How to make your Study Abroad in Nantes Affordable

One of the biggest concerns about study abroad is the price. Going abroad is usually more expensive than just staying put. But that doesn’t mean it has to break the bank. There are many easy ways to reduce the cost of your time in another country and still take full advantage of the amazing experience of studying abroad. 

I will outline different aspects of study abroad and the different ways I reduced costs, so that you can too!

Travel Tips: 

Stay local:

One of the biggest expenses incurred by people studying abroad is travel. In Nantes, you have access to the Nantes airport and the French national rail service. The temptation to be in new European country every weekend is ever-present. Any travel of this sort involves considerable travel, housing, and food costs. 

By staying local, however, and taking day trips to St. Nazaire, Angers, Clisson, or Le Croisic, you can visit interesting places and see cool things for a 15 Euro train ticket and pack a lunch so you spend nothing on food. Reduced food and travel costs and no lodging whatsoever. There’s so many things to see just an hour’s ride away from Nantes, and cutting down on travel time means you get to take things slow and really get a feel for the different places in the region. 

Bunk in a hostel:

If you do stay overnight somewhere, try a hostel. Airbnbs and hotel rooms can cost upwards of 100 euros a night, but I’ve stayed in hostels for around 20 dollars a night. They are more hit-or-miss than a Hilton, but you can find really quality hostels if you check the reviews. Two of the hostels I stayed in were essentially hotel rooms with more than one bed. Very comfortable and very cheap. The People is a chain of hostels that are very well renowned, I stayed in their Marseille location and absolutely loved it. 

Go on the IES Abroad Excursions:

The IES Abroad excursions are included in your admission to the program, meaning that the trips to Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Mont Saint-Michelle, and the castles of the Loire are all completely free. Hotels, some of the meals, and the bus ride require no out-of-pocket expense, and are a great way to see some sights outside of Nantes for nothing! The trips are super fun and include many super cool activities that you might not have access to on your own.

Get Student Discounts:

Remember, you are a student at a French University! Take your student ID (that you are given at the beginning of the semester) with you when you travel for discounted museums and food. Most museums are free or very cheap for people under 26 in general, but asking if there is a student reduction never hurts! 

Food Tips:

Food is a non-negotiable. You need it. You cannot avoid this expense, so you have to find cheap options. Luckily, it’s easier done in France than in the U.S. I consistently ate lunch for under 10 euros every day. That included a sandwich, an apple, a banana, and a yogurt. Not bad when you’re used to the sandwich alone costing 10 dollars. 

U Express: 

You can find the best deals at U Express, a short ten-minute walk from the center. U Express was the favorite lunch spot of several IES Abroad students, myself included. It’s an affordable grocery store that has everything you could possibly need. Every weekday, they have hot meals to-go in a warmer on the right side of the store as you walk in. I would get the chorizo panini when they had it, it wasn’t a culinary masterpiece but it was good. I advise getting a U Express card to get reductions, there’s also an app called Mon Magasin U that will give you access to a rewards program. I didn’t find out enough about these things early enough to make use of them, but it’s definitely something you should check out if you plan on eating cheaply. 

You might be thinking that you won’t get the true French experience, but let me tell you U Express is packed every day at lunchtime with French people getting their midday meal. I once ran into Mme Grenon, the IES Abroad instructor for French and the Teaching Internship Seminar. I regularly saw my students from my teaching internship as well. U Express really is an institution in downtown Nantes, and a great option for cheap food without skimping on quality. 

Eating at the Center: 

U Express is not only good because of the cheap options and its proximity to IES Nantes, but for the fact it’s a grocery store. Buying food in bulk is much cheaper than buying each meal on its own. The IES Abroad center has spacious cupboards and plenty of space in the fridge to store your food. You can make one trip to U Express and then go into the kitchen and make your lunch every day on the cheap.

It can be a simple sandwich with deli meat, lettuce, and cheese, and it will be much cheaper than one bought at a store. That doesn’t mean it will be worse. You have an amazing selection of cheeses at any grocery store in France, and an equally extensive array of inexpensive meats. You can make your own French sandwiches in the IES center and save lots of money. 

