(a) GENERAL ACCOMMODATION

The tour operators and other travel agents recommended by the French Tourist Bureau can not only organise bookings for accommodation in a wide range of hotels and guest houses, but also in châteaux, farm houses and even river-boats.

 

You may also like to consult either the "Paris-anglocom" or "Douce France" Web Sites which have extensive information on what hotels and accommodation available in both Paris and in every region of France. You will find them respectively at :

 

www.paris-anglo.com/housing & www.doucefrance.com

Remember that one can find accommodation without too many problems while in France (except for the Paris region where accommodation has to be well planned before departure), but it is certainly much easier, safer and often cheaper to organise it from Australia.

(b) BUDGET ACCOMMODATION

A number of organisations in France can be of assistance to individuals, groups and school parties seeking accommodation at a reasonable price for short, medium and long term stays. These include:

For all over France

Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse

27 rue Pajol

75018 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4489 8727

Fax: 0011 33 1 44 89 87 49

For the Paris region

Foyer Friedland

23 Avenue Friedland

75008 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4076 3030

Fax: 0011 33 1 40 76 00 00

Foyer International d’Accueil de Paris (FIAP)

30 rue Cabanis

75014 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4589 8915

Fax: 0011 33 1 4589 1058

E-mail: frapadmi@fiap.asso.fr

Web: www.fiap.asso.fr

Le Fauconnier

11 rue Fauconnier

75004 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4274 2345

Fax: 0011 33 1 4027 8164

The Three Ducks Hostel

6 place Etienne Pernet

75015 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 48 42 04 05

Fax: 0011 33 148 42 99 99

Web: www.3ducks.fr/sit.htm

www.fac-paris.com

(c) RENTING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

The housing problem is particularly acute in Paris where demand exceeds supply and rents are consequently 50% higher than elsewhere in France. To rent a flat (usually unfurnished) you will have to produce documentary evidence that you can afford to pay. You will normally have to show that your regular monthly income is four times the amount of the monthly rent. Estate agents will require a returnable deposit usually equivalent to two months rent ; a month’s rent in advance and a commission, ie you will have to pay the Real Estate company. Renting an individual room costs between 229 and 304 Euros per month in the provinces and between 229 and 458 Euros in Paris. A studio rent is between 382 and 610 Euros per month.

NB Shared accommodation is not as common amongst young people in France as it is in Australia.

ADVICE BEFORE RENTING

  Do not commit yourself until you have a full knowledge of the rental conditions.
  Rent ("loyer") does not include charges like heating and electricity unless specified.
  If lodging with the owner, are sheets and showers included? Can you use the kitchen? and are there restrictions on when?
  Can you have visitors?
  The rent is payable before moving in and early each month.
  For a flat insist on a written lease once a detailed inventory of the fixtures and the condition of the premises has been drawn up.
  Before moving out of a flat, the tenant must send the landlord a registered letter with advice of receipt giving generally one months’ notice or three months notice in the case of real estate agencies.

NB When looking for short or long term accommodation in the Paris region, you might also like to consult the following web Site for up to date information on what types of accommodation are currently available :

www.paris-anglo.com/housing/

**Of course, friends and word of mouth are always good ways to find a room, a studio or a shared flat**.

(d) ACCOMMODATION WITH A FRENCH FAMILY

(HOMESTAYS/PAYING GUESTS)

Some organisations in France can arrange for homestays in French families at a slightly higher price than university accommodation. This type of accommodation has its benefits as it helps foreign students to integrate into the French way of living. The organisations below are already established agencies which can help students or tourists to locate a suitable French family where in exchange for boarding fees, they will be housed and fed.

Aquitaine Service Linguistique

199 avenue Louis Barthou

33200 Bordeaux

Tel: 0011 33 5 5608 3323

Fax: 0011 33 5 5608 3274

France Accueil Contacts

3 rue du Colonel Moll

75017 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4500 4551

Fax: 001133 1 4500 4551

..

ATIL

278 rue Hector Berlioz

42153 RIORGES

Tel: 0011 33 4 7770 8888

Fax: 0011 33 4 7772 3145

..

Accueil Familial des Jeunes Etrangers

23 rue du Cherche-Midi

75006 PARIS

Tel: 0011 33 1 4222 5034

Fax: 0011 33 1 4544 6048

..

Euro Séjours

35 rue Emile Brault

BP 831

53008 LAVAL CEDEX

Tel: 0011 33 2 4369 5252

Fax: 0011 33 2 4369 5500

..

Séjours Internationaux Linguistiques et Culturels

32 Rempart de l’Est

16022 ANGOULEME CEDEX

Tel: 0011 33 5 4597 4100

Fax: 0011 33 5 4595 4110

NB In certain cases the Centre Régional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CROUS)- see below - can also help you arrange homestays with a French family. You can also check with your local tour operator.

(e) STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

If you intend to study in France for any length of time, then a good place to start for practical information on what types of accommodation are available for students are the "Phosphore" and "Etudis" web sites at :

www.phosphore.com and at www.etudis.com

In a university

Each university in France has special student hostels ("Résidences Universitaires") which are available for short term accommodation during the summer period and also for long term accommodation throughout the year. Reservations can be made by contacting the Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CNOUS) at Paris or its regional counterparts the Centre Régional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires(CROUS) which are located in every university town.

  For the latest information on the services offered by the CNOUS and CROUS, including an up to date list of addresses of all the CROUS, please consult the following Web Site:

www.cnous.fr

NB Reservations should be made well in advance to the commencement of your course studies. In some cities such as Paris it is particularly difficult to find accommodation in "Résidences Universitaires".

Students can also find different types of accommodation by contacting the:

Centre d’Information et de Documentation pour la Jeunesse (CIDJ)

101 quai Branly

75740 PARIS CEDEX 15

Tel: 0011 33 1 44 49 12 00

Fax: 0011 33 1 40 65 02 61

Web: www.cidj.asso.fr or www.information-jeunesse.tm.fr

The CIDJ is a free service. It also has offices in every university town in France the addresses of which can be found on the Web Site listed above.

THE CITÉ INTERNATIONALE UNIVERSITAIRE DE PARIS

The Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) is made up of French and foreign halls of residence, as well as a number of facilities and services, which provides residents with near ideal accommodation, working and social conditions. The 37 buildings, which are spread over a 40 hectare park, accommodate nearly 5000 students, trainees and post doctoral students from over 100 countries.

The CIUP is open to students once their application has been accepted provided they meet the following requirements:

  Students must be under 30.
  Their educational level must be at least that of the second year at university.
  They must be enrolled in an institution of higher education or university under the authority of Paris, Créteil or Versailles academies and studying for a diploma recognised by the State.
  Admissions are granted for one year and can be renewed twice.
  Australian students seeking a room within one of the halls of the CIUP should address themselves to the:

Services des Admissions de la Fondation Nationale

19 boulevard Jourdan

75690 PARIS CEDEX 14

Tel: 0011 33 1 44 16 64 48

Fax: 0011 33 1 44 16 64 03