If you have been lucky enough to count yourself among the more than 17,000 American students who study abroad in France each year, perhaps you’ve returned with some of these tell-tale signs of a semester or two abroad…

Related: 12 tips for studying in Paris.

1. You dressed better than any other time during your college experience.

Blame it on Celio. Call it the “France Effect”. Whatever the reason, you emerged from your time abroad with more style than you went into it, and happily engaged (perhaps with carefully rehearsed surprise) in conversations about “how different you look” upon your return.

Bonus points: You returned with an accent. (Well, everyone else heard it, but you…)

2. The word “Monoprix” makes you nostalgic.

The glorious Kmart-meets-Macy’s-meets-Shop Rite hybrid that is Monoprix always tugged at your heart. From apartment supplies to that very dependable bottle of ridiculously cheap but not-too-shabby red wine, Monoprix provided for just about everything.

3. You took a drawing or painting class that had nothing to do with your major. And it was HARD.

What’s more “French” than drawing live nudes? Well, probably drawing them with skill and earning the respect of your classroom peers. Hallelujah for pass / fail!

4. You developed a deep affection for Clairefontaine notebooks.

Sure, the graph paper took a little getting used to, but once you did, there was no turning back. Too bad they’re so expensive back home.

5. You still have a copy of L’Etranger in your possession.

Camus was pretty much the James Dean of study abroad students in France. The Coke to Sartre’s Pepsi.

6. For a period of time, you smoked. And you preferred Gauloises Blondes to Gitanes.

Wait, you smoked? Well, a bit. Enough to know how to order the Gauloises Ultra Lights at the tabac. (Wait, was it “ley-jay” or “ley-gere”?) Hopefully, you also learned how to quit!

How about a little civilized television? Photo: Alatele fr

7. You never felt comfortable watching those French TV talk shows featuring prominent actors, writers, intellectuals and politicians sitting around a table discussing culture in front of a live audience.

What were they saying? And why was the audience laughing? Even when your French improved and you could better understand what was being said, their formality and civility mystified.

8. You bragged about transit strikes.

Mom, dad, friends back home… they heard (but probably didn’t understand) how you were inconvenienced by transit strikes. I mean, you had to walk to class! Your trip to Nice was delayed! And yet, you learned to shrug it off. Ça m’est égal!

9. You developed a bias for either Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.

The Montague and Capulet’s of the guidebook world, the two rarely co-existed in personal libraries abroad. Bonus points for Let’s Go Guides. Extra Bonus Points for Berkeley Guides.

10. You still have nightmares about French class.

Just when you think they’re through… What do you mean, I have to present a report on Maupassant in front of these serious looking French students? BAM! – You wake up in a cold sweat from another one.

11. You wouldn’t have changed a thing about your experience.

Schmaltzy? Yes. And, sure, not all of it went exactly as planned. But your time abroad shaped you in profound ways and took you several steps closer to where you are today. Super legeres and all.

More signs that you studied abroad?

What other tell-tale signs point to a student who studied abroad in France? Share your “signs” in the comments section below.

The post 11 Obvious signs you studied abroad in France appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Well there’s no easy way to stay in France legally for more than 90 days unless you are a EU citizen, but there are plenty of ways to consider coming to France for a chunk of time to put all of these budget tips to use over the course of a year or so.

1. Get a degree

The Sorbonne University, Sciences Po, NYU in Paris, American University in Paris—the list goes on. Whether it’s in French or English, there are many degree programs that offer you the chance to stay at least a year in Paris. While some like the Sorbonne are extremely affordable, others, like NYU in Paris, are less so, but don’t rule out scholarships!

Related: 12 tips for studying abroad in Paris

2. Work

Does your company have an office in France? Poke around and start asking. You’d be surprised at the number of expats who are hear because work forced them to come to Paris, so why not volunteer yourself and help out someone who doesn’t want to make the move?

3. Intern

There are internship opportunities available to young professionals, with a visa specially dedicated to it. All it takes is a company to hire you, and then you can apply for the visa through the French Chamber of Commerce. It’s not going to be easy to find someone to take you on for the year, but it’s worth a shot.