Too Good to Go:

Too Good To Go is an app you can download on your phone that gives you access to a network of businesses that sell food cheaply instead of throwing it out. At different times during the day, you can purchase things cheaply that a business doesn’t think it will be able to sell quick enough. For example, lots of bakeries sell “surprise baskets” with assorted breads and croissants at the end of each day for well below the regular price. I utilized this app quite a bit at the beginning of the semester, it’s very cheap but you have to be at the pickup spot at the specific time, which was a bit annoying. If you want to save money, however, bring a book or plan your day well to pick up a nice bag of goodies for three euros at the pickup time. A bunch of different grocery stores, restaurants, hotel buffets, and bakeries use it, so there is a wonderful selection of products to choose from. I suggest you check it out and see if it works for you! You can save money and reduce food waste at the same time!

Cook with Friends: 

If any of your IES Nantes friends have host families that are okay with having people over, getting people to split the grocery bill for a nice pasta dinner that you make yourself can really reduce food costs. Not only that, some of my best times in France were spent making dinner with my friends and then eating together. It’s a beautiful thing to not only eat with other people but cook the food as well. You don’t have to go out to a restaurant to eat with your friends but it requires a little more planning and a willing host family, so it’s not a sure thing. Don’t be afraid to ask to use the kitchen, the worst your host family can say is no. 

Eat at the Resto U: 

The cafeteria on Nantes campus is very cheap and if you have classes there, very convenient. You can get a meal for around five dollars with your student ID (issued to you at the beginning of the semester), though it will be a cafeteria style. It also gets very busy at lunchtime because everyone wants a meal at the same time. Be prepared to wait in line, but for cheap food it’s sometimes worth it. 

Get Student Discounts:

Restaurants around town in Nantes also offer student discounts, so be sure to ask or check! La Viennoise, a bakery right next to the center offers a student deal for lunch each day that includes a sandwich, a dessert, and a drink for 7.40 Euro. Back Bay, a burger place in Île Feydeau, also offers a student discount. Be sure to check at every restaurant!

Transportation: 

Nantes Public Transport (Naolib):

Getting around Nantes is extremely easy compared to the average US City. IES Abroad Nantes supplies each student with a monthly public transit pass at the beginning of the program that you can choose to activate or not at the local Tabac (corner store). It costs 37 euros each month, but that gives you unlimited access to the whole Naolib network, the public transit system in Nantes. This includes buses, trams, and the Navibus Ferry. You can also add a bike plan for a few euros more, which most French people do. If you don’t plan on going up to the university or taking the bus to the IES center every day, the monthly pass is probably not worth it. You can buy hour tickets at every tram stop. 

On the weekends, however, is when you can really explore the city. The entire Naolib public transit network is completely free every weekend. You can take the bus downtown, the tram out to the Beaujoire soccer stadium, or the ferry across the Loire to the adorable fishing village of Trentemoult without spending a dime. Taking advantage of free trips around Nantes on the weekends allows you to explore the city on the weekends without breaking the bank. 

Walk:

Walking is the best way to see the city and really get a feel for it. I walked to the IES center every day, to restaurants downtown, and back home at the end of the day. It’s quite convenient and costs nothing. I learned street names, and got familiar with the layout of the city. Walking home, I would try and take different routes without relying on google maps, which would just show me the fastest way. It really opens your eyes to all the different things that are just a street over from your normal route. 

Free Hangout Spots in Nantes: 

You have to pay to hang out at a lot of places, like cafes and restaurants. My favorite places to hang out for free during the day were the many public parks all around Nantes.  Here’s a few, the best options depend on their proximity to your host family’s house, so you’ll have to look them up to see which is closest to you:

• Jardin des Plantes (across from the train station, Gare Sud)
• Parc du Procès
• La Chezinne
• Cimitiere du Misericorde
• Cours Cambronne (right next to the IES Abroad center)
• Natural History Museum of Nantes Park (also near the center)
• Hangar à Bananes (on the Île de Nantes)

Overview:

All in all, there are a lot of ways to reduce costs while abroad. Don’t feel pressured to “make the most” of your study abroad. You’re there to experience the culture and learn new things. That doesn’t have to happen by flitting to and fro across Europe, buying souvenirs that will just weigh down your suitcase. Sit back, relax, and live within your means. Take these tips and have a great, affordable study abroad experience in Nantes!