Erasmus Experience in Paris, France by Esme

Guide to Paris

Moving abroad is a big step, it's important to be organised with all your arrangements previous to and immedietly after your arrival. This way you're doing your best to avoid complications and help you settle in as soon as possible.

The boring bits

1. Location (university/Work Placement/School)

Paris is arranged into arrondissements, it starts in the centre with number 1 and spirals out numerically. You should consider in which arrondissment you university, work placement or Assistantship is in relation to which arrondissment you want to live in.

From friends completing the assistantships, i understand that many of the schools are located in the Banlieues just outside of Paris, normally, they decided to live near the schools. However after their arrival they realised they are quite far from the centre of Paris, and due to transport time restrictions after nights out it really limits their social life capacity, So do consider seriously your decision on location.

Good locations for students:

• 5th Arrondissment - Cluny la Sorbonne, Saint Michel.
• 6th Arrondissment - Odéon, Saint Germain.
• 13th/12th Arrondissment - Les Gobelins/ Place D'italie, Gare du Lyon Slightly less touristy, yet good location and transport links to all off Paris.



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2. Accomodation (Deposits)

When choosing accomodation I would recommend visiting Paris in advance and viewing possible options. This was one of the best decisions I made when organising my Year Abroad, as I was able to really gain an idea of the location of the accomodation in relation to my work placement and hot spot areas.

I took the first eurostar early in the morning and returned on the last train leaving Paris, it can be done in one day. There many accomodation options available, shared appartments, studios, university halls, or longterm Hostels, so consider your prioties and preference before commiting to anything. I found my accomodation on Erasmusu.

A great way as well is to join the Erasmus Paris page on Facebook, many landlords and students post colocations everyday, it is also a brilliant way to make friends and find events round Paris.

Deposits are wanted when renting in Paris, and as the accomodation isnt cheap, the deposit usually reflects that too, so organising things in advance gives you time to save or beg your parents for six months for money. Pay attention with scams.

Accomodation websites I used:

• Erasmusu.com
• Appartager.com

Paris Rent: 650 euros - 1000 euros per month



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3. Finances (Student Loans/ Erasmus Grants)

Money, Money, Money, must be funny in a rich man's world. SO being that the majority of people on the Year Abroad are penniless students, you really have to sit down and think about your income or lack of. Paris is expensive there is no way to avoid this. Rent is expensive and the cost of living is too, the only thing cheap is the wine.

Student maintenance loans are optional in the Year Abroad but living in Paris i strongly advise you to apply for it as the Erasmus Grant just isnt enough to survive.

Erasmus Grants are given to you in 2 installments the first is 80 percent of the total sum and the second is the remaining 20. I have found also that the amount varies from year to year and from uni to uni, stick to emailing your own university when confirming the grant.



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4. Bank accounts/Phone SIMS

Setting up a bank account in France in a bit tricky, but dooable. You need to make an appointment with a bank in advance to set one up. You will also need, Proof of address in France, ID and recent bank statements. I used Société Générale, but there are also many other options, BNP, LCL, Banque Populaire.

Otherwise, an alternative way to do it is, if youre from the UK, the post office do a Travel Money Card, this works like a debit card. You are able to use it online in shops ATMS etc. You are also able to top it up from your english card, loading more euros when you need it, online or from the mobile app. This has been my life saver in Paris.

Phone and SIM cards, it is incredible easy to get hold of a french number, you can go Pay as you go, or pay monthly, it's around 20 euros per month for unlimited data etc. I used pay as you go as my english phone company allows me to use data abroad. I invested in a French number with Orange however as some french numbers cannot call english numbers so this was causing a little trouble when trying to socialise with the French folk.



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5. Transport - Metro Card

Invest in a Navigo Card, it is the cheapest most efficient way to get around Paris. It costs 70 euros per month and allow you to use the Metro, trams and buses unlimitedly. Alternatively you can pay weekly.

Travel Apps:

• Moovit - Enter current location and destination and it shows you the quickest routes via metro, tram bus, or your own legs!
• Paris Metro - Enter start stop and end stop to find quickest route, also gives service updates



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The fun bits

1. Places to eat/Drink

France is filled with great Bistros and restuarants. In the central areas, such as the Latin Quarter, Les Halles/ Chatlet you'll never be far from some good grub. Here are a few I reccomend.

• For famous French Crépes : Café Josselin - A traditional Créperie from Brittany, the most tradittionally decorated, and biggest crepe selection you will find in Paris. They even set my crepe on fire for a little show.
• For Hot Chocolate : Café de Flore - Although 10 euros for a chocolat chaud, it is the most amazing hot chocolate, you can also eat dinner there but it is incredibly over priced for the quality of food. Except for the Hot chocolate.
• For Eclairs : L'Atelier de l'Eclair.
• For meals : Odéon.
• For Ice Cream : Ile de saint Louis - The Berthillon infamous Ice cream can be found on the Ile de Saint Louis- Berthillon is not the name of a shop, it is a make of ice cream.



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2. Places to go out/Night Life

Great selection of clubs and bars in Paris, you will never find yourself bored. The main student areas to go are The Latin Quarter, Bastille, or Republique.

• Showcase - Great club in a great location, the smoking area there is a view of the Eiffel Tower. Hot spot for DJ's such as Amine Edge, Monki, Dusky etc, be sure to watch their website for DJ Events and tickets.
• The Yellow Mad Monkey - Fun bar in Bastille, food served til very late as well, big bar for Paris but has a slightly more electric feel than a normal parisien bar.
• VIP ROOM - Great for those of you who love to get dressed up in your suits and heels. Although very pricey, you should try and go at least once. With dancers in great costumes in the clubs and a very VIP feel, opposite the Louvre.
• Le Tango - A gay bar with a saturday night disco as its pulling point. You can request your own song choiced to the DJ and dance on the stage. For those of you who have seen Coyote Ugly, its something along those lines.

Websites for Club events/Parties : Meetmeout

Apps for Nightlife : Paris Bouge - great app for local giggs, club events, exhibitions, restaurants and bars.



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3. Places to Visit/Things to do

Make sure to visit all classical French monuments, but do delve deeper into what Paris has to offer as there is so much. Sacre-Coeur, Eiffel Tower, Louvre etc.

• Versailles: 40 minute direct train from Paris, this Palace is extrodinary, it does take a day to do and do go on a sunny day as the gardens of versailles are stunning. You can rent bikes, tandems or gold buggies to explore the grounds on.
• Catacombs: The under ground ossaries of paris, basically underground graves, although slightly scary they are incredbly! Makes a change from the romantic side of things.
• Aquaboulevard: Great waterbark with a mini beach, super for the summer, or just a free weekend, tickets are reasonable and often there are offers if you just google 'aquaboulveard flash'. Boys heads up, swimming shorts are prohbited, you have to wear speedos, funny rule it seems but for some reason theyre really strict about it.
• Museums/ Galleries: Most museums and galleries allow europeon citezens between the age of 18 - 28 in for Free, check the websites of your favourite galleries to see what exhibitions are on as they change and turn alot. Centre Pompidou is a must for those not so into the Arts, its a little more interactive.

Websites for Visits Meetmeout - Yoga events, Weekends away, cooking events etc.

Apps for Visits : Paris Bouge - great app for local giggs, club events, exhibitions, restaurants and bars.



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