Testimonials

They trusted us and shared their homestay experience in Strasbourg

Chantal, Switzerland

I really liked my experience with L and T. They are very friendly and always ready to help you or answer to your questions. They helped me also with the transport from the airport to their apartment, they sent to me all the maps with the indications and all the transport I had to take. I really appreciated it!

The room is very comfortable and gives you your independence, and you have all you need.

You will feel at “home” from the start, because they are also young so they know what you can prefer.

If you want to be independent then they are the right choice, because also with the time of the dinner, you are not stressed and their food is really good!

Have a nice stay!

Grace, UK

The family are lovely . They really like Strasbourg and know a lot about it! In this sense if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. They are very helpful when approached about problems/issues. The children are lovely but a bit timid around house guests so make an effort to talk to them and spend time with them and things will get easier very quickly! The apartment has everything you need and is very spacious. Marie-Helene is great to talk and will help with any language difficulties so don’t hesitate to ask!

Strasbourg is a beautiful city and somewhere I will almost certainly return to in the future. I wanted to stay with a host family in order to experience French culture and give myself the best possible advantage to improve me French speaking while I complete an internship in the city. My family was welcoming and the apartment had everything I needed and more. Despite the dodgy weather at the start, I have enjoyed every minute of it and my French has noticeably improved! If only I had longer to discover more of the city, the culture and history of the place is truly inspiring.

Mariel, Mexico

I just want to say that the  family is very nice, no matter what problem you have they will try to help you or give you some advice and you are going to improve your French for sure, because they almost don’t speak English, even the youngest ones!

They were really a family and they reminded me mine in Mexico and If I had any problem, I knew I could count always on them, because they always told me that;  they were always very nice to me.

Christopher, UK

The family  I stayed with was friendly and very welcoming.

It was a perfect opportunity for me to be able to develop my language skills as they always involved me with conversation.

They did everything they could to help me with any problems I had, such as with the bank, or my university.

Kerry, USA

Merci Strasbourg Expat for all of your assistance and support during my experience in France! I am a Canadian student who studied in Strasbourg on exchange from January to May 2016. Living with a host family was a valuable experience that really enriched my stay in Strasbourg.

I really appreciated being immersed in the French culture and meeting so many new people at school and in the community. Strasbourg is a beautiful and wonderful city because there is so much to do and so many unique areas to explore.

Although I was nervous about being away from home for so long, my host family welcomed me right away and helped me make a smooth transition into the new lifestyle. I really did feel like a part of the family, and I fell in love with Strasbourg and all that it has to offer.  My family was very welcoming, caring, and made me feel at home right from the start. I really appreciated how they always asked me how my day was and always checked in to make sure that I had everything I needed.

My French speaking and comprehension skills improved significantly and I credit a great deal of my progress to the fact that I was living with a host family. They answered all of my questions and helped me learn new phrases and vocabulary. I also learned so much about the French culture by living with my host family!

I would certainly recommend this experience to anyone who is considering doing an exchange or thinking of visiting or travelling to Strasbourg. Strasbourg Expat Services is a very reliable and professional service and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in staying in Strasbourg, no matter how long their stay may be.

Here are some tips/advice for living with a host family and living in France:

  1. Have an open mind. The culture and lifestyle might be different from what you are familiar with! This might take a while to get used to at the very beginning, but remember that you are there to be immersed in a different culture and that it is a great learning opportunity.
  2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. The  family is very caring and they want to make sure that you have everything that you need. If you have any questions or concerns, they are there for you and they will help you! Communicate with them clearly and frequently to make sure they know how you are doing. They are happy when you are happy!
  3. Enjoy every moment: The time will pass by very quickly! Take in every second of your stay in Strasbourg and enjoy all of the new experiences. Even the challenging times are valuable and will add to your experience in France. I appreciated every conversation that I had with the family and tried to interact with them as often as possible to get to know them more, and to practice my French.

Grant, USA

I will definitely be recommending Strasbourg Expat to other students like me who come to Strasbourg. The opportunity to fully integrate into a French family has been very rewarding for my language skills.

I stayed in Strasbourg one full year. By the end I fell in love with the city, and would absolutely recommend it to any student who plans on coming to France for studies or for work. Unlike Paris, Strasbourg never feels too overcrowded with tourists, and so the experience of everyday French life and interaction with the locals always felt authentic. Luckily I was able to meet people from both French and English speaking groups, and so I was able to practice my French speaking skills frequently. About Strasbourg, I have most appreciated as a city, which I found very interesting and very safe, and I hope to come back to it very soon.

Staying with a local French family certainly helped with this. As a result, I have returned from my year abroad noticing a huge improvement in my language skills, and feeling as if I have fully experienced everyday French life. My French family were extremely welcoming and kind, and I hope to keep in touch with them in the future. What I really loved about my host family was their willingness to include me in their everyday lives. They were always on hand to assist me with information and advice when I needed them, and all in all were extremely welcoming.

Constanze, Germany

Sylvie and Francois are very friendly and integrated me the first day I arrived.

They give you the feeling you belong to the family, but if you want to cook on your own, eat alone, go out, they have no problem at all.

In sentence: they give you the key and say: feel like at home.

And Sylvie is a delicious cook!!!!!!

Constanze, Germany

Celyn, Canada

I had lived alone before in a Canadian student residence, both during school and the summer.

However, living alone in a French Residence is a much different experience.

First of all there was a lot of paperwork to be filled out and I had to deal with the electricity company separately.

At the beginning of the year is when you will face the most difficulties and culture shock, so living alone can be difficult.

When you are alone in a new country with another language it is nice to have someone looking out for you.

During the second semester I got out of my lease (which cost a little more but was totally worth it), to live with a host family.

Living with a host family was one of the best parts of my exchange,

I learned so much more about France. I was able to see how a French family lived and I was able to become a part of their family; discussing current events, enjoying meals together, going to cultural events, and celebrating holidays.

My family was very kind and helpful with any French problems I had.

One of my favourite memories was having my birthday in France.

My host family and I had a wonderful meal then my friends came over for cake. I continue to talk with my host family and hope to see them again one day.

I thank Expat Agency Strasbourg to have organized this homestay for me.

Asmus, Denmark

I came to Strasbourg to live for some time and I needed a place to live. I got in contact with Expat Agency Strasbourg who deals with homestays in Strasbourg and within few hours I had a meeting with them.

They put me in contact with someone who rented out a room and we arranged a rendez-vous between us.

No longer than a week after having contacted the agency, I had a place to live – no expensive deposits, no need to set up internet, no need to buy furniture, no nothing.

Throughout my 5-months-long stay in Strasbourg, Strasbourg Expat Services has helped me out with any and every single problem I might have had regarding housing.
I can only recommend any person coming from the outside of France wanting to live in Strasbourg to get in contact with Strasbourg Expat Services, who has been a major part of me even having been able to stay in this city.

Maria Paula, Colombia

The atmosphere in the home was very free and open in the sense that you can come and go as you please and if there is anything you might have a question about, my family was more than happy to help me with it.