Expat Aurelia D’Andrea, a California native, literally wrote the book on moving to France, “Living Abroad in France,” published by Moon Guidebooks. It’s a handy resource for those dreaming of living among baguettes and cheese shops more permanently.

Living Abroad in France, by Aurelia d’Andrea

A guide to moving abroad

Travelers dreaming for a more permanent stay will find plenty of details on how to move to France, including practical information for the move and a breakdown of some of the country’s best regions. D’Andrea sat down with us recently over some café allongé to discuss how she met her deadline and what budget tips she picked up along the way for potential cheapo expats.

D’Andrea set out to write “Living Abroad in France” in a stressfully short four months. A whirlwind trip to every corner of the Hexagon landed her back in Paris where she penned the book to help fellow Francophiles looking to move abroad. “I want to help other people who have the same sorts of dreams to bypass a lot of the trials and tribulations,” she explained of her motivations.

Even though she chose to live in Paris, her ideal city, D’Andrea has fallen for the food of Nice and the quaint towns of Dordogne. If forced to move, she’d venture towards the Mediterranean for some Italian inspiration, great cuisine and sunshine. But expatriation can be a pricey affair that needs careful planning and consideration to make sure there are a few euros left over for a decent bottle of wine and a baguette or two.

Cost cutting

Finding a legal way to move to France is a headache and a half, with no secret recipe for success. Once you find the right situation, start-up costs are one of the biggest concerns for anyone moving abroad. Between finding a place to live and filling it with one’s possessions, the bills can start to soar. Shipping a container of personal items and finding temporary housing while finding a permanent solution are concerns that should be priced out in order to minimize costs.

While furnishing a home, heading to Paris’s Bon Marché or even BHV department store is not the best idea for cutting costs. But buying quality products can pay off in the end, especially for highly-used items like kitchen appliances. “I won’t have to replace my espresso maker while here,” she said

D’Andrea also said that taking castaway items from other expats is a great way to save money and to be green-minded. She suggests scouring the internet to find great used items looking for a home. “Using Craigslist, for example, is a great way not to reinvent the wheel,” she said.

More handy information on the process, from A to Z, can be found in the Moon guide, “Living Abroad in France.” Take a look and then let us know any other cheapo-friendly tips for starting up a life in France!

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I came to Barcelona in 2005, and my goodness there was a lot I didn’t know! An ex-pat friend and I often joke that if we had known what it would take to establish ourselves in this sunny metropolis by the sea, we never would have come. Yes, it was that hard.

Don’t let these less than encouraging words burst your bubble if you’re hot on moving to Barcelona. Come! Come now while prices on apartments are low! Come, but bear in mind these useful tips:

1. Learn at least some Catalan.

Did you know we speak Catalan here? Never heard of it? I hadn’t when I boarded my flight to Barcelona by way of Paris, but found out real quick that Catalan is not Spanish, and that you need to speak it to get a number of jobs in this city.

Catalan is spoken throughout Catalonia, in Andorra, and on the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera. It’s a language, not a dialect, and is a very important part of the culture here.

Depending on how long you plan on staying, you’ll need to take a stand on Catalan: To learn or not to learn it. If you want to work in a public school, or in almost any “local” job, you’ll need it. If you’re working for a foreign company or teaching English, you won’t.

All Catalans are bilingual, so you can also get by with Spanish. That said, Catalans appreciate it when you speak in Catalan – go figure! I’ve been here six years and speak very little Catalan day to day, but understand a lot and have taken a couple of courses. I can order coffees and ask for the time. The Catalan government offers FREE classes to those who are interested in learning the language.

2. Rent a room before you rent a flat.

I recommend living in either one of the Eixample neighborhoods, Gracia, Barri Gotic, Poble Sec, Poble Nou, Raval, or La Ribera if you want to be where the action is in Barcelona. There are many other barris, or neighborhoods, but most of them are out of the way or ugly (La Pau, for example, is awful). Still, the best way to find out which barri is right for you is to rent a room in one of these areas and then explore from there.