4. Marry

Does that Bruno Mars song come into your head every time you meet a French person? Marriage is one of the easiest ways to move to France. Any EU citizen can be your key to moving abroad, but it’s also a slightly bigger step than taking a yearlong work exchange to France. Moving to Paris should be the fringe benefit of getting married, not the modus operandi, but what do I know anyway?

5. Tourist visa

If you have some pennies saved up, you can take a sabbatical year and move to Paris with a tourist visa. You can’t seek employment, but you can live here for the length of your visa and travel around without any worries. You have to prove that you have enough money to live on and even then, it’s not always a sure thing, but it’s an option to consider.

Related: A guide to beating the crowds at top Paris attractions

6. Launch a business

You want to make some money and move to France, so why not start a business in Paris? Easier said than done, but check out the news about startups and new businesses on the Rude Baguette, France’s startup blog, and maybe you’ll be inspired to start drafting a business plan while signing your visa application.

7. Study for fun

If you don’t care about a degree, the Sorbonne offers a course in French language and civilization that gets you a visa. It’s not cheap, but it’s a lot easier than trying to become a full-fledged Parisian student. And you should be speaking a little French by the end of it…

8. Become Italian or Irish

Have a great grandfather who was from Italy or Ireland? There are ways to apply for citizenship in these EU countries if you can gather all of the paperwork. Once you become an Italian or Irish citizen (read: EU citizen), France is all yours.

9. Research

There is a visa especially designed for researchers, so if you are a chemist or biologist, why not see if collaboration is possible with your French counterparts? It’ll score you a visa and some really cool international contacts.

10. Become French

I mean come on, just do it already.

The post Want to live in Paris? 10 tips for moving to the City of Light appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Summer students have just descended upon the streets of Paris, and the fall semester and year-long students are on their way.

If you’re coming to study in Paris, you’re sure to have an amazing time in the City of Lights. Here are some tips to make your time away from home the best it can be.

Tips for studying abroad in Paris

1. Plan ahead

You may have heard of the famous perils of French bureaucracy. Before you board your plane, make sure you have EVERYTHING in order—from your administration forms to your French visa. You do not want to deal with French administrative details when you could be enjoying a perfect afternoon at a Paris cafe. Trust me.

2. Get all your finances in order

You may want to check with your bank about fees while you’re abroad. You’ll be shocked by the international fees you can incur if you use your debit card at an ATM here. There may be a French sister bank to your bank (for example, BNP Paribas and Bank of America), or a special travel credit/debit card for you to take advantage of. Related: How to avoid ATM fees while traveling in Paris

3. Pack light

You may feel like you need to bring two or three suitcases with you, but you’ll never wear most of those clothes. Living in Paris is all about having a few classic items, like your favorite pair of jeans, a blazer and a leather jacket. And save some room for your new purchases!

4. Learn some French!

Seriously, learn at least a bit of French before arriving in Paris. A lot of people do speak English, but why waste this great opportunity to develop your language skills? Before you arrive, you’ll want to know some basic French so that you can get by. While in Paris, do language exchanges! There are many great services in Paris to practice French with francophones, such as Franglish, an informal meet-up in a bar.

5. That being said.. make some French friends!

The best way to practice your French is to make friends. It might be a little hard at first, but talk to your French classmates, or the people you meet out and about. You’ll be surprised how much your French will improve, and how much you’ll learn about French culture.

6. Think about alternatives to dorm living

There are so many great apartments around Paris, and so many wonderful flat shares to take advantage of. Why not rent a room in an apartment with French students? Or get an apartment with some friends? You’ll be able to have a real kitchen and host parties, as well as explore different areas of Paris. You can search for flat shares on websites such as Paris Craiglist, WelcHome.com, and Erasmusu.com. There are also several good Facebook groups for Expats where members often post ads for flat shares.

