Strasbourg or Montpellier?
May 30th, 2015, 09:01 AM
#1
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Strasbourg or Montpellier?
My girlfriend and I are taking 8 weeks next summer to live in France. Originally we thought to live 4 weeks in Strasbourg and 4 weeks in Montpellier, but now we're seriously considering spending all 8 in Montpellier. Is this wise?
Our reasoning to stay in Strasbourg:
-Close to other countries for short visits (biggest reason)
-We like the aesthetic appeal
-Change of environment (from Montpellier)
Reasons for 8 weeks in Montpellier:
-We don't actually know how much money we'll have for extra traveling right now (possibly making our first Strasbourg reason irrelevant)
-Mediterranean food and weather
-Better living options in our budget
-Aesthetic appeal
On one hand, we're afraid of "missing out" if we choose one city for 8 weeks.
On the other, choosing two cities would make our trip more complicated (two rental contracts, airports, etc.). We also like the idea of making one place home.
We are 20 year old women looking for new experiences, culture, good food variety, good nightlife, and reasonable safety.
Do you think we would be better off living in two cities for 4 weeks or Montpellier for 8 weeks?
Thanks in advance for your insight and advice!
Our reasoning to stay in Strasbourg:
-Close to other countries for short visits (biggest reason)
-We like the aesthetic appeal
-Change of environment (from Montpellier)
Reasons for 8 weeks in Montpellier:
-We don't actually know how much money we'll have for extra traveling right now (possibly making our first Strasbourg reason irrelevant)
-Mediterranean food and weather
-Better living options in our budget
-Aesthetic appeal
On one hand, we're afraid of "missing out" if we choose one city for 8 weeks.
On the other, choosing two cities would make our trip more complicated (two rental contracts, airports, etc.). We also like the idea of making one place home.
We are 20 year old women looking for new experiences, culture, good food variety, good nightlife, and reasonable safety.
Do you think we would be better off living in two cities for 4 weeks or Montpellier for 8 weeks?
Thanks in advance for your insight and advice!
May 30th, 2015, 09:22 AM
#2
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Well I would vote for Strasbourg since we love it - and it gives a whole different view of France. Can't imagine that getting from one place to another would be that much more expensive. And have you looked at potential lodgings in Colmar or one of the villages on the wine route - might be less than Strasbourg itself.
May 30th, 2015, 09:24 AM
#3
I would also vote for Strasbourg, which is a fantastic city.
However, Montpellier is very nice, too, and would probably be preferred by people who want more of a "California" experience than a "France" experience.
However, Montpellier is very nice, too, and would probably be preferred by people who want more of a "California" experience than a "France" experience.
May 30th, 2015, 09:25 AM
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I've found more interesting stuff to do in & around Montpellier than in & around Strasbourg. I also think Montpellier is a more "alive" city - being a college town. Nice, Avignon, Aix, Nimes, Toulouse, even Barcelona are short train rides away. PREM train fares (3 months in advance) are dirt cheap.
However, I don't agree with your concerns about two cities being more "complicated". They are only 5 3/4 hrs apart by a no-train-change TGV. And like I stated - PREM fares are dirt cheap (58E Strasbourg to Montpellier).
After Paris, the two cities I would chose for an extended stay in France would be Lyon & Toulouse. Nice too, of course, but that would probably be more expensive.
Stu Dudley
However, I don't agree with your concerns about two cities being more "complicated". They are only 5 3/4 hrs apart by a no-train-change TGV. And like I stated - PREM fares are dirt cheap (58E Strasbourg to Montpellier).
After Paris, the two cities I would chose for an extended stay in France would be Lyon & Toulouse. Nice too, of course, but that would probably be more expensive.
Stu Dudley
May 30th, 2015, 10:11 AM
#6
I've never been to either city, so count me out in that regard. However, addressing "missing out", my reasoning takes me in the opposite direction. The longer you stay in a place, the better you know it, the more people you come to know, you begin to separate the good from the mundane and just generally begin to orient yourself toward the best the city has for you personally.
This is the area of experience that no guidebook and no forum "experts" can personalize for an individual and is, for me, always an argument for staying longer in any given good place when there's time to do it. And you have the time so consider it an opportunity to begin to feel like a local in 1 of them.
If it was me, I'd always head south. But it's not me so go where it just seems right to you. I'm sure 1 must sound better.
This is the area of experience that no guidebook and no forum "experts" can personalize for an individual and is, for me, always an argument for staying longer in any given good place when there's time to do it. And you have the time so consider it an opportunity to begin to feel like a local in 1 of them.
If it was me, I'd always head south. But it's not me so go where it just seems right to you. I'm sure 1 must sound better.
May 30th, 2015, 10:28 AM
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I've been in both, and they are just different. I'm not a fan of that Alsacienne cuisine myself, prefer the south of France and would rather stay there between the two. However, it is true the other is closer to visit UK or Netherlands, if that's a wish to do things like that a lot.
Personally, since you have 8 weeks, why not split the time up, 4 weeks is a lot of time in one area as it is. And Montpellier is closer to Spain, which I love, and the Languedoc, Toulouse, etc.
The only drawback I can really see it the two rental contracts, it isn't that difficult to get from one to the other once to move. You aren't moving there permanently anyway, so the idea that you are going to become friends to locals, etc., just isn't going to happen much, IMO. It takes a long time to settle into a French community. You say you are interested in experiences, new areas, cuisines, etc., so I don't see how 8 weeks in Strasbourg fits in with that goal. You're only 20, you aren't going to settle into either place as a local.
Personally, since you have 8 weeks, why not split the time up, 4 weeks is a lot of time in one area as it is. And Montpellier is closer to Spain, which I love, and the Languedoc, Toulouse, etc.
The only drawback I can really see it the two rental contracts, it isn't that difficult to get from one to the other once to move. You aren't moving there permanently anyway, so the idea that you are going to become friends to locals, etc., just isn't going to happen much, IMO. It takes a long time to settle into a French community. You say you are interested in experiences, new areas, cuisines, etc., so I don't see how 8 weeks in Strasbourg fits in with that goal. You're only 20, you aren't going to settle into either place as a local.
May 30th, 2015, 11:23 AM
#8
Christina loves to split hairs. I'm sure most reading my post know I meant "get acquainted" rather than "bosom buddies" when I said "get to know". Like shop keepers, bartenders, neighbors. "...to begin to feel like a local" does not, as she felt compelled to point out, mean being, in fact, a local. Maybe nuance eludes her. English can be pesky, I know. In any case, I stand by my premise.
