Banking Accounts

While living in Madrid, it will be very useful to have a bank account to control your expenses (renting a flat, receiving money from your parents etc.) as well as withdrawing money from the ATMs.

For this reason, we wanted to show you how to do it in order for you to lose as little as time as possible during the process.

IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT: you just need to go to your preferred bank and show your NIE to open an account.

IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT:

• you have first to register the "empadronamiento" then make your NIE. IE will assist you with the NIE but if you want to buy time register for the empadronamiento as soon as your arrived by taking an appointment at one of the "ayuntamiento". It is useful in case you need to go to the doctor or hospital you will be cover. Then with your NIE you will be able to open a bank account.
• or you need to go to one of these police stations:

1. Calle de General Pardiñas 90
2. Calle Domenico Scarlatti 6
3. Calle de Francos Rodríguez 104

and ask for a non-resident certificate and show it to your preferred bank along with your passport to have a bank account.

• Or go directly to your preferred bank with your passport and ask them to directly process your non-resident certificate. This will cost you approximately 15 euros.

USEFUL TIPS: 

* Remember that many banks offer special offers for students, so don't hesitate to ask for potential benefits.
* IE has a partnership with Sabadell (better to go to the one close to IE they are more aware about the partnership) which allows to open a free account, for that you will need the NIE and a proof that you are from IE (student card, certificate of enrollment).

* Usually, when you withdraw money from an ATM that is not your bank's official ATM, you might be charged a small commission. 

* Credit cards are accepted in almost every store.

* If you need to change money, you will be able to do so in your bank, in money exchange places, hotels or travel agencies.

Food & Drinks

IE students have lots of discounts when it comes to places to eat and drink, so take advantage of it! In this post we will show you where you can find the best places and pay less than everyone else just because you are at IE, so don't forget to bring with you your student card!

1. LOTS coffee house: Up to 25% discount 

Location: Calle del Gral Oraá 40 (only 1 block away from MM31)

2. Indian Restaurants: 25% discount

DIWALI, location: Calle Lope de Rueda 19
CURRY MASALA, location: Calle Silva 16
ARPIT, location: Calle Maria Tubau 19

2. SUSHICATESSEN (Sushi): 10% discount in take away and delivery

Location: http://www.sushicatessen.es/ to look up for your closest store

3. COMIDA&COMIDA: 10% discount

This is a platform developed by a former IE student that had saw the need of getting healthy food when he was studying but couldn't, so what he did is create this platform that offers ready-to-serve meals for those who don't have the time or the skills to cook. Your dishes will be sent within 48-72h and you can have them in your fridge up to 30 days because they come in baccum packed portions.

Location: order here www.comidacomida.com

4. BESTIA KITCHEN & BAR: 

Offers:
Nachos or Quesadilla + 4 beers for 10 Euros everyday from 20h00
Pizza + 4 beers for 15 Euros everyday from 20h00
Happy hour 2x1 + 10% discount in dinners

Location: Calle López de Hoyos, 9

5. BRUNCH AT MACADAMIA: 

Location: Calle Maria de Molina 50

6. GINOS RISTORANTE: Menu for 12,95 Euros

Location: Calle Velázquez 136

7. DEVOUR SPAIN MEDIA KIT: 10% discount off listed price

Location: Calle Gran Via 5, 3D

8. CERVECERIA SIBILA: 10% discounts on cash payments, 8% discount on card payments

Location: Calle Velázquez 120

We hope this is useful!!!

Survival Spanish

Hello warriors! Are you looking to survive the first weeks of coming to Madrid? We will provide you with the basic Spanish you will need to settle and live in this beautiful city. We are going to assume you already know how to say hello, goodbye and introduce yourself because you probably learnt it at school ;)

Arriving to Madrid

It is very common to feel lost when you first arrive to a new city, so here are some useful sentences to get around.

- ¿Dónde está...? "Where is...?" You can fill the blank with your street name, your hotel name...


-¿Dónde hay un banco? "Is there a bank nearby?"

-¿Dónde hay un restaurante/bar/supermercado? "Is there a restaurant/bar/supermarket nearby?"

-¿Dónde hay un hospital? "Is there a hospital nearby?"

-¿Dónde está la policía? "Where can I find the police?" Hopefully you won't need it, but it is not the first time a student gets its bag stolen, so that's where you would have to go to!

- Derecha/Izquierda/Derecho/En la esquina "Right/Left/Straight ahead/In the corner"

-Necesito ayuda "I need help"

-¿Dónde puedo encontrar a alguien que hable inglés? "Where can I find someone that speaks English?

-¿Cuánto cuesta? "How much does it cost?"

-¿Disculpe, qué hora es? "Excuse me, what time is it?"

Eating/drinking out

- Tengo una reserva para 4 personas "I have a reservation for 4 people"

- Quiero... "I want..."

- Una cerveza, por favor "A beer please"

- Un vaso de vino blanco/tinto, por favor "A glass of white/red wine, please"

- No como carne/pescado/lácteos "I don't eat meat/fish/dairy" in case you have any alimentary restriction.

- Un café sin azucar  "A coffee without sugar"

- La cuenta, por favor "The bill please"

- ¡Salud! "Cheers!"

At the club

- Hola guapa/guapo "Hello pretty girl/handsome boy"

- ¿Cómo te llamas? "What's your name?"

-¿Quieres tomar algo? "Would you like something to drink?"

- ¡Vámonos de fiesta!  "Let's go party!"

- Encantado/a de conocerte "Nice to meet you"


We believe that with this basic Spanish you will be able to properly survive...at least the first few weeks!