France Study Abroad
May 22nd, 2017, 07:51 PM
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France Study Abroad
Hello all,
My name is Alex and I am an 18 year old student at NC State University. I will be studying abroad in Lille, France this summer and this will be my first time out of the country. I have never been on a plane before so there is a lot of firsts with this trip. I have a basic itinerary but I also have a lot of free time that I am unsure of how to use and make the most out of.
I will be arriving in Paris on May 26th where I will receive a three day metro pass and will be leaving Paris for Lille the morning of May 30th. I'll likely take the first evening to get settled in and most of the day will be taken up but I have the evenings free to myself. What are some good things to do for those three evenings I will have available in Paris?
While in Lille, I will have class during the morning and some of the day Monday through Friday but I will have the afternoons available. I will have plans to visit the Wezemmes Market, the Palais Des Beaux Arts, and a weekend trip to Normandie revolving around the D-Day landing beach. Apart from that, I would love suggestions for what to do on the rest of the days for which I will be in Lille and able to travel as I please.
I would like to travel to Germany during the weekend of June 10th to visit a friend and have her show me around. I have looked at transportation options a little bit but that seems very costly to me. Unless I find more economical options, I probably will not do this.
I have never traveled overseas before so I am not too sure on what is a regular spending budget but I would like to keep it under $2000 USD. Any other tips (culture tips, food, drinks, souvenir/gift places, or money saving) would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for taking the time to read this and helping me out on my first trip abroad!
My name is Alex and I am an 18 year old student at NC State University. I will be studying abroad in Lille, France this summer and this will be my first time out of the country. I have never been on a plane before so there is a lot of firsts with this trip. I have a basic itinerary but I also have a lot of free time that I am unsure of how to use and make the most out of.
I will be arriving in Paris on May 26th where I will receive a three day metro pass and will be leaving Paris for Lille the morning of May 30th. I'll likely take the first evening to get settled in and most of the day will be taken up but I have the evenings free to myself. What are some good things to do for those three evenings I will have available in Paris?
While in Lille, I will have class during the morning and some of the day Monday through Friday but I will have the afternoons available. I will have plans to visit the Wezemmes Market, the Palais Des Beaux Arts, and a weekend trip to Normandie revolving around the D-Day landing beach. Apart from that, I would love suggestions for what to do on the rest of the days for which I will be in Lille and able to travel as I please.
I would like to travel to Germany during the weekend of June 10th to visit a friend and have her show me around. I have looked at transportation options a little bit but that seems very costly to me. Unless I find more economical options, I probably will not do this.
I have never traveled overseas before so I am not too sure on what is a regular spending budget but I would like to keep it under $2000 USD. Any other tips (culture tips, food, drinks, souvenir/gift places, or money saving) would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for taking the time to read this and helping me out on my first trip abroad!
May 22nd, 2017, 09:09 PM
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Hi aRojas,
Congratulations on your first European adventure!! I'm sure you'll have a ton of adventures and delights! I spent a year in Paris in school when I was a few years older than you, and it had a major impact on my life. I think you'll have a blast.
For your trip to Germany, where does your friend live? Where did you get the fares for the train trip there?
You should be using the German rail site at
www.bahn.com
Normally, if you buy your tickets at least 92 days in advance, you'll find some good fares, like around 29-39€ each way. The only problem will be that you will then be stuck with taking those exact trains, and you'll have to pay a 15€ fee to cancel them. Even though your trip on 10 June is pretty soon, it's still worthwhile to check and see if any bargains are left.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Congratulations on your first European adventure!! I'm sure you'll have a ton of adventures and delights! I spent a year in Paris in school when I was a few years older than you, and it had a major impact on my life. I think you'll have a blast.
For your trip to Germany, where does your friend live? Where did you get the fares for the train trip there?
You should be using the German rail site at
www.bahn.com
Normally, if you buy your tickets at least 92 days in advance, you'll find some good fares, like around 29-39€ each way. The only problem will be that you will then be stuck with taking those exact trains, and you'll have to pay a 15€ fee to cancel them. Even though your trip on 10 June is pretty soon, it's still worthwhile to check and see if any bargains are left.
Have fun as you plan!
s
May 23rd, 2017, 02:40 AM
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Though the train is far better if you can swing it, buses are cheaper if they fit your schedule . You can find them here
https://www.rome2rio.com
https://www.rome2rio.com
May 23rd, 2017, 02:57 AM
#4
ok, congrats at this opportunity, grab it with both arms.
one way to save money (which on this budget is a must) is eat and drink what the locals do. Bottled water, coke, fizzy drinks tend to be very expensive so plan on re using your water bottle (tap water is fine if not better quality than most wate bottles) avoid McDooo as you'll find it called.
rome2rio is not bad, but the data sets are full of errors so once you have a plan, click through and check the buses and trains are really there.
understanding trains, read seat61.com
one way to save money (which on this budget is a must) is eat and drink what the locals do. Bottled water, coke, fizzy drinks tend to be very expensive so plan on re using your water bottle (tap water is fine if not better quality than most wate bottles) avoid McDooo as you'll find it called.
rome2rio is not bad, but the data sets are full of errors so once you have a plan, click through and check the buses and trains are really there.
understanding trains, read seat61.com
May 23rd, 2017, 04:17 AM
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Lille is a superb city.
Close (very close) you ahve Brugge (Be), if interested in WW1 you have the sites at Ieper (Ypres).
Bruxelles is also quite close.
I sceond the idea of buses. I hate buses and my old bones prefer trains but my daughter - your age - travels with buses for less than 10 €. Often during night so she saves the hotel...
TGV's (fast trains in France) are best booked as long as possible in advance, TER (local trains) not.
flights can be very cheap - with Low cost companies such as Ryanair Vueling and easyjet based there. And some others..
http://www.lille.aeroport.fr/flight-...stination-map/
Close (very close) you ahve Brugge (Be), if interested in WW1 you have the sites at Ieper (Ypres).
Bruxelles is also quite close.
I sceond the idea of buses. I hate buses and my old bones prefer trains but my daughter - your age - travels with buses for less than 10 €. Often during night so she saves the hotel...
TGV's (fast trains in France) are best booked as long as possible in advance, TER (local trains) not.
flights can be very cheap - with Low cost companies such as Ryanair Vueling and easyjet based there. And some others..
http://www.lille.aeroport.fr/flight-...stination-map/
May 23rd, 2017, 04:32 AM
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I agree about using buses. They are much cheaper than train, and you save hotel fee if that's a night bus. I often take night buses to Germany or Netherlands.
Brugge that WoinParis recommended is a peaceful picturesque town, very close to Lille. Same goes with Gent. If you like beers than one Belgian city is a must.
In Paris, you can visit landmarks during daytime (cathedral, museums, Eiffel Tower,...) then walk around the city in night time. It's very pleasant to wander in Paris. For example, you can follow the Seine river, from Notre Dame Cathedral upstream or downstream, see how young people gathered on the bank singing or dancing. In May you'll have sunlight til very late, like 9pm.
Brugge that WoinParis recommended is a peaceful picturesque town, very close to Lille. Same goes with Gent. If you like beers than one Belgian city is a must.
In Paris, you can visit landmarks during daytime (cathedral, museums, Eiffel Tower,...) then walk around the city in night time. It's very pleasant to wander in Paris. For example, you can follow the Seine river, from Notre Dame Cathedral upstream or downstream, see how young people gathered on the bank singing or dancing. In May you'll have sunlight til very late, like 9pm.
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