Highlights of the Project:
Yes, this is that timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir-faire for centuries. But change is on track, France is inspired and it is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Experience and savor art in the shining capital and enjoy the serenity on the banks of River Seine. See the glorious pasts of the blazing fort at Versailles. Travel south for Roman civilization and the sparkling blue Mediterranean. Ski in the Alps. Sense the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology in Brittany, brought by 5th century Celtic invaders. Smell ignominy on the beaches of Normandy, battlefields of Verdun and the Somme, and know that this is but the tip of that huge iceberg the French call culture.
Our Strengths:
– Stay in a carefully selected French school hostel with the other French student of that school.
– Involve in the daily life of a French School.
– Improve your French level with daily French classes and get a certificate for the entire Exchange.
– Learn about French culture from a Milna French team member, with you during the entire Exchange.
– Participate in various activities and discover the area in the afternoon and over the weekend.
– Live like a local with a French Family during a weekend (option).
– Even if your French school is not in Paris area, you get to visit the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysée, Bateau mouche, Sacré-cÅ“ur (Montmatre)…
Safety:
– We follow the security instructions strictly, especially when outdoors.
– We follow the French law protecting the youth while organizing a travel.
– A Milna French person is with the group during the entire Exchange, who’s reachable at all times.
Responsible traveler:
– We use the public transportation when available
– We use small and recent vans, fuel efficient, when the public transportation are rare
– We limit the group detritus to reduce the impact of the carbon footprint caused by this project.
This exchange program project is giving you the choice to stay with your group at the hostel of the French school you will be going to.
There are 3 types of French hostels:
1) Open from Monday morning to Friday end of the day. All their students will leave Friday after class to their home and they will come back Monday morning.
2) Open from Sunday evening to Friday end of the day. All their students will leave Friday after class to their home and they will come back Sunday evening.
3) Open 7 days a week. All their students will stay in the school and its hostel all year around except during the holidays.
During the French holidays, the school and its hostel will remain closed. An exchange program, hostel stay will not be possible.
Briefly, the program consist of time spent in the French school with the French students, usually in the mornings, the afternoons are dedicated to the visits, the evenings are in the Hostel. The weekend is with the French Family (if opted for), else in a Hotel in Paris area. At least 3 nights are spent in Paris area during the exchange.
Below, an example of an exchange program depending on the city where you will be.
Wherever you will go, you will do the local activities (sea, countryside, mountain, city…) and you will also visit Paris. (Eiffel tower, Louvre, Champs Elysées, Bateau mouche, Sacré-cÅ“ur…)
Example of program for the Hostel + French family + Hotel option
Day 1 (Hotel night 1) Saturday
Flight India → Paris. Baggage dropping at the Hotel. A visit to Paris: Monmartre area. Dinner and night in Paris area.
Day 2 (Hostel night 1) Sunday
Louvre Museum in the morning, lunch followed by a cruise on the river Seine (Bateaux-mouches) and then heading to the School, dinner at the French school hostel.
Day 3 (Hostel night 2) Monday
You are part of the French School this week, you are going to live with the French Students and your own group. Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 4 (Hostel night 3) Tuesday
Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 5 (Hostel night 4) Wednesday
School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 6 (Hostel night 5) Thursday
Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 7 (Family night 1) Friday
Breakfast at the French Hostel with other French students. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school canteen, afternoon visit of the area.
At the end of the day, each Participant will leave the school with his French partner for a weekend at his French family. Dinner at the French family.
Day 8 (Family night 2) Saturday
You are staying with your French Family and doing the activities you planned together.
Day 9 (Hostel night 6) Sunday
You are staying with your French Family and doing the activities you planned together.
End of the day, you will come back to the French Hostel with your French Partner. You will be staying at the Hostel for the 6th night.
Day 10 (Hotel night 2) Monday
Last breakfast at the French School Hostel. We will leave the school in the morning to go to Paris. Check in at the Hotel, afternoon will be at the top of the Eiffel Tower, followed by The Champs Elysées and the Opera area. Diner and night in Paris area.
