A rip-off for students but good location (Foyer de Jeunes La Reinette (Nîmes, France))

Member Name: bkecky

Product:	Foyer de Jeunes La Reinette (Nîmes, France)
Date:	25/06/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good location, cleaner

Disadvantages: Very basic and old-fasioned, awful food

Finding an apartment in France with no regular income is an absoloute nightmare for English people. They require guarantor IN FRANCE as well as your life history before you even get a look in. So after the hassle I had in Paris finding an apartment, I decided that when I went to live in Nimes, I would stay in a youth residence whilst I looked for an apartment.

The residence is located 3 minutes walk from Nimes train station so you are right in the centre and all of Nimes is within walking distance. Also handy if you are arriving from the airport as you only have a short walk with your luggage. The residence has 100 en suite rooms, a restaurant, a bar (no alcohol though, strictly coffee and soft drinks), a TV room and a social area. The bar has a nice patio, which is lovely to sit outside when the sun is shining. You must be 17-25 years to stay at this accommodation and to leave you must give 15 days notice.

I was very lucky to have my boyfriend living nearby so he negotiated my arrangements by telephone in France and it was agreed that I would be able to sign the forms on the day I arrive and pay in cash on that day. However things did not go as smoothly as imagined due to me being unable to draw out the full amount on the day for the rent and deposit. Yet the man was very understanding and allowed me to pay in two parts by the end of the week.

The residence costs 540 euros for your room, breakfast and dinner or 620 euros for your room with breakfast, lunch and dinner. I thought I was gettin a good deal until I saw what the meals consisted of!

Upon entering my room I was given the impression of a bed sit. There was a small camp bed, a old-fashioned school-like desk and a plastic chair. I was shocked at how basic it was having come from my university accommodation in England. However, although basic it was somewhere to put my head down so I wasn't complaining. The bathroom was better although there are two windows into the room to the bathroom, one by the shower and one by the toilet. So if anyone is in your room they can see everything that you are doing!

I went down to dinner on my first night and saw that although the tables are arranged for 4 people, no one sat together. A rather stoney silence envelopes the place with the exception of the scraping of knives and forks and the noise of the water machine. To my dismay it was fish the first night or a salad. I don't eat seafood so I was stuck with the salad and some baguette. Things did not improve the next morning when I went to breakfast and discovered a choice of cornflakes (DRY!) or baguette and butter. There was some orange juice so I ate my baguette and drank my orange juice and scuttled back to my room. By lunch time I was starving and having spent all my money on rent and not taken the lunch option I had a miserable day waiting for dinner, which was again that night...FISH! Another salad for me. For 3 out of 5 days it was fish and breakfast was the same every day. I became very hungry and was relieved when I got some money to go to the local supermarket. The problem is there is no kitchen and the restaurant is closed on weekends and holidays. Therefore you have a choice of eating out or eating cold food. I lost a lot of weight! Breakfast is served from 6.15am-8.30am, so if you can be bothered to get up for your piece of bread, great! Dinner is served from 7.30-8pm. Very tight timeframe.

Another issue I encountered was that being so close to the station trains ran late into the night and with my windows open I could even hear the announcements! One night it was stormy and the windows rattled awfully and it was very cold with just a sheet.

There are no visitors after 8pm, which is a little extreme, although my boyfriend came in regularly with no problem so I am guessing that it is more if you are bringing a crowd of people in for a party and not strictly enforced. Between 8pm-midnight you have to use the back door and get someone to open it but the rest of the time you use the main entrance with your magnetic fob. Seems strange that the man disappears at probably the prime time when people will bring guests back...

Another problem was my water. For days I had quick showers because there was no hot water and it was freezing. When I complained the man told me to leave the water running for 5 or 6 minutes and then it should be ok. OK was not the word! It was scalding hot and I couldn't turn my cold water tap on! Also my lock was broken and it took nearly a fortnight to get fixed and the man was then 2 hours late (but shows workmen are the same world over!)

On the good side of things you do get a cleaner that comes every day to clean your room if you are not there and the internet worked straightaway when I got in. The location is great too although if you are a girl it can be a bit dodgy walking around the train station late at night.

Overall I think I am being charged far too much for this basic accommodation. The living areas are fine but the rooms are basic and the choice of food is awful. You end up spending a lot on food because you are so hungry. Fill up on baguette and its not so bad but believe you will tire of baguette very quickly! It has served its purpose but I can't wait to get out and have my own quiet space and my own kitchen.

Summary: This is really not worth your money. You can find somewhere better for the same price or less.