| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/21/2009 11:19:49 AM | Myself and a friend are planning to spend the summer in the south of France. We've both done 6 years of French at secondary school and are 2 years through our French degree. We're planning on flying over and staying in a hostel for a night or two til we find a room / flat, and a job. My friend has experience in retail, while I have waited tables in restaurants and worked in cafes, but we'd be open to anything, like cleaning hotel rooms or whatever. We're thinking of going to Provence, to Marseilles or similar.
Anyone have any advice on what we should do or where we should go? We're just organising this by ourselves so any tips would be welcome!!! Thanks!! | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/23/2009 11:36:46 AM | I have just spent a couple of months near Lyon in the Rhone valley.
When the tourism season is up, there is more work in touristic destinations , places like Port Camargue, All the coastal towns, which are Excellent. You maybe should arrange the work prior to leaving , the 2 most populare adverts sites here are 1/LEBONCOIN.com and 3/VIVASTREET.fr
Irish are very popular so it will make things easier.
Marseilles rocks definateley but lots of students there already for jobs, unlike cannes for example.
There are seasonal jobs like rasperry and grape picking which are more toil than an army training course, so maybe best be avoided, plus you will likely have something similair to a barrack bunks if you opt for that.
My crazy french friend is trying to get me over to fix up his mum's house to turn it into a microlite flight tourism centre and various such ideas but i dont know really! | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/23/2009 6:57:49 PM | Southern Parts of France are amazing. France is amazing. Was my 1st European trip and I loved every minute of it. Can't wait till next summer, I want to got back and travel to more places.
Southern parts of France that I would highly recommend are, The Ponte Du Garde ( Roman aquiducts ) they are so massive and very interesting to see up close, Montpieller, Carcassone ( there are a massive castle to see and tour through with many restaraunts, gift shops, a hotel, pubs, a theatre show to see), Marseilles, and Nice - omg1 the Medittearean Sea is crystal clear, goes from a sky blue to a navy blue.
Nice has everything that a traveller will want to see and do. From Nice to can catch a rail train and head east along the coast line to Monte - Monte Carlo, a must see. Its a 20 min trail ride from Nice. In Monte Carlo, if you travel there, the boat marinea is in the centre, to the right omtop one hill side is, Princess Grace's castle and villa, where you can go and see her burial site inside the cathedral there. On the other hill to the left, all the wealth and glamor, very expensive shopping, hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, exotic cars, and the famous Casino Royal -007 movies. I wwas in awwww!
Further past Monte Carlo to the east by train, a 15min trail ride you can travel into Italy!
Or try Barcelona, Spain. Talk about a great travel destination1 I spent a week there. Shopping alone is amazing! So much to see and do in Barcelona. | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/24/2009 1:16:56 AM | You should look into working for a hostel. I was in Nice last October and met a few girls who were working (they came from the UK) and both found jobs prior to their travel to Nice. They looked on the internet and just started to contact/write to hostels - obviously they got responses to their inquiries.
Best of luck to you. I am so so envious. What a wonderful trip! | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/24/2009 6:40:34 PM | Well, I love the south of France, but I have not really stayed in the Provence area for too long. I loved the City of Nimes and the Pont du Gard. The Roman Amphitheater in Nimes is in pristine condition and just amazing, and the old Roman Aqueduct is great. I have always wanted to go to Avignon and Arles, but I just haven’t made it there yet. I have heard great things about the area, and I am sure you will have a great time.
I have always stated in the Languedoc region in the south of France; it is not as touristy as Provence, and it is a bit cheaper. I can list a couple of weekend or day trips to this area that may be nice. Sete is a beautiful city right on the Mediterranean; they call it the Venice of Longduloc because of all of the canals. In fact, they host jousting tournaments in the summer on boats in the canal, which is interesting. It doesn’t have a big ‘night life’ though, so if that is important to you, you may not want to stay there. I would say that a definite day trip for you must be the old walled city of Carcassonne. It is amazing! It is the old castle that was used in filming Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. The colorful roofs of the turrets are great. The city has shops, restaurants, bars, and it even had a Best Western hotel there when I went. A truly great city to explore.
Another great weekend trip would be to see the French Alps. The city of Chamonix is beautiful and you can ride a cable car up a mountain to get great views of the snow-capped mountains. The views of Mont Blanc are breath taking.
I hope you have a great summer. | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/24/2009 7:09:26 PM | As far as what to do, I have a piece of advice from my three months in Montpellier. Make accounts on OnVaSortir.com. That is a great way to meet people for all types of activities. But I was 39, and you're 19, so you probably won't have as many problems in that area.
Montpellier is a university town, so plenty of young people doing young people things. | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 3/28/2009 9:08:53 PM | If you are looking for work now is the time in France and SPain to be getting sorted for the Summer (the earlier the more choice ) other Posters have mentioned Montpellier as a good place to consider and when you consider the location is a good place to start- there is plenty of availability of reasonable accomodation here - as opposed to St Tropez or Monaco for instance- yet both places are not that far away.
When I worked in Spain some years ago employers needed a police check- I had to submit a UK police form (F10) which stated that I was free from conviction and wasnt wanted by the police- this cost ten pounds from my local police authority in the UK.
I would have a look on the internet for local jobboards etc or even facebook for groups etc
best of luck | |
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| Doing the summer Frenchy style!
Posted: 4/9/2009 8:04:36 AM | | You should try to find a sublet before you go... it will be a really cheap way to live. Good for you- that trip sounds wonderful! | |
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