Moving to Paris, Help Please

[Oh So Cold]

Hi,

first of all, sorry if this is a thread that has been made a trillion times already, but I haven't been able to find one using the search function.

Anyways, I'm moving to Paris and would like some practical info. My main issue is finding an apartment. I've been recommended to get a place on the right bank (post codes 75009, 75010, 75011, 75012, 75017, 75018, 75019, 75020), which sounds sensible. I've heard that the real estate agents there can be quite demanding of proof of funds etc, so if there is anyone out there who are not from Paris and has moved there, how did you go about finding a place, and what sort of documentation did you need? Also, I'm moving with my girlfriend and want at least 40square metres and not pay more than €1,000 per month in said areas. Possible?

Also, I don't speak a word of French and am a bit concerned of the possibility of a social life there. I don't mind old men yelling at me and calling me American (even though I'm Scandinavian) for not speaking French, but how is the young hipster-generation when it comes to English? I take it most of the young worldly generation is quite adept at speaking English when they want to, but is there any chance of getting some French friends on a deeper level than free-drinks-at-Colette-mingling-type-friends if the only words you know in French are "oui" and "no"?

Any sort of practical info apart from this on moving to Paris would also be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Guest what job]

it's "non"

[Oh So Cold]

it's "non"

Haha, illustrates my point perfectly.

[2000dB]

how about making an effort and learning french?

[Oh So Cold]

how about making an effort and learning french?

Thanks for helping out and adding to the general positivity of the Internet. You're the best.

[Fuuma]

Oh so cold, Paris is a French city through and true, if you don't speak the language it's the equivalent of moving to NYC and not speaking English; you're going to have to stick to expats and you won't get to experience the city. I'd start learning now or chose a place where they speak a language I can use.

[Oh So Cold]

Thanks Fuuma. I am indeed planning to learn French, but the step from being able to communicate to having more than superficial conversations in French without resorting to English is huge (at least two years of intensive studying). Don't want to hang out with too many ex-pats, even though I will be one myself.

Any tips on finding an apartment?

[englandmj7]

The way things are going in France, you're probably much better off learning Arabic anyways.

[AstroWolf]

just go to chez pa pa and have a great meal. right near gar de least. haha. misspelling is fun in french.

[Gabriel]

1. There are more and more young people who speak English in France now.

2. You're scandinavian so you speak 8 languages anyway.

3. Getting an apartment: you need someone to help you. An employer, etc. They'll want to make sure you have a work contract (CDI). And a salary like 3 times the rent. If all that is impossible you probably have to look into the expat universe, which is very middle class American and everything costs the double. I

4. left bank ftw! oh but you said "hipster"

[Oh So Cold]

Thank you Gabriel! I will be employed by a Scandinavian company which doesn't have an office in France, will that be a problem? I can get the contract written in English if it'll make a difference. What's CDI?

[seiji]

I think what is important is the first contact. What i mean is that even you don't master the language try to speak in Frenchglish. people often find it funny then you can show that you are making efforts and that you are not an average tourist. Well, i have nothing against tourists and i often try to help them in the street but like everywhere there are always nasty people.

choose 75009 if you can. really nice and not very well known. you are in the center of paris and you can easily move around any places of Paris. for less than 1000€/month it would be difficult to find more than 40m². If space is important for you try 19th or 20th. if location is a priority choose 9th 18th lot of charming places (if you liked amélie poulain it was in the 18th)

[seiji]

CDI: contrat à durée indeterminée.

scandinavian contract translated wont be a problem. As Gabriel said in theory you need to be paid 3000e/months if you want a 1000per month flat. you can try seloger.com or pap.fr to find a flat.

[Oh So Cold]

Thank you very my seiji, fantastic information.

[beberthur]

Left bank is really really expensive. For sure the flats are nice, but if you want to pay less than 1000€ don't expect more than 40 square metres -except in a few parts of the 13th and 15th arrondissements.

On the right bank, as Seiji said, the 19th and 20th arrondissements are the cheapest, and some places are really nice there, like the area around the Buttes Chaumont. Other parts of these two arrondissements can be a bit unsafe though, but overall this is not dangerous.

Concerning the language, you'll probably have to stay with expats, at least in the beginning. But more and more French people really don't mind speaking English, especially the younger ones (and by younger I mean less than 30). Yet, try at least to say "bonjour", "s'il vous plait" and "merci".

