#parisstay

[nina-little-traveler]

There is a terrace in the Lafayette gallery building (from which I took this photo). The terrace from which you can admire the views of Paris can be seen in the distance the Eiffel Tower 👌 - W budynku Galerii Lafayette znajduje się taras (z którego zrobiłam to zdjęcie), z którego można podziwiać widoki na Paryż. Widać w oddali wieżę Eiffla 👌 .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #eiffeltower #lafayette #gallerylafayette #galleryParis #parisistyle #Parisguide #Parisstay #visitfrance #travel #luxury #luxurytravel #picoftheday #photography #travelphotography #view #viewParis #instagood #discover #explore #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Galeries Lafayette)

[ruegracieuse]

Sorry I hope this doesn't sound harassing and I can't imagine how busy you are moving, but if you can find the time at some point to post the websites for Paris accommodation that would be amazing! xx

Hi, don't apologise! I'm sorry it took my so long to answer - this past week I've been packing and then moving and settling so it's all been a bit hectic! The apartment sites I mainly used were ParisStay and My Apartment In Paris - the latter is where I found my current apartment. These seemed to be the most réalisable tonne! A lot of people recommend using a real estate agent instead of an agency like these, mainly because agency fees are pretty expensive, but it's kind of hard when you're moving from overseas - unless you're willing to come in and spend ages looking for, comparing and moving into apartments it's probably easier, if you can, to spend a little more money and find a suitable apartment online - these sites allow you to search within areas and rent budgets so it's ideal!If you're moving for study, a lot of uni Facebook pages will have people advertising rooms and apartments, but I'd give them a miss - I've already seen complaints of scams so it's probably better just to stick with the professionals xx

[agostinacoll-blog]

Where to live?

Finding home in a foreign country

Finding a place in Paris was one of the most exahusting expriences I have ever lived. Owners who don't reply or if they do, they reply with "I'm sorry, I only rent for people who stay for a year". Phoning Paris, owners who hang up because they don't understand you, getting frustrated because you can't have a coherent conversation. Real estate agencies, some reply after a week, some change the contract without notifing you, some who only are intrested in "sign and payment", no room for questions.

When I decided to go on an exchange programme, I igonred all of this. But, its just not easy: apartments in Paris are expensive, small and old. Depending on where you search some dont have heater or Internet (which are esencial); finding a place for two is also dificult (and more expensive of course); many of them near the Periphery (place which i have not been recomended). Days went by and the time for boarding the plane was getting nearer and still, I needed my visa (which requires a residence in France).

Every person I saw i told them about this oddesy, hoping that perhaps, they could help me; and thats how I mobilized a huge contact network: ambassadors, ex alumnis from my University who are there at the moment, friends of friends, friends of parents...Everyone recomended me web pages "write here! and there! do this!". But still, it seemed impossible. March, april, may, june; nothing. Everyday I checked the web, real estate agiences, Airbnb (with its dreadful warning: only 1% of the aparments are available at the moment for your dates), which was a reminder of the little time I had left.

Only remained the old ones, expensives, with the least of commodities, the most far away from my univeristy. I even dreamnt with them: ¡the emails i sent and their answers! It was an awful process, to the extent where I asked myself if I really wanted to do this: tired of Paris, of the french language, of the apartments, of the documents needed (Passport, letter of admision, proof of living, proof of income, etc)...

But still, I needed a place to live, I couldn't sleep in Notre Dame or in a bridge over the Sena, so thats why I kept searching until I found it...

7th arrondissement

According to Google Maps a 40 minutes walk from my University

Near Eiffel Tower

Heater

Hot water

Internet

TV

Microwave

Sheets, towels

Near supermarkets and other services

Good lightning

Sofa-bed

945 euros per month?!

Apparments in Paris are expensive, and in most cases a studio is not below 800 euros, however some lucky ones have found studios por 700 euros.

There are other options as well: estudient residences and colocataires (shared rooms). Still, one does not need to fool themselves: its true they are more chepaer, but in some cases, not too cheap either. I saw rooms in student residences por 830 euros per month and colocataires for 750 euros per month. However it is true that as the date to begin the semester draws nearer, only the most expensive ones remain. If one searchs in advance, they may find a room on a estudent residence.

What I learned:

Time: search in advance. Apartments in Paris are on high demand.

¿Alone or shared?: Define this as soon as possoble. Personally, I found it much easier search for myself than for me and someone else (and I say this because at first,  I was going to live with someone else). At times, I felt I was tied to the person and made the process much slower.

¿What type of residence?: Colocataires, student residence, studio..To be honest, I did not know about this other options, but they are worth taking them into account.

Expenses: plan a budget, however, in this process you will spend a lot!

Webs:

ParisAttitude

ParisStay

Lodgis (the one I used)

Warning: real state agiences demand a fee for their service (which is payed only once) + the first month of rent in advance + insurance

Positive: Real State agencies have staff who can speak more than one language. I was able to find staff who spoke my language and made the process much more easier. Also, the fear of being ripped off disapears when treating with a real state agiency (however I did speak to others in advance and asked them about their expeirence). Specially Lodgis has a very fast reply rate.