7. Take advantage of fantastic public transport

Paris has a great Metro, bus and bicycle rental system. Most of the time, you can get wherever you need to go within 2o minutes! Learn the basics of the Metro and experiment with the bus—you won’t regret it. And if you like biking, definitely check out Velib, Paris’s bicycle share. You can rent a bike for a day, a week, or even a year. There is no better feeling than returning from a party at night en vélo with the Seine as your guide!

Related: Tips for riding Velib bike share in Paris

8. Nutella is the new peanut butter

Forget about all those anglo food stables. A loaf of sliced whole wheat bread? Nope, the baguette replaces all forms of bread in Paris. You’re in Europe now, and Nutella is the king of spreads. Put Nutella on pretty much everything, but mostly baguettes—it will probably become your breakfast, lunch and dinner at times.

9. Don’t go searching for iced coffee.

On a recent trip back to the States, I noticed that America seems to have become obsessed with iced coffee. I saw signs everywhere for it! Don’t get me wrong, I, too, enjoy them when its hot outside. But in Paris, iced coffee isn’t really a thing. Most cafés don’t even have ice. Ordering a café glacé will probably get you an ice-cream filled, super-sweet treat, rather than the classic drip coffee over ice with a splash of milk you were probably looking for. So, either make your iced coffee at home, or get used to sipping on hot espresso in the summer like the rest of us.

10. Happy hours and cheap spots to drink.

If you didn’t already know, alcohol is pretty expensive in Paris. A cocktail can cost anywhere from €8-16 depending on where you are. So, if you like drinking at bars, get ready to hunt for the cheap ones, and the ones with good happy hours. If you’ve got a good nose, you can find bars in Paris with €4 pints and €5 cocktails.

Cheese fans can get a true taste of Paris at the local markets. Photo: The LEAF Project

11. Instead of supermarkets, try the local markets!

France has many supermarkets offering all the basics as well as prepared food. You’ll come to know these places as Monoprix, Franprix and G20. While these are great every once in awhile, try not to rely on them. Paris is full of incredibly fresh markets offering amazing fruits, vegetables and more and great prices. Take the extra time to support local farmers, and practice your French!

Related: 10 tips for budget shoppers at the outdoor markets in Paris

12. Have some patience and get out as much as you can

Living in Paris as an ex-pat is not easy. At times, you will surely feel alienated and like a total idiot abroad. But, it will also be an amazing experience and a great opportunity to grow. Have some patience when the going gets rough, because you’ll always remember this exciting time in  your life. You may be tempted to sit at home on Skype talking to your friends and family back at home, or binge-watch Netflix when you don’t have plans. On those days, just get out of the house and walk around. Paris is yours to discover, and you never know what you might find!

The post 12 tips for studying abroad in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As more than 250,000 American college students study abroad each year (most of them in Europe), many parents are combining their vacations with the opportunity to visit and check in on their children.

Yet visiting a student abroad is not like a typical trip and, done right, can offer much more.  When I studied abroad in Paris two years ago, my parents visited twice, so we had plenty of time to figure out what worked and what didn’t.

Here are five tips for making the most of a study abroad visit (trying as best I can to work in both perspectives).

1. Let the local lead.

One of the best things about visiting a student abroad is that you get to use them as your own personal tour guide. Not only will you gain a more intimate appreciation for your destination, but there are few prouder moments for a parent than seeing a cultured, confident son or daughter showing off their new, independent life in Europe.

Besides, as the visitee, I loved showing my parents around.  For 21 years, they had taken me on trips all over the world to show me new sights and cultures.  It was my turn to pay back the favor.

There are ways to plan your trip to ensure your child can be the best guide possible.  Try not to visit at the beginning of the semester, when students are still adjusting to life abroad.  A couple months in, though, and your kid should know the city inside out (not to mention that improved language skills could come in handy).

Also, as tempting as it may be to drag your son or daughter off to a beach vacation in an exotic corner of the continent, make sure to spend some (if not all) of your time in the city or town where they’re studying.  It’ll be worth it to see them in their element. Which reminds me …

2. Remember that you’re visiting a student.

People often forget (students included, of course) that when you’re “studying abroad,” you’re still supposed to be, well, studying!  Unless you visit during the student’s vacation, your child will still have to go to class and might even have homework. (Hey, you’re not paying tuition for nothing!)

