I studied abroad at the Institute for American Universities - American College of the Mediterranean (IAU-ACM) in Aix-en-Provence, France during the 2025 winter semester. Like most people excited to study abroad, I had a list of the places I wanted to go that I saw all over Instagram: Marrakech, Interlaken, Dublin – the list goes on. While I was able to experience ten incredible countries over the semester, I made sure to spend half of my weekends within my country of study. It was really important to me to learn about both French and Mediterranean culture. Do not plan every weekend before you go. You will hear about new places, make new friends, and need room for spontaneity.
Some of the popular destinations I went to were Marrakech, Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, Palma de Mallorca, Florence, Interlaken, Amsterdam, and Santorini. I know–that’s a ton. They were all fabulous, and those are good trips to plan in advance with friends who can host you or meet up with you from other countries. For those kinds of trips, I highly recommend using getyourguide.com to book local activities and Sandemans Tours for free walking tours to learn the history and geography of the city. These destinations are popular for a reason.
At the same time, I committed myself to prioritizing France. I was speaking French, taking classes about the local terroir, and learning about Mediterranean food and culture. Within the south of France, I was able to visit Grenoble, Nice, Arles, Avignon, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, les Baux-de-Provence, Marseille, the Rhône Valley, Fréjus, and les Calanques. The last two, in particular, were some of my favorite experiences abroad, while also being cheap, spontaneous, and local.
Have you heard of Fréjus, France? I had not. I was on the hunt for a sand beach for an overnight getaway during finals season. I was looking to go to Saint Tropez, but there was no easy train there. I found myself on a site called BlaBlaCar, where drivers can list their trip and you can buy a spot in their car for about ten euros. When searching for a ride to Saint Tropez, I kept seeing cars going to Fréjus, a town down the coast. I realized I had only wanted to go to Saint Tropez because I had heard of it. After a few minutes of research, I learned that Fréjus also had sand beaches, a cute marina with restaurants, and was an hour and a half from me. Going to a less popular town during the off season, I was able to get a nice hotel with a pool right on the beach for well under one hundred dollars per person, sharing the room with one friend. We spent about twenty-five dollars each on round trip BlaBlaCars. When I arrived, my mind was blown. The town was adorable, and the beach was stunning. There were palm trees, and I could see the mountains of the Côte d'Azur. Next door to our hotel, there was a booth to book parasailing, so of course we did that. Find the hidden gems. Don’t limit yourself to the places you’ve heard of. They could be more affordable, peaceful, and fun.
The other location that really stood out to me was Les Calanques, a national park between Marseille and Cassis, about forty-five minutes away from my home base of Aix. I hadn’t heard of it until I got to France when some other students told me they went on a cool hike. I saved it until I finally had a free day and went with a friend. I admit, I was underprepared. I tracked the hike on AllTrails, and it said it would take three to four hours. It took all day. I was wearing my school backpack and my AF1s, climbing up and down thousands of feet in elevation. But I would do it again just like that. This was the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen, and after such climbs, it was so rewarding. I’ve never seen water so blue. I couldn’t believe how close I was living to such incredible nature. Sometimes these places are right in your backyard – scroll around on a map, ask locals for their favorite day trips. You won’t want to miss it.
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