3. Know your budget for renting a room or apartment.

Renting a room can range anywhere from €200 to €600 a month, depending on how big it is, the zone, cool-factor, private bathroom, etc. Renting a flat usually runs somewhere between €600 and €1200 (and up), but these prices have come down a lot recently thanks to very high unemployment in Spain.

If you find an apartment through a rental agency, expect to pay at least one month’s rent as a commission. You may also need to have a work contract, which is a perfect catch-22.

4. Know how to work in Barcelona.

It’s not easy right now to get a job in Barcelona or anywhere in Spain because of that nasty unemployment issue. The economy here is not great. However, depending on what your skills are you may be able to find gainful employment. Infojobs.net and Loquo.com are logical places to begin your search.

If you’re not European, and you don’t have a visa, you will have to work illegally. Many employers do not want to break the law, so you Americans and Canadians out there, bear this in mind! If you’re interested in getting legal in Spain, you need to see an immigration attorney. Don’t think you can do it on your own, no one is that smart or that patient.

5. Meet people.

The best way to get into the groove and find your place in Barcelona is through people who already live here and know the drill. Meetup.com has a ton of groups in Barcelona, many of them perfect for practicing your Spanish/Catalan, meeting locals, and getting a better idea of what Catalonia is all about.

6. Other Web resources

Aside from Meetup.com, here are a few sites that I have found useful over the years. Good luck!

* In English, a guide to what’s happening in the city: http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/

* Short-term rentals and info on the city: http://suitelife.com/

* Multi-language paper and web on Barcelona: http://www.bcnweek.com/

Other tips for moving to Barcelona?

Did you move to Barcelona and have other advice for those looking to make the move? Ready to establish yourself in Barcelona but have some questions? Talk to us in the comments section.

The post Moving to Barcelona: What you need to know appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Another Country (Bookshop)
Riemannstraße 7, Kreuzberg
Tel: (030) 6940 1160
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.;  Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Don’t be fooled by the rocks it ain’t got. This shabby used bookstore in the stately Bergmannstrasse neighborhood is a gem. The fiction section may need a thorough re-cataloging, but the real highlight is the owner’s lovingly curated personal sci-fi collection. Many of the obscure titles are for borrowing only.

2. Saint Georges English Bookshop
Wörther Straße 27, Prenzlauer Berg
Tel: (030) 8179 8333
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

As Germans would say, klein aber fein (“small but fine”). The Saint Georges offers a reading series and a good selection that mainly caters to the expat crowd.

3. East of Eden
Schreinerstraße 10, Friedrichshain
Tel: (030) 423 93 62
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri 12 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

I don’t know about Eden, but this indy shop certainly is on the eastern side of the city. Most books are used, except for new reprints of classics (read: cheap!).

4. Dussmann – das KulturKaufhaus
Friedrichstrasse 90, Mitte
Web site
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.–midnight

What am I doing writing about this mammoth corporation when I should be promoting small local bookshops? Well, just look at the newly built English section, tucked away in the back—it has plenty of seating and an up-to-date selection. Plus, it’s open until midnight, for those late night book cravings.

More planning advice: Are you planning a trip to Berlin? If so, be sure to stop by our guide to the best budget hotels in Berlin. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed affordable hotels all over central Berlin and recommend their favorites. Read more in our Berlin guide.

The post Berlin Bookstores: English booksellers in Berlin appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Americans abroad: Will you be watching the festivities? Whether you live abroad or will simply be traveling, we’d like to know whether or not you’ll tune in on Tuesday to the historic event happening in Washington.

If yes, please tell us where you plan to watch the ceremony. Which city? In a bar, community center, church, or other location?  Will you get there early? At home alone? In your hotel room?

If no, please tell us why not. Not interested? You can see highlights on YouTube? The line will be finally be short at the Eiffel Tower?

Tomorrow we’ll be posting a list of spots where you can watch the inauguration in Europe’s major cities. So please, leave your comments below! Thanks!

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