Travel Tips

Traveling to The Abbey is wonderful in itself, but while you're here, you will probably want to venture outside of Pontlevoy. When planning your trips, some things to keep in mind are your budget, your time, and most importantly yourself.
Most students who study at The Abbey have a limited budget to work with, so keep this in mind at all times, especially when planning travel outside of Pontlevoy. Make a list of the places that you want to visit and rank your top five. There are so many must-sees in Europe, but, unfortunately, if you're only here for the length of the program, there won't be enough time (and probably not enough money) to visit all of them.
Coming to France knowing exactly where you want to go will be helpful especially when trying to find people to travel with. Coming to Pontlevoy with preplanned travel buddies is great and you make fond memories, but this is a time in your life that you really need to be selfish. If you really want to go to Croatia, but no one in your travel circle does, you may get frustrated and resentful of your friends who all want to go to the same places. No worries! There will always be someone looking for an exciting/random weekend travel, and it will be a good to A) spend some time away from your usual group and B) get to travel with someone new.
Once you actually sit down to plan a weekend trip or spring break, it's really overwhelming. Try to plan out your weekend trips at least a week ahead of time because it'll save you at least 50-75 Euros. And when your plans go array (and, believe me, they will), don't fret. Mistakes and mishaps are all part of the wonderful experience of The Abbey.
In conclusion, save money where you can, splurge where you simply must, make new friends, make mistakes, and have the time of your life.

When traveling, check out these for cheaper fares:

www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.sncf-voyages.com

--Jordan Randall

more vital information for your everyday life

1st.....when you get to the abbey, after your 10 hr flight and 3 hr bus ride...and you feel exhausted, look like shit, and the first effects of jet-lag are creeping up on you, they take a picture of you..blow it up, and hang it in the office, so make sure you spend the time on the bus prettying yourself up, because my picture was awful

2nd...if you like to eat late at night, you are screwed...they close the kitchen at 11pm....so, basically they are promoting anorexia....lame, i know....(just store all the food that doesnt have to be chilled in your room) its still annoying tho, if you have a midnight craving for cheese or a hotpocket, or anything that needs to be cooked or microwaved......

awesomeness

READ THIS BEFORE YOU SIGN UP FOR CLASSES

so...when making your schedule...pick the classes that look like that are going to be the least amount of work...there is seriously way too much homework given here to enjoy your free time...and for someone like me who has travel plans most of the weekends here, I am probably going to have horrible grades in my classes, because to me, traveling seems more important...so, don't take a lit class unless you love reading, that is where I am most behind. The French classes are good because everyone can improve their French. I just wish there was a little less work and less expectations from the classroom side of this, so that I could enjoy my first time in Europe. Just a little advice, good look to everyone next year....

Blois

we went to blois yesterday, saw the castle and whatnot...

seriously tho...the kids on the bus were a little creepy

they could not have been older than 16...and there were a whole lot of them...and all they knew how to say in english were some dirty nasty things...

and then they were obviously talking about us in french....as chelsea and i were picking up on some things they were saying...

avoid crowded buses if at all possible...


and bring extra deoderant....its ghetto here

MAJOR!!!

Another major item to make sure you do not forget at home is your shower shoes!!! they are so hard to find here and then when you do they cost too much. especially for just showering. Also please make sure you have a full tube of toothpaste before you come. Geez. Buying extra before you come doesnt hurt. Deodorant too :)

Henrik Zwingli