The deposit's paid, the confirmation's landed, and there's a small, happy panic: right — what now? Very little that's urgent, as it turns out. A hosted week is designed so that once you've booked, most of the work is someone else's. Here's what to expect between "booked" and "boarding".

First: your confirmation

The moment your deposit goes through, you get a booking confirmation. Keep it — it's your proof of place and your reference for anything that follows. This is the point at which your spot is genuinely held, not provisional. There's no further approval to wait for and nothing else you need to do to make the booking real; the confirmation is the finish line for the booking process itself. If the confirmation doesn't arrive within a little while, check your spam folder, and if it's still not there, get in touch rather than rebooking; it's almost always just an email gone astray, not a booking that failed.

Who do you contact with questions?

Two doors, depending on the question — and neither is a faceless queue.

Anything about the booking itself — payment, your balance, names on the booking, ATOL paperwork — is handled by Spice Escapes, the house's booking partner, who took the booking and hold the details. They do this every day, so it's well-trodden ground.

Anything about the house, the week or the valley — what dinner's like, whether the walking suits you, a dietary need, the best way to arrive — goes to Rob and María, who host in person. WhatsApp +34 699 489 998 or an email to hello@agara.es reaches them directly. They would genuinely rather you asked than sat wondering.

When do the trip details arrive?

The finer detail — joining instructions, timings, what to bring, how the week is shaped — comes to you as departure approaches, rather than all at once on day one. Exactly when depends on the trip, and Spice will confirm the specifics for your week, so don't worry if you've booked months ahead and there's no full itinerary the next morning. That's normal. The deposit holds your place; the paperwork catches up in good time.

If yours is a flight-inclusive package, your travel details firm up in the same window. If you're making your own way — flying into Santander, about an hour from the valley, or even coming by ferry — it's worth asking Rob and María early about the best approach for your week, so you can book your own legs with confidence rather than guesswork.

Can you tell them about a dietary need or a room preference?

Yes, and the sooner the better. If you're vegetarian, avoiding something, or have an allergy, tell them well ahead — the kitchen cooks dinner from scratch, much of it from the house's own garden, and a bit of notice means it's handled quietly rather than improvised on the night. Same with room preferences: if there's something that matters to you, say so early while there's room to sort it. Nobody minds the question. They mind you having a worse week for not asking.

This isn't a booking that vanishes into a call centre never to be seen again, either. Spice passes on the guest list for each week, and Rob and María know who's arriving and when, long before you knock on the door. By the time you walk in, you're an expected guest, not a name checked off a spreadsheet by a stranger — which is exactly why telling them ahead of time, rather than on the doorstep, means whatever you've flagged has already been thought about by the time you sit down for that first dinner. Chispa, the house dog, will already know you're expected too, in her own way.

What should you sort out yourself?

A few sensible things — no rush, but don't leave them to the final week:

  • Travel insurance. Worth arranging soon after booking, so you're covered from the off — especially on an activity week with walking.
  • Your travel to Spain, if it isn't part of a flight-inclusive package.
  • Your documents — a passport with enough validity left, and any health card you like to carry.
  • The balance, which falls due before you travel; note the date from your confirmation so it doesn't surprise you.

None of it is heavy lifting. It's the ordinary admin of going somewhere lovely.

The short version

Confirmation lands and holds your place. Booking questions go to Spice; house and week questions go to Rob and María. The detailed joining information arrives nearer the time. Flag any dietary need early, sort your insurance and travel in good time, keep an eye on the balance date — and then, mostly, look forward to it.

Something on your mind after booking? Message Rob and María — no question's too small. Not booked yet? See the dates →.