Day 11 (Hotel night 3) Tuesday
For today, the group has the choice between: Disneyland Paris, Astérix Park or Versailles Castles. Diner and night at the hotel in Paris area. According to the flight timing tomorrow, for this last night, if you still have energy, we might keep you out late night to see Paris by night.
Day 12 (Night in the air or at your own home)
Eventual last visits before heading to the airport for the flight back to India. Arrival in the evening or the next day.
Example of program for the Hostel + Hotel option
Day 1 (Hotel night 1) Saturday
Flight India → Paris. Baggage dropping at the Hotel. A visit to Paris: Monmartre area. Dinner and night in Paris area.
Day 2 (Hostel night 1) Sunday
Louvre Museum in the morning, lunch followed by a cruise on the river Seine (Bateaux-mouches) and then heading to the School, dinner at the French school hostel.
Day 3 (Hostel night 2) Monday
You are part of the French School this week, you are going to live with the French Students and your own group. Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 4 (Hostel night 3) Tuesday
Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 5 (Hostel night 4) Wednesday
School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 6 (Hostel night 5) Thursday
Breakfast together at the French cafeteria. School involvement in the morning, lunch at the school, afternoon visit of the area. Back to school for dinner and night at the French School Hostel.
Day 7 (Hotel night 2) Friday
Last breakfast at the French School Hostel. We will leave the school in the morning to go to Paris. Check in at the Hotel, afternoon will be at the top of the Eiffel Tower, followed by The Champs Elysées and the Opera area. Diner and night in Paris area.
Day 8 (Hotel night 3) Saturday
For today, the group has the choice between: Disneyland Paris, Astérix Park or Versailles Castles. Diner and night at the hotel in Paris area. According to the flight timing tomorrow, for this last night, if you still have energy, we might keep you out late night to see Paris by night.
Day 9 (Night in the air or at your own home) Sunday
Eventual last visits before heading to the airport for the flight back to India. Arrival in the evening or the next day.
Rates:
You need to select the appropriate options to see the rate displaying
→ “Age“: Select the age you will have during the project. Let’s say that you are now 15 and before or during the project, you will be 16, then please select 16.
→ “From“: Select the airport from where you want to start your project. If your desired airport is not displayed, please contact us.
→ “When“: Select the month you want to do your project. In case you have several options, please select the earliest month.
→ “Stay“: Select between Hostel + French family + Hotel option and Hostel + Hotel option.
→ “Payment terms“: It needs to be coherent with the selected month in “When“. Let’s say that we are the 25th January and you’ve mentioned your wish to go in April. In such case, your departure is in more than 60 days but less than 90 days. You need to select the 60 days payment terms if you plan to make the payment at least 60 days before the departure.
Contact us, if you need clarifications.
When can I go?
– An exchange program, Hostel stay, to France is possible throughout the year, however, when the school is having holidays, it is not possible to access the school and its hostel. Contact us if you are planning to go during a period where the French schools are closed.
– Here is the calendar displaying the dates when the French schools are closed.
For how long?
1) Hostel + French family + Hotel option: 4/5/6* nights at the French hostel, 2/3 nights at French family and 3 nights at the hotel.
Total duration is 10/11 nights. (Want a different duration? Contact us)
2) Hostel + Hotel option: 4/5 nights at the French hostel and 3 nights at the hotel.
Total duration is 7/8 nights. (Want a different duration? Contact us)
Rate including:
– 4 or 5 nights in the hostel of the French school (*A 6th night might be added only for logistic purpose by Milna)
– 2 or 3 nights in the French family (If opted for)
– 3 nights in a hotel in Paris area
– Health & Travel insurance
– The meals (Breakfast, lunch and diner)
– All transportation from the selected airport of departure
– The visits and activities as per the program
– The management of the group by at least one Milna person during the entire project
– Preparation meetings before the departure (Online or on site as per your location)
– Assistance for the eventual Visa application
– One adult from your group for every 10 participants (It can be a teacher, parent… willing to be a positive contribution to the project)
– Certificate for each participant
The rate does not include:
– Personal expenditure
– Eventual Visa fee to the country/ies of the project
– Transfer to/from the starting concerned airport
– What is not mentioned in “Rate including”
Eventual options:
– French Sim card
– Extra days in Paris
– Excursion in a neighboring country
– A TGV tour to experience the legend
– Stopover in another country (As per the airline stopover)
– Departure from another airport, upon request
About the “150 and 120 days payment terms”:
For the 150 and 120 days payment terms, we will do our maximum to respect your preferred date of departure, however, the dates of the project must be flexible +/- 7 days.
