Hello all,

I am going to be studying abroad in Nantes for a semester, from this August to December. I would like to travel around afterwards--perhaps to Munich, maybe to Greece. I'm not sure where yet. But I have no where to store all of my luggage from the semester and don't want to lug around two bags plus two large suitcases.

Do any of you know anywhere where I could store two large suitcases for around a week? It could be in Nantes (preferably) or somewhere along the way. If some other major European city offered such storage I could arrange my travel plans around that city.

If not, I am considering just staying in a single in a youth hostel for the week, but I would prefer to find storage so that I could stay dorm-style for much cheaper and not be hindered by my luggage.

Thanks!
Adam

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Don't know if it's a viable option for you, but what about just shipping your suitcases home. It may be no more expensive than storing it,maybe cheaper.

How about checking with your University? This must be a common problem for students.

They may have storage on campus, but usually schools don't care to assume the responsibility. However, they should know of any storage units or other options available.

I would also check the class roster. Does anyone live nearby? They might help you out.

If the school can't help you I would check business listings for Nantes online. Maybe self storage units are available for rent.

Last suggestion, if none of the above work out, I would get busy as soon as I got to Nantes. Email all professors, email all administrative staff, and follow up with a flyer. Put up flyers in the dorm, and at the student laundromat. I'd ask local business owners for suggestions as well.

Your semester is probably 3-6 monthes long. That gives you plenty of time to check out options. And remember, all that money you save on shipping, is yours to spend on travel.

Contact the hostel - many have special luggage rooms just for this

Thanks for your replies.

My study abroad program is actually a unique program in that we actually take all of our classes in English from professors from the same college back in the states--just either teleconference or from professors that went with us. Thus we don't have much contact with the University. This is indeed unfortunate, but the only way I can be an engineer and study abroad at the same time.

From what I've read, youth hostel luggage rooms are common and anyone staying at the hostel can access them--not something I'd want. I'll check business listings, but it also is only around 30 euros to spend the night off-season in a single in several youth hostels that I have seen, so I may just go that route.

Does another department at your college offer programs in France, or is affiliated with one that does? (For example, Sweetbriar College's Paris program has students from many different US universities.) If there's any connection between your college and a physical location in France, you might want to try that angle...

(As an aside, I can tell you that the youth hostel in Amboise in the Loire Valley was quite nice - on an island in the middle of the river with a view right onto the chateau!)

Good luck!

check out www.accorhotels.com and look for ETAP or Formule I hotels which can be as low as 25 euros off season for a single room much better than a youth hostel.

But may be inconvient locations though ETAPs can be in town centres as well.

Thanks, my needs have slightly changed since this message and now I'll be in Italy.

I think Venice, Florence, and Rome, and all three seem to have some sort of luggage storage in their train stations. I'll have to do some more research to make sure!

On Trenitalia, click on "in the region" and a list of regions will appear. Select a region (Lazio =Rome, Tuscano =Florence, etc.). Click "servizi in stazione". Select the station for a list of services (baggage storage, etc.)
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Rome's FCO airport also has luggage storage which may be cheaper than the train stations (3.5E per day per bag).
http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&id...sito%20bagagli

Be sure to check operating hours and leave enough time to retrieve your luggage as there can be lines at times.

Venice, Rome and Florence main stations all have left lugggage - but i think the charge may be for each six hours so think twice about long term