Study Abroad in Paris: Housing and Meals
New for Summer 2010: Live in a Parisian Home
AIFS is pleased to announce that some students will be able to live in family homestays this summer for the first time. Normally families only accept semester students. Since the cost of a homestay is considerably less that at Citadines Apartment Hotel, AIFS is able to give students in homestays the following rebate from the program price as follows:
| 4-Weeks (July) |
6-Weeks (July to mid-August) |
|
| Single room (one or two singles per house) |
$1000 | $1,500 |
| Twin | $1,150 | $1,650 |
Please note that students may request a single or a twin but this cannot be guaranteed.
Students have a double or single room in an apartment where their hosts provide a continental breakfast. Students have a key and can come and go as they wish. There is privacy for study, yet a certain amount of contact with the Parisian hosts. Students are likely to be housed with a single woman or professional couple. Students are seldom housed with families with young children.
Note: Breakfast is provided 7 days a week. In addition, students receive a subsidy of $14 x 5 days a week toward purchasing dinner Monday to Friday.
In many homes, students have the use of only the bedroom, bathroom and limited use of the kitchen. Parisian hosts do not usually allow free use of the entire apartment. It is important to understand the differences between American hospitality to foreign students and renting a room from a host in Paris. Students should not assume they will be included in the daily life of their Parisian hosts.
All homes offer students internet access in the student's room. Students have either their own bathroom or share it with their hosts on an agreed schedule. Most homes are not air-conditioned, but AIFS will provide a fan if needed. Students are allowed specified time for access to the kitchen to cook an evening meal if they wish seven days a week and lunch on weekends. Each student is given space in the refrigerator and space to store provisions in the kitchen or pantry. Sheets and towels are provided by the hosts and are also washed.
Since the number of homestays is very limited, students will be housed on a first come, first served basis, according to the date on which AIFS fees are paid in full and housing confirmed.
Student Apartments
Students live in private studio apartments in the Citadines Apartment Hotel in the center of Paris at Les Halles, just a short walk from the Pompidou Centre and the Louvre Museum. It is a 10-minute walk across the Seine (or three Metro stops) to the Latin Quarter.
Students live in twin-bedded rooms (one bed is a pull-out stored during the day) equipped with a bathroom and kitchen area with microwave, double burner, dishwasher, refrigerator and kitchen utensils. Rooms also have air conditioning, a desk, T.V., CD player and phone. Sheets and towels are changed once a week.
A limited number of single rooms may be available for a supplement of $2,100 for the 4-week session or $3,100 for the 6-week session.
AIFS always arranges the best accommodation available for students. Changes in housing will be considered only in the event of health and safety issues.
Students will receive a meal allowance for breakfast and lunch or dinner from Monday to Friday. This is a subsidy and will not cover the cost of meals in expensive restaurants. A sandwich and a coffee in a café costs about 12 euros. A 3-course meal in a modest restaurant costs from 25 euros.