So if you expected to show up in Europe and let your kid take over, I’m sorry to say that you may not be able to take a vacation from vacation planning.  While your son or daughter will undoubtedly have some great stuff planned, you’ll also have to think of some activities to do by yourselves. (For many parents, this is a relief rather than a burden.) Have some things in mind before you go and plan ahead with the student to figure out exactly when you’ll be on your own.

You also won’t be able to have your kid lead you everywhere—take the time to learn a little about your destination (getting around, sights to see, where to eat, etc.). EuroCheapo’s city guides should help with that.

3. Embrace the student lifestyle.

You won’t be surprised that many study abroad students equate a visit from their parents with free meals. And while it’s nice to treat your kid, don’t feel obligated to break the bank on gourmet food. A student will survive in Paris even if they never get to taste a sublime coq au vin.

Instead, take this opportunity to live the student lifestyle—have your son or daughter show you their favorite haunts. Chances are, it’ll be a lot cheaper and you’ll get a better sense of your child’s European lifestyle.

When my parents visited me in Paris, I took them to my favorite places to eat on my student’s budget. This included getting street food at l’As du Falafel in the Marais and hanging out at Chez Gladines, a raucous 13th-arrondissement Basque restaurant that’s popular mostly with students and young folk. When I asked my parents what they liked best about their visits, they both mentioned these meals.

4. Pack reinforcements.

Trying to fit an entire semester in one suitcase is difficult for a student, especially if their stay spans multiple seasons. A well-placed visit from parents, though, can help address this problem.

When I studied abroad, my parents visited in March and were able to bring warm weather clothes while taking back my heavier coats and sweaters.  Because we had planned this, it was much easier to pack for the semester.

Even if you can’t plan before you pack for the semester, check in before your visit to see if there are any American supplies your son or daughter dearly misses. Personally, I was ecstatic when my dad brought comfort from home… a jumbo-sized jar of peanut butter. (A tiny jar costs almost €5 in Paris—not exactly Cheapo!)

5. Stay nearby.

Unlike EuroCheapo, not all study abroad programs are concerned with providing central accommodations.  It often ends up that students are placed in some pretty far-flung neighborhoods of the city in which they’re studying (especially since rents are usually cheaper there).

This presents a dilemma for visiting parents: Should you stay central, near the sights (and most of the hotels) or try to find a place closer to the student?

There are a few right answers to this question.  One solution many families come up with is to treat the parent’s visit like a mini-vacation for their kid and book a hotel where everyone can stay.  Accommodations for study abroad programs are not always the cushiest (I shudder when I recall my finicky shower and miniature bed) and it can be nice to get away. Of course, depending on how many parents or siblings are visiting, this may mean dishing out for an extra room, which isn’t always a desirable option.

In that case, it’s best to book a hotel that’s easy to get to from your child’s study abroad home. This doesn’t mean that you have to stay out in the boonies, though. Try to find a place that’s on the same subway or bus line so that meeting up isn’t a hassle.  You’ve already come across the Atlantic to visit your child, you probably don’t want to spend half your trip organizing where you’re meeting.

Your tips

Have some tips to add for parents visiting their children studying abroad? Share with us in the comments section below.

The post 5 tips for parents visiting their college student abroad appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We had plenty to ask Andy about what makes Weekend Student Adventures special, as well as his own experience with studying abroad. And of course, what it was like to growing up on the road as the son of “travel guru” Rick Steves.

How did you get the idea to start Weekend Student Adventures?

The idea grew organically when I studied abroad in Rome during my Junior year at Notre Dame. It became quite apparent there just wasn’t information geared specifically for the students abroad in Europe; plenty of guidebooks existed, but none took an angle focused on  students tight on both time and budget.

Andy Steves

I returned to Notre Dame to finish my undergraduate degrees (Industrial Design & Italian Language and Literature) overflowing with fresh ideas and incredible intercultural experiences. So I got to work on a free online resource for students abroad at andysteves.com.