The flight:
– Possible from the displayed city/ies above, in the “From” dropdown. For other airport, please contact us.
– Dates are changeable +/- 72 hours.
Formalities:
Valid passport + Eventual Visa (As per your citizenship).
Health:
– Our team has a pharmacy adapted to the destination.
– Anywhere you go in Europe, no vaccination is mandatory.
– A member of Milna is present with the traveling group during the entire length of the stay. He/ She will ensure the security and safety of the group.
– In case of an emergency, the traveler will be taken into care by the nearest hospital. If needed, he will be repatriated in the best conditions.
Reachable:
– The parents of the participant will have the full details of the French school hostel and according to the selected option, the French host family or the hotel details before the departure (address, phone, email…)
– Milna will share the contact of the Milna person who is going to be with the participant
– Milna will update the parents by daily messages/photos/videos on a specially created Whatsapp group.
– Milna will provide the participant and his parents with a 24h number to reach someone from Milna at any time.
How the payment deadlines work? (10A)
The principle is simple: The earliest you book your project and pay, more you will save. By paying us in advance, we can prepare the project in advance. We get better prices so we make you benefit from this saving, hence the different deadlines.
Let’s say you select the 90 days’ deadline, it means, that 100% of the payment needs to reach us no later than 90 days before the departure. If you have already paid 25%, the remaining payment will be 75% to send us no later than 90 days before the departure. If your payment is not reaching us before the 90 days’ deadline, then the 60 days’ deadline will apply. (Check our rates to know the exact amount). If today is the 91st day before the departure and you want the 90 days’ deadline, you have to send us 100% of the amount to respect the deadline and avail the 90 days special offer, but no later than that.
Where I will stay? (7A)
You will be staying with your group in the same school hostel.
If your group has opted for the weekend family stay, you will be staying with a French family, in their home.
3 nights together in a hotel will be spent to do the visits and be close to the airport.
What will I eat? (11A)
You will be enjoying local delicacies that will be respecting your diet and preferences that has been mentioned in the Unique Form Participant.
Who will take care of me? (12A)
In most cases the Accompanying adult (usually a teacher) from your school shall accompany you to France. During the entire project, a Milna person, who knows France and its culture very well, stays with the group. You can contact the Accompanying adult and the Milna person for any assistance at any time.
What will I do during the project? (14A)
Three main elements revolve around the project: The French school, the French family and the visits.
This is how we divide the program into three parts: Time of involvement in the school, generally in the morning, visiting time in the afternoons, and time with the family in the evenings and weekends.
Without forgetting the visits to Paris in general, at the end of the program.
.How many nights I will spend in the hotel? (17A)
You will be staying 3 nights in a hotel. The hotel is usually in Paris area to facilitate the visits of Paris and be near the airport.
How many nights I will spend in the French Hostel? (19A)
You will be staying 4 or 5 nights in the French Hostel: 4 nights if the hostel is open 4 nights a week, usually Monday to Friday. Else, it will be 5 nights if the hostel is open 5 nights a week, usually Sunday to Friday.
For logistic purpose, Milna might take the decision to add a 6th night in the Hostel.
How many nights I will spend with the French family? (22A)
If your group has opted for the optional family stay, you will be staying up to 3 nights in a French family.
Usually Friday to Monday or Friday to Sunday according to the French hostel timings.
How do I get my visa? (23A)
If you need a visa, Milna will facilitate your visa formalities. Our team will provide you the special list of required documents for the visa and the steps to follow. We also remain available to have a look at your documents and reply to your questions, doubts or special cases.
What about Travel and Health insurance? (24A)
A travel and health insurance is included in the given rate. It is protecting you as per the insurance coverage. The insurance is in compliance with the Embassy criteria. Milna will provide you a copy of your insurance policy before applying for your visa.