[Oh So Cold]

Thanks beberthur, very useful info on the arrondissements. Do you - or anyone else - know how the Internet situation is in Paris? Are the connections reliable, super fast and free of down and upload limits? How much can I expect to pay for Internet per month for a good connection?

[Gabriel]

My favourite is the Freebox. You get basically everything including free phone to most countries for €30.- / mo. France is pretty good for bandwidth, not as good as Sweden but better than many places.

[Guest Goose25]

Thanks beberthur, very useful info on the arrondissements. Do you - or anyone else - know how the Internet situation is in Paris? Are the connections reliable, super fast and free of down and upload limits? How much can I expect to pay for Internet per month for a good connection?

I would recommend using orange for internet, they bought wanadoo and have access to all of wanadoo's infrastructure. There are a lot of smaller companies like free but setting up the home network is a nightmare. The good thing about orange is they are global and you can always look at the orange UK website for info on setting up. It has saved me before.

-> The thing with internet connections in France is you will go and sign up (you will need proof of residence like a rental bill and also a bank statement) and get home and nothing will happen for 7 days minimum. Internet providers don't connect you for 7 days as a rule. THEN, you may well find they don't have a piece of paper you need and it will stretch out into 15 days. YOU HAVE TO EXPECT AND BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH DELAYS!!!

I have been here 3 years and almost everything I sign up for is delayed or some paper is missplaced.

-> Stay cool and be sure to know local wi-fi spots and when going for any type of account (internet, mobile, car) take 3 photocopies of every legal or identifiying paper you have (school enrolment if studying, visa papers, energy, gas, telephone bills) - overwhelm them with documentation and you get what you want.

-> Once you have the internet on its great, fast, unlimited you name it and around €30-45 a month for a hot plan

Re: housing - be sure to have a bank account first (which you can only have if you have a house! (talk to your real estate agent about it - they can help)) and also be prepared to make large deposits for numerous utilities. Be sure with real estate agents to ask for a fixed-term price (this lets them know you are on the ball) and be aware that rentals generally go up once a year on average by law.

These are hard-won lessons so always have a Plan A, Plan B and even a Plan C for every situation in France!!! Once you are here its great tho'!

[emixam]

you shouldn`t worry about young French speaking English or not. They all do, some do speak better than others....but they will understand you. I am always amazed by people telling me that French, and Parisians in particular, seem to be unpolite towards tourists speaking to them in English (i.e. asking their way in the street).... But so many people related me this kind of experience, that it must be true, I am not like this anyway !

Also, if you don`t want to afford too much money go to the near subburbs...some place are great such as Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Vanves, Montrouge, Clamart....depending on where you work !

[Oh So Cold]

Thanks for all your help everyone. I just have one more question (for now): Is there a good site which lists upcoming concerts in Paris? Not Rolling Stones sized shows (they are easy to find), but more small shows (aka RJD2, Built to Spill, Cat Power etc etc). Cheers!

[beberthur]

Right now I don't see a precise website, but you can find good informations on magazine websites like figaroscope.fr or lesinrocks.com (this one particularly). they're in french though.

this site also seems nice.

[Gabriel]

Is there a good site which lists upcoming concerts in Paris?

Magnetophone.com/

vodkacoca?

[the ikid]

Hey there, so I live in Paris actually and i think those sites could help you:

http://www.parisrockscene.net/

you can also use these site

www.fnacspectacles.com where you can book tickets and just look by Venues.

best venues for shows you are looking for (indie, rock, punk, electro..) are:

Nouveau Casino, La Cigale, Trabendo, Point Ephèmere, La Boule Noire, La Maroquinerie, Batofar, Bataclan

or you can also use this one:

http://www.concertandco.com/style_region.php

then choose the style on the left and choose paris on the right.

if you need any other help about paris message me

[Charles]

BUMP

I'm Planning on moving to Paris, the only thing stopping me is finding an apartment. I was wondering the best way to go about this being an American citizen? I have friends and family in Lille, and i know of websites like leboncoin.fr, but was wondering what would be the smoothest way to get a 6 month lease somewhere. Through an agency or just calling a random landlord and trying to get things figured out that way.