BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all. I would like to ask if anyone can recommend a place where I can go to improve my intermediate french language skills and live modestly, while being close to a beautiful swimming beach. I've travelled widely but never been to the Carribean and thought I might give the French West Indies a go. French Polynesia is beautiful but can be costly if living near the beach. My second question is if anyone can suggest how to find low cost accommodation in the French West Indies. I'd also welcome any comments on the various FWI islands and suggestions. I plan to stay three months or longer. I'm an artist/photographer/film maker/vagabond. Thanks for your time.

Flights there cost the same as going to france. althought it is beautiful, the islands aren't cheap to live. however, if you are considering it, try guadeloupe as I remember there was a school there. however, I found quebec much cheaper .

bonne chance

St. Martin is great. I would definitely recommend it...feels like a small seaside village in france

Thanks Viaggero and Justin for your comments. I will keep searching. I may just find a great beach somewhere else in this great world and take some French books with me. Thanks again.

St. Martin can be quite expensive. though the beaches ARE nice. For spoken French it's not bad as there are plenty of people there from France itself.

If learning is your primary objective I'd suggest a smaller city in central France (e.g., Tours). For a nice beach in season you might look at St. Nazaire, which is realtively cheap and not far from the La Baule.

The version of French spoken in Quebec is quite different, as is the accent.

I am in the same boat PK! I want to utilise my french skills in a hot sandy place. Thank God for the FWI!! The tickets are so expensive, Ive decided to wait and fly out of miami late next year, because Ill be living there and it would be so much easier than getting there from Michigan. I'd done a little researching and there IS a french school that sounds perfect for people like you and me, and its not unreasonable. Well, one week is 290E...

http://www.medialanguescaraibes.net/

Of course taking your french books and living there, would get you pretty far too, and that doesnt cost a penny. There are hostels on Gaud and Martinique. I was able to find two on Guad.

off the beaten path/alternative is Mauritius off the coast of africa. i've never seen more beautiful beaches, safer island culture, snorkeling is to die for. the flight might put a dent in your pocket but its worth it! keep us posted!

I think that's great you're able to live somewhere for three months to learn more of the language. I've always been stuck with textbooks to learn. lol.

Try Martinique.

Bonjour,
J'aimerais bien te suggérer le Québec mais ce n'est pas le meilleur endroit pour prendre du soleil...
BONNE CHANCE!

Kvom, French spoken in Quebec is not a "version" It is simply French. Each part of France has its own accent and the same goes for different parts of Quebec. You can pick up Radio-Canada radio and tv station on the net and hear for yourself. By the way, the French spoken in Quebec is much better than the "version" of English spoken in the USA.
Quebec would indeed be a great place to learn French.

^^^Thats great, because Im living in New England and cannot wait make it to Montreal and get some practice. Not until July though..