Travel Tips
How to get there:
Students should take flights that arrive May 3 so that they are ready to begin classes on May 4. Consider contacting Robyn at World Travel who can book your flight or at least give advice. Do not book your flight before final approval.
How to get home:
We will finish the Maymester in Lyon on May 30 and you are free after our final meeting to return home or continue your travels. Please do not plan on leaving before May 31 without instructor permission.
What to pack: Travel lightly! We will be moving from place to place.
There is a self-service laundry available in Cannes and Lyon. You need your own towel and toiletries for the hostel in Paris, but you may find it easier to buy inexpensive ones upon arrival.
France in May is generally beautiful, but the evenings can be somewhat cool. The temperature will likely vary between 52 (low) and 67 (high) Fahrenheit. Make sure to pack a sweater. During May, Paris, Cannes, and Lyon all have similar temperatures. It is also known to rain during this period, so bring an umbrella or raincoat or plan on getting one there if needed. We might get lucky!
For the festival, you must have some nicer clothing. Pack lightly, but bring something appropriate for “business casual.” You do not need an evening gown or tuxedo unless you are formally invited to a special screening. Cannes is a great place to shop, at any rate!
Don’t forget: a compact towel, your swimsuit, your ebook for the class, your cellphone with an international plan, and a tablet or laptop to complete your assignments. You will likely have wifi during the entire trip, but no guarantees!
Paying for things:
You need to book and pay for your own flight and get to the hostel in Paris. At that point, everything is paid for that is essential to the program except for some meals. At the hostel in Paris and Lyon, breakfast and dinner are included. In Cannes you will be in small apartments with basic kitchens where you can cook or prepare easy meals. We will eat as a group at least twice. Travel and museums that are part of our common itinerary are covered, and with the Paris Pass you will have unlimited travel within Paris and free entrance to many museums to visit during your free time.
The easiest method of payment is credit card with no international fees. Second would be bringing an ATM card and withdrawing cash as you go. In both situations, however, the card really needs to have an embedded chip. The cards with a magnetic strip are still accepted in some locations, but not many. If you only have an ATM/debit card with a magnetic strip, please also come with some euros, just in case the only ATM you can find when you need cash won’t accept your card. Cards with a chip are accepted just about everywhere, including machines that dispense RER cards, taxis, etc.
Please be very aware of what your cellphone can and cannot do. Many plans charge outrageous rates for international data, and you may not even realize you are using it. Some travelers get a local sim card to insert in their GSM phone. Pick one up at the airport when you arrive. Make sure your phone is unlocked.
Phone Service
You are required to have phone service while in France. Please go to your carrier and make sure your phone is unlocked for international use and will work in Europe. You can choose from these methods:
- suggested: order a French SIM card. The Orange Holiday card on Amazon will work well but only lasts for 2 weeks. You will need to top it up while there (easily done).
- tell your phone company that you will be traveling and they can set you up to use their service in Europe. Apparently, T-Mobile has a reasonable plan.
- buy an inexpensive phone in France with a one month pre-paid plan. This is a good option for those whose phones do not work with European cell towers.
Eating and Sightseeing Tips
This is an excellent guide to various places to eat in Cannes. You can sort based on price or food type. http://www.cannesguide.com/restaurants/
This is a personal perspective of a first timer to the film festival: http://almostginger.com/cannes-film-festival-guide/
The Paris Pass has been chosen as an economical way for students to see as much of Paris and the surrounding area as possible. This pass is included in the cost of your trip. The Paris Pass website is found here. Below are some aids to help you plan your trip before you arrive.
Flixbus is an amazingly cheap way to travel. It’s nice inside and usually has wifi. On free weekends, you should check out the places you can go https://shop.flixbus.com/. Change the flag in the upper right to UK to see the European map. Flixbus is also useful if you have some time before or after the Maymester. It’s a much better way to travel than the EurailPass due to price and flexibility.
For moving around in Paris and Lyon when you can’t use the metro, use Uber. The same Uber app works in France with all the conveniences. The metro is safe and easy to use.