Rennes vs Nice

[someday81]

Hello all. Well I've decided to give it a go and attempt to come to France in the Spring of 2010 to study French language and get away for a while. I'm currently taking lessons from a tutor (been studying since February), so by January I hope to have a servicable level of French, but I am trying to decide between two areas. I've narrowed the programs I'm looking at to one in Rennes and one in Nice. The prgrams cost about the same amount of money, so some other things I am looking at include: Cost of living, a nice group of 20 to 30 somethings, big but not too big city, things to see but not too touristy, not too hot but not too cold either. Just a nice place where a single guy in his late 20's and his dog can learn French and meet some nice people. Just looking for some opinions. Thanks a lot.

[Vallby]

Hi.
From experience, Nice is a very nice area from September to May when there aren´t too many tourists. There is a lot too see along the coast and both Italy and Switzerland is pretty close by.
But if you wish to wish to have an active social life and meet alot of new people I think it might be easier to do so in Rennes.

Best wishes
Chris.

[someday81]

Originally Posted by Vallby

Hi.
From experience, Nice is a very nice area from September to May when there aren´t too many tourists. There is a lot too see along the coast and both Italy and Switzerland is pretty close by.
But if you wish to wish to have an active social life and meet alot of new people I think it might be easier to do so in Rennes.

Best wishes
Chris.

Thanks for your advice. I was just wondering if you had been to Rennes and if so what was your impression?

[Vallby]

Originally Posted by someday81

Thanks for your advice. I was just wondering if you had been to Rennes and if so what was your impression?

Hi, sorry for the late answer.
Have just passed through there so don´t know much about life there, but I know there are alot of students there.

Chris

[glentheleg]

Hey there, I can't say anything about Nice myself, as I've never been there, however I have been living in Rennes for the past year and can vouch for it's suitability for easy social life for 20 to 30 somethings (the range which myself and my friends fit in). I've had some friends take the French classes as CIREFF and say good things about it, though it is very intense apparently.

For me and a lot of expats my age the centre of the social life here is the local Irish pub. It's a bit of a cop-out as far as integrating and speaking French as the staff are british/irish - but even going there exclusively you'll meet lots of French people. There's a pretty decent night life here, it being a student town, but it's relatively relaxed as well, being small enough to walk almost everywhere without taking the bus or metro.

If you want any specific information on Rennes let me know.

Glen.