Hey,
I'm looking to leave soonish for the South of France to travel a bit, find a job in a cafe or something and generally have fun in the sun, by the sea, while getting my French fluent. Anyone interested in doing a similar thing? I was thinking Biarritz to learn to surf but seems accommodation's pretty expensive so maybe try Marseilles? Nice? Am flexible, just wherever I get a good vibe. I'm 22, female, Londoner, good French, open minded, like to explore and meet new people!
Would love to hear from anyone else who might be around at that time. Cheers!


My parents are retiring to Normandy in a few months and am planning on moving to a city somewhere to work and become fluent too! Unfortunately it won't be for 6 months or so yet!

You can't surf in Marseille or Nice. You need the Atlantic coast for that -- south of the Gironde.

I think you'd better avoid Marseille. I always heard that Marseille by itself is not really a touristy location, more a big city. Nice on the other hand is packed with tourists in summer (and most surrounding cities) and you should be able to find a job easily. I've never been there, but I think Biarritz is more relaxed than Nice, maybe less posh.

As #2 says you can't surf in Marseille or Nice.Biarritz is a little expensive but if you head up the coast there are loads of really great small resorts frequented by mostly French and Germans.Try Mimizan or Biscarosse,both have good municiple camp sites that are dead cheap.You may be able to find some bar work.Surfing is great.