Negative: Some real state agiences took long to reply. It happened to me that I told my advisor I had on my priority list one apartment in particular, and the person talked to the owner of another aprtment. And, the higher costs.

Airbnb

Studylease

CRONUS Residences

Some Univeristies offer a forum in their cites for their international students (at least my University, Sciences Po does that).

Warning: Student residneces are on high demand, in june, most of them are full. Just like Airbnb, as time goes by, the ones left are the most expensive.

Positive: Can be cheaper. Airbnb doesnt ask for a service fee. In most cases, you talk  with the owner directly, while in real state agiences you only have contact with the owner once the contract is signed.

Negatives: Fraud. Sciences Po does offer a forum, however they warn you that in case of fraud they are not responsable.

á bientot! 

Agostina

[nina-little-traveler]

Roue de Paris - the wheel stands i a perfect place with a view of the most importent attractions of Paris 👌 - Diabelski młyn "Roue de Paris" - stoi w doskonałym miejscu z widokiem na najważniejsze atrakcje Paryża .. .. .. #paris #parisistyle #Parisstay #seeparis #parisquide #Parisstay #Paristourist #picoftheday #travelphotography #travelgirl #instatravel #travel #Journey #travelreporter #tbt #followme #instagood #instacool #bestoftheday #exploreparis #rouedeparis #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: La Grande Roue - Place de la Condorde - Paris -France)

[nina-little-traveler]

There are many lovely bars😋 and cafes around, where we can find real French atmosphere 😊 .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #cafeparis #parisistyle #Parisguide #visitfrance #Parisstay #seeparis #travel #traveling #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #worldtraveler #instagood #instacool #bestoftheday #beautiful #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris)

[nina-little-traveler]

Meeting with a friends for lunch in the middle of the day on the ordinnary day - it's part of the nature culture and it's worth trying when we're in France. Thanks to this, we will discover regional dishes and taste the life of a la francaise 👌😉 - Spotkanie z przyjaciółmi na lunch w środku dnia, w zwykły dzień tygodnia - to część narodowej kultury i warto jej spróbować kiedy jesteśmy we Francji. Dzięki temu odkryjemy regionalne dania i posmakujemy życia a la francaise 👌😉 .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #frenchfood #parisistyle #Parisstay #seeparis #kidstravel #traveling #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #worldtraveler #instagood #instacool #instakids #ig_kids #discoverParis #food #friends #friend #great #meeting #restaurant #gallerylafayette #lafayette #happy #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Gallery Lafayette , Paris)

[nina-little-traveler]

Gallery Lafayette in Paris is a real paradise for Woman and Men (who love their women 😜) Every day, the thresholds of this gallery exceed over 100 000 customers, wchich supports 4000 employess. The gallery has 10floors and amazing sky dome 😏 - Galeria Lafayette w Paryżu to prawdziwy raj dla kobiet i mężczyzn (kochających swoje kobiety 😜). Każdego dnia progi tej galerii przekracza 100tys klientów, których obsługuje 4.000 pracowników. Galeria ma 10 pięter i niezwykłą kopułę. .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #lafayette #Parislafayette #parisfrance #exploreparis #Parisstay #Parisguide #picoftheday #sheExplorer #worldtraveler #instagood #instacool #bestoftheday #bestoftheday #beautiful #instakids #ig_kids #daughter #mum #parents #explore #Adventure #discover #discovery #travel #luxurytravel #amazing #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Galeries Lafayette)

[nina-little-traveler]

The Seine River that didides Paris into the left and right bank. The river spins 38 bridges and each of them has its own legend One of them Pont Marie supposedly fulfills his love wishes 😉 - Sekwana - rzeka która dzieli Paryż na lewy i prawy brzeg. Rzekę spina 38 mostów a każdy z nich ma swoją legendę. Jeden z nich Pont Marie podobno spełnia miłosne życzenia 😉 .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #Parisstay #bridges #Parisguide #photography #photooftheday #shoot #kidstravel #traveling #lovetotravel #natura #naturally #worldtravelpics #worldtraveler #instagood #instacool #bestoftheday #beautiful #amazing #followme #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Cruise on the River Seine)

[nina-little-traveler]

When we choose a French breakfast at the hotel we received : coffee, freshly squeezed croissant juice (sweet rolls from puff pastry with chocolate). There are also often chocolate baquette creams, james and preserves in miniature jars 😋😋 .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #frenchfood #frenchbreakfast #parisistyle #Parisstay #visitfrance #Parisstay #seeparis #kidstravel #traveling #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #Parisguide #picoftheday #bestoftheday #instakids #ig_kids #lifestyle #food #me #instagood #sheExplorer #worldtraveler #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Paris, France)

[nina-little-traveler]

Louvere, the former Royal Pałace, and currently one of the largest and most visited museum in the world. In Louvere there is the most famous image of the world of Mona Lisa Leonarda da Vinci. .. .. .. #Paris #visitparis #parisfrance #exploreparis #louvere #parisistyle #Parisstay #seeparis #kidstravel #traveling #travel #lovetotravel #travelpic #worldtraveler #worldtravelpics #worldtraveler #instagood #instacool #instakids #explore #explorparis #ciekawostkizeswiata #triviafromtheWorld #NinaLittleTraveler (w: Louvre)