If you prefer looking
for an alternative form of accommodation,and arranging this
part of your language trip yourself, good ways of finding
possible lodging facilities include searching the local newspapers,
checking out notice boards in universities or in real estate
agencies.
There is a whole range of different student accommodation
options to choose from in France, from student residences
and hostels, to apartments and hotels.
Student
residences
A very popular form of accommodation, student residences in
France are usually overbooked and there are long waiting lists.
It is best to apply for a place well before coming to France,
even months before. You have a choice
between public and private residences.
Public residences
Offered by French universities, these rooms and studios are
offered at very good rates, due to subsidization. They are
referred to as Cités-U and are managed by regional
branches of the national student service agency, known as
CNOUS. It can be difficult to arrange accommodation here given
the huge demand.
Private residences
This form of accommodation is more expensive than the subsidized
public residences, but the organizations still offer competitive
prices. There are several private agencies that have facilities
in most major French towns, usually located close to universities.
Hotels
For
those with higher budgets, hotels are another option, with
all categories available in both Nice and Paris.
Youth Hostels
While
looking for apartment or residence, an option is to stay at
a youth or student hostel. For further information, look up
the Youth Hostel Services of Paris (Auberges de jeunesse de
Paris).