What is the exact program? (26A)
Two Milna projects are never alike. Milna creates a tailor made project for each new group taking into consideration the group age, size, Girl / boy ratio, the location, the time of the year, the expectations of the participant. That is why, the final program is finalized once the enrollment is done and the location is confirmed. The “Detailed program” tab in each project helps to have an idea of what the project contains.
At which area will the project take place? (27A)
The project can happen anywhere in France. If your group has any particular preferred area, then it has to be requested for, at the time of enrollment via the “Unique Form Organisation” and we’ll do our best to select an area matching your preferences.
During the project, how, we parents, can stay in touch with the participant? (28A)
Before the start of the project, Milna will invite the participant and his relatives to join a special Whatsapp group, in which, we send daily update with photos, videos… to keep everyone updated.
Each participant is advised to have a local sim card to be reachable at anytime.
The Accompanying adult(s) and the Milna person(s) will be reachable and will facilitate the communication in case a participant is “too busy” to give news to his parents…
Will the participant be alone or with his/her friend, at the French family's home? (32A)
If you have opted for the French family stay, our norm is one participant per French family to create the best immersion environment possible. However, we listen to your preferences via the “Unique Form Participant”, where you can mention, according to the availability, if you wish to stay alone or with another participant in the same French family.
In the rare case where we have less hosting families and have your approval, we will put you with another participant in the same family. Similarly, if no French family is able to welcome two participants in the same house, your preference of being with another person won’t be fulfilled and our norm of 1 participant – 1 French family will apply.
How much pocket money should the participant carry? (33A)
For sake of the participant private expenditure (shopping etc.), you can give some pocket money, it all depends on what the participant would like to buy from France. In general, we believe that 15 Euros per day is largely enough to fulfill the normal shopping desires.
Does the French Family speak English? What if the participant doesn’t speak good French or any French at all? (36A)
Most French people are not so good at English. But by agreeing to host a foreign participant in their family, they already cross the barrier of language. Generally, such families speak English or at least, one parent i.e. The father or the mother of the family speaks English. And even if not them, then for sure the French partner has knowledge in English as he/she learns it at school. Hence, even if the participant knows very little French or no French, it is never a problem.
Google is always here if needed. And in case of emergency, the Milna person is available.
How, we parents, can have updates about our daughter or son? (35A)
1- A Whatsapp group will be created and the participant and his family are invited to join it to get updates. The Milna person sends a lot of pictures, videos and information about the group.
2- Milna maintains a project’ blog in which we mention among other information, the itinerary and the calendar of the participants. So the family of the participant can know what he/she going.
3- Each participant is requested to have a local sim card to be easily reachable. The parents can get update directly.
4- The Milna person and the Accompanying adult will also be reachable in case the participant is “too busy” to update his family.
In what situation a 6th night at the Hostel might happen? (34A)
It can happen if you have opted for a French Family Weekend Stay and the Hostel is open from Sunday evening. If you are back to the School Sunday end of the day, instead of heading to Paris, Milna might take a decision to make you stay that night at the Hostel to leave next day morning to Paris. Other reasons can make Milna add or not a 6th night at the Hostel. (Flight timing, distance from Paris, mode of transports…).
This will be usually known before the flight tickets are booked.
Where will the Accompanying adult stay? (39A)
The Accompanying adult(s) of the group will be staying in the same school hostel, in a separated room from the Participants. In case, the optional family stay is opted for, he/she/they will be hosted, usually, by one of the staff (teacher, principal…) of the host school.
Where the project will take place? (47A)
The Exchange Program (Family Stay) can take place anywhere in France. Milna selects the best option available for your group. If your group has any particular preferred area, then it has to be requested for, at the time of enrollment and we’ll do our best to select n area matching your preferences.
Who will be my hosts? (44A)
If you have opted for the family stay option, you will be staying with a French family in which there is a student from the French school you will be going to.
You will get the details of your French family before the departure.
Should the I bring a gift for the host family and siblings? (43A)
You will have an assigned French partner, so yes, he/she will be happy to receive something from your country as a gift. It is not necessary to buy an expensive one. Anything representing your country will do. Otherwise, simply you may ask him/her.
If you have opted for the family stay option, the host family will also be happy to receive something from your country as a gift.
