful Mediterranean city.
If you have any questions write to the XiorLofttown team. We will be happy to know you!
-
Dec 23 2019 
Finding a job after Uni
Finding a job after Uni sounds far away. Many of The Lofttown residents come to Barcelona just to study. What happens to them next is that the city and social activity invite them to stay. And believe us: it happens.
Once your studies are finished you will have your group of friends, your trips on top, and you will ask yourself a question: what if I stay to live in Barcelona? This is where you’ll start thinking about looking for a job after university.
So we thought, what if we give you a hand? Here we will tell you, thanks to the experiences that the lofttowners tell us in the student residence in Barcelona, how and where to look for work. Whether part or full time.
Let’s get to it!
Prepare your C.V.
You will have to invest a lot of time in this task, but in the end it will be worth it. When it comes to finding work after Uni the C.V. will be your cover letter.
Take time to polish it. Make it minimalist, short and concise; so that it doesn’t last more than one page. A Word sheet is no longer usually presented: companies are already looking for creativity from the C.V. To do this, give it a creative touch, with colours and highlighting your knowledge and qualities. Do you know what you can use? Canva, a super easy and intuitive design tool where you can find countless C.V. templates that you will love, and many of them are free.
Think that they’ll know you through a piece of paper. So sell yourself. Make a brief introduction describing your personality, values and goals. Remember to add a cover letter to let companies know more about you.
Here are some templates for you to have ideas when creating your C.V.
Part Time Work
After Uni finding a job will be, in itself, a job. There are many who decide to work part time as waiters or in kitchens of bars, pubs, restaurants and clubs.
But this isn’t all: you can also look for work from what you’ve studied. At first you will be able to find many internships. Most will not be paid and others will.
Here it will be important how you want to allocate your personal time. That is: working part time you will have every morning or afternoon free (depending on where you apply). This will allow you, for example, to start your own projects while gaining experience in a company.
But don’t worry: you have paid part-time jobs. Depending on which degree you’ve studied there will be more or less offers. Seek and you will find, believe us.
Full Time Work
If you already set out to find work after Uni with the aim of having a career and gaining experience, then you will be looking for a Full Time job.
In this case, focus on sending your C.V. to offers that interest you. That is, do not do bulk mailings. Think what you want to work doing, in your day-to-day life, what you like. It’s not a matter that you want to come to later. Don’t focus only on the economic side. We all want to be rich, but we’ll need to gather experience and grow and train in the workplace.
However, these offers are usually accompanied by an acceptable salary.
Platforms to find work
Depending on the sector you are in, there are platforms that will have more offers. However, here we leave you the list of the most used in Barcelona:
Now, it’s your turn. Remember: prepare a good C.V. and cover letter to find work after Uni. Set goals and decide what to do with your time. Then choose what kind of work you want. The final step: start submitting C.V.s and wait for the answers.
Good luck and go for everything!
-
Nov 27 2019 
Tricks to study
Studying has its tricks. December arrives and as we well know it is a time full of exams and external responsibilities: family, travel, Christmas and New Year.
You already know that as a student residence in Barcelona we care about your study and your social life.
Between us: in this context we know that study moves to a second place in our lives. It’s a responsibility we want to get rid of instead of dealing with.
To do this, we have thought of tricks to study. The goal is to give it the right and necessary time to optimize your study and, at the same time, enjoy your social life. Come on… which is what you like most.
Time
It’s clear you don’t want to spend too much time on it, but you’ll have to. Studying for a long time running is no longer usual. Instead, focus on studying by setting a time limit.
Control the times you dedicate to study and do not exceed 30 or 40 minutes. That said, during that time you have to do it 100×100. This way you’ll see that you’ll keep your mind focused and you’ll be able to assimilate the information much faster.
It’s better for you to study in small bursts of time than all at once. Needless to say, sleep is very important. That is to say, rest well.
It’s better do it in the morning, which is when you’re most active. Then, when you’re done, you’ll have all day for yourself.
Routine
Get a routine. This trick to study will be very useful so that you can adjust your schedule and activities outside of study.
Set a schedule to study. For example: between 10 am and 1 pm from Monday to Friday. Set up a calendar with the most complicated topics for the beginning of the week and leave the lightest for the end.
In this way, over time, you will face the end of the week with less pressure and more relaxed. Plus, you’ll feel better about yourself as you’ll see results and the progress you’re making in your study.
Don’t leave everything for tomorrow. Can you imagine getting to Friday with the hardest and most tedious topics to do? Do it on Monday and you’ll enjoy the weekend.
Spaces
This trick to study will be easy for you. In TheLofttown, the student residence in Barcelona, you will find many spaces designed exclusively for study.
In these shared spaces, order, neatness and tranquillity prevail. These same features should be transferred to your room or personal place of study.
Believe us: order makes study easier. At a certain point having everything in place and structured will make you feel more comfortable and willing to grab your books.
