France: Tips and Recommendations

France:

• Try to learn basic French phrases before you go!
• Live off of baguettes: they're only 99 euro cent. 
• The people are a lot nicer than everyone says.
• Plan your weekends before you study abroad. This will save you a lot of time and money.
• Apparently it's more polite to specifically ask for mineral water at restaurants.
• Bikers are more dangerous than cars.
• Public water fountains that say "potable" you can drink out of.
• Bathrooms and trash/recycling bins are hard to find, so whenever you see one use it!
• Always have a spare roll of toilet paper. Sometimes public restrooms and porta potties will only have 1 roll for the whole day & once that runs out that's it. 

Away Hostel Map of Lyon 

Plage du Prophete in Marseille

Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day

Infinity Stairs in Lyon

A Lyon Square

• Go to Paris, France the weekend of the World Cup and Bastille Day to get the absolute most out of it. Paris is slightly overrated (because it is just like any other big city such as Los Angeles but with the Eiffel Tower) except for when France wins the World Cup; if you're a big city type of person then you'll absolutely adore it. WEAR COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES. I walked 24 miles in one weekend in Paris, and I still didn't even see all of it. Walk as much as you're comfortable with, but if you want to see all of Paris, use public transportation or Uber.
• Lyon is an underrated city in France. Stay at the Away Hostel and Coffee Shop! It's really cheap and kind of nice. The vibe is hipster, they play amazing music, breakfast is cheap, and it is close to almost everything in Lyon. Great location and you can make international friends. The people there were so nice and most speak english. Visit the Basilica at the top of the big hill. You will have to walk up the infinity steps as I call them, but it's totally worth it. I almost cried because the inside of the building was so breathtaking. Random tip: bathrooms are hard to find, but there's one inside of Subway restaurants that you can use without buying food!
• Marseille is gorgeous. It reminds me of San Francisco in that it's very hilly and borders the ocean. There's so many things to do: swim in the ocean, go to the square by the dock and buy souvenirs, visit the national park, etc. I recommend eating at Sur Le Pouce Sarl. It's inexpensive and the servings are quite big. The waiters don't know much english, but pointing at the menu will suffice. They serve amazing Mediterranean food, specializing in couscous--which is like a mix between rice and quinoa, but personally I think it tastes like crumbled cornbread. Warning: the beach Plage du Prophete is rocky so beware of that. It is somewhat crowded most of the time, but only because is a tiny beach. I found it relaxing. Also, the water is super salty. I touched my eye and immediately had to get out of the water because it burned. Other than that: 10/10 would recommend.

-Serina Estrada