I attended Habla for 2 weeks at the end of February. It was a very good experience. I have a decent…read morebackground in Spanish (high school and college years ago and some use in recent years) but my Spanish definitely needed sharpening. This was a good environment for practicing, reviewing, learning and gaining confidence to speak. The entire staff is energetic and passionate. The teachers, all young, have excellent teaching skills and obviously put a lot of effort into planning their curriculum and lessons.Each week, in each class, there is a theme. The themes includes history, literature, social issues and culture. Interwoven is grammar and vocabulary so that you can express and communicate more clearly. There were a maximum of four students in my classes, all of whom were at the same approximate intermediate level as I am. We were encouraged to speak Spanish at all times, during meals, breaks, etc. We mostly did. Speaking of meals, breakfast and lunch are provided and very tasty.....typical Yucatan meals, eaten outside on a shaded patio at a big table with the staff and students. My first week I stayed with a local family in the suburbs. My second week I stayed in a wonderful small hotel, Casa Mexillo in El Centro. The home stay was fine, but I much preferred staying downtown. Merida is safe, the people are quite reserved and are used to tourists. Although there are a lot of tourists, the city does not have a touristy feel to it. No large groups following a leader with a flag. It is a big, working city, with a fascinating culture and history. Staying in El Centro let me enjoy restaurants, historic sites, shopping and outdoor concerts. My Spanish got good enough that I was very comfortable in all situations. There is another review of Habla that I just read that says many of the same things I would say and I concur with that review 100%! Habla is an awesome place and Merida is wonderful.

Mi nephew comes from LA to Merida every year for the summer break, and he always attends some…read moresummer camp, like swimming, and the like. This year we decided to enroll him in Habla summer camp, and he said this has been the best summer since he is coming. He was very happy and felt really bonded with Habla's personnel. I have never seen him crying for leaving the summer camp in the past!!! Five stars for Habla.

If you are looking to improve your Spanish and learn about the culture of the Yucatan, this is the…read moreschool for you! I highly recommend the "experiencias" program for students who have at least an intermediate-advanced level of Spanish. Hiroshi and Nidi were excellent hosts who always made me feel welcome. From the airport pickup to classes, field trips, and arranging my home-stay, they never overlooked any details. Be sure to take the cooking class with Doña Susi - she is a delight! Everyone at Hola Spanish School is very attentive, personable, and a pleasure to learn from.

My son and I stayed in Merida for two weeks, and the Hola Language school was the most important…read morepart of our wonderful experience. Our teachers, Nidi and Hiroshi, treated us feel like old friends right from the start. While we are both novices in Spanish, they made us feel as if we could share everything we were thinking during our conversation sessions through their supportive attitudes. Each 3-4 hour day included time to talk informally, conversation surrounding the small homework assignments we were given, and then teaching of a new skill with conversation practice and games. Any time we asked a question about the language, Nidi could create a mini-lesson on the spot to address it. I couldn't believe how quickly the time went by! The first week my son and I worked together with Nidi, and during the second week she suggested that we try working with different partners so that she and Hiroshi could more accurately meet our needs - which was also a great social experience for us. The school is also conveniently located within walking distance of the city center and only 3 blocks from the Nomadas Hostel, where we were staying. We had no need for a bus or taxi during our trip due to the convenient location. On the Saturday between our two weeks of study, we had the privilege of spending the day with Nidi and Hiroshi on a tour of the Ruta Puuc. They transported us in their private vehicle, allowed us to spend as much time as we wished at each site, and helped us practice our Spanish the whole time! Going on a tour with Hola is like spending the day with friends. If you are not interested or able to take Spanish lessons with the Hola School, I would strongly suggest considering one of their tours. I don't believe you could have such a personalized experience with any other group.

If you are visiting Mérida and are looking for a great experience at a Spanish school, I highly…read morerecommend Spanish Center Mérida!! I took a 1-week course with Telma and really improved my Spanish in such a short time. The teachers are incredibly nice and welcoming. The school also does a really good job communicating before your arrival and answering any questions. The school is in a beautiful building that is clean and comfortable. They have coffee, tea, and fruit as well. I would definitely return for more lessons and fully recommend this school! Muchas gracias!!

From the owner: "Have Fun--Learn Spanish!" That's the philosophy behind this new Spanish school located in Colonia…read moreItzimná, Mérida. We have created a pleasant environment so that our students are happy while they learn. When you are studying Spanish as a part of your vacation, you don't want to be dreading the learning portion of the day; on the contrary we want our students to be excited about the experience. If you are having fun, you will learn more! And we want to be a part of that joy."