TC, I can't speak about the Jerez setup with much certainty as I'm not out there yet. I know my course will last 6 and a half months, and they fly us back over Christmas and then back out again in January. The financial pluses and ability to immerse myself in the right environment steered me towards Jerez too.
If it helps I think there is some flexibility in deciding where and when you go for training. When I got the call I was offered the CTC and I didn't even finish listing 2 or 3 reasons why I'd like to go to Spain instead pretty please and the lady on the phone then started telling me the next Jerez dates. They seem fairly accommodating to me, providing you don't take the biscuit and mess them about.