Also, if you are able to, you can rotate and change your study places. Take advantage of open places.
Distractions
Avoid distractions. We don’t know why we are speaking in the plural, as we are referring to the mobile phone.
Put it silent or face down. If you can, keep it away. Think that this distraction will consume your structured time and, in the long run, affect your weekly routine.
That WhatsApp message and the last post on Instagram can wait 30 minutes. Once you’re done studying, relax, go for a walk and have a drink and eat something.
Like at school: take a little 10-minute break and get back to the hassle.
It’s not much to ask: stay away from the technology and stimuli that may affect you for only half an hour.
Goals
Adjust study goals by month, weeks and days. This way you can measure your achievements and feel you’re moving forward. This trick to study is key. Especially for your self-esteem.
Try to set out complete study units according to your needs. You’ll see how good a feeling it is to finish what you’ve set out to do.
You can also create a mind map of the topics and this will help you better remember the topics you are studying.
You now know the tricks we recommend to study. If you carry them out you will see the results and, most importantly, you can enjoy your free time without guilt!
-
Oct 21 2019 
Student residence halls in Barcelona: keys to choosing
Student residence halls in Barcelona are key for those who come to do their degree in the Catalan capital.
When we come to study in a new city, we try to make a mix which offers us stability to study, have a good time and save.
For this reason, student residence halls in Barcelona are a very attractive option. First of all because you will share a space with students like yourself and you will be able to make friends to go out at night (or in the day). Second, because with the fee of a student residence hall all the services are included, and third because you will have exclusive areas to study alone or in group.
Well then: what is the most important thing at the moment of choosing a student residence hall in Barcelona? In TheLofttown we help you to choose the best place for you and your needs.
Services
At the moment of choosing a student residence hall in Barcelona it is fundamental to know the services that it has. A residence hall is not only a room… it is much more!
For example, it is key that the installations are prepared for students. This is: wifi, study rooms (individuals and group), meeting rooms, private rooms, photocopiers and printers.
At the same time, you can find out the additional services included in the fee which make your stay more friendly and optimised to make new friends.
An example of these additional services can be: terrace, solarium, gym, cafeteria, common spaces to socialise, video games rooms, laundromat, parking for bicycles, and of course, cooking.
Price
There are many student residence halls in Barcelona which offer services on top of the fee. TheLofttown includes the lot!
It’s important that you make an analysis of your needs to find all the comforts and services at the best price. This way you don’t worry about costs out of the residence hall. A clear example of this is the gym.
“How much does it cost to live in Barcelona?” is a recurring question among those who come to study a master’s degree or do an Erasmus in Barcelona. Well, imagine that you pay for a room and everything is included. Cool!
Get to know the different rooms and prices that we have in TheLofttown. Fall in love!
Spaces
Just as we commented before, it is fundamental that the students always feel comfortable; like at home. Student residence halls must offer space and practicality.
The study areas must be adapted for each one and the relaxation areas ready to favour interaction.
Likewise, basic services like heating, air conditioning and cleaning are fundamental for students to enjoy their stay without worrying about things they don’t want to worry about.
Location
The location of your next student residence hall in Barcelona has to be comfortable for you: near to the important arteries of the city, well-connected and in an agreeable environment.
TheLofttown is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in Barcelona: Gracia. Near to everything: the universities, study centres, leisure, restaurants, shops, green areas … and with virtually all the metro, bus and train lines next to you. Google it!
-
May 26 2017 
The best student accommodation in Barcelona is the one that helps you in things that go beyond the accommodation
In Barcelona there are a large number of student residences that provide comfort and accommodation to those intrepid university students coming to enjoy Barcelona, Mediterranean food, the essence of its historical streets and the fresh air that its beaches give us. But how to choose the best student accommodation in Barcelona without dying in the attempt? It’s so easy; choose only the one which helps you in things that go far beyond housing. Why The Lofttown? How does it get to be the best student accommodation in Barcelona?
It is the most central
We not only provide perfect accommodation, but also the perfect location. You can forget transportation because you can walk to all the key points in the heart of Barcelona: Paseo de Gracia, Avenida Diagonal, Plaça Catalunya… Live the experience and go all around the beautiful streets of Barcelona for yourself!
It is a pioneer in full sustainability
The Lofttown is the first residence with organic cuisine and a brand new biosustainable building. We offer you organic products and local produce in your meals, maximum energy savings, maximum comfort for the residents and reduced impact on our environment.
Created only to please the student
We are responding to the growing demand of students who come to Barcelona to study for a college degree, a master’s degree, an Erasmus… The Lofttown was created with a clear mission to be the benchmark residence, the best student residence in Barcelona. Our raison d ‘ être is students and we are focused on them, so we know their needs very well and what they are looking for in a completely new place.
If you want to experience the magic of Barcelona first hand, the best place is The Lofttown. Be very happy!
