Tips for Newbies to France
Where to get all those pesky home necessities.
A lot of our newsletter has been about learning things as we go along. Sometimes it feels like even when we were told what to expect, it didn’t ease the difficulty or frustration of getting basic things accomplished. You can learn everything there is to know about jury duty, but that doesn’t make it any less tedious.
However, we do think there are shopping tips we can offer Americans who are just arriving and trying to set up a new household. Some of these recommendations are specific to Montpellier, but most of the businesses are national and will be located in every big town or city.
We suggest that on your first or second day you head to the Polygon Mall in Montpellier:
Monoprix - In Montpellier, Monoprix is the closest you will come to a Target. I wish I had know about it before I went to some of the other choices below. My understanding was that it was only a grocery store. Boy, was I wrong. In the Monoprix in the Polygon (not the one on the Place de la Comédie) they sell towels, sheets, dishware, clothes hangers, printer ink, cleaning supplies, etc. If I were to do it all over again I would go here first thing. The prices are similar to Target and the quality is better than Ikea.
FNAC: This is a large electronics store that has basically anything Mac or PC you might need. They carry loads of adaptors and plug strips. We recommend buying new charging cords with French plugs for your phone and computer. You don’t need a transformer for those items and it makes it much easier to use the outlets you have. (In the older buildings the outlets are limited). FNAC also carries televisions, printers, and phones. Over the past year I have bought a color printer, a bluetooth speaker, and a microphone and headphones for podcasting.
Maisons Du Monde - This is a lot like a Pier 1 or a cheaper West Elm. It’s full of home decor—cushions, throws, dishware, vases, and gold plated knickknacks. It is more expensive than a Target and probably only worth a trip once you have your basics in place.
Galleries Lafayette - Because we were morons who didn’t yet know about Monoprix, the first place we went after moving into our apartment was this pricy department store. We bought one set of towels and one set of sheets to get us through the first few nights. I now know we seriously overpaid for these items, but you know what? Those towels are still fluffy as f**k.
Not in the Polygon mall:
French Amazon- Thank God we still have access to Amazon. It would be way too hard to process the culture shock of not having random necessities delivered to your door. The good news is that French Amazon has just about everything you can imagine. The bad news is that they do not offer the Prime overnight or same day shipping we have come to expect. You should plan 3-7 days for each delivery. We discovered with our first Amazon delivery that we had to be home to unlock the door to the building to receive our package. Luckily we found a tabac (bodega) only a few steps away that accepts Amazon packages. I am sure you can do the same.
Things from French Amazon that we have bought and recommend:
Dyson fan that can switch from hot to cold air. This is expensive but is totally worth it when it is 90℉ and also when it is 40℉. It is very light and easy to move room to room.
Drying racks. I like this style because they don’t take up floor space.
A toaster
Kong treats, biodegradable poop bags (hard to find), and Bene Bones for the dogs.
Q-Tips and safety razors
Ikea- We feel very fortunate that the IKEA is only a 20 minute tram ride away. We had been nervous that we would have to rent or steal a car to get there. Every time we’ve gone (I think 3 times in four months?) we have taken the tram there and an Uber home. You are all perfectly aware of what Ikea has to offer, but, for what it’s worth, we bought dishware, sheets, a duvet, tons of clothes hangers, curtains, curtain rods, surge protectors/power cords, and a rug. Roberto’s advice on Ikea is always “If it has more than two moving parts, don’t buy it there.” We advise against their drying racks.
Uniqlo - Don’t fret if you didn’t bring enough socks, underwear, t-shirts, or sweaters. Uniglo has you covered. And they sell fantastic long underwear if you are going on an outdoor adventure.
Setting up Internet: Like in the USA, most of the internet companies will supply you with a modem and router. With Orange, we were not given an option to use our own and I know Bouygues has a modem they also require you to use (let me know if your experience was different). We have had no trouble with our internet or the hardware Orange supplied (serious knock wood here). Getting internet was infinitely easier than getting a mobile phone. Read that nightmare experience here.
After all these errands you definitely deserve a treat:
Gelato: Padova Gelataria has a wide selection of gelato and you really can’t go wrong here.
Cocktails: One of our favorite places for a pre dinner drink is Cybèle. It’s always quiet in the early evening and the bartender is a wizard with cocktails.
Pizza: Ristorante Pizzeria Sicilia is an authentic Italian pizza joint with mouthwatering pies made with homemade dough. You will have a single person sized pizza in front of you within 10 minutes and this is one of the few places open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
Bon chance et la prochaine fois!
Carolyn & Roberto
Click here to check out Carolyn’s fictional graphic novel!
Oh how I miss Montpellier!!!