With graduation on the horizon in May of 2010, I took advantage of Notre Dame’s annual business plan competition to vet my business idea: weekend trips for students abroad in Europe. We came away in first place (out of 101 teams competing), so I took that as an indication that this concept was viable. Over the summer of 2010 I transformed our online resource into weekend tour packages and hit the ground running that fall semester.

Why did you feel you needed to start WSA?

WSA is for students who feel there is more to experience in Europe than the inside of bars and pubs. I wanted to focus on creating trips that I would love to go on myself, with the perfect balance of sightseeing, interacting with locals and free time to find your own corner of the city. I am passionate about bringing these cultures alive for others, and that’s what has kept me going!

What advantages are there in booking a WSA trip over doing it on your own?

As in many things in life, it may be cheaper to do something on your own; less expensive to make your own spaghetti than going to a restaurant for dinner; less expensive to make your own coffee than purchase your daily Starbucks.

But on our weekend excursions, it’s the intangibles built in that turn a ho-hum weekend into an incredible experience that creates lifelong memories. In Prague, Prince William Lobkowicz Jr. walks us around his family’s palace located in the castle there. In Barcelona, we enjoy a Flamenco show and a Paella- and Sangria-making class. My friends traveled with me while abroad because I was able to connect them with locals and unique cultural experiences they wouldn’t otherwise find on their own. And that’s the foundation of WSA’s travel philosophy–that’s what differentiates us.

Then there’s the practical differences: efficient, skip-the-line sightseeing, great hostels, fun local guides, delicious restaurants, no time wasted being lost and more. All around we believe we’ve found the right formula for great weekend student travel.

Andy and his father, travel author and TV star Rick Steves.

As the son of Rick Steves, did you always assume that you’d eventually work in the travel business, or did you want to get away from it?

Growing up, my mother, sister and I went to visit my dad every summer in order to meet up with him during his four-month-long trips around the European continent. As many will agree, traveling with family can be a pressure-cooker experience. And our family trips were no exception. If Rick Steves is in Europe, he’s working and it doesn’t matter who he’s with. Like any youngster, missing friends’ birthday parties and end-of-school-year celebrations to go to stuffy museums and eat unfamiliar food wasn’t a dream come true. But it did teach me how to travel, and travel well.

In terms of business advice, I’ve developed WSA independently. Oftentimes he wishes he could help more, but we launched business in very different eras; him with manual bookings, mini-vans and scratch calling cards compared to us with all online bookings, budget airlines and Skype. His Social Media IQ is improving nicely though…

Are you ever able to meet up with your dad on the road?

We’ve occasionally met up while in Europe—me running a tour, while he’s updating guidebooks or making TV shows. Most recently, my dad was in Barcelona when I was leading a tour there myself. It was fun to have him tag along, and I think he was reliving his glory days of leading backpacking tours himself.

Andy with a WSA group in Rome.

I see that you studied abroad. How did this experience help shape WSA?

I did! After traveling to Europe every year until I was 18, I went there for the first time independently with my best friend after we graduated from high school. This was also the first time I can truly remember realizing that I could grow to love travel. Exploring on my own and making my own decisions really allowed me to explore personal interests and open my mind to new ideas.

Not being able to stay away from the European continent for long, I went back over in January of 2008 to start a semester in Rome through Notre Dame. This is when I quickly noticed that my summers spent traveling in Europe really allowed me to understand how to get around in an efficient way during our short weekend trips. Many of my friends started coming with me to places like Prague, Venice for Carnevale, Switzerland, Dublin for St. Patty’s Day and Sicily.

Did you have a favorite trip that you took as a study abroad student?

Hands down, the best trip was when I convinced a group of six friends that it would be a good idea for us to charter a 42 foot sailboat with a skipper off the coast of Greece. I crunched the numbers and realized the cost of chartering this boat would be comparable to staying in a hostel for seven nights in Athens. This really showed me the value of thinking outside the box while making travel plans!

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Andy. Keep thinking outside the box, and best of luck with Weekend Student Adventures!

The post Q&A: Andy Steves, creator of Weekend Student Adventures appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.